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Lucky Aussie wins lottery twice

Double amputee climbs Mt. Everest

SYDNEY—Talk about lucky. A stunned Sydney man who was celebrating an Australian lottery windfall could not believe it when he won again less than a week later.

KATHMANDU, Nepal—A Chinese climber who lost both legs to frostbite on Everest four decades ago finally reached the summit Monday, just months after the revocation of a controversial ban on double amputee climbers attempting the world’s highest peak. Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 89 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Killings mar elections Voters recite litany of problems; Comelec claims success By Francisco Tuyay and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

HIRTY-FIVE people have been killed and 27 others were wounded in 47 separate election-related incidents, police said Monday.

In a press conference in Camp Crame as polls opened for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said since the start of the election period on April 14, 18 elected government ofﬁcials, six civilians, four candidates, three former elected ofﬁcials and two supporters of poll bets have been killed. Albayalde said, however, that only 13 of these deaths have been validated so far as being election-related. During the same period, police reported 47 suspected election-related incidents. Of the 126 suspects in the incidents, 29 were

identiﬁed, 82 were unidentiﬁed, six were arrested and nine were released from detention. Among the cases under investigation were the shootings involving Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot in Cebu, who survived an ambush, and former La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel of La Union, who was killed. Albayalde said that 181,212 personnel assumed election duty as the entire PNP went on nationwide full alert. “As 36,781 polling centers across the country opened at 7 a.m. today, 73,562 PNP personnel manned their respective posts to provide Next page

Duterte skips Monday polls in Davao By F. Pearl Gajunera PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte did not show up to cast his vote for the first barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan elections under his administration on Monday. Supporters waited hours for the President to show in Precinct 899 at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School and even brought out the chair on which he sat when he cast his vote during the 2016 presidential elections, but Duterte was a no-show. Jean Villavert, an English teacher at the school, said they preserved the chair Duterte used because of its historic significance. “No one has used the chair after he voted last 2016,” she said. “We put it in a glass located on the second floor of the administrative building. We only brought it out for him, but unfortunately, he did not come.” Alma Doromal, chairman of the Board of Election Tellers, closed the voting at 3 p.m. “We cannot wait for him, unless he is within the vicinity,” she said. “Apparently, he is not around.” Next page

PRESIDENTIAL LEAVE. President Rodrigo Duterte’s chair (above), used by him during the 2016 presidential elections at Precinct 899 at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, is brought out for the Chief Executive for Monday’s polls but he did not show up. Youngsters in Blumentritt, Manila who cast their votes (top right) show their thumbs stained with indelible ink while voters at the Padre Zamora Elementary School (mid photo) in Pasay take their space inside voting precincts. Below right, voters look for their names on the voters list at the Jose Cardones Memorial Elementary School in Barangay South Village in Taguig City. Norman Cruz, Manny Palmero

Pump prices rise Send-off events mark PH Rise research big time: Diesel up by P1.20/liter By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL companies are raising fuel prices by as much as P1.20 a liter effective Tuesday to reflect movements in the global oil market. In a statement, Flying V said it would raise gasoline prices by P1.10 a liter, diesel by P1.20 a liter and kerosene by 95 centavos a liter effective May 15 at 6 a.m. PTT Philippines and Seaoil Philippines also issued price increase advisories, while other oil companies are expected to follow suit. World oil prices have moved up due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East after Iranian forces in Syria fired rockets at Iraeli forces in the Golan Heights. US President Donald Trump also announced last week his administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, which further affected world prices. Reports from the US Energy Information Agency that prices of crude oil and gasoline will increase this year further fueled the hike in world prices. The benchmark Brent crude reached $77 per barrel last week. On May 8, the oil firms cut the price of kerosene by P0.60 per liter, gasoline by P0.30 per liter and diesel by P0.30 per liter amid reports of increased drilling activity in the US due to higher crude prices, which could increase global oil supply.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will grace a series of commemorative activities, including a send-off ceremony on Tuesday that will formally start the marine science research or MSR to be performed by the country’s premier scientists in Philippine Rise. Meanwhile, Efren Carandang, deputy administrator of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority or NAMRIA, described the successful validation of

the country’s claim to Philippine Rise to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as “a perpetual legacy.” “[Philippine Rise’s recognition by the UNCLCS] will enrich the national patrimony, aside from demonstrating to the international community of nations the country’s strong determination, capability and political will to assert its rights under international law,” Carandang said. Next page

Vote-buying prevalent—poll body TRAFFIC authorities on Monday stopped several public utility vehicles that were used to transport “flying” voters for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. In a statement, the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic said two jeepneys carrying voters from Barangay Bagombong in Caloocan City to a barangay in Quezon City Monday morning were flagged down. An out-of-line jeepney traversing the MCU-Divisoria route was

also found carrying passengers who paid P100 each for transport service. The trafﬁc council also stopped a jeepney using a Comelec sign without a permit from the Commission on Elections to use it. “We have veriﬁed with Comelec and they told us that they do not hire PUVs to transport voters to polling precincts. We will be preparing our spot report to Comelec for their information and Next page

Top Ivy League College takes Buting Elementary scholar By Bernadette Lunas

Buting Elementary School graduate Janel Perez receives a King Scholarship, a four-year full merit scholarship, from Dartmouth College (left), an Ivy League school in New Hampshire. With her in photo is Zholl Tablante, senior assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth. Sonny Espiritu

“GETTING an Ivy League education is not unattainable for Filipino scholars,” said Zholl Tablante, an admissions ofﬁcer at Dartmouth College, in an interview with CNN. That is certainly true for Janel Perez, a graduate of Buting Elementary School in Pasig City. She is headed to the Ivy League’s top undergraduate institution—Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, founded in 1769—next school year as a King Scholar. This was no small feat, as Dartmouth, the smallest of all

Ivy League schools by choice, is a highly competitive tight knit community, with an acceptance rate around 8 percent for the Class of 2022—Perez’s batch. As a King Scholar, Perez gets a four-year full merit scholarship that covers her tuition and boarding, travel internships, extensive mentoring, leadership training, and stipend. The King Scholarship is given to low-income students from developing nations who are interested in alleviating poverty in their home countries. Dartmouth is consistently included in the highest-ranked Turn to C1

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Recruiter: 20,000 workers Kuwait-ready By Vito Barcelo

ORE than 20,000 Filipino workers who were affected by the deployment ban in Kuwait in February are now ready to leave for that country, a recruitment consultant said Monday. The workers were allowed to travel to Kuwait after the Philippines and the Gulf nation brought their ties back to normal with the signing of a memorandum providing legal protection to the Filipino workers in Kuwait. Recruitment and migration expert

Emmanuel Geslani said more than 5,000 skilled Filipino workers alone were not able to leave in February after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait following the discovery of the body of Joana Demafelis

inside a freezer in Kuwait. Another 15,000 Filipino workers whose contracts were renewed were not able to return to Kuwait due to the deployment ban, Geslani said. Affected by the deployment ban were thousands of nurses and other health care workers, salesladies, factory and construction workers. Geslani is optimistic the agreement will re-energize the recruitment sector, especially the agencies that deploy mostly household workers. The agreement would also help local recruitment agencies in monitor-

ing their workers since the provision included allowing housemaids to keep their cellphones, he said. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the implementation of the agreement would ensure the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare Filipino workers in Kuwait. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said there are more 180,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, and of whom 60 percent were employed as domestic workers. In 2014, the Filipinos in Kuwait remitted $150 million to the Philippines.

duterte...

Overaged SK poll winners face ouster—Comelec

It was the first time Duterte failed to cast his vote since becoming mayor of Davao City. Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, who voted in Precinct 1658A at the Buhangin Central Elementary School in Davao City, could not say why Duterte did not cast his vote. The President had earlier sought a postponement of the barangay elections, citing the influence of drug money on the polls. The President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, cast her vote in her precinct inside the Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School in Barangay Matina in Davao. In Tarlac, former President Benigno Aquino III and his sisters Balsy and Pinky finished voting in about five minutes, an improvement, he said, over 2010 when he had to wait for four hours because of a defective vote counting machine. Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, said he would seek a third term during the 2019 polls as he headed to the Padre Burgos Elementary School in Altura, Sta. Mesa to vote in the barangay elections. He also said his sons Senator JV Ejercito and former senator Jinggoy Estrada would both run for senator next year. With Vito Barcelo

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Xia Boyu, 69, summited Everest early Monday on his fifth attempt to reach the top of the 8,848-meter (29,029-foot) mountain. “He reached the summit this morning, along with seven other members of his team,” said Dawa Futi Sherpa of Imagine Trek and Expedition, who organized Xia’s Everest bid. Xia’s dream of standing at the top of the world was nearly thwarted by the Nepal government, which last year banned double amputee and blind climbers from summiting its mountains. The ruling was overturned by Nepal’s top court in March, which branded it as discriminatory towards people with disabilities. Xia first attempted to summit Everest with a Chinese government-backed team in 1975, but was thwarted by bad weather. He became stuck in the frigid lowoxygen environment near the top of Everest and suffered severe frostbite, losing both his feet. In 1996, his legs were amputated just below the knee after he was diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. The tenacious climber returned to Everest in 2014 and 2015 but Nepal’s climbing season was canceled both years due to disasters. Bad weather forced him to turn back during his previous attempt in 2016 when he was just 200 meters from the summit. “Climbing Mount Everest is my dream. I have to realize it. It also represents a personal challenge, a challenge of fate,” Xia told AFP last month before heading to the mountain. The only other double amputee to summit Everest is New Zealander Mark Inglis, who achieved the feat in 2006. Xia is among the first of hundreds of climbers expected to summit Everest this month during a narrow window of good weather. Nepal has issued 346 permits for this year’s spring climbing season, which runs from mid-April to the end of May. Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning about 700 climbers will try to reach the top in coming weeks. Another 180 climbers are preparing to summit Everest from its north side in Tibet, according to the China Tibet Mountaineering Association. Last year, 634 people made it to the top and seven died trying. AFP

AT LEAST 1,000 potential winners in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will not be proclaimed by the Commission on Elections as they face disqualification for being too old or for not being registered voters, an official said Monday. Comelec acting chairman Al Parreño said the 1,000 were part of the 4,000 candidates facing disqualification in the SK polls because most of them were more than 24 years old. “We are suspending around 1,000 cases as of today. The public should not be surprised if there are people whose proclamation we will suspend,” Parreño said hours before the manual voting closed.

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security to these voting centers,” the PNP chief said. He said on alert at the Police Regional Officers were 13,267 troops comprising the Reactionary Standby Support Force and 2,854 RSSF at the National Headquarters. The 89,529 personnel comprising the Quick Reaction Teams were also placed on the highest alert condition and readiness to respond to any contingency, he noted. Albayalde added that the deployment of PNP personnel was backed by troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Commission on Elections acting chairman Al Parreño said the elections were successful, though marred by the usual problems of vote buying, threats, and missing poll precincts. Parreño said that 177,574 clustered precincts or 100 percent were open Monday for voters to cast their votes. “We are able to open all precincts, 100 percent. All 177,574 precincts were able to successfully open and they were able to start their elections,” said Parreño.

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The MSR is the first nationally-coordinated research to be conducted in the undersea region off the provinces of Isabela and Aurora since Duterte signed Executive Order 25 renaming Benham Rise to Philippine Rise on May 16, 2017. It is part of the Coordinated National MSR Initiatives and Related Activities or CONMIRA that the national government agencies and research institutions are conducting in the Philippine waters

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appropriate action,” Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board member and I-ACT spokesperson Aileen Lizada said. In Silangan Elementery School in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City, police arrested a 58-year-old driver for vote buying. Southern Police District director Tomas Apolinario Jr. identified the suspect as Teofilo Banares Jr., a resident of Block 93, Lot 33, Barangay Upper Bicutan. He is now detained at the Taguig City police station. Case officer P01 Macario Esteban arrested Banares based on the complaint of Reynando Tumaca who claimed he was approached around 7:39 a.m. and offered P1,000 allegedly coming from Barangay Upper Bicutan councilor candidate identified as Primo Quinisio. Authorities said the case of Banares was the first vote buying incident reported in Metro Manila. The suspect was later presented at the Commission on Elections command center in Manila. Apolinario said Banares will be charged with violation of the Omnibus

Palace vows justice for ex-lawmaker By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG on Monday denounced the killing of ex-La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel who was shot dead along with his two bodyguards by still unidentified armed men in La Union. Eriguel was shot while speaking before a gathering in Capas village in Agoo, La Union, on Saturday night. “Investigators are now gathering evidence as we vow to bring justice to the slain congressman and his bereaved family,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. He said the police and military were doing their best to maintain peace and order and to ensure the safety of the public from criminals and political opportunists who wanted to create trouble to discredit the government’s fight against all forms of criminality and violence. Police said Eriguel was speaking before a gathering in Capas around 7 p.m. when he was shot by two men aboard a black Mitsubishi Montero and a white Toyota Innova. He and his bodyguards were brought to La Union Medical Center, where they were declared dead on arrival.

The Comelec is also investigating cases of alleged violations of the antipolitical dynasty provision of the SK Reform Act by some candidates, an official said. Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia said the SK candidates who violated the provision will be removed from office even after being proclaimed as winners in this year’s elections. Parreño said that, from the 4,000 cases they had received, they found that the majority of the SK bets violated the age limit or were non-registered voters in the areas where they were running. For the barangay elections, on the other hand, Parreño said some of the candidates for barangay captain and kagawad ran for election in the areas

where they were not registered voters. Guia said they planned to resolve all disqualification cases by June 30. “We are hoping we can resolve all of these cases by June 30 so that the succession will be smooth,” he said. When asked who would be proclaimed in lieu of the disqualified winning bets, Interior Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said it would vary. “Let us take it on a case-to-case basis,” Malaya said. Guia said aside from the cancellation of one’s Certificate of Candidacy, there was a procedure of succession for the winning candidates who were disqualified. “The only way we can handle that is to file a formal procedure for cancellation of their Certificate of Candidacy,” he said.

In a press conference, Parreño acknowledged that polling precincts in provinces such as Manalay, Mindoro; Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte; Turtle Island, Tawi-Tawi; Bacolod-Kalawi, Masiu; and Binidayan, Lanao del Sur were able to open a little later than 7 a.m. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said, however, that this was not considered a failure of election. Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, meanwhile, urged members of the media to act as witnesses if they recorded any poll irregularities. “Those reporting on such matters can even stand as witnesses... those who captured them on video,” she said. Albayalde said the PNP received fewer election-related violence reports than in the 2013 barangay elections. In Lanao del Norte, Mayor Jabar Tago, his two brothers and five others were arrested Sunday for illegal possession of firearms, one day ahead of the elections. Weapons seized included a sniper rifle, an AK-47, an M16 and a grenade launcher, Col. Robert Dauz, commander of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Brigade, said. Also on Monday, the Comelec said qualified teachers who served during the polls would be able to get the 5-per-

cent tax deducted from their honoraria and allowances. Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10332, public school teachers will be able to process the refund of their taxes withheld as provided for by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. “Those serving in the Electoral Boards, DESOs, and support staff, who are exempted from withholding tax on compensation, shall be able to execute the prescribed Sworn Declaration, and to submit the same to the Commission on Elections for the processing and refund of the tax previously withheld,” the poll body said. It noted that the refund was included in the provision of the TRAIN law, wherein those with an annual taxable income of P250,000 are exempted from income tax payment. Covered by the provision are those serving in the elections, whose net taxable compensation for the year will not exceed P250,000, will now be deemed as “tax-exempt poll-workers.” “Only those persons, who rendered election services and submitted the required sworn declaration, are entitled to the tax refund under this resolution,” the poll body said. With PNA

The unidentified man, in his 40s and from the suburb of Bondi, picked up Aus$1,020,487 (US$770,000) on Monday last week and then scooped another Aus$1,457,834 on Saturday. “I just thought this is too good to be true,” he told NSW Lotteries Monday after being informed of his good fortune. “The chances of winning twice in such a short period of time must be non-existent. I wish I had some advice to others on how to win the lottery, but I don’t.” Asked what he would do with the cash, he said: “I’m not going to be stupid with it.” He plans to invest in some Sydney real estate, buy a new car and “a holiday to Honolulu goes without saying.” Lottery organizers could not estimate the likelihood of winning twice in a week, but the odds of winning once are one in 1.845 million. “We don’t know of anyone else who has won twice in a week,” NSW Lotteries spokesman Matt Hart told AFP. “We have had people win twice in their lifetime, but not twice in a week. It is very unusual and unique.” Lotteries are hugely popular in Australia, with various governmentowned and private-sector operators. The biggest recent winner was a man from Victoria state who woke up Aus$55 million richer in January. AFP

from April to November this year. CONMIRA comprises the Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources, Marine and Geosciences Bureau and Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Mapping and Resource and Information Authority, Philippine Navy and University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute. Duterte had earlier ordered to stop all the marine explorations by foreign entities in Philippine Rise and to give priority to Filipino scientists. Last week, Presidential Spokesman

Harry Roque announced that around 50 Filipino scientists will conduct the MSR. In a March forum last year, Cesar Villanoy of the UP-MSI said there was a need for more scientific exploration to determine the economic potential of Philippine Rise. Villanoy said the government should also develop a sustainable management framework for the development and protection of the area believed to be rich in marine resources, natural gas, oil and minerals. He suggested a practical cooperation, possibly with other countries, for

technological capability since research expeditions in Philippine Rise require the use of modern equipment such as remotely-operated vehicles and Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems. Villanoy said the MSR was a step towards creating a more comprehensive understanding of the area. “This is just the beginning to know what is at the rise and understanding processes,” Villanoy said. Mario Aurelio, director of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences, said the Filipinos had the expertise to conduct MSR in Philippine Rise. PNA

Election Code. Vote buying incidents were also reported in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. An election offense is punishable by one to six years imprisonment and deprivation of the right of suffrage. Public officials who break the law will also be disqualified from holding public office. Also in Taguig, voters and election officers went outside the Maharlika Elementary School following a brawl involving two men at one of the poll precincts around 2 p.m. Policemen immediately responded as Maharlika Village is one of the areas of concern because of the intense political rivalry there during elections. Meanwhile, Elections Commissioner Ma. Rowena Guanzon warned candidates they will be held liable if found guilty of using minors in distributing sample ballots and other campaign materials at polling areas. “As far as our election law is concerned, those names appearing in the sample ballots can be held liable,” she said. Also on Monday, a barangay health worker and seven others were arrested, while a barangay captain remains at large for vote buying in Laguna and Quezon. Suspect Corazon del Rosario, 63, was charged with violation of the Omni-

bus Election Code for allegedly buying vote at Purok 5, Barangay Milagrosa, Calamba City, Laguna. Witnesses Calamba City Councilor Saturnino Lajara and Loreta Gareza, an electrician, saw the suspect in the act of giving money to Antonio Latumbo, a registered voter of Barangay Milagrosa. Police found two P500 bills individually placed inside small envelopes on the suspect. In Quezon, Christian Maraña, chairman of Barangay Poblacion 2 in Calauag, escaped before police could arrest him after receiving complaints of vote buying. Witnesses Franklin Maravilla and Franklin Fulgar reported to Calauag Police that the suspect went to their house and gave them two small brown envelopes containing P200 each and sample ballots with the former’s name and those of his seven kagawad. In Lucena City, police arrested Pepito Carbonnel for vote buying in Purok IV, Dulong Buhangin, Barangay Dalahican. Also arrested were his companions Virginia Sta Ana, Dory Repollo, Romeo Bersabe, Arsenio Lagrason, Fernando Casiño and Wilma Anthony. Police took a shoulder bag from the suspects with several envelopes con-

taining sample ballots and cash from a candidate. In Rizal, charges of alarm and scandal, direct assault and violation of the liquor ban were filed against Joel Titular and Rey Abines after they were caught drinking at Botong Francisco Barangay. Mahabang Parang, Angono, Rizal. Also in Cavite, a candidate for barangay chairman was under investigation for vote buying. Calabarzon police said they have arrested a total of 205 persons for various election-related violations since the election period started last April 14. Eleazar said that 176 firearms, 32 bladed weapons, seven grenades and more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition were confiscated in raids and check points. Monday’s elections opened peacefully, but were marred by reports of rampant vote buying. Local election officer Sebastian Caspe noted that vote buying has become a custom. “We cannot avoid vote buying. It’s very popular, very rampant,” Caspe told reporters. Before the elections, Caspe said they had conducted intensive voter education for the public. Roy Tamandao, Joel Zurbano, PNA

Lucky... From A1

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DoJ starts probe on Dengvaxia criminal cases By Rey E. Requejo

HE Department of Justice will start today (Tuesday) its preliminary investigation on the criminal charges against former Health secretary Janette Garin and other incumbent and former Health ofﬁcials ﬁled by families of students who allegedly died after being inoculated with the controversial anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.

The DOJ’s investigating prosecutors lead by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rossane Balauag have summoned Garin and other respondents, including incumbent Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, to appear during the hearing and answer the complaints ﬁled by the families of at least nine victims. The DOJ panel ordered Garin and Duque and other respondents to submit their counter-afﬁdavits

on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and obstruction of justice under the Revised Penal Code. Assisted by the Public Attorney’s Ofﬁce, nine separate complaints were ﬁled by the parents of Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno and Alexander Jaime—schoolchildren

who died allegedly due to multiple organ failure after getting Dengvaxia shots. The complainants sought the indictment of Garin, Duque and 34 others—including executives and ofﬁcers of manufacturer Sanoﬁ Pasteur Inc. and distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. Duque was named respondents in the cases of Bataan and Hedia because it was during his tenure in

the Department of Health when the two victims died. Bataan died in January while Hedia in February. A separate charge of obstruction of justice was also ﬁled against the incumbent DOH chief for his supposed refusal to share the master list of children inoculated with Dengvaxia and also for issuing orders that further prevented PAO from effectively investigating the cases of deaths.

Court asked to overturn ruling on smuggled shabu THE Department of Justice has asked the Valenzuela City regional trial court to reverse its decision dismissing the drug charges ﬁled against nine individuals implicated in the P6.4-billion shabu shipment seized in May last year. In a motion for reconsideration, the DOJ panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon sought the reconsideration of the Valenzuela City RTC Branch 284 decision that dismissed the complaint for transportation and delivery of illegal drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against the accused led by Filipino-Chinese trader Richard Tan and customs broken Mark Taguba II. The government prosecutors argued that the trial court erred in dismissing the case for forum shopping due

MONITORING. Police Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde arrives in a motorbike at a voting center in Batasan, Quezon City as part of the PNP’s monitoring of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday. Lino Santos

Senators hit non-implementation of TRAIN subsidy By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday scored government representatives for their failure to fully implement the unconditional cash transfer program intended to shield low-income Filipinos from price increases due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Senator Bam Aquino, meanwhile,

called on the government to prioritize poor Filipinos and support the suspension of the TRAIN Act, particularly the excise tax on fuel. Aquino made the statement as he ﬁled Senate Bill No. 1798 that seeks to amend the controversial tax reform program that will suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inﬂation rate breaches the prescribed “target range.”

“We must protect Filipinos from the rising prices of goods and services,” said Aquino, one of four senators who voted against the TRAIN law’s ratiﬁcation. Aquino noted that millions of Filipinos are being affected by the increasing prices of goods like rice, sardines, electricity and fare. He stressed that the government needs to play an active role in managing inﬂation and

ensure that our countrymen can survive the rise in prices. In his measure, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. “It is our responsibility to be flexible and responsive when the weight of inflation becomes too heavy for the poor Filipino families to bear,” said Aquino.

Aquino: Country needs strong opposition, dissenting voices AS THE lone opposition member within the top 12 in recent senatorial surveys, Senator Benigno Aquino IV underscored the need for a dissenting voice amid contentious reforms and controversies hounding the Duterte administration. Aquino said he is thankful to the public for landing on the Magic 12. He added that senators need to oppose the programs of the government that would prejudice the interest of Filipino families. “It is important that the Senate should be balanced,” said Aquino, who was the only re-elec-

tionist senator who opposed the ratiﬁcation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. “We must strengthen the independence of the Senate by electing ofﬁcials who are not afraid to oppose the administration and join the minority, especially now that the Supreme Court has shown its blatant bias,” he added. He also said that senators should stand for the public and for democracy. Aquino placed 11th in the Social Weather Sta-

tions (SWS) survey conducted last April 7 to 11 with respondents of 1,200. In the latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey conducted from March 23 to 28, he was also the lone opposition who made it to the top 12, landing in a tie for 10th place. Aquino was one of four senators, and the only re-electionist senator, who voted against the ratiﬁcation of the TRAIN Law, due to the expected price increases and negative impact on poor Filipino families.Macon Ramos-Araneta

to a separate case for importation of illegal drugs ﬁled against the same accused before the Manila RTC. The DOJ prosecutors argued the difference between the two cases in justifying why they were ﬁled in different courts. “We respectfully argue that, by no stretch of imagination, the crime of transportation of dangerous drugs is a separate and distinct crime and under the circumstances at hand cannot be said to be part of the crime of importation of dangerous drugs,” the motion stated. The DOJ explained that the alleged importation of drugs took place on May 16 last year at Manila International Container Port while the transportation and delivery of the same contraband occurred on May 23 and 24 that ended in the warehouse located in Valenzuela. Rey E. Requejo

House panel prioritizes abolition of Road Board By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairperson of the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability on Monday vowed to prioritize the passage of a bill abolishing the Road Board to prevent the alleged misuse of billions of pesos of the Road User’s Tax collected by the government. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, the panel’s chairperson, said the Lower House will immediately work on the passage of House Bill (HB) 6236 authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. The bill proposes to abolish the Road Board and transfer its functions to the Department of Public Works and Highways and to the Department of Transportation. “The Road Board is allegedly a source of corruption for some of its ofﬁcials since it was established and I totally agree with the proposal for its abolition. Many previous ofﬁcials of the Road Board have allegedly amassed millions of pesos thru kickbacks,” said Pimentel, also one of the co-authors of the bill. The Congress will resume session today (Tuesday) and will adjourn sine die on June 1 to end the Second Regular Session of the 17th Congress.

‘Strengthen LGUs for inclusive growth’

SEARCH IS ON. Voters search for their names from a list of qualified voters posted at a polling precinct at the Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City during the Barangay and SK elections on Monday. Lino Santos

SENATOR Sonny Angara underscored the need to strengthen the capability of local government units to effectively deliver frontline basic services for citizens as a means to facilitate inclusive growth. “For growth to be inclusive, we need to capacitate LGUs by giving them more powers and funds to ensure a more efﬁcient, effective and responsive delivery of basic services,” the lawmaker said. Angara issued the statement as the Senate Committee on Local Government which he chairs, tackled various legislative proposals to revisit the 27-year-old Local Government Code, which has remained relatively unchanged since its enactment in 1991. The proposals include increasing the share of LGUs in the Internal Revenue Allotment; updating requisites for creating LGUs; simplifying local taxes to improve tax compliance; and enhancing the taxing powers of LGUs and the use of national wealth in local development. According to Angara, the LGUs should be given their own autonomy, and should have enough power and funds to respond to the needs of their constituencies. “We need to empower the LGUs in order for them to more effectively fulﬁll

their role as front liners in the delivery of government services,” he said. Angara, a former congressman representing the lone district of Aurora province, said the LGUs must be given a more active role in nation-building by providing them governmental powers and full autonomy in providing basic services to the people. “As we recognize that the LGU is the national government’s longest arm and closest hand to and individual, it is just right that this hand be given more dexterity, ﬂexibility, and power to care for, guide, provide for, and guard the citizen’s welfare,” the senator said. “That way, this unit will be front and center in nation-building.” Angara noted that the LGC under Republic Act No. 7160 has remained relatively unchanged since its enactment in 1991. Since 2016, the panel has been focusing on nine areas of concern in order to come up with proposed measures that would somehow update the LGC. These are strengthening LGUs, barangay reform, metropolitanization/interlocal cooperation, strategic projects, LGU creation, oversight functions, human resources, competitiveness and ease of doing business, and ﬁnancing.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Opinion

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Why she was ousted

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

case, it is the law of the land whether the people like it or not. As a lawyer myself, I believe that the majority decision adheres to the law. Those who dissented admit that Sereno committed violation of the Constitution SUNDAY and Monday saw double cel- and betrayal of public trust by not filebrations for my family, specifically ing a complete set of Statement of Asfor myself and my wife. sets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Last Sunday was Mother’s Day and Thus, logic dictates that the quo yesterday was our 63rd wedding anni- warranto petition that questioned the versary. credentials of Sereno is warranted and When somebody asks how I have necessary. managed to stay married to the same Some argue that the Constitution woman for 63 years, I always say I says a chief justice can only be removed make sure I have the last word in the through impeachment better read the house: “Yes, darling!” law again. The framers of the charter Joking aside, I think we lasted this say “may” when they provided how imlong because our meeting is anchored peachable officials can be removed. on mutual trust and faith in God. Sure, “May” is a permissive term that does marriage is not a bed of roses. But we not have any mandatory effect. are mature enough and educated as we The majority decision added: “We are, we always fall back on prayers. have constantly held that the term The problem ‘may’ is indicative with most marof a mere possibilriages today is ity, opportunity or when problems option. An option It is all very clear to arise, especially to remove by imwhen it comes to me. peachment admits money, they no of an alternative longer talk and mode of effecting the removal. In resolve things. other words, in efThey give up and take the easy way out. They don’t like fecting the removal of an impeachable to sacrifice, something essential in ful- public officer, the law provides remfilling marriage vows. edies, like a quo warranto proceeding.” The bottom line is making God the In arguing against the quo warranto third party in any marriage. case in Sereno’s ouster, there is speculaThere are many considerations to a tion that the Supreme Court has set a bad lasting marriage, aside from love. First precedent that any impeachable official and foremost is the realization that when can now be removed by quo warranto. you get married, it’s total commitment. I laughed when Sereno called her It is also essential for couples to have ouster a moral victory. What Sereno the same background. It’s only in the should worry about now is the fact that movies where you see the son of a hacen- she can be indicted with violation of the dero marrying a farmer’s daughter. Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards My wife and I may just belong to the for Public Officials and Employees. disappearing tribe of married people The majority decision correctly statwho have stayed married for a long ed that a quo warranto petition chaltime. The secret to a lasting marriage? lenges the legality of a public official’s Mutual trust, fortitude, commitment, appointment, while an impeachment sacrifice and faith in God. process indicts him or her for so-called *** impeachable offenses without quesThe 8-6 decision of the Supreme tioning his or her title to the office held. Court ousting Chief Justice Maria I think this is clear enough. Lourdes Sereno is now being analyzed *** and argued to death my opinion writThe killings, other acts of violence, ers, so-called legal and political ana- vote buying and cheating that accomlysts, and many others in boardrooms panied the barangay and Sangguniang and coffee shops. Kabataan elections were not unexpectIn the final analysis, whatever is said ed. This mirror Philippine national and Turn to A5 about the decision on the quo warranto

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Not so low-level

HE barangay is the lowest level of the local government, but it does not mean that barangay ofﬁcials are the least important government ofﬁcials—far from it. On the contrary, they are crucial to the hierarchy because they are the ones who are in direct touch with the people and the community. They know many of their constituents not just as bodies that translate to votes, but as actual persons. They know their residences, families, circumstances, struggles. This intimate knowledge of their constituents makes barangay officials sought-after allies of politicians running for higher office. Why campaign piecemeal when you can work on barangay officials who will then sway their people one way or another? Even then, village officials must know that this is not entirely why their jobs are

essential to building the nation. The familiarity with their constituents provides them a good opportunity to know exactly what the issues and problems are. In the fight against drugs, for instance, they are in a unique position to identify who in the neighborhood are using or dealing drugs, who are inclined to commit crimes, and who are in need of the most protection. Village officials are usually low-key and low-profile, compared to the flashy higher officials we know so well. Their affinity with their people speaks for itself. Unfortunately, many officials see their jobs as a way to wield power without accountability, and to lead by grievously wrong example. Monday’s election brings a new batch of barangay officials who sought office despite the apparent lack of financial gain or trappings of higher office. We hope more—even just slightly more than the lot they replaced—of them are truly responding to the genuine call of public service.

Questions Sereno must answer likened the decision to the liberation of the Filipino people from an incompetent and disqualified public official whose sole task is to protect the interests of Aquino III, who appointed her to the Supreme Court, as seen in her propensity AS EXPECTED, the decision of the to rule in favor of her benefactor in the Supreme Court rendered last Friday many cases involving the latter. which declared the appointment of One commentary emphasized that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno Sereno never really practiced Law, and void, was welcomed by anti-Sereno that she never even saw the inside of a groups and denounced by others. courtroom. One justice of the Supreme Court Four days before the decision came who favored Sereno called it “a legal out, and in obvious anticipation of it, abomination.” Sereno’s allies labelled Sereno’s supporters published a twoit “a betrayal of democracy,” “the tri- page newspaper advertisement callumph of one-man rule,” and “a threat ing the petition illegal and criticizing to judicial independence.” the Supreme Court for entertaining it. Two senators aligned with the mori- Six justices were called unethical jubund Liberal Parrists because they ty (LP), and one refused to inhibit senator devoted themselves in the to ex-President Sereno case deBenigno Aquino spite what SereWhy did she accuse III branded the no’s camp claimed decision as “a bad the Supreme Court of was the justices’ precedent.” An- violating her right to bias against Serother pro-Aquino due process when she eno. For Sereno’s senator said it “resupporters, the duced the powers does not even seem to refusal of the jusof both houses of understand the concept tices to inhibit Congress.” themselves violatin the ﬁrst place? As usual, Sered Sereno’s right eno equated her to due process. ouster with the The advertiseend of judicial inment carried the dependence. Aquino III and the pur- names of an unelected ex-vice presiported vice president of the country, dent, two senators from the LP, a senaLeni Robredo, echoed Sereno’s propa- tor beholden to Aquino III, a few former ganda. They added that Sereno may be senators and congressmen, and several removed from office only through im- former and incumbent left-leaning parpeachment proceedings in C ongress. ty list representatives. There were also Several senators were also dis- politicized priests and nuns, non-Cathpleased with the decision not because olic church leaders, and left-leaning they favored Sereno, but because they academics, writers, actors, and student were looking forward to a pompous im- activists in the list. No known expert peachment trial. Obviously, that would in Constitutional Law was listed. have provided the senators free politiHours before the justices voted on cal publicity for an extended period. the petition, Sereno supporters camped Those who lauded Sereno’s ouster Turn to A5

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The role of philosophy in politics our country’s philosophers to use our skills (I was in that audience as a young philosopher) to help our people understand what we were facing. First, Doc Reyes reflected on the Aquino assassination, and how it THIS is the second excerpt from my transformed our consciousness: “And Ramon C. Reyes lecture. In this column, invoking the thinking of philosopher Ramon C. Reyes, I reflect on how philosophy can play a good role in addressing political issues. It will help us After the 1983 assassination of Ninoy understand what we are Aquino, with the country in turmoil, Doc Reyes did not hesitate to apply facing. philosophical thinking to what the country was facing. In “Philosophy in a Crisis Situation,” he called to arms

so, it was the Aquino event, a moment of negation, which shook us from a certain level of life we had somehow come to accept and adjust to, putting into question our very manner of existence. On the other hand, just as the Aquino event has succeeded in transforming our consciousness and our conscience, we in turn address and question as it were the text or message of Aquino’s life and death, and eventually go beyond it, negating it, as it were, going to the very questions that his life and death were answers to, and eventually exploring other possible responses that Aquino himself perhaps had not ventured into toward a 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

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Opinion

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

The witch is gone FORMATION GARY OLIVAR NORMALLY I would never lead with a column title like this about the Supreme Court ruling against its erstwhile Chief Justice. It’s insensitive, it’s bad manners, and I’d never hear the end of it from my by-the-book, primand-proper wife. However, after dissenting Justice Leonen called the ruling a “legal abomination,” after fellow dissenter Justice Caguioa said his colleagues had “committed seppuku but without the honor,” and after some yellow joker posted a fake news item about the (non-existent) AFP “Southern Command” breaking ranks in mutiny—well, I figured that the gloves were off. *** For that matter, the gloves have never really stayed on among the Yellows. Fuelled by a potent brew of selfrighteousness, sense of entitlement, and complete disdain for facts and logic, this recidivist gang demolished one institution after another under six years of PNoy, but today have the gall to claim they’re the Republic’s saviors. Vice President Leni opined that “the fight isn’t over since the Supreme Court vote was close.” Let’s hope her newfound respect for voting margins will survive the recount of her vote tally against former Senator Bongbong, at the end of which she may have to relinquish the glorious heroine’s mantle bequeathed to her in Cory’s name to the much more De Lima-like Sereno. Various NDF affiliates like Bayan Muna, NUPL, and Sanlakas protested mightily about the “rule of law.” If they really cared about this, they would do better to convince their NPA comrades to stop being outlaws and terrorists (the Europeans’ term, not mine) and return to the civilized fold, under the umbrella of new peace talks (more on this below). Various senators harrumphed that the High Court had deprived them of the privilege of sitting again as jurors in an impeachment of another Chief Justice. Well, they should try to convince their colleagues in the House, which is the only place impeachment can start from. Good luck with that, guys. After doing a non-lawyer’s scan of the 150-page ruling penned by Justice

The role...

Tijam, I was struck by how many nails had been driven into the witch’s coffin. Among other things, the ruling stated that quo warranto is superior to impeachment; that Sereno did in fact commit impeachable offenses; and also laid down guidelines for the future conduct of quo warranto hearings. Unfortunately, the rest of her coven is still at large, flying around and screaming like banshees. It’ll be a while before the sun comes out and things settle down. *** As a matter of fact, the first tendrils of morning sunlight are already breaking through the yellow overcast. From the drug war front, the PDEA for the first time filed charges against a barangay captain on its drug list, a Malabon local official who failed to report a drug den and submitted an incomplete drug watch list. It’s noteworthy that the poor guy was haled to court,

I ﬁgure the gloves were off.

rights for our OFWs there: keeping their mobile phones and passports, 24x7 hotline, special police unit detailed to the embassy, repatriation of OFWs in distress. Duterte might now partially lift the deployment ban—only for skilled and semi-skilled workers, but not yet for domestic helpers who are the most vulnerable ones abroad. Even the much-maligned MRT3 is reporting good news. After government kicked out the PNoy-era maintenance provider Busan and took over operations itself, the railway line recently posted 17 straight days of no unloading incidents, the longest incident-free period since 2011. What now needs to be wrapped up is a new maintenance agreement with the Japanese, to return MRT-3 to the private sector where it belongs. *** Even with the morning light breaking through, a couple of witches are still flying around loose. Over at Rappler, our favorite Yellow hacks accused the BIR of “selective justice” after they were hit with a P133 Million tax evasion case in connection with Rappler’s controversial issue of Phil Depositary Receipts. Before the public gets taken in by the victimization script that Rappler CEO Maria Ressa has borrowed from Sereno, let’s keep the following in mind: Rappler Holdings Corp. is different from its operating company Rappler Inc. It was RHC that evaded taxes on the taxable income it booked for itself in the process of otherwise-innocent capital raising by RI. RHC still has to justify the violation by its PDRs of Constitutional limits on foreign ownership of media companies. RHC can’t defend itself by claiming that “other PRD issues have not been charged with constitutional or tax law violations.” Those other issues, which were done clean, are not at issue. Only Rappler’s is. Rappler must account for its biased coverage of the administration, its active propagation of fake numbers even after repeated factual rebuttals, and now the witch-hunt it has reportedly launched against pro-Duterte websites in its new role as Facebook’s designated fact-checker. Witches conducting witch-hunts? It could only happen here, with these guys.

not for active drug links, but simply for being suspiciously remiss in his duties. We hope that barangay officials newly elected yesterday know what they’re now in for. Over at PNP, the redoubtable new head P/DG Oscar Albayalde reported drug war stats over the 20 months under Duterte: 4,251 deaths of suspects, 142,069 arrests, P13.8 billion of shabu and P16.4 billion of drug-making equipment seized, 1.3 Million drug surrenderees, of whom nearly 200,000 have graduated from rehabilitation programs. However, we’re still waiting for the 13,000-odd body cameras promised to be worn by active anti-drug cops. Meanwhile, multiple hat-wearer Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is proving to be a negotiator par excellence. Together with Peace Adviser Dureza, he backchanneled to the communists in Europe to arrive at an “interim” peace deal that could lead to the resumption of peace talks by middle of June. And together with Foreign Affairs Readers can write me at gboliSecretary Alan Cayetano, Bello has persuaded Kuwait to agree to new var1952@yahoo.com.

more fundamental restructuring of the economic and political bases of our communal life.” Doc Reyes then identified the three roles of philosophers in a crisis situation, namely, as critic, as poet, as one rooted and committed to his life situation. “In a sense they are the roles that each and everyone of us must assume for himself, in so far as philosophy is nothing but every man trying to get a better understanding of himself and his worldly tasks. In recapitulation, as critical reflexion, philosophy leads to a dialectic of negation and creative transformation in view of a better future world, transformation however to be effected in situ, to be fashioned out of the gleanings from his past objectivations as handed down to the present by the communal tradition. And so, KRISIS, POESIS, PHRONESIS.” He describes this third role as follows: “to show man his historical situatedness, to show him that our task is to espouse the limitations and possibilities of our common destiny, to re-create and transfigure the world by fashioning new symbols and opening up new horizons out of the very materials and traces bequeathed to us by our communal past.” According to Doc Reyes: “In fine, man is not primarily a knower, surveying and contemplating his world from above independently of time and history, but a being-in-the-world, one who from the start, pre-reflexively, has been actively involved in a life-world of commitment and praxis, a world of work and political struggle and feeling and value-ing, never arriving at a moment of intuitive, serene, eternal selfpresence, for he is ever behind; ever belated in relation to a past that is always already there preceding him, even as he is ever ahead of himself, anticipating and projecting himself in his possi-

bilities, possibilities which, as we have seen, would have come only from his present situation.” So yes, there is truth, and it is knowable, but it requires engagement for us to know it. The Greek word, made famous again by Martin Heidegger, in the 20th century, is Aletheia—being or reality disclosed, unconcealed. The truth does not come all at once; it requires an effort on our part to uncover what is there. We use reason, the natural and social sciences, logic, our own categories, even our passions, a combination of all of these to get to the truth. Sometimes, it takes decades to verify a hypothesis, to validate an informed guess, but even as we await that, we must already act. The world does not stop even when the truth has not yet fully emerged. And even when the truth is much clearer, there are those who will still deny it for their own interests. Take for example climate change, a field I am familiar with, having done my doctoral studies at a time when we were only beginning to understand the enormity of the problem. In the early 1990s, we were faced with a lot of uncertainties in the science of climate change. In particular, we were not sure of the impact of global warming as the most that could be done then was to model the potential impact. That approach had inherent limitations. Attribution of those impact anthropogenic greenhouse emissions was also and remains difficult, making it challenging for governments to make policy decisions that would effectively address the problem. But over time, with billions of US dollars invested to narrow down the uncertainties, things became clearer with every assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, done every five years, getting better and more accurate with every report. One would think that as the science got better on climate change, countries would act more decisively to deal with the challenge. But that has not been the case. In a country like the United

States, politics continues to cloud the truth about climate change and prevents societal consensus to respond effectively to this most serious environmental and development concern. When this happens, philosophers are needed to reflect on our experience and to call it for what it is: this is no longer a search for truth but its hijacking for political ends. Applying this insight to the Dengvaxia controversy, one hopes that lessons can be learned. This lack of evidenceand science-based policy decision making, the absence of complete staff work, is not exclusive to the Aquino government. Previous administrations have been guilty of this. Currently, the Duterte administration is doing this in its war against drugs. I say that the truth about the Dengvaxia controversy can be pinned down, but not right away and not in one instance. Our scientists will have to do the work. In the meantime, life goes on and decisions have to be made with incomplete information. Should the suspension of Dengvaxia be now lifted and the vaccine made available to at least those who have had dengue? How do you move forward on the liability questions? How can the DOH get back public trust for vaccination? How will we decide similar questions in the future? If I delivered the Reyes lecture today, I will surely raise questions about the quo warranto decision of the Supreme Court and the premises under which that decision is made. How did we get here? How did we come to a situation where long-held interpretations of the law are questioned and perhaps could be set aside? Again, I would say that this is not about the truth but its hijacking for political and even personal ends. You need philosophical thinking, as described by Doc Reyes, to be able to see this.

Why...

Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in repairing our relationship with Kuwait.

local elections. What I cannot understand however is why candidates for these levels resort to cheating and violence when the honoraria they get is not commensurate with what they do in these positions. Is it power? Something else? *** I have nothing but praise for Labor

However I still have to see Cayetano file a diplomatic protest against China’s militarization with the landing of fighter planes and installation of missiles in both the Panganiban and Subi Reefs within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

should realize that when they pretend to be deaf and dumb about China’s incursion into our EEZ, they are acquiescing to what the Chinese are doing.

From A4

I don’t know what President Duterte and Cayetano have in mind, but they

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If Vietnam can file a diplomatic protest against China, why can’t we? *** I express my deepest sympathies to the family of the late former Senator Edong Angara. I covered him for many years, and I know him to be a man of honesty and integrity. He will be missed.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

No need to await request for approval the virtual confirmation that PCC approval of the acquisition would bestow on the duopolistic control of the Philippine telecommunications industry by RUDY ROMERO Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecom Inc. The issue is still being adjudicated. IF EVER there was an institution to Another item that of late has landed which the expression “It has its work cut out for it” was perfectly applicable, on the PCC’s plate has been the acquiit is the Philippine Competition Com- sition by one of the two players in the ride-sharing industry, Singapore-based mission. Truly, PCC’s work has been cut out Grab, of the Philippine business of for it. That work, generally, is to ensure the other player, US-based Uber. PCC the existence of competitive conditions clearly saw, as every Filipino did, that at every level and in every aspect of the acquisition, which was undertaken this country’s economic life. More to without prior PCC approval, would the point, PCC’s work is to prevent the convert a duopolistic industry situation rise of business conditions that impair into a monopolistic one. What incensed or obstruct competition or, where such PCC about the Grab-Uber transaction negative conditions already exist, to was the fact that, notwithstanding its dismantle them. Instances of imper- enormous impact on the Philippine fect competition and monopoly-type ride-sharing industry structure, the business behavior had long abounded two companies did not seek the Comin the Philippine economy, from the mission’s approval for the deal. The highest reaches of the marketplace to deal was presented to the nation as fait the lowest; not until the PCC had be- accompli. Like the Smart-Globe transcome a functioning entity was there a action, Grab’s acquisition of Uber’s specially mandated institution to which Philippine business is still undergoing PCC review and disadvantaged businesses could decision-making. Decision-makgo for redress of ing by an agency their operational The Philippine like the PCC will grievances and hardly ever be a enforcement of Competition speedy process, the Constitutional given to impact on proscription of Commission has its the level and qualmonopoly. work cut out for it. ity of economic Like most comactivity. I’m reamerce-related consonably satisfied cepts, competition with the pace bepartakes of two aspects—the legal and the economic. ing observed by the Commission in its The economic aspect of competition is handling of the major transactions that arguably more important than the legal, have come before it. Deliberation is which is concerned mainly with fulfill- never speedy. The only adverse comment that I ment of administrative and jurisdictional requirements of doing business. will make about the PCC’s functionThe economic aspect has broader and ing thus far relates to its initial attitude more nuanced implications: it looks not toward the Grab-Uber transaction. merely at the apparent but also the real When asked what the PCC’s reaction impact of the operations of a market was to the news about Grab’s acquiplayer on the other players. In the eyes sition of Uber’s Philippine business, a of an economist, competitive conditions high PCC official’s reply was “We are that are imperfect are proper objects of waiting for Grab’s application for approval of the acquisition.” regulation by a PCC-type institution. The position taken by the PCC offiAs with other business-related government positions, the PCC chair- cial was, in my view, wrong. Grab’s anmanship can be filled by a lawyer and nounced acquisition of Uber’s business former President Benigno Aquino III —and its becoming a monopoly therecould have appointed a lawyer as PCC by—posed a clear and present danger chairman. I’m very glad that he didn’t to the competitive situation in the ridebecause the question of whether perfect sharing industry and should have been competition exists or does not exist in a called out by the Commission as soon particular business situation is best de- as announced. The legislative mandate cided by an individual with an econo- of the PCC was, and remains, the promist’s training. Dr. Arsenio Balisacan hibition of acts or transactions that imwas an excellent choice as PCC chair- pairs competition and the Grab-Uber deal was one such transaction. There man, in my view. PCC hit the ground running when it was no need for PCC to wait for a rebegan functioning in 2016. It wasted quest from Grab for official permission no time tackling the first major item to undertake the buy-out. The Commison its plate, which was the joint ac- sion should have proceeded forthwith quisition, by this country’s two tel- to review the situation and call upon ecommunications industry players, of Grab and Uber to provide justification the megahertz assets of San Miguel for their competition-reducing action. Corporation-owned Liberty Telecoms Other than this observation, PCC Inc. PCC recognized the competition- has, in my view, been functioning comrelated reality of the situation, to wit, mendably thus far.

BUSINESS CLASS

Questions... From A4

outside the Supreme Court building in Manila. They had tents, food stations and mass-produced posters. If there were ordinary folk among them, the manifestly wealthy-looking dominated the gathering. Many of them arrived in luxury vehicles. Several women in the crowd claimed that the ouster of Sereno is an assault on women’s rights. Now that Sereno and her supporters have expressed their views about the decision of the Supreme Court, it is time for Sereno to answer several questions. That two-page newspaper advertisement certainly cost a lot of money. Who paid for it? Why were there no constitutionalists listed in the advertisement? Expression of opinion is one thing. Passing off opinion as established legal doctrine is something else. As pointed out in this column last week, long before the petition against Sereno was filed in the Supreme Court, Sereno had already denounced the separate impeachment complaint earlier filed against her in the House of Representatives as a violation of the Constitution and, as she would repeatedly say, a threat to judicial independence. So if impeachment is really objectionable as Sereno publicly asserted before she was ousted as chief justice, why is it that when she was still an associate justice of the Supreme Court, she did not vote in favor of then Chief Justice Renato Corona when the latter filed a petition in the Supreme Court to stop his impeachment by Congress? How come she did not speak up against the impeachment of Corona? Was it because her benefactor, President Aquino III, was openly supporting the impeachment and removal of Corona? Is it because Sereno knew in advance that her benefactor will

appoint her the chief justice in the event that Corona is ousted by the Senate? When Corona filed his petition to stop the impeachment proceedings against him, he demanded that Sereno inhibit herself from further participating in his case because of alleged bias on the part of Sereno. Corona’s demand notwithstanding, Sereno did not inhibit herself, even if Corona insisted that Sereno’s refusal to inhibit violated his right to due process. When it was Sereno’s turn to plead to the Supreme Court, this time in the quo warranto petition filed against her by the Solicitor General, Sereno demanded that six justices inhibit themselves from her case—also on the ground of alleged bias. When the six justices refused to inhibit themselves, Sereno protested and alleged that her right to due process was denied. Huh? Why is there a violation of due process now that Sereno is the pleader, and otherwise when Corona was the pleader? And when Justice Francis Jardeleza was applying for membership in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Sereno, who was the chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council, questioned his integrity and decided to block his application. Sereno’s ruling was subject to review by the JBC. When the JBC was set to review Sereno’s ruling, and despite Jardeleza’s objection, Sereno insisted on participating in the review. Because Sereno refused to recluse herself, Jardeleza invoked his right to due process and sued Sereno in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed with Jardeleza and ruled that due process demands that Sereno should not participate in the review of her own ruling. Withal, why did Sereno and her supporters accuse the Supreme Court of violating her right to due process when Sereno does not even seem to understand the concept of due process in the first place?

News

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ombudsman suspends Lucban mayor Dator By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Mayor Celso Olivier Dator of Lucban, Quezon for misconduct, abuse of authority and nepotism for hiring his sister as the municipal administrator. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved Dator’s suspension order for six months without pay over his administrative liability for circumventing civil service rules and regulations when he hired his sister, Maria Lyncelle Macandile. Dator could also face criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 for exhibiting bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence that had caused undue injury to the government. The filing of separate criminal charges against Dator, if found guilty, could be the ground for the dismissal of the sitting elected official from his post, according to the Ombudsman. Dator filed a motion for reconsideration, but the Ombudsman junked his plea for “sufficient basis,” it said.

Solon hopeful peace talks will lead to Caser signing By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT lawmaker on Monday expressed hope the government peace efforts with the communist rebels would push through next month. “The Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms [Caser] is a make or break stage of the negotiations as the issues being discussed like the prevalence of landlessness, the lack of national industrialization and extreme economic exploitation of majority of Filipinos are among the main reasons of the almost five-decade-old armed conflict,” Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate said. “Hopefully, it can be signed this year so that the panels can move on the remaining agenda of the talks,” he added. Zarate, chairman of the House committee on peace, unity and reconciliation, made the remarks after Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who also serves as government peace panel chairman, said formal peace talks between the government and the communist National Democratic Front were expected to resume early next month following an interim peace agreement by both parties. “More than the bilateral ceasefire, the signing of the CASER and its thorough implementation, which would pave the way for giving lands to landless peasants and industrialize our lagging nation, would be a safeguard against armed hostilities,” Zarate said. Zarate said it would be best, too, that the talks be conducted still in a neutral venue to ensure that no undue pressure or interference could be exerted on either party; and the negotiations could go as smoothly and unhampered as possible. “We laud and thank the Royal Norwegian Government for the perseverance and the continuing facilitation of the negotiations, “ Zarate said.

In an eight-page decision released on May 3, the Ombudsman cited Dator’s act of signing the appointment of Macandile and falsely detailing that she was not related to him was a clear transgression of the norms and standards expected of a government official. Based on the complaint, Dator hired his sister as chief administrative officer on a job order status despite lack of qualifications to perform as an administrator. Moreover, Macandile cannot be appointed administrator since such plantilla position did not exist in the municipal office as certified by the human resource management office. The position as municipal administrator must meet the qualifications under the civil service code, but Macandile was a nursing graduate that did not fall within the category of an administrator. The Department of the Interior and Local Government designated Vice Mayor Armando Abutal to assume as the acting mayor, while first municipal councilor Adolfo Tupas would take over as vice mayor.

SUFFRAGE RIGHT. Tribal members of the Kankanaey tribes in Mountain Province exercise their right to vote in Monday’s barangay and SK elections, clad in their colorful ethnic attires. As an elder leader of the Mountain Province Tribal Assembly Bong Cawed and daughter Nicole, who is running for an SK Kagawad post, join qualified voters in casting their ballots. Dave Leprozo Jr.

Up to P1-m aid available—DoLE By Vito Barcelo

ENDORS, farmers, ﬁsherfolks, drivers, and other workers can now avail themselves of ﬁnancial assistance of P20,000 up to P1 million to start their own businesses under the Department of Labor and Employment’s “Kabuhayan Program,” Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglungsod said Monday. The DoLE official said the department would prioritize workers who belong to the most vulnerable sector to avail financial assistance from the department as part of the Duterte administration’s unemployment and anti-poverty programs and to shift their vocation from informal to the formal economy. “Qualified workers can avail [themselves of] the DoLE’s Kabuhayan program, one of the components of the DoLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employ ment Prog ram,” Maglu ngsod said. DoLE’s Kabuhayan program enables the workers to build a viable employ-

ment option through income-generating livelihood activities. DoLE’s Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director Ma. Karina Trayvilla said the department could grant livelihood assistance to workers in the informal economy under two categories—group and individual projects. Under individual projects, workers can avail themselves of the Starter Kit or Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) up to P20,000. For group projects, an organization with 15 to 25 members could avail itself of a maximum financial assistance of P250,000.

An organization composed of 26 to 50 members could avail itself of up to P500,000.00; while an organization composed of more than 50 members could be granted a maximum assistance of P1 million. Eligible beneficiaries of the DoLE’s Kabuhayan Program include those who are self-employed with insufficient income; marginalized and landless farmers; marginalized fisherfolks; unpaid family members; women and youth; low/minimum wage earners and seasonal workers; workers displaced or to be displaced as a result of natural disasters or closure of establishments, retrenched and terminate workers; persons with disability; senior citizens; indigenous people; parents or guardians of child laborers; rebel returnees; and victims of armed conflict. For those who want to avail themselves of the program, the workers or group can go to the Department main office in Manila or to their nearest DoLE regional offices.

ELECTION HANDBILLS.

Campaign flyers litter the main entrance of the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Manila’s waterfront district of Tondo where precinct voters cast their votes during the village and youth elections. Ey Acasio

Legaspi, 71 NICANDRO Legaspi, former Malaya business editor, a veteran business reporter and deskman of the Times Journal, passed away on May 11, 2018. He was 71. His remains lie in state at St. Peter Chapel-Commonwealth Ave. in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. He is survived by his wife Dr. Myrna Calaguas-Legaspi; children Tom, Bim and Camille. Interment will be tomorrow after the 10 a.m. Mass at the Holy Cross Memorial Park.

Spike-ER MX to help secure PH territories ONCE installed and fully operational, the Israeli-made SpikeER surface-to-surface missiles will be useful in protecting the country’s vast maritime territories and sealanes of communications. T his was disclosed by Philippine Navy f lag-off icerin- com mand Vice Ad m i ral Rober t Empedrad in an interview Sunday. The weapons, are now undergoing integration on three of the Navy’s multi-purpose attack craft, will greatly deter shipborne intruders trying to violate the country’s waters. “The [Spike-ER] missiles are very accurate and I’m sure [that once it is up and running] it can threaten intruders aside from securing the choke points [of our] sealanes of our maritime nation,” Empedrad added. The Spike-ER missiles. along with its launchers. arrived on the third week of April. It is the first missile system to be acquired by the PN. These missiles are capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a range of eight kilometers. As of this posting, the Navy has nine MPACs in inventory with another three units planned. Three of the above-mentioned craft are now being fitted with the Spike-ER missiles and its launchers. These naval craft were activated on May 22, 2017 and were manufactured by Subicbased Propmech Corp. for P270 million. PNA

Livelihood back-up available for Filipinos—Villar By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar believes there are livelihood alternatives available for Filipinos, especially the impoverished and underprivileged, to help them augment their incomes and improve the quality of their lives. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, has noted that two viable income-generating ventures are mushroom cultivation and production, and orchids cultivation, cacti and succulents grafting and propagation, which can easily be adopted both by working and non-working individuals. “There is an array of alternative revenueenhancing opportunities that can help us add money to our pockets. We cannot rely solely on job openings, which,

as it is today, are insufficient and hard to find,” Villar, an avid advocate of people empowerment through self-reliance, told participants who attended a livelihood opportunity training program offered by the Villar SIPAG. She added: “Self-reliance is the key to sustainable development because we only have ourselves to rely on if we want to make our lives better. “But to achieve this, we need to step out of our comfort zones, explore openings and grab the options that are available to us. “Being self-reliant sufficient are the two most important steps toward success.” The Villar SIPAG partnered with the Bureau of Plant Industry for the one-day mushroom cultivation training, which briefed participants on the basic principles and techniques in mushroom cultivation and

existing mushroom technologies. Participants were also taught the complete cycle of mushroom cultivation from culture production to mushroom production with management strategies, and basic mushroom culture technology that can be applied to many kinds of mushrooms. They also had hands-on demonstration on isolation of mushroom tissue, grain spawn inoculation, fruiting bag spawning, volvariella bedding/planting, and casing of milky mushroom bags. On the other hand, a separate one-day training was also conducted where participants learned the proper methodologies on orchid cultivation and cacti and succulents grafting and propagation, and innovative production, management and marketing methods to help them jumpstart small orchids and related businesses.

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

Barriga outpoints Colombian challenger

Cyna seeks redemption in LPGT tilt

By Peter Atencio CONNECTING with strong punches in the early rounds gave 2012 London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga enough points to hold off Colombian challenger Gabriel Mendoza late Sunday. It was not enough for him to score a knockout, but it was sufficient for Barriga to win by unanimous decision in their “Survival Instinct Matirang Matibay” fight at the SM Skydome in Quezon City. “Maraming rounds na puwede kong pabagsakin. Pero beterano. Kahit paano, naipakita ko na may konting improvement sa power,” said the 24-year-old Barriga after his International Boxing Federation minimumweight title eliminator encounter with Mendoza. Barriga went on to dedicate his win to his mother, who came all the way from Panabo City to watch him fight. Beating a vastly experienced Mendoza made Barriga the no.1 mandatory challenger to Japan’s Hiroto Kyoguchi, the reigning IBF 105 lb. champion. Judges Jonathan Davis and Zach Yang scored it 120-108 for Barriga, while Arnie Najera gave him a 119109 score. The 5’2” Barriga started off by giving Mendoza a series of quick blows in the first round. After Mendoza was warned by the referee for a low blow in the second, Barriga managed to connect with his jabs. A flurry of blows in the third round allowed Barriga to momentarily corner Mendoza, who then quickly slipped away from danger. Mendoza then leaned on his vast experience to get out of Barriga’s efforts to corner him in the fourth. But Barriga got off with two left jabs to the head with his counterattacks. It was Barriga’s ninth straight win with no losses. The more experienced Mendoza fell to a 29-5-3 win-draw-loss record, with 23 KOs. Earlier, former world champion Marvin Sonsona completed a successful return following a three-year absence with a unanimous decision over Indonesian Arief Blader in their six-round 141 lb. bout Sonsona, who now has a 21-1-1 record, was six pounds over the 141lb. limit and was thus forced to wear 12-ounce gloves.

Marcus Morris (13) of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-83. AFP

Celtics crush Cavaliers, but LeBron not worried N

EW YORK—LeBron James says he’s not worried after the Cleveland Cavaliers were routed 108-83 Sunday by the Boston Celtics in the opening game of the NBA Eastern Conference ﬁnal. But the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, trying to reach his eighth consecutive NBA Finals, admits the Cavaliers need to make some changes before the best-of-seven playoff series resumes Tuesday in Boston. “I have zero level of concern at this stage,” James said. “You get better throughout the series. I’ve been down 0-1. I’ve been down 0-2. I’ve been down before. We have another opportunity to be better Tuesday. “Game one has always been a feel-out game for me. I got a sense of how they are going to play me and I can make some changes going into game two. We’ll see ways we can be better and get our offense into a better rhythm.” Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Al Horford added 20 points for the Celtics, who

seized a 36-18 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, inflicting the second-worst game one playoff loss James has ever suffered. “We were great,” Horford said. “We came out with a lot of energy. We fed off the crowd and we kept it going throughout the game. We’re just out here playing hard and doing the best we can.” Marcus Morris had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Boston and led a swarming defensive effort that shut down Cavs playmaker James, who averaged 34 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists in prior playoff games. “We just have to make it hard for him,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “Our guys played with good aggression.” James finished with 15 points on 5-of16 shooting with seven rebounds and nine assists. He blocked two shots but also

made seven turnovers as the Cavaliers missed their ﬁrst 14 3-point attempts and came no closer than 14 points in the second half. “They had a great game plan in game one,” James said. “They did a great job of communicating the whole game. We have a lot of ﬁlm to look at how they were making us uncomfortable. I was out of my rhythm the whole game.” Containing LeBron Morris boasted he was the best defender to guard James and led the hustling work that contained the 33-year-old Cleveland superstar, who has more career playoff appearances than the entire Celtics roster combined. “It was a team effort,” Morris said. “Everybody played their part in guarding him. We did a great job of that.” The Celtics forced James to work harder defensively as well. “They showed two bodies (against James) all night,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “When he thought he had driving lanes, they made him kick it out to other shooters. AFP

6 National Para Games starts th

FITTEST EXPO. Bikers and fitness enthusiasts check high-end Colnago bikes and apparels on display from the Bicycology Shop—one of 30 exhibitors in the 2018 FITTEST —organized by Affiliate Alliance and presented by the Manila Bulletin at The Tent of the historic Manila Hotel. Different food supplements, fitness apparel and equipment are on display in the expo, which also featured CrossFit competitors in the two-day event.

MALAYSIAN Asean Para Games gold medalists Adeline DumapongAncheta and Josephine Medina headline the cast of athletes seeing action in the 6th PSC-PHILSPADA National Paralympic Games that gets under way today at the Marikina Sports Park. Nearly 1,000 athletes representing their respective local government units will compete in the ﬁve-day sportsfest organized by the Philippine Sports Association for Disabled Athletes, with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Marikina city government under Mayor Marcelino Teodoro. Expected to grace the simple opening ceremonies at 8 a.m. today are PHILSPADA president Mike Barredo, Commissioner Arnold Agustin and Teodoro in the event that serves as national team tryouts for the 3rd Asian Paralympic Games in Indonesia in October. “We would like to thank the Philippine Sports Commission and the local government units for their continuing support of our PHILSPADA National Para Games,” said Barredo of the sportsfest that had its inaugural edition in Cebu in 2000.

“The Games are compulsory for our present athletes in the national pool like Ancheta and Medina, who are inspirations and a challenge for our differentlyabled athletes aspiring to make it to the national team,” he noted. “Our athletes in the national pool are required to compete in this event if they want to maintain their status.” Both stricken by polio, Ancheta and Medina are world Paralympic bronze medalists and also went home with golds in women’s powerlifting and table tennis, respectively, from last year’s Asean Para Games held in Malaysia. “The PSC always welcomes the opportunity in staging the PSC-Philspada National Para Games because this competition provides our disabled athletes with a venue where they can showcase their skills and sports talents,” said Agustin, who oversees events for persons with disabilities for the government agency Barredo pointed out that the Games will also serve as an early proving ground for national team hopefuls for the 10th Asean Paralympic Games the country will be hosting in January 2020.

All set for World University Golf THE Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines warmly welcomed the participants to the 17th World University Golf Championship to be held at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga from May 16 to 19. The opening on Tuesday will have the presence of Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and her husband, sportsman-philanthropist Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, and Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, with WUGC Organizing Committee members, led by Marius Aseron, Emmanuel Edward Co, Benito Techico and Rolando M. Romero. Also in attendance are WUGC OC Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Mike Singgaran and his deputy, Joseph A. Sy, and FESSAP Chairman Alvin Tai Lian, Philippine Team Head of Delegation Angel Ngu and FESSAP Executive Vice President Robert Milton Calo. Ofﬁcials from the Philippine government, dignitaries from the international golf community and renowned athletes from all

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over the world have started arriving for the prestigious biennial world golf competition that is being organized by the FESSAP and sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation, which is the world’s governing body for university sports. “We’re excited this early and eager to welcome all the participants to the 17th edition of the World University Golf Championship,” jointly said FESSAP president Attorney Baldomero Esstenzo and Honorary President David U. Ong. “Promoting sports and tourism and camaraderie among the participants is our main mission in staging the world golf championship here in our country. Winning takes the backseat.” The 17th WUGC event is being held in cooperation with the Tourism Promotions Board, under the Department of Tourism and the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club. Among the local dignitaries invited to the 17th WUGC are Philippine president

CYNA Rodriguez hopes to put it all together this week and break a long spell on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour she used to dominate as she leads the local challenge in the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Classic beginning Tuesday at the Mts. Lobo-Malipunyo nines in Lipa City, Batangas. The former three-time Order of Merit winner missed ending a two-year title drought with a shaky finish at Luisita last month that saw her yield the crown to Thai Supakchaya Pattanakrueang on the third playoff hole after re-claiming the lead late in regulation. Though Pattanakrueang won’t be around in the P1.25 million tournament put up by ICTSI, Rodriguez will have a slew of other Thai aces to contend with, including Sarinee Thitiratanakorn, Onkanok Soisuwan and Tirapan Yoopan, who banner a 13-player strong Thai cast out to deliver their fourth victory in the season. Other Thais competing are Jaruporn P Na Ayuttaya, Piyathida Sangkagaro, Kanokwan Yospark, Goonlacha Paiboonpong, Paphada Wongwaikihphaisal, Pattraporn Kraturuk, Pimpadsron Sangkagaro, Pannapa Polnamin and Chommapat Ponthanarak. Amolkan Phalajivin is also eyeing a second crown in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. although the 2014 Splendido leg winner has slowed down the last couple of years trying to fix some kinks in her game. Meanwhile, 14 amateurs, headed by The Country Club bets Mikha Fortuna and Sofia Chabon, are also in the fold, all itching to spoil big guns’ party in the eighth leg of this year’s LPGT backed Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZGm PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf. They are Kristine Torralba, Chanelle Avaricio, Junia Gabasa, Sam Bruce, Yana Casas, Mafy Singson and Laia Barro along with Koreans Hyun Ji Rho, Kim Hui Won and Jang Yunji, Japanese Kelly Marutani and Canadian Sharon Park.

Torres, Jarata score PPS net doube victory CHARLES Torres and Marielle Jarata carved out a pair of victories each in varying fashions and clinched the MVP honors in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Urdaneta age group tennis tournament at the Urdaneta Tennis Courts and Pozorrubio Tennis Club in Pangasinan recently. The second ranked Torres upended top seed Exequiel Jucutan, 7-5, 7-5, to snare the boys’ 16-and-under crown then the Calasiao bet survived No. 4 Eric Bajet, 6-7(5), 6-1, 10-6, in the 18-U finals of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Dunlop, the official ball. Jarata, in contrast, stamped her class in the girls’ 12-U section, crushing Jumia Egipto, 6-1, 6-1, then the Agoo, La Union ace took the 14-U plum with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 1 Tristen Kitong in the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Reversals also marred the other finals in the tournament backed by Asiatraders Corp. with No. 4 Achaia Cabahug from Urdaneta foiling second seed Angelyn Atos, 7-5, 7-5, in the girls’ 16-U finals then the rising Urdaneta star whipped top seed Gabrielle Abarquez, 6-0, 6-0, to match Torres and Jarata’s feats. “Reversals have become some sort of a norm in the circuit with the lesserlights upstaging the seeded bets through hard work and determination to excel and be among the best,” said Castro. “The PPS-PEPP will continue to provide these young talents the venue to further hone their talent and skills and gain ranking points.”

LOTTO RESULTS Members of the Malaysian team, led by Head of Delegation Azman Yasin, are shown at the airport.

Rodrigo Roa Dutuerte, who will be represented by Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Tourism Promotions Board CEO Cesar Montano, CHED Chairman Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, National Golf Association president Carlos Coscol-

luela Jr., State Colleges and Universities president Tirso Ronquillo, Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who co-hosted with FESSAP Organizing Committee Chairman Christian Tan, the World University Cycling Championship held in Tagaytay City in March 2016.

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Sports

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

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

Smart Candy rules 1st leg of Triple Crown FOR Smart Candy, preparation is key. The rising SC Stockfarm filly reaped the dividends of its back-toback stakes race win early this year to claim its biggest victory yet, the 1st leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s Triple Crown Series before an appreciative Mother’s Day crowd at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite Sunday. The 3-year-old filly, who won the the second and third legs of Philracom’s 3YO Stakes Race series in March and April this year, was tested to the hilt by Victorious Colt and Wonderland before her vaunted staying power in the 1,600-meter distance netted her the half-a-length win. “Buti naman nakaraos, medyo nahirapan kasi siya sa harapan, nalusutan naman niya ‘yung pressure ng kalaban,” said jockey Kevin Abobo, referring to the pressure initially put on by Speedmatic. Halfway through the race, Victorious Colt and Wonderland joined the party, with the former momentarily grabbing the lead before Smart Candy burst to the finish in the last 300 meters for the win, which was worth P1.8 million for SC Stockfarm owner Oliver Velasquez, whose horse Sepfourteen, scored a rare-3-speat during last “Naghintay na lang ako hanggang sa diretso sa last 300, doon kinuha ko na. At least naka-first leg na kami. Hopefully, ‘yung second and third legs, sana makuha namin,” hoped Abobo of the feat achieved by Sepfourteen, who last year became the 11th member of the elite Triple Crown club. Prior to Sepfourteen’s achievement, the last time one horse won it all in one year was in 2014 when Emmanuel Santos’s colt Kid Molave (Into Mischief x Unsaid) scored the rare 3-peat. Second placer Victorious Colt, with jockey OP Cortez on board, won P675,000 for owner Jose Antonio Zialcita, while coupled entries Wonderland (FM Racquel Jr.) and Speedmatic (Pat Dilema), placed third and fourth, worth P375,000 and P150,000 for a total of P525,000 for owner Hermie Esguerra. In the P1-Million Hopeful Stakes Race, Goldsmith and jockey RG Fernandez overpowered the field with a masterful five-length triumph over Disyembreasais (jockey JB Cordova, owner Alfredo Santos) and Hamlet (JB Hernandez, Leonardo Javier Jr). The win was worth P600,000 for Goldsmith owner Cipriano Sison. Meanwhile, the opening P500,000 Philracom 3YO Locally Bred Stakes Race was topped by Jack Hammer (jockey JB Hernandez and owner Leandro Naval), followed by The Barrister ( jockey EG Guerra and owner Daniel Tan) and Filipino Emperor ( jockey JL Paano and owner Henedino F. Gianan Jr.).

Smart Candy (rightmost), ridden by jockey Kevin Abobo, paces the field in the first leg of the Philracom Triple Crown series. The SC Stockfarm filly used her vaunted staying power to fend off the challenge of Victorious Colt and Wonderland to chalk up her biggest victory yet.

PBA’s top gunners join 3-pt shootout

HE Philippine Basketball Association’s deadliest marksmen, from TNT Katropa’s Terrence Romeo to defending champion Allein Maliksi of Blackwater, will try to outshoot each other in the Three-Point Shootout of this year’s All-Star weekend.

Two former champions in Romeo and James Yap of Rain or Shine, along with some of the league’s finest gunners are entered in the contest with the primary aim of toppling defending champion Maliksi of Blackwater. Maliksi won the crown last year in Lucena City following a thrilling shootout that saw the former University of Santo Tomas stalwart edge out LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra and Romeo by sinking the last money ball during the finals. This year’s competition is expected to be as tough and interesting as last season with the entry of Marcio Lassiter (San Miguel), Matthew Wright (Phoenix), Paul Lee (Magnolia), JVee Casio (Alaska), Larry Fonacier (NLEX), Stan-

Mayweather backs Go’s advocacies FLOYD “Money” Mayweather, the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time, arrived in the Philippines last week with his crew known as “The Money Team” for several endorsements activities, rest and recreation, as well as a quick chat with Special Assistant to the president Bong Go. Mayweather, who successfully competed and defended his championship belt from 1996 to 2007 and 2009 to 2015, boasts of a 50-0 career win-loss record, which included a successful one-fight comeback in 2017 wherein he defeated the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao. Together with his team, Mayweather traveled to Lanang, Davao with former Gov. Chavit Singson to express his support for the sports and tourism advocacy of Secretary Go, who is an avid sportsman and a believer in promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination. The boxer was happy to meet the Secretary and the Davaoeños, who welcomed him in Lanang. “I am excited to be here. Filipinos are great people, that’s why I extended my vacation here. I really appreciate your friendliness and hospitality,” Mayweather said. For his part, Secretary

Foton president and COO Rommel Sytin (third from left) hands over a symbolic key to PATAFA president Dr. Philip Ella Juico (second from left) during the turnover of a Foton Traveller to the athletics’ body at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Monday morning. They are joined by PATAFA Secretary General Nonoy Unso (left) and Vice President Nicanor Sering. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather (right) and Special Assistant to the president Bong Go put up a fighting stance during a meeting in Lanang, Davao.

Go, who follows boxing, basketball and watersports, told Mayweather: “Welcome to the Philippines and welcome to Davao. I hope you enjoy your visit to our country and spend time to see its beautiful

places of interest.” Mayweather and his team spent a day in the Pearl Farm Beach Resort on Samal Island, where they enjoyed some watersports activities such as jet skiing, kayaking and power boating.

MARK John Lexer Galedo leads a bigger local charge in the ninth edition of the Le Tour de Filipinas, with the 7-Eleven Road Cliqq Roadbike Philippines rider hoping to relive his successful stint in 2014 when he won the only International Cycling Union-sanctioned road race in the country. Galedo skipped the Hors Category 2.1 Le Tour de Langkawi last March to focus on the Le Tour de Filipinas and has cross-trained to mountain bike as he revved up his preparations for the race set to start this Sunday from the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City and finish in the traditional maker of champions, Burnham Park in Baguio City, on May 23. “I want to win again,” was the curt declaration of the 32-year-old Galedo, who owns an individual time trial gold medal from the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar. Galedo, however, would have to contend with 79 other riders from 16 teams that have confirmed their participation in the race co-presented by Air21, Cignal and Cargohaus Inc. The race starts from the Liwasang Aurora at the elliptical circle with Mayor Herbert Bautista waving the checkered flag on Sunday with the 157.50-km Stage 1 that will be welcomed in Palayan City, the capital of Nueva Ecija, by Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas and Nueva Ecija Governor Czarina Umali. On Monday, the riders will be flagged off by Mayor Julius Cezar Vergara in Cabatuan City before they climb Dalton Pass toward Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, where Mayor Ralph Lantion will be waiting to award the winners of the 157.90-km Stage 2. The next day, Tuesday, will be the 185.20-km Stage 3 and it would be Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla and Bambang Mayor Flaviano Balgos Jr. turn to send off the riders to Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Blu Girls smother Malaysians ALMA Tauli and Kianna Juan combined for three hits as host Philippines crushed Malaysia, 11-1, even as defending champion Chinese Taipei notched its third straight shutout win with a 12-0 rout of Thailand in the 2018 Asian Junior Women’s Softball Championship at the Clark International Sports Complex in Pampanga. Tauli pitched a no-hit, two strikeouts in two innings before turning the job to Juan, who closed out with one run and one hit in a two-inning relief job as the Blu Girls reasserted their supremacy over the Malaysians in scorching heat in a game reduced to four innings due to the 10-run rule. “I have so much faith in our young players, and I know that they have the skills and the determination to deliver. Same goes to the other teams. I’ve seen how hard they work on the field to notch wins for their respective countries in spite of the searing heat here in Clark,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL). Japan, champion in 1997, 2004, and 2009, posted its third consecutive win with a 10-3 victory over China while Korea dealt India its second straight defeat via a 10-0 rout. The Japanese, half of them southpaws, outhit and outran the Chinese while hurlers Sone Hanna and Mio Sakamoto combined for three hits over seven innings to anchor the lopsided result. “It’s really hot out there. My players were affected by the scorching summer. It’s good, they were able to withstand the searing heat,” said team leader Haruka Saito through a Filipina interpreter after Japan stretch its win run at the four-diamond softball field inside the former US Air Force base.

Del Rosario, Cooley win PBF Pagcor PH International Open

PSA Forum today THE fledgling Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation makes its initial appearance in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum today at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Center in Cubao. POSF president Atty. Al Agra will brief sportswriters on what the association is all about as well as its plans for the rest of the year. The 10:30 a.m. session is presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

ley Pringle (Globalport), Ronald Tubid (Columbian Dyip), and Tenorio. KG Canaleta of Meralco completes the lineup as a late replacement for the injured Garvo Lanete. The three-point shootout side event will be held alongside the slam-dunk contest and the obstacle course on May 25 in Batangas City during the second leg of the All-Star week that has Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor. Considered as one of the league’s top gunners today, Lassiter is wary of the star-studded field as he bids once again for his first ever three-point title in the league. “We’ll see. There’s a lot of great com-

petitors (out there). Hopefully, I could bag one in,” said the San Miguel wingman as he looks forward to the event also supported by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten, Nature’s Spring, PBA RUSH-Cignal, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, and Rain or Shine. “Definitely, it’s going to be a fun weekend.” Romeo, meanwhile, is out to reclaim his title after winning the shootout two years in a row (2015 and 2016) before being dethroned by Maliksi. The former UAAP MVP out of Far Eastern University however, is just one of five players to win the crown twice or more. Among the two-time champions – or more – are Mark Macapagal (2010-2012 and 2014), Jimmy Alapag (2003 and 2005), Boyet Fernandez (2000 and 2001), Jasper Ocampo (1998 and 1999), and the late RicRic Marata (1994 and 1996). Yap, for his part, won the title in 2009.

Galedo back in harness for Le Tour

Liza del Rosario

SAM Cooley of Australia lived up to the hype and bowling ace Liza del Rosario emerged triumphant from an all-Filipino final showdown to rule the 2nd PBF Pagcor Philippine International Open. Del Rosario, a national team mainstay, survived former PH teammate Rachelle Leon in a thrilling best-of-three finale to clinch the ladies’ open title before a huge crowd yesterday at the Coronado Lanes at Starmall in Mandaluyong City. A three-time Asian Bowling Federation Tour champion, Cooley swept his race-to-two series with Mike Chan of Hong Kong and snared the men’s open

crown, plus the P500,000 winner’s purse. Cooley placed third in the round 2 finals among 24 keglers and defeated second-seeded JP Macatula in the stepladder championship before facing Chan, the No.1 qualifier, in a one-game decision. Cooley, who won the ABF Tour leg twice in Thailand and once in Hong Kong, was already a clear winner on the seventh frame when Chan trailed him by a wide margin. The Australian pro bowler capped the 195-148 victory with a pair of strikes to conclude the two-week, 11-country tour-

ney supported by Cafe Puro, Smart Communications and Boysen Paints. Chan lined his pockets with P250,000 and Macatula got P125,000 for placing third in the meet backed by Prima Pasta, The City Bowling Shop, Jollibee, The Bowler, Timberpro, Young’s Town Sardines, Vectron Trade Corporation, Black Arrow Express and Fujihaya LS. Del Rosario, part of the women’s team of four that pocketed the silver medal in the Asian Indoor Games last year in Turkmenistan, was forced into a rubbermatch after the comebacking Leon knotted the series after two games.

IN BRIEF Pepsi announces dividend payout

PEPSI-COLA Products Philippines Inc. said it is set to release dividends to shareholders following a good year with P30.3 billion in net sales in 2017. The company said productivity initiatives contributed to gross margin expansion, while one-time charges related to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law were booked in 2017. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization stood at a healthy P3.8 billion in 2017, growing at a compounded annual rate of 8 percent over the last ﬁve years. Ebitda margin was solid at 13 percent of net sales. The company’s capital expenditure in 2017 amounted to P3.7 billion, bringing total investments in the last ﬁve years to P19.5 billion. Distribution gains were delivered on several key brands leading to a 61-percent distribution level for carbonated soft drinks. The non-carbonated portfolio continues to be a strong product for with powerful brands like Gatorade and Sting complementing the CSD portfolio. PIP is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages and snacks in the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

Business

Alsons registers 26% rise in income

ALSONS Resources Corp. reported a 26.5-percent increase in first-quarter net income to P103.138 million from P81.526 million in the same period last year on lower financing charges. Alsons said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues reached P1.678 billion in the first three months, higher than P1.648 billion a year earlier. The company said the cost of goods and services in the quarter was slightly lower at P1.177 billion, compared to last year’s P1.185 billion “due mainly to the lower fuel costs as a result of lower energy delivered this year.” Net finance charges decreased to P255 million in the first quarter from P270 million a year ago because of the partial pre-payment of long-term debt of the parent company and settlement of short-term loans before the end of last year. Alsons said the parent company registered a loss of P20 million in the first quarter, against the P35-million income earned in the same period last year. Alena Mae S. Flores

REINSURANCE PARTNERSHIP. National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines taps DXC Technology, the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company to implement the core reinsurance solution SICS for its life reinsurance business. This makes Nat Re the first DXC customer in the Philippines to employ SICS. Signing the agreement are (seated, from left) DXC Philippines country site leader Peter Ramolete, DXC Asia insurance industry general manager Prakash Thomas, Nat Re president and chief executive Augusto Hidalgo and Nat Re executive vice president and chief operating officer Allan Santos.

Finance pushes higher taxes on ‘sin products’ F By Julito G. Rada

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government will push through with its plan to further increase the excise taxes on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, despite its impact on inﬂation.

“It is the right thing to do. Just because you’re going to get a bad reaction, that doesn’t mean you are going to stop,” Dominguez said in a news briefing. The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law took effect in January 2018 after it was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December last year. The law cut personal income taxes but raised the excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, fuel and automobiles. Dominguez said the Finance Department would support the proposal of Senator Manny Pacquiao to raise further

the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. “He has a measure in there which conforms to ours. We will support his measure. It’s not doubling the rates. I don’t really remember the exact rates. Let’s just wait for it until he files it,” Dominguez said. Inflation accelerated to 4.5 percent in April from 4.3 percent in March, driven by faster increases in the prices of socalled ‘sin products’ like tobacco and alcohol. Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said the current spike in inflation was only temporary. He said the TRAIN law was a long-term measure that would push the economy to a much higher development path, create more jobs and improve the living conditions for our people. Beltran said while year-on-year inflation reached 4.5 percent in April, the month-to-month inflation eased from 1 percent in January to only 0.5 percent in April. Average inflation in the first four months was recorded at 4.1 percent, over the upper limit of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. “This suggests a potential easing of inflation moving forward. The Bangko

First Gen awaits feed-in-tariff decision on hydro projects FIRST Gen Corp., the power holdings company of the Lopez Group, is awaiting the government’s decision on the extension of feed-in-tariff incentives on renewable projects before proceeding with new hydropower projects. First Gen president Francis Giles Puno said the company’s hydro power projects were “de-emphasized” amid the lack of the feed-in tariff―the ﬁxed and assured rates granted to renewable energy technologies under the Renewable Energy Act. “If there is an extension with the FIT and is clear, then we would proceed but otherwise, its difﬁcult for us to proceed because construction of hydro takes time,” Puno said. The installation target for biomass

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AboitizPower Distributed Energy Inc., a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., inaugurates its first solar rooftop project, highlighting its entry into the small-scale market segment while expanding its already diverse Cleanergy portfolio. APX began operating the 100-kilowatt installation on top of the Aboitiz & Co. office in Cebu City in March and has since been delivering clean and renewable energy to building tenants like ACO and Aboitiz business units AboitizPower, AboitizLand and Pilmico.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

PLDT rejects Globe’s offer on cellular tower sharing

Semirara expects lower 2018 profit

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp., a coal mining and power generating company owned by the Consunji family, said it expects the 2018 full-year net income to be lower than the previous year because of the scheduled and unplanned shutdowns of four power plants. SMPC said it expected to still register a positive net income this year on the strong performance of coal mining business which would offset the impact the recent shutdown of power plants under Sem-Calaca Power Corp. and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. SMPC said it projected coal prices to average $80 per metric ton this year, up from last year’s average of $50 to $60 per ton. It said the higher coal prices, coupled with depreciation of the peso against the dollar, would boost the company’s coal exports. “We anticipate higher coal sales this year because of healthy demand from local and international consumers. The foreign exchange rate and strong coal prices will also prop up our bottom line,” SMPC president Victor Consunji said. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

and run-of-river hydro projects expired in December, but the Energy Department granted a two-year extension or until 2019 to complete the installation of these projects. Puno, however, said the completion of hydropower projects would require more than two years. “It’s a very important resource for the country, and yet it’s unclear as to whether or not we would be given a feed-in-tariff for a long-term investment,” Puno said. First Gen announced plans to develop the 30-MW Puyo hydro plant in Agusan del Norte, the 23-MW Bubunawan hydro project in Bukidnon, and the 10MW Cabadbaran hydro project also in Agusan del Norte as early as 2013. First Gen also secured several hydropower contracts in Mindanao, giving the company the exclusive right to develop

the resources in the approved areas. “We’ve paved the roads already. It’s short of building the tunnel itself. Because the pronouncement is unclear, it is difﬁcult for us to proceed,” Puno said. He said the company was seeking clarity on the extension timeline. “Construction will not end by next year. It takes three or four years… This is different from solar. Solar can be built in a year’s time and solar deserves the race,” Puno said. He said hydro projects had a long term gestation period compared to solar. “And also to give our creditors assurance that it will be bankable, there will be a feed-in-tariff at the end of the construction phase…It’s not clear. Even their pronouncements of extending it is not clear. We just heard that it is extended,” Puno said.

Sentral ng Pilipinas expects inflation to temper and settle to 3.9 percent in 2018 and decelerate further to the midpoint of the target range in 2019,” Beltran said at a Senate hearing. Beltran said the April 2018 inflation was driven by the higher prices of corn, fish, tobacco and personal transport. These price increases were a result of a variety of factors and could not be attributed to the impact of the Train law, he said. Tobacco prices rose 46 percent yearon-year in the first quarter on higher tax collection. “Of the 46 percent price rise, Train only accounts for 2 percentage points of the increase; sin tax for the 4 percentage points; and the rest [40 percentage points] is due to the industry’s response to more efficient sin tax collection,” Beltran said, Petroleum prices increased 34 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018. Of the 34 percent, Train accounted for 7 percentage points of the increase while the rest (27 percentage points) was a result of the higher world prices of crude oil and the peso depreciation, Beltran said.

Aboitiz Power inaugurates solar rooftop in Cebu

ABOITIZPOWER Distributed Energy Inc., the solar rooftop unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., recently inaugurated its first project in Cebu City. APX began operating the 100-kilowatt installation on top of the Aboitiz & Co. office in Cebu City in March and delivered renewable energy to building tenants like ACO and Aboitiz business units AboitizPower, AboitizLand and Pilmico. “We want to show customers our confidence in the technology and its capability by putting it on our own roof,” APX general manager Jose Rafael Mendoza said in a statement. The company is also looking at several other projects in Luzon and Visayas, some of which were set for completion this year. Mendoza said he was hoping the latest project would encourage others to pursue their own sustainability efforts as utilizing distributed energy such as rooftop solar was a real step forward for those who wanted to do so. “We have been in the power industry for more than 80 years. This gives us a wealth of knowledge and technical capability that we can share to our customers who want to go into solar,” Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza said. Mendoza said APX’s main differentiator among other solar rooftop providers was their experience in the power industry. “The positive response from customers affirms our view that distributed energy technology such as rooftop solar complements existing products and services that the AboitizPower group provides,” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores

PLDT Inc. rejected the proposal of rival Globe Telecom Inc. to share their existing cellular towers. “We don’t see any benefit or need to share any of our existing network elements, including our towers,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said. Pangilinan’s statement came after Globe said it was open to a partnership with PLDT for a tower sharing venture to expedite the deployment of cell sites nationwide and cut capital expenditures. “We’ve always said to the government, even before Globe made that statement, that we would support government’s effort towards opening a tower sharing business for third parties,” PLDT head of regulatory affairs Ray Espinosa said. “But it must be on the basis that we cannot be forced to lease those towers. It has to be on the voluntary basis and it must be consistent with our own network rollout―in areas where we want to place our cell sites,” he said. Espinosa said PLDT’s existing towers should not be forced by the government to be sold to third parties. “These towers belong to us and are purpose-built already intended to support the unique requirements of our network. It cannot be shared anymore with another party. The decision on whether to unload our towers is a financial question,” he said. PLDT programmed P58 billion in 2018 capital expenditures to expand fixed and mobile networks. The Department of Information and Communication Technology earlier adopted a common tower policy to speed up the deployment of cell sites nationwide. A common tower means that operators will no longer be allowed to build towers but instead lease space from a tower company. This tower company will concentrate on rapidly deploying towers to cover the entire Philippines adequately, thereby freeing up the telecom operators.

GMA Network’s income fell 49% in first quarter GMA Network Inc. said net income fell 49 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, on weak television spending by major advertisers. The broadcast company, led by the Gozon, Duavit and Jimenez families, reported a profit of P426 million in the first three months, down from P842 million it earned in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues also dropped 13 percent to P3.27 billion, amid the challenging market condition such as the contraction in TV spending by major advertisers. Consolidated airtime sales comprising 88 percent of total revenues dropped 15 percent in the threemonth period to P2.86 billion from a year earlier. “Mixed results were seen in the different platforms with radio and regional TV sales managing to pull ahead versus comparative period’s revenues, while core channel GMA 7 and GMA News TV 11 failed to make the cut,” GMA said. Other revenue sources from overseas operations via GMA Pinoy TV, LifeTV and NewsTV, subsidiaries and digital platform packed a combined revenue of P403 million in the first quarter, a 7-percent improvement over a year ago. “Driving the growth in this segment were revenues from GMA New Media, the company’s subsidiary engaged in the business of providing converging technology,” GMA said. Operating expenses in the threemonth period totaled P2.70 billion, up 4 percent from a year ago. GMA Network said that in terms of ratings, it led its main competitor in nationwide urban TV ratings with an average people audience share of 42.1 percent in the first quarter, versus ABS-CBN’s 38.6 percent. It said that in Mega Manila, GMA’s 49.7 percent average people audience share bested its rival’s 28.9 percent. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Xerox ends Fujifilm merger, to name new chief executive SAN FRANCISCO―US photocopier and printer maker Xerox on Sunday announced it was terminating a merger with Fujifilm and appointing a new chief executive after entering into a settlement with activist shareholders who had contested the takeover. In a statement on its website, Xerox cited “material deviations” in the audited financials of an existing joint venture known as Fuji Xerox that is controlled by Fujifilm. The move follows a lawsuit by powerful shareholders Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, who together owned more than 15 percent of the group and had vigorously opposed the merger announced in January. Xerox added that Jeff Jacobson had resigned from his role as the company’s CEO, along with five board members who were replaced by five new members. In Tokyo, Fujifilm disputed Xerox’s

“unilateral decision.” “We do not believe that Xerox has a legal right to terminate our agreement and we are reviewing all of our available options, including bringing a legal action seeking damages,” the Japanese ﬁrm said in a statement. The company called on the Xerox board of directors to “reconsider their decision.” The new board will be chaired by Keith Cozza, who is the current CEO of Icahn Enterprises, while its new CEO is set to be John Visentin. Xerox said the board would immediately convene to “evaluate all strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.” “Over the past several weeks, the Xerox Board has repeatedly requested that Fujifilm immediately enter into negotiations on improved terms for a proposed transaction,” the firm said. AFP

INTERNET FREEDOM. Participants attend an opposition rally in central Moscow on May 13, 2018, to demand internet

freedom in Russia. AFP

Trump pledges to rescue ZTE of China By Issam Ahmed

ASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump said Sunday he was working with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to prevent telecom giant ZTE from going out of business after it was hit by an American technology sales ban.

*** China on Monday hailed President Donald Trump’s offer to prevent Chinese telecom giant ZTE from collapsing due to a US technology ban, as the two sides prepare for new ne-

gotiations this week to avert a trade war. The fate of ZTE has become a key part of the talks between the top two world economies, with Chinese officials protesting at the ban during discussions with top US officials in Beijing earlier this month. “We highly commend the positive remark from the US on the ZTE issue and now we are communicating with the US side on the details,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a regular press briefing. *** Writing on Twitter, Trump said he had issued instructions for officials to come up with a rescue plan, saying too

many jobs were at risk. “President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast,” Trump said. “Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!” The concern for Chinese workers comes despite Trump’s slogan to “Make America Great Again” and his repeated vows to bring back US jobs, which he complains have been lost to other countries, particularly China. “How about helping some American companies ﬁrst?” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in response to Trump’s tweet.

How once-mighty Venezuelan economy collapsed Women serves soup to supporters of Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate and evangelical pastor Javier Bertucci, during a campaign rally in Catia, a Caracas neighbourhood, on May 12, 2018. Venezuelan citizens will face presidential elections on May 20 amid a severe socioeconomic crisis, with hyperinflation— estimated at 13,800 percent by the IMF for 2018—and shortages of food, medicines and other basic products. AFP

CARACAS―How did Venezuela, once Latin America’s richest country, sink into ruin? As the country faces a presidential election Sunday, here are four key elements in the unravelling of its economy. Oil boom brings dollars The country with the largest oil reserves on the planet enjoyed more than a decade of abundance between 2004 and 2015, pulling in some $750 billion while the price of crude soared. Heavily dependent on oil, which accounts for 96 percent of its foreign earnings, late president Hugo Chavez took advantage of the oil boom to borrow heavily. Venezuela issued some $62 billion in sovereign bonds from the state oil company PDVSA, according to the consultants Ecoanalitica, and borrowed also from China and Russia. External debt increased fivefold to $150 billion. Foreign reserves were $42.3 billion in 2008, now reduced to a quarter of that. Government spending soared, so much that in 2012 the budget deficit rose to 15.6 percent of GDP, while oil was selling at a record $103.42 a barrel. That deficit “was the equivalent of Greece at its worst,” said Oxford University economist Orlando Ochoa. And the situation has not improved, with the deficit oscillating between 15 and 20 percent of GDP since 2013, according to Humberto Garcia, president of the National Academy of Economics. The government says it spent $718 billion on social programs between 1999 and 2014. Iron rule and corruption

The socialist leadership imposed an iron fist on the economy, nationalizing entire sectors such as cement and steel, while expropriating hundreds of companies. It brought in strict exchange controls in 2003, which allowed it to monopolize the dollar exchange and artificially overvalue the local currency, the bolivar. It also imposed price controls, which undermined industrial production. “This prompted the private sector to replace production with cheap imports,” said Ochoa. Today, production covers only 20 percent of consumption, compared to 70 percent in 2008, according to Fedeagro. One of the perverse effects of this state control was corruption. Some firms resorted to inventing phantom imports, overcharging for contracts or diverting dollars to the black market, where the greenback is worth 12 times more than the official rate. Jorge Giordani, Chavez’s economic guru, estimates that $300 billion has been lost to corruption over the past decade. Oil price collapse Venezuela’s horizon darkened when the price of oil began to fall, from over $98 a barrel in July 2014 to just over $47 by the end of that year. It averaged just over $35 in 2016. The country’s oil-dependent revenues took a massive hit. They melted away from $121 billion to $48 billion between 2014-16. In the absence of investment in its infrastructure, PDVSA’s production collapsed from 3.2 million barrels a day to

just 1.5 million bpd last March, according to Opec. In response, the government cut foreign currency imports and distribution to the private sector, compounding shortages of food and medicine. Inﬂation meantime soared, reaching 13,800 percent this year, according to the IMF. Imports, from $66 billion in 2012, will pull in only $9.2 billion in 2018, according to an Ecoanalitica forecast. The spiralling crisis has nibbled away at wages―the minimum wage now buys only half a kilo of meat―and ruined a country whose GDP, the IMF says, has declined by 45 percent since 2013. These are “indicators of a country at war,” said Asdrubal Oliveros of Ecoanalitica. Default The ﬁnal stage of the country’s descent into economic hell came when Venezuela and PDVSA were declared in partial default at the end of 2017. The country faces repayments of $10 billion a year. President Nicolas Maduro, who claims to be the victim of an “economic war” waged by the United States, has announced a debt renegotiation, but is faced by Washington’s ban on Americans buying Venezuelan bonds. The US has also threatened an oil embargo, a catastrophic scenario given that Washington buys a third of local production and provides 75 percent of liquidity. The Venezuelan crisis is summed up in a recent report by the IMF as “one of the worst in the world” in the last 50 years. AFP

ZTE, which employs 80,000 people, said last week that its major operations had “ceased” after being banned for seven years from buying critical American technology, raising the possibility of its collapse. Its fiber-optic networks depend on US components and its cheap smartphones sold en masse abroad are powered by US chips and the Android operating system. US officials imposed the ban because of what they said were false statements by the firm over action it claimed to have taken regarding the illegal sale of goods to Iran and North Korea. ZTE pleaded guilty to the charges in March last year and was hit with $1.2 billion

in fines. Trump has insisted that relations between Washington and Beijing have never been better and he has been working closely with Xi in efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. At the same time, threats of mutual tariffs have sparked fears of a trade war, after Trump accused China of unfair practices that have cost American jobs. The Washington Post reported late Sunday that the White House and senior Chinese officials are discussing a deal that would relax the severe penalties on ZTE, in exchange for unspecified demands from Trump. AFP

Most Asian stock markets gain after Wall Street rally; ringgit up HONG KONG―Most Asia markets rose Monday as investors built on last week’s rally, with another healthy lead from Wall Street providing support, but oil prices retreated from their three-anda-half-year highs. Malaysia’s ringgit recovered from an early sell-off to sit flat while stocks were up 0.5 percent in Kuala Lumpur as trading resumed after last week’s general election that saw a shock win for 92-year-old former premier Mahathir Mohamad. While analysts had expected a sharp drop in equities, they said Mahathir had soothed many concerns by giving key posts to people seen as market-friendly. “We have turned mildly positive over the short term,” Danny Wong, chief executive officer at Areca Capital, told Bloomberg News. “Most of the local funds have turned slightly positive with more clarity from Mahathir after he announced the 10 key ministries plus an elder council. Confidence is returning.” Investors will be keeping a close eye on China-US trade talks this week, with President Xi Jinping’s top economics of-

ficial and Vice Premier Liu He visiting Washington after a high-level meeting in Beijing earlier in May ended without any agreement. Hopes that the two sides can avert a trade war were boosted Sunday when Donald Trump said he was working with Xi to prevent telecom giant ZTE from going out of business after it was hit by a US technology sales ban. The US leader tweeted that he had asked officials to come up with a rescue plan, saying too many jobs were at risk, seeming to offer an olive branch. Hong Kong led gains in Asia Monday, surging 1.1 percent, while Shanghai added 0.3 percent. Tokyo ended up 0.5 percent, with Fujifilm climbing 1.6 percent after US photocopier and printer maker Xerox pulled out of a $6.1-billion merger deal. Analysts said the move was welcomed by traders who thought the deal was not good for Fujifilm. Sydney added 0.3 percent and Wellington gained 0.4 percent while Taipei piled on 0.9 percent. However, Seoul and Singapore were slightly down. AFP

IN BRIEF

ducer, aims to boost crude oil production capacity from 3.2 million barrels per day at present to 3.5 million bpd at the end of the year. AFP

UAE investing $45b to expand reﬁneries

Japan Airlines bares own budget airline

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates— Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. on Sunday announced a $45-billion ($38-billion-euro) investment to modify an existing facility into one of the world’s largest integrated refining and petrochemicals plants. The project aims to boost ADNOC’s refining capacity by 65 percent to 1.5 million barrels per day by 2025, the state-owned firm’s CEO Sultan al-Jaber told a downstream investment forum. The work will upgrade the refining and petrochemicals plant at Ruwais in partnership with international energy firms, he said. ADNOC also plans to treble petrochemicals output at Ruwais from the current 4.5 million tons per year to 14.5 million tons a year, he said. Abu Dhabi, one of seven states in the United Arab Emirates, holds more than 90 percent of the federation’s 98 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. In November, Abu Dhabi announced plans to invest $109 billion (81 billion euros) in the energy sector over the next five years. The UAE, Opec’s fourth largest pro-

TOKYO―Japan Airlines (JAL) on Monday announced plans to launch a budget airline, hoping to take advantage of an expected expansion in the nation’s lowcost market ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The new carrier would run medium-haul international services between Tokyo and major cities in Asia, the US and Europe from summer 2020, JAL said in a statement. The carrier, which will be named later, will become a subsidiary of JAL, the ﬁrm said, adding it may seek other investors to expand its business model. JAL has thus far limited its low-cost operations to its partial control of Jetstar Japan, which is owned by JAL and Australia’s Qantas Group. With the new carrier, “the company aims to create new demand, working along with the successful services provided by Jetstar Japan”, it said. In March rival ANA Holdings announced plans to integrate its low-cost carrier afﬁliates Peach Aviation and Vanilla Air to create the nation’s biggest budget carrier after Jetstar. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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IN BRIEF Indian college banned from conducting examinations NEW DELHI—An Indian college has been banned from conducting examinations after it cut off the sleeves of women candidates for nursing tests to prevent cheating, officials said Monday. Video shown on Indian TV showed staff at the school using scissors and razor blades to slash the women’s sleeves before allowing them into the exam building on Sunday. Many of the women can be seen carrying the ripped-off sleeves into the exam hall as dozens of police stand guard outside in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar state. The act sparked protests outside other exam centers and a torrent of complaints on social media. District education officer Lalan Prasad Singh said the sleeves were cut to protect the candidates but added that a probe had been launched to find who was responsible. “The school has been barred from holding exams,” he told reporters when confronted over the outcry. AFP

Another family behind Indonesia suicide bombings SURABAYA—A family of five, including a child, carried out the suicide bombing of a police headquarters in Indonesia’s second city Surabaya on Monday, police said, a day after a deadly wave of attacks on churches staged by another family. The spate of bombings has rocked Indonesia, with the Islamic State group claiming the church attacks and raising fears about its influence in Southeast Asia as its dreams of a Middle Eastern caliphate fizzle. Indonesia has long struggled with Islamist militancy, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed over 200 people-mostly foreign tourists—in the country’s worst-ever terror attack. Security forces have arrested hundreds of militants during a sustained crackdown that smashed some networks, and most recent attacks have been low-level and targeted domestic security force. But that changed Sunday as a family of six—including two young girls—staged suicide bombings of churches during morning services in the country’s second biggest city Surabaya, killing 14. AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

California coastline stripped of plants prized in Asia LOS ANGELES―The tip came from a woman standing in line at a post office in a small town in northern California. A customer was shipping dozens of boxes to China, and the caller suspected they were filled with abalone, a highly-prized shellfish listed as an endangered species. But fish and wildlife officers who responded to the call instead uncovered an international smuggling ring that has been stripping the bluffs along the northern

California coastline of Dudleya succulent plants and shipping them to countries in Asia where they are used for decoration. “The poachers literally fly into the US just to get these plants so they can ship them to Korea, China or Japan,” said Captain Patrick Foy, of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “They are ripping them out of the ground and selling them between $40 and $50 dollars a piece.” The plant, which grows in bud-like cir-

cles and resembles an artichoke, is called Dudleya farinosa and is native to the rugged coastlines of Oregon and northern California. Foy said several suspects from Asia have been arrested in recent months in connection with the heists, including two Koreans and one Chinese national who were nabbed on April 4. The trio had entered the country as tourists and were detained as they were

‘N. Korea will never completely give up nukes’ SEOUL—North Korea will never completely give up its nuclear weapons, a top defector said ahead of leader Kim Jong Un’s landmark summit with US President Donald Trump next month. The current whirlwind of diplomacy and negotiations will not end with “a sincere and complete disarmament” but with “a reduced North Korean nuclear threat”, said Thae Yong-ho, who fled his post as the North’s deputy ambassador to Britain in August 2016. “In the end, North Korea will remain ‘a nuclear power packaged as a non-nuclear state’,” Thae told the South’s Newsis news agency. His remarks come ahead of an unprecedented summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore on June 12, at which North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are expected to dominate the agenda. North and South Korea affirmed their commitment to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula at a summit last month, and Pyongyang announced at the weekend it would destroy its only known nuclear test site next week. AFP

about to ship 1,334 of the plants overseas. An additional 1,000 Dudleya were later found in their hotel room. The three men―Tae Hun Kim, 52, and Tae Hyun Kim, 46, both of North Korea, and Liu Fengxia, 37, of China―are scheduled to appear in a California court on May 16, charged with several felony and misdemeanor counts. If convicted, they face up to nine years in prison and steep fines. AFP

US set to move embassy in Israel J

ERUSALEM―The United States moves its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem on Monday after months of global outcry, Palestinian anger and exuberant praise from Israelis over President Donald Trump’s decision tossing aside decades of precedent.

While a White House delegation and Israeli officials gather for the inauguration ceremony Monday afternoon, Palestinians are expected to protest in large numbers near the Gaza border with Israel and perhaps elsewhere. Hundreds were already beginning to gather in Gaza on Monday morning and preparations were being made. Piles of tyres were being delivered to the border to be set alight and buses were shuttling demonstrators from cities to the border area. There are concerns the Gaza protests

less than 100 kilometers away will turn deadly if Palestinians attempt to damage or cross the fence with Israeli snipers positioned on the other side. The inauguration that follows Trump’s December 6 recognition of the disputed city as Israel’s capital also comes at a time of heightened regional tensions. It follows Trump’s announcement last week that the United States is withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and Israeli strikes two days later on dozens of Iranian targets in Syria.

Those strikes came after rocket fire toward Israeli forces in the occupied Golan Heights that Israel blamed on Iran. The Trump administration has vowed to restart the moribund Middle East peace process but the embassy move has inflamed feelings. On Sunday, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri released a new message saying America’s decision was evidence that “appeasement” has failed Palestinians, as he urged Muslims to carry out jihad against the United States, according to a transcript provided by the SITE monitoring agency. Monday’s inauguration ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) will include some 800 guests—though not Trump himself—at what until now had been a US

consulate building in Jerusalem. US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will lead the Washington delegation that includes Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, both White House aides, as well as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly called Trump’s decision “historic,” welcomed them at a reception on Sunday. “Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for the past 3,000 years,” he said. “It’s been the capital of our state for the past 70 years. It will remain our capital for all time.” Sullivan called the embassy “a long overdue recognition of reality.” AFP ERRATUM

The following is the correct amount that should appear in the Published Statement of Condition of CTBC BANK (PHILIPPINES) CORP. as of March 31, 2018. AMOUNTS CURRENT QUARTER

PREVIOUS QUARTER

Non-performing Loans (NPLs) c. Net NPLs PhP 216,449,999.89 0.68% d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%)

Standard Manila

TODAY

Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard

TODAY National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Mandaluyong City Branch 211

IN RE: PETITION FOR THE AMENDMENT OF CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE TITLE NO. 0082014005612 CASE NO. R-MND-17-00571-LR ALAN LEE, Petitioner. x--------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a verified petition filed by the petitioners praying that an Order be issued by this Court ordering the amendment of Condominium Certificate of Title No. 0082014005612 to reflect Alan Lee as owner and to order the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, after the payment of the prescribed fees, to issue a new Owner’s Duplicate Condominium Certificate of Title.

Sandstorms, thunderstorms kill at least 70 in India NEW DELHI—At least 70 people have been killed and over 100 injured after a fresh wave of violent sandstorms and thunderstorms battered India, officials said Monday. Winds of over 100 kilometers per hour struck parts of north, east and southern India late Sunday, uprooting trees, electricity pylons and damaging houses, officials from federal and state disaster management agencies said. Forty people were killed by hail and thunderstorms that brought down walls, trees and power pylons in Uttar Pradesh state, T. P. Gupta of the state disaster management department told AFP. Another 80 were injured by the winds that flattened nearly 40 houses across India’s most populous state. Another 14 people were killed Sunday by thunderstorms in West Bengal and 12 by lightning bolts in Andhra Pradesh. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

SANDSTORM. Indian commuters drive during a sandstorm in Allahabad on May 13, 2018. AFP

Russia moves to save Iran’s nuclear agreement MOSCOW―Iran’s foreign minister said on a visit to Moscow on Monday he was seeking “assurances” from the backers of the country’s nuclear deal after the US pulled out. Russia is trying to keep the landmark 2015 accord alive in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s decision, pushing it into rare cooperation with Europe. “The final aim of these negotiations is to seek assurances that the interests of the Iranian nation will be defended,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. Lavrov, meanwhile, said Russia and Europe had a duty to “jointly defend their legal interests” in terms of the deal. Zarif’s diplomatic tour took him to Beijing at the weekend and will see him visit Brussels later in the week, as the international backers of the agreement scramble to save it. After meeting his Chinese counterpart on Sunday, Zarif said he was hopeful of forging a “clear future design” for the accord. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already spoken with Germany’s Angela Merkel and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the efforts, after voicing his “deep concern” over Trump’s decision. Trump’s move to ditch the nuclear deal has infuriated Washington’s allies in Europe as well as China and Russia. “[European] cooperation with Russia, which until recently seemed impossible because of the Skripal [spy poisoning] case, with the expulsion of diplomats and the reduction of contact, is now receiving a fresh boost,” consultant Andrei Baklitski of the PIR Center NGO said.

“The Europeans, after the withdrawal of the US from the deal, have found themselves forced to save the Joint Cooperative Plan of Action themselves,” he told AFP. Moscow would have to play a key role in ensuring Tehran does not resume its nuclear program, he added. On Sunday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington still wants to work with Europe to counter Iran’s “malign behaviour”. AFP ATTENTION: STOCKHOLDERS OF PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION (PSC) This is to inform everyone that the PSC’s 2nd Quarter Interim Unaudited Financial Statement with Management Discussion and Analysis (2nd Quarter Report) shall be available in the company website www.7eleven.com.ph at least 5 calendar days before the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting scheduled on July 19, 2018. Upon request, a hard copy of the 2nd Quarter Report shall be provided free of charge as soon as available but not later than at least 5 days before July 19, 2018. All request may be sent to: Mr. LAWRENCE M. DE LEON Head Finance & Accounting Services Philippine Seven Corporation 7th Floor, The Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City,1550 Email Address: investor-relations@7-eleven.com.ph psc-corp@7-eleven.com.ph

1.01. That petitioner Ms. Alan Lee is an Australian, divorced, with address c/o MARTELINO BACUNGAN & ASSOCIATES, Unit 2201, Atlanta Centre, Annapolis St., Greenhills, City of San Juan, where notices and summons can be served. 1.02. That Mr. Lee, along with his former wife Susan Song Lee (“Ms. Lee”), are the registered owners of a condominium, Unit 2801 Cityland Shaw Tower Condominium, located at St. Francis Corner Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong. 1.02.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition are certified true copies of Condominium Certificate of Title No. 008-2014005621, herein marked as Annex “A”, 1.02.2. Ms. Lee is an American citizen and a resident of 3785 Wilshire Boulevard Unit 1211, Los Angeles, California, USA. 1.03. That last January 23, 2011, Mr. Lee and Ms. Lee were joined in marriage before Minister Alan Katz of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA. 1.03.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as Annex “B” is a photocopy of their Marriage Contract with registry number 420111901254 issued on May 15, 2012 by the Department of Public Health, State of California. 1.04. That the said condominium at issue was acquired by Mr. Lee and Ms. Lee last September 17, 2014. The acquisition is due to Mr. Lee being currently situated in the Philippines as an investor and President of Mr. Kimbob Bibimbob, Inc. 1.05. That due to unhappy and irreconcilable differences, the parties agreed to separate and subsequently file for divorce. 1.06. That on March 09, 2017, Mr. Lee and Ms. Lee were divorced in accordance with Australian laws and regulations in the Federal Circuit Court of Australian and took effect on April 10, 2017, which effectively terminates the parties’ marriage. 1.06.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as its Annex “C” is a copy of “Family Law Act of Divorce Order” with File No. (P)MLC10941/2016, duly authenticated by the Consul Felix Pintado, for the Consulate of the Philippines, Consular Section S.S. City of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 1.07. That as they have agreed to separate ways prior to the filing of their divorce, the parties discussed the settlement of their properties. On December 13, 2016, Susan Song Lee executed a Waiver and Assignment of Rights on the two (2) properties in the Philippines that they have purchased during their marriage. 1.07.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as its Annex “D” is a copy of the Waiver and Assignment of Rights signed and executed by Susan Song Lee on December 13, 2016. 1.08. That under Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975, Section 43, Paragraph 1, an application of a divorce order in relation to a marriage shall be based on the grounds that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. 1.08.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as its Annex “E” including its sub markings, is the Certified True Copy of the pertinent provisions of Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975, No. 53, 1975, Compilation No. 81, duly authenticated by Levi Garret Cusio of the Australian Embassy. 1.09. That furthermore, Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975 allows married parties while marriage is subsisting, to enter into an agreement as to what would happen to their properties or financial resources in the event of a breakdown of marriage. Such agreement is coined as financial agreement. 1.09.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as its Annex “F”, including its sub markings, is the Certified True Copy of the pertinent provisions of Australia’s Family Law Act 0f 1975, No. 53, 1975. Compilation No. 81, duly authenticated by Levi Garret Cusio of the Australian Embassy. 1.10. That aliens may obtain divorces abroad, which may be recognized in the Philippines, provided they are valid according to their national law. 1.11. That in Republic v. Orbecido III, the Supreme Court ruled that “before a foreign divorce decree can be recognized by our own courts, the party pleading it must prove the divorce as a fact and demonstrates its conformity to the foreign law allowing it.” 1.12. That as shown above, the Divorce Order, which Mr. Lee secured, conforms to Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975, an Australian law. 1.13. That in Corpuz v. Sto Tomas, the Supreme Court pronounced. “The foreign divorce decree itself, after its authenticity and conformity with the alien’s national law have been duly proven according to our rules of evidence, serves as a presumptive evidence of right in favor of Gerbert, pursuant to Section 48, Rule 39 of the Rules of Court”, which provides for the effect of foreign judgment. This Section states. SEC. 48 Effect of foreign judgment or final orders – The effect of a judgment or final order of a tribunal of a foreign country, having jurisdiction to render the judgment or final order is as follows: a) In case of a judgment or final order upon a specific thing, the judgment or final order is conclusive upon the title of the thing. b) In case of a judgment or final order against a person, the judgment or final order is presumptive evidence of a right as between the parties and their successors in interest by a subsequent title. In either case, the judgment or final order may be repelled

-2,003,512.57 -0.01%

by evidence of a want of jurisdiction, want of notice to the party, collusion, fraud, or clear mistake of law or fact. To our mind, direct involvement or being the subject of the foreign judgment is sufficient to clothe a party with the requisite interest to institute an action before our courts for the recognition of the foreign judgment. In a divorce situation, we have declared, no less, that the divorce obtained by an alien abroad may be recognized in the Philippines, provided the divorce is valid according to his or her national law. The starting point in any recognition of a foreign divorce judgment is the acknowledgement that our courts do not take judicial notice of foreign judgment and laws Justice Herrera explained that, as a rule, “no sovereign is bound to give effect within its dominion to a judgment rendered by a tribunal of another country.” This means that the foreign judgment and its authenticity must be proven as facts under our rules on evidence, together with the alien’s applicable national law to show the effect of the judgment on the alien himself or herself. The recognition may be made in an action instituted specifically for the purpose or in another action where a party invokes the foreign decree as an integral aspect of his claim or defense. In Gerbert’s case, since both foreign divorce decrees and the national law of the alien, recognizing his or her capacity to obtain a divorce, purport to be official acts of a sovereign authority, Section 24, Rule 132 of the Rules of Court comes into play. This Section requires proof, either by (1) official publication or (2) copies of attested by the officer having legal custody of the documents. If the copies of the official records are not kept in the Philippines, these must be: (a) accompanied by a certificate issued by the proper diplomatic or consular officer in the Philippine foreign service stationed in the foreign country in which the record is kept and (b) authenticated by the seal of his office. 1.14. That consistent to the above jurisprudence, Mr. Lee has attached a copy of the Divorce Order, as well as the required certificates proving its authenticity (see Annex “C”) and a copy of the Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975 (see Annex “E”) proving the existence of such law and the pertinent provisions allowing the divorce of Mr. Lee’s marriage with Ms. Lee. 1.15. That moreover, agreement entered into by Mr. Lee and Ms. Lee is valid and binding pursuant to the nationality principle enunciated in Article 15 of our very own Civil Code. Being an Australian citizen, Mr. Lee is governed by Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975. As previously pointed out, the same law allows married couples, during marriage, to enter into an agreement determining the fate of their properties if an when the marriage breaks down. 1.16. That pursuant to Section 24 Rule 132 of the Revised Rules of Court, the said provision of Australia’s Family Law Act of 1975 is proved by a copy of said provisions (Annex “F”), duly authenticated by the proper authorities of Australia and the respective Philippine consular office. 1.17. That the said condominium at issue is free from any lien, except for the indicated encumbrance on restriction, and is not being held in custodial egis. Also, no deeds or other instruments affecting the property have been presented for registration. Furthermore, all taxes regarding the subject properties have been paid. 1.17.1. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as its Annex “G” is the respective Declaration of Real Property for Condominium Certificate of Title No. 0082014005612. 1.17.2. Attached and made an integral part of this petition as its Annex “H” is the respective Tax Clearance for Condominium Certificate of Title No. 008-2014005612. 1.18. That under Section 108 of Presidential Decree No. 1529, an amendment to the registered property may be made by the registered owner upon the following grounds. 1. When registered interests of any description, whether vested, contingent, expectant, or incheat, have terminated and ceased; 2. When new interests have arisen or been created which do not appear upon the certificate; 3. When any error, omission or mistake was made in entering a certificate or any memorandum thereon or on any duplicate certificate; 4. When the name of any person on the certificate has been changed; 5. When the registered owner has been married, or registered as married, the marriage has been terminated and no right or interest of heirs or creditors will thereby be affected; 6. When a corporation, which owned registered land and has been dissolved, has not conveyed the same within three years after its dissolution; 7. When there is reasonable ground for the amendment or alteration of title. 1.19. That hence, Mr. Lee, as registered owner, is entitled to pray for an amendment of Condominium Certificate of Title No. 008-2014005612. WHEREFORE, this Court hereby orders the petitioner to cause the publication of a copy of this Order at its own expense before the hearing on May 16, 2018 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 211, 2nd Floor, Old Muncipal Hall Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City. Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in the Manila Standard, a newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila selected by raffle pursuant to PD No. 1079. A copy of this Order shall likewise be posted in the bulletin board of this court. Petitioner is further directed to cause the service of the copies of this Order, together with the petition and its annexes upon the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, the Director of the Bureau of Lands, the Commissioner of the Land Registration Authority, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Office of the Solicitor General, the proofs of service to be duly proven and established satisfaction of the Court. SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, April 04, 2018.

Copy Furnished:

(Sgd.) OFELIA L. CALO Judge

- Martelino Bacungan & Associates - Office of the Solicitor General - Register of Deeds - Manila Standard - Department of Environment & Natural Resources - Land Registration Authority - Bureau of Lands (MS-May 1, 8 & 15, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

tuesday, may 15, 2018

LocaL government units

Taguig launches first-ever Melon Farming Festival By Joel E. Zurbano THe city government of Taguig has launched its first-ever Melon Festival at the city’s Melon Farm in Barangay Wawa with the hopes of giving due credit to the sweet fruit that symbolizes the hard work of resident farmers. among the 68 farmers who contributed to the success of the event is 54-year-old reynaldo Cruz, who is also the President of the Taguig Farmers association and has been farming in the city, which prides itself as Metro Manila’s “Probinsyudad” (provincelike city) for more than 30 years. “We are happy for this opportunity to promote our harvest. This will help us greatly in boosting our popularity as the sole Probinsyudad in the Metro that in return will help us in retaining the remaining agricultural hectares in our city,” Cruz said. The rapidly developing city, home of the Bonifacio Global City and the arCa South business districts, has managed to retain 202 hectares of agricultural land used for cultivation of melon, rice and high-value crops like kinchay. In line with this, Taguig continues to support the agricultural sector not just by providing resident farmers equipment but also creating a platform where they can exhibit the significance of the farming community and to promote the city’s homegrown products.

World Bank fund to aid Guimaras mango produce ILOILO CITY—Some 171 mango growers and producers from Guimaras are recipients of a P18-million grant in a joint project of the World Bank, the host local government unit, and its beneficiaries. Guimaras provincial agriculturist ronnie Morante on Monday said that 60 percent of the fund comes from World Bank and 20 percent each from the provincial government and the growers and producers to bank roll the “mango production, consolidation and marketing enterprise” program. They have identified three clusters for the project composed of the Guimaras mango growers as lead production group, Jordan farmers’ multipurpose coop as cluster member and the producers. The farmers will receive financing and technical support, among others to produce mango trees, Morante said in an interview. a consolidation area plant will be constructed complete with facilities such as the hot water treatment and boxes. The plant with an estimated worth of P9.3 million is expected to be constructed by third quarter of this year. Production support will start January 2019. during harvest, their produce will be purchased using a pre-arranged price where farmers are already assured of profit. all fruits will then be subjected to hot water treatment to ensure that they are of the required number of days when picked and they are pests resistant. This is one way to ensure the quality of the fruit that will be traded. PNA

WASTE RECYCLING.

To achieve her advocacy of recycling of kitchen and garden wastes, Senator Cynthia A. Villar (center) has donated a rotary composter and hammer mill to Brgy. Aniban 2, Bacoor, Cavite. The composting equipment are being used to process kitchen and garden wastes. The senator, chairman of the Senate environment committee, is an active promoter of waste composting. Lino Santos

POLICE AT WORK. In its commitment to ensure peaceful and orderly elections, the Police Regional Office 8 led by Regional Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz (pictured) pursued armed men at Brgy. Omagonhon, Tabango, Leyte, who allegedly harassed some residents, and confiscated abandoned firearms, which are now subject to cross matching and ballistics examinations. Meanwhile, at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna, the Police Regional Office 4A launched the ‘Regional Director’s Hotline’ (inset) for the public to call and report abusive cops directly to Regional Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar. Roy Tomandao

Solon: Extend Pasig River ferry to Cavite

By Maricel V. Cruz

O eaSe traffic in the metropolis particularly in southern Metro Manila, an efficient river ferry that will take commuters to population centers like Cavite should be established, an opposition leader in the House of representatives said on Monday. “If we can extend our elevated trains to convey passengers to as far as Cavite, surely we can also expand the ferry service so that it can move people to as far as the country’s most populous province,” Makati City rep. Luis Campos Jr., deputy minority leader, said. “If we can extend our elevated trains to convey passengers to as far as Cavite, surely we can also expand the ferry service so that it can move people to as far as the country’s

most populous province,” Campos added. He was referring to the ongoing P1.3billion, 11.7-kilometer Light rail Transit (LrT) Line 1 Cavite extension Project, which is meant to move 410,000 passengers every day between Parañaque City and Bacoor City. “One of the biggest advantages of using our waterways to transfer people and goods is that we do not have to deal with costly right-of-way issues that also tend to

delay project execution,” Campos said. “We are all set to use barges in hauling containerized cargo between Manila and Cavite over Manila Bay. We might as well also deploy commuter boats to swing people between the two points through the bay,” Campos said. Last month, in a bid to fight worsening road congestion, Malacañang decided to establish a new Pasig river ferry service that is projected to move some 76,000 commuters every day. The water bus system, targeted for soft-launch in december, would involve two dozen 50-seater air-conditioned boats moving through 29 terminals in 15-minute intervals. Meanwhile, the country’s first container roll-on roll-off barge terminal in Tanza, Cavite is set for completion next month.

MESS FEST.

Over a hundred kids and kids-atheart flocked to SM City San Mateo over the weekend, as the mall opened its Summer Mess Fest event to shoppers wanting to enjoy exciting summer indoor activities minus the season’s intense heat, with children in a messy dance and play area inside the mall. Manny Palmero

Whiz kids reap honors at global science exhibit Grade school students from Taguig Integrated School recently brought the country honor and pride on the world stage as they won major science awards for inventing innovative yet practical household products. The two winning products, “euphorbia Hirta dengue-relieving Tea” and “Coconut Oil, Basil, and Beeswax antiBacterial and Mosquito repellant Candle” won Gold and Silver prizes, respectively at the International engineering Invention and Innovation exhibition. The event is organized by the World Invention Intellectual Property association and the International Federation of Inventors’ association and held last april 13 to 15 at Universiti Malaysia Perlis in Perlis, Malaysia. TIS’ Kenth andrew Gallarda, Franxes Keisha Joven, and Francis elija Valdez took home the gold award Ivan Gabriel de Lumen, Issachar Philippe’e Zerda, and Vien Kiosoffe Lopez won silver. The teams were led by research advisers and TIS faculty members rosenda Puno, Georgie amaranto, and Grace Binalla. The aboitiz Foundation, the corporate foundation of the aboitiz Group, provided the school’s learning facilities as well as financial support during the threeday exhibition as part of its broader and strong commitment to the department of education Special Science elementary Schools (deped SSeS) project. as part of the deped SSeS project, the science students explained that their inventions were inspired by practical everyday challenges that they sought to address. “Many people today have dengue, especially in our community, and we want to help relieve their symptoms through the euphorbia, which make blood platelets reproduce faster,” said Joven.

JCI Olongapo, RP Energy honor YLEA outstanding student leaders

By Butch Gunio

OLONGaPO CITY—Junior Chamber International (JCI) Olongapo, in partnership with redondo Peninsula Inc. (rP energy), has awarded eight outstanding student leaders in this city with the Youth Leadership excellence award (YLea).

The awardees were rizianamen Wendria B. agbanglo, Gordon Heights I elementary School; allyana r. abella, Tabacuhan elementary School; Jessy Jewel C. Manuel, Special education Center for excellence Junior High School; Paulene Miriel L. Viacrusis, regional Science High School; and Irish Yvonne d. Gamban, Gordon

Height National High School. The other awardees were Jireh Van Kryzler P. Maravilla, Gordon Height National High School; Jaerza dei d. Muñoz, James L. Gordon Integrated School Senior High School; and Joe anthony H. Manzano, regional Science High School. YLea or “Batang Lider award” is an annual flagship national project of

JCI Philippines. “YLea truly serves an inspiration to the youth as what I see in the smiles of the awardees and their proud parents,” said JCI Senator Steve Paulo F. Mayo, Project Chairperson during the recent ceremony held at rizal Triangle, this city. City Mayor rolen Paulino, also a JCI senator, led the ceremony.

Cavite beach passes coliform test NOVeLeTa, Cavite—Beach water here, particularly in Long Beach, has passed the Fecal Coliform Test based on the findings of the commissioned water testing company, Mayor dino reyes Chua said. The water testing company assessed local beach Villamar Beach with 27 parts coliform, while Long Beach has 25 parts coliform, passing the normal 100 milligrams per liter rate. This is the result of a yearlong rehabilitation program created by local government for a massive clean-up drive in the area, Chua said. Beach goers here are now safe to enjoy the beauty of Noveleta

beach, one of the f lagship projects of the mayor. Noveleta Beach tested high in coliform in years 2016 and 2017, with 1,329 parts fecal coliform or 100 milligrams per liter in Lido Beach area, and 881.9 parts fecal coliform in Villamar Beach. Chua encouraged the public to cooperate to upgrade the quality of the local beach and continuously clean the beach. The mayor also put up a swimming pool and other facilities, like inflatable island and other amenities, to help revive the old Long Beach resort of Noveleta.

Life

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

health and environment

@mstandardLIFe tuesday, may 15, 2018

The instant coffee for diabetics

iabetics think that one of the pleasures they have to give up is a hot drink of deliciously sweet coffee. that is not the case anymore, because there is Kaffea coffee.

Kaffea with coconut sugar helps regulate blood sugar levels and blood pressure. it promotes a healthy digestive system, burns excess fat with L-carnitine, and contains vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. “Naisipan ko nang magkape noong makita ko ang Kaffea, kasi nga diabetic ako at medyo mataas ang cholesterol ko. Nagustuhan ko ang Kaffea dahil sabi nga sa akin [it’s made with] coconut sugar. according to my research, mas maganda naman ang coconut sugar than the usual kind of sugar na mabibili mo sa supermarket,” related thaddeus “Noy” Querubin, department manager of corporate planning and Mis department of the Philippine Reclamation authority. Kaffea is formulated with a non-dairy creamer for those who are lactose intolerant. it’s also not acidic. “Kapag Kaffea ang iniinom ko, hindi umaasim ang tiyan ko. ‘Pag Kaffea hindi siya sumasakit. Hindi siya nagkakaroon ng reaction sa tyan ko. Kaya kahit madalas ako uminom wala ako nararamdaman,” shared Querubin. Querubin has been a regular Kaffea coffee drinker for almost two years now. “May ibang kape sa bahay pero ako lang umiinom ng Kaffea. they reserve Kaffea for me, kasi nga hindi ako puwede doon sa ibang coffee na nabibili, like the 3-in-1 coffee vari-

ants. Kahit iyong mga blended, hindi ako puwede. Pati iyong mga galing sa mga coffee shops, hindi pwede sa akin,” said Querubin. Querubin asked around for coffee drinks that use coconut sugar, but, according to him, not even coffee shops use coconut sugar as a sweetener. “Merong Muscovado which is very different from coconut sugar. so i instead chose Kaffea.” Querubin recommends Kaffea to fellow diabetics especially those with high blood pressure. However, he still advises them to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and get plenty of rest. Recently, Querubin was surprised to learn that Kaffea also dramatically improves skin texture and elasticity with its collagen and glutathione ingredients. “Hindi ko alam na may benefits sa skin,” he enthused. “Pero nung nagkita kami ng byenan ko after three months na hindi kami nagkikita, sabi niya sa akin kumikinis daw ako. Wala akong maisagot. Siguro Kaffea helped, dahil may glutathione at saka collagen.” He continued, “i didn’t know that before. Ang alam ko lang coconut sugar siya. i just learned it also has other healthy ingredients that would benefit those who take it as well. Siguro ito ang dahilan bakit ako napansin ng byenan ko.” collagen in Kaffea strengthens muscles, tendons, and joints. it also tightens

Top Ivy...

feel the warmth of the Dartmouth community was also a big determinant, she admitted. Perez shared that the alumni in the Philippines really showed her the meaning of the close, tight-knit community that Dartmouth prides itself on. On top of that, she really connected with tablante. “We connected immediately after he shared his inspirational story—a true testament to the amazing heights Filipinos can achieve,” Perez said. “since then, we have talked every day and i could not be more honored to call him Kuya Zholl,” she added. “When i read Janel’s application, my heart smiled,” tablante said. “she reminded me of my 18-year-old self. Janel was independent, adventurous, and committed to not just changing the world, but improving it.” “to me, these are qualities that all Dartmouth students share. i never tried to inf luence her decision, rather i was just there as a resource to educate her on the amazing opportunities Dartmouth had to offer,” he added. as senior assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth, tablante said Perez’s acceptance to the college was for many reasons, but what shined was the determination in her story to create an impact in her family and in her country, on top of her excellent academic performance. in the case of Perez, even there were

From A1

universities in the United states. it topped Forbes’ “best-Loved colleges” list in 2017 and is part of the 20 colleges in the world that produce the most millionaire alumni, according to a 2016 survey. some of its most notable alumni include Nelson Rockefeller—the 41st Vice President of the United states— and Us chief Justices, several senators and government officials, ceOs, 13 Pulitzer Prize winners, Nobel Prize laureates, political analysts, and professors. they also include academy awardwinning screenwriter Michael Phillips, Grey’s Anatomy creator shonda Rhimes, emmy award winner Michael Moriarty, The Mindy Project creator Mindy Kaling, and David Harbour of Stranger Things. also a high school scholar at international school Manila, Janel also got accepted to other ivy League schools like Harvard University, Yale-NUs and Vanderbilt, and they all offered her full scholarships. but after a month of thinking, talking to counselors and alumni, and researching, she ultimately chose Dartmouth after visiting its idyllic campus. “Dartmouth was not my dream school, although i didn’t really have dream schools, because i was looking for opportunities these school provide,” Perez said. For Janel, meeting ablante was like meeting a tablante long-lost brother. When she connected with alumni in the Philippines, it was like meeting with supportive and nurturing aunts and uncles. nd when she finally made and the journey to Dartmouth, in Janel’s words, “i felt like i was home.” While she had to consider which school would provide her enough financial aid and offer opportunities in service and study abroad program, the spunky 18-year-old ultimately decided on the place that she felt most welcome. itt is no surprise for Janel to feel this way, beNN report cause a recent cNN named Dartmouth one of the safest places to go to school in the Us. the dedication of the school’s alumni and the treatment that Janel t i m e s she had received from tablante to make her to work on her assignments while com-

Thaddeus Querubin, department manager of corporate planning and MIS department at the Philippine Reclamation Authority, starts his day by reading his favorite newspaper and drinking a cup of Kaffea.

the skin which makes regular drinkers look well-nourished and glowing. “Minsan ka-kwentuhan ko ang isa kong officemate. Sinabi niya mukhang bumabata ako. Pero other than Kaffea, ito lang naman ang bagong iniinom ko.

Hindi ko naman masagot that i’m taking Kaffea which has other ingredients and benefits that are good for my skin. Hindi ko alam noon. Maganda pala ang Kaffea. Kaya siguro napansin ako,” he shared.

Kaffea is available at lazada.com. ph, beautymnl.com, SM Supermarket Market Street booths, SM Kultura outlets, Rustan’s, and CityMall GoLokal stores nationwide. Call (02) 477-9920 for inquiries.

Dartmouth King Scholar Janel Perez (right) says Dartmouth senior assistant director of admissions Zholl Tablante (left) was one of the reasons she ultimately chose the New Hampshire-based Ivy League school. Sonny Espiritu

muting in a jeepney or speedwalk at 5 a.m. to get to isM, she did not dwell on her cir circumstances, but instead used them to work harder towards her goal, he added. Perez plans to major in economics and Government, taking advantage of Dartmouth’s modified majors where students can create their own educational path. Her majors, she said, would help in her plan to work on poverty alleviation, focusing on human capital development. Perez has always been pas passionate about helping others, especially unprivileged students, who were just like her when she was in a public-school institution. she co-founded the buting educational support and training Project (Project best) in 2015, whose

main initiative provides Math, science and english mentorship programs to sixth-grade students in her former school. “We seek to close the gap between the quality of education in private schools and public schools and improve the skills of these 6th graders from buting for them to become at least at a better place,” Perez said. the second of three siblings, Perez credits most of her achievements to her parents, especially her mother who inspired their love for studying. “i was privileged enough to have parents who are really focused on my education, my brother’s, and my sister’s,” she shared. Perez believes that her story is no different from any other Filipino student who made it into ivy League schools or made a difference with their lives. “i’m just here to show everyone that it’s possible,” she emphasized. tablante said: “at Dartmouth we really look for academic excellence and potential, but that’s not the only thing we look for. a person’s narrative is just as important—meaning

the way they tell their story. students are all read holistically and, in the context, and what may seemingly be a low score to some can actually be a fantastic score depending on the students’ home, community, or high school.” “We’re looking to see how a student uses their resources in the best way possible; how they play the hand that they were given,” he added. Janel asserts that even a public-school graduate can make it to the ivy League. “i tell them three things: first, embrace your human agencies and stop blaming your circumstances. second, live in the moment—when you’re studying, study; when you’re in class, don’t talk to your seatmate unless it’s related to class discussions; when you’re having fun, have fun,” she said. “and lastly, never give up, because you are going to be hit so many times, and that’s just the way life works, especially for people who are less privileged than most. everyone will struggle, but success will come at its own time as long as you keep working at it.” #DartmouthJanelPerez

Life

tuesday, may 15, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Unknown to many, seemingly harmless personal care products are actually killing our corals and polluting our marine ecosystem. (Photo from greenpeace.org)

3 simple ways

to help save our seas

HE Philippines is home to 22,484 square kilometers or 32 percent of the total area of the Great Coral Triangle. However, 60 percent of our natural underwater treasure is at risk of damage and total collapse due to human activity. Unknown to many, seemingly harmless synthetic sunscreens and microbeads in personal care products are actually polluting our marine ecosystem. Eco-friendly personal care brand Human Nature believes that small caring acts can make a world of difference. in celebration of the Month of the ocean this May, the brand shares some ways we can do to help save the seas even when we’re off the beach.

Sea-saving tip 1: Don’t use synthetic sunscreens

According to a recent study published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are found in most over the counter sunscreens, kill corals and causes DNA damage in larval and adult corals. some tourist destinations are now banning sunblock for these reasons. Hawaii’s Department of land and Natural resources, for instance, is supporting a ban on the use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate on their island to help keep corals healthy. Most commercial sunscreens contain the chemical oxybenzone. This ingredient has also been linked to photoallergic reactions in humans. Human Nature offers a solution that can protect skin from damaging UV rays and at the same time help save marine life with safeProtect sPF 30 sunscreen. Powered by natural actives like zinc oxide, coconut oil, and sunflower oil, this broad spectrum sunscreen effectively protects the skin from skin-aging UVA rays (rated PA++++) and blocks up to 97

percent of skin-burning UVB rays with sPF 30. Unlike synthetic sunscreens that contain parabens and oxybenzone that can harm aquatic life and also pose health risks to humans, safeProtect sPF 30 sunscreen uses an all-natural and biodegradable formulation that is reef-friendly.

Dr. Emelita Roleda, Essilor Philippines general manager, checks the eyes of Dr. Emelda Gandamra-Taib, Marawi City senior consultant on health and social services.

A brighter future for Marawi

Sea-saving tip 2: Say no to nanoparticles

Essilor Vision Foundation, the philanthropic arm of ophthalmic optics company Essilor, has partnered with the integrated Philippine Association of optometrists for advocacy campaign Marawi 2020. At the recent press launch of the campaign, Dr. Emelita roleda, Essilor Philippines general manager, said the program aims to bring vision care to Marawi City and, ultimately, give them hope for a brighter, clearer tomorrow. Through the campaign, the company is set to conduct free eye

Nanoparticles are used in cosmetics and other personal care products to help other ingredients penetrate the skin, even out pigments, and make powders feel silkier and sunscreen less greasy. Nanoparticles are too small to be filtered out by water treatment facilities. When they enter bodies of water, they could potentially damage the cell membranes of microorganisms that are essential in aquatic ecosystems. it’s best to refrain from wearing makeup and applying products found to have nanoparticles.

checkups and give away 20,000 eyeglasses to the people of Marawi. This program is expected to reach its goals by the year 2020. “it may take months or even years before Marawi can achieve full recovery. But what we are wishing for is that through the small steps that we are taking, the people will find hope despite everything that happened,” said roleda. For more information about EVF and the Marawi 2020 advocacy campaign, visit www.essilor.com.ph or www.essilorvisionfoundation.org.

Sea-saving tip 3: Don’t abuse single use

Avoid single use plastics like cutlery, bottles, bags, and straws by bringing your own lunch kit and tumbler when you travel. You can also choose to forgo fast food restaurants that use plastic spoons and forks to reduce your waste; try local eateries instead. on the off chance that single use plastics can’t be ditched, try upcycling them or bringing them to recycling centers. You can also drop off used Human Nature bottles at select branches in Metro Manila. The bottles will used by Museo Pambata for their community-based re-

Human Nature’s SafeProtect SPF30

cycling program. Visit the Human Nature Facebook page for more details. You can also make eco-bricks out of plastic bottles, bags, and foil packets. Get in touch with The Plastic solution via theplasticsolution@gmail.com to learn more. These three are just some of the many ways any individual can do to help save our seas.

Probiotic supplement for kids

IVO faucet-mounted water purifier removes 99.99 percent of bacteria in tap water.

DiArrHEA and constipation due to harmful bacteria are two of the most common digestive problems of children. Probiotics are effective in aiding digestion and improving nutrient absorption. The live microorganisms help maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract as well as help the body defend itself against illnesses. Every person needs a balance of good bacteria in the body. However, this balance is easily upset by a number of factors such as a poor diet, stress, or by taking antibiotics and other medication. Children can get probiotics from yogurt and beverages that contain them. However, the amount and quality of probiotics in those food and beverages may not be enough. Erceflora ProbiBears is a yummy tummy supplement with the combined

WE’VE been conditioned to buy our water for such a long time that the concept of drinking water straight from the tap is practically revolutionary, not to mention liberating. iVo, which comes from the makers of Torayvino, the number one faucet-mounted water purifier brand in Japan, makes this possible, handing the control of your drinking water back to you. Torayvino has a long history featuring sophisticated, superior filtering technology, making them the number one brand in Japan since they launched the faucetmounted water purifier in 1986. The company pioneered the world’s first faucet mount type water purifier using hollow fiber membrane filters in

2-in-1 ProBio-BoosTEr: Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. These good bacteria help prevent gut problems such as diarrhea, upset stomach, and other digestive illnesses. Lactobacillus is good bacteria that are present in a lot of food. A study shows it is an effective treatment against infant colic and even helps improve immunity. Bifidobacterium, on the other hand, helps ease digestive issues such as bloating and flatulence. Erceflora ProbiBears will be available in Mercury Drugstores by June for only P540 (SRP) per box of 20s.

The purest tap water

Erceflora ProbiBears is a yummy probiotic supplement for kids

1988, and it now has an overwhelming 66 percent market share among faucetmounted filtration systems in Japan. its name is synonymous with pure. in the Philippines, Torayvino is iVo. iVo removes 99.99 percent of bacteria in tap water while retaining calcium, magnesium, and other minerals essential to the body. in addition, it removes all the unnecessary components from tap, providing water that is not only safe but delicious. The purifier’s hip design fits seamlessly with any faucet, and the white and silver colors complement any kitchen interior. A basic unit costs P1,980. The refill filter, which can filter 1,500 liters of water on average, is priced at P1,380.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Dennis Trillo joins ‘ON THE JOB 2’ stellar cast

How time healed Andre and Kobe’s relationship with mom Jackie

In a statement during a visit at GMA Network Center last week, brothers Kobe (left) and Andre said they never hated their mom, they were just young and didn't know the concept of forgiveness back then.

ROTHERS Andre and Kobe Paras paid a courtesy call to GMA executives last May 9 at GMA Network Center.

The Kapuso talents were warmly welcomed by GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., and GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong together with the top officials of the Network. During their visit, Andre and Kobe delivered good news to them as they finally reconciled with their mother Jackie Forster. In a statement of the recent reunion, Kobe recognized their childhood and innocence as factors in their silence about their relationship with mother Jackie, “So ever since we were kids, our dad would always ask us if we want to see our mom, but you know, Andre and I made a decision not to just because we’re kids pa lang.” “We didn’t really know what forgive-

ness was, so at least now we realized that we’re grown and we’ve been through a lot, and it’s time to forgive our mom. At least now we’re all happy. Forgiveness is not something you can force to anyone and forgiveness takes time,” Kobe explained. Andre then added to his brother’s account and recalled his earliest memory in show business when he had to keep mum about the issue. “Sa’kin naman po, four years na ‘ko dito and of course maraming nagtatanong sa’kin, and always the ﬁrst question is ‘Kamusta na kayo ng nanay mo?,’ and I’d always say ‘no comment’ or ‘just give me time.’ I’m thankful na you guys gave me time and wala naman po kaming sinabi na we hate her, we dislike her, it’s just like we needed time to heal. And like what Kobe said, we are more mature now,” Andre said.

Both of them are ﬁlled with gratitude for the respect and support that they get from their parents. “They’re saying our dad’s a bad person for not making us forgive our mom, but at the same time, he’s one of the greatest dads ever because he listens to us. He listens to what Andre and I had to say not just with forgiving our mom, but like in basketball and in school he never forces us to do anything. He’s the type of dad who’s just there for us, to support us no matter what so we’re happy na ito yung nangyayari, na this is all happening with God’s blessing,” Kobe said. Andre further said that it was a crucial decision that needs maturity and proper timing, and they have their parents to thank for it. “I just want to thank my dad and my stepmom for always being there for us and our stepmom for treating us like her own. I’m thankful for all the support that you’ve given us by being patient. We are all happy and I hope you guys are happy as well so thank you so much for the patience and thank you again for the love and support,” Andre concluded.

A Daytime Emmy Award for ‘Scars of Nanking’ A+E NETWORKS’® ﬁrst international co-production with Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation for documentary-drama, Scars of Nanking, won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography and was nominated for Outstanding Single Camera Editing at the recent 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Marking the 80th anniversary of the brutal Nanking Massacre by Japanese invaders during World War II, the one-hour docudrama premiered on Dec. 13, 2017 on HISTORY® in the U.S., HISTORY® Asia, and simultaneously on Jiangsu Satellite TV in China. In Scars of Nanking, American missionaries struggle to save Chinese civilians from war crimes at the hands of Japanese invaders and to smuggle out evidence of the infamous Nanking

Massacre of 1937. Many fled before the invasion, but 22 foreigners did not leave Nanking. This is the story of those who chose to stay even in the face of grave danger—American missionaries, some of them educators, doctors, and ministers, all determined to do what they could to save a quarter of a million Chinese civilians. Their stories come to life through actual letters and diaries they wrote themselves during that terrible time. The docu-drama is also supported with a feature-length documentary called Scars of Nanjing: 80 Years After. In this 90-minute special, the traumatic events of Nanking are remembered through Chinese students, massacre survivors, and their descendants. Powerful insights are also offered by experts and renowned historians Ian Buruma, Daqing Yang, Alexis Dudden, and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Christine Choy. “We congratulate our partners at Jiangsu on the out-of-the-box success of Scars of Nanking, which marks a historic milestone for A+E Networks as the company’s first co-production in China,” said Edward Sabin, Executive Managing Director of A+E Networks International. “We are excited to be working with A+E Networks, whose reputation for providing impactful, disruptive content clearly places it among the top providers of both factual and scripted content around the globe. A+E provides the perfect combination of talent and demonstrated acumen required to tell this important story to a mainstream global audience,” said Cao Haibin, General Manager of JSBC Documentary Media Co., Ltd. Scars of Nanking is executive produced by A+E Network’s Christopher Humphrey in Singapore, directed by John Ealer, who also helmed A&E Networks’ acclaimed series The World Wars, and is produced and written by Frederick Rendina, with cinematography by John Cavill and editing by Melanie Foo Campbell. The encore telecast of Scars of Nanking is set on May 26 and June 6 at 9:00 p.m. exclusively on HISTORY.

A scene from the documentary-drama, ‘Scars of Nanking.'

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, May 15, 2018

ACROSS 1 Adjoining 5 Acquired 8 Trattoria quaff 12 Turn away 14 Far East staple 15 Hymn finale 16 Spirit in a lamp 17 Befuddled 18 Run-in 19 Strong-jawed turtles 21 Mountain chain 23 Map dir. 24 Took the title 25 Clairvoyance 26 Twinkled 30 Large blossoms 32 Drama awards 33 Lay waste 36 Nerve network 37 Sing in the Alps 38 Square footage 39 Made clear 41 False name 42 Dots in a river 43 Seven-veil dancer 44 Photo 46 Pacino and Unser 47 Super Bowl roar 48 Mean-spirited 50 Lingerie item 55 Country addrs. 56 Mouse target?

58 Peace Prize founder 59 Parched 60 Giraffe feature 61 Brush the dog 62 “Anything —?” 63 Earth, in combos 64 Thomas Hardy heroine DOWN 1 Finds fault 2 Steady 3 Lucy Lawless role 4 Excursion 5 Tea kettle sound 6 Receive a high score 7 Not year-round 8 Place for posies 9 Opera promoter 10 Comes closer 11 Saloon sign (2 wds.) 13 Plains dwellings 14 Uncommon 20 Finale 22 Wayfarer’s refuges 24 Fluttered 26 Showed use 27 Wild mountain goat

28 Faultfinders 29 Ship bottoms 30 Grants 31 In the least (2 wds.) 33 Taboos 34 Dogsled pullers 35 Soften 37 Submissive 40 Turing or Greenspan 41 Exclaiming over 43 Malone of “Cheers” 44 Feminine

accessory 45 Chip maker 47 Foul-smelling 49 Psychic’s intro (2 wds.) 50 Chanel’s nickname 51 Alphabetize 52 Clarinet kin 53 Tolstoy et al. 54 House shaders 57 Decent grade

DENNIS Trillo expresses his excitement over his new film titled On the Job 2, which is under the helm of critically-acclaimed director Erik Matti. The Kapuso actor will go on shooting full-blast after he wraps up work for his currently airing soap opera The One That Got Away (TOTGA). “It’s a very meaty project—very challenging. It’s simply an honor to work with Direk Erik who is so meticulous in staging scenes. It’s like you’re doing a commercial where everything must be exact. The movement of the car, the rain effects, wow! Every scene, every frame, he sees to it that it comes out perfect.” Apart from Erik, Dennis feels privileged to share the frame with acting stalwart Christopher de Leon in the movie. This early, many expect that sparks would fly once they’re together in a scene considering their stature as award-winning thespians. “Honestly, I don’t see it as an acting competition between the two of us. I have high respect for him. As we all know, he is local cinema’s Drama King. For sure, I will pick up lots of valuable insights and examples from him. Clearly, I consider this as an essential learning experience to further hone my craft.” According to Dennis, the film is supported by a bunch of talented actors. Joining him in the movie are Lotlot de Leon, John Arcilla, Ricky Davao, Dante Rivero, William Martinez, Vandolph Quizon and Eric Fructuoso. “Can you just imagine what a strong supporting cast they consist? To be honest, I got star-struck with all of them because when I was young, I used to watch them on screen,” says Dennis. In The One That Got Away, on the other hand, many of the fans are waiting for his girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado’s surprise guest stint in the show. “I’m afraid it will be difficult at this point since her own series (The Cure) has also started airing. It will affect their momentum if ever.”

Katrina Halili

Dennis Trillo

Many ask if there are times when Jen gets jealous with his sweet moments on screen with his TOTGA partner Lovi Poe. “Oh, no! There’s nothing like that in real life. In the ﬁrst place, they are friends and both are professional actresses. They know how things work in the ‘biz so issues like that are simply inane.” When it comes to Jennylyn’s pairing with Tom Rodriguez in The Cure, does he feel a bit jealous? “Again, there’s no reason why I should feel that. For one, we’re under one management. We’re like bothers already. I respect Tom as an actor having worked with him before in ‘My Husband’s Lover.’ Jealous? I think there’s no cause for alarm,” ends Dennis. *** According to Katrina Halili, she’s unfazed even if at present, she has no love life. “Actually, it’s been six years,” she states. “I swear, in between that period, I didn’t get romantically involved with any guy. I just devoted my time to my daughter Katy who is ﬁve years old now. I enjoy being a single mom. I’m happy to take care of my child all these times plus my career is doing good so I can’t complain.” Does she have any regret that her relationship with Kris Lawrence didn’t work out? “Honestly, none! It’s good that we didn’t get married or else, we could’ve ended as another annulment statistics. And you will shed money just to get annulled.” What’s good though is that she and Kris became friends in the process. “Oh, yes! As much as possible and if both of us are free, we attend Katy’s school activities. Anything for Katy. We also talk on other topics like diets. He shares his secrets to me. We’re so much okay at this point.” She’s 32 now. At what age does she want to have a new partner? “If someone will come and sweep me off my feet, why not? If no one comes and I’m already 35, I would be alarmed. I don’t want to become a spinster. Besides, I still want to have another baby,” Katrina avers.

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

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

Entertainment

Assembling the X-Force in ‘DEADPOOL 2’ AMERICAN superhero film Deadpool 2 introduces an ever-growing stronger alliance of the Merc with a Mouth with returning and new characters portrayed by extremely talented cast starring alongside Ryan Reynolds. Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, Shioli Kutsuna and Jack Kesy join the second installment of the film distributed by 20th Century Fox. The breakout star of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, the highest-grossing picture in New Zealand film history, Dennison plays Russell, who ultimately becomes Firefist. Baccarin returns as Vanessa, the love of Wade Wilson’s life. She says, “Much like the first movie, this is really fun, actionpacked, funny and the true heart in it is very palpable and beautiful.” Negasonic has grown and matured a lot since the last film,” says Hildebrand. “Before, she was really rebellious and I think she still has an attitude, but she’s more comfortable now and not necessarily trying to rebel as much as she is just being herself.” Meanwhile, Uggams returns to play Wade’s unlikely roommate, Blind Al. “Once I put that wig on, it all came flooding back, I just love the character so much, it was fun to be able to do her again. She is fun to play because she is totally opposite of the person that I am.” says the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer.

T.J. Miller is back as Deadpool’s confidante, Weasel. Miller says, “Deadpool is not just a comedy. It’s a superhero film and it’s also action. And so often in those types of films it is almost wholly my job to be funny and get a laugh right before you go to an action sequence or car chase.” Andre Tricoteux returns with Colossus’ body performance. While the character’s voice and facial capture performance are done by Stefan Kapičić, Tricoteux was on set as Colossus during production. Tricoteux says, “Colossus is Deadpool’s moral compass. And of course, Deadpool finds ways to screw everything up.” Reynolds, on the other hand, not only stars in the title role, he also co-wrote (along with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick) and produced Deadpool 2. “Ryan is an incredible comedic talent,” says director David Leitch, “And Deadpool works as a perfect ground for things he really excels at. He took that character from the comic books and made it his own brand.” Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld says, “The best version is what they’ve done with these films because they’ve put the utmost care and love into them and they haven’t betrayed the comic. X-Force is the second best-selling comic of all time. Twenty six years later, now I know it’s never going to fall.” Deadpool 2 opens tomorrow in cinemas nationwide (with early previews today starting 5:00 p.m.). The film is also available in IMAX screens.

YOUNG LOVE.

Jameson Blake and Janella Salvador team up for the first time in a Regal Entertainment date movie, 'So Connected.'

What makes

JANELLA and JAMESON feel SO CONNECTED? K

APAMILYA stars Janella Salvador and Jameson Blake team up for the ﬁrst time in an upcoming Regal Entertainment date movie titled So Connected.

Ryan Reynolds (left) as Wade Wilson / Deadpool and Leslie Uggams as Wade's unlikely roommate, Blind Al.

GMA execs join jurors in PromaxBDA Global Excellence Awards

GMA Network Assistant Vice President for Creative Services Eduardo B. Garcia (left) and GMA Network First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Concurrent Head for Program Support Regie C. Bautista.

TWO GMA Network ofﬁcers were invited to judge in the prestigious 2018 PromaxBDA Global Excellence Promotion, Marketing, and Design Awards in New York this June. GMA Network First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Concurrent Head for Program Support Regie C. Bautista and Assistant Vice President for Creative Services Eduardo B. Garcia are joining an exclusive group of most accomplished executives, creatives, and production professionals to decide and recognize the ﬁnest work in television and promotion marketing worldwide. Bautista oversees GMA’s corporate strategic planning as well as the multiplatform marketing promotions, creative services, media and on-air continuity, and digital media divisions. Under her leadership, the Network’s Program Support Department has garnered multiple recognitions from local and international award-giving

bodies. Garcia, on the other hand, heads the Network’s division in charge of developing and executing branded and integrated promotional campaigns for GMA and its platforms, channels, and programs. His dynamic team of creative managers, writers, designers, and production personnel develops and implements compelling marketing strategies and ensures their adaptability to current and emerging media. Bautista and Garcia were responsible for GMA’s gold medal and silver medal wins as well as some ﬁnalist citations in the previous PromaxBDA Awards. Joining this year’s PromaxBDA Global Excellence Awards are television and streaming networks from all over the world including HBO, Fox, Netﬂix, AMC, Hulu, and CNN. Aside from the global level, PromaxBDA also has awarding events in Asia, North America, and Europe.

The romantic comedy tells the story of two people who get connected because of a stolen phone. With an app that tracks his phones contents, Karter (Jameson) discovers that Trisha (Janella) has his phone. Not knowing that the gadget is synced to Karter’s computer, Trisha stores photos and pictures on the mobile device that Karter can access. And having a glimpse of her life through pictures and videos, Karter becomes infatuated with her. Eventually, he goes on a mission to find Trisha through the clues from the videos and photos. When their paths finally cross, Trisha feels she ridiculously has a lot of things in common with Karter that she immediately feels that they are so connected. Although they had to adjust on the thought that they would be working with a different onscreen partner, both actors admitted that they had an instant connection the first time they met on the set. “He’s very nice, actually. I have no problem working with him at all because sobrang light lang ng aura niya, sobrang good vibes lang, and he’s fun to work with,” Janella told the press during the movie’s media launch. “There was an adjustment of course but after a few projects with the same leading man, di ako sanay na bago, pero it’s always nice to try something new. I think it’s good growth din as an actress,” she stated. Jameson, on the other hand, explained

HOLLYWOOD

that he has always been vocal in his past interviews that Janella is her dream leading lady. “Before, people would always ask me, ‘If you would work with a leading lady, who would you choose?’ I’m like, ‘Maybe Janella, I think maybe we’d be a good match for a movie.’ “I’m like, ‘Someday baka may movie kami ni Janella. Maybe it would come true.’ I actually dreamt about it,” the Hashtags member recounted. The budding actor also pointed out why So Connected is a huge milestone in his showbiz. “This is my biggest role in a mainstreat movie so far. Kasi nag-indie [movie] ako before, so it’s like a big step in my life. Also, it's really special for me because I always wanted to work with Janella,” he said with excitement. Though it is their ﬁrst team-up, Jameson is happy to hear that the staff and crew of the production team is optimismic that his onscreen partnership with Janella shows a lot of potential. “They believe that we could actually pull off the movie. It’s a great experience,” he said. Joining Jameson and Janella in the ﬁlm are Ruby Rodriguez, Rolando Inocencio, Cherise Castro, Krystal Brimner, Paulo Angeles, VJ Mendoza, Chai Fonacier, and Rafael Sudayan. The rom-com is directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. It will hit the local screens beginning May 23. In 'So Connected,' Jameson portrays Karter, a video editor for a web channel.

Janella's role in the movie is Trisha, a selfsupporting young woman, who hopes to help her family.

‘Star Wars’ as big as The Beatles —Ron Howard

Ron Howard (left) and actor Alden Ehrenreich attend the premiere of Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm's 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

OSCAR-WINNING filmmaker Ron Howard said Saturday directing a movie in the Star Wars universe was as daunting as making his Beatles documentary thanks to the intense fan love. Howard, 64, who made the acclaimed The Beatles: Eight Days a Week (2016) about the peak years of the Fab Four, told a news conference in Southern California he felt just as much pressure on Solo: A Star Wars Story. “The level of anticipation is unlike anything that I’ve done. You fall into it and it’s amazing. It was a little bit like the Beatles documentary that I took on,” said Howard, who won directing and producing Oscars for A Beautiful Mind (2002). “I could tell from the moment it was announced, ‘Ron, don’t (mess) this up.’ So I immediately felt the same thing with this. The fans care, and they should care.” Solo, which gets its US release on May 25, charts the adventure-filled past of smuggler Han Solo—made famous in four Star Wars movies by Harrison Ford—before he was the galaxy’s most adored scoundrel. The second of three planned spin-offs from Disney-owned Lucasfilm, it follows Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the second highest grossing movie worldwide in 2016. The latest episode sees Han meet his mighty future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounter the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that sets the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes. “It’s really wild. It’s really exciting and it’s bigger than you can wrap your head around. Particularly being in the Millennium Falcon, is very cool,” said Alden Ehrenreich, 28, who stars as the titular hero. AFP