Manila Standard - 2018 June 6 - Wednesday

How your peso decreases in value (Factors affecting inflation)

VOL. XXXII • NO. 111 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

11 centavos

TRAIN rolls on, Duterte team insists

(0.50 percentage point from oil price increases)

15 centavos (0.70 percentage point from external and domestic factors)

9 centavos

(0.40 percentage point from excise tax increase)

By Vito Barcelo, Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team said Tuesday they expect oil prices to come down and urged Congress not to suspend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law because doing so would hinder growth. (Related stories on B1)

SOURCE: Department of Finance

Flood of rice imports coming

Duterte trip reaps $4.8b Sokor deals

By Vito Barcelo

THE National Food Authority announced Tuesday that it would buy 250,000 metric tons of 25 percent broken, well-milled and long grain white rice from five suppliers from Thailand and Singapore under a contract recently awarded under an open tender bidding held in May. The announcement of the contract came as the government pushed for a law that would end the NFA’s monopoly on rice imports to lower prices for the staple.

Nineteen suppliers joined the recent bidding, but only 13 passed the eligibility and technical requirements, the NFA said.

Eventually, only five passed the post-

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to South Korea has recharged the economy with 23 business agreements valued at $4.8 billion and another additional $1 billion in development assistance from Korea to support the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build projects.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the President’s foreign trip resulted in various deals such as the $50-million National Irrigation Administration facility project; $100 million to finance the new Dumaguete Airport Development Project; and $41million for the implementation of an electronic receipt, invoices and sales reporting system that will help the government monitor all the taxes paid by retailers in the Philippines.

The Finance chief met with his Korean counterpart and signed a deal with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-Yeon that would double the Korean official development assistance (ODA) committed to the Philippines, from $500 million from 2011 to 2013, to $1 billion available from 2017 to 2022.

“The first loan carved out from the billion dollar framework agreement, amounts to $172.64 million. It will be used to finance the new Cebu International Container Port [CICP] project.

The loan agreement for this project was signed by myself and Export-Import Bank Korea chairman and president Sung-Soo Eun,” Dominguez said.

The CICP project will help alleviate the road congestion in the Cebu-based port area and provide a more efficient

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte urged South Korean investors to “kick in the ass” or slap government personnel who will extort money from them.

“For those of you who come to the Philippines, [you have] our guarantee that you will be safe and sound. If somebody is asking for money, do not give anything.

Maybe you can slap him and say, ‘Look idiot. I spent money to come here to invest.

I have incurred expenses. Do not do that to me because your President says I can kick you in the ass,’” the President said in addressing some 400 Korean and Filipino businessmen in Seoul.

The President threatened to run after government officials or personnel who will ask for bribes in exchange for faster business transactions.

“Do not go into bribery. Do not ask for money because that is now allowed. And if you do that, as I promised before this

Next page

Next page

qualification evaluation by the NFA’s special bids and awards committee.

The fresh stocks will form part of the NFA’s food security stocks during the lean months of July to September, the agency said.

Most or about 200,000 MT will arrive no later than July 31, while the rest will be delivered no later than Aug. 31, the NFA said.

The total volume was divided into seven lots with corresponding discharge ports in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to facilitate distribution to the markets and intended beneficiaries.

The NFA said it had no plans as yet to import more rice.

Next page

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said oil bought before prices climbed to $75 per barrel would come in soon, lowering the inflation rate. He also said that world oil prices were on a downtrend.

“The price of future deliveries of oil is actually lower than the current prices, so we are seeing that trend going down,” he said.

The scheduled summit between the United States and North Korea ought to calm the market and bring down oil prices, Dominguez said.

“The Middle East would be calmer than what it has been past few weeks so fuel prices would not be too volatile,” he said.

The inflation rate next year would fall below 4 percent, despite rising to 4.6 percent in May, he said.

Dominguez acknowledged that higher prices for tobacco, rice, fish and corn

POLICE on Tuesday arrested one of two suspects in the killing of Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Tanyag of the Office of the Ombdusman.

Tanyag, who was five months pregnant, was stabbed three times Monday close to noon after attending a hear-

WASHINGTON—Howard Schultz, who built a small Seattle coffee chain into the global powerhouse Starbucks, announced Monday he was retiring from the company, fueling speculation he may seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Next page

Next page

SoKor traders told: Give corrupt men a ‘kick in the ass’ It’s now or never for Cavaliers SPORTS A8

‘Wanted man’ arrested for prosecutor’s slay

By Rio N. Araja

Starbucks chief retiring

Waterway choked with trash, plastic

ing at the Sandiganbayan. She bought milk tea from a store on Visayas Avenue and was about to board her vehicle when the suspect attacked her. Tanyag, 33, was declared dead on arrival at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Police, who suspected a robbery gone bad, identified the suspect as Angelito Avenido Jr. and said they confiscated some of her belongings during his arrest.

At a press conference after his arrest, Avenido said the stabbing was “an accident” and that he did not mean to kill Tanyag.

Police said he robbed the lawyer to buy more drugs, and that he had tested positive for shabu.

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said he had Next page ANGELITO AVENIDO JR.

THE blanket of trash on a creek that flows between the makeshift homes of a Manila slum is so dense it appears one could walk across it like a paved street.

SOKOR-PH FORUM. President Rodrigo Duterte attends a South Korea-Philippines

Next page

business forum in Seoul on June 5, 2018. Duterte is in Seoul for a three-day visit to discuss ways to bolster economic and other cooperation between the two countries. AFP

Go after 6 lawmakers in narco-list, PDEA dared

By Maricel V. Cruz TWO lawmakers on Tuesday exhorted Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino to file a complaint against six or seven lawmakers and other public officials included in the administration’s narco-list.

Reps. Winston Castelo of Quezon City and Tom Villarin of Akbayan said Aquino should refrain from resorting to trial by publicity by making the entire 292-member House of Representatives suspected drug pushers.

Next page

Next page

News

A2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DFA files 35 ‘diplomatic actions’ T

Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said the Philippines had taken a total of 85 “diplomatic actions on HE Philippines has that issue” over the disputed South filed 35 “diplomatic China Sea. actions” under the “Having said that, we need to underline that since President Duterte leadership of Foreign assumed office, the Philippines has Affairs Secretary Alan engaged in 85 diplomatic actions, 35 Peter Cayetano, an official of which were undertaken by Secresaid on Tuesday. tary Alan Peter S. Cayetano,” Abella said in a statement.

He did not specify which countries He made the statement after Magwere served diplomatic actions and dalo Rep. Gary Alejano criticized on what issues, But Foreign Affairs Cayetano for allegedly filing “only

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

one” protest against China.

Abella had no comment when asked what issue the Philippines had raised some diplomatic action.

“It is important to understand that in diplomatic engagement, it is the content that matters, in whatever form it is conveyed,” Abella said.

He said that under Cayetano’s leadership, the Philippines asserted its right at various times through bilatetal consultations, in face to face meetings and in written documents.

Cayetano was quoted recently as saying that the majority of the coun-

The kiss: Nothing immoral—Palace PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte did not commit an immoral act when he kissed a married woman in the mouth in public while on an official visit to South Korea, his spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.

Duterte described the kiss as his way of endearing himself to a fellow countryman, sparking outrage from various quarters that regarded the act as demeaning to women and unbecoming of a chief executive.

“I don’t think there’s anything immoral. After all, the President has reiterated he is single,” Roque told reporters in Seoul.

Duterte is legally separated from his wife and is living in with Honeylet Avanceña with whom he has a daughter.

Roque said the only person who should complain was the Filipino woman, identified as Bea Kim, who had said it was a harmless kiss intended to make the audience, composed mainly of Filipino workers, happy.

“If some people were offended, so be it,” Roque said.

“For this instance, we have to highlight [that] the woman had nothing to say but positive things about the experience.”

Flood...

From A1

NFA Administrator Jason Aquino said the agency will focus first on the immediate presence of NFA rice in the markets to pull down and stabilize rice prices.

Meanwhile, the government urged Congress to pass the “rice tarrification bill” aimed at driving rice prices down even further.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that under the bill would remove the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports and encourage private traders to bring the staple in, allowing for the influx of cheap rice.

This would help poor Filipinos who spend at least 20 percent of their budget on rice, he said.

“Reducing rice prices is crucial to poverty reduction because the staple is a major driver of inflation,” Pernia said.

Pernia said removing QR on rice with tariffs will lower rice prices and increase revenues for agricultural programs like crop diversification.

The government is also hoping the measure would generate P27.3 billion, which can be used to augment funding for social protection projects such as cash transfers for the poorest families as well as for palay productivity programs. Vito Barcelo

‘Wanted...

From A1

confided to a witness his role in the stabbing.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said Avenido arrived in Manila in March from General Santos City, where he is wanted for stabbing and killing another person.

Avenido, who will be charged with robbery and homicide, was arrested at 5:45 pm Monday, after he was identified through CCTV footage.

Police found two IDs, two purses, P9,000 in cash and a mobile phone belonging to Tanyag.

Dr. Cris Tanyag, husband of the victim, thanked the police for their swift response.

“If she were still alive, my wife would say she believed in our laws and in justice,” he said in Filipino.

Go...

From A1 They made their statement even as the Bureau of Customs intercepted 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P74.8 million that were concealed on separate parcels at the Port of Clark in Pampanga and arrested four consignees who were suspected to be illegal drug traders.

Arrested were Melchor Robeles Corocoto, Dolores dela Cruz Lintag, William Ibañez Del Piza and Daniel Andrada who received the parcels that were consigned to Arthur San-

try’s diplomatic actions had been done “verbally.”

Abella said the Duterte administration will protect the interest of the country.

“Let me be clear that the Department of Foreign Affairs fully supports the policy of the President that the Philippines will continue to fight for its rights in the South China Sea, and the statement of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs that the ‘Philippines will not give up a single inch of its territory in the South China Sea’,” Abella said.

SoKor...

From A1

PORT PROJECT LOAN. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III announces during a press briefing at the Imperial Palace Botique Hotel in Seoul on June 5, 2018 that he and Export-Import Bank Korea Chairman and President Sung-Soo Eun have signed a loan agreement that will fund the new Cebu International Container Port project.

Presidential Photo

TRAIN...

forum, I will go after you. And if I find it necessary, I said, maybe I will kill you,” he said.

Duterte said he is happy to serve as an “agent” for foreign investors as he bannered his firm stand against corruption.

The President also assured the safety of Korean executives who will do business in the Philippines even as he avoided mentioning the kidnapping and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo. “I must admit there were some incidents in the past that did not augur well for people to even consider Philippines as an investment area. Like just any other country, we’re facing numerous law and order problem including my own national police,” he said.

“You might be hearing about hard stance but this is just really for the bad guys. If you are a law-abiding citizen of a country who wants to be more rich, you will be protected.

I will see to that,” Duterte added.

Jee was abducted in October 2016 in Pampanga during an anti-drug police operation.

His remains were discovered inside a car parked in Camp Crame.

that inflation rate for May 2018 accelerated to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent a month ago.

The agency said this was driven primarily by higher rice, corn, fish, tobacco, and personal transport prices, the latter largely driven by rising world crude oil prices. They said the increase in the international oil prices beyond the programmed level of $60 per barrel contributed 0.5 percentage points to the overall inflation rate in May 2018.

They also said that the Department of Energy has already made arrangements with oil companies to provide discounts to public utility vehicles and the Department of Transportation was finalizing guidelines for fuel subsidies under the TRAIN Law. “We also expect large tranches of rice imports to arrive starting this month, making food cheaper for the Filipino family. We are of one mind that one of the best ways to address high food prices is for Congress to ensure urgent passage of the Rice Tariffication Act,” they said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas estimates that this will reduce 2018 inflation by around 0.4 percentage points if implemented in the third quarter.

They said TRAIN was vital for the government’s “Build, Build, Build” Program.

“We must bridge the infrastructure gap that has painfully made our country lag behind our Asean neighbors. Through this program, we seek to create more than one million jobs for our fellow Filipinos through 2022, while reducing logistics costs for businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises, many of which are located in the provinces,” the economic managers said.

But Senator Grace Poe, chairman of the Senate public services committee, warned that without the mandated subsidies for poor families and low-wage earners, the TRAIN Law “would result in more harm than good.”

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, on the other hand, dismissed the claim that suspending TRAIN would hamper economic growth.

In separate letters to Dominguez, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, Labor Secre-

tary Silvestre Bello III, Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra III, Poe urged the immediate implementation of subsidies provided by the TRAIN Law that have yet to be activated.

“As swift as we had passed the TRAIN Law, it is only right that we immediately implement the mitigating measures, which we have designed for the poorest of the poor,” Poe said.

She said the social welfare and benefits program is an indispensable part of the implementation of TRAIN. Without this program, she said, TRAIN would do more harm than good.

Under Section 82 of the tax reform law, the senator said jeepney franchise holders are entitled to fuel vouchers; minimumwage earners and the poorest 50 percent of the population are qualified to receive fare discounts, rice discounts and free skills training while a total of 10 million lowincome households will each receive P200 per month this year and P300 per month in 2019 and 2020.

“The overwhelming sentiment ...[is] that minimum wage earners are already suffering from the simultaneous effects of increasing fuel prices, inflation on basic commodities and services, and this is compounded by the effects of the TRAIN Law,” she said.

Aquino said there was enough in the government’s P3-trillion national budget because government agencies have continued to underspend.

“We really need to focus on the efficiency of our agencies,” he said.

He also cited the need to improve collection by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs instead of just adding to the prices of goods.

“Government services should not be held hostage to the TRAIN Law,” he said in Filipino. “We can find the budget. The committee on finance will be able to look for funds to make sure these important programs will continue.”

and reliable transport infrastructure to enhance the flow of goods and services in the Visayas.

Dominguez said the government plans to use the remaining $636-million balance to fund two to three more flagship projects under the Build, Build, Build program.

He assured the public that none of the assistance provided to the Philippines would be wasted on corruption, stressing that the Commission on Audit would be involved in the monitoring of projects to be financed by the ODA. For his part, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez announced that five government-to-government agreements were signed, covering the expansion of renewable energy deployment, scientific and technological cooperation, transportation, the Cebu port loan and the establishment of a Joint Commission For Trade And Economic Cooperation.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque added that a memorandum of understanding would provide for mutual visits, training and exchanges between the Presidential Communications Operations Office and South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

During Duterte’s visit, Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to significantly increase trade between Manila and Seoul.

Duterte and Moon discussed various issues in a meeting at the Blue House, including political and economic cooperation, defense and security, trade and investments, infrastructure, information and smart technologies, agriculture, protection of nationals, and the environment.

In a joint statement, President Moon said the Philippines and South Korea will continue to develop their substantive cooperation “to ensure that the people of our two countries will be able to fully grasp the fruits of this cooperation.”

“In this regard, the two leaders agreed to significantly increase our bilateral trade vol-

ume that currently stands at approximately $15 billion and to further expand the investment between our two countries,” he said.

The Korean leader said the Philippines is a key partner in implementing the New Southern Policy that his government is “vigorously carrying out.”

Moon said the Republic of Korea will actively participate in Philippine development.

“In particular, I look forward to seeing the Korean companies’ participation further expanded in the fields of transportation, energy and infrastructure through our cooperation in the new industries such as info-communications as well as science and technology,” he said.

On the protection of both Filipinos and Koreans, the leaders agreed to make extensive efforts to protect the safety, rights, and interest of both nationals, including cooperation between the respective public safety authorities.

“President Duterte promised to pay closer attention and provide support towards protecting the lives and the safety of Korean nationals in the Philippines,” he said.

tiago, Marilou Febi Mendez and Mark Fojas who are now wanted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the four were caught receiving the parcels that came from California.

Castelo said “filing a formal complaint against the concerned lawmakers is the most appropriate thing to do instead of just making publicity” even as he cautioned Aquino to exercise caution.

“PDEA should also better bring the matter to a proper legal forum,” Castelo said.

“Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Aquino said 91 people holding government positions were included in the so-called drug list.

He said he would wait for President Duterte’s go signal to disclose the names of those in the list.

By filing appropriate charges, Castelo said, the public officials involved would be given the chance to answer the allegation at a proper forum.

“This would help properly address the problem and give the concerned lawmakers the opportunity to respond,” Castelo said.

Villarin echoed Castelo’s concern.

“Cases should be filed first against the concerned solons and others in the list,” he

said. “Regardless of their status in life, people should be accorded due process and the rule of law which have been continuously violated in President Duterte’s deadly war on drugs that claimed thousands of lives and families traumatized.”

Villarin also voiced concern that those speaking against the “war on drugs” would be linked to drug lords and others involved in the illegal drug business.

“Again, as we will expect, people speaking up to criticize the government’s drug war will be lumped together with drug lords and personalities,” Villarin said. With Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

From A1

contributed to the higher inflation, but said the government was “taking steps to stay ahead of the situation.”

Earlier, the economic managers issued a joint statement urging lawmakers not to suspend TRAIN, the administration’s tax reform program that labor groups have blamed for rising prices.

“Suspending TRAIN and adopting other band-aid solutions will only have a minimal and short-term impact on inflation and will stifle our growth, further delaying our nation’s progress toward becoming an uppermiddle-income country by 2019, such that around 6 million Filipinos would be lifted out of poverty by 2022,” said the statement signed by Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

“We must keep in mind that TRAIN reformed a previously unfair and harsh tax regime. It lowered the personal income taxes of most Filipinos except the very rich—increasing the take-home pay of 99 percent of income tax payers. This, coupled with free higher education and new jobs created through our infrastructure build-up, enables the Filipino people to spend more for themselves and for the benefit of their families,” they said.

They said the government was committed to doing all it could to invest in the people, and build safer communities and better infrastructure so that everybody will prosper.

“The economic team pledges its support in fulfilling President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s promise of a strongly rooted, comfortable and secure life for all Filipinos. The Philippines is already on the path of high and sustained growth. We must stay the course,” they said.

They said the government was also closely monitoring and taking steps to address the difficulties experienced by Filipino families today arising from higher prices. The Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday reported

Duterte...

From A1

High court tells SolGen to reply to Sereno plea

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday required the Office of the Solicitor General to comment on the appeal filed by ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno seeking a reversal of the Court’s May 11 decision nullifying her appointment as top magistrate in 2012.

Jojo Lacanilao, Sereno’s spokesman, said they were encouraged that the Justices had given themselves more time to appreciate the new arguments, facts and matters that made the reconsideration of the May 11 Decision compelling.

“Unless reconsidered, that Decision will wreak havoc on the basic premise of judicial decisions, which is fair play in an impartial tribunal, consistency with judicial precedents and as important, the preservation of the constitutional checks and balance,” Lacanilao said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Malacañang on Tuesday hit back at Sereno for insinuating that the continued firing of government officials accused of corruption might be just for show.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. even went as far as suggesting that Sereno needed mental health intervention, in an apparent reference to the allegations she was unfit for office due to her poor psychiatric record while applying for the post of chief justice in 2012.

During its en banc session, the high court adopted a resolution ordering Solicitor General Jose Calida to submit his comment on the motion for reconsideration filed by Sereno, who was ousted by the Court after finding her guilty of violating the constitution when she failed to submit her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth when she applied for the post of chief justice.

“The Court directed the Solicitor General comment on respondent’s ad cautelam motion for reconsideration within a non-extendible period of five days from notice,” resolution said.

Starbucks...

From A1

Schultz, 64, has been serving as executive chairman of Starbucks since stepping down as chief executive in April of last year and handing over to Kevin Johnson.

Schultz will leave the company at the end of the month and take on the honorary title of chairman emeritus, Starbucks said in a statement.

Schultz’s announcement triggered immediate speculation that he may consider entering politics as a Democrat and run for the White House two years from now.

Schultz told The New York Times he hadn’t decided on his next move yet, but “for some time now, I have been deeply concerned about our country—the growing division at home and our standing in the world.”

Schultz, who has been openly critical of President Donald Trump, said “one of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back.

“I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service,” he said, when asked if he was weighing a presidential run. AFP

Waterway...

From A1

However, the thick and fetid mosaic of plastic bottles, takeaway containers and plastic bags is just a porous layer atop the filthy water of Estero de Magdalena.

It is one of the tributaries that run into Manila’s most important and heavily polluted waterways, the Pasig River.

City officials blame the slum’s residents for using the creek as an open-air dump and have installed massive strainers in the water that keeps the trash from flowing downstream.

“They [residents] are turning the creeks into a trash can,” said Lorenzo Alconera, an official with the city engineering department.

“We want to block it at that point so we can easily collect the garbage. We do not want it to flow into the Pasig River,” he added.

Trash that makes it into the river can then be swept out into the South China Sea or be sucked back by tides into the Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest lake.

Plastic pollution is a major problem in the Philippines, which along with China, Vietnam and Indonesia is frequently listed among the world’s worst offenders.

The city says it periodically uses heavy equipment to scoop the rubbish from the water and ends up with five to 10 truck loads of waste to haul away.

That is of little consolation to the impoverished families who live in homes cobbled together from pallets, scraps of wood and corrugated steel stained with rust.

Authorities say the trash-choked creek is a breeding ground for preventable illnesses like cholera and typhoid fever.

Beyond concerns over the infections that thrive in the waterway, residents also have to deal with a constant and unavoidable concern: its stench.

“We cannot properly sleep because of the garbage. Whether it rains or is sunny, there are the smells,” 35-year-old vendor Marlyn Estrada Calderon told AFP. AFP

News

A3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ex-BI exec Robles’plea to dismiss case junked

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Tuesday turned down former Immigration deputy commissioner Michael Robles’ appeal to dismiss his plunder case in connection with the P50-million bribery scandal at the Bureau of Immigration.

Robles and fellow former deputy commissioner Al Argosino are also facing graft, direct bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree 46 which punishes public officials for receiving gifts from private individuals. Retired police officer Wally Sombero is their co-accused in the plunder case.

Ombudsman investigators earlier revealed that Argosino and Robles have acquired ill-gotten wealth worth P50 million when they conspired with Sombero, then-president of Asian Gaming Service Provider Association Inc., in exchange for assistance in the release of 1,316 illegal Chinese workers at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga owned by Chinese casino mogul Jack Lam. In his appeal, Robles said the release of the P50-million bribe from Sombero was not a criminal act, saying it would be impossible to commit two separate criminal acts in a span of two hours.

Robles was referring to Sombero’s delivery of the alleged P50-million bribe—P20 million around 2 am and P30 million at 5:45 am—to him and Al Argosino at the City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City on Nov. 27, 2016.

But the Sandiganbayan said these two events could not be considered as a series of criminal acts where Robles and Argosino said to have taken advantage of their official positions.

SC to hear plea vs Du30’s plan to withdraw from Rome Statute

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on the petition filed by opposition senators seeking to declare as invalid the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

In a media briefing, SC spokesman Theodore Te said that the Court has scheduled oral arguments for the petition on July 24, 2018 at 2 pm at the SC Session Hall.

Te said the ruling was adopted during the court en banc session Tuesday.

Besides setting the case for oral arguments, the high court also ordered the respondents—Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Teodoro Lopez Locsin, Jr., and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel to comment on the petition within 10 days from notice.

The petition was filed by Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros, and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.

SHOW OF SUPPORT. Supporters of former

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno stage a rally along Padre Faura Street in Manila on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in time for the resumption of the Supreme Court en banc session on Sereno’s appeal for the SC to reverse its quo warranto decision. Norman Cruz

Opposition pooh-poohs ‘no-el’ scenario in 2019 O

By Maricel V. Cruz

PPOSITION lawmakers on Tuesday voiced concern over the statement of retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura that lawmakers may “suggest” the postponement of 2019 midterm elections to give way to the plebiscite seeking to approve the proposed federal charter being pushed by the Duterte administration.

While fears of a no-election scenario is nothing new, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said such “only shows desperation for Charter Change advocates.”

“Term extension and no-elections are always used as caveats in any move for charter change. These are the twin evils of seeking power beyond what is allowed under the Constitution,” Villarin said.

Villarin said Charter Change advocate should not push their luck to rewrite the 1987 Constitution as

surveys have shown that two-thirds of Filipinos reject the proposed Cha-Cha. “...With inflation, unemployment, and lack of livelihoods being our people’s priority concerns, Charter change should be thrown in the garbage bin,” Villarin said.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, meanwhile, dismissed as “self-serving and immoral” any proposal to call off the May 2019 elections.

“The [Consultative Committee] must come up first with a draft and defend it in Congress. It’s overly

assuming of the commission to think that their proposal will be acceptable to both houses of Congress and to the people if it will be put into a plebiscite,” Erice said.

Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano also thumbed down the proposed Charter Change to effect federalism.

“Threat, intimidation, rewards employed by proponents to gather support to the shift are clear manifestations that there are hidden agenda behind it,” Alejano said.

In a television interview, Nachura, a member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Consultative Committee, the plebiscite will be held by February next year if Congress approves the ConCom’s proposal by the yearend.

“Some of them are inclined to suggest that [postponement of elections]. I think it’s not a very unreasonable demand when you consider the difficulties,” he said.

The ConCom said it intends to submit its recommendations to the President before his State of the Nation Address on July 23.

DAR set to promote Boracay agrarian reform THE Department of Agrarian Reform plans to present in the next Cabinet meeting two proposals that would implement agrarian reform on Boracay Island.

DAR Secretary John Castriciones is expected to discuss such proposals during the scheduled Cabinet meeting on Monday (June 11), said Undersecretary David Erro.

“The first proposal is an executive order covering Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ turnover of agrarian reform-coverable Boracay land to DAR so we can implement agrarian reform there,” Erro said Monday (June 4) at a press

conference.

He noted that the order authorizes DAR to mobilize some agencies for agrarian-related activities, such as demolishing structures in coverable Boracay areas, if necessary.

The second proposal is delineating the strip of land where structures in Boracay will be allowed to remain so other areas in the island can be allocated for agrarian reform, Erro said.

The land strip will border Boracay’s seas and circle the island—leaving this top tourist destination’s inner or middle portion available for agrarian reform, he said.

“The government will determine the strip’s width to be measured inwards beginning at shores of Boracay,” he said. Structures outside the strip will be disallowed, he said.

Erro said DAR has started consulting agricultural engineers about interventions for promoting cropplanting on Boracay Island. These interventions include placing top soil, about 0.30 meters to 0.90 meters deep, in areas where needed so people can plant there, he said.

Top soil is the upper layer of native soil and contains the highest concentration of organic matter beneficial to plants, said experts. PNA

‘PhilHealth needs financial check-up’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara on Tuesday said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. led by its acting president Roy Ferrer should lead a “comprehensive financial check-up” to determine if it is in “the pink of health” resources-wise.

“We hope Dr. Ferrer can look after the financials of PhilHealth amidst the allegations of excessive travel expenses, overpayment of claims, and other problems which threaten the financial viability of PhilHealth funds,” he said.

He said every peso misspent is a peso taken away from poor Filipino families who need it the most.

President Rodrigo Duterte has replaced PhilHealth’s interim president Celestina de la Serna amid a controversy about her excessive hotel and travel expenses. He appointed PhilHealth

board of directors member Roy Ferrer to replace De la Serna.

“We hope Dr. Ferrer can look after the financials of PhilHealth amidst the allegations of excessive travel expenses, overpayment of claims, and other problems which threaten the financial viability of PhilHealth funds. Every peso misspent is a peso taken away from poor Filipino families who need it the most,” Angara said.

The senator noted that there should be a body that will capably track PhilHealth’s actuarial life.

“Ideally, it should be the PhilHealth board that shall serve as ‘guarantor of PhilHeath’s sustainability.’ But if the board is subject to political or management capture, its supposed work is compromised,” he said.

He said the board should have a longterm view, and should insulate the fund from wasteful or populist programs which shorten PhilHealth’s life.

DRUG SUSPECTS. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron

Aquino present four suspects identified as Dolores Lintag, Melchor Corocoto, Daniel dela Cruz, and William dela Pizza who were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Martin de Porres, Parañaque City and San Nicolas, Bacoor, Cavite, where they confiscated 11 kilos of shabu worth P74.8 million. Manny Palmero

Mindanao LPA turns into typhoon A LOW pressure area over Mindanao on Tuesday developed into a tropical depression named “Domeng.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Domeng” was the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year.

“Domeng” was spotted at 675 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, moving north northwest at 14 kilometers per hour.

It was packing maximum winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 60 km/h.

The weather bureau said “Domeng” would enhance the southwest monsoon to bring moderate to heavy rain to Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Caraga, and Davao.

The tropical depression is forecast not to make landfall. Rio N. Araja

Ex-Ecija gov indicted for graft THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali and 18 others for the illegal repacking and distribution of relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2016.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales approved the filing of charges of violations of Section 3 (c) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Section 19 or RA 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act against Umali, Emmanuel Antonio Umali, Gabriel Calling, Johnero Mercado, Leoncio Daniel, Emelita Muyot, Fannie Bugayong, Lutgarda Domingo, Teresa Castelo, Irenea Palma, Ramon Garcia, Richard Medina, Edna Bolisay, Melchor Morales, Caesar Cipriano, Joel Del Mundo, Fortune Ferdinand Eusebio, Mary Antonette Feliciano and Jovic Hernandez. Rio N. Araja

BI nabs fake Korean journalist IMMIGRATION authorities arrested a fake Korean journalist who swindled two Korean women of more than 42.2 million won or equivalent to P2.7 million.

The Korean, identified as Yun Jong Sik was nabbed in Guadalupe, Makati City by operatives from the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit. Yun is wanted for a string of fraud cases in his country.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said Yun is the subject of four outstanding arrest warrants issued by Korean courts where he was charged with defrauding large sums of money.

He has been hiding in the country for almost 10 years.

One of his pending cases is his alleged swindling of two female Koreans whom he enticed to give him money via the Internet by introducing himself as a journalist who graduated from a prestigious US university.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the Mission Order for Yun’s arrest at the request of the Korean Embassy which informed the BI about his outstanding cases. Vito Barcelo

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

What I would like my president to be

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

like a cockroach.”

TO THE Excessive travels between TagbilaPOINT ran and Manila? How about the PresiEMIL P. dent shuttling between Davao City and JURADO Manila just because he does not like WHENEVER a Philippine president staying in Malacañang? How about goes abroad, he represents not only trips abroad with his minions? Are himself but his country. In our case, it’s those not paid for by taxpayers? Who is to say what is excessive?

106 million Filipinos.

I know for a fact that when senators This is why we expect our President to respect protocol and behave and congressmen join the President on his trips, it’s Malacañang that spends accordingly.

Thus, when President Rodrigo Du- for it. *** terte breaks protocol by wearing, for I am coming out with my memoirs. I instance, a leather jacket instead of a dark suit and tie, we feel a bit squeam- am 90 and I have covered 10 presidents ish and embarrassed when his hosts all and seen much of history in the making. The publication is courtesy of my wear the proper attire.

I really don’t know how the South good friend Dante Arevalo Ang, chairKorean officials reacted to our Presi- man emeritus of The Manila Times.

The book is called “Periodista—the dent’s breaking of protocol. Do they Road Never Ends.” think such concepts are foreign to us?

I was reluctant at first. I knew I was I can understand the President’s imnot a celebrity nor patience. Somea hero. But Dante times these clothes insisted.

After could get really months of agonizuncomfortable. He ing, I relented. He is a maverick and I need him to be a did assure me that would do things statesman and behave he would take care his way—for inof everything. stance, kissing a accordingly.

It will be anwoman. The audiother month beence might have fore the book is cheered, but it printed.

Dante does not sit well with us when the President does some- and I have scheduled the launching of the book sometime in late July. thing unbecoming.

In this regard I would like to thank I am not picking on the President.

But I would like my leader to behave the following: Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Jolike a statesman. seph Estrada, Standard publisher Rollie *** Estabillo, former Senate President Juan Here is another example of President Duterte’s selective justice. He says he is Ponce Enrile, Philippine Ambassador to against graft and corruption. He sacked the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, PhilHealth’s acting president and CEO GMA chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon, Celestina dela Serna for alleged exces- Ambassador Alejandro del Rosario, Bisive travel expenses. She is said to have zNews Asia publisher and CEO Tony spent P627,000 on plane fares, terminal Lopez, veteran journalist Vergel Santos, my cousin Charlie Agatep, PR gurus Reli fees, and accommodations.

As a lawyer, Adel Abillar, a private German and Val Villanueva.

I might have missed other names and practitioner with a small office in Quezon City, says: “Indeed this I apologize.

The one I chose to write my foreword administration is swift to its perceived enemies. It is not enough that the is former President Gloria Macapagal punishment is dealt fast and mercilessly. Arroyo. She wrote: Enemies have to be crushed to death Turn to A5

F

‘Only’ 10 percent

ORMER President Benigno Aquino III insisted Monday the benefits of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia that was administered to 830,000 schoolchildren under his watch outweighed the risks.

cent of 83,000) would likely suffer from a severe infection.

The question we need to pose to Mr. Aquino and other members of his administration is this: Was it all right to put the lives of 1,600 children at risk? What would he say to the parents of those 1,600 children?

But we are assuming that Mr. Aquino’s numbers are accurate. Where, for example, did the WHO obtain its 0.2 percent figure? Was it based on any credible independent tests? Or did they come from the vaccine’s manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur?

Also, given that the Health Department did no blood tests before administering the vaccine to the 830,000 children, where did the 10 percent figure come from? Was it a rough estimate? And if so, how credible is the estimate? Every 1 percent increase in this estimate would put the lives of 200 more children at risk.

Is that an acceptable risk? We think not.

What makes matters worse is that many credible health experts had warned against the use of Dengvaxia before Mr. Aquino approved its use in the Philippines.

In 2016, academics, scientists, and clinicians wrote to Mr. Aquino’s Health secretary, Janette Garin, warning her of a “real possibility of harm” and “systemic side effects

“To this day, nothing has shown that Dengvaxia caused deaths,” Aquino told reporters after he faced a preliminary investigation at the Justice Department, where he sought the dismissal of charges against him arising from the deaths of children inoculated with the vaccine.

Quoting figures from the medical journal of the World Health Organization, Aquino said the vaccine was effective for 30 months after it is given and only 0.2 percent of those who did not have previous dengue infections would likely suffer from a severe infection.

Aquino also said only 10 percent of those who got Dengvaxia had not been infected with dengue before they got the drug.

By Mr. Aquino’s percentages, then, “only” 83,000 (10 percent of 830,000) of the schoolchildren that were inoculated with Dengvaxia had not been infected with dengue before they got the drug. And of these, “only” 1,600 of them (0.2 per-

in up to 57 percent of patients” that might result from the widespread use of the largely untested drug.

“This may cause a public furor, especially if any children die,” the letter warned prophetically.

Sadly, those warnings were largely ignored, and today, the Health Department said 11 out of 87 children who died after receiving at least one dose of Dengvaxia had dengue despite their vaccination.

In February, experts from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) reported three out of 14 cases they studied showed the children also died of dengue despite getting at least one shot of Dengvaxia.

No causal relationship has been proved as yet, but the circumstances are certainly a cause for concern.

Yet Mr. Aquino dismisses all this as hysteria and insists he did no wrong. Maybe 10 percent of the socalled Dengvaxia families will believe him—if he is lucky.

Suggesting some political motive, Mr. Aquino admits that he can’t help thinking that he might end up in jail, like his erstwhile Cabinet secretary, Senator Leila de Lima. We suggest, however, that this administration needs no political reason to throw Mr. Aquino in jail. His criminal negligence in the Dengvaxia mess ought to be enough.

The kiss stage on the pretext of giving her the book “Secrets of the Altar.” It is about the sexual dalliances of priests. Duterte distributes the book free to the Filipino community he visits abroad.

ALEJANDRO Is it to destroy the Catholic church DEL ROSARIO which has been very vocal against his actuations and indiscriminate use of FOUR business deals were signed vile language? Then why not take on during President Rodrigo Duterte’s of- the Church at home in the Philippines ficial visit to Seoul, Korea. But these instead of doing it overseas and proswere overshadowed by one distaste- elytizing among our workers abroad?

Whatever his intent, whether to cast ful episode when the President of the Republic of the Philippines kissed, on aspersion on the Church or to prove the lips, a Filipina in the audience who he’s not a misogynist, Duterte did what he did. A self-confessed womanhad gone up the stage.

The presidential impropriety was izer, Digong puckered up and planted met with laughter and squealing by a kiss on the willing woman’s lips in the Filipino crowd that gathered at the Seoul.

“There was no malice in it,” gushed Grand Hilton in Seoul. But for sure there were some who recoiled at this Bea Kim. The photo of the kiss landed on every front u np r e c e d e nt e d , page of Manila’s unpresidential behavior. major newspaMr. Duterte has pers. The video went viral. I do been accused of Since it was Mr. not want to rebeing a misogyprint some of the nist because of Duterte himself who dirty comments his words and acts sought the presidency, it which Kim reagainst women ceived more than particularly those is his duty to accept the Mr. Duterte. who oppose and boundaries of behavior Upon research by criticize him. The that come with the Reuters and the list of women he Philippine News declared his en- office.

Agency, she is emies include married.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Here are some e Sereno who has of the comments been removed through quo warranto on the controversy, their words not proceedings, Senator Leila de Lima mine: The militant women’s group Gawho is now detained, Vice President Leni Robredo who is facing a poll pro- briela: “It is the President’s perverted test and the deportation of Australian way of showing he can intimidate and missionary Sister Patricia Fox whom dominate women at any time and any Malacañang accused of partisan po- place he chooses. It is a misogynist’s despicable theatrics to humiliate and litical activity in the Philippines.

Perhaps to prove he can connect demean women,” said Secretary Genwith his audience and charm women, eral Joms Salvador.

Turn to A5 he asked the woman to come up the

BACK CHANNEL

The failure to lick poverty VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE World Bank finds it good—no, great—news that the Philippines can solve its perennial poverty problem.

“The Philippines can overcome poverty!” exclaims Mara Warwick, World Bank country director for the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Thailand.

That this country can lick its persistent poverty (22 million Filipinos are considered poor) is not the issue at all. The

Other countries in a much more difissue—and the bigger problem—is that why has not the Philippines conquered ficult and penurious situation and with poverty, after decades of trying hard? much less resources than the Philippines were able to reduce poverty levels massively. Examples of Asian success stories in the fight against poverty: China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and lately, Cambodia.

It’s not a question “Despite the generally good economic performance, poverty remains high of whether we can. It’s and the pace of poverty reduction has always been why we been slow compared with other East Asia countries,” says the World Bank’s have not been able to just-released report on poverty in the do so.

Philippines, “Making Growth Work for the Poor.”

Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Romel J. Mendez Art Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

Stick to the 50-percent rule CROSSROADS

JONATHAN A. DE LA CRUZ THE Presidential Electoral Tribunal should dismiss outright the motion for reconsideration filed by sitting VicePresident Leni Robredo regarding the tribunal’s earlier decision imposing the 50-percent shaded ballot rule.

Under this PET ruling, only those ballots shaded at least 50 percent will be counted in the ongoing snail-paced recount of votes in the contested vice presidential race. Reports quoted Robredo’s counsel, lawyer Romy Makalintal, as arguing that the PET should reverse itself and consider the lower 25-percent mark which, according to their camp, was advised as proper by the Commission on Elections albeit belatedly last September 2016, or four months after the May 2016 elections.

Makalintal’s argument is not only baseless. It is ridiculous. In the first place, all voters and the public have been constantly bombarded months before the elections by Comelec, Congress and even by the private electoral watchdogs that the ballots should be 100-percent shaded. Not 50 percent, and most definitely not 25 percent.

In fact, the last Comelec resolution on this shading business reiterated what it had decreed earlier that for the ballots to be counted, the same should be properly and fully shaded up to 100 percent.

On the campaign hustings all candidates urged the voters to complete their shading of the ballots, otherwise the same would be declared null and void.

A veteran election lawyer, Makalintal, admonished the campaign staff of his clients, many of whom are friends of mine, to tell their “captive” voters to ensure that they fully—meaning 100 percent—shade their ballots. No ifs and buts about it.

Makalintal should, in fact, be thankful the PET lowered the standard to 50 percent so those half-shaded votes for Robredo could be counted. Otherwise, if the PET stuck to the 100-percent rule, she might lose more votes than what she is losing now. So, why is Makalintal now busily arguing for an

The failure...

From A4

“Compared with many East Asian countries, the Philippines stands out for showing little dynamism at both the low end (elimination of poverty) and the high end (rise in economic security and global middle class),” laments the World Bank.

Indeed, China reduced extreme poverty (defined as one earning $1.90 a day), from 18.8 percent of the population in 2005 to 1.9 percent in 2012, a period of seven years; Indonesia from 27.5 percent in 2006 to 7.5 percent in 2015, a period of nine years; and Vietnam, from 19.5 percent in 2006 to 2.8 percent in 2014, a period of eight years.

The Philippines, meanwhile, cut its poverty from 14.5 percent in 2006 to 6.6 percent in 2015, a drop of 54 percent in nine years.

The reduction seems dramatic— ratio-wise. It is not.

In percentage terms, China reduced poverty by 89.4 percent, Indonesia by 72.7 percent, and Vietnam by 85.5 percent.

Thus, with the population rising by 1.7 percent per year and since poverty incidence is measured as a percentage of the population, the number of poor Filipinos in 2006, 22.6 million, is almost the same as the number of poor today, 22 million. In other words, there has been no real progress in reducing the number of the very poor.

The World Bank blames nearly everyone for the slow reduction in number of the Filipino poor. Except itself, of course. Also, not mentioned—ADB. Both these banks came to Asia ostensibly to reduce poverty, especially in the Philippines.

When ADB came to Manila in 1968, the Philippines was still the richest

What...

From A4

“Reading Emil Jurado’s book is viewing vignettes of WWII and post-war Philippines, brief and annotated and spiked with asides about culture, events and people plus standard ‘Juradoisms.’

In many ways, it is a post-WWII Phil-

even lower set up?

Is he afraid, given the latest revelations in the recount, that a good number of the votes cast for Robredo were just minutely shaded as if done on the run? Were the machines in the priority provinces being contested by former Senator Bongbong Marcos programmed to accommodate those minutely (25 percent?) shaded ones? Given Makalintal’s hyperbolic assertions, I am inclined to believe that indeed the Robredo camp is up to something out of sync.

In any event, this 25-percent appeal based on a so-called September 2016 Comelec resolution which was hidden from the public and the parties in the May 2016 elections until the PET issued its 50-percent ruling makes the MR even more ridiculous. Clearly, this

Makalintal’s argument is not only baseless. It is ridiculous.

is an afterthought belatedly certified

by Acting Chairman Louie Guia and the poll body’s Executive Director, Jun Tolentino. There is no en banc resolution backing it up. There is no log in the body’s work calendar which clearly states that the same was ever discussed at all. There is no public notice during the entire 2016 and 2017 which the Comelec should have issued to justify the amendment of the earlier 100-percent shading rule for transparency and accountability. None. Zero.

Considering the impact of this ruling not only on the ongoing VP recount but in the other pending electoral contests, it stands to reason that the Comelec should have bombarded the public with this bombshell announcement. But no such thing happened.

That it came out only after the PET’s 50-percent ruling makes Makalintal’s petition even more suspicious. Even more ridiculous is his aside that Marcos will also lose votes if the 25-per-

cent rule is not upheld. Well, Marcos is not biting and is not joining him in this diversion—so why is he bothered?

This and other silly assertions makes it imperative for newly installed Comelec Chairman Abas, Congress and the other investigating bodies and probably even the PET itself to inquire into the provenance and circumstances surrounding this September issuance at this point.

Indeed, given all the silliness associated with this petition, it should now be dismissed to spare the PET from spending precious time and resources on a decidedly unworthy case.

Which brings us to another point.

It is very possible that this petition is actually meant to divert public and the PET’s attention from the ever increasing number of irregularities being uncovered by that body’s revisors in the ongoing recount.

How so? Well, over the past few weeks, as the revision of votes was finally initiated after almost 18 months of being held back by all kinds of excuses by the ponente, Justice Caguioa, we were witness to very disturbing discoveries on the actual state of the retrieved ballots.

In Camarines Sur, the first province protested by former Senator Marcos where Robredo had an almost —500,000 vote lead, the revisors found out wet ballots, ballots splashed with battery acid, slashed ballot boxes, boxes with glass splinters and grass, boxes without voters registry, etc. etc.—all pointing to the fact that these ballots were tampered with.

Well, surprise, surprise. In Iloilo, the second province in Marcos’protest, the discoveries were even more deeply disturbing. Aside from the signature Camarines Sur discoveries, it was reported that some ballots were placed inside plastic containers not in official sealed ballot boxes.

There were also reports about ballot boxes with broken seals, boxes with damaged covers and metal boxes with no padlocks. With such discoveries, it does not take rocket science to presume that this MR on the 50 percent shading rule has come in handy to divert public attention from the outand-out irregularities committed in the May 2016 elections.

Amazing.

Southeast Asian country. In the 1970s, the World Bank promoted infrastructure as a solution to Philippine poverty. Not much success there.

The poor Filipinos have large families and low levels of education. They are self-employed in agriculture as laborers, fishermen, and farmers. Their households are headed by men below 50. Three of every four poor Filipinos are in the rural areas. Two of every five poor live in Mindanao; over 50 percent of the population in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao are poor. Squatters are the very poor.

About 40 percent of squatters are in Manila.

Who is to blame for their poverty?

If you believe the World Bank: one, the government; two, the very rich; three, poor agricultural output; and four, typhoons and war.

Natural disasters have caused $23 billion in losses and damages in the Philippines since 1990, while conflicts, particularly in parts of Mindanao, “not only destroy physical assets, they also erode human capital through loss of life, injury, illness, denial of education and health services, and increased malnutrition.”

The bank seems to blame a succession of Philippine governments and politicians for what it calls “the lower pace and less pro-poor pattern of growth than in many other East Asian countries.” In the Philippines, only 10 percent are global middle-class compared with nearly two-thirds elsewhere in the region.

The private sector is blamed as well for failure to develop a manufacturing base. The Philippines doesn’t manufacture anything significant—except humans.

The very rich are blamed for “high inequality of income and wealth.”

Half of the nation’s wealth is owned

by the one percent ultra rich, notes the World Bank citing Credit Suisse Wealth Report—“the fourth highest after the Russian Federation, Turkey, and Hong Kong.”

Explains the WB: “This high concentration of wealth may have contributed to strong vested interests in the status quo by hindering acceptance of the reforms needed to prompt more inclusive growth and faster poverty reduction”, adding “Differences in the quality of human resources, and in the incomes of individuals and households can earn, drive a large degree of the inequality of outcomes in the Philippines.”

Says the World Bank report: “Poorer children are at a disadvantage from the start. They have limited access to good-quality health care and early childhood education, which undermines their ability to succeed later in life. Twenty percent of children under age five are malnourished and stunted. Many poor people, including in the younger generations, have limited education.”

Among the working poor, only 31 percent have completed high school and two percent benefitted from college education, compared with 59 percent and 15 percent, respectively, for the non-poor. Graduation from high school reduces the risk of poverty to two-thirds of the average.

Fortunately, President Duterte promises to lick poverty—to 14 percent of the population in 2022, in three ways —cash dole to the poor, free college education, and massive buildup in infra, with P8 trillion to P9 trillion infra spending during his presidency, “so people will live long and healthy lives, be smart and innovative, and will live in a high-crust society.”

ippine history in a nutshell as viewed through the eyes of someone who not only watched history go by but actually participated in its making through expositions that have influenced decisionmakers.

The book refreshed memories of World War II and close family ties, Jurado’s long courtship of his wife, his long career as a journalist, and

rubbing elbows with the country’s political, business and other greats and near-greats he has met in his many decades of writing about events that matter to us, Filipinos.

Confucius once said that within one’s lifetime, one should plant a tree, sire a son, and write a book. The author has done all three, but even if he has not completed those three requisites, his life would still

biznewsasia@gmail.com

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

War principally by Senator Ping Lacson, but it only became possible, with the opposition this time less strident and confined to the Left, in the time of Duterte.

LITO A lot of things that did not seem BANAYO possible before are happening now.

Change has begun. *** FRENCH President Emmanuel MaThose who keep needling Foreign cron was so incensed with American President Donald Trump’s latest tar- Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano for iffs on steel and aluminum imports his statements on the West Philippine from practically all countries, that he Sea conflict with China’s competing called it “illegal” and practically called nine-dash line on its South China Sea it a declaration of “war,” recalling how need to answer a basic question: will the wars of the previous century began “victory” in the Permanent Court of with protectionism in the guise of na- Arbitration ensure compliance by the other side? tionalism.

And connected to that, can we asThe G-7 meeting last week saw the US representative, Treasury’s Steven sume that our long-standing “ally,” the Mnuchin confronted by his counter- United States, would assist us in pressparts over his president’s hardening on ing the “victory” of our claims? Just look at how the Trump administration tariffs.

Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s finance is thrashing its trading partners now and economy minister who was previ- in order to “strengthen” its domestic ously the agriculture minister of Nicho- economy and appease America’s busilas Sarkozy, described the Whistler ness and labor.

Look at how US Defense Secretary conference as “a tense and tough G-7…

James Mattis was less than equivocal at more a G6 plus one than a G7”.

Trump’s America First policy is committing military assistance to Asecloser and closer to being isolation- an claimants in the recent Singapore ist, and angry trade partners are likely confab, beyond the usual condemnato retaliate. It does look like a trade tory words over China’s SCS activities.

There are powar is in the offlitical realities that ing. That is not we have to come good for the world to terms with, economy. It may and President Dugive short-term We should focus on fully realrelief for Pittsimproving the economy, terte izes these. The burgh and Ohio “victory” at The but in the end, the alleviating poverty Hague is pyrrhic US economy will and gathering internal unless we have the be negatively af- strength. military muscle to fected. There will confront China. be disruptions in Sad though that supply chains all realization may over the world, and that would affect even a devel- be, it is the painful reality.

Will the United Nations send peaceoping country like the Philippines, whose economic zones are part, albeit keeping forces to the South China Sea, still small, of the global supply chain. where no lives are at stake? Think In China recently to press for about what is happening in Syria now, greater imports of American goods, US where all the world except Russia conSecretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross demns the Assad regime, but Syria has came out with neither specifics nor a not blinked.

Do we expect China to blink, no matcommitment. No joint statement was ter what the UN says, and our Filipino issued.

Both the US and China appear to have “bravehearts” bellicosely proclaim?

Two generations ago, we had military hardened their negotiating stances.

A full-blown China-US trade war is muscle, enough at least to “invade” Sabah, which the Sultanate of Sulu leased not unlikely.

Is there any advantage for a small to the British who at that time still ruled country like the Philippines, whose the several sultanates they called Mamain exports are either fruits or elec- laya. But for political fiddling, we did tronic parts which are dependent on not use that muscle. Now that Malaysia imported raw materials and whose val- has become a federation and it has invested enough in a strong military, not ue-added is mainly labor? Hardly.

When China, the EU, Canada and to mention a stronger economy, we canothers retaliate versus Trump’s isola- not even press our claim on territory tionist economic policies, how do we that is truly worth re-claiming.

We can bark and bark all we want, step in to fill even a part of the imports but for as long as our jaws are not strong they will cut from the US of A? “War” whether it involves arms or enough to make our bite fearsome, nothing economic weapons is never good for will come out of all the protestations and confrontational yapping. anyone.

Tagalogs have a rather vulgar de*** On a positive note, it is good that we scriptive for those who proclaim bravwill soon have a national ID. It makes ery even if they are not ready to fight. life and day-to-day transactions more It goes beyond “tapang-tapangan.” convenient. It makes government mon- They call this false bravery “tigas t…”.

Focus on improving the economy itoring and statistical measurements first; focus on alleviating the poverty of both more efficient and transparent.

For years on end, this single personal our people; focus on gathering internal referencing system has been proposed, strength. Build a strong nation first.

SO I SEE

The kiss Senator Risa Hontiveros: “It is disgusting and even if the woman was willing, President Duterte is duty bound as a public official to observe ethical and proper conduct in public.”

My own query: Why do our overseas Filipino workers treat visiting presidents like they were rock stars?” Is it because that aside from their work which earns them more money than back home, they really live empty lives abroad? I have been on some presidential trips overseas. Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were received with respect and deference by our OFWs . Then President Joseph Estrada, a former movie star, was greeted by the Filipino community abroad with the adulation of fans for a film favorite.

That’s understandable.

What is not understandable is when

the highest official of the land displays the lowest form of behavior in public.

Decorum and propriety, it seems, were lost on a certain president once he won the elections.

The people whom the President represents and who voted him into office are the biggest losers. They cannot speak up for him when he is reviled and talked about in the coarsest of language this President uses himself.

For sure, Mr. Duterte still enjoys public support. This is according to the recent survey of Social Weather Stations.

This public acceptance, however, should not be misinterpreted by the President to be used as a license for licentious language. He will get more public support if he complements his work with the finesse of a true leader of the land.

Since it was Mr. Duterte himself who sought the presidency, it is his duty and responsibility to adapt and accept the boundaries of behavior that come with the office.

be considered extraordinary, serving God, country, and family very well.

His autobiography is about an admirable Filipino who is humbled with his achievements but fiercely dedicated to press freedom and the search for truth.

My gulay, what more can a man ask for?” *** Speaking of my decades as a jour-

nalist, I am proud to say I have made a difference, no matter how small, in the field.

At the height of martial law, I organized the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas. While there I suggested we police ourselves so we could operate outside the ambit of martial law.

That was a proud moment.

From A4

A6

News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Manila

Standard

TODAY

UEC eyes US manufacturing licenses for PH Tiger casino

By Macon Ramos-Araneta CASINO operator Universal Entertainment Corp. will acquire manufacturing licenses in the United States for the equipment and devices it uses for its casino operations.

UEC, a publicly-listed company in Japan, owns Tiger Resort Asia Limited in Hong Kong, which fully owns Tiger Resorts Leisure and Entertainment Inc. owner and operator of Okada Manila.

UEC said plans are now under way for the company through its US subsidiary, UE Technologies Inc., to engage in the full-fledged manufacture and sale of equipment and gadgets such Player Tracking Systems, multi-currency bill validators, and fully automated casino tables and machines, among others that the company uses in the operation of its casinos all over the world.

UEC will also continue to maintain its certificate of suitability which they have acquired previously to invest in casino operating company in US. The firm said that securing a manufacturing license will protect the company from being affected should a shareholder or an officer of the company become the subject of an investigation and later on determined to be an unsuitable individual.

MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY Batac City, Ilocos Norte 2906 INVITATION TO BID 2018-09-1

DRUG BUST. A mother hugs her son after a drug buy-bust operation conducted by policemen who caught this 18-year-old boy selling marijuana in Manila last month, as the government under President Rodrigo Duterte continued its war on drugs that still enjoys popular support. AFP

DoJ takes over Okada cases T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Department of Justice is taking over jurisdiction of the $10-million estafa cases filed by the owner of casino resort and hotel Okada Manila against Japanese gaming mogul Kazuo Okada.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed on Tuesday that he has also tasked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the leak of the resolutions of Parañaque City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac on the cases to the social media accounts of Okada’s Korean girlfriend, Chloe Kim, even before it was officially released to the parties.

“We have requested the NBI to investigate the leak. I understand that Prosecutor

Paudac has inhibited himself. So DoJ will handle any further motions or incidents in the Okada cases,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

On June 1, Tiger Resorts Leisure & Entertainment Inc. asked the DoJ to investigate Paudac for violating the rules and procedures and the Code of Conduct for Prosecutors in handling cases before his office.

TRLEI accused Paudac of bias and partiality for leaking copies of his resolutions

dismissing the estafa cases against Okada, the dispositive portions of which landed in the social media accounts of Kim. TRLEI is the owner and operator of the posh Okada Manila at the sprawling Entertainment City in Parañaque, where Okada was its chief executive officer before he was expelled last year for embezzling more than $10 million in company funds.

In a complaint, TRLEI asked Guevarra to stop Paudac from investigating the leak, which he himself ordered fearing a whitewash of the probe, and for the justice chief to assume jurisdiction over the case.

Paudac subsequently inhibited himself but did not deny that the resolutions had indeed been leaked, and proceeded to officially release them, stressing that the resolutions are maintained.

I-ACT collects P305m in fines vs colorum cars

1.

The MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY (MMSU) through the General Appropriations ACT of 2018 intends to apply the sum of Seventy Five Million Pesos (P75,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of State-of-the-Art Bioenergy Research and Innovation Building, MMSU, City of Batac. Bids in excess of the ABC will be automatically rejected.

2.

The Mariano Marcos State University now invites bids for the Design and Build Scheme for the Construction of National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center Building, MMSU, City of Batac. Completion of the works is required within 240 calendar days. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

Prospective bidders must submit their pre-qualification documents on or before June 22, 2018 to the BAC Secretariat.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from MMSU and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address below anytime during work hours.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be secured starting June 6, 2018 at the address below, upon payment of the corresponding fee in the amount of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00). Bid Documents may also be downloadedfrom the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and at the website of MMSU, provided the corresponding Bid Fee are paid prior to the submission of the bid.

6.

The MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY, will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 14, 2018, at 3:30 PM. At the Conference Room, FEM Hall, MMSU, City of Batac, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 2:00 PM, June 28, 2018, including a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated inClause18.

Bid opening shall be on June 28, 2018 2:00 pm at the Conference Room, FEM Hall, MMSU City of Batac. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

MMSU reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: AGNES L GABRIEL Office of the MMSU BAC Secretariat FEM Hall, Mariano Marcos State University City of Batac, Ilocos Norte Tel. No. 077-600-0461 Email: aslgabriel@yahoo.com (SGD) AMI RUTH R. COCSON Chair

(MS-JUNE 6, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

By Joel E. Zurbano

the

1.

THE Inter-Agency Council for Traffic has collected more than P305 million in fines and penalties since it began an intensified campaign against colorum public utility vehicles.

“Fines and penalties collected from colorum PUVs went up from P11.2 million to more than P305 million. A total of P305,593,757.56 (96.46 percent) were collected since the onset of Duterte administration against the P11,205,140 (3.54 percent) collected within the six-year term of the previous administration,” the I-ACT said in its latest accomplishment report.

The I-ACT report also showed that since July 2016 until April this year, a total of 2,470 or 41.4 percent of colorum PUVs were apprehended through the strengthened drive and the recently-established Task Force Kamao.

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 intends to procure the following projects listed below: IB No.

Name of Contract

ABC (PHP)

Cost of Bidding Documents (Php)

2018-267

Establishment of DOH Disaster Recovery Site at Regional Office III Upgrade and Expansion of IPPBX System and Fax Over (FOIP) Implementation in Central Office, Regional Offices and Hospital Supply, Installation, Configuration and Commissioning of DOH Hospitals Hyper Converged Infrastructure - Rebid

23,500,000.00

25,000.00

61,500,000.00

50,000.00

35,000,000.00

25,000.00

2018-232

2018-047-A

2.

The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the abovecaptioned projects. Delivery of the Goods is required within period specified under Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed contracts similar to the cited projects as stated in the ITB. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg.

6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), provided that Bidders who interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

OGCC wins big case in ICC court for PCSO

THE Office of the Government Corporate Counsel has won for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office an arbitrary case filed by the Philippine Gaming Management Corp. in connection with the charity agency’s project to modernize its online lottery games such as Lotto, Digit Games, Keno, and Small Town Lottery.

In a statement, the Makati City Regional Trial Court (Branch 143) issued an order dated May 25, 2018 confirming the arbitral award of the International Chamber of Commerce-International Court of Arbitration.

The OGCC team that represented PCSO during the arbitration is composed of Deputy Government Corporate Counsel Elpidio J. Vega, assistant government corporate counsel Efren Gonzales, government corporate attorneys Aniceto Calubaquib, Jr., Fiona de Leon, and Abegail Joan Orilla-Orara with Attorneys Anna Liza Inciong and Leah Christine Jimenez of the PCSO Legal Department.

InvItatIon to BId for Procurement of varIous Goods

5.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila, on the schedule given below: Activity (Date & Time) IB No. 2018-267

SUDDEN RAIN. Students wait for their turn to enter the gate of Araullo High School in Manila during

2018-232

a sudden downpour on the second day of classes on Tuesday. Norman Cruz

2018-047-A

Share anti-pirate intel, Lorenzana asks Singapore

By Francisco Tuyay and Maricel V. Cruz

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has urged Singaporean authorities to replicate its intelligence fusion in the straits of Marawi City andTawi-Tawi to bar terrorist elements and other transnational criminals using the sea lanes to commit terrorism in the Philippines.

This developed as the House of Representatives recommended for Senate action a bill providing protection to children caught in the midst of armed conflict.

House Bill 7442, authored by former Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., was approved on final reading by a 232-7 vote during the last session day of

the first regular session of the 17th Congress.

In discussions with Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen in Singapore, Lorenzana said he had asked his counterpart to duplicate the intelligence expertise his country has shared with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, which eventually stopped the rampant pirate attacks in the Malacca Strait.

6.

Name of Contract

Pre-bidding Conference

Establishment of DOH Disaster Recovery Site at Regional Office III Upgrade and Expansion of IPPBX System and Fax Over (FOIP) Implementation in 13 June 2018; 10:00 A.M. Central Office, Regional Offices and Hospital Supply, Installation, Configuration and Commissioning of DOH Hospitals Hyper Converged Infrastructure - Rebid

Submission and Opening of Bids

27 June 2018; 9:00 A.M.

Bids must be duly received by the COBAC Secretariat at the address below on or before the date given above. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

The DOH reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

For further information, please refer to: COBAC-B Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(MS-JUNE 6, 2018)

(SGD) MARIA ROSARIO S. VERGEIRE, MD, MPH, CESO IV Assistant Secretary of Health Chairperson, COBAC-B

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Lago, Bayking dominate PPS Ormoc tennis meet YOUNG Sal Andrei Lago joined the growing roster of three-peat winners while Bliss Bayking sustained her winning ways as they shared the MVP honors in the PPSPEPP Ormoc regional age-group tennis tournament at the Ormoc Midtown Tennis Courts recently.

The 14-year-old Lago toppled doubles partner Nicholas Ocat, 6-2, 6-2, to rule his agegroup section then pocketed the boys’ 16- and 18-and-under titles via the same scorelines to duplicate the three-title feat posted by Althea Rose Martirez in Antique last month.

The rising star from Sogod, Leyte also whipped top seed Cedrix Bravo in the 16-U finals then repeated over Ocat in the premier 18-U division of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and presented by Dunlop.

Bayking, riding on the crest of her twotitle feats in Maasin and Baybay, Leyte, scored a “twinkill” for the third time in four weeks as the San Carlos City, Negros find trounced top seed Bless Coderos, 6-4, 6-1, to bag the girls’ 16-U title then took the 18-U plum with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over

Joyce Gorgonio.

“Lago and Bayking should inspire the other young players that through hard work and determination, one can overcome the odds, even the best in their divisions,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “The PPS PEPP weekly circuit has practically leveled the playing field.”

For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Sharing the spotlight in the week-long event backed by Asiatraders Corp. and sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg were local bets Mia Gemida and Gerald Gemida, Baybay City’s Aaesha Bandalan and Manuel Jocson III. Mia Gemida ripped top seed Corazon Lambonao, 6-1, 6-2, for the girls’ 14-U crown; Gerald Gemida held off Ruzzel Manlimos, 6-3, 6-4, for the boys’ 12-U diadem; Bandalan crushed Angelie Ramos, 6-2, 6-1, for the girls’ 12-U title; and Jocson copped the 10-unisex plum with a 5-4(5), 4-2 win over Chaunchy Aguanta.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Germany’s Maximilian Marterer during their men’s singles fourth round match on day nine of The Roland Garros 2018 French Open tennis tournament in Paris. AFP

Nadal: I don’t feel old at 32 P ARIS, France – Rafael Nadal said he doesn’t “feel old”, after moving a step closer to an incredible 11th French Open title on Monday by beating German Maximilian Marterer to reach the quarter-finals the day after his 32nd birthday.

The world number one’s 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over the world number 70 was his 900th win at tour level.

It also saw him equal the record of 12 lasteight appearances at Roland Garros, which was set by Novak Djokovic the day before.

Top seed Nadal, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, is now on his own in third on the all-time list for most match wins at Grand Slam events with 234 vic-

tories after passing Jimmy Connors.

“I don’t feel old. But I am 32, and I have been here since 2003, so it’s a long way, a lot of years,” he said.

“I started very young. That’s a real thing. But, no, I feel happy to be here. Being honest, I am enjoying the day by day on the tour and I hope to keep doing this for a while.”

Nadal powered 39 winners past

Marterer, who pushed the Spaniard as hard as he could without ever threatening an upset.

He will face Argentinian Diego Schwartzman for a semi-final spot, after the 11th seed staged a thrilling comeback to down sixth seed Kevin Anderson 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2.

“It’s always good to see him in the quarter-final because he’s a good friend, a good person. He’s a worker, and I’m happy to see him having all this success.

Hopefully not too much (though),” smiled Nadal, who had a brief practice session with Schwartzman last week.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion has now won 37 consecutive sets at Roland Garros, just four short of Bjorn Borg’s re-

cord set between 1979 and 1981.

Nadal was caught cold in the opening stages as some big hitting from Marterer brought him the first two games.

But it didn’t take Nadal long to figure out his opponent, reeling off four straight games en route to an inevitable one-set lead.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion raced through the second set in just 38 minutes, breaking his opponent’s serve twice.

But Marterer – who was playing in the main draw for the first time – moved into a 3-1 lead early in the third as he threatened to become the first man to take a set off Nadal at Roland Garros since the Spaniard’s 2015 quarter-final defeat by Djokovic.

Responders notch 4th straight win THE PNP Responders maintained their lead in the UNTV Cup Off Season Executive Face-Off after crushing the GSIS Thunder Furies, 98-50, on Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center.

After GSIS claimed a three-point lead in the first quarter, PNP retaliated with a huge 26-0 run in the second, where the Furies never recovered from as the Responders grabbed their fourth win in as many starts.

But despite the loss, Thunder Furies remained in high spirits because the players showed great improvement from their debut game.

“I really motivated them and during practice, they made me perform my job as the head coach. They wanted me to get angry when I made them execute our plays during practices. So, during our practice this week, I really pushed them hard with the press break, so it was effective. We had a good first quarter,” said GSIS coach Reneboy Banzali.

PSupt Anthony Padua and PSupt Ieneo Dalogdog emerged as the Best Players of the Game after finishing a combined 30 points for the Responders.

“I told them (Responders) to enjoy the game, but don’t treat it lightly. Kung ano ‘yung nilalaro natin, gawin lang. Isipin natin malakas ang GSIS kaya tuluytuloy lang ang game,” PNP Responders coach Alfred Suarez said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Armando Sanchez Jr. and Direc-

PNP’s PSupt Voltaire Rivera blocks the shot of GSIS Officer Rico Abarintos.

FRIENDSHIP DAY.

Chinese Consul General and Counsellor Lou Gang (middle) is shown with players and officials from the Philippine Sports Commission, FilipinoChinese Amateur Athletic Federation, headed by President William Gosiaco (fourth from right) and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. President Domingo H. Yap (third from left) during the opening ceremony of the badminton competition in the celebration of the 117th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Center. Other sports to be played in the monthlong activity are golf, table tennis, cycling, tennis and basketball.

Plaridel Golf Cup set June 22 at Wack Wack THE Association of Philippine Journalists Samahang Plaridel Foundation Inc., a professional media association composed of publishers, editors, columnists and senior media and corporate communication practitioners will hold its 4th Plaridel Golf Cup Tournament on June 22 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Tee off time starts at 7 a.m.

Early roster of corporate and individual sponsors include Oriental

Group, PAGCOR, Liwayway Marketing Corporation, GMA-7, Ayala Land Inc., Agila ng Bayan, Manila Water Company Inc., Asia Brewery and Hotel Sogo.

Samahang Plaridel President Rolando Estabillo said the 18-hole golfest seeks to foster goodwill and camaraderie among golfing journalists and friends in the government and the private sector.

Registration is ongoing with tour-

nament fee pegged at P4,000 that includes green fees, lunch, give-away and raffle prizes.

Trophies will be awarded to the winners in both media and guest divisions, while assorted merchandise will be raffled for all the participants.

For the details, call up the Samahang Plaridel Secretariat thru Nelly Lumbaca at tel. nos. 0920-928-6498/ 7856020 or email apjsamahangplaridel@gmail.com.

O’Toole sinks ace, takes clubhouse lead with 63 CARMONA, Cavite – John Michael O’Toole hit two improbable shots, including an ace on No. 12, as he shot a nine-under 63 to seize a two-stroke clubhouse lead over an unlikely contender in Robert Pactolerin at the start of the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Golf Championship here yesterday.

O’Toole also blasted in a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 No. 5 and rattled off six birdies in a day of torrid scoring at the Legends layout where he owns the course record and which virtually lay defense-less in the absence of the wind that saw almost half of the starting 119-field break par.

He highlighted his 31-32 card with a solid 7-iron teeshot on the 218-yard No. 12 that disappeared into the cup.

Jay Bayron sizzled in afternoon play with a tournamentbest 30 at the front then sandwiched a bogey on No. 12 with back-to-back birdies to match O’Toole’s nineunder card before play was stopped for the second time in the day due to threats of lightning.

Pactolerin flashed vintage form and shot a seven-under 65 for solo third, O’Toole Aussie Darren Beck gunned down seven birdies against a bogey for a 66 while Sydney Chung of the US, Jet Mathay and Dutch Guido Van der Valk all carded 67s with Zanieboy Gialon and Thai Teemu Putkonen turning in five-under

cards with three holes to play and Zanieboy Gialon and Rufino Bayron also going five-under after 12 holes.

Jobim Carlos, fresh from his breakthrough win at Riviera last week, spiked his 68 with an eagle on No. 14 as he shared provision 12th place with Englishman Grant Jackson, American Cory Oride and Thai Puk Pradittan.

Angelo Que birdied three of the first six holes in impressive fashion but slowed down the rest of the way, mixing three more birdies with the same number of bogeys to lead the 69 scor-

ers, who include Ira Alido, Michael Bibat, American Jacob Fleck and Aussie Tim Stewart. Salvador Paya Vila of Spain, Korean Lee Song and Indonesian Elki Kow also had three under card after 12 holes.

Fifty nine players submitted under-par cards at presstime with 13 others matching par to underscore the field’s scorching start at the bunker-laden layout.

O’Toole actually carried a 10-under card after birdying the par-5 17th but failed to keep his startling charge to the finish as he stumbled with a closing bogey that marred an otherwise flawless round in one of the early flights in the $100,000 third leg of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia put up by ICTSI.

THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE

Emphasizing diversity, inclusivity

AS I mentioned in my last column, I’m going through the Asian Racing Conference-related material I have and I’ll be sharing some of the more relevant information here.

This year’s ARC was recently held in Seoul, Korea, and there were quite a lot of timely topics tackled in the various discussions held. I was interested in the talk given by Victoria Carter, deputy chairperson of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, on relevance and diversity.

“If racing wants to expand its participant base and get more fans – the fastest way is through diversity. More women in racing at all levels, not just on-course, will mean that we have a greater chance of innovation, collaboration and transformation. If you can’t see it, how can you be it or believe that it is possible?” she challenged the audience.

This is something that resonates deeply with me. When I began my career in Philippine Thoroughbred racing media in 2002, I was faced with some degree of sexism – not so much from industry insiders, who mostly believed it was high time for racing to be more inclusive (and the more hands to work, the better), but from racing fans.

One thing I was criticized for was admiring the colorful silks of the jockeys. “Ang cute ng kulay ng diviza!” I might have said. I was called shallow, pa-cute. But later on I received messages from women race aficionadas – “Thank you for being you. It makes me feel better about enjoying racing myself.” Representation, after all, is key to acceptance and belonging in a group.

Carter also said, “Having more women in racing shows all women that it is possible. It means you do not need to be unique, exceptional, or chosen and it becomes more of the norm.

Remember half the world is women.

“For racing to gallop ahead we need women in leadership roles. If you want good decisions, good strategies and good outcomes, you need people who are different from you. Hence diversity, or gender-balance, matters.

“Change will make our industry stronger.

There isn’t an industry today that doesn’t need innovation and new ideas; racing is not alone here.” Hear, hear!

At the same forum, Megumi Ichiyama, Chief of Staff of the Japan Racing Association Publicity Department, shared JRA’s strategy for attracting women to the racecourse.

“The project was launched when the JRA realized that less than 14% of all racegoers in Japan were women,” she said. “Research showed that women not only wanted to race in comfort, but also wanted to be provided with information and to be guided on racing when attending as a newcomer.”

They created the Umajo Spot, an area exclusively for women, at every JRA racecourse.

Here women are offered concierge services, introductory brochures, refreshments and even educational tours. The strategy grew female attendance to 17 percent in 2017.

In my various business and marketing analyses for the racing industry, I’ve always advocated reaching out to untapped markets such as women. Hopefully now that many voices around the world are clamoring for diversity, Philippine racing can get on the trend and look to promoting to female racegoers as well. As they say, the more, the manyer! ***** My deepest condolences to the Cua family of Philippine Racing Club, Inc. on the recent passing of PRCI Chairman Emeritus Santiago Cua. Drawing on his business acumen honed through decades of experience, he put Santa Ana Park and its operations on a solid corporate footing through modernization and other strategies.

Chairman Cua was ably aided along the way by his sons Santiago S. Cua Jr., Solomon Cua, and Simeon Cua and grandson Santiago Cualoping.

My personal memory of Chairman Cua is that he was unfailingly kind. I was surprised and honored that he knew me and would call me by name whenever he saw me at racing events at Santa Ana Park. His remains lie at the Heritage Chapel, Taguig. Interment is on June 9. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communications consultant.

Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @ hoarsewhsprr and @jennyortuoste

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

PH Azkals consider coaching change

By Peter Atencio COACH Thomas Dooley is fighting to keep his spot with the Philippine Azkals national men’s team.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said they also have a British coach who has handled a team in Thailand in their radar.

“The challenge is how to prepare the national team. So, we are interviewing coaches,” said Araneta.

The Azkals are currently set to begin preparations for the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup and Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup UAE 2019 once they name their choice of coach this month.

And it’s either Dooley will be able to keep his job, or they will fire him in favor of a new one.

The decision to evaluate Dooley came after he steered the Azkals to a historic Asian Cup berth a few months ago.

Dooley‘s contract ended on March 31, and team officials led

by Dan Palami will name a coach

by June 14.

Araneta said the Azkals are first scheduled for friendlies with clubs in Bahrain and a tuneup with Bahrain national team this September.

They are getting ready for big challenges when the Azkals make their Asian Cup debut against Korea Republic on January 7, 2019 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai .

Lady Volcanoes battle Singapore THE Philippine Lady Volcanoes are all set and ready to face Singapore in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship (ARWC) Division 1 on June 8.

After a six-year hiatus from this competition, the Lady Volcanoes are set to return to the Fifteens format of the game. The National team will be compromised of the best players from local clubs all over the Philippines, with the coaches also selecting two Filipinos from overseas. Upon reflection, the Lady Volcanoes are set to be a force in this year’s Asian Championships.

Aiumi Ono of Cebu Dragons Rugby Club is making a come-back in the international scene after having an injury and has been named Captain of the team.

“It was a tough road for me to be back on the team after an ACL injury.

I’m really excited and privileged to lead this team for ARWC. We have been preparing for this tournament for a long time and had intensive training the past four months. Seeing the improvement of the team really excites me even more,” Ono said.

She added, “75 percent of the team are new and their first ever International 15s game. We have girls from different regions in the Philippines and girls that came from our Under 17s division. This just proves that the development of women’s rugby in the Philippines has been phenomenal and this is a start of a new and better women’s representation”

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) tries to dribble past Golden State Warriors defender Draymond Green in Game Two of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 3, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Cleveland Cavs face now or never game

C

LEVELAND – Defending champion Golden State has seized command of the NBA Finals as the series shifts to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers must continue their home playoff magic to sustain any title hopes.

The Warriors, seeking their third crown in four seasons, could complete a sweep in the best-of-seven showdown with road wins Wednesday and Friday after taking a 2-0 edge with a 122-103 home triumph Sunday.

“I don’t think we’re close to our ceiling, which is good for us,” said Warriors

forward Draymond Green. “We can play so much better. We’re going to need that going out on the road.”

While the Cavaliers made the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history from 3-1 down to beat Golden State in 2016, no team has ever rallied from 3-0 down to win the title.

“We have to make sure that we really bring it in game three because that’s really the game right there,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said. “This is a team you don’t want to be down 0-3 against.”

The Cavaliers are 8-1 at home in this year’s playoffs, losing only in their firstround opener against Indiana.

“We feed off our crowd. We really get up to play at home. We know that come Wednesday we’re going to have to be better,” Love said. “Just being in front of our crowd will be huge for us.”

But the Cavaliers, facing Golden State in the finals for the fourth year in a row, are only 4-4 against the Warriors at home in all finals.

“We have to do a better job at home,” Cavs guard J.R. Smith said. “We can’t keep taking positives from losses. We’re doing some good things, but it’s not translating into Ws so we’ve got to figure it out.”

The Cavaliers were the most recent victims of an NBA Finals sweep, being blanked by San Antonio in 2007 in the first finals trip for LeBron James, now playing in an eighth consecutive finals and ninth overall.

“It sucks to lose, that’s for sure, but it definitely won’t stop me from preparing to be better,” James said. “We’ve played some really good basketball on our home floor.

But that shouldn’t give us any comfort. We should still be uncomfortable. AFP

Washington Caps near Stanley Cup crown

A member of the Vegas Golden Knights Golden Aces cheers as members of the Vegas Golden Knights Knight Line Drumbots perform in the Castle during a Golden Knights road game watch party for Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals at T-Mobile Arena on June 4, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 6-2. AFP

WASHINGTON—The Washington Capitals beat the Las Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 on Monday to move within one win of the first NHL Stanley Cup championship in their 43year history.

The Capitals now lead the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals three-games-to-one and will try to finish off the Golden Knights in game five in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Caps withstood a quick opening barrage from Vegas, scoring three first-period goals to seize control.

Russian Evgeny Kuznetsov produced four assists, including one on T.J. Oshie’s power-play goal 9:54 into the first period to open the scoring.

Nicklas Backstrom with three assists and Oshie with a goal and two assists had three points apiece and goalie Braden Holtby made 28 saves for Washington.

“One win away – it’s the hardest one,” said Washington captain Alex Ovechkin, whose assisted on Devante SmithPelly’s goal with 21 seconds left in the first.

That strike made it 3-0 after Tom Wilson’s goal at 16:26.

The Golden Knights had looked more likely to take charge, producing five of the game’s first seven shots.

But James Neal missed from point-blank range -- just one of a string of Vegas shots to clank off the post -- and the close call appeared to galvanize the Caps.

Oshie scored from the slot off the rebound of a Kuznetsov shot, collecting the puck with his skate and firing over MarcAndre Fleury.

Wilson scored off a give-and-go with Kuznetsov and Smith-Pelly scored from below the left circle. AFP

Oragons, Water Defenders meet powerhouses in quarterfinals Games today

(Filoil Flying V Center) 10 a.m. – Army vs Cignal (men’s) 12 noon – Air Force vs Vice Co. (men’s) 4 p.m. – Creamline vs Iriga-Navy (women’s) 6 p.m. – PayMaya vs BaliPure (women’s)

STRUGGLING Iriga-Navy and BaliPure try to regain rhythm and bearing heading to the quarterfinal round as they take on outright semifinalists Creamline and PayMaya, respectively, at the close of the elimination round of the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

The Cool Smashers and the High Flyers toppled the BaliPure Water Defenders and the PetroGazz Angels last Saturday to clinch the two outright berths in the Final Four, leaving the rest of the eight-team field to fight for the other two in another single round quarters starting Saturday.

That should motivate Iriga-Navy and BaliPure to go for wins for the momentum going to the quarters, particularly the Lady Oragons, who have dropped five straight games after an opening game victory over the Water Defenders.

But ranged against Alyssa Valdez and the Cool Smashers in their 4 p.m. match, the Iriga-Navy side will have to double its effort to at least measure up with the league’s leading team’s firepower.

BaliPure, meanwhile, hopes to recover from its back-to-back setbacks to Pocari and Creamline as it faces PayMaya in the 6 p.m. main game.

In Saturday’s quarters, the No. 3 team will tangle with No. 8 and Nos. 4 and 7 clash in the other match. Tacloban is currently at No. 3 with a 4-3 card followed by BaliPure at 3-3 while Pocari, PetroGazz and BanKo Perlas tote identical 3-4 slates and Iriga-Navy in last with a 1-5 mark.

Imports Janisa Johnson and Alexis Matthews try to neutralize PayMaya counterparts Tess Rountree and Shelby Sullivan while the BaliPure’s local crew, led by Joyme Cagande and Faith Nisperos hope to deliver along with Alyssa Solomon, Princess Robles and Roselyn Doria.

Beermen try to continue climb up standings

By Jeric Lopez San Miguel Beer import Renaldo Balkman (32) rips down the rebound against Baragay Ginebra counterpart Justin Brownlee.

DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beermen try to continue their climb up the standings of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The Beermen (2-3) battle unpredictable Columbian Dyip (3-4) at 7 p.m. in the nightcap while the Magnolia Hotshots (3-2) look to regain their bearings when they take on woeful Blackwater (0-7) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

After uncharacteristically losing its first three outings, the Beermen are suddenly looking like the champions that they are.

They are now riding a two-game winning streak as they continue to get a timely lift from Renaldo Balkman.

Over at the other side, Columbian is suffering

the opposite fate.

The Dyip had lost its last two games heading to its tussle with the Beermen.

Meanwhile, the Hotshots saw their threegame winning streak snapped the last time out.

Magnolia suffered a tough 99-96 setback at the hands of Rain or Shine in overtime last Saturday.

Its new import Curtis Kelly has yet to find the right groove and the Hotshots are hoping he can show more as they look to bounce back.

The Hotshots will be heavily favored coming in against still winless Blackwater.

Even the return of high-scoring resident import Henry Walker wasn’t enough to get the Elite over the hump as Blackwater is now on a seven-game losing streak without a win to show.

Another loss for the Elite will formally eliminate it from the quarterfinals race.

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Ban gko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.5780

Japan

Yen

0.009107

0.4788

UK

Pound

1.331400

70.0023

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127466

6.7019

Switzerland

Franc

1.012556

53.2382

Canada

Dollar

0.773575

40.6730

Singapore

Dollar

0.748223

39.3401

Australia

Dollar

0.764300

40.1854

Bahrain

Dinar

2.648656

139.2610

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

14.0200

Brunei

Dollar

0.745434

39.1934

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.031289

1.6451

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

14.3159

Euro

Euro

1.169900

61.5110

Korea

Won

0.000935

0.0492

China

Yuan

0.156184

8.2118

India

Rupee

0.014912

0.7840

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.251889

13.2438

New Zealand

Dollar

0.702700

36.9466

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033633

1.7684

Source: PDS Bridge

Bloomberry to build casino in Quezon City by mid-2019

By Jenniffer B. Austria BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp. said it will start constructing an integrated resort and casino in Vertis North, Quezon City, its second in the country, by the middle of next year.

Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. said in an interview following the annual stockholders meeting’ the construction of the Quezon City casino project would be a part of the group’s strategy to capture the base mass segment in the north.

The project, which will also be under the Solaire Resorts and Casino brand, is slated for completion by 2022.

Razon said the development cost of the second casino project was still being finalized, along with the master plan for the whole property.

“We will complete the masterplan for the Quezon City casino project by January next year,” Razon said.

The planned mixed-use development with hotel and casino will sit on a 1.5-hectare property within the 45-hectare Vertis North that Bloomberry acquired from National Housing Authority in 2014.

Meanwhile, Bloomberry said it completed the purchase from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. of the 16 hectares of land in Parañaque City where Solaire and its expansion area is located.

Razon said the land acquisition, which amounted to P37.33 billion, would place the company on equal footing with other integrated resorts that own their land.

Razon said he was hoping that Bloomberry would sustain the strong first-quarter growth performance in the remainder of the year.

Jobless rate moderated to 5.5% in April UNEMPLOYMENT rate eased to 5.5 percent in April from 5.7 percent a year ago, as more people found jobs during the period, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The April figure was the lowest jobless rate for all the April rounds of the Labor Force Survey in the past decade, the PSA said. Data, however, showed the jobless rate increased from 5.3 percent in January on a quarterly basis.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the infrastructure build-up from both the public and private sectors helped boost the number of Filipinos with jobs in April.

Results of the PSA’s Labor Force Survey showed that employment rate rose to 94.5 percent―or an equivalent of 40.9 million Filipinos―from 94.3 percent in April 2017 (40.2 million Filipinos with jobs).

Net employment generation reached 625,000, reversing the loss recorded in April 2017.

“Employment grew partly due to increased infrastructure spending as the Department of Public Works and Highways’ road projects and rehabilitation of public school facilities are already underway nationwide,” Neda Undersecretary Jose Miguel dela Rosa said in a statement.

The industry sector recorded a strong employment growth rate of 8.1 percent or 605,000 workers, increasing its total employment share to 19.7 percent, the largest in the past decade. The construction subsector is the biggest contributor to employment, generating 468,000 jobs, among the industry subsectors during the period.

Julito G. Rada

Business Inflation rate climbs to 5-year high of 4.6% I

By Julito G. Rada

NFLATION rate in May rose to a five-year high of 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent in April and 2.9 percent a year ago, on higher prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the higher inflation in May was also driven by higher rice, corn, fish and personal transport prices on the back of rising world crude prices.

“The increase in the international oil prices beyond the programmed level of $60 per barrel contributed 0.5 percentage points to the overall inflation rate in May 2018. This means that for every additional peso due to inflation, one

pays 11 centavos more,” Neda said.

The government’s economic managers said the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law contributed only 0.4 percentage point to the overall inflation. “That amounts to 9 centavos for every additional peso due to inflation,” Neda said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said while the inflation outlook remained a concern, “there are also signs that inflation is slowing and may be close to peak.”

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said month-on-month inflation actually decelerated to 0.2 percent in May from 0.3 percent in April and 0.7 percent in March.

“We expect this to further taper in the second half of the year,” Diokno said, adding that the expected decrease in the price of world crude oil and the increase in buffer stocks of rice would likely moderate the inflation rate.

Data from the PSA showed that on a year-on-year basis, the prices

of alcoholic beverages and tobacco jumped 20.5 percent; transport, 6.2 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 2.9 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.7 percent.

A slower annual rate of increase was recorded in food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 5.7 percent. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s growths.

Excluding selected food and energy items, core inflation picked up to 3.6 percent in May from 3.5 percent in April and 2.7 percent a year ago.

Inflation in the first five months averaged 4.1 percent, higher than the upper limit of the government’s 2018 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said inflation in May reduced the pressure on the Bangko Sentral to hike policy rate later this month.

NEW POWER PLANT. President Duterte (standing) delivers the keynote address at the inauguration of Pagbilao Energy Corp.’s 420- megawatt Pagbilao Unit 3 Power Project in Quezon province. The president acknowledged PEC (a joint venture between Aboitiz Power and Japanese firm TeaM Energy Corp.) for the multi-billion peso investment which he said “bolsters efforts in advancing the country’s development.” With the president are (from left) Jera Co. senior executive vice president Toshiro Kudama, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, AboitizPower chairman Erramon Aboitiz and Marubeni Corp. senior executive officer Yasuo Hirota.

Factory production surged 31% in April on infra spending FACTORY production jumped 31 percent in April from a year ago, the fastest rate this year, on strong consumer demand and higher infrastructure spending, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

Preliminary results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed the increase in volume of production index was a significant upturn from a nearly flat growth of 0.1 percent a year ago. It was also faster than the 16.5-percent increase in March, 22.4 percent in February and 17.2 percent in January.

The National Economic and Development Authority said strong consumer demand and weaker exchange rate encouraged manufacturers to produce more this year.

Printing posted the fastest growth of 182.8 percent, followed by petroleum

products (79.2 percent), miscellaneous manufactures (34.5 percent), machinery except electrical (34 percent), textiles (32.1 percent), beverages (31.7 percent), food manufacturing (31.4 percent), electrical machinery (26.8 percent), nonmetallic mineral products (24.6 percent), chemical products (23.4 percent), leather products (22.2 percent) and rubber and plastic products (21 percent).

The value of production index also climbed 31.7 percent in April, from a decline of 1.6 percent in the same month of 2017.

“A bullish business outlook is expected for the entire second quarter on the back of robust economic growth. An expansion of businesses will also be facilitated thanks to the new law on ease of doing business,” Neda Undersecretary Jose Miguel dela Rosa said in a statement.

“The full implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018 and engagement in massive and coordinated capacity-building initiatives will help the manufacturing sector grow further,” he said.

Dela Rosa said that higher government spending on infrastructure in the months leading to April helped sustain growth in construction-related manufactures, which continued its upward trend given higher demand for non-metallic mineral products, particularly cement.

The Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Law is seen to streamline procedures, shorten processing time for government transactions and create a central business portal to receive and obtain data involving business-related transactions.

Julito G. Rada

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

B1

IN BRIEF Boracay water firm compliant with DENR

BORACAY Island Water Company Inc., the water service provider with the only centralized sewerage system in Boracay Island, remains compliant with the stringent pollution control standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

With a network spanning over 22 kilometers of sewer lines serving more than 1,000 commercial and residential establishments and a fleet of seven de-sludging trucks to haul wastewater from unsewered areas, Boracay Water ensures that wastewater discharges or effluents are treated in its two sewage treatment plants.

It said the facilities were consistently compliant with the DENR-mandated Class SB water quality, or water that is fit for recreational activities, and contact uses that would not pollute the island’s pristine beach waters.

Boracay Water operates and manages the Balabag Sewage Treatment Plant with an expanded wastewater treatment capacity of 6.5 million liters per day.

UnionBank workers seeking mediation

THE UnionBank Employees Association filed a petition for preventive mediation before the National Conciliation and Mediation board against Union Bank of the Philippines for the bank’s “apparent refusal” to meet the bargaining proposal of the union.

Preventive mediation cases refer to the potential labor disputes which are the subject of a formal or informal request for conciliation and mediation assistance sought by either the union or the employer or both parties, or upon the initiative of the NCMB to avoid the occurrence of actual labor disputes, including strikes and lockouts.

Pizarras, Gainza and Associates Law Offices, representing the UnionBank employees, said in a letter that the employees’ union on May 4, 2018 submitted its CBA proposal to the bank addressed to president and chief executive officer Edwin Bautista.

“Despite its obligation mandated by the Labor Code, UnionBank failed and/ or refused to submit its counter-proposal within 10 days from receipt of UBEA’s CBA proposal,” the letter said.

Julito G. Rada

Smart launches lab for testing of 5G in PH

SMART Communications Inc. said it launched its 5G Technolab, a facility that will focus on the research and development, standardization and testing of 5G, or fifth-generation wireless broadband technologies and services.

“Even as 5G network technology is still at its early stages, and keeping in mind that it may take some time before 5G can be available commercially, we are already investing in pilot testing our 5G system and paving the way toward having a ‘5G-ready’ network by 2020,” PLDT Inc. and Smart executive vice president and chief revenue officer Ernesto Alberto said.

He added 5G-compatible devices were not available in the market.

With its capability to deliver extremely high speeds coupled with low latency, 5G opens up exciting possibilities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications for Filipinos, particularly in healthcare and smart cities.

“Our vision for 5G is to be able to provide services that are relevant for our customers,” PLDT and Smart senior vice president for network planning and engineering said. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH secures $172.6-m low-cost loan from S. Korea for Cebu port project THE Philippines and South Korea signed a $172.64-million loan agreement for the construction of a new international container port in Cebu that aims to free up the existing seaport in the province and provide a more efficient and reliable transport infrastructure in the Visayas.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Sung-Soo Eun, chairman and president of the Export Import Bank of Korea signed the agreement, which was witnessed by President Rodrigo Duterte and South Korea President Moon Jae-in.

The loan accord was among the five agreements signed during Duterte’s official visit in Seoul.

A new Cebu International Container Port with an estimated project cost of P10.1 billion will be built on a 25-hectare reclaimed land in the town of Consolacion in Cebu.

It will include a berthing facility with a

500-meter quay wall length that can simultaneously accommodate two 2,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) vessels; operating facilities and structures for containers such as a freight station and inspection shed; an access road and bridge; and a dredged waterway and turning basin.

Aside from the construction of physical structures, the loan also covers the procurement of cargo handling equipment and consulting services.

Kexim-EDCF will extend the amount of $172.641 million for the port project with a preferential interest rate of 0.15 percent per annum for non-consulting services and zero percent for consulting services.

The loan has a maturity period of 40 years inclusive of a 10-year grace period.

The Philippine government will provide a counterpart fund of $26.09 million for the project. Julito G. Rada

AEROMART SUMMIT. Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Noel Manankil leads the ribbon cutting ceremony during the Aeromart Summit Exhibit at the Asean Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. With Manankil are (from left) Board of Investments governor Napoleon Concepcion, Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines vice president Dennis Chan, Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado, BOI governor Lucita Reyes, AIAP chairman John Lee and Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive Alexander Cauguiran.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks advance on slowing inflation

T

HE stock market rallied Tuesday after government data showed inflation may be nearing its peak, reducing pressure on the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas to increase further the benchmark interest rates.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 106.15 points, or 1.4 percent, to 7,685.76 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 112 to 84, with 53 issues unchanged.

The inflation rate in May inched up to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Tuesday there were signs that “inflation is slowing and may be close to peak.”

SB Equities Inc. noted that the month-on-month inflation surprisingly was flat in May from 0.5 percent in April and way below the January-

April average of 0.7 percent.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said the May inflation reduced pressure on the Bangko Sentral to hike policy rate later this month but uncertain second-round effects would keep the central bank vigilant. “... We believe that recent developments would mean that inflation is at or near the peak. These developments also cut the pressure on BSP to hike policy rates this month. However, we still expect BSP to hike policy rates at the June 21 meeting to pre-empt second round effects and stabilize inflation expectations,” Cuyegkeng said.

Now Corp., which is bidding to become the the country’s third major telecommunications company, surged 10.3 percent to P10.82, while Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, rebounded 4.1 percent to

ing up a new closing high, as Friday’s better-than-expected jobs report continued to provide support despite an expected jump in Federal Reserve interest rates.

Attention this week turns to the Group of Seven summit that begins Friday in Quebec, where Donald Trump is expected to face criticism over his decision to lump tariffs on Canadian, Mexican and European steel and aluminum.

The EU and Canada have filed complaints at the World Trade Organization while China has also issued a warning to Washington not to target its exports.

However, while there are concerns about the impact a trade war would have on the global economy, Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA said trading floors were broadly upbeat for now. With AFP

P125.80.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy advanced 3.8 percent to P912.50, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator, climbed 2.9 percent to P87.50.

Most Asian markets also rose on Tuesday, extending recent gains as analysts said optimism over the improving US economy was helping overcome worries about a possible trade war and geopolitical uncertainty.

Tokyo and Hong Kong each ended 0.3 percent higher, while Shanghai climbed 0.7 percent. Seoul and Singapore were each 0.3 percent higher, while Wellington and Jakarta also rose.

But Sydney slipped 0.5 percent, while Taipei and Bangkok dropped.

US investors provided another strong lead with the Nasdaq chalk-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 24,030 99.65 1,272,880 2.88 16,000 129 1,876,190 1.6 455,000 34.45 71,500 6.7 600 16.5 4,300 15.2 376,100 3.6 59,000 9.47 1,900 0.66 26,000 1.5 43,000 900 20 0.53 357,000 80 1,915,990 1.07 453,000 20.05 4,300 50.95 92,720 206.8 670 105.5 140 86.5 200 37.5 78,600 195 329,390 1,940 145 89 10,400 1.18 3,000

1,410,710 126,435,134 45,670 241,796,536 722,020 2,445,405 4,020 70,952 5,753,062 207,940 17,840 17,160 64,700 18,000 191,980 152,561,480 479,830 86,535 4,726,303 138,648 14,746 17,300 2,947,640 63,902,212 281,300 925,600 3,540

1,015,242 27,969,193 8,640 -58,150,861 53,640 1,039,680 -3,080,674 -59,795,735 -12,640 -4,028,104 62,004 -2,876,250 3,295,391 -101,460 -

38.5 14 0.58 1.27 19.64 0.224 114 3.14 16.2 49 23.25 53 1.92 5.1 8.82 10.86 15.98 11.52 7.16 5.25 1.75 14.82 61.8 19.98 8.8 15.22 2.09 279.4 5.01 26.85 12.18 22.3 331.2 0.18 6.7 2.22 4.25 8.83 5.7 7.71 1.39 11.84 48.1 5.95 4.55 2.57 3.65 1.87 12.86 65.5 5.49 0.132 0.89 122.1 2.64 2.84 0.79

INDUSTRIAL 38.5 991,500 14.1 484,900 0.58 2,404,000 1.27 270,000 19.98 20,700 0.225 530,000 114 480 3.19 3,436,000 16.5 762,700 49.9 338,900 23.3 6,500 53 1,140 1.95 30,000 5.1 2,000 8.82 32,100 10.9 1,235,000 16.14 933,700 11.52 42,100 7.18 165,600 5.37 379,800 1.75 6,000 15 74,800 62.05 639,650 20.3 43,400 8.8 15,100 15.38 1,969,100 2.19 2,994,000 280.2 696,340 5.08 60,000 27 289,700 12.22 263,000 22.4 2,415,100 337.6 292,690 0.18 220,000 6.95 21,700 2.22 105,000 4.36 22,000 8.9 723,600 5.7 167,100 7.79 74,300 1.4 50,000 12.5 162,600 48.7 594,800 5.95 23,000 4.6 169,000 2.58 603,000 3.65 3,000 2.08 4,442,000 13.1 209,900 66.1 306,590 5.5 2,143,400 0.132 20,000 0.93 140,000 125.8 967,070 2.65 33,000 2.89 13,766,000 0.81 1,168,000

38,316,245 6,834,070 1,395,000 345,740 411,497 119,830 54,720 10,971,590 12,433,310 16,904,630 151,570 61,110 58,400 10,200 289,999 13,447,658 14,999,600 486,128 1,187,315 2,002,148 10,520 1,116,554 39,689,810.5 ( 870,342 133,930 30,313,200 6,565,070 195,174,610 302,247 7,821,945 3,223,776 54,266,590 97,983,652 39,600 148,310 237,500 94,490 6,437,220(1, 958,568 576,430 69,980 1,983,050 28,832,280 136,850 776,400 1,573,020 10,950 9,019,420 2,734,068 20,258,318 11,816,368 2,640 125,700 119,986,010 87,350 39,833,760 937,910

-11,058,965 116,894 199,860 -1,441,550 -11,550 19,600 -15,130 -3,840 -214,573 -5,535,734 2,835,582 -241,872 -149,028 450,103 -411,392 22,801,884.5) -7,785,582 -38,210 -67,035,234 -1,190,685 559,180 -12,086,950 25,677,516 -25,460 041,642.0003) -55,335 -576,430 5,560 -886,982 -7,843,540 -556,720 2,666,880 2,200,142 -14,493,245 1,429,710 16,604,531 -345,210 -

0.2 61.15 12.96 6.15 0.66 0.67 952.5 6.34 10.7 7.5 0.196 976.5 6.5 57.05 5.69 0.53 4.1 19.54 0.56 5.05 0.036 1.34 2.86 2.59 138.7 868.5 1.58 520 258.6 0.221 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 373,040,000 62.55 663,830 13.18 15,055,300 6.15 48,000 0.69 9,053,000 0.68 1,018,000 979 155,500 6.39 315,600 10.96 9,590,700 7.5 300 0.196 260,000 985 62,890 6.5 500 59.7 955,470 5.69 100 0.56 551,000 4.15 1,786,000 20 696,300 0.59 1,623,000 5.1 34,232,400 0.037 5,000,000 1.45 4,391,000 2.88 195,000 2.59 20,000 142 398,570 912.5 160,430 1.62 164,000 520 280 263.8 9,740 0.233 1,640,000 0.22 10,000

84,804,040 41,225,457.50 197,737,202 295,600 6,107,860 687,640 150,605,010 2,015,646 104,310,638 2,250 50,960 61,757,115 3,250 56,215,388.50 569 301,100 7,406,240 13,916,595 952,590 174,766,946 184,100 6,223,970 560,080 52,870 56,027,739 143,174,965 261,230 145,660 2,525,036 378,140 2,200

144,050.00 2,466,662 -3,831,604 -10,450,000 -478,611 -1,949,660 -28,174,815 12,108,451 4,076,630 -3,950,163 1,140 40,172,149 -14,310 -19,823,218 11,377,835 -

65,231,496 5,076,770 42,988 44,460 544,630 395,574,805 236,140 2,659,870 76,530,457 6,983,600 44,000 67,200 1,857,730 4,250 19,081,745 628,700 16,956,550 676,640 14,942,590 173,494,100 55,463,130 349,250 1,778,990 6,899,170

-48,203,183 -1,040 -141,106,085 -140,100 -75,754,820 -4,728,000 -8,686,300 -10,365,740 -15,848,940 -37,590 -1,091,930

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 98.7 2.88 128.3 1.56 34.2 6.7 16.52 15.3 3.51 9.3 0.66 1.51 900 0.52 80 1.05 20.6 52.5 208 105.3 86.5 37.85 191.9 1,940 89 1.18

59 100 2.88 129.7 1.69 34.45 6.7 16.52 15.5 3.6 9.47 0.66 1.52 900 0.54 80 1.08 20.6 52.5 208 105.5 86.5 37.85 195 1,940 89 1.18

58 97.05 2.81 128 1.52 34 6.7 16.5 15.16 3.5 9.3 0.66 1.5 900 0.52 79 1.04 20 50.9 206.2 105.3 86.5 37.5 190.5 1,940 89 1.18

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

38.95 14 0.58 1.29 20.05 0.23 114 3.22 16.3 49.95 23.65 53 1.95 5.1 9 10.86 16 11.6 7.18 5.31 1.77 14.98 62 20.1 8.89 15.24 2.1 280.4 5.04 27 12.5 22.4 333.8 0.18 6.7 2.34 4.37 8.95 5.75 7.85 1.4 11.94 48.2 5.95 4.61 2.68 3.65 1.87 12.86 66.95 5.57 0.132 0.9 122.1 2.64 2.97 0.8

39.25 14.2 0.59 1.29 20.05 0.23 114 3.25 16.5 50 23.65 54 1.95 5.1 9.28 10.9 16.16 11.86 7.18 5.37 1.77 15 62.05 20.75 8.89 15.5 2.27 281.8 5.08 27.1 12.52 22.9 337.6 0.18 6.95 2.34 4.39 8.99 5.95 7.85 1.41 12.5 49 5.95 4.61 2.68 3.65 2.13 13.1 66.95 5.65 0.132 0.93 125.8 2.65 3 0.82

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

0.21 61.15 13.14 6.16 0.67 0.69 960 6.39 10.82 7.5 0.196 980 6.5 58.1 5.69 0.54 4.19 19.8 0.58 5.05 0.037 1.39 2.87 2.66 142.3 880.5 1.6 521 261 0.221 0.22

0.3 62.55 13.22 6.16 0.69 0.69 979 6.4 10.96 7.5 0.196 985 6.5 59.7 5.69 0.57 4.2 20.15 0.6 5.15 0.037 1.46 2.9 2.66 142.6 912.5 1.62 521 266 0.234 0.22

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

7.33 1.01 14 2.03 0.79 41 3.4 4.68 5.9 0.435 1 0.96 0.225 0.425 28.5 0.61 1.6 1.28 1.09 4.93 0.62 0.44 0.51 2.64

7.4 1.04 14.38 2.03 0.8 41 3.44 4.69 6.04 0.44 1 0.96 0.238 0.425 29 0.64 1.63 1.28 1.18 4.98 0.66 0.445 0.52 2.64

7.1 1.01 13.82 2.02 0.78 40 3.4 4.62 5.9 0.435 1 0.96 0.224 0.425 28.35 0.61 1.59 1.26 1.09 4.87 0.61 0.43 0.5 2.55

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

20.5 2.01 3.24 37.9 1.1 10.12 0.84 6.88

20.95 2.05 3.29 38 1.1 10.2 0.84 6.88

20.3 2.01 3.24 37 1.08 9.52 0.79 6.73

20.95 2.05 3.29 38 1.1 9.88 0.84 6.78

1,294,700 194,000 57,000 6,757,600 119,000 2,162,700 53,000 2,103,900

27,009,260 392,660 185,500 254,561,055 129,630 21,326,218 43,880 14,260,986

8,780,880 0 18,723,065 807,591 -6,641,007

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

15.2 26.6 1.33 0.47 0.046 12.82 10.48 0.054 88.5 9 7.28 7.29 2.25 18.3 910 1,575 5.68 302.8 12.5 3.7 2.17 85.1 13.3 8 0.114 1.36 3.76 4.12 1.07 25.45 3.98 5.6 3 3.65 3.5 9.9 9.44 2.89 125 5.45 1,301 0.99 0.35 47 88 8.26 2.11 1.19 0.43 4.82 0.83 11.8

15.6 26.8 1.33 0.475 0.047 12.82 10.9 0.055 89 9 7.44 7.68 2.29 19.9 910 1,642 5.68 310 12.5 3.76 2.2 87.75 13.3 8.2 0.114 1.36 3.82 4.14 1.07 26.25 4.1 5.69 3 3.74 3.54 10.82 9.44 3 129.9 5.45 1,320 1 0.38 47.5 89 8.68 2.16 1.21 0.44 4.98 0.83 11.94

15.12 25.9 1.33 0.465 0.045 12.82 10.38 0.053 87.35 8.8 7.28 6.91 2.25 18.04 910 1,575 5.63 302.8 12.5 3.68 2.17 85.1 13.3 8 0.111 1.35 3.61 3.99 1.03 25.45 3.96 5.58 2.98 2.7 2.66 9.85 9.29 2.88 123 5.33 1,290 0.98 0.345 46.6 87 8.1 2.1 1.19 0.42 4.8 0.81 11.78

SERVICES 15.4 26.65 1.33 0.47 0.045 12.82 10.82 0.053 88 8.8 7.44 6.91 2.29 18.8 910 1,630 5.68 310 12.5 3.68 2.2 87.5 13.3 8.2 0.111 1.35 3.81 4.04 1.06 25.7 4.1 5.58 2.98 2.86 2.85 10.82 9.29 2.88 129.9 5.34 1,320 0.99 0.38 47.5 89 8.36 2.1 1.2 0.435 4.88 0.82 11.9

9,400 101,100 7,000 860,000 2,500,000 6,800 7,230,300 5,720,000 274,490 20,200 236,500 18,700 16,000 243,600 400 47,905 177,800 15,510 21,700 833,000 18,000 3,351,490 300 200 2,690,000 118,000 156,000 3,093,000 422,000 170,100 29,000 3,672,300 1,378,000 16,257,000 916,000 20,609,800 3,300 26,000 2,510 205,600 43,190 4,003,000 2,980,000 117,100 101,720 17,317,800 1,669,000 6,007,000 13,420,000 30,293,000 802,000 6,438,200

143,538 2,647,300 9,310 403,450 114,900 87,176 77,650,156 306,390 24,157,629.50 177,780 1,742,038 136,494 36,040 4,623,598 364,000 77,922,570 1,005,815 4,758,470 271,250 3,092,420 39,360 291,959,446 3,990 1,620 298,700 159,880 591,370 12,448,410 438,640 4,374,095 116,890 20,689,628 4,113,430 50,887,620 2,768,650 214,717,190 30,896 76,640 313,997 1,101,592 56,772,875 3,965,130 1,085,800 5,503,195 8,924,690 146,739,003(10 3,522,720 7,206,880 5,753,950 147,738,470(94 654,040 76,344,506

3,810,618 -18,889,901 3,655 -27,228 20,063,475 -88,716,558 -24,300 -38,100 -8,232,800 778,445 -10,452,601 874,410 100,650 265,252 -5,619 -14,750 -199,942 -86,862 -2,666,385 -74,920 678,950 -1,324,530 -7,715,865.50 ,372,994.0001) -987,560 -151,530 ,688,860.0003) 35,826,612

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

0.0029 1.64 4.2 22 1.68 0.3 7.26 2.38 0.178 0.137 0.136 0.0085 1.52 4.74 1.1 0.54 0.88 0.012 0.012 2 5.31 13.7 29.1

0.003 1.64 4.2 24.95 1.68 0.3 7.4 2.38 0.195 0.137 0.136 0.0085 1.52 4.78 1.1 0.54 0.92 0.013 0.012 2 5.31 13.88 30.3

0.0028 1.61 4.2 21 1.68 0.3 7.26 2.33 0.178 0.134 0.135 0.0085 1.49 4.74 1.06 0.52 0.88 0.012 0.011 2 5.28 13.26 29.1

MINING & OIL 0.003 530,000,000 1.61 1,415,000 4.2 27,000 21.9 131,800 1.68 68,000 0.3 900,000 7.35 700 2.38 770,000 0.189 1,260,000 0.135 1,330,000 0.135 300,000 0.0085 8,000,000 1.49 322,000 4.76 930,000 1.09 78,000 0.52 287,000 0.9 99,000 0.013 507,200,000 0.011 11,000,000 2 4,000 5.28 181,900 13.36 3,122,800 30.05 5,369,000

1,552,000 2,304,860 113,400 2,946,925 114,240 270,000 5,105 1,819,470 227,010 179,640 40,510 68,000 486,220 4,432,900(3, 83,130 154,240 88,490 6,590,700 126,300 8,000 962,019 42,276,552 160,681,445

-113,400 164,115 -2,360 89,000 27,000 677,249.9999) 629,834 -3,272,035

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

25 499 502.5 101 106 110 5.44 970 980 1.05 103.5 1,021 102.5 975 77 79.1 75.35 76.5 78 76.5 76.25 77

25 499 515 101 106 110 5.44 970 990 1.05 103.5 1,021 102.5 975 77 79.1 75.35 76.5 78 76.5 76.25 77

24.25 498 502.5 101 106 110 5.44 961 980 1.05 102 1,021 102.4 968.5 76.6 79 75.35 76.5 78 76.2 76.2 77

PREFERRED 25 105,600 499 340 515 150 101 25,730 106 20 110 42,710 5.44 50,000 961 600 990 15,900 1.05 690,000 102 9,830 1,021 5,000 102.5 6,830 968.5 1,500 76.6 120 79 11,490 75.35 12,160 76.5 27,970 78 45,600 76.2 24,450 76.2 26,600 77 31,350

2,637,915 169,440 75,500 2,598,730 2,120 4,698,100 272,000 579,300 15,582,240 724,500 1,003,605 5,105,000 700,057 1,457,455 9,232 907,740 916,256 2,139,705 3,556,800 1,863,990 2,027,395 2,413,950

-836,055 -790,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.5

2.5

2.37

WARRANTS 2.47 772,000

1,859,290

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5 3.21

5.05 3.21

4.91 3.17

5.05 3.17

4,707,063 4,961,240

-8,585 -3,008,980

FIRST METRO ETF

116.1

116.1

113

10,051,994

65,263

USD DMPL A1

10

10

10

5,800

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.37 1.04 13.82 2.02 0.8 40.3 3.4 4.65 6 0.44 1 0.96 0.235 0.425 28.75 0.64 1.6 1.27 1.18 4.9 0.66 0.435 0.51 2.6

8,949,700 4,920,000 3,100 22,000 689,000 9,805,100 69,000 570,000 12,969,700 15,950,000 44,000 70,000 7,960,000 10,000 662,400 1,013,000 10,583,000 533,000 12,912,000 35,335,000 86,339,000 800,000 3,489,000 2,670,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

8,408,779

INDUSTRIAL

48,032,088

HOLDING FIRMS

461,319,279

PROPERTY

229,176,963

SERVICES

160,345,223

MINING & OIL

1,073,611,357

GRAND TOTAL

1,983,485,901

SME

947,600 1,556,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113 87,810 10

DDS

580

VALUE 1,887.7 7 (up) 15.50 725,818,622.07 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,756.26 (up) 98.43 817,936,103.41 HOLDING FIRMS 7,650.95 (up) 173.08 1,142,997,760.865 PROPERTY 3,802.02 (up) 2.21 SERVICES 1,502.62 (up) 23.38 1,165,755,227.725 MINING & OIL 10,152.53 (up) 111.34 1,316,359,268.29 PSEI 7,685.76 (up) 106.15 225,550,623.0554 All Shares Index 4,664.29 (up) 49.11 5,414,141,423.30 Gainers:112; Losers: 84; Unchanged: 53; Total: 249

CNOOC Gas, Phoenix agree on developing LNG terminal

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. on Tuesday signed an agreement with CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., a unit of China National Offshore Oil Corp., to study and develop a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal project in the Philippines.

“The (agreement) for the LNG project will potentially broaden Phoenix Petroleum’s portfolio of new businesses, which now include LPG, convenience retailing, asphalt, and etransactions,” Phoenix said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Parent CNOOC is China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator.

Phoenix vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said the LNG opportunity would be an addition to the company’s expanding portfolio of new ventures complementing and strengthening its core fuel business.

“As one of the largest LNG players in the world, CNOOC has the breadth of expertise and experience in the industry. The value chain of CNOOC’s business activities ranges from upstream exploration and development (through its investments in Australia), international trading, liquefaction, shipping, LNG receiving and processing, pipeline transportation, trucking, power plants and gas stations,” Zorrilla said.

CNOOC has already submitted an unsolicited proposal to state-run Philippine National Oil Co. to develop the country’s first integrated LNG project costing $2 billion. CNOOC also expressed interest to submit a separate proposal to the Energy Department for the planned LNG facility.

“By investing in clean energy such as LNG, Phoenix Petroleum is doing its part in supporting the Philippines Energy Plan to diversify energy mix and ensure sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, accessible and reasonablypriced energy, with a strategic focus on green alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help combat global warming,” Zorilla said.

“LNG is a cleaner alternative and it will be an excellent addition to Phoenix’s expanding portfolio of green products, which currently includes coco methyl ester , otherwise known as coco biodiesel, and liquefied petroleum gas,” he added.

DMCI Homes set to turn over Lumiere tower

By Jenniffer B. Austria

DMCI Homes Inc., the real estate subsidiary of the Consunji family, is set to turn over the second building of Lumiere Residences, a three-tower development at the corner of Pasig Boulevard and Shaw Boulevard in Pasig City.

DMCI Homes said it would start handing over this month the 37-story West Tower of Lumiere Residences to unit buyers. The building was originally scheduled for turnover in June 2019.

The sold-out West Tower has 846 residential units worth P2.8 billion.

DMCI Homes president Alfredo Austria said establishing strong partnerships with suppliers and subcontractors had served the company well amid the completion delays that marred the construction industry due to manpower woes.

“It has been our business philosophy to treat people we deal with as partners to pursue our mission of providing quality homes at best value delivered on or ahead of schedule,” Austria said.

The first tower of the Lumiere Residences, East Tower, was turned over to unit buyers in October 2017, also one year ahead of the October 2018 original target.

The third building, North Tower, meanwhile, is scheduled for turnover in November 2020.

Situated near Ortigas Center and Bonifacio Global City, Lumiere Residences was a hit among startup families, young professionals and investors looking for properties within central business districts.

Accessible via EDSA or C-5, the modern tropical-themed development gives residents the luxury of a high quality home and a delightful living experience with an easy access to the comforts of city living.

DMCI Homes earlier reported reservation sales of over P15 billion in the first quarter of the year, up 15 percent from P13 billion year-on-year.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Najib’s wife quizzed over graft claims PUTRAJAYA—The wife of Malaysia’s ousted prime minister Najib Razak on Tuesday arrived at the nation’s anti-corruption agency for questioning over a massive financial scandal involving a state sovereign wealth fund.

The spotlight is now on Rosmah Mansor after police last month raided two condominiums linked to Najib and his family as part of an investigation into his role in the 1MDB scandal—seizing bags of cash, jewelry and hundreds of designer handbags.

Rosmah, 66, is widely reviled for her reported luxurious tastes and imperious manner. She last month issued a statement lashing out at the media coverage of the police raids, calling them a “premature public trial”.

Known for her love of luxury clothes and handbags, Rosmah arrived in a three-car convoy.

“Her questioning by graft busters will be intense and thorough,” Abdul Razak Idris, former investigations and intelligence director at the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission, told AFP. “She may also be asked to reveal her bank accounts and explain about the source of the cash and jewelry found by police in two condominiums recently.” AFP

Indian city suffers worst pollution K

ANPUR, India―Soot turned the white handkerchief around Abhash Kumar Sharma’s face to black as the police officer tried to direct gridlocked traffic in the Indian city with the world’s dirtiest air.

Weinstein set to plead innocent in New York NEW YORK—Fallen movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was expected to plead innocent Tuesday to rape and sexual assault charges in New York, opening a legal battle for the #MeToo movement that dreams of seeing him behind bars.

The 66-year-old Weinstein was charged with rape and a sex crime in New York late last month, nearly eight months after his career imploded in a blaze of accusations of sexual misconduct.

Weinstein is due in a Manhattan court at 10 am local time (1400 GMT), for a formal reading of the indictment: he has been indicted for allegedly forcing a woman to perform oral sex on him in 2004, and for allegedly raping another at a Manhattan hotel in 2013. That crime could put him in prison for as many as 25 years.

Two women are named in this indictment. But nearly a hundred have said since October they were harassed or sexually abused by Weinstein over several decades.

AFP

SCREENING. Antonio Marziale and Claire Chapelli attend Special Screening And Q&A For Netflix’s ‘Alex Strangelove’ at Los Angeles LGBT Center on June 4, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

It was all he had to ward off the pollution blamed for filling Kanpur’s hospital beds with growing numbers of chronic lung and cancer cases.

“It is the same story for everyone who spends such long hours out in this city,” said Sharma, who does not get a mask for his duties.

“The pollution gets into your eyes and it often stings.”

The city of three million people has been smarting since a World Health Organization report last month put it at the head of 14 Indian cities in the world’s top 15 with the dirtiest air.

The pain has been building up for much longer, but as the world marks Environment Day, the fallout has reached crisis point for many in Kanpur.

Sunil Dahiya, a senior campaigner with Greenpeace India, said “the models available to us make it certain that hundreds of thousands of people are dying in India each year because of air pollution”.

A senior doctor at the Murari Lal Chest Hospital, Anand Kumar, said the number of patients has jumped from about 40,000 in 2015 to 64,000 last year.

“More than 50 percent of these patients, maybe more, come with breathing-related issues,” the doctor told AFP. “Even the severity is worsening. Many who earlier recovered in a day or two now need days and much stronger medication to get better.”

The number of chronic pulmonary disease and lung cancer cases is rising among non-smokers, particularly women, he added. “There is no reason for it [other] than primarily atmospheric pollution.”

Children under five are also suffering more, he added.

In one overcrowded ward, 74-year-old Ram Lakhan, who spends long periods in hospital barely able to breathe, blamed his suffering on cars.

“Where are the trees now? We only have vehicles, pollution and traffic jams. AFP

Calls grow in Germany for expulsion of disputed US ambassador BERLIN—The leading politicians of Germany’s left-wing parties on Tuesday called for the US ambassador to be expelled, after the staunch defender of Donald Trump was accused of meddling in domestic politics and aggravating already tense ties.

Richard Grenell had taken up his diplomatic posting on May 8, and immediately sparked an uproar when he tweeted on the same day that German companies should stop doing business with Iran as Trump quit the nuclear deal with the Is-

AIR PHILIPPINES CORPORATION doing business under the name and style of Airphil Express; PAL express; and Philippine Airlines GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE (GCC) (Passenger and Baggage) (AS AMENDED) Article 5 RESERVATIONS Section 1. RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS (a)A reservation is not confirmed until: 1. It is entered on the appropriate Flight or Electronic Coupon, by APC or its Authorized Agent; 2. You have paid for your Ticket; and 3. A Ticket has been duly issued to you, or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, when it has been duly created in APC’s database. A reservation that does not comply with any of these requirements may be cancelled by APC at any time without notice. (b) As provided in APC’s Tariffs, certain fares may be subject to conditions which limit or exclude your prerogative to change or cancel reservations.

Sec. 2. TICKETING TIME LIMIT If you have not paid or made credit arrangements for the Ticket with APC prior to the specified ticketing time limit as advised by APC or its Authorized Agent, APC will cancel your reservation without prior notice.

Sec. 3. PERSONAL DATA You recognize that your personal data have been given to APC for the purposes of: making a reservation, purchasing a Ticket,for obtaining ancillary services, facilitating immigration and entry requirements, complying with regulatory requirements of government authority and making available such data in connection with your travel. For these purposes, you agree and authorize APC to retain and process or use such data and to transmit them to its own offices, Authorized Agents, government authorities, other carriers or the providers of the above-mentioned services. In booking your travel, you provide APC your consent to be added to APC’s email list that will be used to contact you occasionally with commercial electronic messages such as offers and promotions that APC feels will be of interest to you.

Sec. 4. SEATING APC will endeavor to honor your advance seating requests. However, APC does not guarantee to provide any particular seat in the aircraft and you agree to accept any seat that may be allotted on the flight in the class of service for which your Ticket has been issued.

APC reserves the right to assign or re-assign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft. This may be necessary to comply with laws, rules, and government regulations, or for operational, safety, or security reasons.

APC reserves the right to charge for more than one seat in cases where the physical condition of the Passenger require additional seat.

Sec. 5. RECONFIRMATION OF RESERVATIONS Your reservation may be subject to the requirement that it be reconfirmed not later than seventy-two (72) hours before flight departure. Your reservation with other carriers involved in your travel must be reconfirmed with the carrier whose Airline Designator Code appears on the Ticket, and in accordance with their respective reconfirmation requirements.

Sec. 6. CANCELLATION OF RESERVATIONS If you do not use a reservation and fail to advise APC, your reservation, including onward or return reservations, may be cancelled without prior notice.

Article 7 REFUSAL AND LIMITATION OF CARRIAGE Section 1. RIGHT TO REFUSE CARRIAGE APC will not refuse carriage to any person based solely on race, sex, color, nationality or religion.

Further, as a matter of policy, APC will not refuse carriage to any person based solely on disability subject to exceptions that may be allowed by applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

APC may refuse to carry you or your Baggage, or may remove you from the aircraft at any time, for any of the following reasons: (a) You fail or refuse to comply with these Conditions of Carriage; (b) (i) The applicable fare or any charges or taxes payable have not been paid, or credit arrangements with APC have not been complied with; (ii) the payment is done through fraudulent means; (iii) when the credit card used for payment could not be authenticated upon booking or is subsequently reported to be lost or stolen; or (iv) when the credit card used for payment is not presented for validation, if required so by APC; (c) The refusal to transport or removal from APC’s aircraft is necessary to comply with any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of any country to be flown from, to or over; (d) Such action is necessary or advisable by reason of weather or other conditions beyond APC’s control including, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, strikes, civil commotions, embargoes, wars, hostilities, terrorist activities, or disturbances, whether actual, threatened, or reported; (e) (i) You appear to be improperly documented; (ii) you cannot prove, when so required that, you are the person named in the Ticket; (iii) the Ticket has been acquired or reported to have been acquired unlawfully or has been purchased or reported to have been purchased from an entity other than APC or its Authorized Agent; (iv) your Ticket is acquired illegally, (v) if you’re Ticket is a counterfeit Ticket or has been altered, torn, damaged or tampered with; (vi) when the immigration authority of the country you are traveling to, or of a country in which you have a Stopover, informed APC (either verbally or in writing) that it has decided not to allow you to enter that country, even if you have, or appear to have, valid travel documents; (vii) when you destroy your travel documents during the flight; (viii) when you have refused to allow APC to photocopy your travel documents; (ix) when you have refused to give your travel documents to a member of the crew of the aircraft, when APC asked you to do so; or (f) You are a person in the custody of law, unless you are sufficiently escorted. (g) Such refusal or removal is reasonably necessary for the security, safety or comfort of other Passengers or APC’s employees; or to prevent damage to the property of APC or of its Passengers or crew or employees, including, but not limited to the following instances: 1. When you assault, intimidate or threaten, whether physical or verbal, any of APC’s ground staff, crew members or other Passengers; 2. When you create a disturbance which interferes with the duties of the ground staff, flight crew or when the disturbance necessitates the pilot-in-command or any member of the cockpit crew to leave the cockpit to attend to the same; 3. When you refuse to follow a lawful instruction given by the pilot-in-command, or on behalf of the pilot-in-command, or by a crew member for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the aircraft or of any person or property on board or for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board; 4. When you commit an act of physical violence, sexual assault, or child molestation, against other persons; 5. When your conduct results or may result to a risk of harm or damage to the aircraft, or properties belonging to APC, its Passengers, or employees; 6. When you refuse to submit to a security check; 7. When you refuse to follow APC’s policy on smoking and use of alcoholic beverages and drugs; 8. When you tamper with the smoke detector or any other safety-related device on board the aircraft; 9. When you fail to comply with safety regulations, including fastening seatbelts when

lamic Republic.

He stoked further outrage over the weekend with his reported comments of his ambition to “empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders”.

Grenell also raised eyebrows with his plan to host Austria’s conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz―who the US envoy describes as a “rock star”, for lunch on June 13.

“What this man is doing, is unheard of in international diplomacy,” Martin Schulz, former chief of the Social Democratic Par-

ty, told national news agency DPA. “If a German ambassador were to say in Washington that he is there to boost the Democrats, he would have been kicked out immediately.

“I hope that the Kurz visit leads to Mr Grenell’s short tenure as ambassador in Germany,” added Schulz, who also wrote on Twitter that the envoy did not behave like a diplomat but like a “farright colonial officer”.

Amid the row, Germany’s foreign ministry is seeking clarification from Grenell

required; 10. When you use portable electronic device when such is prohibited; 11. When you are not properly clothed; 12. When you have a contagious disease which may be transmitted to others during the fight; 13. When the Passenger who may have been required to present medical clearance in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, failed to submit said medical certificate and where it appears that he/she cannot complete the flight without requiring medical assistance; 14. When your conduct is disorderly, abusive, offensive or violent; 15. When your conduct results or may result to a risk of annoyance, offense or disturbance to other Passengers; 16. When you have made a hoax bomb or other security threat;

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

PAL express

B3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sec. 2. CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSAL OF CARRIAGE AND OF REMOVAL OF PASSENGER If you commit any of the acts enumerated under Section 1(g) of this Article, and conduct yourself aboard the aircraft so as to endanger the aircraft or any person or property on board, APC may take such measures reasonably necessary to prevent continuation of your conduct, including restraint. You may be disembarked and refused onward carriage at any point.

If, for the reasons enumerated under Section 1 of this Article, APC has refused to carry you, or removed you en route, APC may cancel the remaining unused portion of your Ticket and you will not be entitled to further carriage or to a refund either in respect of the sector subject of the refusal of carriage or removal, or any subsequent sectors covered by the Ticket. APC reserves the right to prosecute offences committed. APC will not be liable for any consequential loss or damage alleged due to any such refusal to carry or removal en route.

Sec. 3. GENERAL INDEMNITY If you conduct yourself in a manner described in Section 1 of this Article, you will indemnify APC for all claims or losses, including, but not limited to, all costs arising from the diversion of the aircraft for the purpose of offloading you and all losses suffered or incurred by APC, its Authorized Agents, employees, independent contractors, Passengers, and any third party in respect of death, injury, loss, damage or delay to other persons or to property, arising from such conduct.

Sec. 4. OTHER LIMITATIONS ON CARRIAGE (a)

Acceptance for carriage of unaccompanied children, persons with disability, pregnant women or ailing persons may be subject to prior arrangements with APC, in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (b) Acceptance for carriage of persons requiring special assistance such as but not limited to medical oxygen for use on-board the aircraft, packaging of wheelchair and wheelchair batteries, stretchers and other similar assistance, may be subject to advance notice and prior arrangements with APC, in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage, APC’s Tariffs and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (c) If APC believes that the aircraft weight limitation or seating capacity would otherwise be exceeded, APC will decide in its reasonable discretion which persons or articles shall be carried.

Sec. 5. MEDICAL CLEARANCE REQUIRED Subject to applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, APC may require a medical clearance when, in good faith and using its reasonable discretion, APC determines there is reasonable doubt that a Passenger can complete the flight safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance.

Sec. 6. BANNING NOTICE In addition to its right to refuse carriage under any of the grounds in Section 1 of this Article, APC reserves the right to ban any person from all its flights and from availing of any of its services for the following reasons: (a) Such person is a serious or habitual offender under any of the instances enumerated in Section 1; (b) When records support that you habitually and in bad faith, filed unwarranted complaints against APC and its employees.

Sec. 7. ATTENDANT’S REQUIRED For reasons of safety, Passengers in the following categories may be required to travel with a safety assistant: (a) (b)

(c) (d)

A Passenger with a mobility impairment so severe that the individual is unable to assist in his/ her own evacuation: A Passenger with severe hearing and severe vision impairment who is unable to establish some means of communications with APC’s personnel adequate to permit the Passenger to receive APC’s safety briefing as may be required by the applicable law, rules, and government regulations; A Passenger who is traveling on a stretcher or in an incubator or who requires administration of certain medical services during the flight (e.g. medical oxygen, respirator, intravenous injections, etc.) which he/she cannot administer on himself/herself; A Passenger who because of a mental disability, is unable to comprehend or respond appropriately to safety instructions from APC’s personnel, including safety briefing required by applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

Article 9 SCHEDULES, CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS

Section 1. SCHEDULES The flight times shown in timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel, as shown in the Ticket. APC does not guarantee these schedules and they do not form part of your Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 2. CANCELLATION, CHANGES OF SCHEDULE, ETC. (a)

(b)

Subject to applicable laws, rules, or government regulations, APC may, when circumstances so require, cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, delay any flight, alter or omit stopping places shown on the Ticket or in schedules and may without notice substitute alternate carriers or aircraft and APC assumes no liability for making connections.

If due to circumstances beyond its control, APC cancels or delays a flight, is unable to provide previously confirmed space, fails to stop at a Stopover or point of destination, or causes you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a confirmed reservation, APC shall not be liable for losses or damages including any indirect, special or consequential loss, expense or damage.

Article 10 REFUNDS Section 1. GENERAL Refund of a Ticket or any of its unused portion, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, shall be subject to these Conditions of Carriage and APC’s Tariffs.

Sec. 2. WHEN TO FILE FOR REFUND AND TO WHOM REFUND WILL BE MADE (a) Refund of a Ticket or any of its unused portion, including taxes, fees, and or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, shall be applied with APC within the period of the validity of the Ticket and thirty (30) days thereafter. (b) Except as provided in this Article, refund shall be made either to the Passenger, or to the person who has paid for the Ticket upon presentation of satisfactory proof of entitlement to the refund. (c)

If a Ticket has been paid for by a person other than the Passenger, and APC, upon instruction of such person, has so indicated on the Ticket that there is a restriction on refund, APC shall make a refund only to that person paying for the Ticket or to that person’s order.

about his comments, a topic that will be raised at a pre-arranged meeting scheduled for Wednesday between the envoy and state secretary Andreas Michaelis.

But the opposition far-left Linke party’s chief Sahra Wagenknecht said Berlin would do better to immediately expel Grenell rather than invite him in for talks.

“Someone like US ambassador Richard Grenell, who thinks he can lord over Europe and determine who is governing here, he can no longer stay in Germany as a diplomat,” Wagenknecht told Die Welt daily. AFP

(d)

A refund made to anyone holding himself or herself out as a person to whom refund may be made in terms of (a) above shall be deemed a proper refund and shall discharge APC from liability and any further claim for refund.

(e)

Refund due to Tickets, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, paid for with credit cards will only be charged back to the credit card accounts originally used for the Ticket purchase. The refundable amount to be charged back to the credit card account of the card owner may vary from the originally debited amount due to differences in the exchange rate. Such variances do not entitle the recipient of the refund to a claim against APC. APC shall not be held liable for any damages that may result from the ticket cancellation.

(f)

If the credit card used is not under Passenger’s account name, Passenger warrants that the he/she and the credit card holder both agreed that: 1) either the Passenger or credit card holder may apply for online refund; and 2) the refund will automatically be charged back to the credit card account originally used.

Sec. 3. INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS If APC cancels a flight, or fails to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, or fails to stop at a point to which you are destined or ticketed to Stopover, or is unable to provide previously confirmed space, the amount of the refund shall be subject to these Conditions of Carriage, APC’s Tariffs, and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

Sec. 4. VOLUNTARY REFUNDS If you are entitled to a refund of your Ticket or any of its unused portion, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, for reasons other than those set out in Section 3 of this Article, the amount of the refund shall be in accordance with APC’s Tariffs.

Sec. 5. RIGHT TO REFUSE REFUND (a) APC may refuse refund when your application is made thirty (30) days after the expiry of the validity of the Ticket. (b) APC may refuse refund on a Ticket, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, which has been presented to APC or other carriers or to government officials of a country as evidence of intention to depart from such country, unless you are able to establish to APC’s satisfaction that you have permission from the government to remain in the country or that you will depart such country by another carrier or by another means of transport. (c) APC may refuse refund in the circumstances covered by Article 7, Section 2 of these Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 6. CURRENCY All refunds will be subject to applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of the country in which the Ticket was originally purchased and of the country in which the refund is being made. Subject to the foregoing provision, refunds will normally be made in the currency in which the Ticket was paid but may be made in another currency in accordance with APC’s Tariffs.

Article 13 LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS These Conditions of Carriage and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations govern APC’s liability to you.

Sec. 2. LIMITS ON LIABILITY ON INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE Unless otherwise stated in these Conditions of Carriage, International Carriage, as defined in the Convention, is subject to the liability rules of the Convention.

Sec. 3. LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE Where your carriage is not subject to the liability rules of the Convention, our liability provisions are as follows: (a) APC will not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to your failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Conditions of Carriage. (b) APC is not liable if it proves that it or any of its agents have taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage or that it was impossible for it to take such measure. (c) In the carriage of Baggage, APC is not liable if it proves that the damage was occasioned by negligence in the handling of the aircraft or in navigation and that, in all other respects, it has taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage. (d) APC assumes no liability for pre-existing damage, and damage as a result of normal wear and tear, such as minor cuts, scratches, and broken zippers. (e) APC is liable only for damage occurring on its own line or air services. When APC issues a Ticket or Baggage Tag over the lines or air services of another carrier, APC does so only as agent for such other carrier and assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of such other carrier. Nevertheless, with respect to Checked Baggage, you shall have a right of action against the first or last carrier. (f) APC is not liable for damage to Unchecked Baggage unless such damage is caused by the negligence of APC. If there has been contributory negligence on your part, APC’s liability shall be subject to the applicable laws, rules, and government regulation relating to contributory negligence. (g) APC is not liable for damage arising from its compliance with any laws, rules, or government regulations, orders or requirements, or from your failure to comply with the same. (h) If in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, different limits of liability are applicable such different limits shall apply. If the weight of the Baggage is not recorded on the Baggage Tag, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance for the class of service concerned.

If in the case of Checked Baggage a higher value is declared pursuant to Article 8, Section 7, the liability of APC shall be limited to such higher declared value. (i) APC’s limit of liability shall not exceed the amount of proven damages. APC shall furthermore not be liable for indirect or consequential damages. (j) APC is not liable for injury to you or for damage to your Baggage caused by property contained in your Baggage. In the event that your property causes injury to another person or damage to another person’s property or to APC’s property, you shall indemnify APC for all losses and expenses incurred by APC as its result. (k) APC is not liable for loss or damage to fragile or perishable items, money, jewelry, precious metals, silverware, negotiable papers, securities, or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples. Carriage of the foregoing shall be allowed only under special arrangements with APC. (l) APC is not liable for any consequence resulting solely from your state of health. (m) The aggregate amount you may claim from APC, including from Authorized Agents, employees, or representatives shall not exceed the limits of liability as prescribed in these Conditions of Carriage. (n) Unless so expressly provided nothing herein contained shall waive any exclusion or limitation of liability of APC under the Convention or applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (o) In the Domestic Carriage of persons, the limit of liability for death or injury of persons attributable solely to the act, omission or negligence of APC and not due to any cause beyond its control, shall be governed by the relevant local law or regulation. (p) In the Domestic Carriage of Checked Baggage, the limit of liability for loss, damage or delay of the Checked Baggage or of any object contained in the Baggage, attributable solely to the act, omission or negligence of APC and not by any cause beyond its control, shall be governed by the relevant local law or regulation.

(MS-MAY 30 & JUNE 6, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LocAL goVerNmeNt uNits

wednesday, june 6, 2018

Sandiganbayan acquits Tigas over Samal market case

INSPIRING CREATIVITY.

Eight-year-old Martina Campos, daughter of Makati Mayor Abby Binay, introduces the ‘Mobile Art Hub’ project of the city government to around 100 youngsters who visited Martina’s Arts and Crafts Corner during Family Day last June 3 at the City Hall Quadrangle.

Martina personally led the ‘BATHya bombs making’ session, where she mixed organic ingredients with essential oils to create aromatic and colorful bath bombs. Other sessions were on ‘slime’ making, pottery making, puppet making, and cupcake designing.

Binay launched the project during the ‘Makati Makisalo’ marker unveiling to kick-off the 348th Foundation Day activities.

By Butch Gunio BAlANGA CITY, Bataan—The Sandiganbayan has acquitted current Provincial Board Member Rolly Tigas, the former Samal town mayor, of graft charges over a purchase of land for a public market in Samal in 2005.

In a 15-page decision dated May 25, the fourth division of the antigraft court granted the demurrer to evidence of Tigas and acquitted him.

The decision also lifted the holddeparture order against the former mayor as well.

The court also cleared Samal excouncilor Rafael Guinto but sentenced Samal councilors Clemenco Abella and Hercules llanda to sixyear prison terms.

Abella is still on the Samal Sangguniang Bayan, while llanda won as barangay chairman of Daan-Bago East in Samal in the May 14 elections.

The Sandiganbayan decision showed that the municipal government of Samal purchased two parcels of land with an area of 32,000 square meters at P90 per square meter for a total of P2.923 million on May 6, 2005.

The agreed price between the lot owners and the municipality was only P2.5 million, but the deed of absolute sale indicated the purchase price was P2.923 million.

The four officials were charged “for requesting and receiving for their own benefit the amount of P513,000.”

Abella and llanda allegedly received P423,000 from the excess of the agreed purchase price, with P90,000 as the attorney-in-fact’s supposed share in the payment of capital gains tax.

“Accused Abella and llanda received said amounts without issuing any acknowledgement receipt whether official or otherwise,” the decision said.

The court concluded that neither Tigas nor Guinto took part in the transaction.

Estrada gives away ‘Erap All-Star’ shoes to school kids

Makati holds Mega Job Fair with 50 firms hiring

M

AKATI Mayor Abby Binay has encouraged residents and non-residents of the city seeking employment to participate in the Mega Job Fair to be held at Glorietta 3 Activity Center on June 7 from 10 am to 8 pm, as part of the events lined up for ‘Makati Makisalo’ festival marking the city’s 348th foundation day.

Binay said the Makati Public Employment Service Office has confirmed around 50 participating companies in the job fair, organized in partnership with the Department of labor and Employment and Ayala land, Inc. “Makatizens and non-residents are welcome to join the job fair this Thursday. We are expecting around 50 companies to be there to offer employment opportunities for jobseekers. We have also invited some government agencies to provide pre-employment services,” the mayor said.

Binay also said the city government has been regularly conducting an in-

house job fair every Wednesday at PESO at the 5th floor of Makati City Hall Main Building, in line with her administration’s thrust to create more employment opportunities.

“We will continue to pursue the creation of more job opportunities for our residents through partnerships with Makati-based companies and industries,” she vowed.

The Mega Job Fair theme for the year is “Disenteng Trabaho at Maunlad na Pangkabuhayan, Handog ng lungsod at ng PESO.” According to PESO, participating companies include Ablebodies Manpower Services, Absolute Sales Inc.,

Andok’s litson, Asiapro Cooperative, Ayala Malls Inc., Bench (Suyen Corp.), Burlington Industries, Citiworks Manpower Resources Corp., Dames International, Eperformax, Fieldmen Janitorial Services Corp., Goldilocks, Hi-Precision Diagnostic Corp., JTC Group of Companies, Mirof Resources, Inc., North Asia Central Manpower Services Inc., and the Philippine Survey Research Center (PSRC).

Other job fair participants include Receivers & liquidators, Reliable Workforce & General Services, RRJ-Rough Ryders Jeans (Emerald Garments Manufacturing), Rustan’s Supercenter Inc. (RSCI), Services Resources, Inc. (SRI), Skycable, The French Baker, Topserve Service Solutions, Inc., Nail-A-Holics, Breadtalks Phils., Pru life UK, McDonalds, Max’s Group of Companies, Serenitea, Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., CMG Retail Inc., and Dunkin Donuts.

QC gives informal settlers P1.2m to move to Rizal

By Rio N. Araja THE 37-member Quezon City council has given Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to extend P1.2 million in financial aid to informal settlers affected by road improvement projects.

City Resolution 7386, introduced by District 1 Councilor Alexis Herrera, has authorized the mayor to provide P5,000 in aid to each of 200 informal settler families to be affected by the road development in barangays Sto. Domingo and Manresa.

The aid was given to enable the displaced families to move to a National Housing Authority resettlement site in Morong, Rizal.

The city’s Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department has identified 244 verified informal settler families occupying the rights-of-way.

In another development, City Resolution 7390 has authorized Bautista to purchase 40 computer sets for the use of government and non-government institutions in the city’s District V. Among the recipients were several homeowners’ associations, police stations, and tricycle operators and drivers’ associations.

CHANGE OF COMMAND.

Chief Supt. Edward E. Carranza (left), the incoming Police Regional Director for Calabarzon, receives the symbolic flag of PRO4A from guest of honor and speaker Police Director Edwin C. Roque, Philippine National Police Directorate for Plans (right), during the turnover of command ceremony at PRO4A multipurpose center in Camp Gen. Vicente P. Lim in Calamba City, Laguna.

Looking on is outgoing Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, now the current National Capital Region police director.

Roy Tomandao

MANIlA Mayor Joseph Estrada has distributed “Erap All-Star” shoes to 1,500 elementary students of Bacood Elementary School from Grades 1 to 6 to encourage them to study hard and have a good future during the inaugural distribution held at the Bacood Elementary School in Sta. Mesa.

The city chief executive promised to provide 280,000 students in Manila with shoes as part of the city government’s program to provide “essential entitlements” to the children studying in elementary and high schools.

Estrada vowed to provide dignified schooling to thousands of school children in Manila when he assumed the office almost five years ago, and in fact has already granted 1,000 school children with P5,000 cash each for their school supplies, uniforms, and notebooks.

During the turnover, Mayor Estrada said he wants all students to walk with comfort when going to school and be proud to the shoes that they are wearing “Erap All Star Shoes” which is made of high quality materials.

“Do you know that I also wear Superstar Shoes? Your shoes are proving you are really your city’s superstars,” the mayor said.

The former President assured that all students in Manila will have shoes that will be distributed this school year.

He also extended his gratitude to Bacood Elementary school principal Helen Bautista for unwaveringly supporting the city government’s educational program.

Estrada called on the students to study hard and keep away from illegal activities, adding they have every role in the society “to improve and bring back not only the city but the nation to its glory and remain as the Pearl of the Orient.”

In BrIef Belmonte attends Australian confab SAYING education is one of her centerpiece programs, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte recently flew to Australia to take part in an international confab on quality education.

She joined a working visit to Australia to study and learn new programs and systems that could help improve the quality of education in the country.

Belmonte was the only delegate from a local government unit invited to participate in the week-long learning and partnership visit on education governance sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid).

“We hope to learn a lot to improve education delivery here in Quezon City, the millennial city,” she said.

Along with officials from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, University of Southern Philippines.

Belmonte went to Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra to learn about all the aspects of developing quality education.

“Education is the most formidable tool that we have to fight poverty.

It is only through education that we can help improve the lives of every citizen,” she said. Rio N. Araja

NV blood program aids 175 poor in Q1 SCIENCE OF BEAUTY. A. Menarini Group, Italy’s largest bio-pharmaceutical company, recently launched RELIFE, a new

worldwide company that specializes in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. The launch featured a panel of experts who discussed about RELIFE’s new products, Happy Lift and Skin Fill: (from left) Kimmy Flaviano, Smile Train Country Director, Philippines; Dr. Steven Kusmanto, Associate Marketing Director for A. Menarini Asia Pacific; Associate Professor Jose Joven Cruz, plastic surgeon; Dr. Purita Paz-Lao, dermatologist; Dr. Jaime Arzadon, plastic and cosmetic surgeon; and Professor Salvatore Fundaro, M.D., plastic and aesthetic surgeon. Norman Cruz

Professional advancement gab for 1.6k Navotas public teachers

By Jun David TO GET them ready for the start of the academic year, the Navotas City Government held a three-day professional advancement seminar for teachers in Tagaytay City, Cavite.

The seminar was conducted in two batches on May 21 to 23 and May 24 to 26 to accommodate some 1,600 public school teachers and non-teaching personnel in Navotas.

The seminar, entitled “Stewardship: Pangalagaan ang Sarili, Pangalagaan ang Propesyon,” aimed to renew the passion and vigor

of Navotas educators regarding their profession, as well as teach the value of self-love.

In his speech, Mayor John Rey Tiangco underlined the need for teachers to take care of themselves, so they could take care of others.

“You cannot give something you do not have. learn to accept and love yourself for only then can you genuinely give and receive love,” Tiangco said.

He also stressed that people are the most valuable resource, and teachers are the ones who help develop and harness their potential.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—At least 175 poor patients from various hospitals in the province were given free blood supply through the Philippine Red Cross’ Blood Samaritan Program.

Randy Blanco, PRC administrator, said the number of assisted patients covered the month of January to April this year.

“With this assistance, we released at least 288 units of blood bags worth more than P500,000,” he said.

Blanco also thanked Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla for providing financial assistance for the implementation of the BSP. The BSP encourages regular blood donation through Novo Vizcayanos from all walks of life.

This is being advocated by the PRC in various schools, local government units, national government agencies and Civil Society Organizations.

“We seek to continue this collaboration to alleviate human suffering and help save lives especially for the vulnerable and poor sectors,” Blanco said. Ben Moses Ebreo

Life

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

fashion and beauty

Elijah crepe layered dress

wEdnESday, junE 6, 2018

Claire twill draped dress

C1

Nyx viscose dress

Resort power dressing L

ayeRed, slip-on, strappy, and maxi dresses with powerful tailoring and streamlined design reflect dressy resort wear that can fluidly shift into work wear. These transitional pieces comprise the capsule 13 collection of Singapore based label In Good company.

The latest collection examines the finer details of craft work and intricate handwork while maintaining the fluid drape work disNoa crepe tinct to the label. drape back dresses condress tinue to feature strongly throughout the capsule, in styles that are softly draped and fluid, or with panels that move as one walks. Fabrics within the collection outline fluidity and movement of the pieces in crepe, premium viscose, and a medium weight twill.

Surface textures abound in dresses through intricate craft techniques and hand-work: pleats, minute gathers, and texture handwork all create new volumes and visual graphic interest. ontrasts in textures contrasts are brought to the sur surface, where a stretch cotton with a crisp papery feel sits alongside waxed cotton jersey, summer linens, and a new lightweight tech fabric.

Go from boardroom to bar in Sagaino crepe paneled dress that features a geometrical panel that falls over one shoulder and is balanced by a single strap on one side. This relaxed fit crepe dress comes in at the waist with a selftie sash. lijah crepe layered dress elijah is designed with clean linear lines and has a geometrical panel hanging down the front. This slip-on crepe dress that can take you from

day to night falls to tiered layers and has square armholes as an added graphic element.

Taking resort dressing up a notch is the nyx viscose maxi dress. It is a dipped neckline held up by fine shoulder straps extending into hanging ties on the back. It features a contrast color slip layer that peeks out as a side and V-back detail.

The claire twill draped dress is an update on the classic wrap shirt dress with its neat overlapping lapels, relaxed proportions, split sides, extended cap sleeves, and neat finishing all around. an under sash brings in one side of the dress into a drape on the waist, and on the back.

For a take on modern sun dress, the Vera crepe dress is cut in a relaxed fit with IG IGc’s signature shoestring straps and eye-catching side splits.

It has draped folds that fan out from a V-neck V-neckline. Meanwhile, the back reveals a graphic X-back and angular panels, highlighted by contrast top-stitching all around.

The n noa crepe drape back dress is an elevated shift dress with a scoop neckline, short sleeves, and clean finishing.

This slip-on style is made from fluid crepe in a relaxed fit and has tiered draped panel on the back, crafted from light georgette that moves with every step.

Finally, the ceres cupro bi-fabric strappy dress is made for luxe dress dressing as it is crafted using luxe cupro and designed with a graphic V-back that is suspended by self bound shoestrings se secured by metallic hardware. It has deep side slits and is lined with a contrasting georgette un underlay.

In Good C o m p a n y’s outlet in the Philippines is located at L2, The SM Store Makati.

Brazilian footwear brand Melissa launches #MeInMelissa, a campaign that features women who freely express themselves and excel in their chose careers. The 2018 #MeInMelissa Style Mavens include (from left) Rina Santos, Shaira Luna, Janeena Chan, Thea de Rivera, and Tessie Singson

Melissa launches first local campaign in PH

IconIc Brazilian footwear label Melissa, known for its fruity smelling jelly shoes, launches for the first time its local campaign in the Philippines, 11 years since it was introduced here

by Istila companhia Inc. This year, the brand seeks to strengthen its presence in the Philippine market through its #MeInMelissa campaign.

“The campaign was inspired by current and past collections where Melissa promoted self-expression through different styles,” shares marketing manager Hazel Imperial-Tan. The online campaign will showcase a number of prominent Style Mavens who will highlight the brand’s latest collection, open Vibes, which invites Filipinas to portray themselves as confident women.

Imperial-Tan said they tapped individuals with unique personalities for the brand’s first local campaign. “our Style Mavens are women who are not only good at expressing them-

selves through their personal fashion style, but have also excelled in their chosen fields by having incredible careers!” enthused Imperial-Tan. The 2018 #MeInMelissa Style Mavens consist of photographer Shaira Luna, fashion bloggers Rina Santos and Tessie Singson, entrepreneur Thea de Rivera, and host Janeena chan.

With the #MeInMelissa open Vibes campaign, Melissa seeks to empower women through its line of fashion-forward, sustainable, and playful collection of shoes that can seamlessly take any woman through any occasion—whether it’s the office, on-the-go, or a party.

“It’s about a new consciousness and mindfulness—attention to the self and the outside world that is more personal,” explained assistant brand manager Bridgette Jose. “Styles from this collection are more laid-back and carefree, as if inviting one to be true to herself.”

Life

C2

wednesday, june 6, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Beauty under the sun The harsh heat of the sun this time of the year means we’ll have to swap some staples for more summer-appropriate beauty options. here are sun and sea friendly beauty products to add to your summer stash.

Long-wearing brow makeup

Carousell Philippines and Fashion Revolution staged Treasure Market, a pre-loved clothing bazaar that highlighted fashion sustainability.

Achieve “on fleek” eyebrows that won’t easily melt under the sun with Full Brow, an Australian makeup label. Its Brow Powder comes in an ultra creamy formula that adds volume to brows while nourishing them with vitamin e.

Apply the Brow Wax to make your brows stay put all day long.

Pre-loved movement for sustainable fashion

By Mae Gianina C. Pascual

“O

Ne man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This holds true for Monica Vivar, fashion stylist and founder of Denuo, an eco-conscious lifestyle brand that aims to repurpose and reclaim pre-loved clothing.

Vivar reckons that fashion has become disposable, with 80 percent of post purchase going to waste. She also thinks that women lose the power of self-expression by changing fashion pieces frequently. Vivar’s way of selfexpression and empowering women has encouraged her to meld her style with sustainability; she believes in greater value of pre-loved and vintage items.

According to a survey conducted by Carousell Philippines, 67 percent of 860 Filipino females, buy a new piece of clothing every month. Their top three reasons for purchasing are: “I saw it on sale”, “For retail therapy”, and “For special occasion.”

The classified marketplace also found that more than 50 percent of Filipino women have at least 20 pieces of underused clothing in their closets. Fifty two percent of the respondents said they sell them away, 21 percent give it to a close friend, and 16 percent leave it in their closets.

“Overconsumption is both a global and Filipino problem,” said Sophia Calugay, Fashion Revolution’s country director in the Philippines. “In 2017, 65 percent of Filipino adults have thrown clothes away.”

Fashion Revolution is a global movement that educates consumers on the

Swim-proof eye shadow

Popular for its wide range of makeup products that can be worn even underwater, Cargo Cosmetics highlights the limited edition havana Nights eye shadow palette composed of a versatile mix of neutral and pop shades. The 12-shadow palette is laid out in three quads and six duos, perfectly coordinated for easily achievable day-to-night looks.

Jan Aranilla and Kat De Jesus were among the influencers who participated in Treasure Market

impact of their clothing purchases, raises awareness of the fashion industry’s most pressing issues, advocates for positive change, and celebrates those who create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion.

To change the way Filipinos consume commodities, Carousell Philippines and Fashion Revolution hosted Treasure Market, the first pre-loved bazaar for sustainability. The curated bazaar featured booths of Tricia Gosingtian, Janina Manipol, Raiza Contawi, and more.

“People used to associate pre-loved clothing with messy piles of clothes from the local ukay-ukays. however, this perception is changing. Buying pre-loved (clothing) is not only eco-conscious but also a way to create a unique style,” said Carousell Philippines mar-

keting manager Marita Galvez.

She added, “It’s no surprise that Women’s Fashion is the most popular category on the Carousell marketplace with 350,000 listings, out of which 70 percent is pre-loved.”

In fact, the “pre-loved” trend is gaining traction in the Philippines, especially among the fashion-conscious crowd.

Majority or 76 percent said they are proud to wear pre-loved clothing. The top three reasons? It helps them save money, it makes their styles unique, and they enjoy the thrill of second-hand shopping.

Vivar agrees, saying that valuing and taking care of what people have in their closets and learning to experiment and combine pieces can help reinvent one’s fashion style.

Versatile lip moisturizer

Best known for its outstanding blend of pawpaw fruit, aloe vera, and olive oil ingredients, Dr. Pawpaw is an all-in-one solution to perfectly moisturized lips. It also comes in Tinted Ultimate Red that adds a touch of color onto the lips and cheeks. Aside from the balm, the brand also has the It Does It All 7-in-1 formula, a multi-purpose hair care cream that provides heat protection, detangles, and reduces frizz and split ends.

The Force is strong in these shoes WAlk in Darth Vader or R2D2 or Storm Trooper as Bata heritage launches its limited edition Star Wars capsule collection featuring iconic designs on Bata Bullets and Bata Tennis.

The Bullets, which was originally created in 1964 and relaunched in 2016, come in high-top top versions in black or white canvas, with red or blue Star Wars rubber patch on the side and matching piping around the shoe as well as top eyelet. The iconic light saber from the movie is featured at the back of the sneaker, which is lined with an allover pattern that is the combination of the light Side and Dark Side of the Force symbols.

The Tennis, which has been manufactured since 1936 in India for school children to wear for their Physical education classes, has been revamped with tricolored graphics of Darth Vader, R2D2, and Storm Trooper. Both Vader and Trooper’s drawings are available in white, black, and gray, while R2D2 comes in a fresh white, blue, and gray combination.

“The retro feel of the original Star Wars by George lucas was the starting point of the collaboration, as it echoes the legacy of Bata, a company started in 1894 that still produces its iconic styles today,” says Charles Pignal, Bata Group heritage director.

This limited edition collection is available at the Bata store in SM Megamall.

Summer hair products

Get that enviable sexy, windswept natural waves with the help of Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturing Spray that harnesses that power of sea salt and kelp-infused formula. For nights out, the Clean Freak Dry Shampoo cleans hair sans the water. While the Beat the heat Thermal Styling Spray manages to solve all your dry hair problems, while giving you the hold you need to style your hair.

Bata Philippines country manager Rabi Hasnabi with Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers

Sun care essentials

For people who live under the sun, Sun Bum offers sun care products, including sunscreen, hair care, and lip balm, that are reef-friendly.

Bata Tennis with Darth Vader design

Bata Bullets in black and white

Enjoy the season of sun-kissed day trips and balmy nights with the help of these products available on the web at beautybar.com.ph.

Entertainment Celebrating the richness of Filipino culture at Shang CATCH the performances by Jed Madela, Nonoy Zuñiga, the AMP Band, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, and Ben & Ben at Shangri-La Plaza as the lifestyle destination celebrates Pinoy cultural heritage this Philippine independence month of June.

On June 9, catch a special performance by award-winning artist Jed Madela, the first Filipino to win at the World Championships of Performing Arts. Be at the Grand Atrium at 7:00 p.m. to hear this soulful balladeer sing his greatest hits.

Know more about the beginnings of Philippine music and dance as the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group takes center stage on June 10, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Atrium. Founded in 1972, this dance company is the leading advocate for presenting Philippine dance closest to its original form and continues to champion the rituals of more than 50 ethnolinguistic groups through their craft.

Celebrate Independence Day at the Shang with the internationally acclaimed Mandaluyong Children’s Choir and a rondalla ensemble, which uses instruments like the bandurria, laud, octavina, guitar, and double bass to bring a unique spin on Filipino folk classics and contemporary tunes. Don’t miss their performance on June 12 at the Grand Atrium.

Enjoy classic OPM as renowned musician Nonoy Zuñiga and the internationally acclaimed AMP Band rhythm section with musical director Mel Villena perform beloved Filipino songs on June 17, 7:00 p.m. at the East Atrium.

Finally, rising indie-folk band Ben & Ben cap the month on June 24, 7:00 p.m. with their chart-topping songs that feature a unique fusion of pop and folk at the Grand Atrium.

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

Rising indie-folk band Ben & Ben

Simply...

From C4

Respeto), Aga Muhlach (Best Actor nominee for Seven Sundays), Mikhail Red (Best Director nominee for Birdshot, Mycko David (nominee for Cinematography for Birdshot), Best Actress nominee for Birdshot Mary Joy Apostol, and Best Supporting Actor nominee for Birdshot Arnold Reyes.

Best Supporting Actor nominee for Smaller and Smaller Circles Sid Lucero made it to the ceremonies. He might have been late, but at least, he made his presence felt, better than the rest who never showed up. But I understand if they had work or out of the country.

This industry, unlike others around us, doesn’t have a culture of unity of togetherness, and events like this, for most of them don’t mean anything. As I told Liza Diño-Seguer-

Johansson on ‘no place to hide,’ Time’s Up and music “T

HERE’S really no place to hide.” So says Scarlett Johansson, movie maven, Avengers heroine and millionaire Hollywood actress as she contemplates the Time’s Up revolution following the demise of Harvey Weinstein.

“It’s quite shocking to see the results of that. It’s all very new.”

Aged 33 and best known for her roles in Lost in Translation, The Avengers and three Woody Allen films, she has already been in the film industry more than two decades and reportedly commands equivalent pay with male co-stars.

She has also modeled and is known for her activism, advocating for Planned Parenthood, addressing the 2017 Women’s March and appearing at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, calling for Barack Obama’s re-election.

Johansson is also a mother and when not doing everything else, she’s singing about the aftermath of a failed relationship in her latest collaboration with singer-songwriter Pete Yorn. Their EP, Apart, came out on Friday.

“It’s been really impressive,” she says, smart casual in a pair of high-waisted pale denim jeans and cream pussy-bow blouse, cheek bones to die for, as she contemplates the repercussions of Weinstein’s fall from grace, the sexual harassment watershed of #MeToo and the creation of the Time’s Up movement.

“I’ve been in the film industry for such a long time that I’m like these conversations are really important and they’re revolutionary.”

Born and raised in New York, Johansson is one of those stars who can

seemingly turn her hand at anything. A child actress who delivered critically acclaimed performances, her breakthrough role as an adult was in Lost in Translation.

She’s done Broadway. Now she’s boxoffice gold, starring in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, such as Iron Man 2 and The Avengers franchise -- a stand-alone project for her Black Widow character in the works.

ra, I’m not going give up even if I am already retired. I’d still push for the industry to get together as a family and not as competitors and learn to celebrate achievements in film together without feeling envious or ill will among those who are given the recognition, instead celebrate and be happy for their colleagues. *** The best cooks in the 20 barangays of Las Piñas City got together to showcase their best dishes and desserts for the annual cooking competition that kicked off the festivities for the city’s 2018 Food Festival.

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar welcomed the participants as she lauded them for going the extra mile in using modern techniques to make original and sumptuous culinary creations that display the Filipinos’ imaginative minds and innovative skills.

“Filipinos are popular for their ingenuity.

We are known for our ability to replicate foreign dishes and changing their tastes by introducing local ingredients to give them

the unique flavors of the Philippine islands.

Through this cooking competition, residents of Las Piñas City become gastronomic witnesses to the creativity of our local cooking experts,” said Villar, director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG).

The senator said the cooking competition is a friendly contest that seeks to display not only the culinary skills of Las Piñas’ top 20 cooks, but likewise showcase innovative uses of local food resources. ‘Families can learn new ways on how to transform their regular dishes to something special and unique,’ she added.

The inter-barangay cooking showdown was held at the Villar SIPAG square in C5 Extension Road, Pulang Lupa Uno in Las Piñas City. The experts were asked to prepare a dish/viand cooked Pinoy-style using native ingredients, and a dessert that would impress and delight the sweet tooth and sugary buds of Filipinos.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

ACROSS 1 Distorts, as data 6 Army status 10 Sicilian landmark 14 Of the bishop of Rome 15 Pharaoh’s god 16 Uris or Spinks 17 City near Syracuse 18 November word 19 Produced offspring 20 Pay 22 Greasy 23 Lion’s pride 24 By what means 26 Mysteries 30 Popular seafood 34 Blanched 35 Romantic island 36 Water, in Montreal 37 “Good heavens!”

38 Vast multitude 40 Glasgow girl 41 Pacino and Hirt 42 Tragic monarch 43 Surprise win 44 Admire 46 Compactly 48 Adherent 49 Take hastily 50 Dark purple fruit 53 Destroy com-

pletely 59 Feline response 60 Not fake 61 Of ships 62 Waugh or Baldwin 63 NBA’s — Monroe 64 Stops dating 65 Ponder 66 Club fee 67 Become aware of DOWN 1 Inducement 2 Winslet or Capshaw 3 Monumental 4 Texas town 5 Closed violently 6 Crow cousins 7 Make amends 8 Butterfly catchers 9 Desk feature 10 Nudges 11 Garr of “Mr. Mom” 12 Carol 13 Griffith or Devine 21 Overly glib 25 Kimono sash 26 Jungle weapon 27 Cowboy rival 28 — action suit 29 Embarrassed

30 Aberdeen boy 31 Pick on 32 Van Gogh’s stand 33 Like an old car 35 Shivery comment 38 Behaved like a bully 39 Feedbag tidbit 40 DJ’s albums 42 Guitarist — Paul 43 Relaxes 45 Make holes in 46 Bores 47 Have a hot dog

49 Stare angrily 50 Unwanted email 51 Doozy 52 Sourdough strikes 54 Boyfriend 55 Hard to come by 56 English river 57 Phone bugs 58 “So what — is new?”

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

tient and progressive and persistent and you keep moving forward,” she tells AFP during a recent interview with Yorn to promote Apart.

“Certainly in the film industry, I think there’s conversations that are being had today about projects and the importance of diversity,” she says. “Ten years ago, nobody was talking about this stuff.”

“Every once in a while you’d hear someone say, ‘oh we should bring a female voice onto this project’ and you were like, ‘what the hell does that mean?’

“That was may be somebody’s idea to bring a woman into the writer’s room, or whatever. But now the doors are blown wide open,” she adds.

The EP is five indie tracks focused on the aftermath of a failed relationship —“where all the juicy stuff is,” in the words of Yorn. It comes out on Capitol Records a decade after their first album, Break Up, in 2009.

“In ‘Iguana Bird,’ the chorus is ‘la-lala-love-you’ and I remember thinking ‘oh wow, Scarlett would sound so pretty on that’ and she came in and she did, so that was like a dream come true,” he says.

The EP was recorded in downtown Los Angeles, with Johansson laying down her vocals in one afternoon, squeezed around her crazy schedule. AFP Scarlett Johansson collaborates with musician Pete Yorn following 'Break Up,' their 2009 album of duets.

Doors blown open Then there are her Ivanka Trump parodies on Saturday Night Live.

To those who feel progress isn’t coming quickly enough, she counsels patience.

“It’s a long process and you have to keep your eye on the prize, and you have to b e pa-

Barangay Talon 2 made the biggest impact and brought home P20,000 and a trophy for bagging the grand prize. Its entry Inadobong Lapu-Lapu sa Mantikilya and Cala-Squash Soup exploded the winning flavors in the judges’ mouths.

Barangay Pilar won the 1st Runner-Up trophy and P15,000 cash prize for its LapuLapu Carmalized Onion and Mixed Vegetable Sour Soup. On the other hand, Barangay Talon 3 won P10,000 and a trophy as the 2nd Runner-Up for its Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce and Potato Soup in Sampaloc Broth.

The cooking competition entries were judged according to the following criteria: Overall impact and plating (30 percent); Taste (30 percent); Creativity and visual appeal (15 percent); Technique used (15 percent); and Hygiene and sanitation (10 percent).

Aside from the cooking competition, the 5th Las Piñas Food Festival also showcased a food exhibit with 40 exhibitors from Las

Pinas City, other cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region, and other nearby regions and provinces. On display in the exhibits were native delicacies and local products for sampling and selling, fresh or ready to eat food products, processed foods, snacks and beverages, as well as fresh garden or farm produce.

Also during the annual event, winners of the Villar SIPAG Urban Gardening Competition were also announced. The winners were the BF International/CAA for the Inter-Barangay category, the Las Pinas East National High School for the Inter-School category, and the Phase 3 West Talon 2 for the Inter-Homeowners Associations category. Each category winner received a trophy and a cash prize of P50, 000 each.

For this year’s event festivities, the Villar SIPAG partnered with Silver Swan, Apicius, ELBA, Mushroomburger, Jollibee and Golden Oats to ensure the success of the gathering.

Entertainment

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

C4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

ISAH V. RED

RHIAN RAMOS

hosts SPEEd’s Eddys nominations night GORGEOUS Kapuso star Rhian Ramos hosted last Sunday night’s Nominees Night of the Eddys 2018 at Valencia Events Place in Quezon City.

Ramos astonished members of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors for her punctuality. She arrived hours before the program started and we never heard a syllable of complaint from her.

Thanks, Ronnie and Ida Henares, Angel Javier Cruz and Marian Antonio (who came to the event) for sharing Rhian with members of SPEEd on this momentous occasion.

Rhian was indeed the perfect host for the night of celebrating the outstanding achievements in films with the nominees for the Eddys 2018 that will be held on the first week of July at the Theatre Solaire.

Rhian stars in the Cannes-screened action film The Trigonal (by Vincent Soberano), and is shooting another action picture with Jolo Revilla titled 72 Hours.

In last year’s Eddys, she was a Best Actress nominee along with Vilma Santos who won the prize, but Rhian, like a real pro attended the ceremonies at the Kia Theatre. She was very proud to share the experience with this year’s nominees that graced the Nominees’ Night.

The early birds last Sunday were Dido dela Paz (nominated for Best Supporting Actor for

Continued on C3

Actress and TV host Rhian Ramos

UK 's BRIGHTEST

F

OLLOWING her In The Mix performance in August last year, International pop singersongwriter Dua Lipa will be returning to Manila in September for a solo concert.

Live Nation and MMI Live announced that the 22-year-old artist is bringing her smash hits to her much anticipated tour on Sept. 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Born in London to Albanian parents from Kosovo, Dua Lipa is popularly known for her hits like “Hotter Than Hell”, “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)”, “Scared to Be Lonely”, “New Rules”, “Be the One,” and “IDGAF.” The artist named New Musical Express (NME) Best New Artist and MTV EMA Best New Act, attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School until she was 11, when she and her family moved back to Kosovo. Encouraged by her teacher, Lipa convinced her parents to let her move back to London when she was 15 to follow her aspirations to become a singer.

She recorded covers and posted them on social media, in hope to find a way into the music business when she was noticed by a modeling agency, which secured her an audition for a commercial for The X Factor, attracting the attention of Lana Del Rey’s management team, who eventually signed her.

Lipa’s strong presence immediately separates her from many emerging pop acts. But it’s her singles that have rapidly established her as a rising star. Her debut single, “New Love,” was followed up with the soulful “Be the One” that reached the Top 10 in a dozen European territories.

Longlisted for the prestigious BBC Sound of 2016, Dua Lipa released “Hotter Than Hell” a n d

POP STAR

to return to Manila

Albanian-British model and singer Dua Lipa is returning to Manila in September for a solo show at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” in 2016, hitting Top 20 in the UK, and climbed into Billboard’s Top 25 in the US respectively.

In 2017, she earned the distinction of having three simultaneously charting singles in the UK Top 15 with “Be the One,” “Scared to Be Lonely” with Martin Garrix, and “No Lie” with Sean Paul. Later on, scored her first UK No.1 single “New Rules,” the single also went on to become No.1 in several other European countries and landed No. 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

With over 3 million daily streams, Lipa is listed among Top 10 artists on Spotify and has already accumulated 3 billion total streams across platforms. Her wins at NME Awards and MTV EMA further strengthened the 22-year-old’s position as the brightest star in pop.

Now, with the release of her selftitled debut album Dua Lipa, she reveals the full range of her ambitions.

While recording her album in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London, Lipa was rapidly learning the fearlessness and confidence necessary to write great songs. The songs on Dua Lipa announce the arrival of a new force in pop—irresistible on the dance floor, thoughtful under closer inspection, constantly discovering creative possibilities.

Tickets to her Manila show will go on sale starting June 18 at 10:00 a.m. via SM Tickets outlets nationwide or at www. smtickets.com.

KOREAN VIXEN. Korean singer and

Sistar's former member Hyolyn is coming to Manila as a performer at the ToyCon 2018 + Pop Life FanX at the SMX Convention Center this weekend.

HYOLYN, KISSBEE

lead stars

at Toycon 2018 FILIPINO fans of neighboring Asian pop scenes are in for a big treat as South Korean singer-songwriter Hyolyn and Japanese pop idol group KissBee will be performing and do a fan meet-and-greet at the 2018 Toycon Poplife FanXperience scheduled this weekend, June 8 to10, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Hyolyn, currently pursuing a solo music career, is best known as the former leader and member of popular and award-winning K-pop girl group Sistar.

KissBee, on the other hand, has been active in the Japanese pop scene since 2014, and will perform songs from their album Pop Honeycomb released in May. Cholo Mallillin, event marketing head for Toycon PH, said, “What we want to give Toycon fans every year is a sense of belonging with various fan communities.

We bring in guests and experiences that bring fans back to why they collect toys, cosplay, read comics, or rewatch their favorite TV series or movies in the first place.”

A sorceress, two Power Rangers, a Peter Pan Fire Lord, a lycan, and a legendary comic book creator are also coming to the Philippine Toycon widely regarded as Asia’s longestrunning culture convention for toys, collectibles, and various pop culture fandoms.

Leading the pack is comic book industry Hall of Famer Neal Adams, whose reinvention of Batman’s look to the blueand-gray color scheme highlights his work and influence during the 1960s and 1970s.

Kelly Hu, popular for playing Sorceress Cassandra in The Scorpion King and as the villain Lady Deathstrike in X-Men 2, also joins the affair.

As if the line-up of stars is not enough, Filipino-American actor Dante Basco will finally meet his kababayan fans at the event. He played Peter Pan’s sidekick Rufio in the 1991 movie Hook alongside the late Robin Williams.

Rounding up the list are Kevin Grevioux, best known for his role as the lycan Raze who fought against vampires in the Underworld film series, and Power Rangers actors Jason David Frank and Michael Copon.

J-Pop idol group KissBee

First lakorn in the Philippines GMA leads May numbers game—AGB Nielsen

HITS PRIMETIME

AS PART of its 15th anniversary celebration, GMA The Heart of Asia introduces ‘Lakorn’ on Philippine TV, the Thailand counterpart to Filipino teleseryes.

With the network’s continued search for different contents from all around the world, they are bringing a new culture on local TV. GMA First Vice President for Program Management Joey R. Abacan is driven to deliver content that does not limit the viewers’ entertainment.

“This is why we are called the Heart of Asia. We believe that the viewing preference of our audience is not only limited to the local setting, so we want to bring them the world. Now, ang gusto nga namin, ‘di lang tayo makilala as the Heart of Asia but hopefully, as the Heart of the World,” Abacan said in a statement.

The GMA executive also believes in the power of You’re My Destiny as a perfect vehicle to introduce Lakorn.

“It has the elements of drama, love, laughter and entertainment that is the trademark of what our viewers love to watch,” Abacan explained.

As the first Lakorn on Philippine TV, You’re My Destiny will feature the intertwined lives of Paolo (Wisetkaew Sukrit), an heir to a big consumer company; Martina (Esther Supreeleela), a law firm clerk who is usually taken advantage of at work; Cathy (Wecks Lan-

'You’re My Destiny' starring Wisetkaew Sukrit and Esther Supreeleela is an adaptation of a popular K-Drama.

lalin), Paolo’s ballerina girlfriend; and Rafa (Tre Porapat Srikajorn), an orphan who worked hard to become famous and find his long lost sister.

Martina and Paolo find themselves in a compromising situation after a blurry night, and months later they find out that she is pregnant. With the pressure of producing an heir, will Paolo turn his back on Cathy and answer to his responsibility as a father? Meanwhile Martina also meets Rafa, and they become each other’s confidante. Will this newfound friendship help their personal struggles?

Witness the representation of Thai culture in You’re My Destiny after Inday Will Always Love You on GMA Telebabad.

GMA Network’s ratings success continued well in May based on the latest data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For the full month of May (with May 27 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA remained as the viewers’ preferred channel after posting a total day people audience share average of 39.8 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABSCBN’s 38.3 percent.

The Network managed to top NUTAM’s morning block with 35.9 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN’s 33.2 percent.

GMA also led in the afternoon block with 42.1 percent; ahead of competition’s 38.8 percent.

GMA likewise ruled across all day parts in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

The Kapuso Network again tallied a higher share point lead in Urban Luzon with an average total day people audience share of 44.4 percent as against ABSCBN’s 33.0 percent.

Similarly in Mega Ma-

nila (with official data from May 1 to 26), GMA continued its dominance with an average total day people audience share of 45.8 percent versus rival network’s 30.4 percent.

GMA maintained its stronghold in NUTAM’s list of top-rating programs with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho still reigning as the most watched Kapuso show for the month of May and was followed

by Kambal, Karibal.

Newly-launched Kapuso primetime series Inday Will Always Love You immediately entered the list as the third top-rating program from GMA. It was followed by consistent ratings

drivers Magpakailanman, Pepito Manaloto, The One That Got Away, The Cure, 24 Oras, Lip Sync Battle Philippines, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, and 24 Oras Weekend. Completing the list were The Stepdaughters, Contessa, Eat Bulaga, Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka, Bubble Gang, and Wowowin.

Kapuso programs also took the lion’s share in the Urban Luzon and Mega Manila lists, claiming 21 spots out of the top 30 shows in both areas.

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media.

With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.

In 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, 2 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency); and 1 advertiser.

From left: Juancho Trivino, Barbie Forteza, and Derrick Monasterio, stars of the top rating romcom, 'Inday Will Always Love You.'