Manila Standard - 2018 May 21 - Monday by Manila Standard

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WINNING POSE. Filipino-Italian Silvia Celeste Cortesi shows the winning pose that has earned for her the title Miss Earth Philippines 2018 during the coronation night held at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Lower panel shows (from left) Miss Earth Eco-tourism Halimatu Tanador Yushawu from Zamboanga Sibugay, Miss Earth Water Berjayneth Goc-Ong Chee from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Cortesi, Miss Philippines Air Zahra Bianca Saldua from Las Piñas City and Miss Philippines Fire Jean de Jesus from San Rafael, Bulacan. Revoli Cortez

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 95 • 3 SECTIONS 18 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY,, MAY 21, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Actress stuns Cannes crowd with Harvey revelation CANNES—Shoplifters, a heartwrenching family tale by Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Koreeda, won the Palme d’Or top prize at the Cannes film festival Saturday, at a ceremony marked by an emotional speech from a Harvey Weinstein accuser. Next page

Italian actress Asia Argento

Pimentel gives ‘blessings’to new Senate chief

‘Clear, present danger exists’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III said Sunday he bears no grudges against his fellow senators for his impening replacement as head of the chamber. “No issue at all. Change will happen with my happy blessings. Change is coming soon,” said Pimentel, who will seek reelection in the mid-term elections in May 2019. Earlier reports said 14 senators signed a resolution supporting Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III as the next Senate president. Pimentel had earlier said he would be very willing to step down as the leader of the Senate so he can prepare for his reelection bid and the senatorial slate of PDP-Laban, of which he is the president. Members of the Senate majority bloc were expected to hold a caucus Monday to discuss the leadership change. Pimentel said he would gladly accept any committee that may be assigned to him by the majority or the new Senate president. “I have missed committee work the past year and nine months,” he said. Both Senators JV Ejercito and Manny Pacquiao said none of the senators were dissatisﬁed with Pimentel’s leadership. Pacquiao said Pimentel needs to focus on the election campaign since he is a candidate in the next elections. Ejercito dismissed talk that Pimentel would be removed in a coup, describing the choice of a new president “a reorganization.” Next page

Du30 vouches for Faeldon: He was hoodwinked By Joyce Pangco Pañares DESPITE a recommendation from the Ofﬁce of the Ombudsman that criminal charges be brought against former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon over the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte said he still thinks his handpicked appointee is innocent and was just hoodwinked by syndicates. “Let’s talk about Fealdon. Why did I keep Faeldon in my administration? They say that he already has a case ﬁled against him. [But] I don’t believe that Faeldon is involved in drugs. He was just sucked into the vortex,” Duterte said in a speech in Cebu City Saturday evening. Next page

FAELDON

Ex-NSA pushes action vs China deployment of bombers By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

FORMER national security adviser and lawmakers on Sunday warned that China’s deployment of long-range H-6K bombers with nuclear strike capability on a disputed island in the South China Sea was a threat to the Philippines and urged the administration to file a diplomatic protest.

“This is a clear and present danger to the Philippines and our friends in the area,” said former national security adviser Roilo Golez, in an interview with the ANC news channel. He said the move should prompt President Rodrigo Duterte to convene the Na-

tional Security Council and for Manila to ﬁle a diplomatic protest. Golez, the national security adviser during the Arroyo administration, said the landing of the bombers on the disputed Woody Island was too big an escalation in the South China Sea for the

Philippines to ignore and predicted that China would land more bombers on the Spratly islands next. “I strongly recommend for the Philippines ﬁnally to lodge a very strong diplomatic protest because this development is very serious,” Golez told ANC in a mix of English and Filipino. Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano condemned the Chinese move. “It is crystal clear that China is strengthening its militarization of the South China Sea, having deployed an H-6K bomber aircraft after setting up a missiles system just last month,” he said. “I condemn the recent actions of China as this further erodes peace and stability in the region.” China earlier had put up military structures on the disputed islands, and on May 18, its defense ministry brought in the Next page

Five more gov’t officials lined up for Duterte’s ax By Joyce Pangco Pañares PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will fire five more government officials, including the head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, for their alleged involvement in graft and corruption. Duterte made the announcement in Cebu over the weekend days after he asked Justice Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon Sr. and Public Works Assistant Secretary Tingagun Umpa to tender their resignations or be fired. Earlier this month, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo had to resign over a controversial P60-million advertisement deal that benefited her brother’s company. “I’m inclined to fire somebody. I just want to talk to him before I do that. He is an undersecretary,” the President said during a gathering of local executives in Cebu City. “[Maybe] I will fire them in just one swoop. They are about five in the list … No offense intended but public office is still an opportunity really to make money,” he added. In a separate speech also in Cebu, Duterte said the head of the OGCC, Rudolf Jurado, is also on the chopping Next page block.

OIL WELL. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the ceremonial valve opening for the oil and gas production of the Alegria Oil Field in Alegria, Cebu on May 19, 2018. Presidential Photo

Cebu oil find teems with vast reserves—Energy dept PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says the Philippines will earn at least P82 million a month from the Alegria Oil Field in southern Cebu that the Energy department says holds commercial quantities of natural gas and oil. He made the statement after leading the ceremonial opening of the Alegria Oilﬁeld Polyard-3 Well Site over the weekend. “We have been lagging behind our neighbors, and not because we are lazy

or poor. But in terms of natural resources, we are behind Indonesia because they have oil. We are behind Brunei because it is awash in oil,” Duterte said. “If the Philippines had the resources and if we managed our revenues well, we would have long ago achieved parity. Our progress and development would have already been equal to theirs... Now there is wealth that can be found in Alegria.” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the

two wells of the Alegria Oil Field, which he described as a major breakthrough in the country’s quest for energy security, could produce 360 barrels a day. He said initial studies showed that the oil ﬁeld could support a 60-megawatt plant, which could help improve the power supply in the Visayas. “It will help the economy because it will support the local industry using Next page crude oil,” Cusi said.

names on the voters list at the Jose Cardones Memorial Elementary School in Barangay South Village in Taguig City. Norman Cruz, Manny Palmero

News

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

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House caucus to ensure BBL draft approval CONGRESS will hold an all-member caucus to guarantee the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and other priority bills before the end of May, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Sunday. Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said they will meet at 1 p.m. to ensure productive sessions before Congress goes on a sine die adjournment on June 1. “On behalf of Speaker Bebot Alvarez, I am inviting all House members to an all-member caucus on Monday regarding the Bangsamoro Basic Law and other matters,” Fariñas told reporters through a Viber message. On May 15, the House joint committees on local government, Muslim affairs and the special panel on peace, reconciliation and unity unanimously approved the proposed BBL. The proponents wanted the retention of the central government’s power and control over defense and external security. Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte said the final version of the BBL must ensure that the autonomous region arising from it would be financially stable to undertake economic activities in a bid to eradicate poverty. “A vibrant economy is essential to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao,Villafuerte said. “Building peace also requires building prosperity that will benefit the people in the island’s conflict-afflicted communities.” Villafuerte supported the calls to expedite the approval of the BBL for a long-lasting peace in Mindanao. He said both the houses of Congress must hold marathon sessions to do so. Rio N. Araja

DoJ clarifies order on Sereno staff By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday rejected the claim that the subpoenas issued by the Justice department against the staff of ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno were intended to harass them. “Our investigating prosecutors routinely issue subpoenas to any and all persons named as respondents in complaints filed before the DoJ,” Guevarra said in a text message. “That’s part of procedural due process and should not be viewed as an act of harassment.” Guevarra made his statement even as Sereno’s supporters said they were still hoping that the Supreme Court would reverse its decision ordering her ouster for not filing her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. Sereno’s spokesperson Jojo Lacanilao said they were now preparing the motion for reconsideration on the May 11, 2018 high court decision that granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor Gen-

eral Jose Calida and invalidated Sereno’s appointment to the top judicial post in 2012. “Hope should not be lost indeed in this case―even with a slim chance of winning the appeal,” Lacanilao said. Meanwhile, Rep. Tom Villarin on Sunday slammed the high court’s eight associate justices for their quo warranto decision removing Sereno from her post. In a dzBB radio interview, Villarin said the members of the minority bloc had agreed to take appropriate action against Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Teresita de Castro, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr., Alexander Gesmundo, Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta and Francis Jardeleza who voted on May 11 to grant the quo warranto petition ﬁled by Solici-

tor General Jose Calida. “On the issue of filing an impeachment complaint, we have agreed that there should be a move... against the eight justices. The agreement is that, basically, the complaint would focus on the culpable violation of the Constitution of the justices and betrayal of public trust,” Villarin said. Guevarra made his statement after Sereno’s camp cried harassment over the summons the Justice department issued against lawyers Maria Lourdes Oliveros and Michael Ocampo, who have been accused by lawyer Larry Gadon of involvement in graft and corruption at the Supreme Court. “The DoJ under my watch will not be used to advance any political purpose,” Guevarra said. On Saturday, Sereno said Oliveros and Ocampo were asked to explain their work in the judiciary. Gadon, the complainant in the impeachment case against Sereno, filed a complaint against Oliveros, a Court Attorney VI of the Office of the Chief Justice and chairman of the Legal Technical Working Group; Ocampo, a Court Attorney VI; and former IT consultant Helen Perez-Macasaet for allegedly violating the Govern-

ment Procurement Reform Act. The three respondents submitted their counter-affidavit earlier this month. Gadon claims that only two of the eight contracts of service of Macasaet with the high court passed the Bids and Awards Committee, while the six others were renewed by Sereno without the knowledge and approval of the Bids and Awards Committee. “The splitting of the contracts was meant to evade competitive bidding in violation of RA 9184. The mode of hiring of respondent Perez-Macasaet was a form of negotiated procurement through direct negotiation instead of undergoing public bidding,” Gadon claimed. He also claimed that Macasaet’s compensation was P100,000 a month under the first contract and P250,000 a month in the succeeding contracts, “way beyond” the compensation ceiling set by a circular letter from the Department of Budget and Management. “By reason of compensation alone, the contracts of service of Perez-Macaset, upon the recommendation and influence of Respondents Oliveros and Ocampo, are manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government,” Gadon said in his complaint.

Pimentel... From A1

Senator Panﬁlo Lacson agreed, saying there was already an agreement that once Pimentel steps down, he would be given a committee chairmanship of his choice. “Normally, if there’s a coup d’état, the SP [Senate President] becomes minority leader. No such thing here,” he said.

Five... From A1

“Maybe I’ll fire the corporate [counsel] tomorrow,” Duterte said. In a previous speech, the President lamented that the officials he had to fired were his own appointees whom he believed could help him effect positive changes in government. “If you notice, most of those I had to let go are those who are close to me. I’m very sad that they are the very first to go,” he said. “All those whom I have fired are my people. As I have said, I am not perfect. There is no way of telling that the people who are close to you will do this, that you might ever fall into the trap of believing that you are with a crowd for change,” the President said. The President earlier sacked Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III as well as all high officials of the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor for excessive and unnecessary junkets.

‘Clear,... From A1

long-range military aircraft and a nuclear bomber in Woody Island, part of the Paracel Islands. “Until when [will] the Duterte administration continue to remain silent on the issue? Is this the cost of our loans [from] China?” Alejano asked. “With the silence and subservience of the Philippine government to China, we are placing in grave danger not only our country, but also our neighboring nations,” he said. Vietnam had asked Beijing to remove military equipment from South China Sea. “It is a shame and utter disappointment that we have a President who only thinks of protecting his reins to power, instead of protecting his people,” Alejano said. Senators also urged action on the Chinese moves. “I condemn the continuous violation of the arbitration award, of the international rules,” said Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in an interview over radio dzBB on Sunday. “We must condemn this creeping invasion of our territory and sovereignty,” he said as he expressed alarm over the deployment of Chinese bombers. At the rate things are going, he added, China might soon interfere in Philippine elections. Senator JV Ejercito, an ally of President Duterte, said that while he supports the policy of being friendly to China, he objected to what it has been doing to the Philippines. “They are so kind to our President, but they continue to invade our territority. We have to protect our territory and ﬁght for our sovereignty. Perhaps through a protest,” said Ejercito. Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said a review of the country’s relationship with China is in order. “We can’t call a country that robs us of our islands and threatens us with nuclear war a friend,” she said. “This is unacceptable. This is a serious threat to the lives of our citizens, an assault on our Constitution and a direct violation of internationally-recognized treaties to which we are a signatory,” Hontiveros said.

Cebu... From A1

“That will be a big help, even though it’s only 360 barrels because it is still a positive development.” The oil ﬁeld covers a total area of 197,000 hectares, with about 42,749 hectares devoted to the production area. It is being operated by China International Mining Petroleum Co. with its partners Skywealth Group Holdings and Phil-Mal Energy International Inc. through a $30.80-million investment. Joyce Pangco Pañares

Du30... From A1 ENERGIZED. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on the sidelines of the Alegria Oil Field oil and gas production ceremonial commencement in Alegria, Cebu on May 19, 2018. Also in the photo is Special Assistant to the President Bong Go (right). Presidential Photo

Actress... From A1

Spike Lee accepted the runner-up Grand Prix for BlacKkKlansman, a searing broadside against racism with the stranger-than-fiction true story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. Jury president Cate Blanchett said the film, which explicitly links the 1970s tale and white nationalism in the Trump era, “blew us out of the cinema”. But the most stunning moment of the night came when Italian star Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by Weinstein at Cannes in 1997, took the microphone and vowed to fight for justice for other victims. “This festival was his hunting ground,” said Argento, who says she was 21 when Weinstein attacked her in his hotel room. “Even tonight sitting among you there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women. We know who you are and we are not going to allow you to get away with it any longer,” she said to cheers from the audience. Minutes before the actress took the stage police in Paris said they had opened a criminal probe against one of France’s best-known directors, The Fifth Element maker Luc Besson, for allegedly raping an actress. Lebanese actress-director Nadine Labaki, one of three female filmmakers among the 21 contenders, earned the third-place Jury Prize for Capernaum, which is set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. Kazakhstan’s Samal Yeslyamova nabbed best actress for Ayka by director

Sergey Dvortsevoy for her moving portrayal of a young jobless immigrant from post-Soviet Central Asia who abandons her baby in Moscow. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski took the prize for best director for Cold War, a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Iron Curtain. Pawlikowski, who won the foreignlanguage movie Oscar for Ida in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been “blacklisted” by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. He said his award was “a rare piece of good news” for his country. Italy’s Marcello Fonte—who was working as a caretaker when he was discovered―was the night’s fairytale winner. He clinched best actor for his muchloved performance as a soft-spoken pet groomer who stands up to a heavy in Matteo Garrone’s Dogman. Three Faces by Iran’s Jafar Pahahi, who was barred by Tehran from attending the festival, shared the best screenplay prize with Italian director Alice Rohrwacher’s Happy as Lazzaro. The Belgian transgender ballerina drama Girl won the Camera d’Or prize for best first film. It had earlier scooped the Queer Palm prize for LGBT-themed cinema and the best actor award for Victor Polster in the Un Certain Regard sidebar section. French-Swiss legend Jean-Luc Godard also got a special prize for The Image Book, a bold, sometimes baffling meditation on the big questions of our time— war, migration and the survival of the planet. Shoplifters was an early favorite at the 71st Cannes festival. It depicts a couple who rescue two abused and neglected children, providing the first love the youngsters have ex-

perienced even as they groom the kids to steal. US movie website IndieWire hailed it as “miraculous” while The Guardian called it “a rich, satisfying ﬁlm”. Spike Lee called his own movie, which many critics hailed as a return to form for the Do the Right Thing director, a “wakeup call” against extremism around the world. “It’s a very, very scary time we live in,” he told reporters. “There is a lot of change but there is a lot of stuff that needs to happen... and with the present [Trump] administration they’re doing many things to roll back the clock which I feel is dangerous.” Beyond the prize winners, this year’s festival will linger for its off-screen moments. Hollywood stars including Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren and Salma Hayek and directors Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins joined a red-carpet protest to demand equal opportunities for women and a “safe workplace”. Two days later, festival organizers signed a pledge to encourage more diversity in its selection by 2020. Despite being one of the most soughtafter tickets, the premiere of Danish bad boy Lars von Trier’s The House That Jack Built saw audience members walk out in droves from what they called a misogynistic orgy of violence. Both its female stars, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough, were conspicuously absent from the red carpet, where Stewart on another night staged a protest of her own by slipping off her high heels and climbing the vaunted Cannes stairs barefoot. In 2017, the top prize went to Ruben Ostlund’s The Square, an art world sendup that went on to bag an Oscar nomination. AFP

He said he was impressed with Faeldon’s work in recovering smuggled cigarettes with fake stamps of Mighty Corp. The tax evasion case slapped against the cigarette manufacturer earned the government P40 billion in revenues. “If he [Faeldon] wanted to earn money, he should have just kept quiet [on the smuggling]. He should not have opened his mouth. That much is clear, that is why I do not believe he was involved [in the shabu smuggling case],” the President said. “Nasabit siya. Naisahan siya dito. (He just got dragged into this [shabu smuggling case]. He was hoodwinked),” Duterte added. Faeldon resigned as Customs chief in August last year over the drug smuggling mess. Four months later and while Faeldon was still detained at the Senate premises for repeatedly refusing to appear at Senate hearings on the shabu case, he was appointed by the President as deputy administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense. Faeldon’s appointment was questioned by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a vocal critic of the President. “Faeldon knows the dark secrets of the Duterte family that’s why, even if he is grossly incompetent, he remains a sacred cow,” Trillanes said in an earlier statement. Trillanes and Faeldon were both mutineers in the Oakwood siege against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003. In April, the President stood as godfather at the baptism of Faeldon’s son. Earlier this month, the Office of the Ombudsman recommended the filing of criminal charges against Faeldon and several other ex-officials in connection with the P6.4 billion smuggled shabu. The Ombudsman’s special panel of fact-finding investigators said Faeldon, former Import Assessment Service director Milo Maestrecampo, former Risk Management Office chief Larribert Hilario and former accounts Management Office chief Mary Grace Tecson-Malabed must face graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

News

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

PH, Russia hold high-level talks on security By Francisco Tuyay

SECURITY TIES. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. meets with Secretary Nikolay P. Patrushev of the Security Council of the Russian Federation during bilateral talks in Russia to enhance security cooperation between the Philippines and Russia.

PH Rise now a protected area—Duterte

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a presidential proclamation to protect 50,000 hectares of the Philippine Rise including the pristine Benham Bank, where some areas have 100-percent coral cover, as a “strict protection zone.” Duterte in a media briefing aboard BRP Davao Del Sur off the coast in Aurora, which is the nearest port to Benham Bank, said the protected area includes Benham Bank which is around 17,000 hectares declared as a no-take zone, and will be closed to any human activities except for scientific research. An additional 300,000 hectares will also be declared as a fisheries management area. Fishing using active gears is banned in FMAs under RA 10654 which amended the Fisheries Code. A fisheries management area is subject to protective measures to ensure that there will be no illegal fishing and overexploitation of the marine resources. The Philippine Rise is a 24.4 million hectare undersea region located east of Luzon, which includes a 13.4 million hectare outer section that was validated by the United Nations’ Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLOS) as part of the Philippine territory in 2012. In 2016, Oceana joined an expedition in Benham Bank, the shallowest portion of the Philippine Rise with a depth of 40 meters. The team documented 100% coral cover in the surveyed areas with at least 170 species of fish recorded. The protection of Benham Bank and the greater Philippine Rise means that this national heritage will be preserved for the present and future generations. Plates of foliose corals look like terraces in Benham Bank. This is a common sight on a bank, and a characteristic of mesophotic or “twilight” reefs, which are found at depths from 30 meters to 150 meters. The Presidential proclamation is expected to set the legal framework for the protection and sustainable management of the Philippine Rise as it is automatically subject to the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, RA 7586. According to Senator Loren Legarda, President Duterte is likewise expected to sign soon into law the bill amending RA 7586, the proposed Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, which seeks to increase the number of Congress-declared protected areas. The bill has been approved by the bicameral conference committee.

CoA tells Bulacan: Fire 81 consultants

By Rio N. Araja

HE Commission on Audit has recommended to Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado to fire 81 consultants of the provincial government for lacking expertise or failing to meet necessary documents. The hiring of such personnel under questionable circumstances violated Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Law, according to CoA. During an exit conference with the audit team, Sy Alvarado instructed the provincial human resource management office to carry out CoA’s recommendations, including the limitation on the hiring of consultants only to those who could deliver expert or technical work outside of the functions of regular personnel, requirement to submit monthly accomplishment reports before release of payment and compliance with existing guidelines for hiring to avoid

wastage of public funds. CoA said the consultants were hired on six-month contracts with wages ranging from P10,000 to P40,000 a month. “The consultants engaged by the management have no technical or professional expertise, with no definite expected output and their services could be performed or provided by regular plantilla personnel,” its report read. Payroll records showed the provincial government incurred P20.563 million as of Dec. 31, 2017 to pay the consultants have reached P20.562 million as of Dec. 31, 2017. “Management failed to set perfor-

mance indicators and standards as basis for assessment of actual services rendered. Likewise, there is no document submitted that would warrant the need to hire such a big number of consultants,” CoA cited. Some of the consultants’ job descriptions showed they were merely duplicating works assigned to regular employees, including clerical, encoding, bookkeeping, and secretarial work. CoA also assailed the validity of consultancy contracts due to the absence of terms of reference containing scope of work and expected outputs, and non-submission of the consultants’ curriculum vitae as well as their accomplishment reports. “The hiring of consultants whose functions are redundant to the respective functions of concerned officials are considered unnecessary expenditures. Hence, some of the consultants’ services can be dispensed with,” it said.

IN BRIEF Solon pushes Dengvaxia test on US soldiers FRENCH pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur must test the Dengvaxia vaccine on American soldiers on peacekeeping missions in the Philippines and other dengue-prone countries around the world, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said on Sunday. “American soldiers on training missions here would be suitable test subjects in further Dengvaxia human clinical trials, considering that the US military itself has for years been trying to develop an effective vaccine against dengue,” he said. He reacted to Sanofi’s plan to seek US Food Drug Administration approval for Dengvaxia to be sold and used in America despite legal woes and public outcry in the Philippines over the deaths of some children who had received the Dengvaxia vaccine. “In retrospect, Sanofi should have sought FDA approval for Dengvaxia before introducing the vaccine here in the Philippines, and before our own public health and drug regulators allowed the use of the biological preparation on our children,” he said. “This is a matter of public record. In fact, at one point, a joint US Navy and Army research program actually began human clinical trials for another candidate vaccine against dengue,” he added. Rio Araja

Name names, House deputy dares DILG

ADEQUATE SUPPLY. MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco, flanked by Manila Water COO Ding Carpio and Maynilad COO Randy Estrellado, takes on water supply concerns during the Wednesday Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.

MWSS, concessionaires vow water supply security in 25 years THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and its concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water reassured customers of adequate water supply even as the agency unveiled various water supply projects to attain water security in the next 25 or 50 years. “There is no problem with water and I would like to assure all consumers that there is a continuing effort to ensure water security under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said. “We realize that

NATIONAL Security Adviser and Director General of the National Security Council Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr., led a high-level interagency delegation in talks with top Russian security officials held Friday in Moscow. Esperon and his Russian counterpart, Secretary Nikolay P. Patrushev of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, noted that the Philippines-Russia security relations are moving on the right track following the conclusion last year of key framework agreements on security, defense, military-technical, law enforcement, and legal cooperation. “Our security relations have indeed grown since President Rodrigo Roa Duterte decided to elevate Russia to become one of our important bilateral partners. Much has been achieved in the past two years, but there is still so much room for growth. We see more avenues for enhanced security cooperation between our military and law enforcement agencies,” Esperon stressed. At the second NSC-SCRF consultations, the Philippines and Russia reaffirmed their mutual interest in strengthening cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, drugtrafficking, transnational crimes, and cybercrimes, among others. Both countries, Esperon said, are committed to pursue regular dialogue at the senior official and technical level, information and database-sharing, as well as training and other capacity-building activities. They likewise exchanged views on regional and international issues. “The Philippines is interested in looking at Russian defense technologies for its security agencies. Russia is known for its high quality yet relatively affordable equipment. It can be a reliable partner in this regard,” Esperon added.

there is a pressing need for new water supply sources due to the increasing demand. Definitely, the increasing population in Metro Manila and nearby provinces needs the additional water supply,” Velasco said. The MWSS chief made the statement at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay where he was joined by Manila Water COO Ding Carpio and Maynilad COO Randy Estrellado who both assured the public of continuing water supply and clarified issues on their concerted efforts on water security, waste-

water treatment plants and sewerage and watershed conservation. Aside from enough water supply, Velasco said “MWSS is focused on providing clean and potable water, honest and dedicated public service as we respect concession agreements.” He also expressed full support to the government’s infrastructure program notably President Duterte’s Build-Build-Build project and his other programs.” He cited the Kaliwa Dam project, one of Duterte administration’s flagship projects and forms part of the water se-

curity security, that will finally take off to provide additional 650 mld water for Metro Manila to augment the existing 4,000 mld from Angat Dam. Velasco said that MWSS is on track in the bidding process of the three prequalified Chinese firms namely—China Energy Engineering Co. Limited, Power China Limited, and the Consortium of Guandung Foreign Construction, Co., Ltd. and Guandong Yuantian Engineering Co., Ltd.—all nominated by China’s Ministry of Commerce under the China ODA.

DESPITE his public apology, Undersecretary Martin Diño of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is not yet off the hook for accusing several lawmakers of vote-buying and other election violations in the last barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls. Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, a deputy speaker, called on Diño to identify the 100 members of the House of Representatives and other local government officials whom he tagged in vote-buying scheme. In a privilege speech, Abu said that Diño must still appear in a congressional inquiry despite his public apology over a radio interview. “But his testimony that I requested in a congressional hearing is another matter,” Abu said. “It was the institution that was affected by Diño’s baseless and unfounded allegations. It is the House that will decide on his fate, [and] not me” he added. Rio Araja

Opinion

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

Why should the Senate be a continuing body? Legislative functions may be and in practice are performed during recess by duly constituted committees charged with the duty of performing investigations or conducting hearing relative to any proposed legislation. To deny to such committees the power of inquiry with process to enforce it would be ONE of the clearest articulations of the to defeat the very purpose for which that the theory of Senate as a continuing body is, as power is recognized in the legislative body mentioned by Justice Antonio Nachura, the as an essential and appropriate auxiliary landmark case of Arnault v. Nazareno, G.R. to is legislative function. It is but logical to 3820 (July 18, 1950). There, the Supreme say that the power of self-preservation is coexistent with the life to be preserved. Court held: But the resolution of commitment here in Like the Senate of the United States , the Senate of the Philippines is a continuing question was adopted by the Senate, which body whose members are elected for a term is a continuing body and which does not of six years and so divided that the seats cease exist upon the periodical dissolution of the Congress of only one-third or of the House of become vacant every Representatives. two years, two-thirds There is no limit as always continuing All these suggest to time to the Senate’s into the next Congress power to punish for save as vacancies may the usefulness of the contempt in cases occur thru death or where that power resignation. Members concept. may constitutionally of the House of be exerted as in the Representatives are present case.Here all elected for a term of the Court links the four years; so that the term of every Congress is four years. The Second Congress of the “continuing” character of the Senate with Philippines was constituted on December 30, the staggered terms of its membership, and 1949, and will expire on December 30, 1953. concludes from its characterization that The resolution of the Senate committing the chamber is a “continuing body” that its the Petitioner was adopted during the first power to punish for contempt does not end session of the Second Congress, which with a congressional term. That of course does not answer the began on the fourth Monday of January and question why it has to be a “continuing ended in May 18, 1950. Had said resolution of commitment been chamber.” In its Resolution in the case of Neri v. adopted by the House of Representatives, we think it could be enforced until the final Senate Committee on Accountability of adjournment of the last session of the Second Public Officers and Investigations, G.R. Congress in 1953. We find no sound reason 180643 (September 4, 2008), the Court drew to limit the power of the legislative body a distinction between the “continuity of the to punish for contempt to the end of every Senate as an institution” and the day-to-day session and not to the end of the last session business of the Senate. Of this, the Court, terminating the existence of that body. The drawing from the Rules of the Senate itself, very reason for the exercise of the power maintained that the Senate of each Congress to punish for contempt is to enable the acts separately and independently of its legislative body to perform its constitutional predecessors. The Court thus proceeded to function without impediment or obstruction. Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Disrespectful

N A ﬁt of righteous indignation, 14 senators have taken it upon themselves to question the Supreme Court’s decision to unseat Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, saying they alone, sitting as judges in an impeachment trial, may remove a sitting chief magistrate. In so doing, the senators suggest they know more than the Supreme Court itself, which under our democratic system, is the final arbiter of the law. The premise of the 14 senators is as simple as it is presumptuous. First, it notes that under the Constitution, members of the Supreme Court may only be removed from office by impeachment. Second, that the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment, and that the Senate has the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. Third, the Supreme Court’s decision to grant the quo warranto petition sets a dangerous precedent that transgresses the exclusive powers of the legislative branch to initiate, try and then decide all cases of impeachment. The senators therefore resolved “to express the sense of the Senate to uphold the Constitution on the matter of removing a chief justice from office, and respectfully

urge the Supreme Court to review its decision to nullify the appointment” of Sereno. The resolution seems muted in comparison to the statements issued by opposition senators who initiated it, but even the addition of the word “respectfully” is inadequate to hide its presumptuousness and ultimately, its lack of respect for a separate and co-equal branch of government. Ironically, the same resolution that intrudes on the judicial branch speaks of the need for all co-equal branches to work in harmony. What the 14 senators choose to ignore is that quo warranto process is distinct and separate from impeachment. The quo warranto case argues that Sereno was never qualified to be a chief justice in the first place, and that she held that position illegally from the time she was appointed in 2012. As such, she enjoys no protection as an impeachable official. None of this takes away from the exclusive right of the House to initiate impeachment proceedings, or the Senate’s right to

try and decide such cases. Some senators, such as Senator Panfilo Lacson, correctly point out that it is premature to even speak of transgressing legislative prerogatives, simply because the separate impeachment case against Sereno has not progressed beyond the House committee of justice. No articles of impeachment have been approved by the House plenary, and none have been transmitted to the Senate for trial. This seems self-evident. But the Senate move to push the resolution isn’t really about protecting the Constitution. It’s about using the Sereno case for political posturing. Some of these same, fine senators chose to remain silent when the previous administration trampled upon the Constitution. One of them, a former Justice secretary, even defied a Supreme Court order. Perhaps feeling a little self-important, some members of the majority bloc—including the Senate president—have allowed themselves to be roped into signing the resolution, too, believing this is an admirable show of independence. It is their right of course, like it is the right of anybody to speak their mind—even when they are wrong. The more respectful approach, of course, would have been to file a petition before the Court to reconsider its decision. But the 14 senators clearly were not interested in showing respect.

’Sic transit gloria mundi’ a play upon the description of Superman, by one of Malaysia’s top newspaper cartoonists. Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque caricatured Najib’s wife Rosmah with a giant diamond ring on her plump finger. Najib reacted with virulent anger, and charged the cartoonist with nine counts of TO GENERAL George Patton Jr., the colorful sedition, which could put Zulkifli behind American world war hero is oft attributed the bars for 43 years. story that in ancient Rome, when conquering After the results of the recent elections emperors entered the capital after a conquest were announced, Zulkifli said “this is the of yet another territory, a slave stood at his happiest moment of my life.” back in the imperial chariot, holding a golden Anwar was immediately granted royal laurel above his head. pardon at the behest of the triumphant While enjoying the adulation of cheering Mahathir, and will one of these days succeed crowds, the emperor was constantly Mahathir as prime minister. His wife is now reminded by a whisper from the slave, who deputy prime minister. How Malaysia has uttered, “sic transit turned full circle is gloria mundi.” a lesson in politics Thus passes the that has happened glory of the world. elsewhere, even in Graft is a function The tradition this country. But was carried somehow, lessons of wants. If you keep to over to the Holy are not learned, and your needs, and do not Roman Empire, history does repeat indulge in wants, then such that newly itself in various elected popes are transmogrifications. the temptation towards interrupted by a Rosmah and graft becomes less and papal master of Najib remind us of ceremonies as many other Filipino less. he walks from politicians, past and the sacristy of St. present. But while Peter’s Basilica Najib is surely on who intones, his way to prison, in “Pater Sanctae, sic transit gloria mundi,”” our country, they do not die, they do not get reminding the supreme pontiff about the incarcerated, they get resurrected to power. temporary nature of power and authority. *** The widely known Latin phrase came to There is a lesson all public officials must mind as I read about the raid on the house learn, as they transit from anonymity to of former Malaysian prime minister Najib glory, or from private to public, insofar Razak and his wife Rosmah a few days ago. as the “spoils” of power are concerned. The report I read from the New York Times Sometimes we learn too late; sometimes we described containers filled with boxes of are forewarned. Hermes’ Birkin bags and designer suitcases An economist-friend who served with filled with cash and jewelry, among other honor under the Marcos era once intimated: mementoes of ostentatious luxury. “Graft is a function of wants. If you keep to I guess they are now mementoes, as in your needs, and do not indulge in wants, then “memento mori.” Which is another way of the temptation towards graft becomes less expressing “sic transit.” and less.” Razak, who has survived a scandalous He said it in jargon economic students can expose on his mishandling of the One relate to. But what he said is both a moral Malaysian Development Fund years ago, lesson and a practicum in political praxis. and has tightened his grip on power by Najib had everything he needed even stacking the recent electoral exercise with before he became prime minister after every possible hindrance to defeat, suffered Mahathir retired. Educated in the best British a devastating blow when despite all these, schools, an aristocrat sired by a former Malaysians rejected his Umno at the polls a founding father of Malaysia, he and his wife scant 12 days ago. need not have indulged in more wants than He was defeated by 92-year old retiree they needed. Mahathir Mohammad, who had to partner *** with his vilified arch-enemy, Anwar Ibrahim Take a close look at Rodrigo Roa Duterte. who he himself threw in jail and Najib kept He is well-loved because despite all the imprisoned, in a new coalition built for the power that he has accumulated as mayor of purpose of deposing Razak. Mindanao’s premier city and the nation’s Mr. Najib was called the “Man of Steal,” Turn to A5

In a fighting mood SHE’S no longer serene. With some people still kicking her when she’s already down, ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is in a ﬁghting mood. She has dared President Rodrigo Duterte to resign, recalling he had once challenged her and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that all three of them resign together. This, even as Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin also sought the impeachment of the eight associate justices who voted to remove Sereno via quo warranto proceedings. Vilarin was joined in the “impeach the eight” move by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and six other opposition solons at the House of Representatives.

I just don’t want to see the political powersthat-be to commit injustice to the former chief justice. Duterte also drew criticism for his discrimination against women. Gabriela the activist women’s group took Duterte to task for saying he does not want the next Ombudsman to be a woman. Gabriela asked the President why not, and why he feels threatened by women— citing his disdain for female ofﬁcials like Sereno, Vice President Leni Robredo and his remark for soldiers to shoot captured women members

of the New People’s Army in their private parts. Sorry, I can’t repeat nor quote what he said about where to shoot them. Only a foulmouthed man can say what the President said. On my part I don’t think Digong is really a misogynist or someone who hates women. There is a second Mrs. Duterte named Honeylet Avancena. Although they are not married, she appears at official functions and even travels with the President on his official trips abroad. Filipinos have accepted Honeylet as the official partner. President Duterte has also appointed women to his Cabinet, most recently Bernadette Romulo—Puyat as Tourism secretary to replace the anomaly tainted Wanda Tulfo Teo. Prior to that he appointed Gina Lopez as secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. Gina, however, was rejected by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. His latest appointment, that of the widowed Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: manilastandard.net 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

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

The Senate votes CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ IF WE go by the reports, by now some 14 senators should have signed a resolution urging the Supreme Court to review its decision ousting Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno as Chief Justice on quo warranto. The resolution principally authored by Liberal Party President Francis Pangilinan and co-authored by Senators Angara, Poe, Aquino and Senate President Pimentel (all of whom are expected to run for reelection next year); Drilon, Hontiveros, de Lima and Trillanes (all of whom together with Pangilinan make up the Senate minority) and Senate President Pro Tempore Recto, Escudero, Legarda, Villanueva and Gatchalian (all of whom usually vote with the majority and considered part of the ruling coalition) anchored their demand on what they considered three fundamental issues, namely, executive overreach (the SolGen, a presidential appointee now has a new weapon against impeachable officials), judicial independence and with it the separation of powers of the three main branches of government. It should be noted that seven of the 14 signatories (Drilon, Trillanes, Pimente, Escudero, Recto, Legarda and Pangilinan) were part of the Group of 20 who voted to oust then Chief Justice Corona in 2011 on the highly questionable ground of not filing the correct SALN. This, despite the fact that Corona was able to explain and was poised to correct his SALN as provided for by law and, more importantly, exposed the manipulations made on his alleged wealth which were meant to publicly shame and seal his ouster. Why these senators have put this issue at the center of national debate at this point when their time and energy should instead be devoted to other more pressing matters —such as, among others, the review and codification of all labor and employment laws, for example, to ensure that the matter of Endo (labor-only contracting) affecting millions of our workers in both public and private sectors and the travails of our OFWs as well as the optimization of their benefits and contributions to society, the sad state of

Why... From A4

rule that the publication of the Rules of one Senate did not satisfy the requirement that rules be published, for succeeding Senates. We are therefore taken a step farther, but really not too far, for insofar as the “continuance” of the Republic’s institutions are concerned, this would not be peculiar nor particular to the Senate but to all institutions of the Republic laid down by the Constitution. But is there something more, something analogous to the Supreme Court’s “continuity” by which it takes judicial notice of its own decisions in previous cases and by which its present acts bind future acts of the Court unless a future Court should deliberately and collegially vote to alter its course. In League of Cities of the Philippines v. COMELEC, G.R. 176951 (November 18, 2000) that saw the high court twist and turn and pirouette of the issue of the cityhood of municipalities that aspired after cityhood status, the Court ruled that Congress is not a continuing body—without any specific reference to the Senate. Congress is not a continuing body. The unapproved cityhood bills filed during the 11th Congress became mere scraps of paper upon the adjournment of the 11th Congress. All the hearings and deliberations conducted during the 11th Congress on unapproved bills also became worthless upon the adjournment of the 11th Congress. These hearings and deliberations cannot be used to interpret bills enacted into law in the 13th or subsequent Congresses. The members and officers of each Congress are different. All unapproved bills filed in one Congress become functus officio upon adjournment of that Congress and must be re-filed anew in order to be taken up in the next Congress. When their respective authors re-filed the cityhood bills in 2006 during the 13th Congress, the bills had to start from square one again, going through the legislative mill just like bills taken up for the first time, from the filing to the approval. Section 123, Rule XLIV of the Rules of the Senate, on Unfinished Business, provides: Sec. 123. x x x All pending matters and proceedings shall terminate upon the expiration of one (1) Congress, but may be taken by the succeeding Congress as if presented for the first time. (Emphasis supplied) Similarly, Section 78 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, on Unfinished Business, states: Section 78. Calendar of Business. The Calendar of Business shall consist of the following: a. Unfinished Business. This is business being considered by the House at the time of its last adjournment. Its consideration

Sic... From A4

largest, followed by an astonishing victory in May of 2016 that brought him to Malacanang, he still knows how to distinguish between need and want. *** What will happen in the Senate, as Sen. Ping Lacson states, is not a “coup”

our agricultural sector and the ever increasing power and water rates, both of which should cause concern from their elected ofﬁcials—is beside me. Aside from putting pressure on the justices and showing off their wares in a contrived debate on a constitutional issue, there is absolutely nothing that the signatories can actually do about Sereno’s fall from grace. If only they have dispassionately read the quo warranto petition ﬁled by Solicitor General Calida, the reply of then Chief Justice Sereno and the 153-page SC ruling penned by Justice Tijam together with the other concurring and even dissenting opinions, they would have come to the conclusion that the issue has

Why these senators have put this issue at the center of national debate is beside me.

been discussed to death so that no amount of perorations can make a difference at this point. In fact, by coming out with this resolution, the senators only showed that their antipathy towards their equals in the judiciary. They have no regard for the independence they are so passionat about. They want the justices to bow down to their wishes. Or else. At the very least, they should have shown a modicum of respect for the members of an equal and separate branch of government. After all, in other, more convenient for each of them, times all of them have bowed to the rulings of the Supreme Court. How many times have we heard all of the signatories at one point of their public life (maybe even private lives if as much as favors their point of view) say that the Supreme Court has spoken, we may not agree with their ruling but we have to accept it. It is now the law of the land. Which is as it should be if we are to be, as these honorable men are wont to say, a country of laws not of men. After all, the

Incremental militarization constitutional provisions of the powers of the Supreme Court and the Senate which actually form an integral part of this contrived debate are very clear. Article VIII, Section 5(g) states: “The Supreme Court shall exercise original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto and habeas corpus.” On the other hand, Article XI, Section 3 (b) states: “ The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.” Corollary to this, the Constitution also states that the House of Representatives has the sole power to initiate impeachment proceedings against any official who may be (not shall be) removed from office by impeachment. That is as simple as any can be. What the earlier petitions filed by Sereno supporters and repeated by the 14 signatories want is disregard the above constitutional injunctions and remake these to conform with their own questionable proposition. That should not be allowed at all as clearly violative of the Constitution. By the way, just to clear the air and put the SC ruling in perspective: the 8-6 ruling was only to affirm quo warranto as another means to remove an impeachable official and thus Sereno’s ouster as Chief Justice having been “..adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the Office of Chief Justice...” In fact, on the matter of whether a quo warranto case can be filed against and be used to oust any impeachable official quite apart from impeachment, the voting was 9-5 with Justice Velasco agreeing with the majority. And even as the voting appeared to be close, Acting Chief Justice Carpio opined that indeed Sereno committed grave, impeachable offenses but that she should be tried before the Senate as an impeachment court instead of being ousted on quo warranto, a position which Justices Velasco, Perlas-Bernabe and del Castillo also took per our Court insiders. That makes the voting on Sereno’s offenses and performance, or should we say, disposition as Chief Justice almost unanimous at 12-2. So, with those figures will the Group of 14’s resolution matter to the justices and even to an informed public, at all? I seriously doubt it.

shall be resumed until it is disposed of. The Unfinished Business at the end of a session shall be resumed at the commencement of the next session as if no adjournment has taken place. At the end of the term of a Congress, all Unfinished Business are deemed terminated. (Emphasis supplied) Thus, the deliberations during the 11th Congress on the unapproved cityhood bills, as well as the deliberations during the 12th and 13th Congresses on the unapproved resolution exempting from RA 9009 certain municipalities, have no legal significance. They do not qualify as extrinsic aids in construing laws passed by subsequent Congresses. But of course, nothing is new is really taught us that we already did not know, but it does make us careful about a possible difference in the characterization of Congress as a whole and one of its chambers! McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 (1924) is more helpful. It goes into the consequences of the theory of Senate as a “continuing body.” Mr. Hinds in his collection of precedents says: • ‘The Senate, as a continuing body, may continue its committees through the recess following the expiration of a Congress.’ And, after quoting the above statement from Jefferson’s Manuel, he says: • ‘The Senate, however, being a continuing body, gives authority to its committees during the recess after the expiration of a Congress.’ So far as we are advised the select committee having this investigation in charge has neither made a final report nor been discharged; nor has it been continued by an affirmative order. Apparently its activities have been suspended pending the decision of this case. But, be this as it may, it is certain that the committee may be continued or revived now by motion to that effect, and, if continued or revived, will have all its original powers. [273 US 135, 182] This being so, and the Senate being a continuing body, the case cannot be said to have become moot in the ordinary sense. The situation is measurably like that in Southern Pacific Terminal Co. v. Interstate Commerce Commission, 219 US 498, 514-516, 31 S. Ct. 279, where it was held that a suit to enjoin the enforcement of an order of the Interstate Commerce Commission did not become moot through the expiration of the order, where it was capable of repetition by the commission and was a matter of public interest. Our judgment may yet be carried into effect, and the investigation proceeded with from the point at which it apparently was interrupted by reason of the habeas corpus proceedings. In these circumstances we think a judgment should be rendered as was done in the case cited. (emphasis supplied) This being the concept of Senate as a “continuing body,” the characterization

is by no means effete, because business commenced by Senate in one Congress need not become moot on upon the end of the term of such a Congress. It would then appear that it was the Philippine Supreme Court that did not appreciate the full implication of the “continuing character” of the Senate. Obviously, when the framers both of the 1987 Constitution chose to stagger the terms of the Senators, they were obviously abiding by a concept of the Senate that is clearly of American provenance and vintage. The composition of the Philippine Senate under our ConCom proposals thus far is not too different from the composition of the Council of States under the Constitution of India that is one of the two houses of Parliament. The Council of States is “a permanent body,” with its membership serving in staggered terms. Quite interestingly, the Constitution of India underscores this difference by prescribing that “a Bill pending the Council of States which has not been passed by the House of the People shall not lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.” By contrast, “a Bill which is pending in the House of the People, or which having been passed by the House of the People is pending in the Council of States, shall, subject to the provisions of Article 108 lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.” Constitutional theorists have also remarked on the resiliency of the French Senate despite attempts of several strong presidents to dismantle it. De Gaulle tried to reform it out of existence, and lost, and resigned his ofﬁce as a result of his defeat. French senators are chosen for nine-year terms, although a reform law of 2003 reduced the senatorial term to six years, one third of the membership of the Senate being renewed every three years and, in this sense, it is a continuing body. Precisely because the Senate we contemplate is a college of regional representatives, there is greater need for it to be a “continuing body” as American jurisprudence (and partly by Indian constitutional theory) has understood it: principally, in the sense that business commenced in the Senate under one Congress need not be restarted from “ground zero” in the next Congress because of the “continuing” character of the Senate. It is instructive that the 1987 Constitution and the 1935 Constitutions of the Philippines have staggered senators’ terms—thus assuring the continuity of the chamber, in the same way that the French stagger the terms of their Senators. This fact alone suggests the continuing usefulness of the concept of Senate as a “continuing chamber” or body and the adoption of the concept by our Committee.

against its present leadership, but a slow and simmering brew. Months before, we were tempted to write about it, and weeks ago, when the inevitable had been writ, we were also tempted to write. But events were transpiring: the denouement in the Supreme Court against its Chief, followed by the untimely demise of Senator Ed Angara. We congratulate the incoming president of the Senate: Tito Sotto.

We were classmates in primary school, along with former Bataan Gov. Leonardo “Ding” Roman and Commission on Appointments Secretary General Hector Villacorta. In those days, “acceleration” was still in mode, and although all of us qualiﬁed, especially Villacorta, I opted to skip Grade 5 and was thus accelerated to Grade 6. Hence, I graduated a year ahead in high school, with Tito’s older brother Valmar (who became a

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

the outsized disparity between Beijing and Manila’s military capabilities, enforcing the false dichotomy that the only possible responses are a declaration of war and absolute silence. The Duterte administration has notoriously failed to leverage on the 2016 PCA ruling, ostensibly as a sign of WHEN news broke out that anti-ship cruise goodwill, in exchange for Chinese aid, missiles and surface-to-air missile systems loans, and investments. (A quick look at had been installed on Philippine-claimed the first quarter investment figures already reefs on the West Philippine Sea, many were belies this direction, with investment from outraged but few were surprised. In many countries like Japan outweighing Chinese ways the latest development, while truly investments by a very wide margin.) infuriating, only represents a culmination of That the missiles are currently not trained virtually unchallenged Chinese militarization toward the direction of the Philippines of the important sea lane. shouldn’t also be used as an excuse. Collin Last year marked the beginning of Koh, a research fellow at Rajaratnam School frequent sightings of Chinese warships and of International Studies’ Maritime Security aircraft in the Spratly archipelago, which Program, said China may eventually use its had since been transformed into artificial capabilities for offensive operations. islands. These include a Jiangkai II-class “Manila may say that when ties are rosy. missile frigate and a Louyang III-class But when ties turn sour, which can [happen] guided-missile destroyer at Panganiban Reef overnight without warning, those missiles in January; a Type would still remain 056 Jiangdao-class there to threaten missile frigate, the Philippine Luzhou 592, also interests in the at Panganiban, in South China Sea,” There are more June; then finally a Koh said. options beyond the Luoyang Jiangwei S o m e II-class frigate in senators were simplistic war-versusNovember. similarly aghast appeasement line. C l e a r l y , at the apparent something was kowtowing from afoot, and it Manila. Sen. didn’t take a lot Francis Pangilinan of guesswork to said it would be a conclude that the “fatal mistake” for Chinese were indeed developing a firm and the administration to think China or any other long-term military presence on the islands, country would look after Philippine interests. most probably in the form of bases. Also “It would be a fatal mistake and frequently sighted are Coast Guard ships, detrimental to our sovereignty to think our amphibious and sea transport vessels, and interests will be defended by other nations,” combat ships. he was quoted as saying. And so whenever new satellite images, Senator Loren Legarda said the latest whether of military transport aircraft or development should be met “with grave military planes, would be released, they only concern.” The militarization of the region— confirmed what many had long suspected: “no matter the perpetrator”—only serves to nearly two years since the Permanent Court heighten the risk of hostilities eventually of Arbitration at The Hague legally shattered breaking out in the region. Sen. Leila de Beijing’s claims over nearly the entirety Lima called on the military to “explain to of the West Philippine Sea, the area’s the people its position on China’s move to militarization nevertheless proceeded, and it put Palawan under the threat of missiles proceeded with barely a whimper from the launched from the Spratlys.” Duterte administration. In a recent paper published by For instance, asked about the latest and independent think tank Stratbase Albert so far most alarming development—the del Rosario Institute, political science deployment of high-tech weaponry on expert Renato de Castro cited the revival Philippine territory by the Chinese—both of a loose security association called the Malacañang and the Department of Foreign QUAD—composed of Australia, India, Affairs reacted with what can only be Japan, and the United States—as a possible described, for all intents and purposes, as an “equi-balancing gambit” that can counter absolutely feeble response: the Palace said it Beijing’s so-far unchallenged influence. was still trying to verify the report and DFA This way, instead of outright war, minor said it took it seriously but stopped short of powers can foster its diplomatic linkages actually doing anything. and economic activities with two or more In stark contrast, Vietnam’s Foreign competing major powers in such a way that Ministry reacted immediately and directly influences policy but not enough to suffer by asking Beijing to remove military any undue external influence. This provides equipment from South China Sea to the small state not only the ability to survive maintain ‘peace and responsibility.’ but to even advance its own political and Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo in a strategic interests. Concretely, this provides bold move to send their strongest message a strong push back mechanism and a viable to China sailed aboard a warship in waters alternative to a potentially damaging policy near the Natuna chain which similar to of kowtowing to China. the West Philippine Sea, has overlapping Whatever track this administration interests with China. pursues, what is clear is that there are more Most hit—perhaps because it sends options beyond the simplistic war-versusthe worst signal—is President Rodrigo appeasement. At a time when the geopolitical Duterte’s chronic refusal to issue any situation in the world is becoming more and substantial protest “out of fear that it might more complicated, the kind of diplomacy elicit an adverse reaction from China.” Time expected from governments need to be as and again, he justified his inaction by citing complex and thoughtful as well.

In... Romulo—Puyat, is making the buzz of the town. Hmmm. We wonder why. Stunningly beautiful and very intelligent, Ms. Berna RomuloPuyat is a career government worker having been undersecretary for years at the Department of Agriculture. There has been no whiff of corruption around her. Perhaps, at the most, just a whiff of intoxicating designer perfume. But going back to the controversial quo warranto case. Rep. Tom Vilarin said the eight SC justices deserve to be impeached for removing Sereno through quo warranto filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida. An impeachable official can only and should only be removed by impeachment as prescribed in the Constitution. The eight SC justices who should know their law, therefore, were culpable of violating the Constitution, Villarin said. Solgen Calida, meanwhile, is facing demands for him to reveal his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Untruthful SALN and non filing was one of the allegations for which Calida filed a quo warranto case that ousted Sereno. Indeed, what goes around, comes around. And remember that adage about not casting stones at another when you yourself live in a glass house? A private citizen filed the case of graft and misconduct against Calida before the Office of the Ombudsman. In her two-page letter to the Ombudsman, the complainant businesswoman, Jocelyn Marie Acosta, said records from the Securities and Exchange Commission showed Calida owned 60 percent of shares of the Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency. The

rest of the stocks of the company belonged to Calida’s family members.The Calida company has provided security to four state agencies since he joined the government in 2016. What say you, Mr. Solicitor General? The Senate today will hold a hearing on the quo warranto case to determine all its aspects and implications. Fourteen senators signed a resolution asking the Supreme Court to review its decision to remove Sereno via quo warranto. Many of them felt the quo warranto action hijacked from the Senate the sole right to try Sereno by impeachment . “President Duterte has said that I’m now his enemy and I must be removed, “ said Sereno as she reiterated her claim the President was behind her ouster. She added that Solgen Calida ﬁled the case at the President’s behest. President Duterte has denied the former magistrate’s claim and said Sereno only has herself to blame for her ouster, adding Malacanang won’t respond anymore to Sereno’s verbal attacks. This columnist is not pro-Sereno. I just don’t want to see the political powers-that-be to commit injustice to the former chief justice. I also do not accept women being discriminated upon. My sentiments are always for the underdog. I don’t have anything personal against Digong. To be fair, I commend him for his action on our hapless overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait. Because of his resolve to protect them, he left no option for Kuwaiti authorities but to sign the Memorandum of Understanding guaranteeing our OFWs protection from abusive employers. The President dispatched Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to sign the MoU with their counterparts.

Parañaque councilor) as classmate. Those who denigrate Tito because of his show-biz background must know that even as a young kid, he excelled among us in elocution contests. He had native intelligence, but made a detour from scholastics to music, when he and his brothers founded the “Tilt Down Men,” in our time one of the country’s top bands. Later, while I was in business and Ding Roman was slowly imbibing his father’s

political hold of Bataan, the Sotto brothers together with another friend, Joey de Leon, under the tutelage of another schoolmate, Tony Tuviera, entered showbiz television, and became a hit. But Providence writes straight in crooked lines. Soon enough, we all found ourselves in public service, at about the same time frame, after the Edsa revolt. I am very happy for incoming Senate President Tito Sotto. Arriba!

From A4

News

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘PH needs nuke technology law’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE country needs a legal framework to develop nuclear technology as an “alternative energy source,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. “There is a wide range of issues that we need to explore and thresh out before we can accurately measure the true potential of nuclear technology as an alternative energy source in the Philippines,” he said. The Department of Energy at present is studying the possibility of adding nuclear power to the country’s energy mix. Gatchalian said should the country decide to pursue nuclear technology, the enabling legislation must tackle issues such as the structure and powers of the regulatory body; licensing, inspection, and enforcement; radiation protection; safety of nuclear facilities; and emergency preparedness and response, among others. The country’s only existing nuclear energy body is the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute under the Department of Science and Technology, but its functions center around radiation and nuclear research and development. “All of the gaps in our nuclear energy legal framework would ﬁrst need to be addressed by passing comprehensive legislation,” Gatchalian said. The senator said the Philippines has yet to ratify three key international nuclear conventions, namely the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, and the amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.

NEW TECHNOLOGY. Officials of the 2018 Global Blockchain Summit (from left) Duan Yu, Dylan She and Wang Hong Bin answer questions from reporters during a news conference at Marriott in Pasay City on Sunday. Ey Acasio

Solon: Issue detailed fare receipts P By Rio N. Araja

UWERSA ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Jericho Nograles on Sunday said ride-sharing ﬁrm Grab Philippines must abide by a directive of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board requiring all transport network Nograles said Grab issues receipts bearing only the fare cost. The fare receipt, he said, should contain the breakdown based on the approved fare structure of the LTFRB, such as the base fare per kilometer charge, price surge, de-

tails of discounts for senior citizen’s discount and promo code discount. Grab allegedly delayed the implementation of the order, saying it would have to create a technical working group ﬁrst. “Is Grab hiding something? There is no

need for a technical working group. The LTFRB is empowered by law to impose all the necessary rules and regulations to protect and uphold public interest and this directive,” Nograles said. “Grab should be reminded that its franchise as a TNVS provider is a not a right but a mere privilege. These TNVS operators should stop making excuses and comply with the rules set by the LTFRB being the sole regulator of the country’s public utility transport sector,” he added. Last week, Grab Philippines said it is seeking for the onboarding of about 6,000 drivers into its platform who were

displaced due to the halt in the operations of its corporate rival Uber last month following their acquisition. “Our immediate priority is to work with regulators to onboard the 6,000 displaced drivers who are not part of the LTFRB masterlist. We are continuously working with government agencies to ﬁnd a long-term solution on the supply issue,” Grab country marketing head Cindy Toh said in a statement. To address the situation, Grab is regularly releasing incentives to increase driver productivity by at least 15 percent per day.

Romualdez hails approval of ALS Act By Rio N. Araja LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday welcomed the approval on second reading of the so-called “malasakit” (compassionate) Alternative Learning System Act that would further make education accessible to out-of-school youth and persons with disabilities. “This is to provide a viable leaning alternative to the formal education system in addressing all learning needs of the marginalized learners,” said Romualdez, author of House Bill No. 3706 which forms part of the consolidated measure. The measure would “help institutionalize an alternative learning system for indigent adults, out-of-school youth, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and special needs and even senior citizens,” she added. Once enacted into law, a mobile teacher program will be set up, especially in far-flung, unserved, underserved, and conflict-affected communities. The alternative learning system is a parallel learning system for learners who, for acceptable reasons to be determined by the Department of Education, cannot be admitted to the existing formal basic education.

Aquino wants excise tax on fuel suspended By Macon Ramos-Araneta

CLEARING OPERATION. Workers clear the debris from a collapsed flyover along Aguinaldo Highway in Imus, Cavite after a boom crane carrying a large beam broke early Sunday

morning. Norman Cruz

Ecowaste: Use lead-safe paints for Brigada Eskwela A WASTE and pollution watch group exhorted the country’s public elementary and secondary schools to make lead safety part of the annual Brigada Eskwela on May 28 to June 2. In line with Department Order No. 4 issued by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, EcoWaste Coalition urged school heads to ensure full compliance to the “mandatory use of lead-safe paints in schools.” DepEd issued the order at the request of the EcoWaste Coalition to

prevent and control children’s exposure to lead through the ingestion of lead-contaminated paint chip, dust and soil in schools. In December, Briones issued Department Order No. 64 detailing the minimum performance standards and speciﬁcations for DepEd school buildings. “Paint materials must be independently certiﬁed lead-safe paints/coatings,” Briones said in her order. “Strict compliance to these orders is crucial to stop the entry and

use of lead-containing architectural, decorative and household paints in all schools following the completion of the three-year phase-out for such paints last December 2016,” said Thony Dizon, chemical safety campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition. “The effective enforcement of these orders will also help in reducing the creation and dispersion of lead-tainted paint chip, dust and soil from the Brigada Eskwela school cleanup and renovation activities that children may ingest

or inhale,” he added. Exposure to lead can permanently damage the brain and the central nervous system, impair growth and development, and cause learning and behavioral problems, the coalition warned. “As there is no safe threshold for lead exposure, we need to pay serious attention on eliminating preventable lead pollution sources such as lead-containing paints in our homes, schools and communities,” Dizon said.

SENATOR Benigno Aquino IV has renewed his call to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, citing the heavy burden this has imposed on the transportation sector. “For the drivers, operators and passengers, the TRAIN should be stopped to ease their burden,” he said. Hs said the mechanism should be returned to suspend the excise tax due to inflation to reduce the burden of drivers, operators and commuters. Aquino, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law, made the call after several jeepney operators filed a petition asking for a P2 fare increase amid the recent increases in prices of petroleum products. He has filed Senate Bill No. 1798 which seeks to stop the collection of excise tax on fuel under TRAIN once the inflation rate breaches “target range.” Under Aquino’s measure, the collection of excise tax will be suspended once the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a threemonth period.

Sports

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

4 breeders rule the 54th Manila Cockers’festival MANILA Cockers Club, Inc. (MCC) concluded its 54th 7-Cock Breeders Festival recently with four champions taking home the coveted title. They include D&G Ultimate Gamefarm by BD/PG; Dimasalang by Paolo Crisostomo; Cavs Pride by Dennis Pancipane; and RUA Lagalag by Ronnie Andal. Despite grueling competition from topnotch breeders in the country, each champion managed to secure a total of six wins. Over 200 ﬁghts were held during the derby, which boasted a generous purse of P2.62 million distributed among the winners. Manila Cockers Club invites all interested breeders to join its upcoming derbies on May 25 to 31 (55th 7-Cock Derby); June 2 to 8 (56th 7-Cock Derby); June 13 to 19 (57th 7-Cock Derby); and June 22 to 28 (58th 7-Cock Derby). For more information, you may call the MCC hotline at (02)696 1120 or Four champions dominated the 54th MCC 7-Cock Breeders Festival. Joining the winners are MCC President Ding Magboo (left), MCC Pitmaster Doc Jun Cueto (fifth from left) and (63)917 582 2615. MCC Operations Manager Rolly Ramos (sixth from left).

Cavs rout Celtics to trim deficit L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Boston Celtics 116-86 on Saturday, powering their way back into the NBA Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers trimmed the deficit in the best-of-seven series to 2-1 – avoiding the 0-3 hole from which no NBA team has returned to win a series. They’ll try to even things up when they host game four on Monday. The Cavaliers, trying to return to the NBA Finals for a fourth straight year, insisted after two double-digit defeats in Boston that things would be different on their home floor. They wasted no time in making it so, racing to a 12-4 lead midway through the first quarter, which they ended leading 32-17. By then, James and George Hill had

already scored more than 10 points apiece, and half a dozen Cavaliers players finished by scoring in double digits. James led the way with 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists along with two steals and two blocked shots. James made eight of his 12 shots from the floor, including all three of his three-pointers, and went 8-of-10 at the free-throw line. But James, whose 42-point triple double was in vain in game two, got plenty of support in a game in which Cleveland never trailed. Kyle Korver scored 14 points off the

bench. Hill and Kevin Love scored 13 apiece, JR Smith chipped in 11 and Tristan Thompson scored 10. Cleveland out-rebounded Boston 45-34, holding the Celtics to 39.2 percent shooting. “We were really good,” James said. “We had our focus and offensively and defensively we made plays.” Hill and Smith, who were a combined 1-for-11 from three-point range in the first two games, had three apiece and the Cavs drained a total of 17 from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 18 points. Jaylen Brown, who scored 23 points in each of the first two games, finished with 10 points and five fouls. He didn’t score at all until the second quarter. Terry Rozier scored 13, but connected on just five of 12 shots from the floor as the Cavaliers stepped

up their defensive effort. “I think tonight as a group, even when things broke down, we just covered for one another,” James said. “We made them make extra passes, we made them make extra dribbles. So we were flying around. I just happened to be one of the guys on the floor.” Cleveland led 61-41 at halftime and 87-63 through three quarters. “It was really a great defensive game for us,” said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue. “I thought offensively we moved it around a little bit more, had a lot of assists. I thought JR and G-Hill did a good job of setting the tone early, being aggressive, playing with more pace, more force. “Having six guys in double figures, that’s big,” Lue added. “I thought we played an all-around game tonight, defensively and offensively.”

Shin targets ICTSI Masters at Villamor MICAH Shin, the first non-Filipino to win The Country Club Invitational last February, returns to the local golfing scene this week, seeking another breakthrough in the ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters which unwraps Wednesday at the Villamor Golf Club. The young Davao-based KoreanAmerican has campaigned in other regional tours after edging Miguel Tabuena by one to rule the TCC Invitational, long considered as one of the country’s major events for its prestige and prize money with the lean but mean 22-yearold shotmaker training his sights on the Masters crown against the cream of the local pro crop and a slew of other foreign bidders. Shin is actually shooting for a third local championship after securing his first pro win in the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open of the Philippine Golf Tour in 2016, where he upstaged the likes of Clyde Mondilla and Tony Lascuña for the championship. Mondilla and Lascuña also happen to be the lead players in the Masters chase along with two-time PGT Asia winner Jhonnel Ababa, Jay Bayron, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Joenard Rates, Keanu Jahns, Rene Menor, Mars Pucay, Justin Quiban, Elmer Salvador and Orlan Sumcad, all eager to foil Shin and the other foreign aces vying in the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI and hosted by the VGC. They include Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Canadian Lindsey Renolds, Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia, Spain’s Paya Vila Salvador, Japanese Yuta Sudo, Keisuke Takahashi, Naoya Takahashi, Yu Ikeda and Eiichiro Hiyama and Koreans Guo Chang Chang, Myung Chal Hwang, Kim Sung Wook, Lee Hyun Jun, Park Jun Sung and Park Min Ung. Americans Lexus Keoninh and Andy Kang have also primed themselves up for the chase for the top P550,000 purse in the four-day championship which the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and VGC had agreed to revive last year as one of the highlight events on the PGT calendar. But focus will be on Shin, who toughened up by competing in the Myanmar Open, Indian Open and China Open, making him one of the early favorites in the blue-ribbon championship backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT,

Buenaventura, Pornobi bag PPS crowns JOSE Buenaventura romped away with a pair of straight-set victories while Nia Pornobi survived two tiebreakers as they shared the MVP honors in the PPSPEPP Pinamalayan regional age-group tennis tournament at the Bahaghari Tennis Club in Oriental Mindoro recently. Buenaventura foiled Nicos Ison twice, scoring a 6-4, 6-4 decision to pocket the boys’ 16-and-under title then the local ace came away with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the 18-U finals of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. and presented by Dunlop. Pornobi, on the other hand, fought back from a set down to thwart Jayleen Yoshida, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6, in the girls’ 16-U championship then the San Jose, Occidental Mindoro find warded off sibling Aira Pornobi, 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-7, to snare the 18-U crown in the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop led by president/ CEO Bobby Castro. Claire Jalbay matched the duo’s twotitle feats by topping the girls’ 14-U division via a 6-2, 6-7(5), 10-8 escape over Kristine Bacungan. She also took the 12-U diadem via a convincing 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Keisha Lopez. Top seed Marius Panahon also dominated the boys’ 14-U side, beating Jerwin Manalo, 6-0, 6-1, in the finals while Moen Gaca crushed BJ Bacungan, 6-3, 6-0, to claim the boys’ 12-U crown.

Ronaldo powers Real to draw with Villareal

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) protects the ball in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 19, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Mendoza makes cut in 4th Asian Trampoline seniors tilt BENJAMIN Jesus Mendoza pulled off a pleasant surprise last Saturday, placing fifth overall in the qualifying round to reach the finals of the men’s seniors division of the 4th Asian Trampoline Gymnastics Championships at the University of Makati basketball gym. Although having a lesser difficult routine than his rivals, Mendoza kept his mistakes to a minimum to garner 81.390 points in securing the No. 5 spot among the eight finalists in the tournament organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Kazakhstan’s Pirnammad Aliyev topscored with 101.695 points, North Korea’s Kim Yun Song was second (95.395) while Iran’s Amirreza Mesgari Hagh was third (93.010) in the ﬁnals scheduled yesterday. The other Pinoy men’s senior campaigner, Francisco Deorelar, failed to make the cut, placing 10th with 62.430 points. In a minor breakthrough of sorts in the women’s senior division, Erin Abaniel took the bronze medal in the field of three entries with 11.70 points, with India’s Shivani Dound (35.635) and Siddhi Breed (28.515) completing a 1-2 finish in the tourney also supported by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism

Promotions Board. “Majority of the strong senior teams like Japan, South Korea and China did not ﬁeld teams here because they are training for the FIG Trampoline World Cup in Maedashi, Japan in July since it is an Olympic qualifying event to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” explained tournament director Evan Gandia. “This was completely unexpected and came as a surprise for me considering the fact that the other competitors had better routines and very strong,” said Mendoza, a former men’s artistic gymnast, whose performance was a miracle in itself after suffering a severe knee injury just a few years ago.

Age-group champions compete in 2018 SUBIT

AGE-GROUPERS from around the country came to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the best among them emerged as champions in the competitions and celebration of the 25 years of the recent Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT). The age-group champions who took on the grueling Standard Distance 1.5 Kilometer swim – 40 Kilometer bike – 10 Kilometer run course were Vicky Deldio and Patrick Deadn Laurel (18-19), Satar Salem (20-24), Andrea Villanueva and

Leonard Rondina (25-29), Jayline Balatibat and Raymond Torio (30-34), Vanessa Redgrave Agdon and Jethro Karl Ramos (35-39), Jennifer Soto and George Vilog (40-44), Leoniza Gusilatar and James Middleditch (45-49), Margaret Cheng (Female 50-above), John Villanueva (50-54), Frank Lacson (55-59) and Donald Bozarth (Male 60-above). On the Team Competition (5 members per team) of the event sponsored by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine

Sports Commission (PSC), Arena, New Balance, Philippine Star, Gatorade, Omega Pain Killer Liniment, Standard Insurance, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Century Tuna, Gatorade, Subic Holiday Villas, Travelers Hotel, ACEA, Asian Center for Insulation and Solar Sports, One Triathlon Team emerged as the champion with a combined time 12 hours, 34 minutes and 5 seconds. The silver and bronze went to Herbalife (12:52:52) and Tri Clark Pampanga’s Best! (13:14:06) respectively.

MADRID, Spain – Real Madrid’s ﬁnal Champions League rehearsal was running perfectly on Saturday until Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted and Villarreal scored twice to snatch a 2-2 draw. Gareth Bale and Ronaldo put Real in cruise control at the Estadio de la Ceramica but the Portugese, along with Luka Modric, was taken off shortly after the hour and Villarreal came surging back. It was two substitutes that did it, Roger Martinez unleashing a stunning strike into the top corner before Samu Castillejo struck the equalizer ﬁve minutes from time. Castillejo took advantage of some hesitation from Luca Zidane, Zinedine Zidane’s 20-year-old son, who was making his debut for Real in goal. “I am happy for his debut, it is an important day for him and his coach,” Zidane senior said afterwards. “For his father, we will see what he says at home.”

LOTTO RESULTS

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

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018A

Nadal beats Djokovic to reach Rome final

ROME, Italy—Rafael Nadal closed in on an eighth Rome Masters title as he dismissed old rival Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Saturday to reach the final for a record-extending 10th time. The Spanish top seed will meet second-seeded holder Alexander Zverev, a 7-6 (15/13), 7-5 winner over Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic. His impressive win over Djokovic will give Nadal added confidence ahead of the French Open, where he has won a record 10 titles. Nadal, still unbeaten in semifinals at the Foro Italico, unleashed a trademark clay-court attack after winning a tight first set lasting well over an hour in his 51st meeting with old rival Djokovic. “I need to be able to play my best tomorrow,” Nadal said of his Sunday final. “I’m very happy with my game. It all worked for me, the tactics, the shots.” “To play against Novak you always have to play at the limit of your game with a high intensity and understand well President Rodrigo Roa Duterte flashes his signature closed fist with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez, Education Secretary the tactics you want to play.” The 31-year-old world number two Leonor Briones, Secretary Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and PSC personnel during the opening ceremony of the Philipine National Games at the cut the deficit in his head-to-head series Cebu City Sports Complex on May 19. Presidential photo with Djokovic to 26-25 since they first faced off in 2006. But the Serb complained afterwards about poor scheduling which affected his preparation, playing a late-afternoon quarterfinal on Friday before returning to court on Saturday mid-afternoon. “I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining about losing the match because of the schedule. But having to end at night and coming back to play early in THE Rain or Shine Elasto Paintthe day affects a lot,” he said. ers leaned on the heroics of a respectively. bloodied Chris Tiu to beat the By Peter Atencio “I am confident that the particiGlobalPort Batang Pier, 96-90, pants will demonstrate teamwork and in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s EBU City – camaraderie as they compete with Cup at the Smart Araneta Colieach other. These principles are esseum last Sunday, May 20. Cristabel Martes sential in forming an active citizenry Tiu went out of the game afshowed that age is that is capable of steering the Philipter being elbowed in the face by pines toward a better and more prosGlobalPort Batang Pier import just a number. perous future,” the President said. Malcolm White with 6:48 left to A hurting right calf muscle and an Duterte likewise called on the play. He came back three minutes early morning rain shower slowed her young athletes to support his adminlater to score the marginal points down. istration’s campaign against crimiwhich powered Rain or Shine to But with no challengers to test her, nality, corruption and illegal drugs. victory. the 38-year-old Martes dominated the “Sports is an effective avenue to Tiu returned to the fray, scored women’s 10,000 meter run and took instill discipline in our youth to keep on a layup then drilled a threehome the first gold medal in the 9th [them] away from these societal ills,” pointer to push the Elasto Painters Philippine National Games Sunday at he said. to an unassailable 94-83 lead with the Cebu City Sports Complex track Sta. Rosa City of Laguna leads 1:14 to go in the game. oval here. the medal race with three golds after The Elasto Painters (5 wins, 1 The former national team member UAAP MVP honoree Nicole Meah loss) have surprised all the exfrom La Trinidad, Benguet, slogged Pamintuan topped her events. perts by grabbing the overall lead her way through the wet rubberized General Santos City has three golds this conference. Trailing them track surface in 40 minutes and 11.5 and four bronzes in second spot, and closely are the Alaska Aces (4seconds to hand Baguio City one of its they got a lift from Camilo La Torre 1), the TNT KaTropa (3-1), the first two gold medals. of General City clocked 57.87 secMeralco Bolts (3-1) and the Mag“Susunod lang sana ako sa pace. onds to dominate boys’ 100-meter nolia Hotshots (2-1). Pero, walang lumalaban. So, nag- freestyle and 18:21.03 to win the The other teams include the Gloproceed na ako hanggang finish line. boys’ 1,500-meter freestyle. balport Batang Pier (3-3), Columbian Maganda pa rin ang aking result kahit Baguio City is now in third in the Dyip (3-3) and the Phoenix Petromay nararamdaman ako sa right calf medal race with their 2-0-2 gold-silleum Fuelmasters (2-2). Bringing up ko,” said Martes. ver-bronze haul. the rear are Barangay Ginebra (1-2), Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Martes’ time was more than five the NLEX Road Warriors (1-4), San Duterte doubled the cash prize for the minutes slower than the national reMiguel Beer (0-3) and the Blackwa2018 Philippine National Games, rais- cord of 34:40.02 which she set way ter Elite (0-5). ing the reward for the overall champion back in the 2001 National Open. GlobalPort’s hulking import from P5 million to P10 million. No one challenged her when she broke Malcolm White spun to his right, Duterte said he will match the prizes off from the main pack in the fourth lap drove along the baseline and for the winning teams. This means the of the 22-lap, 400-meter oval. scored on a rim-rattling dunk to runner up will get P8 million (from P4 Teammate Ruffa Sorongon of Cebu cut the Rain or Shine lead to just million), the third placer will receive City grabbed the silver in 41:16.8, folfive points, 67-62, going into the P6 million, while the 4th and 5th plac- lowed by teammate Sandi Abahan payoff fourth period. ers will get P4 million and P2 million, (44:31.3). With Joyce Pangco Pañares

Sports

Ageless Martes grabs first gold in 2018 PNG

Elasto Painters remain on top of standings

Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits a return to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their semifinal match at Rome’s ATP Tennis Open tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome. AFP

Mishaps mar Le Tour de Filipinas kick off

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija—Unfavorable road conditions, brought by water pipe repairs and heavy traffic congestion in Bulacan and Pampanga, forced Le Tour de Filipinas organizers to call off Sunday’s opening stage. What was expected to be a relatively flat 157.15-km cruise from Liwasang Aurora at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City encountered several restarts due to pipe repairs in Valenzuela and Marilao in Bulacan before it came to a shuddering halt near the halfway mark at the Plazang Luma in Arayat, Pampanga, because of an unexpected gridlock. “The race was stopped for one reason: unmanageable traffic which was rather surprising on a Sunday morning,” lamented Commissaire 4 Jun Lomibao, who monitored the situation closely with Chief Commissaire Louise Jones from Australia. “The organizers made several trips here, around four to five times, on a Sunday morning to test the traffic,” Lomibao

said. “But after ﬁve neutralizations, the chief commissaire decided to stop the race.” Thus, the annual road race co-presented by Air21, Cignal and Cargohaus Inc. basically starts with Stage 2 today from Cabanatuan City to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, through Dalton Pass. Nonetheless, the caravan, bannered by 79 riders from 16 local and foreign teams, still felt the warm welcome from a sizeable Novo Ecijano crowd, including Palayan City Mayor Rianne Cuevas, during the mass ﬁnish in front of the Plaza Concepcion here where a festive production number was also shown. The riders, including 29 of the country’s top guns, have no other choice but to move on as they gear up for another tough test on Monday, a 157.90 km Stage 2 trek from Cabanatuan City to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya via the dreaded Dalton Pass which offers a pair of Category 2 and A big group of cyclists pass along EDSA Balintawak in Caloocan City during the opening stage of Le Tour de Filipinas from Quezon City to Palayan City. Lino Santos 4 climb challenges.

Profittaking to stall share prices B2

IN BRIEF

Citicore acquires 5 solar power stations RENEWABLE energy producer Citicore Power Inc. said it acquired ﬁve solar power plants with 59.9 megawatts of capacity from Armstrong Asset Management Pte Ltd. and its local partners. CPI president Oliver Tan said in a statement released over the weekend the deal was in line with the company’s target to expand its power portfolio to 1,000 MW of clean energy from a diversiﬁed mix of RE sources. “We are very excited about this acquisition as it strengthens our position in building a nation powered by clean renewable energy. At an aggregate capacity of 163 MW, we can be considered as one of the largest solar power generation companies in the country, and we are looking forward to cater to the growing needs of the market for a competitively-priced, reliable, and sustainable energy,” Tan said. CPI currently operates three solar facilities across the country with an aggregate capacity of 103 MW. CPI and Armstrong signed the share purchase agreement onMay 17. CPI is subsidiary of Citicore Holdings Investment Inc., while Armstrong is an independent clean energy asset manager that has a portfolio of clean energy infrastructure assets. “This acquisition is attuned to the goals and foundation of CPI in the business of fostering the development of innovative renewable energy projects that would give back to both the community and the environment,” Tan said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Volkswagen brings affordable cars to PH VOLKSWAGEN Philippines expanded its vehicle line-up to appeal to the broader mass market, as it brought in new models under the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement. “We’re revamping the line-up because we want to make sure that we serve a wider market of the segment. We know that with our segment, the price point is within this limit and we couldn’t do that in this segment because of the excise tax,” said Volkswagen Philippines president Arthur Tan. The company launched three of its ﬁve new models Friday, including the Santana, Lavida and the sub-compact SUV Tiguan. These models will be imported from China with a 5-percent tariff under the bilateral agreement. “This is the reason why we are able to bring in cars at this price, without giving up any of the features or technology or quality,” said Tan. The three models were made available on May 19, while Santana GTS and Lamando would be offered in November. Shanghai Volkswagen ﬁrst vice president David Powels said the brand continued to be strong worldwide and was the top choice among car buyers in many markets. Othel V. Campos

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

Ayala selling $1-b coal plants By Alena Mae S. Flores

C ENERGY Inc., the energy arm of the Ayala Group, plans to sell as much as 50 percent of its thermal or coal energy assets, a top executive said over the weekend.

AC Energy’s entire power generation portfolio of 1,600 megawatts carries an estimated value of $2.6 billion (P135 billion), according to investment group CLSA. This implies the sale of 50 percent of the coal assets will raise $1 billion for Ayala. Coal plants account for 80 percent of AC Energy’s total attributable power generation capacity. “AC Energy is currently in discussions with potential investors/partners for our thermal platform,” AC

Energy president and chief executive Eric Francia said. AC Energy’s thermal or coal plants produce 1,300 MW, or 80 percent of its attributable energy assets totaling 1,600 MW. The balance of the 300-MW capacity includes geothermal, wind and solar power projects. Its coal assets include investments in South Luzon Thermal Corp., which owns the 244-MW coal plant in Calaca, Batangas; the 632-MW-GNPower Mariveles coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan; the 1,336-MW GNPower Dinginin coal plant also in Mariveles; and the 540-MW GN Power Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte. The sale aims to balance AC Energy’s renewable and thermal portfolios and raise capital to support regional expansion. “While we will grow our renewables exponentially, we shall continue to grow our thermal platform in the Philippines and around the region” said Francia. AC Energy wants a portfolio of 50-percent renewable energy projects and 50-percent thermal generation assets.

Francia earlier said the company was looking to achieve the balanced generation mix by 2025. AC Energy nearly doubled its net profit to P593 million in the first quarter from a year ago. The company plans to exceed 5,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2025. “Our goal is to exceed five gigawatts of capacity by 2025. We will do this by growing both in the Philippines and around the region,” Francia said. Francia said AC Energy was prepared to invest “over $2 billon of equity” to reach its 5-GW generation portfolio target. “From a standing start, AC Energy has quickly grown into a significant power company. In just five years, it was able to exceed a thousand MW of capacity with strong platforms in both thermal and renewable energy,” Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said. He said the conglomerate saw the potential of the power industry as a sustainable business and as a crucial driver for national progress.

ERC approves higher rate in favor of renewable plants

MPIC’s Singapore gas plant gets offers METRO Pacific Investments Corp. said it received offers for its stake in a large natural gasfired power plant in Jurong Island, Singapore. MPIC chief finance officer David Nicol said the group received several offers for possible merger and structural solutions to reduce the current excess power capacity in Singapore. The group has a majority stake in a two 400-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Jurong. “There is a lot of surplus capacity in Singapore market as of the moment. The Singapore government with good reason encouraged lots of investments in power generation and the private sector responded. Now there is so much that prices are difficult. It is has to see anybody making making money, and so there are talks of combining to try reduce the surplus capacity,” Nicol said. “We might [accept] merger, but we have received so many offers and we have not made a choice,” he said. Nicol said the power generation industry in Singapore needed a structural solution to retire capacity. First Pacific Investments Corp., the parent company of MPIC, and Meraclo PowerGen Corp., the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., acquired 70 percent of GMR Energy (Singapore) Pte Ltd., a company building a power plant located on Jurong Island from GMR Infrastructure for $488 million in cash in 2013, with a further committed $49-million equity contribution into the project. The project was the first built in Singapore since the Keppel Merlimau Plant in 2007 and among the most efficient combined cycle power plants built in Singapore. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

SOLAR ACQUISITIONS. Citicore Power Inc. acquires an additional five solar power plants with a combined capacity of 59.9 megawatts from Armstrong Asset Management Pte Ltd. and its local co-developers. Signing the share purchase agreement are (from left) Armstrong Asset Management Pte Ltd. investment director Wymen Chan, Armstrong managing partner Andrew Affleck, CPI chairman Edgar Saavedra and CPI president Oliver Tan.

Cigarette smuggling on the rise By Julito G. Rada A GROUP of traders expressed alarm over the growing incidence of cigarette smuggling in the country, saying proceeds from these activities may be ﬁnancing criminal and terrorist activities. Fight Illicit Trade chairman Jesus Arranza said the alarming “trend” started with the implementation of higher cigarette excise taxes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. “The trend following the recent cigarette excise tax hike last January is very alarming. With cigarette prices increasing, the market is opening up to cheap smuggled goods,” Arranza, who also chairs the Federation of Philippine Industries, said in a statement. “Through our members in the industry, we have to remain vigilant in not only going after illicit ciga-

rettes in the market, but in tracking down its source and where the proceeds are going,” Arranza said. Arranza cited various international reports in sounding the alarm over the possible link between illicit cigarette trade and terrorists activities. He said that in 2002, many paramilitary and terrorist groups sought to increase their funding methods by turning to counterfeiting. The British police conﬁrmed that “in Northern Ireland, terrorists sell counterfeit and pirated goods such as CDs, DVDs, cigarettes and branded clothing so as to fund their terrorist activities.” The US State Department also said that the global illicit trade in tobacco was a threat to national security. It said cigarette smuggling was a lucrative crime for some terrorist groups and a potential revenue source to ﬁnance acts of terror.

CONSUMERS face higher power charges in July, after the Energy Regulatory Commission approved an increase in feed-in tariff allowance or the fund pocketed by renewable energy developers. The ERC approved an increase in FIT All for 2017 from P0.1830 per kilowatthour to P0.2563 per kWh. “What is being added is only an increment of P0.0733 per kWh which represents the increase from the current FIT-All rate,” it said. The fund is collected by state-run National Transmission Corp. on behalf of renewable energy developers. The new rate will be implemented in June and be reflected in the bill of customers in July. The approved rate was higher than what TransCo applied for at P0.2291 per kWh, which it later revised to P0.2481 per kWh covering the January 2017 billing period. The ERC, in its computation, used the actual level of deficit of the FIT-All fund at P4.428 billion in deciding on TransCo’s application, compared to the P3.576-billion deficit estimate of TransCo. This explains the higher approved

FIT-All rate. TransCo manages the FIT-All rate that is used to pay the eligible renewable energy developers under the FIT system, an incentive scheme that gives priority to connections to grid, priority purchase and transmission of, and payment for, generated and ﬁxed tariff for not less than 12 years to be determined by the ERC. The ERC approved the tariff rates for solar 1 at P9.68 per kWh, solar 2 at P8.69 per kWh, wind 1 at P8.53 per kWh, wind 2 at P7.40 per kWh, biomass at P6.63 per kWh and hydro at P5.90 per kWh. “I thank the ERC for their action in approving it. We can somehow address the backlog on the payment of FIT All. The backlog is almost P8 billion and we want to help both consumers and renewable energy developers not to be burdened by reason of the delay in paying of the FIT. [We are] looking forward for the immediate resolution of our 2018 FIT all rate application,” TransCo president Melvin Matibag said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Profit-taking to stall share prices By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to continue their volatile movement, with investor quick to take proﬁts after a rally.

Analysts said the market’s inability to sustain the rally above the 7,800-point levels signiﬁed that trading would remain sideways over the near term period, in step with global stocks. 2TradeAsia.com said the latest jump in the US 10-year treasury yields to over 3 percent could trigger an increase in the outﬂow of foreign money in the equities market. Concerns about the rising oil prices, weakening peso against the dollar and the declining overseas remittances could also affect the market over the near term period.

“Fundamental plays are intact, even as the selldown from some foreign funds left key large cap bruised. While pessimists may see more challenges ahead, buy opportunities are mined by the trained eye, especially with the general market’s shortsightedness,” 2TradeAsia.com said. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week closed at 7,672.28, down 1.03 percent week-on-week, while the All Shares Index ended at 4,664.94, also lower 0.9 percent from the previous week’s close on heavy foreign selling. Except for the property index which rose 2.98 percent, all other sub-indices ended on the negative, led by holding ﬁrms (-3.28 percent), industrial (-2.12 percent), mining and oil (-1.5 percent) and ﬁnancials (-0.62 percent). Foreign investors were net sellers during the week by P2.2 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P6.6 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Philippine Racing Club Inc., which rose 47.9 percent to P11.98; Megaworld Corp., which gained 4.8. percent to P4.53; and SM Prime Holdings Inc., which advanced 4.6 percent to P37.30. Weekly top price losers, meanwhile, were Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp., which slumped14.3 percent to P5.52; Lopez Holdings Inc., which dropped 9.4 percent to P4.30; and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which tumbled 9.4 percent to P4.90. Global stocks, meanwhile, finished mostly down on Friday as fraught US trade talks showed no outward signs of success. Wall Street had a lackluster day, with little to spur investors onward amid a steady drumbeat of worrisome news on trade and geopolitical worries. The Dow finished flat while the broader S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nas-

daq sagged, losing 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. Tom Cahill of Ventura Wealth Management told AFP that with earnings season past and no fresh economic data to spur enthusiasm, equities had no reason to keep forging higher. “Right now the market is looking for a catalyst,” he said. “It does not have one.” The White House announced Friday that trade talks with a visiting Chinese delegation had gone well but there was “no deal yet.” The news was likely welcome after President Donald Trump cast doubt on the talks as they began Thursday but came as US markets were already closing for the week. Elsewhere in Europe, the main stock markets took a pause after record runs. London, Frankfurt and Paris all ended lower. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

MAY 15-18, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

58.95 132.30 99.50 3.00 1.45 34.7 7.11 16.4 15.82 3.76 8.78 0.67 1.62 870.00 0.540 82.75 1.1 12.2 20.30 52.00 86.8 106.5 211.8 38 199.9 1955.00 89.10 1.2

80,500 7,615,940 6,857,850 51,000 719,000 440,300 5,800 245,200 2,893,800 1,359,000 1,100 5,000 21,000 360 14,218,000 8,124,480 4,276,000 50,300 22,900 392,420 370 1,750 22,510 636,600 4,407,550 1,095 100,840 816,000

FINANCIAL 4,728,720.00 1,021,608,921.00 680,121,120.50 153,850.00 1,041,650.00 15,358,860.00 39,532.00 4,078,404.00 46,812,988.00 5,212,910.00 9,356.00 3,350.00 32,310.00 315,550.00 8,034,680.00 678,600,472.50 4,651,830.00 624,642.00 465,735.00 20,408,308.00 32,046.00 187,087.00 4,764,428.00 24,054,285.00 884,659,321.00 2,127,325.00 8,990,849.00 979,200.00

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petroenergy Res. Corp. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

38.85 14.64 0.6 1.25 21.35 0.223 126 24.00 3.09 16.98 251 51 39 91 56.95 1.99 5.39 9.45 11.100 16.2 11.60 7.16 5.14 1.79 14.8 63.8 18.76 8.85 16.8 2.220 285.00 54.90 5.15 3.39 17.82 27 13.3 20.85 0.190 322.00 6.68 2.43 4.32 9.35 5.7 7.95 1.40 12.48 51.55 6.19 4.70 2.09 3.6 1.8 13.22 65 5.4 0.138 0.98 135.5 2.65 3.24 22.00 0.83

4,330,400 5,903,500 32,644,000 509,000 264,900 9,750,000 1,710 58,100 42,235,000 5,719,900 1,010 2,489,270 7,500 110 157,780 274,000 20,300 51,000 7,930,600 7,241,100 3,362,100 9,779,200 13,638,600 6,000 2,529,000 330,390 506,700 1,261,200 13,603,600 6,944,000 2,205,700 20 273,700 102,000 600 4,585,000 2,372,100 10,378,500 620,000 868,850 120,400 13,738,000 845,000 5,904,700 608,900 98,200 1,018,000 415,300 2,058,180 6,100 571,000 613,000 109,000 1,877,000 1,557,900 1,985,010 1,439,600 1,640,000 200,000 3,611,890 21,000 101,637,000 1,300 7,152,000

INDUSTRIAL 167,092,930.00 87,509,300.00 20,798,840.00 634,370.00 5,603,451.00 2,192,170.00 216,297.00 1,419,605.00 132,870,790.00 97,124,240.00 253,830.00 128,634,213.00 506,295.50 9,345.00 8,989,759.50 540,060.00 104,559.00 480,825.00 87,429,172.00 117,366,676.00 40,413,936.00 70,275,736.00 70,669,737.00 10,550.00 38,158,188.00 21,161,853.50 9,856,502.00 11,312,962.00 246,626,948.00 15,091,550.00 623,397,986.00 1,098.00 1,390,786.00 342,250.00 10,294.00 124,335,865.00 31,994,728.00 227,261,105.00 120,500.00 280,802,004.00 811,229.00 33,128,760.00 3,721,020.00 55,902,751.00 3,642,441.00 768,518.00 1,437,390.00 5,180,312.00 107,067,632.50 37,777.00 2,683,390.00 1,262,750.00 400,090.00 3,472,550.00 21,240,836.00 128,811,529.50 7,850,074.00 219,520.00 196,520.00 505,232,786.00 52,850.00 360,413,100.00 28,565.00 5,932,990.00

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings À’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Lopez Holdings Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.250 62.45 13.08 0.94 6.58 0.690 0.700 929 6.4 10.20 5.99 7.68 0.211 1032 7.18 58.80 5.92 5.6 0.62 4.3 21.65 0.580 4.9 0.0400 1.150 3.220 2.80 139.80 2.56 881.50 1.62 0.80 262.000 532.00 0.2460 0.2450 0.193

8,580,000 4,245,640 22,596,400 1,532,000 36,600 83,599,000 13,890,000 998,540 34,776,100 24,288,000 500 290,600 1,860,000 471,250 26,300 5,813,270 3,700 1,500 617,000 35,912,000 27,971,500 5,285,000 146,589,800 18,200,000 728,000 5,717,000 39,000 1,122,840 303,000 1,663,560 860,000 144,000 14,520 730 90,000 27,350,000 10,000

HOLDING FIRMS 2,209,600.00 269,132,908.50 304,731,028.00 1,444,290.00 235,205.00 56,736,310.00 9,473,270.00 960,284,500.00 223,405,960.00 260,462,022.00 2,995.00 2,213,841.00 392,720.00 482,336,480.00 187,281.00 347,215,085.00 20,279.00 8,662.00 374,840.00 165,297,410.00 607,870,955.00 3,050,370.00 757,541,926.00 722,000.00 822,680.00 18,443,920.00 108,320.00 156,529,649.00 775,680.00 1,517,893,210.00 1,400,800.00 114,140.00 3,740,308.00 398,380.00 22,100.00 6,923,320.00 1,930.00

7,130,400 61,294,000 16,800 104,000 3,077,000 44,970,700 825,000 10,448,000 62,900 12,700 800 48,380,000 48,000 10,312,000 23,460,000 1,640,000 1,584,000 1,509,000 500,000 27,045,000 11,518,000 9,517,000 110,964,000 722,889,000 19,570,000 7,265,000 200

PROPERTY 50,313,798.00 63,918,530.00 247,386.00 210,930.00 2,567,210.00 1,899,016,235.00 2,837,780.00 51,675,070.00 377,965.00 79,260.00 5,024.00 22,630,300.00 50,130.00 10,128,130.00 5,673,560.00 736,700.00 50,044,580.00 950,740.00 59,930.00 44,943,470.00 15,043,870.00 10,514,720.00 515,645,950.00 504,106,710.00 9,165,900.00 3,930,560.00 5,860.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. À’ Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport À’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

7.050 1.07 15.50 2.070 0.840 42.000 3.45 4.92 5.98 6.22 6.28 0.455 1.03 0.970 0.243 0.450 31.05 0.640 0.120 1.66 1.28 1.07 4.53 0.690 0.4550 0.530 29.30

MAY 7-11, 2018 Close Volume

Value

58.95 133.00 98.00 2.98 1.52 34.85 6.8 16.3 16.84 3.64 8.40

120,040 11,321,880 10,073,230 101,000 1,982,000 943,300 4,700 241,800 4,339,500 479,000 4,200

7,069,551.50 1,460,064,064.00 975,767,747.00 310,450.00 3,137,760.00 30,086,220.00 32,220.00 3,980,290.00 71,406,058.00 1,702,470.00 36,350.00

1.49 880.00 0.610 86 1.07 12.2 22.20 52.10 86.4 110 214 37.6 200.6 1900.00 89.00 1.2

96,000 250 54,064,000 18,704,970 1,853,000 41,700 38,200 1,610,080 1,450 1,670 59,370 233,300 4,004,580 75 338,920 50,000

142,820.00 218,000.00 33,877,410.00 1,561,544,118.50 1,967,000.00 508,770.00 829,515.00 84,692,298.00 122,643.00 180,552.00 12,579,896.00 8,885,440.00 787,640,462.00 142,865.00 30,222,545.00 60,300.00

38.95 14.68 0.6 1.28 20.15 0.228 141.8 25.00 3.18 16.98 251 51.4 70 84.2 58 1.97 5.15 9.3 10.880 16.3 11.78 7.20 5.30 1.66 15.58 63.8 19.10 8.78 17.76 2.160 285.00 54.95 5.14 3.13 17.10 27 13.42 22.65 0.188 328.00 6.85 2.45 4.50 9.60 5.8 7.98 1.46 12.44 53.8 6.2 4.84 2.02 3.7 1.93 14.1 64.95 5.39 0.132 1.00 143 2.52 3.52 22.00 0.86

7,156,200 5,510,200 8,598,000 488,000 172,300 7,630,000 520 63,700 43,447,000 1,336,000 850 2,410,740 15,070 700 1,946,250 392,000 196,600 145,400 15,730,900 16,702,800 1,376,600 3,204,470 11,780,900 27,000 2,773,500 701,490 1,117,300 370,700 4,371,200 9,970,000 4,222,470 10 510,900 45,000 20,500 3,999,200 1,563,200 12,732,000 1,010,000 1,322,800 80,400 8,269,000 1,748,000 13,986,500 2,821,700 81,500 1,213,000 299,100 1,676,020 183,300 4,000 1,434,000 35,000 747,000 831,800 1,917,440 456,900 3,980,000 100,000 4,907,580 29,000 217,615,000 300 9,534,000

274,430,385.00 79,677,530.00 5,326,260.00 615,670.00 3,428,013.00 1,738,370.00 73,416.00 1,583,315.00 143,606,340.00 22,598,206.00 212,862.00 124,418,132.00 1,014,125.00 59,696.00 111,755,044.00 762,180.00 1,017,325.00 1,326,792.00 169,571,560.00 271,018,626.00 16,150,574.00 26,482,758.00 62,838,984.00 45,060.00 42,867,994.00 44,853,749.00 20,808,266.00 3,254,439.00 74,503,414.00 21,251,770.00 1,180,616,358.00 549.50 2,591,619.00 142,190.00 351,802.00 105,782,750.00 21,482,710.00 285,404,285.00 190,720.00 433,859,718.00 544,656.00 19,869,690.00 8,003,590.00 131,545,147.00 16,564,380.00 650,096.00 1,799,890.00 3,636,908.00 89,304,836.00 1,126,420.00 19,360.00 2,977,490.00 128,920.00 1,422,710.00 11,903,900.00 124,841,056.50 2,415,843.00 531,890.00 99,330.00 691,919,803.00 72,890.00 789,147,880.00 6,600.00 8,046,720.00

0.260 62.85 13.60 0.88 6.54 0.650 0.650 970 10.7 10.38 5.21 7.54 0.212 1038 7.16 60.70

28,050,000 8,733,730 19,011,900 156,000 323,000 54,458,000 8,524,000 947,140 13,517,600 34,575,600 200 490,700 1,970,000 619,865 83,500 7,879,420

7,780,700.00 534,748,793.00 250,344,092.00 137,960.00 2,084,396.00 35,075,570.00 5,555,360.00 895,177,760.00 126,746,455.00 361,393,014.00 1,042.00 3,619,294.00 417,710.00 630,424,180.00 585,209.00 474,695,696.50

5.26 0.63 4.75 21.55 0.610 5.41 0.0400 1.170 3.220 2.60 137.90 2.56 918.00 1.63 0.83 263.800 545.00 0.2370 0.2550 0.193

26,900 1,177,000 15,541,000 24,277,500 10,630,000 136,391,800 16,600,000 928,000 5,989,000 65,000 732,880 150,000 981,150 1,380,000 55,000 17,640 2,650 900,000 45,440,000 1,870,000

147,524.00 712,660.00 72,909,370.00 519,218,820.00 6,345,270.00 727,630,502.00 663,600.00 1,064,940.00 19,402,700.00 162,920.00 100,029,958.00 384,530.00 892,821,860.00 2,287,810.00 43,850.00 4,589,716.00 1,484,810.00 217,550.00 11,479,810.00 359,940.00

7.170 1.04 14.96 2.010 0.850 41.000 3.46 4.93 6.13 6.22

340,196,200 74,073,000 2,100 545,000 5,978,000 35,301,200 799,000 7,036,000 94,500 24,300

2,354,567,648.00 78,247,070.00 30,388.00 1,102,380.00 5,045,270.00 1,425,869,740.00 2,728,520.00 33,527,510.00 568,637.00 153,098.00

0.465 1.03 0.990 0.247 0.450 31.1 0.630 0.120 1.65 1.27 1.05 4.32 0.640 0.4800 0.560 29.30

45,040,000 188,000 25,031,000 59,960,000 780,000 1,804,500 899,000 200,000 63,146,000 5,352,000 4,441,000 61,764,000 508,869,000 56,450,000 21,526,000 400

20,834,100.00 192,140.00 25,416,520.00 14,775,750.00 348,000.00 56,992,950.00 565,070.00 24,000.00 104,171,040.00 6,767,490.00 4,658,690.00 268,497,020.00 328,026,820.00 26,686,900.00 11,731,200.00 11,705.00

STOCKS

MAY 15-18, 2018 Close Volume

MAY 7-11, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

3.15 19.44 2.07 3.27 37.30 1.12 10.08 0.780 6.390

11,969,000 11,120,900 569,000 5,866,000 67,192,400 8,826,000 1,366,200 122,000 24,332,400

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. À’ IPeople Inc. À’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

15.78 26.5 1.4 0.465 0.046 13.06 5.38 12.78 0.0590 90.2 8.9 7.36 7.65 2.13 20.10 940 1638 5.63 306.00 11.98 4.08 82 2.18 13.04 8.19 0.116 1.3800 3.69 15.46 4.74 1.03 25.40 18.78 0.520 4.21 5.52 3.04 8.660 11.64 9.45 2.9 11.98 130.00 5.99 1395.00 0.390 1.010 47.90 88.30 7.13 2.25 1.300 0.425 4.82 0.850 11.520

188,800 344,500 12,000 7,680,000 33,900,000 72,900 1,800 33,912,500 53,350,000 511,070 13,300 31,038,100 1,083,100 25,000 324,100 220 101,590 876,500 19,350 20,800 2,763,000 8,939,830 107,000 162,500 133,600 3,070,000 776,000 614,000 41,400 5,181,000 469,000 16,306,500 4,900 65,000 171,000 41,297,500 4,213,000 22,712,300 11,200 34,400 18,000 300 169,140 2,694,500 217,415 6,360,000 4,282,000 1,929,500 947,530 63,000 3,679,000 10,468,000 21,850,000 4,623,000 9,414,000 29,110,100

SERVICES 2,945,602.00 9,252,205.00 16,540.00 3,603,750.00 1,577,000.00 937,858.00 9,613.00 427,397,160.00 3,050,260.00 46,557,135.50 115,998.00 241,782,261.00 8,657,971.00 53,470.00 6,621,415.00 206,800.00 175,287,115.00 4,923,095.00 5,881,764.00 238,846.00 11,279,860.00 953,243,301.50 233,610.00 2,116,352.00 1,092,570.00 356,200.00 1,073,280.00 2,182,710.00 632,282.00 23,797,950.00 479,010.00 434,762,780.00 88,844.00 34,900.00 723,900.00 241,617,853.00 13,081,950.00 189,229,663.00 126,426.00 327,378.00 52,120.00 3,594.00 21,889,990.00 16,154,288.00 301,184,655.00 2,458,200.00 4,374,110.00 90,528,180.00 84,587,177.00 447,264.00 8,394,630.00 13,631,620.00 9,302,750.00 22,188,230.00 8,025,550.00 345,312,282.00

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp. United Paragon

0.0027 1.66 4.20 18.74 1.5500 1.7000 1.65 0.300 7.79 2.300 0.196 0.139 0.142 0.009 0.0095 1.45 4.94 1.22 0.5100 0.9700 0.0120 0.0130 5.43 12.66 0.0120 2.0500 29.00 0.0063

666,000,000 7,837,000 1,092,000 8,200 3,000 5,000 116,530,000 3,580,000 27,100 5,666,000 5,170,000 4,400,000 520,000 11,000,000 10,000,000 419,000 5,517,600 1,030,000 948,000 1,185,000 450,900,000 600,000 2,342,200 5,313,900 134,200,000 70,000 9,344,900 4,000,000

MINING & OIL 1,833,700.00 13,012,210.00 4,741,230.00 142,138.00 4,650.00 8,140.00 194,617,900.00 1,079,150.00 198,113.00 12,952,640.00 998,250.00 610,690.00 74,010.00 93,500.00 91,000.00 591,070.00 27,778,525.00 1,228,780.00 490,340.00 1,147,590.00 5,414,000.00 7,800.00 12,987,912.00 68,593,874.00 1,570,700.00 143,720.00 276,596,745.00 25,200.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

25.95 103 500 510 101.2 107 109 505 5.48 1000 995 100 1.05 106.8 1020 1010 104 111 990 76.7 78.8 75.2 76.8 77.9 76 77 76.5 1.95

262,200 590 3,660 50,260 103,450 60,630 367,880 3,000 484,100 1,430 6,130 100,010 2,149,000 700 5,000 170 1,200 750 2,220 35,510 46,900 55,000 2,750 35,590 71,750 97,670 11,040 3,000

LR Warrant

2.820

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,287,000 3,470,430.00

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.95 5.23 2.86 3.22

4,000 2,660,700 475,000 30,083,111

First Metro ETF

117.6 10 10.1 1.03

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

41,922,730.00 218,858,431.00 1,177,390.00 19,040,010.00 2,541,419,665.00 9,924,060.00 14,106,610.00 96,330.00 155,893,774.00

Value

4 18.90 2.07 3.24 35.65 1.14 10.72 0.800 6.650

8,231,000 11,424,400 2,599,000 124,000 41,016,200 50,999,000 2,453,900 271,000 18,599,500

33,980,730.00 216,816,764.00 5,230,880.00 393,650.00 1,402,480,800.00 47,774,210.00 26,493,856.00 213,000.00 125,735,439.00

15.9 27.05 1.35 0.480 0.047 12.6 5 12.36 0.0560 92 8.7 7.14 7.70 2.26 21.40 940 1742 5.56 306.00 12.12 4.18 83 2.21 13.3 8.23 0.120 1.3800 3.48 15 4.61 1.03 26.20

515,000 376,500 92,000 6,910,000 54,258,600 1,297,900 6,000 51,774,400 53,930,000 697,180 43,300 2,525,400 147,100 15,000 345,700 1,010 329,070 1,303,500 21,120 2,100 5,326,000 8,652,770 204,000 129,600 46,000 13,180,000 2,852,000 392,000 73,200 6,600,000 1,390,000 25,613,100

8,605,766.00 10,340,815.00 125,020.00 3,328,500.00 2,556,400.00 16,424,108.00 29,850.00 620,874,002.00 2,977,440.00 62,479,571.50 376,667.00 17,849,388.00 1,113,196.00 33,400.00 7,436,950.00 949,390.00 545,247,490.00 7,256,040.00 6,441,210.00 25,318.00 22,515,030.00 706,828,984.50 458,820.00 1,691,054.00 378,370.00 1,575,800.00 3,972,040.00 1,356,440.00 1,074,386.00 30,612,980.00 1,428,840.00 619,829,990.00

0.480 4.31 6.44 3.26 8.160 11.68 9.54 2.94

124,000 494,000 13,587,800 4,325,000 27,836,200 86,300 8,800 44,000

64,540.00 2,078,560.00 87,073,907.00 14,084,240.00 232,170,378.00 1,015,796.00 84,164.00 129,390.00

130.00 5.98 1396.00 0.380 1.030 46.60 88.95 7.10 2.28 1.290 0.435 4.84 0.860 11.560

70,050 4,292,900 298,235 84,820,000 29,415,000 1,741,700 2,177,800 227,700 2,778,000 15,851,000 37,370,000 6,759,000 10,532,000 10,309,500

8,941,999.00 25,926,098.00 409,973,040.00 35,515,800.00 30,742,390.00 80,647,685.00 190,452,295.50 1,618,165.00 6,392,090.00 20,750,950.00 16,157,400.00 32,654,720.00 9,128,630.00 116,776,614.00

0.0028 1.69 4.20 18.88 1.5500

733,000,000 7,924,000 651,000 18,400 17,000

2,071,400.00 13,643,810.00 2,764,450.00 326,586.00 26,210.00

1.63 0.300 7.36 2.350 0.201 0.139 0.144 0.009 0.0093 1.42 5.1 1.21 0.5600 0.9600 0.0130 0.0130 5.60 13.48 0.0110 2.1000 29.00 0.0065

183,912,000 1,730,000 46,400 8,778,000 2,030,000 7,210,000 560,000 63,000,000 2,000,000 509,000 4,664,900 95,000 463,000 1,132,000 402,900,000 24,100,000 1,905,200 5,785,300 198,500,000 38,068,000 9,964,100 4,000,000

299,936,360.00 520,200.00 334,563.00 20,128,780.00 414,860.00 999,540.00 78,520.00 548,300.00 18,600.00 744,550.00 23,950,281.00 112,620.00 250,650.00 1,055,350.00 4,841,700.00 313,200.00 10,697,923.00 78,799,102.00 2,434,400.00 223,200.00 281,864,285.00 26,000.00

25.7 107 491 510 100.8 106.9 107 506 5.5 995 982 100.4 1.07 106.5 1020 1020 104.2 110.9 975 77 79.9 75.5 76.1 78 76.1 77 75.9

579,900 1,360 6,870 33,450 133,960 30 11,570 1,920 3,453,300 5,000 2,580 35,050 1,328,000 1,390 10,000 330 1,140 320 1,420 70,270 226,420 153,000 6,600 554,380 21,900 139,480 381,650

15,177,725.00 144,720.00 3,392,570.00 16,872,360.00 13,524,483.00 3,207.00 1,238,006.00 968,700.00 19,217,267.00 4,975,000.00 2,528,640.00 3,515,800.00 1,404,880.00 145,506.00 10,217,155.00 339,285.00 118,724.00 35,488.00 1,386,750.00 5,410,590.50 17,793,881.00 11,548,856.00 502,260.00 43,080,845.00 1,666,320.00 10,748,635.00 28,972,747.50

2.760

1,004,000

2,797,140.00

5.33 2.97 3.17

2,407,500 500,000 4,351,000

12,955,024.00 1,477,620.00 13,845,310.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117,300 14,048,908.00

119.3

211,380

24,844,866.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 43,270 433,294.40 69,090 233,660.40 17,020 17,530.60

10.14

14,010

1.03

48,400

PREFERRED 6,726,080.00 60,770.00 1,828,900.00 25,320,600.00 10,435,551.00 721,410.00 39,733,540.00 1,513,995.00 2,720,064.00 1,389,600.00 6,035,660.00 10,065,264.00 2,287,960.00 74,595.00 5,101,480.00 173,195.00 125,618.00 83,250.00 2,170,700.00 2,728,039.00 3,697,102.00 4,152,050.00 209,800.00 2,802,565.00 5,457,289.00 7,511,480.00 838,285.00 5,850.00

SME 11,800.00 14,007,331.00 1,348,500.00 104,006,370.00

142,081.80 49,852.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS MRC Allied Ind. Abra Mining Oriental Pet. À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Philodrill Corp. À’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Megaworld Vitarich Corp. ATN Holdings A SM Prime Holdings

VOLUME 722,889,000 666,000,000 450,900,000 146,589,800 134,200,000 116,530,000 110,964,000 101,637,000 83,599,000 67,192,400

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ I.C.T.S.I. Security Bank Metro Paciﬁc Inv. Corp. Bank of PI Metrobank

VALUE 2,541,419,665.00 1,899,016,235.00 1,517,893,210.00 1,021,608,921.00 960,284,500.00 953,243,301.50 884,659,321.00 757,541,926.00 680,121,120.50 678,600,472.50

NLEX says Q1 income rose by 20% to P1.29b By Darwin G Amojelar NLEX Corp. said net income rose 20 percent to P1.29 billion in the first quarter of 2018 from P1.07 billion in the same period last year on higher traffic at the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway. “The growth is attributed to the higher traffic during the period for both NLEx and SCTEx. Traffic for each expressway grew by 9.3 percent and 17 percent, respectively, quarteron-quarter,” NLEX said. The traffic growth pushed first quarter revenues up by 16 percent to P3.23 billion, from P2.79 billion recorded during the first quarter of 2017. The average daily traffic in NLEx reached 250,989 vehicles, higher by 9.3 percent against the same period last year, while yjr average daily traffic in SCTEx hit 59,812, up 17 percent on year. The company obtained its operating revenues mainly from toll collections at both the NLEx and SCTEx. It generated other income from advertising materials and structures, toll service facilities along the NLEx and rental income from toll service facilities. Non-toll revenues in the first quarter of 2018 decreased 8.9 percent to P43.4 million from P47.7 million posted during the same period last year due to lower income generated from toll service and utility facilities. The NLEx currently spans approximately 95 kilometers or 527-lane kilometers, serving an average of 237,046 vehicles a day in 2017. It is the main infrastructure backbone that connects Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon. SCTEx, meanwhile, is a 94-km, 2x2 expressway stretching from Subic-Tipo until La Paz, Tarlac, connecting the special economic zones in Subic and Clark, Olongapo City, to Tarlac City. The toll road company earlier budgeted P19 billion in capital expenditures this year to build new expressway projects to help solve Metro Manila’s traffic bottlenecks.

H2O Ventures to convert into property firm BUSINESSMAN Dennis Uy plans to transform his newly-acquired H2O Venture Corp. into a resort and property development company. Philippine H20 said in a ﬁling with the Philippine Stock Exchange over the weekend it would seek shareholders’ approval to change the corporate name to PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. and amend the primary purpose to enable it to engage in real estate development. It will seek shareholders’ approval to increase the authorized capital stock to up to P8 billion, divided into 8 billion common shares with a par value of ₱1 apiece from the current ₱500 million. Philippine H20 will also get an approval from the board of directors to conduct an equity offering. The Uy-led Udenna Development Corp. in December last year signed an agreement with majority shareholders of Philippine H20 led by Jolliville Holding Corp. to acquire their combined 62-percent stake. Udenna is in the middle of conducting a tender offer to acquire the remaining shares in Philippine H20 as required by the Securities Regulation Code. Udenna has offered to acquire the remaining 92.416 million common shares in Philippines H20 owned by the public, representing 37.99 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the company, at a price of P4.30, or worth a total of P397.4 million. The tender offer began on April 30 and would end on May 28. Uy’s has several assets under Udenna, including his $300-million casino project in Cebu called Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan. The casino will rise within a 12-hectare prime beachfront just six kilometers, or a 20-minute drive, from the airport. This will be the country’s ﬁrst integrated resort and casino outside Metro Manila. Jenniffer B. Austria

extrastory2000@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Threat to scrap summit discussed SEOUL—US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday discussed North Korea’s recent threats to cancel its unprecedented summit with Washington, Seoul’s presidential office said. After weeks of warm words and diplomatic backslapping, Pyongyang abruptly threatened to pull out of the planned summit next month because of US demands for “unilateral nuclear abandonment”, according to the North’s official KCNA news agency. North Korea also canceled at the last minute a high-level meeting with the South, protesting the joint military drills between Seoul and Washington. In a phone conversation on Sunday, Trump and Moon “exchanged views on the various actions taken by North Korea recently”, Moon’s office said in a statement. The two leaders agreed to “work closely” for the success of the landmark summit in Singapore on June 12, which would be the first meeting between a sitting US President and a North Korean leader. They are due to meet in Washington on Tuesday. North Korea’s sudden shift in attitude followed a weeks-long charm offensive that has seen leader Kim Jong Un hold a historic summit with Moon and meet twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping. AFP

Business/World

Unpopular Maduro tipped to win C ARACAS―Venezuelans, reeling under a devastating economic crisis, vote Sunday in an election boycotted by the opposition and condemned by much of the international community but expected to hand deeply unpopular President Nicolas Maduro a new mandate. Maduro, the political heir to the late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, has presided over an implosion of once wealthy oil producer Venezuela’s economy since taking office in 2013. Hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, rising crime and broken water, power and transportation networks have sparked growing discontent and violent unrest among Venezuelans. However, the 55-year-old former bus driver is favorite to win ahead of his main rival Henri Falcon, a former army officer and state governor who has failed to gain

the endorsement of the main opposition leaders, and an evangelical candidate, Javier Bertucci. Maduro, with a tight grip on the electoral and military authorities, faces a bitterly divided opposition which has called for a boycott. “Low enthusiasm will likely reduce voter turnout and enable Maduro to control the outcome without a major social backlash,” said analyst Risa Grais-Targow of Eurasia Group. Teresa Paredes, 56-year-old housewife, said that “for the ﬁrst time in my

life I am not going to vote because we are living a dog’s life, without medicines, without food.” Alvaro Toroa, 64-year-old retiree from the opposition stronghold of eastern Caracas, said he cast his ballot because “this has to be ended. Falcon is able to bring disaffected Chavists and the opposition.” Aware of the popular mood, Maduro Saturday promised an “economic revolution” if re-elected. “We are defending... the right to a just and prosperous future,” he said on Twitter. Falcon promised to dollarize the economy, return companies expropriated by Chavez and allow humanitarian aid, something rejected by Maduro. “Our struggle has been aimed at a peaceful and electoral path,” he said on Twitter. Some 20.5 million people are eligible to vote in a one-round election to choose a president for a six-year term that will be-

gin in January 2019. Presidential elections are traditionally held in December, but they were moved up this year by the country’s all-powerful Constituent Assembly, catching the divided and weakened opposition off-guard. The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition coalition, increasingly pinning its hopes for change on outside pressure forcing the socialists to remove Maduro, has won support from the US, EU and 14 countries of the Lima Group who have called for the vote to be postponed. The powers accuse Maduro of undermining democracy, usurping the power of the opposition-dominated legislature by replacing it with his Constituent Assembly, and cracking down on the opposition. Protests in 2017, still fresh in the collective memory, left around 125 dead. The MUD’s most popular leaders have been sidelined or detained, the boycott their only remaining weapon. AFP

Washington, Beijing agree to end trade war

Bob Dylan guitar fetches $495,000 NEW YORK—A guitar that played a key role in Bob Dylan’s artistic evolution from folk music to rock fetched a half million at auction on Saturday. The guitar, a 1965 Fender Telecaster that belonged to Robbie Robertson, Dylan’s guitarist, was used by Dylan, Eric Clapton and George Harrison, Julien’s Auctions said Saturday. It had been expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000. The guitar marked the singer’s path from folk stylings like “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (1964), to electric rock, like his 1965 hit “Like a Rolling Stone.” Other famous guitars went under the hammer on Saturday: George Harrison’s first electric guitar, a $40,000 Hofner Club 40, and a Fender Telecaster rosewood guitar made for Elvis Presley in 1968, priced at a cool $115,200. More than 40 years after his death, Elvis items still fetch a handsome price. A heavily decorated Elvis belt, which he wore during a concert in Hawaii in 1972, sold for $354,400. A star-shaped diamond ring donated by Elvis to an admirer at a concert in 1975 brought in a sparkly $100,000. The sale also included show costumes that belonged to artists from Elton John, to Britney Spears and Michael Jackson. A leather jacket and pants suit from the late “Thriller” singer, with a yellow shirt, brought in $217,600, Julien said. AFP

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

AT THE FLOWER MARKET. A vendor arranges his stall at a flower market in Taipei on May 20, 2018. AFP

Students take solace in baseball after shooting DEER PARK―Thirty-six hours after several classmates were gunned down in a massacre, Santa Fe High School athletes took the ﬁeld Saturday to partake in a longstanding and, for at least one evening, healing Texas pastime: baseball. The setting spring sun cast a golden glow as umpires dusted red dirt off the home plate and the crowd settled in the bleachers, all in preparation for a game that until Friday’s killings was never expected to attract much attention. Ten people, mostly students, were killed and 13 wounded when a teenage classmate armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened ﬁre in the Santa Fe High School on Friday. When the announcer introduced the Santa Fe Indians―whose pitcher was

shot in the back of the head by the gunman, miraculously survived and joined his team for the opening line-up―the crowd of about 1,000 erupted in cheers. Despite their star Rome Shubert’s near death, and Santa Fe families preparing to bury loved ones, the team voted to play its Saturday playoff game as a show of strength and a means of catharsis in the face of tragedy. “This is very, very important,” Andie Martinez, a 16-year-old Santa Fe junior, told AFP of the game before the crowd rose for a moment of silence. “You can just see how the community came together in this,” she said. The shooter, identiﬁed as a 17-year old student, “tried to break us apart but the community stands strong.” Shubert was among 13 people

wounded in the school shooting. “I’m so greatful (sic) and blessed that god spared me life today,” Shubert wrote on Twitter, barely ﬁve hours after he was shot. “Today I was shot in the back of the head but I am completely okay and stable.” Trent Beazley, a catcher on the team, was also injured when a bullet grazed his side. Neither teen played, but both suited up and sat in the dugout to cheer on their teammates. “We Are With You,” read one sign taped to the bleachers. The Indians held their own in the ﬁrst inning, but by the second, they found themselves down 5-0, and the starting pitcher was pulled. AFP

BEIJING―Washington and Beijing have agreed to abandon any trade war and back off from imposing tariffs on each other, Chinese state media reported Sunday. The announcement came after high-level talks in the US capital and followed months of tensions over what President Donald Trump has blasted as an unfair commercial relationship between the two economic giants. Vice-Premier Liu He, who led Chinese negotiators in Washington said: “The two sides reached a consensus, will not fight a trade war, and will stop increasing tariffs on each other,” state-run news agency Xinhua reported Sunday. Liu called the agreement a “necessity”, but added: “At the same time it must be realized that unfreezing the ice cannot be done in a day, solving the structural problems of the economic and trade relations between the two countries will take time.” An earlier joint statement issued in Washington said Beijing would “significantly” increase its purchases of American goods, but offered few details. The apparent detente comes after months of increasing tensions that have set markets on edge over fears of a damaging trade war. Trump has repeatedly railed against his country’s trade deficit with China, describing it as a danger to US national security and threatening to impose tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods. US levies on $50 billion of Chinese imports could have come into effect as early as next week. The talks in Washington were between delegations led by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Liu, who also met Thursday with Trump. The sides had met earlier in Beijing. “There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China,” the joint statement said. AFP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION

OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK, INC. Mortgagee/s,

ALVIN NEIL A. GUTIERREZ

GREEN LIGHT AFTER the hustle and bustle of work, one of the things I do to relieve stress is to hit the gym. For years now, I have been a huge fan of the Les Mills program, particularly the group exercise (GX) called Bodypump. Their tracks are up to date, mixing various genres that cater to a multitude of members’ musical preference. I have been good friends with a lot of senior and junior instructors. Some of them are my Facebook friends. They can really push you to lifting heavier and heavier weights week after week. In short, they care for your transformation and they coach you every step of the way, from your postures down to your diet. Sadly, they have this trainee instructor who try to “copy” seasoned instructors who are using terms loosely that makes me cringe every time they are the ones leading the class. What makes me cringe each time this wannabee instructor “copies” her mentors will be shared below. Years before I joined the academe, I was a trainer in a consultancy ﬁrm located in Makati. One of the interventions I often conduct for multinationals is the team building program. My role as a trainer in these interventions is not just to administer the “games” but also to process the dynamics of the team, how they strategize and ultimately used

Abused, misused and overused the team building concept of Goals, Roles, Rules and Relationships. Peter Drucker, a famous business guru shared these concepts by identifying different primary sports teams such as baseball, tennis and football. Each has its own rules such as players having ﬁxed positions, playing in series, cross-discipline work and interchangeable positions. He further used such analogy to that of business and how people work together to achieve their purpose. Bluntly put, teams are formed because of their purpose or GOAL. They have certain RULES to follow or procedures to make sure the goals are met in a timely manner. Through their expertise in one procedure or the other they portray their ROLES. Ultimately, achieving a harmonious working environment makes them create RELATIONSHIPS. Going back to the Bodypump experience, seasoned instructors call us teams and I have no problems with that. They know the members goals, they give us the rules to follow such as the right posture, and the time schedule of the exercise. They also portray their roles well. Outside the group exercise, they build relationships with the members, which makes the gym more of a community of health enthusiasts than just a status symbol.

On the ﬂip-side, this aspiring instructor kept on calling us a “team.” But she was misusing the term, abusing it and overusing it without even practicing or knowing the essence of the word. She only speaks to members who are her “friends.” Outside the group exercise, there are members she knew were regulars but that she always snubbed. Worse, it seems we do not exist in her world. She should know that for us to be legitimately called as “team,” she must make an effort to create relationships. The least she can do is to start smiling at us before, during or after the class and not see us as mere numbers ﬁlling up the class. For those given leadership positions, be it in the health-and-wellness environment or in the workplace, copying the language of one’s mentors without even understanding the terms used is not going to be helpful in any way to one’s new-found role. I have a handful of friends who worked in various industries that often complain about how badly their bosses treat them. Some bosses, or so called “leaders,” are just treating their members as people who can contribute to a sales quota, production line or project. But they never bother to even know where they live, reach out to understand their personal lives, or even identify what motivates them. They are

treated like machines that need to work for eight hours and get paid on the 15th and 30th. So, for readers out there who will be given future leadership roles, here’s a humble request: before we assume these roles and call our people a team a little effort of understanding its essence would be helpful. An overused definition of a TEAM: T-ogether Everyone A-chieves M-ore, is common knowledge, but creating that “together” requires building relationships. Remember, without one of the GRRR elements (goals, roles, rules and relationship), one cannot truly call their team a TEAM. Alvin Neil Gutierrez is a Doctor of Business Administration student of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He took up his Masters in Human Resource Management as an AUSAID scholar from the University of Sydney Business School. He is also an Assistant Professor at the DLSU Management and Organization Department, where he teaches Strategic Human Resources Management. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

-versus-

FRE NO. 12210

SPS. DANNY B. ONGMANCHI AND EVANGELINE U. ONGMANCHI BY DANILO B. ONGMANCHI (AIF) A.K.A. DANILO ONGMANCHI, Mortgagor/s, x-----------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

UPON extra-Judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on November 19, 2013 by SPS. DANNY B. ONGMANCHI AND EVANGELINE U. ONGMANCHI BY DANILO B. ONGMANCHI (AIF) A.K.A. DANILO ONGMANCHI – 53 J.P. Rizal Extension, Comembo, Makati City / Unit No. 21S, 21st Floor (with Balcony), The Manhattan Parkview Tower 3, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, Mortgagor/s in favor of BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK, INC., Mortgagee/s to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of P 1,378,159.35 as of April 17, 2018 inclusive of interest, penalties, and other charges, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/ or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on JUNE 19, 2018, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will SELL at public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2015000598 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City

“Unit No. 21S situated in the 21st

Floor of the Manhattan Parkview Tower 3, located in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines, consisting of Thirty Four Square Meters (34.00) more or less.” In the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on Transfer Certificate of Title N-302952; N-302953 which embraces and describes the land located at Araneta Center Commercial Complex, Cubao, Quezon City with an area of Twelve Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy Six (12,876) square meter. xxx xxx xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid Office on the above stated date and time. Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title/s to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any. In the event that public auction should not take place on said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a nonworking holiday, it shall be held on JUNE 26, 2018 at the same time and place without further notice. Quezon City, Metro Manila, MAY 10, 2018. (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface, or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law.

Copy Furnished:

BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK, INC. 14th Floor BPI Building, Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas Street, Makati City SPS. DANNY B. ONGMANCHI AND EVANGELINE U. ONGMANCHI BY DANILO B. ONGMANCHI (AIF) A.K.A. DANILO ONGMANCHI 53 J.P. Rizal Extension, Comembo, Makati City Unit No. 21S, 21st Floor (with Balcony), The Manhattan Parkview Tower 3, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City (MStandard-May 21, 28 & June 4, 2018)

LGUs

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

Tondo hospital modernization on track, says Mayor Estrada

LocaL government units

monday, may 21, 2018

3 regional police offices team up to remove ‘MRS’ By Romeo Dizon CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Three regional police offices are teaming up to put a stop to motorcycle-riding suspects across their areas. In a joint tactical and strategic meeting here, regional police directors Chief Supt. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan of the National Capital Region, Chief Supt. Guillermo eleazar of Region 4-A or Calabarzon, and Chief Supt. Amador Corpus of Region 3 or Central Luzon set their sights eliminating crimes usually perpetrated by two men riding on motorcycles. Under their plan, the three police regions will issue unified stickers and color coding system for motorcycles in a bit to rid their areas of “MRS,” Corpus said. Considering the proximity of the regions to each other and the prevalence of motorcycle-riding suspects, there is a need for a coordinated effort to stop them in the three regions, he added. “Because of the high speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle, it is the favorite vehicle of suspects in the commission of crimes that can easily elude pursuing police operatives,” Corpus said. “It is high time to stop this notorious crime modus operandi of the ridingin-tandem suspects,” he added At present, Police Regional Office 3 is now implementing “Oplan Clean Riders Alpha” and PRO 4A has “Oplan Checkmate” both aimed at ridding their regions of suspects on bikes. A total of 228 crimes were committed by riding-in-tandem suspects in Central Luzon, but 42 cases were already solved, Corpus added. Meanwhile, an incumbent barangay captain was arrested by police authorities for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act in Tarlac City on Sunday. Arrested was edison Diaz, 41, married, and the incumbent chairman of Barangay Lourdes, Tarlac City. Diaz was arrested based on a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 for violation of Republic Act 9165. Diaz is now under the custody of Tarlac City Police. The days of the motorcycles riding in tandem suspects are now numbered. This developed as three regional commanders of the Philippines National Police including the National Capital Regional Police Officer put their heads together to find solution to Motorcycle Riding Suspects in the country. Police Chief Supt. Amador Corpus of PRO 3 said that because of the high speed of motorcycle, it is the favorite vehicle of suspects in the commission of crimes that can easily elude pursuing police operatives, Corpus said. During their joint tactical and strategic meeting here, the three police chief superintendents namely Regional Director PDIR Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, Police Chief Supt. Guillermo eleazar of Regional Office 4-A and Corpus of Police Regional Office 3 set their sights on the goal to eliminate this crime usually perpetrated by two men riding in motorcycle.

PAMPANGA CONFERENCE. Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (4th from right), the former President, was the guest of honor and speaker at the 27th Northern Luzon Area Business Conference held at the LausGroup Centre in San Fernando City on Friday. She is flanked by leaders of industry: Sec. Raul L. Lambino (2nd from right) Administrator and CEO of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Levy Laus (2rd from left), Chairman Emeritus of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bing Limjoco (4th from left), President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others business leaders.

EMB: Halt construction in Baguio sans sewers By Dexter A. See

AGUIO CITY—The Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau has recommended a moratorium in the construction of hotels, restaurants, and condominiums to the local government while awaiting the expansion of the city’s sewage treatment plant. The sewage plant, located at South Sanitary Camp, is a facility built through the assistance of the Japan International Cooperating Agency in the early 1980s and is already operating beyond its allowable capacity, eMB-CAR regional director Reynaldo S. Digamo said. Digamo underscored that no more connections should be done to the city’s existing sewerage system as this is detrimental to Baguio and can increase effluence along the Balili River, a violation of existing laws. Based on the data obtained by the eMB-

CAR technical personnel from the city government, Digamo said the sewerage treatment plant was designed to accommodate a maximum of 8,500 cubic meters of wastewater per day, but it is now receiving more than 12,000 cubic meters per day. “The continuous construction of commercial and residential structures that connect to the city’s sewerage treatment plant will further burden the facility and will definitely contribute to the increase in the pollution of the Balili River, another ground for the issuance of a notice of violation to the local government wherein

the city could again be imposed huge fines per day of violation,” he stressed. The eMB-CAR recently hosted a forum with the owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, condominiums and other establishments and tourist facilities in the city, as well as neighboring La Trinidad and Tuba towns. The stakeholders discussed issues related to existing buildings without waste water treatment facilities, overloaded city sewerage treatment plant, proliferation of backyard piggeries in urban areas that pollute the Balili and Bued rivers, encroachments in the 3-meter river easements, proliferation of households without sanitary toilets, facilities and appropriate septic tanks, continuous new construction of buildings allowed to connect to the sewerage treatment plant and alleged inaction of national and local governments on these problems.

Smart backs N. Mindanao ecotourism workshop

NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.

Two sections each of Grade 3 and 6 students will occupy the new classrooms donated by SM Foundation (pictured) to the Carig Elementary School in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The two-story, four-classroom building is the first donated structure constructed within the campus because of a public-private partnership between the Department of Education and SM Prime Holdings through the SM Foundation, which is an active member of the agency’s Adopt-a-School Program.

DA opens mushroom research center in Cagayan Valley ILAGAN CITY, Isabela—The Department of Agriculture in Cagayan Valley recently opened the first Mushroom Research and Development Center in barangay San Vicente in this city. “This will intensify our promotion of mushroom production in the region. This will help farmers in terms of al-

ternative source of income since mushroom production is emerging as productive endeavor of farmers in Cagayan Valley,” said Lorenzo Caranguian, DA executive director. he said the MRDC, funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research and located inside the DA’s Regional Crop Protection Center, was estab-

lished to support the research and development activities on processing of agricultural waste into sustainable and competitive mushroom production towards food security and safety in the region. Through their research centers and experiment stations in Cagayan Valley, Caranguian said they have undertaken

trainings on production and processing for interested farmers, cooperatives and local government units. “There are now products out of mushroom developed such as rice mushroom polvoron, miki, crispy bites, chamfee, cookies, muffin, bola bola and many others,” he said. Ben Moses Ebreo

Cleanfuel Quirino branch now open CLeANFUeL, the country’s leading supplier of environment-friendly fuel, recently opened another station at 641 Pres. Quirino highway, Brgy. Bagbag Novaliches, Quezon City. This 12th Cleanfuel station in Quezon City serves the largest and most populated city in the National Capital Region, as motorists in the area can now enjoy quality fuel for less! The station boasts of clean and air-conditioned toilets, air and water services, credit card facility, canteen space, loyalty rewards program, and 24-hour service augmenting its complete fuel line. For more information about Cleanfuel and its other locations, please call (02) 655-6407, (02) 655-9219, or visit its Facebook page and website at www.cleanfuel.ph. Cleanfuel - Quality Fuel for Less!

The Ospital ng Tondo, at the heart of the densely populated Tondo district, is moving forward as a modern and fully equipped hospital to cater thousands of poor Manileños who cannot afford the high cost of medical service, Manila Mayor Joseph estrada said. The hospital is now undergoing rehabilitation through the Department of health—health Facility enhancement Program sponsorship, which started last March 15, 2017 to further improve medical services to the thousands of residents in Districts 1 and 2, the city chief executive said. During the 24th anniversary of the Ospital ng Tondo, the city government also announced it was acquiring additional new medical equipment, such as digital x-rays and electrocardiogram machines for dengue victims, and other facilities so the 50-bed hospital could accommodate more indigent patients. “This hospital was built to provide free and comprehensive proper healthcare,” the Manila mayor said. “We will continue improving its services and facilities for the well-being of poor Tondo residents.” housed in a five-story building, the hospital, located along Jose Abad Santos Street in Tondo, was last renovated in 2009, estrada said. The former president said that when he was not yet the mayor of Manila, the hospital lacked even basic medical equipment and facilities to serve its growing number of indigent patients. Under estrada’s administration, all six city-run hospitals and 59 community health centers were renovated and modernized. It added a long line of state-of-the art equipment and facilities. “The establishment of a 50-bed secondary hospital of the Ospital ng Tondo is surely the answer to a poor man’s health needs,” the mayor said. Funded solely by the local government, Ospital ng Tondo offers free hospitalization and medicine to the countless Manileños who want to avail of all these health benefits. “This spell the difference between a successful treatment outcome or a lingering disease among our poor patients. Manned by the physicians with respective specialization headed by its director Dr. Isaias Cando, Ospital ng Tondo has already established a track record of quality health care worthy of the trust and respect of the people it serve,” estrada said.

Cleanfuel’s 12th service station in Quezon City is finally open.

CAGAYAN De ORO—Tourism officers and planning officers from local government units in Northern Mindanao recently joined an ecotourism workshop initiated by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications in partnership with the Department of Tourism-Region 10. The two-day training was designed to enhance ecotourism knowledge among local stakeholders and equip them for the preparation of their tourism plans. Facilitated by Joselito “Boboi” Costas, Cebu provincial tourism officer and founder of Grassroots Travel, a community-based tourism organization, the workshop focused on community participation, protection of natural resources, and ecotourism as business. “I’m very happy that Smart initiated this workshop because we need the help of the private sector,” said Tourism Regional Director Marie elaine SalvanaUnchuan in her opening remarks. “This is the first step toward conserving all our ecotourism sites. every place in Region 10 has something to offer, but the protection of these areas should be the priority of our local legislators,” she said. “Mindanao holds many opportunities for ecotourism development to help local communities, with its mountain ranges, underwater coral gardens, and endemic animal species,” shared Costas, who organized the Bojo Aloguinsan ecotourism Association in Cebu. “In Aloguinsan, the locals themselves became empowered to protect the environment once we raised their awareness on environmental protection,” Costas added. The association bagged several international accolades, including the Asean Tourism Award, for its efforts in community tourism.

Life food

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @mStandardLIFE monday, may 21, 2018

A foodie guide to Visayas

he Visayas region consists of beautifully scattered islands blessed with diverse cultures, majestic beaches, and warm people. But aside from these, this region boasts a wide array of sumptuous food, which is the highlight of, if not the reason for, traveling here.

from dishes that originally came from the region to the reimagined classics, hopping off from one Visayan island to another offers great experiences for the senses, especially for the taste buds. Indulge in chicken inasal in Bacolod aside from its colorful Masskara festival, Bacolod is famed for its vibrant food scene. a visit to the City of Smiles wouldn’t be complete without trying chicken inasal. almost every food stall in the city serves this signature dish, but for a more authentic experience, head to Manokan Country—a strip of food stalls with different takes on the inasal. here you can also find some of the tastiest grilled foods like isaw, atay (liver), isol (chicken butt), and eat them with your bare hands. It’s the Bacolod (a.k.a. the best) way to enjoy your food. Bacolod is also known as the country’s sugar bowl, so don’t leave without indulging yourself with their sweet treats. Try the mouthwatering specialties of famous pastry shops like felicia’s Pastry Café and Calea Pastries and Coffee, where you can spoil yourself and even hoard as much treats as you like for pasalubong. You also don’t want to miss the original Negrense favorite—piaya, an unleavened flat bread filled with muscovado sugar. Locals recommend the one from Bailon’s food, located on San Sebastian Street. devour a bowl of batchoy in Iloilo Iloilo is the birthplace of the famous La Paz Batchoy—a rich-flavored noodle soup that is a favorite among locals dating back to the 1940s.

When in Iloilo, seasoned travelers reccommend dining at Chika-An restaurant where you can try their crispy pata, seafood kare-kare, squid sisig, and more.

Turn to C2

Kaffea is made with collagen and glutathione which help improve skin texture and elasticity.

A warm bowl of batchoy

Baked scallops and shrimp with coconut milk from Tacloban

Bacolod’s colorful Masskara Festival brings travelers to this part of Visayas.

The delicious coffee blend made with healthy ingredients Kaffea is more than just a delicious coffee. It is also a healthy drink filled with beneficial ingredients. It packs the delicious fragrance of brewed coffee. The smell stays with you as you put the cup to your lips and experience the bittersweet coffee mixed with creamer and the slight caramel taste of coconut sugar—its sweetener. It is the first ready-to-drink coffee blend in the Philippines with coconut sugar as its sweetener. Kaffea helps regulate blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It is rich in calcium and potassium because of coconut sugar. There is very brief, bright aftertaste without acidity in the stomach even after drinking a full cup. for television and entertainment personality Janelle Tee, Kaffea is more than just a delicious drink of coffee. She says she drinks Kaffea regularly because it improves skin texture and elasticity with its collagen and glutathione. It is rich in collagen which strengthens the muscles, tendons, and joints. It also tightens the skin thus making a person look well-nourished and glowing. Kaffea is a delicious yet healthy drink. It is formulated with a non-dairy creamer for those who are lactose intolerant. It is infused with agaricus mushroom which boosts the immune system, prevents heart diseases, strengthens weakened bones, and alleviates chronic and acute allergies. The ganoderma in Kaffea has anti-cancer properties. It balances the good and bad cholesterol, helps prevent bronchitis and asthma, and helps prevent urinary tract infections.

TV personality Janelle Tee loves how Kaffea gives her skin glow and vitality.

The grape seed extract, also one of the coffee blend’s ingredients, is one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants with over 125 phytonutrients that naturally help remove toxins from the body. The COQ10—a vitamin-like substance found in every cell of the body—produces energy needed for cell growth and maintenance. It is also an antioxidant which protects the body from damage caused by harmful molecules. further, Kaffea is safe for pregnant women. It is vegan, gluten-free, chemical-free, paraben-free or without preservatives, and silicon-free. It is halal and prepared cruelty-free. Kaffea is available at lazada.com.ph, beautymnl. com, SM Supermarket Market Street booths, SM Kultura outlets, Rustan’s and CityMall GoLokal stores nationwide. Or call telephone number 477-9920.

Life

monday, may 21, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Not your ordinary refreshments

IlIPInoS nowadays are slowly becoming more healthconscious, which is evident in what they eat or drink.

A 2017 Kantar Worldpanel data revealed that “Filipinos opt for ‘light’ variants of such or food and drink with more nutritional benefits,” which is probably the reason why quite a lot of companies are offering all sorts of seemingly “healthy” food, juices, or refreshments. But not all food items tagged as healthy actually live up to their tag; some, especially drinks are loaded with more sugar and calories. To cater to Filipinos’ need for healthier drink alternatives, Sekaya launches Botanic Infusion, a blend of traditional botanicals synergized to assist the body’s self-healing functions. Sekaya (Sentro ng Pangkatutubong Yaman) is a consumer brand of Synnovate Pharma Corporation, a natural products company of Unilab, Inc. that provides organic natural products that are plant-based and is founded on tradition and health-based science. “We want to achieve a certain level where customers drink because it is

good for their health, and not only because it is refreshing,” said Judy Abrina, marketing manager of Sekaya. Compared to ordinary tea bags, Sekaya Botanic Infusion comes in loose form and doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste. Each of the 23 variants is made using herbs, plants, and spices, or mixtures thereof that are meant to be functional. “In Sekaya, we believe nourishment should be of mind, body, and spirit. The age-old principle of ‘You are what you eat’ is true for us, because our customers believe that whatever they put in their bodies must be good for them,” averred Abrina. Sekaya Botanic Infusion is committed to delivering products that have the highest standards in quality. Processing and quality-testing are in accordance with more stringent standards, especially since natural products are exposed to growth of bacteria and molds. “As the loose leaves, flowers, roots, and bark dance in the water, there’s a

full release of flavor and phytoactives in the water as opposed to ordinary tea bags where the contents are crushed and more constricted,” said Abrina. It demystifies the valuable healing benefits of nature by creating products that are plant-based and science-based. It is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Quality Assurance International (QAI), and meticulously tested in pharmaceutical grade laboratories. Abrina explains that, “It’s about wellness. It’s about reaching out to the consumers. We are incorporating the medicinal benefits of plants on the dining table so that from the very beginning we can support our customers’ pursuit of avoiding illnesses, and prevent [people] from getting sick.” To prepare the botanic infusion: put a teaspoon per 200 ml (one serving) of freshly boiled water in a teapot, prepare a cup, arrange on a tray with the botanicals, and serve. You can also make your own creations by adding mint or fruits, or infusing it in any spirit. Go to www.sekaya.com.ph for more information.

Medley Buffet’s spread of pastries

Free buffet for Batch 2018 graduates

MEDlEY Buffet at okada Manila tips its hat in appreciation to the graduates of Batch 2018 with a free buffet. Bringing together a Magnum opus of delectable flavors, Medley brings together the country’s top chefs led by Chef Guillermo Aspera as they lay out the buffet with iconic dishes from north America, Europe, Japan, Korea, and more. Diners can enjoy beautifully roasted meat dishes like a juicy slow-cooked strip loin seasoned to perfection. For those with a taste for savory dishes, diners can now enjoy treats from the

newly set up Shawarma station. All-time favorites such as tempura, peking duck, and a wide variety of dim sum are available. Perfectly cooked pasta, seafood selections, decadent desserts, and all comfort Filipino food favorites are also offered to tickle the palate. With at least five paying guests and a Proof of Graduation, graduates will get to eat for free at okada Manila’s premium buffet worth P1,850 nett, for lunch; P2700 nett, for dinner; and P2,700 nett for Sunday “Bubbly” lunch with freeflowing sparkling wine. Call (02) 555-5799 for reservations.

New menu gives a twist to the classics STEAKHoUSE and bar Ruby Jack’s introduces new menu featuring slight variations to classic dishes while emphasizing Japanese fusion. Chef Matthew Crabbe, director and chief executive of Ruby Jack’s, said that he is always looking for ways to improve the menu at the restaurant and offer its repeat customers a new experience each time. After three years of learning the taste and sensibilities of its Filipino customers, he and the Ruby Jack’s Manila team now know what guests expect from the restaurant. The “trick” (if it can be called as such), he said, is to always engage diners with different flavors. It’s not about casually creating new dishes for the sake of it; it’s about looking at timehonored cooking practices and designing ways to make it more modern—all while maintaining the clean taste of food. This has always been the principle which leads Ruby Jack’s menus: combining the old with new to make dishes that are a beautiful blend of both. It was only a few months ago that the restaurant introduced its Jack Daniel’s Whisky Dry Aged Beef which soaked prime cuts in the premium liquor for a relatively long time. “We try not to upset the apple cart but design items that marry comforta-

Chef Matthew Crabbe introduces new items in Ruby Jack’s menu

bly with the RJ menu items,” says Chef Crabbe. Ruby Jack’s also introduces its totally revamped dessert selections which include two celebration cakes, “The Ruby” and “The Jack.” Ruby Jack’s Steakhouse and Bar is located on the upper ground floor of City of Dreams, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City. Call (02) 8018888 for inquiries and reservations.

Sekaya’s Botanic Infusions are made of herbs, plants, and spices that help improve well-being.

a foodie... From C1

You can try the best ones from the stalls at la Paz Market, where it all originated. Among the most popular stalls are netong’s original Special la Paz Batchoy and Deco’s original la Paz Batchoy. Seafood lovers will also find Ilonggo cuisine a delight since seafood is a very common staple in the whole province. Head to Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafood Restaurant, and taste their crowd favorite dishes like kinilaw na tanigue, baked oysters, and boneless bangus. If you love chicken, try daraag—their wildly popular native chicken—roasted in charcoal and marinated in vinegar. For your merienda, a few minutes away from Tatoy’s is Tita Paz: The House of Pancit Molo, which serves another Ilonggo favorite, the pancit molo. Traveling in large groups? Chika-An Restaurant is an ideal dining place for families and barkadas. It serves seafood, vegetable, sizzling meals, salad, meat, breakfast food— mostly anything that your taste buds will crave. Customers recommend Chika-an’s crispy pork belly, squid sisig and seafood kare-kare. Go for all things gata in Tacloban The Tacloban cuisine is a mix of different Pinoy flavors, but what makes their food so distinct is their delectable use of gata or coconut milk. one of the best places to try their ginataan specialties is ocho Seafood and Grill where diners love their purbidang kangkong and ginataang ganga or spider conch. Their seafoods,

which include baked scallops, crispy tuna skin, and crispy scallops, are also some of the bestsellers. Another traveler’s favorite is Chew love Tacloban, which features an al fresco dining experience and is most notable for its appealing, Instagramworthy look. Their quirky menu attracts a lot of customers, with bestsellers including Be Kare-Ful with My Heart (kare-kare), love at Pork Sight (pork

Aida’s Manokan’s chicken inasal (Photo from Aida’s Facebook page)

liempo with eggplant salad and rice), and halo-halo which comes in three sizes (Gold Digger, Double Digger and Freaky Digger). Conclude your day by having a glass of the Tacloban classic coconut wine, Vino de Coco, which you can purchase at some supermarkets and re-sellers in the city. Get to know chicken inato in Dumaguete Dumaguete is a quiet, little town often overlooked by tourists, but when you discover its hidden gems, a trip to this city is definitely memorable. Its cuisine is a combination of different Pinoy—mostly Visayan—specialties, that is why Dumaguete is one of the best

jump-off points to get you started with the Visayan cuisine. Start off your taste buds adventure with the city’s institution: Jo’s Chicken Inato. You’ll instantly fall in love with chicken inato, its specialty chicken famous for its homestyle cooking. Its menu also includes other delicious Visayan cuisine like sizzling and seafood, and you can pair them with yummy desserts like the buko halo-halo, one of their bestsellers. To satisfy your seafood cravings, you can find some of the most delicious ones at lab-As Restaurant. Dining here gives a really calming vibe, since it features al fresco dining beside the sea. They have an extensive menu of your seafood favorites: name it, they have it. End the day by ordering drinks at the Hayahay Treehouse and Viewdeck or try the sushi at Taco Surf Steaks and Sushi Bar—both located beside lab-As. For those with a sweet tooth, on the other hand, another food stop that is a certified Dumaguete essential is Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries. It boasts the buttery silvanas and creamy sans rival—perfect for merienda and/or pasalubong for your loved ones. Traveling to Visayas is a trip that’s worth every penny. While the region is more famous for the island activities and beautiful sights, it is just as much of a paradise for food as it is for the culture, beaches and people. luckily, there are Go Hotels (www.gohotels.ph) branches near these food spots, so accommodation is not a hassle. They offer all your essential needs in very affordable rates—that means you can allot more money for food and eat all you want, wherever you want without hurting your wallet.

May the best dip win in the Choice of the Nation competition

The search for the best mayo dip

A onE-oF-A-KInD culinary competition challenges chefs and cooks to whip up delectable mayo dips that will win Filipinos’ hearts and taste buds. Unilever Food Solutions Philippines, the maker of lady’s Choice spread, launches the Choice of the nation, a search for the best dip recipe in the country. “With an overwhelming number of choices for dining out today, we at UFS want to help chefs and cooks innovate to make their dishes stand out,” said James Benedict Carreon, managing director of UFS. He continued, “This is why through Choice of the nation, we will showcase how the versatility of lady’s Choice can inspire chefs and cooks to innovate and elevate the taste of their dishes just by whipping up a delectable dip that will change diners’ experience.” Choice of the nation is open to all chefs and cooks in the Philippines. Aspiring participants simply have to whip up one special dip recipe using lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise and upload it on www.ladyschoiceofthenation.com.

They need to upload the full recipe and name, the description of the dip, and one to three mouthwatering photos of their entry. All entries are welcome until June 30. All submitted dip recipes will be qualified for the online voting period for diners which will run from July 1 to 31. The top 10 chefs and cooks with the highest votes will showcase their dip innovations to the competition’s esteemed set of judges and avid foodies at the Choice of the nation cook-off in August. Some of the country’s esteemed chefs such as Fernando Aracama, Rob Pengson, Sau del Rosario, Kalel Chan, and Joanne Gendrano will judge the top 10 finalists according to the following criteria: taste, food presentation, creativity and innovation, audience votes, and the proper use of lady’s Choice infused in each dip creation. The champion will bag a cash prize of P100,000, including free publicity features and a special gift pack from UFS and lady’s Choice. The first and second runners up will take home P80,000 and P50,000, respectively, plus special gift packs from UFS.

Entertainment

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

HOLLYWOOD

Viral video targeting gun violence hits 150 million views A GRAPHIC music video by Childish Gambino has racked up more than 150 million views in just over a week on YouTube with its powerful takes on gun violence and racism. “This Is America”—by actor and recording artist Donald Glover’s edgy alter ego—is a raw take on racism, gun violence and consumer society hit the nine-figure-mark in a week, just behind of global hits such as Adele’s “Hello” (four days) and “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus (in six days). The four-minute video begins with a shirtless Glover dancing to soothing rhythms in an empty warehouse and singing “We just wanna party” and “We just want the money.” Glover suddenly pulls out a handgun from the back of his pants and executes a hooded man sitting in a chair. A heavier, more foreboding beat drops, and Glover raps “This is America—don’t catch you slipping up.” “Yeah, this is America,” he says. “Guns in my area.” Later in the video, Glover guns down an all-black church choir in a sequence some commentators have interpreted as a reference to the 2015 murders of nine black churchgoers by a white supremacist in Charleston, South Carolina. At several points, children in school uniforms join Glover in his hypnotic dance as violence occurs in the background. The video, directed by Hiro Murai, ends with a terrorstricken Glover fleeing as from a lynch mob. One of the clips producers, Ibra Ake, told NPR: “There’s a communality there and people can relate to a lot of that stuff. I don’t think we are as cerebral or as calculated as people think. Our goal is to normalize blackness.” Glover’s video follows an appearance over the weekend on the hit comedy show Saturday Night Live. The 34-year-old actor and musician is to appear as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story being released on May 25. AFP

Actor, singer and record producer Childish Gambino, in a still from the viral music video, 'This Is America.'

Head of Corporate Communications Kane Choa, (third from right) with Male Television Broadcaster of the Year winner Ted Failon (second from left) and Television Female Reporter of the Year Doris Bigornia.

ABS-CBN wins Station of the Year

at the Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards

HE Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) recognized ABS-CBN for its outstanding contributions to media, naming the network Television Station of the Year and honoring seven of its seasoned broadcast journalists in different categories. TV Patrol anchor Ted Failon won while Early Edition anchor Annalisa Male Television Broadcaster of the Year Burgos won Regional Female

GMA Network signed a memorandum of agreement with distinguished organizations for the rollout of the 2018 GMA Network Excellence Award (GNEA), GMA’s corporate social responsibility program that honors exemplary graduating students of communication and technology-based courses. Now on its 16th year, GNEA recognizes excellence through the demonstration of leadership, academic performance, and social responsibility. The candidate must be graduating with honors and is active in socio-civic activities. The MOA signing held on May 15 was led by GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon together with GNEA’s partners represented by Airfreight 2100 President Reuben SJ Pangan, YesPinoy Foundation, Inc. Chairman and actor Dingdong Dantes, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Maria Angelica D. Abad, Don Bosco Technical College Institutional External Relations Officer Emmanuel C. Averilla, and Angeles University Foundation President Dr. Joseph Emmanuel L. Angeles. Also present in the signing were GMA

Monday, May 21, 2018

55 Oaxaca article 58 Wage-earner 63 Goal 65 Knight’s suit 66 Jazz’s — Simone 68 Plan of action 69 Garden intruders 70 Elevator man 71 Skinny 72 Minus 73 The boy — door 74 Mind DOWN 1 “Blowin’ in the Wind” singer 2 Employee’s hope 3 Flexibility 4 Wolf lead-in 5 Some canines 6 Van — Waals force 7 Sicilian volcano 8 Dorothy, to Em 9 Not yours 10 List component 11 Garr of “Mr. Mom” 12 This, in Havana 15 Auction-goer 20 Seahawks org. 22 Jillian or Coulter 25 Inflict, as damage 28 “Divine Comedy” poet

Regional Female Broadcasters of the year, respectively. The RCM Journalism Awards was launched in 1966 to honor “outstanding contributions of individuals in the tri-media: print, television, and radio, thus encouraging the proper development of Philippine Journalism.” It is one of the oldest and most-prestigious awards-giving bodies in journalism.

Stronger partnership formed to honor model students

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Started a gunfight 5 Paradise 9 Trifling amount 13 New Haven school 14 Sasquatch cousin 15 Chomps down 16 Tale teller 17 Fish-eating bird 18 Unmoving 19 Agreement 21 University milieu 23 Mesh fabric 24 Just a handful 26 Terminate 27 Slackers 30 Drink of the gods 35 — Raton, Florida 37 Veneer wood 39 In a crude manner 40 Thor’s father 41 Snert’s master 43 Greek letter 44 Jackpot game 46 Military cap 47 Uris of “Topaz” 48 Least humid 50 Abraded 52 Racing crew member 54 Cycle starter

Broadcaster of the Year. Broadcast journalists Doris Bigornia and RG Cruz won Television Female Reporter of the Year and Television Male Reporter of the Year, respectively. In the AM radio category, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 anchor Vic De Leon Lima won Radio Male Broadcaster of the Year while ABS-CBN’s DXAB Davao’s James Galay and Rosemarie Ann Diaboro won Regional Male and

29 More wise 31 Kind of TV 32 One of an indistinguishable pair 33 Choir member 34 Clancy hero Jack — 35 Emphasized print 36 Fragrance 38 Shot 42 Beef cut (2 wds.) 45 Movie awards 49 Plaything 51 Type of overalls

53 Rare gas 56 Coral reef locale 57 Stop sitting 58 Prize marbles 59 Field 60 Comic-book heroes (hyph.) 61 Pea holders 62 Ceremony 64 Dump, so to speak 67 Veto, slangily

(From left) Don Bosco Technical College Institutional External Relations Officer Emmanuel C. Averilla,UP College of Mass Communication Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Maria Angelica D. Abad, Angeles University Foundation President Dr. Joseph Emmanuel L. Angeles, GMANEA ambassador Benjamin Alves, GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, YesPinoy Foundation, Inc. Chairman Dingdong Dantes, Airfreight 2100 President Reuben SJ Pangan, and GMA Network Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz.

Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruzand GNEA Ambassador and Kapuso artist Benjamin Alves. Gozon extended gratitude to their partners and expressed pride for the awardees that they selected in the previous years. “We thank our partners for supporting this project once again. Palaging maganda ang resulta ng mga excellence award na binibigay natin. Lahat ‘yan kung hindi magna ay summa cum laude. At karamihan sa kanila ay binibigyan natin ng employment sa ating kumpanya dahil talagang magagaling at

nagsa-succeed,” Gozon said. On the other hand, Dantes expressed appreciation for the opportunity to once again participate in GNEA. “Yung fulfillment namin as partners, nakakasama kami sa pagscreen nitong excellent students na ito. Kahanga-hanga dahil mabuting halimbawa talaga sila sa kanilang peers at sa kanilang community. Naniniwala kami na marami talagang magagaling na kabataan dyan and we just really have to recognize them.” To join the 2018 GMA Network Excellence Award, students must

submit to GMA Corporate Affairs and Communications office an Entry Book which contains the accomplished application form, related work, transcript of records, certificate of candidate for graduation, certificate of good moral character, and recommendation letter. Nominations for the academic year 2017-2018 are open until June 29. For criteria, mechanics and other details, visit http://www.gmanetwork. com/excellenceaward or contact Unis M. Loleng at 982-7777 local 1108 or e-mail GMAExcellence@ gmanetwork.com.

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

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

Entertainment

It’s green and go for

THE EDDYS 2018

The prestigious The Eddys is a movie event that honors the best talents in local filmmaking.

MEMBERS of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) are all adrenaline-charged for the second The Eddys, the group’s annual choices for outstanding achievement in the local film industry. Prior to the actual The Eddys in July, there will be a series of activities that are intended to drum up interest in the event. The editors’ group has sealed a partnership with Globe Telecom and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for the workshops on May 26 and 27 at the Cinematheque Center Manila. A two-day filmmaking seminar-workshop, it is in line with the telecommunication company’s “play it right” anti-piracy campaign. May 26 (9:00 a.m.- 12 noon) is devoted to Musical Score with resource speaker Teresa Barrozo. SPEEd will screen two best film nominees during the two-day workshops. TBA’s Birdshot and T-Rex Entertainment’s Deadma Walkingwill be shown at 6:00 p.m. on May 26 and 27 also at the Cinematheque Center Manila. The screenings are free. There will be a gathering of nominees before the second Eddys at The Eddys Nominees Night, again in partnership with FDCP. SPEEd officers and FDCP Chair Liza Diño will give the special certificates during the event on June 3, 5:00 p.m.‬, at 38 Valencia Events Place, Quezon City. The 2nd Eddys is slated early July and will be held in partnership with FDCP and Globe, represented by Senior Vice President Yoly Crisanto. Paolo Valenciano will direct the awards show. An after-awards party will be held later called The Eddys Mega Party. It will be hosted by OneMega Group, publisher of the fashion and lifestyle magazine. The 2nd Eddys is being presented by telecom giant Globe and produced by the fastest-growing FM station, Wish 107.5. *** After a month in the US, I am back in sunny and warm, rather hot, Manila. I went to visit my elder brother, Fr.Armamdo Red, a priest in the diocese of Seattle. Along with the pastor and another priest, he makes the rounds of three other Catholic churches in Sedro-Wolley, Burlington, La Conner and another one, where he says mass in either English or Spanish (for the growing Mexican Catholic faithful in the parish). I also reconnected with my highschool classmate at St. Gregory the Great Seminary, now a pastor in Seatlle—Fr. Felino Paulino and two other classmates who like me also left the seminary—Alfred Aquino and Teofanes Madrid(who has settled down in Oregon). Fr. Lines, as he is

'Inday Will Always Love You' lead star Barbie Forteza (center) flanked by her leading men Juancho Trivino (left) and Derrick Monasterio (right)

ISAH V. RED

known now, made it possible for us to experience the once-in-a-lifetime ride on a four-seater plane to see downtown Seattle from high in the sky. The sight was fabulous, thanks to the Vietnamese American that piloted the plane. My brother’s friends in Marysville, Washington, particularly retired US Navy servicemen Abner Canda and his wifeYoly, and Mike and Priscilla Regala, along with Jovi and Arnida Estella apart from sharing with me their homes, also provided me company. My heartfelt gratitude to them for making me feel at home in Washington. I also saw former movie writer in Manila Rod Samson, now a resident of Tulalip in Washington. He has chosen to take care of his daughter. And I also bumped into Bessie Barredo and her daughter Concon in QuilCeda Casino. According to my friends, the former movie star would frequent the Bingo and Casino in Marysville especially during weekends. On my way back to Manila, my classmates at the UPIMC has a small gathering at Kit Samson’s place in Sylmar in California. I went to see some of them that I have not seen for the last decades or so. It was Cinco de Mayo, a popular festival to mark the independence of Mexico, so everyone was in Mexican or Mexican inspired outﬁts. After lunch prepared by Kit’s wife, Iris and daughter, Marlon Yap and wife, Ivy osio and Nonoy, Marichie Juliano, Cecile Ochoa sang the afternoon away, mostly ‘70s and ‘80s hits. Thanks to YouTube. *** While in the US, some Filipinos I met were still interested in Philippine showbiz…and the ﬁrst thing they asked me if John Lloyd Cruz and Ellen Adarna were for real as a couple. I asked them where did they get their showbiz news, and all of them answered …YouTube. Apparently, they are able to connect with Philippine showbiz via the social media. Most of them also get their dose of Philippine entertainment from TFC, ABS-CBN’s service in the US. While some of them said they also have GMA Pinoy TV, their preferred channel was still TFC. Lest, I be accused of being biased, I also found out that some of them as well said they had their TFC and GMA Pinoy TV disconnected. They said the shows on both channel were repetitive and they get in the way of their chores at home.

With my hosts in Washington: From left (seated); Precy Regala, Abner Canda and his wife Yolly. Standing from left, Mike Regala, Fr., Armando Red and Estella Arnida (not in photo: Jovi Arnida).

BARBIE caught up in love triangle with

DERRICK and JUANCHO By Nickie Wang

NDAY Will Always Love You, a primetime romantic comedy airing today on GMA-7, has two speciﬁc missions. First, it wanted to take the viewers on a virtual journey featuring the unique beauty and rich culture of Cebu. And then, it wanted to present a story that everyone can easily relate to. Based on the teaser shown during the series’ media launch, main star Barbie Forteza gets caught up in a bit of a love triangle with the characters played by Derrick Monasterio and Juancho Trivino. Derrick plays Patrick, a rich Cebuano bachelor while Juancho is Ernest, our main star’s very good friend. Seems a generic “best friends fall in love” plot? Probably. But there’s more in the story that people should watch out for. “It’s a fresh concept and completely different from the series I starred in previously,” Barbie said, alluding to the top rating romcom, Meant To Be. “That’s why I don’t feel any pressure. We are presenting a simple yet interesting story.” Produced by GMA News and Public Affairs, the newest rom-com series puts the Queen City of the South in the spotlight while painting the stories of Cebuanos and of the Filipino family as seen through the eyes of the Manileña girl Inday Happylou Magtibay, played by Barbie. In the series, Barbie portrays a bubbly and optimistic girl, who works in a lechon store as an assistant. Her life makes a topsy-turvy turn when she makes a career move away from Manila in search for her father in Cebu. Sharing her excitement over the upcoming primetime series, Barbie added that Inday Will Always Love You is the perfect project for her after the success of her last series. “The network has put a lot of effort to come up with this series. I couldn’t think of any other comeback shows better than this. Teasers pa lang, kita n’yo na agad

‘yung visuals, ‘yung story relatable talaga.” She further said that it comforts her whenever she posts anything about the show because a lot of Cebuanos are commenting and giving their feedback about the latest primetime program. “They’re so excited because they feel like they are seeing and experiencing Cebu because of the show. Nakakatuwa kasi parang nilibot namin sila sa Cebu,” she shared. Adding color to Happylou’s journey of love and family drama are some of the country’s seasoned actors led by Ricky Davao, Manilyn Reynes, Nova Villa, and Tina Paner. Viewers should also look forward to the characters of Kim Rodriguez and Super Tekla as well as the all-grown up “Lumen Twins” Charisse and Charlotte Hermoso. Inday Will Always Love You also features New Zealandbased Pinoy vlogger and Internet star Kimpoy Feliciano, as well as character actor Buboy Villar and Fliptop artists Mzhayt and Price Tagg. At the helm of the series are directors Monti Parungao and Rember Gelera with head writers Zig Dulay and Nathan Arciaga.

One of Cebu's 'trending' scenic spots featured in the romantic drama, 'Inday Will Always Love You.'

Paul Salas signs with GMA Artist Center ACTOR and former Kapamilya talent Paul Salas is officially back as a Kapuso after signing a management contract with GMA Artist Center on Thursday. The Starstruck Kids Avenger is happy to be back in his first home in showbiz, “I’m so happy to be here. Hindi ko po maitago yung ngiti ko, kasi na-ooverwhelm po ako sa pag-welcome sa’kin dito. I was a Starstruck Kid, and I’m glad that I’m finally home.” His goal is to be entrusted with exciting roles that he hasn’t tried before. “I want to try action, kasi hindi ko pa po siya masyadong nagagawa so gusto ko po itong ma-try. At kung ano man pong plans ng GMA para sa’kin, talagang I’ll wait for it and I will grab the opportunity.” Paul also looks forward to have a reunion project with fellow Starstruck Kids, and he is glad Miguel Tanfelixwelcomed him home. “I saw Miguel in one concert, that’s when he knew about the news, so he welcomed me back. Nag-catch up kami at masaya ako dahil hindi po nawala yung friendship at samahan

namin dati,” he shared. Paul concludes this signiﬁcant step in his career and shares, “Mga Kapuso, I am home. Sana ay patuloy niyo po akong suportahan, and I promise to not let you down.” Present in the contract signing and to welcome the young actor back as a Kapuso were Senior Vice President for Entertainment Content Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative ProductionsGigi Santiago-Lara, GMA Artist Center Senior Talent Manager Daryl Zamora, and co-manager Perry Lansigan. According to Rasonable, she wants to see Paul in different drama shows. She believes that a reunion project with hisStarstruck batch mates would be possible, “He is a talented young actor so doon natin siya ilalagay sa drama shows.Maganda sanang magkaroon sila ng reunion nina Bea Binene, Miguel Tanfelix at mga kasabayan niya sa Starstruck Kids.”

BACK HOME. Young actor Paul Salas has left the Kapamilya network and returned to GMA-7.