Manila Standard - 2018 August 11 - Saturday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com

Watch for

Manila Standard’s

Special Report on the Economy August 15, 2018

VOL. XXXII • NO. 177 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

CORDIAL BUT TENSE.

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a five-hour meeting Thursday of the warring factions of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan at the bayside Diamond Hotel to resolve the bitter differences between the groups fighting for recognition.

Presidential Photo

Among Rody’s partymates on the ‘real’ PDP-Laban

Among President’s men over federalism

P

By Julito R. Rada

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called on the members of the PDP-Laban to resolve their differences through dialogue as he sought to stop the infighting within the ruling party.

In a meeting that lasted five hours on Thursday night, Duterte called for a party caucus to unify the party’s warring factions, but the meeting with the President apparently did not resolve the issues between them.

“The President told them to talk among themselves and meet again in September. If they really can’t resolve their differences then it’s better to part ways,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told dzRH radio on Friday.

New SC justice: Jose C. Reyes Jr.

By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes Jr. as new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, vice Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. who reached his mandatory retirement age of 70 last August 8.

Reyes will take his oath on Monday, August 13, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said in a text message to reporters.

“For now, [the President] said all the people in the party should talk,” Roque added.

Even the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, offered the help of her regional party Hugpong sa Pagbabago to patch up the ruling party, even as the group said it had no plans to go national.

“HNP respects the history, experience, and the wisdom of the PDP Laban Party,” Sara’s party said in a statement.

“HNP finds it truly unfortunate that PDP Laban is embroiled in internal problem and hopes that competing party members resolve their differences. If there is anything that HNP can do to help PDP Laban, our group is ready to assist them,” it added.

The President’s directive “means we have to unite,” PDPLaban president Koko Pimentel told reporters on Thursday.

“If there is an issue, publicly rebelling is not the way to do it.

If there’s a problem, let us talk.”

But Pimentel criticized the elected president of what he

‘‘

Next page

ON COURSE.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic advisers appear Friday before the Senate Finance Committee to inform it of what it called the administration’s breaking fiscal performance.

Lino Santos

Next page

Solons divided over budget cuts, set pow-wow

By Maricel V Cruz

That’s a win at least. At least the conviction makes it worth its time.

—Cultural activist Carlos Celdran, on serving up to one year in jail for staging a one-man “Damaso” protest inside the Manila Cathedral in 2010.

Next page

WEATHER TROPICAL Storm “Karding” has maintained its strength while moving generally northwestward Friday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, a low pressure area west of the country and outside the Philippine

Next page

LAWMAKERS on Friday stressed the need to put up safety nets for rice farmers if the government wants to allow the private sector to import rice as a way of reducing inflation, and warned that budget

Peter Lim indicted for drug trafficking

By Rey E. Requejo THE Justice department has recommended the indictment of Cebu-based businessman Peter Go Lim for allegedly conspiring to trade in illegal drugs with self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa and several other people.

The agency made the statement even as Espinosa’s lawyer on Friday insisted there was no proof linking his client to the drugs seized from the house of his father Rolando, the former mayor of Albuera, Leyte, who was slain in 2016.

During trial at the Manila Regional Trial Next page

PH forces occupy island near Malaysia BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—Government forces have occupied an island near the border with Malaysia to prevent it from being exploited as safe haven and staging point of piracy and kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, said they established a camp in Panguan island in Sibutu town to drive away ASG bandits.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Friday the government’s economic managers are not against federalism, but said they had a responsibility to point out ambiguous or unclear provisions in the draft federal charter, especially as they

could result in “dire, irreversible economic consequences.”

Among the questions that need to be threshed out, he said, were the allocation of expenditures for the proposed federal government and its federated regions.

“We welcome a discussion on the draft so that it is clear and unambiguous. We do not want the revenue assignment and the expenditure

“We conducted beach-landing operations and established a camp in Panguan,” Parcon said in an interview Thursday.

Locally known as Malamanok, Sibutu was created out of Sitangkai by virtue of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 197, which was subsequently ratified in a plebiscite held on Oct. 21, 2006.

Parcon said the ASG bandits had used Next page

CONTINUING DOSSIERS.

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino (far right) inspects Friday four customized cylindrical steel cases used to transport illegal drugs in the country, as Customs director Yogi Filemon Ruiz (inset) shows smuggled cigarettes with fake tax stamps. Norman Cruz

cuts could hurt the country’s electrification program and imperil the free college tuition law.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said Friday that help for farmers could come by way of projects led by the Depart-

ment of Agriculture, such as irrigation systems.

He said this would entail allocating more funds to the Agriculture department in the 2019 national budget, after its budget was cut from P61 billion in 2018 to P55.9 billion.

Next page

Shabu worth P7b slips past Customs

By Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo FOUR container vans of shabu in Cavite worth P7 billion have been brought to the streets, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Friday, in yet another big smuggling case that has slipped past the authorities’ hands.

The PDEA made the statement even as the Bureau of Customs said Friday more than P50 million worth of smuggled goods including fake Adidas, Nike and other branded shoes, watches and apparel had been destroyed in an accredited condemnation facility in Laguna.

Next page

News

A2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senators propose inflation cures

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Francis Pangilinan on Friday said that importing rice and lowering tariffs are short-term solutions to high prices, while increasing farmers’ income is the more effective way in the long term.

“When the rice supply is mismanaged, rice prices rise, becoming inflationary, and pulling up the prices of all other agriculture products and other basic commodities,” said the former presidential adviser on food security and agricultural modernization.

Pangilinan, also president of the Liberal Party, said focusing on farmers’ incomes

Russia to loan PH fund for submarine, says Defense chief

By Francisco Tuyay DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has revealed the willingness of Russia to provide the Philippine government “soft loans” to acquire a first-ever submarine in the Philippine Navy inventory.

The acquisition of a specialized water craft of the Philippine Navy would boost its naval capability and strengthen the country’s territorial security, he said.

Lorenzana said Russia is willing to sell to the Philippines its Kilo-class submarine, which if finalized would take four years—outside the term of President Rodrigo Duterte—to be delivered.

“Maybe within the year, maybe within the next 12 months. Maybe we could finalize this. If this is approved, it will take them four years to make it,” Lorenzana said.

Presently, the government has no budget to support the submarine project, but Lorenzana is optimistic for Russia’s soft loan.

The Russian Kilo-class submarine can be armed with variety of torpedoes, missiles, and naval chargers. It has an engine displacement of 2,350 tons, a length of 73.8 meters and a cruising speeds up to 17 to 20 knots and range of about 6,000 to 7,500 nautical miles.

However, Lorenzana said they are still looking at other prospective submarine suppliers, including those from Europe and France.

The country plans to acquire at least three submarines that Lorenzana said intends for its security in order for the military to enhance its capability, particularly in securing territorial sovereignty.

He said neighbors like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore have submarines in their military inventory, and “it is only us who does not have it.”

Shabu...

From A1

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said they destroyed 500,000 pieces of fake sandals and rubber shoes, Tshirts, long-sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, slippers and children’s shoes.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said they raided a warehouse at the CRS Subdivision in F. Reyes village, General Mariano Alvarez, after receiving information from its caretaker about the presence of four magnetic lifting equipment containing the illegal drugs.

“Sad to say, the illegal drugs with an estimated value of P7 billion were no longer there and made their way to the streets,” Aquino said.

He said they had already identified at least 19 suspects, including 11 Chinese nationals, who could have been involved in the transshipment of the drugs to the Philippines through the Port of Manila.

“We want to know why such a huge volume of drugs came in and hit the streets. What really happened at the port?” Aquino said. “[Only] the Bureau of Customs could answer that. A while ago, I called up [Customs] Commissioner Isidro Lapeña [to inform him about it],” Aquino said.

“Outright, he will relieve the collector at the Manila International Container Terminal.”

Based on the dossiers at Customs, the four consigned containers of the magnetic lifters came from Taiwan, Aquino said.

“The [drug] trade is being operated by the Chinese Triad or the Golden Triangle international syndicate,” he said.

The empty magnetic lifters found in Cavite were similar to the P4.3-billion shipment of 500 kilograms of shabu confiscated on Aug. 7 at the MICT. “I have a gut feel that a big volume of shabu had slipped,” Aquino said.

“The syndicates have become more creative and creative. They have been one step ahead of us now. We are studying their movement [carefully] so they could not get away from us. We must be the one to be one step ahead.”

Aquino said there were corrupt officials inside Customs.

also addresses poverty and hunger.

“When rice prices go up, the result is hunger. Especially for impoverished Filipinos, 70 percent of their expenses are spent on food. Of the 70 percent, 30 percent is spent on rice. So when rice prices increase, they don’t eat three square meals a day,” he said.

Pangilinan was reacting to the rice tariffication bill in Congress, which seeks to remove the prescribed import ceiling on rice and to open the market to private traders.

Initially, lowering the tariff can bring in cheap agricultural products, which could stave off the soaring prices of goods, Pangilinan said. However, he pointed out, the long-term solution is adequate supply and rice self-sufficiency.

“Strategically, lowering the tariffs can bring in cheap agricultural products to address inflation. But in the long run, what you really need to address is greater supply

Rody’s...

From A1

called “rogue” members of their party for “harvesting the fruits of their hard work”.

He insisted he had no plan to cling to his position, but he questioned lawyer Rogelio Garcia, the head of the PDP-Laban faction, of “reaping” what they had planted.

Garcia on Friday said they already had a post being considered for Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He told News To Go there was a proposal to nominate Arroyo as national council chairman of the ruling party.

“That’s entirely different from the position of national chairman,” Garcia said.

The infighting within the PDP-Laban intensified after the group led by Garcia elected its own set of officers during a national assembly on July 27.

Garcia claimed that Pimentel violated the party’s by-laws, while Pimentel accused Garcia’s group of being composed of “expelled rogue members.”

Shortly upon arriving at the Diamond Hotel before 7 pm, Duterte spoke separately with the leaders of both factions before calling all of them to a meeting.

Presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino described the meeting of the two groups as “cordial” and “without tension.”

Pimentel said the party resolved to meet again on Sept. 1 to settle the issues between the two factions.

“We were together in one room, but there will be another date, September 1, I think, when we will fix whatever needs to be fixed,” Pimentel said.

But he said he would only be working with the legitimate members of the party.

Macon Ramos-Araneta and Jimbo Gulle

Solons...

From A1

“There are safety nets. There is one school of thought that the projects to help farmers be advanced instead of waiting for them to be funded by income from the duties on rice to be imported,” Andaya said.

“There is merit in that proposal…. You do not set up the safety net when the person it is supposed to catch is already falling.”

But Andaya said the DA should also consider its absorptive capacity in implementing the projects to help the farmers.

Andaya said the government should not wait for earnings from rice importers, who must pay a 35- percent tariff under a new bill that would enable private companies to import the grain.

Andaya said the once passed into law, quantitative restrictions on rice imports would be lifted and permit the influx of cheap rice from abroad, hurting local farmers.

Andaya noted that tariffs from rice imports in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam were used to fund mass irrigation, warehouse and rice research.

Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles warned that the P621.68-million reduction in the budget of the Department of Energy would hurt its electrification program.

During the budget hearing on the DoE’s proposed P2.04-billion budget for 2019, Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said he is opposed to reducing the budget of the key agencies of government.

These budget reductions will hurt the delivery of services by concerned agencies such as the DoE, Nograles said The DoE proposed a P621.68 million for 2019 or 23 percent lower than its P2.65billion allocation for this year.

“It burdens me to see something like the NEA [National Electrification Administration] and the DoE getting very huge cuts, especially for us coming from the provinces,” Nograles said.

If government agencies are not given the budget they need, economic development in the countryside will be unattainable, Nograles said.

Nograles added that President Rodrigo Duterte wants complete electrification of the sitios in Mindanao before his term ends in 2022.

“Isn’t it embarrassing that Mindanao is not getting the support it needs considering that the President is from the island,” Nograles said.

Lawmakers will meet with senators next week to find ways so that the socalled “cash-based” budget system will not jeopardize the second semester implementation of the free college tuition law.

“The House leadership will talk to the Senate leaders Monday next week to discuss the cash-based budget system,” Nograles said.

Under the proposed cash-based 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget, all payouts are valid within the fiscal year and only three months the following year or until March 2020.

brought about by greater farm productivity.

You have to increase your productivity. And increasing productivity is really focusing on farmers’ incomes,” Pangilinan said.

He noted that the high prices of goods is a result of many factors, including the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and limited supply.

“Rice is not really sufficient at this time. And, rice sufficiency is, again, a function of support for your farmers to be able to yield more, produce at less cost and yielding more,” he said.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, offered several recommendations that would help the public meet the challenges of slower-than-expected growth and high inflation.

Hontiveros said administration of President Rodrigo Duterte could speed up the implementation of big infrastructure projects under its flagship Build, Build, Build

President’s...

From A1

assignment to be misunderstood, as what happened in the recent case involving the internal revenue allotment [of local government units],” Dominguez said.

At a Senate hearing earlier this week, Dominguez said the federal charter drafted by the Consultative Committee appointed

by President Rodrigo Dutere “leaves much to be desired from the fiscal point of view.”

He added that this could lead to fiscal nightmare if not sorted out properly.

These remarks and similar warnings from Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia led one Con-Com member, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, to urge the President to fire them.

But in a statement released Friday, Dominguez said such calls were not productive.

“We respect the opinion of Father Aquino, but we believe that such [an] attitude would not enrich the level of discourse on the proposed Constitution.”

Dominguez said that while the draft Charter contained provisions on the taxation powers of the federal government and the federated regions and a provision on revenue assignment in which the federated regions will be given a 50 percent share in income, excise, value added taxes and customs duties, there is no provision on expenditure assignment.

The draft Constitution also enumerated the exclusive powers of the federal government and the federated regions but was silent on the funding source for the exercise of these powers, he said.

“As we pointed out earlier, we never stated that we are against federalism. Rather, with respect to the fiscal provisions of the proposed Constitution, there are ambiguous provisions on revenue assignment and there are no provisions on expenditure assignment,” the Finance chief said. “There are, likewise, principles on revenue sharing that do not appear to be well studied.”

Citing an example, Dominguez said that although the draft constitution provided for an Equalization Fund, which shall not be less than 3 percent of the annual General Appropriations Act, it did not state whether this would be taken from the share of the federal government or the federated regions.

Moreover, the recently enacted Bangsamoro Organic Law provides for a 5 percent block grant to the new Bangsamoro region, but it is not clear from whose share this will come, Dominguez said.

He said that given these ambiguities, there was a need to engage in a healthy,

program.

“There must be ‘speed, speed, speed’ in the government’s Build, Build, Build program, even as we judiciously scrutinize the loans that were acquired for the said big-ticket infrastructure projects,” she said in a statement.

The senator added that the hiring of Filipino workers should also be a priority in the project implementation.

“With trillions of pesos worth of infrastructure projects, they can create thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” Hontiveros said.

The lawmaker also expressed support to government plans to impose tariffs on imported rice.

Echoing statements from the country’s economic managers, Hotiveros said a shift in rice policy from quantitative restrictions to tariffs, along with timely importation to boost stock inventory, would help bring down the price of rice.

level-headed discussion.

“We believe that these should be set out clearly so that they adhere to the principle that ‘funds follow function and ‘funds follow program,’ ” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said that based on the fiscal provisions of the draft federal charter, the federal government would incur a deficit of 6.7 percent, which may result in a credit rating downgrade for the Philippines, which currently enjoys an investment-grade rating.

A credit rating downgrade would lead to higher interest rates, Dominguez said.

To avoid this and maintain the current deficit target of 3 percent, Dominguez said “the federal government will have to cut its expenditure program by P560 billion.”

“This means the national government may have to lay off 95 percent of its employees, or reduce the funds for the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program by 70 percent, or a combination of both,” he added.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the concerns raised by the economic team could still be worked into the proposed federal charter, which is still subject to change.

At the same time, he said, the economic managers are expected to find solutions to these problems to make the President’s bid for federalism a reality.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero chided Aquino for asking that Dominguez and Pernia be fired for warning against problems posed by the draft federal charter.

“What do they think of themselves and the document? They did a perfect thing?”

Escudero said at the program Dobol B sa News TV. “Are they that good that they have a monopoly on intelligence such that whatever they have written may not be changed? I don’t think so,” Escudero said in Filipino.

He urged the members of the Con-Com to be open and ready to answer simple questions, which perhaps were not tackled or discussed during the deliberations on the proposed constitution, He said the document drafted by ConCom is not perfect or final, and it would defeat the purpose of information dissemination if it cannot be amended or revised.

Escudero added that the shift to a federal system of government should not be rushed.

Members of the Con-Com met Thursday after Dominguez told senators he would “absolutely” vote against their draft charter.

Edmund Tayao said they sought input from Duterte’s top economic managers from Day 1, but they would only send their top lieutenants.

Nayon board spent P1.2b, says Du30 kin THE board of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation misused around P1.2 billion in rental fees by diverting them to the government-owned corporation’s maintenance and other operating expenses, which ultimately benefitted themselves, a distant relative of President Rodrigo Duterte claimed Friday.

Maria Fema Duterte, also a board member of the foundation, said some NPF officials accepted a sponsored trip to South Korea from resort developer Landing International months before the agency awarded a $1.5-billion casino-theme park project to the Hong Kong-based firm.

This developed as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said the provisional license it issued to the HK firm’s local arm, Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp., “is precisely conditioned upon the latter’s continuing compliance with all legal requirements and existing limitations of government,” including a valid lease contract for the proposed Nayon Landing integrated resort.

“Being an agency under the Office of the President, Pagcor reaffirms its commitment and readiness to support the policies and pronouncements of the President pertaining to the country’s gaming industry,” the casino regulator said in a statement.

As regulator, Pagcor said it was “dutybound to ensure that all gaming-related regulations are adhered to, balancing the responsibility of increasing badly needed revenues for government, and safeguarding the best interests of the Filipino people.”

President Duterte sacked the entire Nayong Pilipino board this week over what he said was a “grossly disadvantageous” 70-year lease deal with Landing.

Maria Fema Duterte, whose husband is related to the Chief Executive, is part of the NPF board.

In a television interview, Maria Fema said the P1.2 billion was the advance payment of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City for its lot in the nearby Entertainment City complex, which should have been used for the development of NPF’s planned resort-casino.

“They have been doing a lot of irregularities, malversation of funds, they used it for other purposes, for maintenance or for whatever purpose,” she told ANC. Citing official records, Maria Fema said NPF officials went to South Korea on September 29, 2017 upon the invitation of Landing.

“They were on a private plane owned by Landing, which invited them to showcase their theme park in Korea,” she said.

The foundation’s officials returned to the country in October and a deal was reached on Nov. 7, but Maria Fema did not identify those who joined the sponsored trip.

Curiously, Maria Fema was the whistleblower of the lease deal entered into by the NPF with Landing Resorts for the development of the 9.57-hectare Nayon property in Parañaque City.

President Duterte sacked the foundation’s officers on Wednesday, the same day they attended the property’s splashy launch with the Hong Kong firm’s top officials in attendance.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President was fuming “like a firebreathing dragon” after reviewing the project.

Peter...

New...

Weather...

Court’s Branch 26, the prosecution’s witness, a Leyte police officer, confirmed that he did not find anything that would implicate Espinosa to the seized items.

In a resolution released on Friday, the Justice Departments panel of prosecutors said it found probable cause to indict Lim along with Espinosa, Peter Co, Marcelo Adorco, Lovely Impal and Ruel Malindangan for drug trafficking.

The department said the criminal complaint against Lim, Espinosa, Co, Adorco, Impal and Malindangan will be filed next week before the Regional Trial Court in Makati City.

The prosecutors ruled that the admission of respondent Espinosa during the legislative investigation of the Senate committees on justice and public order, together with Adorco’s positive identification of Lim as one of Kerwin’s suppliers of dangerous drugs, was enough to establish probable cause to charge them with conspiracy to trade in illegal drugs.

They rejected the defense of Lim that he was not one alias “Jaguar” as he was positively identified by both Espinosa and Adorco.

Reyes is Duterte’s fifth appointment to the 15-member bench since assuming the presidency in 2016.

Prior to his appointment in the appellate court where he served for 15 years, Reyes was a Metropolitan Trial Court judge in Pasig City and Regional Trial Court judge in Rizal.

Like Duterte, Reyes is also a graduate of law in San Beda.

Reyes penned the controversial CA resolution granting the plea of the Executive department for the immediate execution, eviction and takeover of the government in the assailed Mile Long Property owned by the Prieto-Rufino family and ordered them to pay back rentals of P1.6 billion exclusive of its legal interest.

He also issued the order against the Prieto and Rufino clan to immediately vacate their Sunvar property.

Reyes was also one of the Justices who issued the Temporary Restraining Order halting the suspension of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay.

The 67-year-old Reyes was a topnotcher in the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council submitted to the President after obtaining 7 votes from JBC members.

Area of Responsibility had developed into a tropical depression and continued to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rain to most of Luzon.

The center of “Karding” was estimated at 1,060 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes packing maximum winds of 75 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

It was moving northwest at 20 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration added.

“Karding” will not make landfall and was forecast to exit the PAR between Friday night and Saturday morning, Pagasa said.

The tropical depression west of the country would not enter PAR, but both it and “Karding” will continue to enhance the “habagat” to bring monsoon rains in Batanes, Babuyan group of islands, Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region and the western section of Central Luzon.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience scattered light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains, the bureau added. Rio N. Araja

From A1

PH...

From A1

the island as an observatory area and jumpoff point for piracy and kidnappings since it is near Mataking, an island resort in Malaysia. He said the ASG also used Panguan Island as a resting and refueling place for staging kidnappings in Malaysia or at sea.

In previous years, the ASG bandits seized more than a dozen seafarers, mostly foreigners, from cargo ships that pass near Panguan Island, Sibutu.

Lt. Senior Grade (Lt.SG) Euphraim Jayson Diciano, Bongao Coastguard Station commander, said Panguan Island is less than two nautical miles from the Philippine border with Malaysia.

Diciano said Sibutu serves as passage

From A1

way for ships, noting that about 17,000 foreign cargo vessels pass the area yearly.

Parcon said the marine forces deployed in Panguan Island are complemented by personnel from the Philippine Coastguard. He said the ASG bandits have been denied of access in Sibutu with the establishment of a camp in Panguan Island and with the ongoing tri-lateral naval patrol agreement with Malaysia and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, he said 26 ASG bandits have already surrendered while 14 were killed by troops under his command in this province within this year.

“The others have left the province since it would be dangerous for them to stay,” he added.

Also on Thursday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the driver of a van that blew up at a checkpoint in Lamitan,

From A1

Basilan, killing 10 people, was Moroccan.

“We are certain that he is really a Moroccan,” Lorenzana said.

He said the bomb attack was staged to avenge the death of his child in Sulu.

“He was trying to convince the local ASG in Basilan to conduct a suicide bombing, but no one joined him,” Lorenzana said.

Meanwhile, a think tank said Friday it has received information that the Islamic State terrorist group sees Mindanao as a part of its province in East Asia.

Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies, told ABS-CBN News that his information stated that ISIS recognized its followers in Mindanao as part of its “Wilaya East Asia,” meaning ISIS province in the region.

Francisco Tuyay with PNA

News

A3

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘2019 budget should not hamper Du30’s programs’ HOUSE Appropriations Committee Chairperson Rep. Karlo Nograles on Friday was adamant that Congress’ ongoing clash with the Department of Budget and Management over the 2019 budget would not result in a reenacted budget, even as he assured the public that Congress would pass a General Appropriations Act that would benefit the people and would be consistent with the development agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lawmakers in the House have crossed party lines to oppose the DBM’s new cash-based budgeting system, which have resulted in acrossthe-board cuts in the budgets of critical agencies like the the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The budgets of the said agencies were reduced by P77 billion, P35 billion and P95 billion, respectively.

“Our job in Congress is to ensure the passage of a budget that is in line with the vision of the President, a budget that benefits all Filipinos, especially those in the regions. Dito sa cash-based budget ng DBM, lugi ang Pilipino, lalo na ang mga probinsyano [in this cash-based budget of the DBM, the Filipinos, especially probinsyanos, are shortchanged],” lamented Nograles.

According to Nograles, the ongoing budget deliberations in the House of Representatives “have opened our eyes to the drawbacks of the proposed cash-based budgeting system.”

“This is the complete opposite of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ thrust of the Duterte Administration. The people expect more infrastructure, more assistance from government. Instead, the budget presented by the DBM is all about ‘Slash, Slash, Slash,’ which would result in fewer of everything: Fewer roads, fewer classrooms, fewer government hospital facilities,” Nograles said.

Hontiveros, Legarda press for approval of SOGIE bill

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TWO women senators on Friday pressed for the immediate passage of the Anti-Discrimination or Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality Bill to protect individuals, which include members of the LGBTQIA community that experience human rights violations.

Senator Loren Legarda said no person should be discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Legarda noted that there have been exhaustive discussions on the SOGIE Bill for the past two years and it is about time that the measure is passed by the Senate.

Legarda said Senate Bill No. 1271 or the Anti-Discrimination Bill was filed last Aug. 1, 2016 and has faced an uphill battle in the upper chamber, unlike in the House of Representatives that approved its version of the bill in September last year.

“It would be a great legacy of this chamber if we are able to pass the antidiscrimination measure during our watch,” said Legarda.

NEW CSFI OFFICERS. Former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday administered the oath to the new Board of Trustees and officers of the

Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. during its First General Membership Meeting in the 17th Congress. In her remarks, Speaker Arroyo urged the CSFI officers and members to continue initiating livelihood projects in their spouses’ districts to help uplift the lives of the people. She also hoped that the CSFI members will be very happy now that they have found their home again, back in the halls of Congress. Elected were president and chairperson, Luli Arroyo; corporate secretary, lawyer Cristine Collantes-Garcia; assistant corporate secretary, Trina Biazon; treasurer, Margie Duavit; assistant treasurer, Paula Bondoc; and auditor, Dianne Sy-Alvarado. Regional representatives were also elected, namely: Region 1, Kristine SingsonMeehan; Region 2, Nancy Ting; Region 3, Jacqueline Rose Khonghun; Region 4-A, Aleta Suarez; Region 4-B, Rowena Velasco; Region 5, Zsarita Marie Sarmiento; Region 6, Michelle Defensor; Region 7, Carol Yap; Region 8, Martin Romualdez; Region 9, Glona Labadlabad; Region 10, Imelda Dimaporo; Region 11, Marga Nograles; Region 12, Dra. Rose Acharon; Negros Island Region, Nikki Benitez; Caraga, Carla Pichay; Cordillera Administrative Region, lawyer Cyphrene Dalog; National Capital Region, Marides Fernando and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte. Elected party-list representatives were Edna Marcoleta and Beng Atienza. The CSFI service motto is ‘Creating and Making a Meaningful Difference and Becoming the Positive Difference Through Service Excellence.’ The CSFI Secretariat is composed of officer-in-charge Vina Eleda-Pastor and staff members Janet Agnes, Michelle Manalo, Jessica Valera and Ma. Teresa Magararu, Rowena B. Bundang and Gilbert Engay.

Uson’s viral video not helping Duterte—Leni T HE ‘game show’ video on federalism by Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar continues to drew negative reactions, notably from Vice President Leni Robredo and even from Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio.

In an interview in Naga City, Robredo said the video gave a bad impression not only of President Rodrigo Duterte, but of all Filipinos.

“Pero ako kasi, ’yung mga taong ganito ano eh, hindi sila nakakatulong kay Pangulong Duterte. Kung yung sadya nila makatulong, lalong di sila nakakatulong,” she said.

“Binibigyan nila ng masamang impression ’yung Pangulo, kasi sila ‘yung mga supporters. Dapat sana sila yung nagdadala ng kagandahang loob. Pag ganito yung ginagamit na paraan, hindi lang si Pangulo yung nababastos pero lahat na ng Pilipino.”

Robredo expressed dismay that the video was taken inside a government office and was even supervised by a government official. “’Yung sweldo galing sa taong bayan.

So ’yung tanong, yung ganito bang kabastusan ang pino-promote natin bilang mga Pilipino. Kung kinakailangan na mag-intervene tayo para pahintuin yung mga ganito, gagawin natin,” she said.

Uson’s video showed Olivar cheering for federalism using references to female body parts while doing a lewd dance.

The video immediately drew flak from several lawmakers, members of the consultative committee that drafted the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution, and netizens.

Robredo, who is mulling to file charges against Olivar, also called for decency in all public discourse.

Robredo said she might just file a case against Olivar, who last year made sexual allegations against the Vice President in his blog.

“Marami lang iyong mga naghihikayat sa atin na mag-file ng legal action,” she said. “[N]angako tayo na papag-aralan natin sa mga abogado kasi apektado hindi lang ako, pero apektado iyong maraming Pilipino na nalalaswaan sa ginagawa.”

Robredo reiterated that there should be no room for lewd pronouncements, especially in discussing policies of the government.

Mayor Duterte Carpio, meanwhile, advised Uson to be “more circumspect,” in her actions, as she weighed in on Uson and Olivar’s controversial pepedederalismo” video.

“I think our secretary should be more circumspect siguro with her actions because she already is a government official,” the presidential daughter said.

While acknowledging Uson’s intention of raising awareness for federalism, Duterte-Carpio said that the messaging that Uson chose needs fixing.

“But tama naman ’yung gusto nila na mapalaki ’yung campaign ng federalism.

Siguro ’yung messaging lang ayusin,” she added.

The Davao City mayor attended an oathtaking ceremony in Camarines Sur Thursday for youth environmental organization El Verde Youth for Climate Action. With PNA

CoA flags DA for failure to complete infra projects

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Department of Agriculture for its failure to complete infrastructure projects under the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Program worth P957 million in 2017.

In its annual audit report, CoA said the DA was only able to finish four subprojects out of the 16 SPs. “Out of the 49SPs approved for implementation during the year costing P3.5756 billion, 16 SPs costing P1.124 billion were targeted for completion, of which only four SPs were completed and the remaining 12 SPs costing P957.678 million were not yet complete as of year-end,” it read.

Among the unfinished infrastructure projects were farm-to-market roads, potable water system and a warehouse in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and

Quezon (Calabarzon) region, and Bicol.

“Any delay of implementation will also result in the delay of project completion thereby depriving the intended users of the immediate benefits that will be derived therefrom,” CoA said.

“We recommended and [the] management agreed to promptly resolve the identified issues in the delayed project implementation/completion,” it added.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority vehemently denied that it diverted food security funds for other purposes because the P5.1-billion subsidy granted to the agency in 2017 was actually fully utilized for the procurement of palay, corn and imported rice for buffer stocking and food security during the year.

The NFA said that in its yearend report, the CoA did not even mention about diversion of NFA funds.

“Yet a news report said that the

Commission on Audit has called out the National Food Authority for diverting the P5.1-billion subsidy meant to ensure food security to pay off its maturing loans last year, possibly hampering the agency’s ability to maintain a stable rice supply.

“This is not accurate and this places NFA in a bad light,” the NFA said.

To set the record straight, the NFA said it received the P5.1-billion government subsidy from the Department of Budget and Management on Feb. 24, 2017.

Of the total amount, the Bureau of Treasury automatically deducted 10 percent or P510 million as payment for previous years’ guarantee fee while P2.5billion represented payment of annual contribution for the P8 billion worth of 10-year Treasury Bonds issued to the NFA in February 2008. This means the NFA actually received net proceeds of only P P2.090 B out of the total subsidy.

100 NPAs raid station; cops sacked

By Ronald O. Reyes

INAUGURATION. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Manila Rep. Crystal Bagatsing, and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada lead the ceremonial opening of newly repaired Adriatico Bridge during the inauguration ceremony on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Built in 1985, the bridge, which spans 10 meters and 28 meters, collapsed last January 2018 due to a parked overloaded garbage truck. Norman Cruz

TACLOBAN CITY—Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief of all policemen in Lapinig, Northern Samar following the pre-dawn attack of around 100 suspected New People’s Army rebels on the local police station Friday.

Pending an investigation into the raid by the alleged communist rebels, also ordered relieved were Northern Samar Provincial Director Senior Supt. Romeo Campomanes, 2nd Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company Commander Chief Insp. Juan Byron, and Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas Director Chief Supt. Mariel Magaway.

Police said the attack happened around 2 am when suspected rebels carrying high-powered weapons onboard two dump trucks and one jeep peppered the police station with bullets.

PO2 Jerry Quilicol and PO1 Edison

Aguerre were wounded in the attack.

The station’s officer-in-charge Police Insp. Noly Montebon and PO2 Mark Mejedo, who were initially reported as missing in action, were already located.

They reportedly hid after they ran out of ammunition during the firefight that lasted for 15 minutes.

Reports said the suspected rebels used high-powered firearms, and escaped with no wounded or casualties.

According to the Northern Samar Provincial Police Office, seven policemen were on duty during the attack.

The 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Catbalogan City, Samar then sent a force in pursuit of the suspected rebels.

Army Captain Francis Agno, chief of the 8ID’s Division Public Affairs Office, said the rebels carted away 10 assorted high-powered firearms, three handguns, an undetermined number of ammunition and magazines, police computers, and the police hotline cellular phone.

Detainee was not killed —MPD THE Manila Police District on Friday belied allegation that a detainee at the Barbosa Community Precinct of MPD Police Station 3 was killed last Aug. 6.

In a statement, the MPD, under Police Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, said it “is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Allan Rafael,” adding that a full investigation will be undertaken in connection with the detainee’s death three days after he was arrested along C.M. Recto cor.

Loyola St. in Quiapo, Manila.

“Rafael’s death is understandably devastating to his family and our community. No one wanted this outcome,” the MPD said.

“We would like to clarify that the detainee was not subjected to torture or inhumane treatment; he was not slain, contrary to allegation of some,” it added.

The MPD added that “based on information at this time, he had a ‘medical condition’,” noting that “as soon as our police personnel became aware of his medical condition, he was transferred and the family was informed of this matter.”

DoLE uncovers new modus THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) uncovered a modus of certain individuals who would withdraw escrow deposits of recruitment agencies using falsified “certificate of no pending appealed case.”

“We are informing the public that a falsified “Certification of No Pending Appealed POEA case” allegedly issued by the Department of Labor and Employment Legal Service has been circulating and is being used by unknown individuals in withdrawing escrow deposits of certain recruitment agencies. We advise the public to be more prudent and cautious in dealing with persons or entities involved in this reported fraudulent activity,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said.

Bello immediately issue a public warning after the department received letters from at least two overseas recruitment agencies inquiring about the authenticity of a certification allegedly issued by DoLE Legal Service and was purportedly used to withdraw an escrow deposit.

Vito Barcelo

Boehringer not detained—BI THE Bureau of Immigration clarified that the 84-year-old Australian professor and rallyist Gill Hale Boehringer is not detained by the bureau and was staying at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport under the watch of an airline company awaiting for her next flight.

Boehringer, who was barred from entering the country remains at the exclusion room of the Naia terminal 1.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval the foreigner was turned over to the airline company where he originally boarded after being excluded.

However, doctors advised the airline company not to let Boehringer leave because of health reason and not fit to travel yet “We wish to dispel the notion that Mr. Boehringer is detained by BI,” Sandoval said. Vito Barcelo

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Redemption for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Makabayan bloc has come together in the House of Representatives.

Together, they are the real minority in the House and should be recognize as such. It is unfortunate that the majority was the one who chose the minority AS I have been doing for the last two leader. years since President Duterte came into Second, the change of leadership in power, I have been doing the rounds the House of Representatives is good from Luzon to Mindanao, briefing big for the country. Although I did not like (schools, civic and faith-based organi- the way the change happened just bezations) and small (boards, religious fore the State of the Nation Address of congregations, embassies) audiences the President, where our ugly politics about the national situation. In these was exposed before the world, I am briefings, attended by both pro- and certain Speaker Gloria Macapagal Aranti-Duterte individuals as well as in- royo will be a better Speaker for the dependents, I try to be as objective and country than her predecessor Pantaleon non-partisan as possible, highlighting Alvarez. Among others, she is more both the good and the bad in what is hardworking than her predecessor and happening in our is likely to succountry. To be ceed in shepherdconstructive and ing important relevant, I end my bills that all of us May her decisions talks by imagining should support— scenarios for the and acts not only from the creation near and middle of a disaster manfuture. I conclude redeem her but all of us agement agency, by challenging who love this country. enactment finally my audience, citof a land use act, ing their particular and the passage of context and unique a comprehensive abilities and rehealth bill. sources, to actively respond to the naArroyo supports the additional tional situation.

TRAIN packages but she would have Lately, I have been more hopeful to be careful in moving them along bethan pessimistic about what the coun- cause of how Train 1 has been rightly try faces. My sense, given the intensity or wrongly linked to inflation. of what is happening, is that something I also think that Charter change is will break and we will have once again not likely anymore with Arroyo as an opportunity for authentic change. speaker—not because I blindly trust First, the coming together of many in her but because of the political political groups and forces for a Uni- baggage she brings to this issue as fied People’s Sona makes me very former President. It will be seen by the hopeful that we will have a stronger public as a power grab whatever her and more cohesive resistance against real motivations. Already, opposition the excesses of the Duterte adminis- to charter change has consolidated tration, particularly on its blatant and in the Senate because of this latest criminal disregard of human rights and development. It does not help of course its continuous undermining of demo- that the charter change advocates in cratic processes and accountability in- the Duterte government are making a stitutions. I am happy that the magnifi- mess out of this effort, the latest being cent 7 in the House of Representatives, the antics of Mocha Uson and Drew complemented by members of the Lib- Olivar that has drawn widespread eral Party that joined the opposition, Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

United front

A

FTER the universal outrage over a lewd dance video in an online show hosted by the discredited communications assistant secretary, the proposed shift to federalism has hit a newer, more substantive and more challenging snag.

At least two members of the President’s official family—economic managers both—have expressed their disagreement to changing the form of government, saying that the federal system will only cause hardship for millions of Filipinos.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he was absolutely against the proposed federal form as recommended by the Palace-created consultative committee because provisions on revenue and expenditure assignments were unclear.

Meanwhile, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the country is not ready for federalism, adding that it would wreak havoc on our fiscal situation.

In response, a member of the committee, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, wondered whether the Duterte administration had changed direction

in pushing for the federal form.

Dominguez and Pernia, being Cabinet secretaries, are deemed alter egos of the President.

Palace spokesmen however insisted that the Cabinet remains “united” in its position on federalism—a face-saving claim, of course, given that the Executive Department is expected to speak in one voice on any given issue.

Aquino has called for the ouster of the discordant voices. In a social media post he said Dominguez “was invited repeatedly but he chose not to appear, dispatching instead his underlings who could not or would not provide helpful answers. He should have raised his issues and made his suggestions then.”

Dominguez is making suggestions now, calling for a dialogue to thresh out “ambiguous provisions that could have dire, irreversible economic consequences.”

Independence of mind is always a good trait. Given Dominguez’s and Pernia’s expertise, we know that the concerns they pointed out are valid and important. Making their opinion known is a sign that they have the best interests of the country in mind, regardless of the consequences this might have on their standing in the official family.

But articulating these points in a

Senate hearing, or over media, is not the way to register their well-intentioned objections. As we know too well now, it has given rise to controversy that threatens to distract us from asking—and them from answering—the pertinent questions all over again.

Dominguezand Pernia should raise their issues during internal Cabinet meetings and consultations on the draft charter. Their objective, critical positions would surely benefit the cause as these would encourage their colleagues to pay closer attention to the economic implications of a government overhaul. In the end, agreeing with the proposal will not be about whether one is pro- or anti-Duterte. It is about whether there is reasonable likelihood that the changed structure will address the gaps in the present system and eventually redound to the good of Filipinos.

The President and his alter egos should huddle behind closed doors.

Debate, argue, question, criticize, disagree with, challenge one another using their respective lenses and fields of expertise.

And then they should arrive at a middle ground, before emerging from behind these doors and presenting a united front on whether federalism would be good for now, or not at all.

Offending religious feelings bill. Carlos Celdran was one of us in the RH advocacy.

To cut the long story short, Carlos was charged for violating Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code, the “Offending the religious feelings” law.

AN ARCHAIC law dating back to the This is an archaic law from the SpanSpanish colonial era may send Carlos ish colonial era which has been carried Celdran, artist, activist and a good over to the present RPC. Carlos was friend of mine, to jail. convicted by the Metropolitan Trial Carlos made headlines when in the Court (MTC), the Regional Trial Court afternoon of Sept. 30, 2010, he went (RTC), and the Court of Appeals (CA). to the Manila Cathedral in a RizalCarlos filed a petition with the Sulike outfit and displayed a white board preme Court questioning the constiwith the word “DAMASO” written tutionality of The Offending the Relion it in front of a group that included gious Feelings law asserting that this leaders of the Roman Catholic Church runs counter to the constitutionally and other Christian denominations. It guaranteed right to freedom of expreswas an ecumenical meeting for the an- sion, as well as the ‘non-establishment’ niversary of the provision of the ‘May They be Constitution.

One Campaign,’ In a very rare and the launch of instance, the State the ‘Hand Written sided with the acThe Philippines is Bible.’ cused in this case. a democracy, not a At first, nobody The Solicitor Genpaid attention to theocracy. Governance is eral at that time him (a witness in supposed to be separate was Florin Hilbay Court even said and he propoundfrom religion. that he initially ed the position thought Carlos’ that Celdran must act was part of be acquitted of the crime because the the program) unlaw under which til someone called the guards and they brought him out. he was accused is violative of the ConIt was when he was being escorted out stitution. In short, the ‘Offending the that Carlos shouted “Stop meddling in Religious Feelings’ law needs to be repolitics!” pealed for being unconstitutional.

I distinctly remember that earlier However, in what appears to be that day, I was talking with him on a minute resolution of the Supreme the phone when he told me that he Court’s First Division dated March 21, was going to the Manila Cathedral to 2018 and received by Celdran’s legal take photos to be uploaded on Face- counsel last Aug. 1, the SC affirmed book. Carlos is an artist and this could the Court of Appeals’ guilty verdict explain what he was wearing and the against Celdran. He can go to jail for white board with DAMASO on it. a minimum of two months and twentyI do not think that he had any inten- one days to a maximum of one year, tion to offend anyone but his being an one month, and eleven days. activist got the better of him when he Curiously, the SC decision, was being led away. Remember that consisting of only five pages (including at that time, the controversial Repro- the list of recipients), did not discuss ductive Health bill was being heatedly the merits of the case. All of the discussed in and out of Congress and lawyers who have read the decision the Catholic Church hierarchy and its were unanimous in saying that it (the allies were the biggest opposition to the Turn to A5

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

Bulgaria’s famed all-female folk choir back with a modern twist

By Diana Simeonova THIRTY years ago an all-female folk choir set up in Bulgaria became the darling of Western audiences with its tradition-steeped a cappella singing, before the fall of communism threatened its survival.

With fans like George Harrison, David Bowie and Kate Bush, The Mystery Of The Bulgarian Voices ensemble conquered the international charts during the Cold War at a time when world music was beginning to gain popularity.

Now the Grammy-winning choir from Sofia is back, with their embroidered blouses and floral hair styles plus a contemporary twist, having teamed up with Australian-born Lisa Gerrard of the music group, Dead Can Dance.

The choir’s new album—its first stu-

dio production in two decades—in collaboration with Gerrard was released in May in Bulgaria and deemed by Rolling Stone magazine’s online edition as among the “10 New Albums to Stream Now.” Gerrard said her task on the album, entitled “BooCheeMish”—after a local shrub that blossoms between rocks— was “to bring them [the choir] into the moment without corrupting their tradition.”

A longtime fan, Gerrard recalled her first encounter with the choir’s music 38 years ago, telling AFP: “There was something unique and full of light that these women were doing, which is what I wanted from the work.”

Singing that ‘can’t be taught’ The choir’s signature vocal style is made up of powerful layered poly-

phonic harmonies, created by different combinations of voices, a sound once described as something between a call to prayer and The Beach Boys.

“This genuine open singing that comes from the throat, the larynx, is not something that you can teach, you must be born with this,” longstanding choir master Dora Hristova said.

Many of the two dozen women, aged 20 to 70, in the choir have inherited their singing skills from their parents.

“My mother Nadezhda Hvojneva was a soloist for the choir for 40 years, and we used to perform side by side,” singer Elichka Krastanova, 50, told AFP. Originally their songs would have been sung in rural parts of Bulgaria during weddings or on religious holidays and as people worked in the fields.

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 With fake news free as a bird, we need apple-pie gatekeepers

By Honor Blanco Cabie FAKE news, a neologism often used to refer to fabricated news, has had push recently by politicians against media, people against bloggers, and even observers against the traditional mainstream media.

This development has brought some media content analysts to ask: “How did we get here and where have all the credible and sober news gatekeepers gone?”

Before all else, many have been overwhelmed by the surging idea of fake news without really being able to see the lean meat, as it were, from the gaudy, too-too hide.

With the onslaught of online media, particularly what have been dished out as social media feeds, things read have been given the go-ahead in appearance to be true.

But, more often than not, that is not correct. Neither true.

Fake news, or hoax news, which has existed since ages back recently got to the social media platforms and traditional media columns and air time.

In 2017, accusations and counterclaims of fake news flared up almost daily by politicians at the media, by bloggers at fellow bloggers, or by people at bloggers, or by media against each other.

Filipinos, including but not limited to politicians, hit the cue and joined in the overloaded discussion.

One expert in this category is Forrest Stroud, an experienced professional covering technology, business software and website design, who hit the head of fake news as that which refers “to false information or propaganda published under the guise of being authentic news.”

He adds: “Fake news websites and channels push their fake news content in an attempt to mislead consumers of the content and spread misinformation via social networks and word of mouth.”

But one may ask: What is news really?

Bulgaria...

From A4

In the 1950s, encouraged by the communist regime which propagated working-class and peasant culture, composers did more popular arrangements of these traditional songs and the best performers were drafted into state choirs.

And in 1952, the all-women choir was founded as The State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir.

It remained largely unknown abroad, despite a Swiss ethnomusicologist, Marcel Cellier, in 1975 releasing an album featuring them and other Bulgarian folk music compositions entitled “Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares” (The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices).

It was not until 1986 that the choir rose to international fame, when the album was edited and reissued by the British cult record label 4AD, which has released albums by bands such as the Cocteau Twins and Bauhaus.

Turbulent transition Their second album, released in 1987, went on to win a Grammy Award in 1990, and the Bulgarian women, in their kaleidoscopic attire, started touring the world

Offending...

From A4

decision), appeared to be a minute, and not a full decision. The constitutionality of Art. 133 has been assailed by both the petitioner (Celdran through his legal counsel), and the office of the Solicitor General. The SC as the final interpreter of the Constitution should have fully discussed the issue and settled the question whether this particular law adheres to the Bill of Rights and the Separation of Church and State provisions of the present Constitution.

In a recent tweet, former Solgen Hilbay said, ‘This is an interesting & unfortunate conviction. The official position of the govt is that Celdran should be acquitted. It even gave 3 separate grounds for acquittal to ensure the SC can choose from various reasons to acquit. I know because I was the Solgen who represented the govt.’

Redemption...

From A4

condemnation. What an insult to the

hard work done by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Father Ranhillio Aquino, and the other members of the Consultative Commission to craft a proposed constitution.

I welcome and will hold Speaker Arroyo to her word that the House of Representatives will not attempt to do Charter change without the Senate or that there will be no elections in 2019, ideas that Alvarez foolishly floated when he was still speaker. Although she is now on record in conceding to separate voting by the Senate in case Congress convenes as a constituent assembly, I think that the Senate should not be tempted and induced to agree to such a move. I can grant Speaker Arroyo’s sincerity on this but there is nothing to stop anyone in the

EVERYMAN And many suggesting going beyond the hackneyed “when a dog bites a man that is not news, but when a man bites a dog that is news.”

For what that means really is: Something must—and this is not excluding other substantive chunks—be a new information about recent or even buried developments, new and correct information about specific and timely events.

Correct in that it does not attempt to mislead but merely provides informative and educational material.

This means news presented must have the quality of being sufficiently interesting, synonymous to newsworthy, to be reported in news bulletins.

In the eyes of newsroom seniors, something is newsworthy if material can generate as much revenue, how many people will be affected, did the event reported happen very recently, is there significant new information previously unknown, was the even nearby geographically, was the event highly unusual, does it make for an entertaining story, or is anyone prominent involved?

News items and journalism, according to old industry hands, can be divided in different ways although there are patently gray areas, with distinctions including between hard news and soft news, breaking news, news analysis, and enterprise or investigative reporting.

Many say news coverage traditionally begins with the five Ws—who, what, where, when, why—and, one academic adds, the 6th W or the whence—and the one H—how—with the academic adding another H, the hence.

In democracies, news organizations in print and broadcast are often expected to shoot for objectivity in that reporters cover both sides in a controversy and try to eliminate bias.

Some note government interests, as in news agencies run by the government

—like the Philippine News Agency, Bernama of Malaysia, Antara of Indonesia, Xinhua of China, among others —where anti-government statements, photographs and insinuations are not allowed.

Observers are not saying these agencies are throwing fake news. That is not so.

Time was when news gatherers got their news from trusted sources and that journalists and media outlets were required to follow strict codes of conduct and practice.

But the internet has allowed a whole new way to publish, share and consume information and news with hardly any regulation or editorial standards.

Observers note that many people now get news from social media sites and networks and almost always it has become hard to tell whether the stories are credible or not.

There has been an information overload and a general lack of understanding about how the internet works by people has also contributed to a great extent to an increase in fake news or hoax stories.

An expert in digital media, Liverpool-based Simeon Yates, has put it aptly that the economics of social media “favor gossip, novelty, speed and ‘shareability.’”

With the internet and social media making it very easy for anyone to publish content on a website, blog or social media profile, industry observers raise the requisite for heavy-duty and erudite gatekeepers who have minds and eyes that can spot fake news and reduce them to a newsroom halt.

Beat that.

(HBC, a book author and practitioner of the craft as a news agency, broadcast and print journalist as well as an academic for many years, is a Lifetime Member of the National Press Club and a founding member of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.)

to sell-out crowds, releasing two more albums in 1989 and 1998.

Captivated by the purity and originality of their sound, fans included David Bowie and his wife Iman, who had one of the choir’s songs “Kalimankou Denkou” played during their 1992 wedding.

But the end of communism brought turbulent times for the choir, leading to their sacking by the state broadcaster in 1997. The singers were forced to take other jobs, most as music teachers, to make ends meet.

“We survived only thanks to the many invitations for concerts that came from abroad and the necessity to keep up our level and not disappoint the audience,” choir master Hristova said.

But there was no money for new songs and arrangements, let alone recordings.

Hristova also struggled to recruit younger singers, who could still sing the traditional harmonies.

Embracing the future Finally, the independent Schubert Music Publishing company provided the means to record their new album, described by producer Boyana Bounkova as “a bolder and quite experimental mix of styles.”

“Every singer must, from time to time, leave their comfort zone and indulge in

such adventures, to try all kinds of things with their voice because it is a limitless capacity,” said Gerrard’s co-soloist Gergana Dimitrova, 43, whose parents are also folk singers.

Apart from the collaboration with Gerrard, composer Petar Dundakov has added other contemporary elements— an acoustic accompaniment of various stringed instruments and beatboxer Alexander Deyanov, known as SkilleR, who performs his form of vocal percussion.

“I believe that folklore is not a mix of costumes, dances and melodies that must be kept in the ethnographic museum, but something that must encounter modernity, and this encounter is its only way of developing,” Dundakov said.

“Superb! Far beyond my expectations,” spectator Peshka Dobreva, 70, told AFP, after a performance in the Black Sea city of Varna in mid-June, which ended with standing ovations and five encores.

Another audience member, Desislava Hristova, 35, said she loved the “cocktail of styles.”

“This was our mission during all these years—to keep the tradition alive so that now we are able to present it to a younger audience that knows very little about it,” Hristova said. AFP

Thus, there is more reason for the SC to come up with a full decision on the case.

The prospects of an advocate (whose only desire is to make life better for Filipino women through the passage of the RH bill then) going to jail because he expressed his frustrations against the Catholic hierarchy is troubling. The Philippines is a democracy, not a theocracy.

Governance is supposed to be separate from religion. Freedom of expression is as important as religious freedom. No one should go to jail for expressing one’s position on political issues.

What’s more troubling is the fact that Carlos, an ordinary citizen, can go to jail for offending the religious feelings of some Catholics while the so many foul-mouthed high ranking officials, especially President Rodrigo Duterte go scot-free despite the fact that they seriously offend millions of Filipinos’ religious feelings and other sensitivities. For me, this is the height of

hypocrisy.

The technicalities of Art. 133 aside, there are many others in government who may be deserving of jail time than Carlos Celdran. They do much more harm than the expression of frustrations of people like Celdran.

No one should go to jail for simply offending the religious feelings of some. It is after all 2018, not 1818. Art. 133 is unconstitutional and should be repealed.

Carlos, through his legal counsel will file a Motion for Reconsideration before the SC at 1:00 pm of Aug. 15, 2018. We will be there to support him. This is now beyond Carlos Celdran. This is about our freedom to express ourselves. We invite those who similarly believe to join us.

Stand with Carlos Celdran, stand with freedom of expression.

House of Representatives or even an outside to question such an agreement on separate voting. Although constitutional law professors like me teach that separate voting was intended for this process, the last word on this will be the Supreme Court’s. Looking at the latter’s decisions in the last two years, I cannot imagine a scenario where President Duterte will lose a vote on this issue.

In my view, the comeback of the former president has also permanently altered the political situation and has changed the dynamics of the Duterte alliance. In fact, some observers have said that effectively Speaker Arroyo is now at the helm of government. Certainly, in his Sona, President Duterte sounded tired and without energy. The contrast with Arroyo—in control, commanding, bursting with energy—was so obvious. I could not help but ask myself then—did we also not just a change of speakers but also a subtle transfer of power from Malacañang to Batasan?

Speaker Arroyo’s latest moves to go to the

provinces to visit projects even in districts that are not hers, her recommendations on how to contain inflation, and as her announcement that all representatives will get funds for their districts indicates a new role for the Speaker and also for the House of Representatives. Some say that this is in anticipation of a shift, through charter change, from the presidential to a quasi presidential-parliamentary system of government, with Speaker Arroyo angling to be the first Prime Minister under President Duterte.

I am actually hoping that the years she was detained unjustly by the Aquino government has had a good impact on her person. I am a believer in the goodness of people, in conversion, and in redemption.

While I have always been aware of the charges against her, my own professional experience with her has always been positive if intense. I was a student in her economics class in Ateneo de Manila but I was shy in that class and did not excel as I was

@bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Resolve the issue of political vandalism Even before the official tabulated result is released by this foreign-operated counting machine, their so-called volunteer organization to assist the Comelec in defrauding our people has already came out with their so-called “advance” election results. The role of Part II this Church-organized civic organizaTHE infraction committed by Smart- tion, which is a non-taxpaying organimatic and those who cooperated in the zation, is to affirm the result made by commission of the most outrageous Smartmatic.

The Parish Pastoral Council for React of political vandalism is not really in determining who won in the elec- sponsible Voting or PPCRV, which is tion in 2016, but that it cast doubt on insulting to Filipinos, is the only acour ability to hold a clean, honest and credited civic organization that dishes fair election. It is the system that was out advance election results. Its job is destroyed. We must not forget that our to lessen the impact that should there be much hooted democracy is anchored questions why a certain candidate obon our ability to hold an election. If we tained that much number of the votes, fail in safeguarding our ballots, then we Smartmatic can always say that the figure is, more or less, similar to the might as well say adios to it.

For this, most of our senators seek- partial result made by PPCRV, and the ing reelection and congressmen appear winners were predicted by SWS and to be meek, not saying anything that Pulse Asia.

In the end, a protestee will appear would tarnish the credibility of Smartmatic or much more accuse it as the like a fool for he is the only one or operator of this big cheating machine represents a tiny fraction of those who for fear of being singled out. Thus, we disagree with the result. The great manow bow to this machinery installed by jority that avoid the trouble for lack the Liberal Party and yellow ideologue of patriotism would blindly agree, not to supposedly safeguard our electoral knowing that the whole electoral exerprocess. In the dirty language of the cise was a grand conspiracy carried out gangsters, our politicians all lick the by the yellow government to teach us a*s of Smartmatic if only to be assured how we should exercise our sovereign of being reelected or included in the so- right to hold an election.

It is now the credibility of the eleccalled winning circle.

Candidates no longer campaign to tion and not the facts that actually hapsecure the votes of the people, but use pened they are trying to sanitize. Their them as props while the cheating ma- mantra is to present that we have a generally peacechine does the ful, orderly and rest to make offihonest election, cial their alleged thereby effectivevictory. This can ly marginalizing be gleaned from Doubt is cast on our and isolating the the fact that many cynics. They are of those elected ability to hold a clean, unaware that the are known for honest and fair election. poll survey and their subservience the advance tabuto the policies that lators were part seek to perpetuate of the grand conthe enslavement spiracy to assist of the country to a foreign power. Our people are no long- the Liberal Party and its allies made up er surprised to find out that professed of the oligarchs, the traditional politilackeys of the neoliberals, a new spe- cians, the Church and the local accomcies of global imperialism, win. Even plices of the US imperialist with the from among the so-called sober and Left made as their usual barkers to keep “objective” observers tend to vouch the rotten system alive and kicking.

In the end, the ultimate objective is that those who won represent the poputo brazenly defraud our people of their lar will of the people.

Those who oppose are regarded as votes, even if the result in fact defies cynics, political fringe or hardcore an- logic and is statistically improbable, ti-establishment whose views should notwithstanding the overwhelming not be taken into account because they evidence presented by lawyer Glenn do not represent the rational view. Chong. With the bogus vice president They say, the months and weeks before doing the traitorous job of maligning the election, their confederate in this the government to which she is supbusiness of deluding our people have posed to be a part, the goal now of the already been spreading lies through Liberal Party and its accomplice, is to their equally controlled mainstream oust President Duterte. That way they media that their candidate is likely to could make the electoral protest of Bongbong Marcos moot and academic. win.

The plan to oust President Duterte is To support their lies, they present their statistical surveys either based on so evident in all the moves of the opage, sex, region or economic bracket, position. They are always on the opwhich ordinary people would have no posite side of the declared policy of the way to verify how they managed to ob- President which is hilarious, for that tain such data, that this lackey is likely fact that their position is a repetition of to win. Survey outfits such as Pulse the declared US policy for this counAsia, Social Weather Stations, etc. try. If a power grab is launched by this serve as mind conditioners that this or usurping vice president, and succeeds in overthrowing the government, she that candidate will win.

Such announcement carries two would then be free to choose her own implications. First, they help the un- vice president.

Let this be clear to most Filipinos, decided voters to decide and vote for these candidates which the survey out- that the intense support of the US for fit pointed to as likely to win. There is the eventual removal of President Duthat tendency for the undecided voter to terte is not on issues of human rights, vote for the suggested winners to pre- or about extrajudicial killings or of his vent their ballots from going to waste. differences with the Church because Second, should the undecided voters the US has been in that business of vote for the candidates suggested by mass killing for years, but on the PresSWS and Pulse Asia, this now affirms ident’s coziness with China and now their survey as speaking of the truth. It bridging his way to secure arms from is now far more difficult to question the Russia. The cementing of our political, result because never has there been an economic and cultural relations with instance where poll surveys came out China is pretty dangerous as it could with prosaic prediction from that was expose the presence of the US in the made by Smartmatic. Hence, Smart- South China Sea as the real intruder. matic merely validates the result of the rpkapunan@gmail.com election survey.

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

about to shift to philosophy that semester.

Later though, when she was in the Senate and I was an environmental undersecretary, I engaged constructively with her on mining issues. And when she was President, she tapped me several times on climate change and Mindanao peace issues even when I was vocal about some of her political decisions like the midnight appointment of Chief Justice Corona. My respect for her increased because of that.

As for Speaker Arroyo’s detention during the Aquino years, I always objected to that (starting with preventing her from leaving for abroad) on the ground of human rights.

The government in my view was not able to mount credible corruption cases against her and it is shameful she was not released earlier.

Nevertheless, moving forward, my wish is for Speaker Arroyo to end her political career on a good note, by shepherding good laws as mentioned above and stopping bad

ones for good like the death penalty. And yes, I hope she eventually does right by the minority in the House of Representatives and stop this anomaly of the majority choosing the Minority Leader. I hope also that in the end she abandons the effort to change the Constitution. A bonus would be if she secures the release of Senator Leila de Lima, but maybe that’s too much to hope for.

Regardless, I wish only good will and success for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. May her future act as a politician earn her the admiration and gratitude of our country, one that can be aptly described, using the words of the great Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as one condemned to a hundred years of solitude where no one is given a second opportunity on earth. In this new opportunity given to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, may her decisions and acts not only redeem her but all of us who love this country.

Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A6

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sandiganbayan orders trial of graft case vs Floirendo

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan has ordered the trial of the graft case of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. owing to the alleged anomalous lease of land at the Davao Penal Colony.

In a resolution dated Aug. 7, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division junked for “lack of merit” Floirendo’s appeal to dismiss his case over violation of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. Floirendo’s case stemmed from former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s allegations of irregularities in connection with the Consolidated Joint Venture Agreement between Tagum Agricultural Development Authority, where Floirendo’s family is a major stockholder, and its subsidiary Anflo Management and Investment Corp., for the lease of land in DPC to be used as a banana plantation.

The Consolidated JVA was executed in 1979 which extended the period of lease for 25 years and renewed in May 2003, when Florendo was already a congressman.

In his motion, Floirendo said his case should be dismissed with the absence of proof of conflict of interest, which would constitute graft.

He said he was holding only 0.89 percent capital stock with Tadeco.

The Sandiganbayan said: “At this point, there is no need to look into matters beyond the four corners of the information.”

“This Court finds that the facts charged in the Information sufficiently allege the essential elements of the second mode of violation of Sec. 3(h) of R.A. No. 3019,” the Sandiganbayan said in its resolution authored by Division chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez; Associate Justices Karl Miranda and Kevin Vivero concurred.

The Ombudsman earlier asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend Floirendo while the trial of the graft case filed against him by Speaker Alvarez was continuing.

Ombudsman prosecutors cited Section 13 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, that mandates the suspension of a public official facing trial.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISINGAND REGULATORY BOARD

East Avenue, Quezon City Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a TOURIST TRANSPORT Service.

ATILUZ TRANSPORT COOPERATIVE,

SERVICE

CASE NO. 2018-23235

Applicant/s. x---------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING Applicant requests authority to operate a TOURIST TRANSPORT Service within SAN ILDEFONSO, BULACAN and from said place to any point in the Philippines accessible to motor vehicle traffic and vice versa, with the use of SIX ( 6 ) unit/s.

NOTICE is hereby given that this application will be heard by this Board on AUGUST 23, 2018, at 1:00 PM. at its Office at the above address.

At least five (5) days prior to the above date, applicant/s shall publish this Notice once in one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Luzon.

CLEARANCE SYSTEM. An applicant is processed Friday for his police clearance during the soft launching of the New Police Clearance System, a web-based database software application aimed at solving crimes faster and easier, installed at QCPD Station 10 in Edsa, Quezon City. Under the new PNP clearance system, criminal records of applicants can be easily tracked in the PNP e-Warrant to ensure that applicants don’t have a standing warrant of arrest, convicted, under probation and or pending case. Photo shows (from left) QCPD District Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Chief Supt. Renato Angara, Dir. Elmo Francis Sarona and NCRPO head Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar. Manny Palmero

Good news for 3.5-m farmers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATORS on Friday welcomed the Sandiganbayan decision which provides that the P74 billion worth of assets from the Coconut Industry Investment Fund belonged to the government and must be distributed to coconut farmers.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate agriculture and food committee, said this was good news for the 3.5-million coconut farmers and their families.

This is also a realization of their initiatives to improve the lives of the coconut farmers and all stakeholders in the coconut

industry, she said.

The bicameral conference committee on the bill creating the P100-billion coconut levy trust fund had earlier reconciled the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 1233 and House Bill 5745 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act. The Act was among the priority legislative measures pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte during his State of the Nation Address on July 23.

Senate President Vicente Sotto said the coco levy bill, when it becomes a law, would be the instrument to be followed on what to do with the funds.

Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said the Sandiganbayan ruling was similar to what Congress did.

“That’s what we did. We created a trust

fund for coco farmers which belong to the government,” he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said as early as 2014, her partymates had been talking against the claims of United Coconut Planters Bank and the Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp. (Cocolife) which were seeking to cut the fund intended for coconut farmers.

“The decision should clear the way for legislation to distribute the levy to the farmers,” Hontiveros said.

“I voted against the Senate version of the coco levy bill because this is no longer trust fund as what the coconut farmers had been after,” she said.

Hontiveros was referring to the bicameral approval of the bill creating a P100-billion coconut levy trust fund to be used for 25 years for the benefit 3.5-million farmers.

Petilla, mom graft cases dismissed

Parties opposed to the granting of the application must file their written oppositions supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a, copy of the same to the applicant/s and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This application will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness the Honorable ATTY. MARTIN B. DELGRA III, Chairman this 2nd day of AUGUST 2018.

Atty. JENNIFER LEAH P. ROJAS Attorney IV Hearing Officer JLPR / mgc COPY FURNISHED: Applicant: No. 31 Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Sapang Putol, San Ildefonso, Bulacan (MS-AUG. 11, 2018)

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL OIL COMPANY PNOC Building 6, Energy Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Philippines, 1634 [632] 789.7662 www.pnoc.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID The Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) invites all interested bidders to bid for the SALE on an “as-is where-is” basis the following property: Location The Verandas Subdivision, Bgy. Suplang, Tanauan City, Batangas

TCT No.

Area (sqm)

Floor Price (PhP)

T-139062

413

28,500,000

HARD KNOCKS. A scavenger tries his Friday luck looking for recyclable materials at Manila Bay covered by garbage following monsoon rains caused by Tropical Storm ‘Karding.’ Lino Santos

Nurse, criminologist tops PESE exam

By Joel E. Zurbano

The property (fully furnished house and lot) is located in an area exclusively for residential purposes. It is within a first class subdivision development with high-end amenities intended for upper income families. Noted developments in the area include Tagaytay Highlands, Highlands Gulf Club, Tagaytay Midlands, Filoil Service Station and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel.

Bid forms and Bidding Guidelines and Terms of Reference for the Sale of PNOC Property may be secured from the Disposal Committee Secretariat at the 4/F Estate Management Department, PNOC Bldg.

6, Energy Center, Rizal Drive, BGC, Taguig City from August 13 to September 4, 2018 after payment of a non-refundable amount of P2,000.00. The pre-bidding conference and public bidding shall be conducted on August 29, 2018 (2:00pm) and September 5, 2018 (2:15pm), respectively, at the G/F PNOC Bldg. 6.

Award of the sale of the above property shall be based on the BEST BID/OFFER received from the bidders. The Bidder acknowledges that he/she inspected the property and verified the title thereof. The winning bidder upon receipt of the Notice of Award and after making full payment shall enter the property without seeking the assistance of PNOC. Should the above-mentioned dates be declared non-working holidays, the bidding activities shall be held on the next working day.

PNOC reserves the right to accept any bids or portions thereof as may be advantageous to PNOC, to reject any and all bids/offers, to cancel the bidding process, or to waive any formality thereto without incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s. PNOC assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidder/s for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. For inquiries, please call tel. nos.

8126071/8401447 or 7897662 loc. nos. 7641/7669 or cellphone nos.

09178405994/09175312772.

(Sgd.) ATTY. GRACIELA M. BARLETA Chairman Committee for the Disposal/Utilization (MS-AUG. 11, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A REGISTERED nurse and licensed criminologist topped the list of 338 examinees who passed the 2018 Police Executive Service Eligibility examination for the third level ranks in the Philippine National Police.

National Police Commission vice chairman and executive officer Rogelio Casurao identified the topnotcher as P/Supt. Joana Lorono, currently the assistant chief of Quality Assurance and Doctrine Development Division of the PNP Aviation Security Group in Pasay City.

Lorono is a member of PNP Academy SinagLaya Class of 2002.

Aside from her three college degrees, she also obtained three master’s degrees in Public Administration, Science Criminology and Public Management.

At present, she is taking up Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration at the University of Batangas.

Lorono is also the second lady police official who topped the PESE examination since 2014.

She is also a recipient of numerous awards and commendations in her 19 years of dedicated police service.

Other PNP officials who made it to the top five are: P/Supt. Hermogenes D. Cabe, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration, Rizal Provincial Police Office (PPO), Police Regional Office 4-A (Top 2); P/Supt. Raymond A. De Guzman, Legal Officer, PNP Civil Security Group (Top 3); P/Supt.

Romeo C. Galgo, Jr., Deputy Force Commander, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 12 (Top 4); and P/Supt. Almer M. Ismael, Chief, Drug Enforcement Unit, Sulu PPO, PRO ARMM (Top 5).

“The 338 passers represent 85.57 percent of the 395 police officials who underwent the validation interview on June 30, July 1, 7 and 8, 2018,” Casurao said.

He added the conferees consisted of one Police Senior Superintendent, 226 Police Superintendents and 111 Police Chief Inspectors.

THE Sandiganbayan has dismissed the graft cases against Aquino administration Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and his mother Remedios, the mayor of Palo, Leyte.

In their motions to dismiss, the Petillas cited the inability of the Ombudsman to file the cases at the soonest possible time.

They said the prosecutors took more than 12 years, since the creation of Task Force Abono that was tasked to investigate the fertilizer fund scam in 2006.

The Petillas said the 12 years included seven years and four months of factfinding investigation by TF Abono.

While another four years and nine months of preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman.

The Sandiganbayan agreed there was inordinate delay on the part of the Ombudsman to file the case.

“From the timeline above, the court finds the hiatus in the preliminary investigation proceedings that took more than three years from the filing of the complaint to be long drawn-out and unjustified,” the court said in the resolution written by Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz. The division’s chairman, Justice Alex Quiroz and Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto concurred with the ruling.

“This is a clear instance where the defense of the accused was impaired due to inordinate delay. The court will not countenance the unfair consequences brought upon the accused because of the inordinate delay in the preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman that violated their right to speedy disposition of these cases,” the court said.

The Ombudsman alleged that Remedios entered into a P3.131-million contract with Castle Rock for the purchase of 350 gallons of liquid fertilizer during her time as Leyte governor. Maricel V. Cruz

MMDA says road reblocking, other repairs resumed THE Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Friday the resumption of road reblocking and other repairs along major thoroughfares in Manila and Quezon City.

The Department of Public Works and Highways resumed the road works Friday night after the MMDA gave its go signal for the road works.

At the same time, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the Adriatico Bridge was now open to traffic after undergoing repair and rehabilitation for almost a year which collapsed due to a parked overloaded garbage truck.

Villar said the 33-year-old bridge, which col-

lapsed in September last year, was also widened to six lanes to accommodate the growing number of vehicles passing through the bridge.

In its advisory, the MMDA public information office stated that the DPWH National Capital Region Office would undertake road reblocking and repairs starting 11 pm of Aug. 10 until 5 am of Aug. 13 at the following areas in: Quezon City • Southbound 3rd lane from the center island of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue infront of Francesca Tower.

• Northbound 6th lane from center island of

Edsa before North Avenue • Northbound 3rd lane of Fairview Avenue from Mindanao Avenue Extension to Jordan Plains Subdivision, and Jordan Plains Subdivision to Mindanao Avenue. Extension.

• Northbound 2nd lane of Batasan Road before Payatas Road, and • Northbound 1st lane of Katipunan Avenue between Capitol Hills Drive Ayala Heights Village.

Manila • Northbound lane of Arsenio H. Lacson Avenue from Aragon Street to P. Florentino Street. Joel Zurbano, Vito Barcelo

Sports

A7

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Dubs‘ Curry shoots a 71 in Web.com

Japanese bets rule Asian paratriathlon JAPAN showed anew why it is considered Asia’s triathlon powerhouse by winning six of the eight classes contested in yesterday’s Mt. Mayon ASTC Asian Paratriathlon Championships held for the first time in Legazpi City, Albay even as the Philippines shared the day’s glory by taking first places in both male and female divisions of the Junior Elite category.

Kaji Tetsuki, a silver medalist in the World Cup race in Magog, led the Japanese charge as he took line honors, crossing the finish line first among the paratriathletes that came from eight countries.

He clocked a fast 1:04.40 for the 750m. swim, 20K bike, 5k run to win the Men-PT55 category in a close race, with runner-up Sato Keichi just five seconds behind in 1:04.45.

Third place was Korean Jong Kwan Kim, who negotiated the distance in 1:16.17 in the race described as the most scenic triathlon in the country with majestic Mt. Mayon serving as backdrop.

Jumpei Kimura won the MenPTWC class with an even faster time after adjustments as he crossed the finish line at the Legazpi Boulevard in 1:03.20 initiating a Japanese sweep of the category as Ryota Yoshida finished more than two minutes behind him in 1:05.41. Seiji Tanaka was a distant third in 1:10.36.

In the Men-PTVI, where the Philippines fielded blind twins Joshua and Jerome Nelmida, Hong Kong’s Kim Wa Chu broke the Japanese streak as he finished in 1:05.18 for the gold, followed by Zhaladin Abduvaliev who clocked 1:07.23 and Japanese Satoru Yoneoka, who had 1:08.41.

Jerome Nelmida was the bestplaced local entry in 7th place with a time of 1:19.26 even as he and brother Joshua got the biggest applause along the race route. Joshua finished last in 1:26.38.

“We gave it our best and for me, this is my biggest race. Just hearing the people cheering us in the bike lap really touched me, “ said Jerome who will be eyeing the 2020 ASEAN Paragames with his twin brother.

The Philippine campaign suffered a double blow in the MenPTS4 category, ruled by China’s Jiachao Wang in1:04.25, as both its entries Cebuano Alex Silverio and Sixto Ducay were disqualified.

NBA player Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors lines up a putt on the ninth hole during Round One of the Ellie Mae Classic at TBC Stonebrae in Hayward, California. AFP

Nadal rips Wawrinka, reaches quarterfinals T

ORONTO, Canada—A 45-minute rain interruption did little to stop the progress of Rafael Nadal on Thursday at the Toronto Masters as he defeated Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals.

The halt in proceedings came 63 minutes into the opening set, after Wawrinka saved a Nadal set point for 5-all, with the Spaniard then holding serve for 6-5.

When the weather passed, the pair returned, with Nadal wrapping up the set on his second chance.

The second set was a battle as the Swiss, a three-time Grand Slam champion, fought back from an early break down, took a 2-1 lead, with the pair again trading breaks in the fifth and tenth games.

Nadal came from a mini-break down in the tiebreaker and secured victory on his second match point.

“It was a good match, a very positive victory for me over a tough opponent,” Nadal said.

“I’m happy to see Stan playing well

again. We had a good quality of tennis.

“I’m very pleased, I needed a match like this. It does much for the confidence.”

Nadal’s win was his 17th from 20 played against Wawrinka.

Second seed Alexander Zverev, the holder, lined up a re-run of last week’s Washington semi-final as he again takes on Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The Greek who turns 20 on Sunday knocked out his second seed in as many matches, stunning Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.

Zverev rolled over Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 in 52 minutes while never facing a break point.

Tsitsipas called his knockout of Djokovic, “the best match of my career. I knew I was playing pretty

good today.”

The number 27 will play the first Masters 1000 quarter-final of his career.

“He played very well and deserved to win without a doubt,” Djokovic said.

“I just played not that great.

“I didn’t return well. It wasn’t that great of a match.”

Bulgarian fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov laboured for almost two and a half hours to subdue Frances Tiafoe of the United States 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 7-6 (7/4).

He next faces Wimbledon runner-up and fourth seed Kevin Anderson who defeated Ilya Ivashka of Belarus 7-5, 6-3 to also make the last-eight.

Sixth seed Marin Cilic continued his quiet progress, beating Argentine 11th seed Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-2.

Canadian teen Denis Shapovalov went down to Robin Haase, losing 7-5, 6-2, ending local interest. The Dutch winner will take on Karen Khachanov, who beat eighth seed John Isner 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1). AFP

Quiban overwhelms field with 64 BACOLOD—Justin Quiban put his shot-making and putting skills on display against two unfancied rivals early on and nearly doubled his four-stroke lead with a solid 64 to all but wrap up the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge crown at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Four straight birdies from No. 2 put Quiban practically beyond reach at 14-under. The 22-year-old former amateur hotshot added two more birdies to complete a bogey-free round of 30-34 for a whopping seven-stroke bulge over Jay Bayron at 16-under 194.

It was his second straight six-under card at the tight par-70 Binitin layout which he continued to dominate with solid driving and iron play. And like in his maiden triumph at CAT Open of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia last December where he cruised to a three-stroke triumph after posting a five-shot lead in the third round, Quiban built another huge cushion in the pivotal day to virtually secure the title worth P450,000 in the first of the four-leg Visayan swing of the circuit put up by ICTSI. “The hot start was part of my mindset today (yesterday). I wanted to have this kind of score at the front nine to ease

the pressure coming home and also to put the burden on those rallying behind,” said Quiban, who could’ve stretched his lead further if not for muffed birdie putts inside four feet on Nos. 13 and 15.

“I would’ve easily finished somewhere between 17- or 18-under. Of course, a bigger lead would’ve made it better and ease the pressure tomorrow (today),” he added.

Bayron spiked his third straight 67 with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 No. 15 but the PGTA Southwoods winner last month still stood too far behind at 201 with 18 holes to play in the P2.5 million tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “With his huge lead, it would be tough to beat him (Quiban). He’s too good and here at Binitin, it’s easy to recover from bad shots,” said Bayron, who nevertheless hopes to provide a different kind of pressure with Clyde Mondilla in the final group today.

Mondilla, the reigning PGT Order of Merit champion, also shot a 67 to seize solo third at 203 as erstwhile joint second running Johvanie Abaño and Jobim Carlos slowed down with a pair of 70s to drop to fourth with Tony Lascuña (69) and Dutch Guido Van der Valk (67) at 204.

Gonzales, Frayna win AFTER scalping Woman FIDE Master Sonja Maria Bluhm with a Caro-Kann Defense, Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, coach of International Master John Marvin Miciano and WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, downed second seed GM Jordan Van Foreest of the Netherlands in just 40 moves of an English Opening to snare second spot behind Argentinian GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina during the seventh round of the 22nd Hogeschool Zeeland chess tournament in Vlissingen, the Netherlands Thursday.

Van Foreest’s passive opening play was seized into a positional advantage by the 49-year-old Gonzales who extracted a full point and upped his total to six points, earning him a piece of the second spot.

Meanwhile, Mareco vanquished Chinese GM Wang Yungu, earning the top seed the solo lead with 6.5 points before the concluding two rounds of the nine-round tournament featuring 240 players from 19 countries, including 12 GMs, 16 IMs and 14 FIDE Masters.

Frayna, 22, launched another English Duel and blasted Dutch International Master Merijn Van Delft who used coffeehouse tactics in 30 moves as she penetrated the top 10 with 5.5 points.

Frayna, who is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and The Philippine STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte, easily translated her piece into a full point. Ram Christian Agustin

Muntinlupa edges Rizal

A satisfied Justin Quiban flashes the thumbs-up sign with still 18 holes to play.

Aranar-Nualla pair leads dancesports

Amateur Standard Grade A Winners are shown here. They are champion Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla, second placer Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen, third placer Tristan John Ducay and Aileen De Lara, fourth placer Dominador Ylagan and Wendy Wang, fifth placer Ra’mu Ramos and Margaretha Christina Schrijver, sixth placer Edgardo Ladimo and Winifrida Constantino, with (from left) Board of Adjudicators Chairman George Tan, DSCPI Chairman Noel Laman and DSCPI President Becky Garcia.

LOS ANGELES, United States—Stephen Curry trailed the leaders by eight strokes after shooting a one over 71 on Thursday in the opening round of the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic.

The Golden State Warriors star, who is making his second appearance in the tournament in as many years, was tied for 106th place in the 154 player field.

He is well back of leaders Adam Long, Seth Reeves and Samuel Del Val at the Stonebrae course in Hayward, California. Last year, Curry shot 74-74 to tie for 148th and miss the cut by 11 shots.

Curry, who started on the 10th tee, made his fourth bogey at the par-three second hole. He two-putted for birdie on the third and celebrated with caddie Jonnie West, who also works for the Warriors.

“It took me six holes last year to get my first one (birdie) and it took me 12 holes this year,” said Curry, who had three birdies on his final seven holes.

“I had to wait a little bit. It was a nice relief to see a putt go in.” AFP

SEAN Mischa Aranar and partner Ana Leonila Nualla led all the winners of the 2018 DanceSports Council of the Philippines Inc. Midyear Ranking and Competition over the weekend at the Valle Verde Country Club, Ballroom Hall in Pasig City.

Aranar and Nualla captured the Amateur Standard A trophy by outclassing second placer Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen in the competition organized by DSCPI President Becky Garcia and witnessed by different international dance adjudicators.

Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo bagged the Amateur Latin A title after winning over second placer Christian Vanni and Camilla Mola. The pair of Joemari Rios and Israela Joana Aliermo, and partners Michael Marquez, Jr. and Lee Ruby Anne Espinosa also shone in the event.

Rios and Aliero beat Michel Flores and Ariane Rose Madrid to secure the Grade B Standard title, while Marquez and Espinosa defeated Darren De Guzman and Danica De Guzman to grab the Grade B Latin crown.

The competition was backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Flawless, Like-FM 105.9, Studio AK and The Greenery Bulacan.

The next DanceSport competitions are the WDSF Open and DanceSport sa Sugbu on Sept. 8 at the Waterfront Hotel, Lahug in Cebu, the Batang Pinoy Finals on Sept. 21 in Baguio City and the 22nd DSCPI National Championships on Oct. 13. For inquiries, you may reach the DSCPI Secretariat at 637-2314.

IMUS—Muntinlupa shook off the rust of not seeing action for quite sometime and it took awhile, but the team eventually back Rizal, 84-80, in the MPBL Datu Cup. Allan Mangahas went an assist short of posting a double-double performance as he came away with 23 points and nine rebounds to power the Angelis Resortbacked Cagers to their fourth win in as many games. Muntinlupa is the only other undefeated squad in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and league former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

This was only the Cagers’ fourth game as two of their supposed matches were rescheduled. Their game against the Pasig Pirates was reset due to heavy downpour and flooding in the metropolis while their match against the Navotas Clutch was halted in the final 1:35 of the overtime period when the rim broke.

In the main game, a new-look Imus Bandera showed up and stayed tougher in outlasting the Makati Skyscrapers, 79-76.

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

Sports

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

A8

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 , 2018

Halep mauls Williams in straight sets MONTREAL—World number one Simona Halep crushed seven time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams in straight sets on Thursday at the WTA Montreal event just hours after a delivering a marathon three-hour victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Top seed Halep took no prisoners against Williams, blitzing the 38-yearold American 6-2, 6-2 in just 71 minutes to reach the quarter-finals.

Halep’s match against Pavlyuchenkova was originally scheduled for Wednesday night but heavy rains forced organizers to postpone it until Thursday morning.

The Romanian needed three gruelling sets to oust the world No. 28 Russian but had a much easier time against veteran Williams who has yet to win a title in 2018.

Williams has struggled with her form this year and hasn’t won a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon in 2008 when she beat sister Serena in the final.

“It’s never easy to play either of the Williams sisters, and even though she was struggling, I knew I had to be focused on every ball, and stay focused until the end,” Halep said.

“She wasn’t feeling great on the court and it definitely wasn’t her best day. And I’m happy to be the quarterfinals now.”

The reigning French Open champion started quickly, winning the first two games en route to taking the opening set.

She also jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set and after a slight lull in the middle she rebounded to run away with the final four games.

Halep won 77 percent of her first serve points and broke Williams’ serve five times.

Halep next faces number six seed Caroline Garcia, who overwhelmed former World No.1 Maria Sharapova hours earlier.

Halep and Garcia met in the quarterfinals of this event last year when it was held in Toronto with Halep coming out the winner 6-4, 6-2.

Halep leads Garcia in their career head-to-head 4-1 as Garcia’s only career win over Halep was a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) victory in the final of the WTA Beijing tournament in October. AFP

ON TO THE FINALS. New Zealand players celebrate their 87-82 win over China in the semifinals of the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The Kiwis will face Australia in the final round, while the Chinese set up a return match with the Philippines in the battle for third place.

Lions stay immaculate at 5-0 S

AN BEDA University banked on Robert Bolick and AC Soberano in overtime to whip rival Letran, 80-76, yesterday and remain unbeaten in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Bolick hit two free throws late to ice the game, while AC Soberano didn’t need any warm up and hit two booming triples in overtime to help the Lions grab their fifth straight triumph, second only to Lyceum of the Philippines University’s pristine 7-0 (win-loss) record.

“I salute him (Soberano). He came in and help us win this game,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez of Soberano.

“Robert is Robert, he will win us games and he helped us win us again.”

The Knights had a chance to win it in regulation when Jerrick Balanza followed up on a JP Calvo miss to seize a 69-67 lead with 3.8 seconds left.

But Bolick set up Donaldo Tankoua for the game-tying reverse lay up that forced OT. And then it was Soberano and Bolick who took over in the extra time.

Letran fell to 4-2.

In the second game, Arellano University drew a career 17-point game by Fil-Am Maui Sera Josef as it bested Jose Rizal, 79-79, to remain at fifth with a 3-3 mark.

The Bombers sank to 0-6.

Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College leaned on key foul shots in the stretch as it edged Mapua University, 89-85, yesterday to snare its second straight win.

Jerome Garcia, Sean Neri and Renz Gonzales combined for five free throws in the last two minutes to help the Generals seal their second win in a row, including a

Unbeaten Tigresses target semis vs Lady Blazers Games today 9 a.m. – Adamson vs UST (men’s) 11 a.m. – UP vs Perpetual (men’s) 2 p.m. – San Sebastian vs San Beda (women’s) 4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs UST (women’s) 6 p.m. – Arellano vs St. Benilde (men’s)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas tries to formalize its stint in the semifinal round as it shoots for a fifth straight victory against a resurgent St. Benilde side today (Saturday) in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Tigresses swept their first three matches in smashing fashion then disposed off the UP Lady Maroons in four to zero in on the first slot in the Final Four of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

But they expect a tougher challenge from the Lady Blazers in a duel of offense vs defense at 4 p.m. with the latter coming off a four-set romp over the San Beda U Lady Red Spikers last week that snapped their back-to-back setbacks.

Ejiya Laure and Milena Alessandrini, along w i t h Tin Francisco, Kecelyn Galdones, Jamie Jimenez, Carla Sandoval and setter Alina Bicar, have been

San Sebastian’s Jewelle Bermillo (center) keeps the ball in play during their match against UP Lady in the PVL Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center.

dishing out big games for UST with Laure and Alessandrini tipped to preside the team’s offense again against the Blazers, to be led by Anne Umali and Marites Pablo, currently the Nos. 2 and 5, in blocking with averages of 0.92 and 0.62 kill blocks, respectively.

The España-based squad

remained the league’s top spiking team with 33.88 percent success while St. Benilde is No. 2 in blocking behind Adamson with a norm of 2.54 kill blocks. The Lady Blazers are also the No. 2 team in receive and third in digs, both behind Adamson, making them a worthy challenger to the power-hitting Tigresses.

Games Tuesday

(at the Arena in San Juan) 10 a.m. LSGH vs EAC-ICA(jrs) 12 nn UPHSD vs JRU (jrs) 2 p.m. CSB vs EAC (srs) 4 p.m. UPHSD vs JRU (srs)

79-77 overtime win over the San Sebastian Stags last week after starting the season with four straight losses.

All in all, EAC made 20 of 28 free throws on this one and 46 of 61 in the last two that was a complete departure to a nightmarish 17-of-46 clip in a 69-75 OT setback to Arellano University on July 19.

“In that game, our free throw was a disaster and we really worked hard on it every day and we’re really thankful that our hard work is paying off,” said EAC coach Ariel Sison.

Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou came out big with 17 points, 12 rebounds and a game-high six blocks, improving every game about a month since returning from an ACL (anterior cruciate liga-

ment) injury that sidelined him most of last season.

“I’m not 100 percent, my hamstring still hurts a bit,” said Laminou. “But there’s no excuse for us not to play better and I just need to play smart and help in defense because I know we have scorers in the team.”

There were some anxious moments when EAC’s CJ Cadua was assessed an unsportsmanlike foul and Mapua’s Laurenz Victoria a technical foul after a mad scramble for the loose ball with 13.5 seconds to go and the Generals up by just a hairline, 84-83.

Mapua’s Daniel Aguirre, however, missed his two foul shots while Garcia hit the bonus off the Victoria technical and two more off a fifth and last foul of Victoria a play later to give EAC a four-point cushion in preserving the win.

The Cardinals, who were led by Noah Lugo’s game-high 24 points, fell to 2-5 (win-loss).

ONE salutes Martial Arts as Asia’s cultural treasure IN just seven short years, ONE Championship has evolved from a small mixed martial arts promotion in Singapore trying to make a dent, to what it is now: the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the undisputed premier martial arts organization in Asia.

From a combined ten events held in their first three years of existence, ONE has exploded into one of, if not the most active martial arts promotions in Asia, with a planned 24 events in 2018, and significantly more on tap in 2019.

Not bad for a company that began as an idea on a piece of paper, and ONE Championship founder Chatri Sityodtong says that they haven’t even scratched the surface.

“On day one, when it was just a piece of paper, and I wrote it on a Powerpoint presentation, this was my vision,” Sityodtong said. “Actually, we’re not even close to my vision yet.”

The promotion’s expansion and growth, dominating television viewership and social media metrics since their inception in 2011, has been nothing short of astounding.

Currently, ONE Championship can be seen on television sets across 138

countries and is followed by a potential 1.7 billion viewers on any given night.

On social media, ONE Championship is garnering a staggering 19 billion impressions across different social media platforms, a massive jump from what used to be an already-impressive 352 million impressions back in 2014.

All these considered, Sityodtong maintains that this is all just the the tip of the iceberg.

“My vision is for us to be a 20 billion dollar property on TV, on laptop, on mobile device, literally four billion people watching it, there’s a “Manny Pacquiao” in every single country, everyone is crazy about it, we have TV, movies, software, games, that was my vision. We’re still only a part-way of the vision.” Sitdyodtong continued.

And while a lot of ONE Championship’s success has to do with the people behind the company, equally, or even more responsible is the massive Asian fanbase that ONE has managed to capture.

From Singapore, to Manila, Bangkok to Myanmar, and all across the continent, ONE Championship has become a highly-anticipated attraction.

Unheralded Woodland shoots 64 to seize PGA lead

Gary Woodland of the United States plays a shot during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri. AFP

ST. LOUIS, United States—Gary Woodland, who has never cracked the top-10 in 27 major starts, fired a six-under par 64 Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead over fellow American Rickie Fowler after the opening round of the 100th PGA Championship.

On a day when Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy grinded out level par, unlikely Woodland—who snapped a five-year PGA victory drought by winning in February at Phoenix—unleashed the best putting round of his career at Bellerive Country Club.

“When I see putts go in, that just gets me going,” Woodland said. “It’s really starting to click. I thought I was putting well. It was nice to see them go in.”

World number 44 Woodland, whose best major finishes have been shares of 12th at the 2011 PGA and 2016 British

Open, sank seven birdie putts in 10 holes to pass Fowler, who matched the best major round of his career with a 65.

Ninth-ranked Fowler, twice a top-five finisher in every major, is without a win to show for it, having finished second at the Masters in April.

“I always have hope. It’s not something I necessarily worry about,” Fowler said.

“Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention. We’ll just keep beating down that door.”

Woodland, 34, opened with a bogey but closed the front nine with back-toback birdies then sank a 44-foot birdie putt at the par-4 11th and added 23-foot birdie putts at 12 and the par-3 16th.

“You work so hard and you want to see results to back up the work you’ve done,” Woodland said. “Today was just a step in the right direction.”

At the par-5 17th, Woodland dropped his approach three feet from the cup and tapped in for a birdie to seize the lead, then closed with a par.

“It was nice to get the jitters over early,” Woodland said. “I really settled in. I played great all day.”

Woods, a 14-time major champion making a comeback after spinal fusion surgery, battled back all day to overcome a bogey-double bogey start.

“It kept me in the golf tournament,” Woods said. “I could have easily gone the other way, but I hung in there and turned it around.”

The 42-year-old American battled back with birdie putts from four feet at 18, nine feet at the first and eight feet at the par-5 eighth.

“Just hung in there. I was trying to chip away at it, pick away at it,” Woods said. “I was able to grind out a score today.” AFP

IN BRIEF JG Summit’s income declined to P9.8b in H1

CONGLOMERATE JG Summit Holdings Inc. reported a 32.8-percent percent decline in first-half net income to P9.8 billion from P14.6 billion year-on-year due to the lower profits of the petrochemicals, food and airline businesses, coupled by foreign exchange losses from the depreciation of the peso against the dollar.

JG Summit said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half consolidated revenues rose eight percent to P145.29 billion from P134.47 billion a year ago.

“While we continue to face the challenges arising from inflation and the weaker currency further exacerbated by tougher competitive dynamics, we are delighted to see improvements in our 2Q18 results,” JG Summit president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

Systems Integration expo starts Aug. 16

THE 12th largest population in the world and also one of the most tech-savvy around, the Philippines is offering a multitude of opportunities for tech companies and investors.

The country’s longest-running trade show for business technologies—Systems Integration Philippines—is back for its latest edition be held on August 16 to 18 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex. Those interested to visit may register online for a free 1-day pass: www.globallinkmp.com/SIP “The Philippines is slowly but surely catching up with the rest of Asia when it comes to attracting tech brands and investors,” said Patrick Tan, CEO of GlobalLink MP Events International.

PCC approves Uber purchase with conditions

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Competition Commission approved the acquisition of Uber Philippines by Grab subject to a set of voluntary commitments that will lead to a final clearance in six to 12 months.

PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan said the voluntary commitments that included service quality, fare transparency, pricing and the removal of “see destination” feature would ensure Grab’s sincerity in providing quality transport service to the riding public.

“The PCC’s commitment decision holds Grab to a standard as if Uber were present in the market. In effect, while Grab operates as a virtual monopolist, the commitments assure the public that quality and price levels that would prevail are those that had been when they still faced competition from Uber,” Balisacan said in a briefing Friday at PCC headquarters in Quezon City.

“Moreover, the commitments ensure that the merger will not make it more difficult for new players to enter and grow,” he added.

The conditional ruling encouraged Grab to bring back market averages for acceptance and cancellation rates to the pre-merger level and the same response time, if not faster to rider complaints.

The commission noted the acceptance rate dipped to 45 percent of June 2018 from the average of 65 percent, while the cancelation should be slightly lower than the pre-merger rate of 6 percent to 7 percent Grab also committed to revise its receipt to show the fare breakdown per trip, including distance, fare surges, discounts, promo reductions and per-minute waiting charge.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

B1

LANDBANK AWARDS.

GLOBE Telecom Inc. on Friday signed a three-year deal with SAP, a Germanybased multinational software corporation, for business suite platform and service solutions aimed at digitalizing its finance processes, enabling real-time decision making and supporting agile environment.

Through S4/HANA business suite platform, as well as Concur and Ariba Procure to Pay (P2P) service solutions, Globe will be able to modernize its business processes to keep up with the fast-changing landscape of the business and market. These solutions allow Globe to upgrade its Enterprise Resource Planning, automating most of the manual processes.

“This initiative will help transform our finance processes into more agile and real time decision making tools,” Globe chief finance officer Rizza Maniego-Eala said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

CLARK FREEPORT—AirAsia said it is expanding its domestic network in Mindanao by adding more flights from Cagayan de Oro to Clark, Iloilo, Cebu and Manila

by October 28.

AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer Captain Dexter Comendador said the airline was committed to connect communities in the country.

“Our newest routes connecting Northern Mindanao to Cebu and Iloilo in Visayas and to Manila and Clark in Luzon will provide the much needed domestic connections as there are definitely great tourism and business potentials here,” he said.

“Let’s paint Cagayan de Oro City skies red and make air travel more affordable, convenient and reliable,” added Comendador.

Comendador said AirAsia was offering promo fares from as low as P490, all-in seat sale for Cagayan de Oro routes for booking at www.airasia.com until August 12, 2018 for travel between Oct 28, 2018 and March 30, 2019. Jess Malabanan

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Land Bank of the Philippines is conferred once more as Outstanding Lending Bank Partner and Outstanding Program Partner for the Credit Surety Fund at the 15th Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas stakeholders held July 10 at the BSP complex in Manila. BSP Monetary Board member and chairman of the BSP Stakeholders Awards Board of Judges Antonio Abacan Jr. (left) and BSP Resource Management Sector Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Cyd Tuaño-Amador present (right) the Outstanding CSF Lending Bank Partner and Outstanding CSF Program partner awards to Landbank president and CEO Alex Buenaventura.

Globe Telecom signs 3-year deal with SAP

AirAsia expanding Mindanao network

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

Economy to rebound in succeeding quarters T

By Julito G. Rada

HE Department of Finance expects the Philippine economy to rebound in the succeeding quarters after a slower-than-expected growth of 6 percent in the second quarter on soaring capital formation and strong recovery of exports.

Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said another factor that could boost the economy ahead would be the construction industry related to the ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program of the government.

“There is silver lining amid the slowdown. First, capital formation soared to 20.7 percent on the back of strong 28.6 percent acceleration in durable equipment. Second, exports of goods and services recovered to a double-digit growth of 13 percent from 6.5 percent in the

first quarter amid a rebound in electronics components,” he said.

Beltran said consumer electronics and office equipment also showed tripledigit expansions.

“These imply that the economy will be able to recover lost ground in the next quarters as the equipment and factories set up in the second quarter will start operations. Also, the rise in the goods trade deficit will be sustainably financed by a growing services trade surplus,” Beltran said.

He said the government was keeping its eye on the bigger picture that growth should be driven by investment.

“Public construction has accelerated to 22.1 percent in 2018 S1 (first semester), more than double the 2017 S1 growth of 9.3 percent. Private construction is also picking up,” he said.

Beltran added the government should keep its focus on enhancing the country’s long-term prospects by increasing the economy’s productive capacity (through infrastructure and social services) while maintaining macroeconomic stability.

Economic growth slowed down in the second quarter to 6 percent from the revised 6.6 percent in the first quarter,

pulled down mainly by faster inflation, closure of Boracay and mining operations, persisting trade imbalance and a “stagnant” agricultural sector.

The growth was also slower than 6.7 percent a year ago. The figure brought the average GDP growth in the first half to 6.3 percent, way below the lower limit of the target range of 7 percent to 8 percent this year.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said growth could have been more robust and possibly settled within the target range if inflation was more subdued during the period.

Inflation in the first six months averaged 4.3 percent, or above the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set earlier by the country’s economic managers.

President Rodrigo Duterte in late May ordered the closure of the island resort of Boracay in Aklan to rehabilitate it and prevent its further degradation due to commercialization.

A number of mining operations, meanwhile, were suspended and shuttered during the time of former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, especially those engaged in open-pit mining.

Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global books P7.9-b income

By Jenniffer B. Austria ALLIANCE Global Group Inc., the investment holding company of billionaire Andrew Tan, said net income attributable to equity holders to parent company increased 17 percent to P7.9 billion in the first six months of 2018 from P6.9 billion yearon-year on the positive performance of core businesses.

Alliance Global said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues rose nine percent to P73.2 billion from a year ago level of P66.8 billion.

“All of the group’s major subsidiaries delivered strong topline and bottomline results, reflecting the improving outlook in their respective business segments,” Alliance Global chief executive Kevin

Tan said.

“We have consistently grown our reliable sources of income and have improved our operating leverage.

All of these should support us as we navigate the challenging economic environment moving forward,” Tan added.

Alliance Global has investments in real estate, liquor, quick service restaurant, infrastructure and gaming and leisure businesses.

The group’s property unit Megaworld Corp. reported a 13 percent growth in attributable net income to P7.3 billion in the first half of 2018 from P6.4 billion a year before, boosted by the sustained growth of the residential and rental businesses.

Liquor unit Emperador delivered an 18-percent growth in attributable net

BEEP CARD SOLUTIONS.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra III(third from left) visits the beep™ booth displaying the latest payment solutions for public transportation during the 2nd Philippine Auto Parts Expo at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia. beep™ payment solutions offer a working fare collection system that can be readily installed in modern jeepneys and other PUVs. With Delgra are (from left) AF Payments Inc. executives Johan Diaz (senior business development manager), Peter Maher (president and CEO) and Agnes Padilla (marketing head).

income to P3.3 billion in the first half of 2018 from P2.7 billion a year ago, driven by the strong performance of its international business.

The group’s gaming and leisure unit Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. displayed strong recovery, posting attributable net income of P1.7 billion in the first half of the year fromn P375 million recorded in the same period a year ago.

Travellers International, owner and operator of Resorts World Manila, recorded an EBITDA of P1.6-billion on gross revenues of P11.1 billion in the first semester of the year.

Although volumes were steady yearon-year, gaming revenues slipped three percent to P4.5 billion during the period on slightly lower blended hold rate of 5.3 percent.

Investments jumped 143% to $1.6b in May—BSP NET inflows of foreign direct investments in May jumped 143 percent to $1.6 billion from $677 million a year ago, reflecting investors’ confidence in the Philippine economy, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

The Bangko Sentral said in a statement all FDI components yielded higher net inflows during the month. About 80 percent of FDI net inflows were in the form of non-residents’ investments in debt instruments issued by local affiliates (intercompany borrowings), which surged 136 percent to $1.3 billion from $564 million in 2017.

Net equity capital investments increased more than five times to $241 million from $43 million during the same month last year. Equity capital placements amounted to $257 million while withdrawals continued to be low at $15 million.

“Equity capital placements were sourced primarily from Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Japan. These were channeled largely to manufacturing; real estate; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; financial and insurance; and professional, scientific and technical activities,” it said.

Reinvestment of earnings amounted to $75 million, slightly higher by 5.7 percent from $71 million recorded in May 2017.

FDI net inflows rose 49 percent to $4.8 billion in the first five months from $3.3 billion in the same period last year, mainly on account of the expansion in net equity capital investments by 469 percent to $1.4 billion.

Gross equity capital placements grew more than four times to $1.5 billion, while withdrawals amounted to $139 million. Equity capital placements during the period emanated mainly from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and the United States.

The placements were largely invested in manufacturing; financial and insurance; real estate; arts, entertainment and recreation; and electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply activities.

Debt instruments increased 17.3 percent to $3.1 billion from $2.7 billion in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, reinvestment of earnings amounted to $343 million during the period.

Century Properties, FLI report profits CENTURY Properties Group Inc. and Filinvest Land Inc. registered strong profits in the first half of 2018.

Century Properties Group Inc. said net income in the first six months of 2018 rose 10 percent to P490 million from P446 million year-on-year on the strong contribution of the residential and leasing businesses.

Century Properties said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half revenues jumped 40 percent to P4.7 billion as the company started to see the positive results from its diversification plans.

“CPG’s net income for the first half of 2018 already covers 78 percent of the full year net income it recorded in 2017. We see this positive trend in our bottom line to continue,” said newlyappointed Century Properties chief finance and head for investor relations

Ponciano Carreon, Jr. “While we continue to recognize the revenue from the unit inventory of our condominium developments, we are also seeing a higher income stream from our new allied real estate segments. The company is now wellpositioned for sustainable growth with all the preparations we have made to diversify in areas where we see high returns,” he added.

Filinvest Land, Inc., the property unit of the Gotianun family, meanwhile, reported that net income reached P2.88 billion in the first half of 2018, up nine percent from a year ago.

First-half revenues climbed six percent to P10.6 billion as rental revenues rose 28 percent to P2.6 billion from a year ago level of P2.03 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks slip; San Miguel, PLDT up

T

HE stock market fell slightly Friday, with investors weighing the decision of the Monetary Board to raise policy rates by 50 basis points and digesting the second-quarter earnings reports of companies.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 15.73 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,804.98 on a value turnover of P8.3 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 96 to 86, with 51 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp., which is into banking, property, telecommunications, water distribution, power generation, electronics and transportation dropped 2.5 percent to P985, while Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. lost 1.1 percent to P10.50.

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. advanced 3.4 percent to P143, while PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, climbed 2.1 percent to P1,375.

The rest of Asian markets fell on Friday after a broadly positive week as traders await the latest developments in the China-US trade row, while the Turkish lira briefly dived 12 percent to fresh record lows buffeted by a diplomatic row with Washington.

After last week’s turmoil, the past five days have seen investors a little more positive as they took in stride tit-for-tat threats of tariffs from the world’s top two economies, though the fears of an all-out trade war are keeping everyone on their toes.

However, on Friday Hong Kong fell one percent after a four-day win streak.

Tokyo shed 1.3 percent despite data showing the Japanese economy grew

more than expected in the second quarter. The outlook was dimmed by concerns about a trade war with the United States.

Sydney was down 0.3 percent, Singapore shed 1.3 percent and Seoul dropped 0.9 percent. Taipei, Mumbai and Bangkok also lost ground. However, Shanghai ended the day marginally higher.

The losses followed a broadly negative lead from Wall Street.

With few major catalysts in the trade stand-off, focus is now on the release later in the day of US consumer price index data for July, which will give an idea about price pressures across the country and help guide the Federal Reserve in its interest rate plans.

The central bank is tipped to lift borrowing costs twice more this year, having already hiked two times so far as Donald Trump’s massive tax cuts kick

in and the economy continues to hum along.

Expectations for further hikes have sent the dollar rallying and the unit maintained its strength Friday after a top Fed official usually considered dovish indicated he would back more increases.

“If the US consumer prices data for July confirms a steady rise in inflation, it will support the dollar on the back of speculation that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates again in September,” said Kengo Suzuki, forex strategist at Mizuho Securities.

Chicago Fed President Charles Evans backed “somewhat restrictive” rate levels to offset the fiscal stimulus, citing the possibility of inflation hitting 2.2 percent. Evans had previously voted against hikes on concerns that inflation would not hit the Fed’s two percent target. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.9 9,340 96.95 800,180 2.75 1,000 129.5 1,906,660 1.9 713,000 33.05 117,900 16.4 13,500 14.56 356,400 3.78 134,000 0.66 1,000 0.56 52,000 77.2 1,379,350 1 563,000 21.4 1,000 47.15 123,400 200 600 88.45 430 30 383,200 200 1,123,410 83.9 3,670 1.19 17,000

558,624.50 77,603,184 2,750 246,807,329 1,362,400 3,900,575 221,488 5,159,028 497,820 660 28,610 106,147,357 565,180 21,400 5,814,750 120,050 38,028.50 11,559,320 224,745,574 307,955 20,230

549,731 -49,183,313.50 -170,255,898 -475,000 -529,205 2,147,380 59,771,873.50 -17,000 -4,740,595 -2,227,585 -38,038,985 -

36.05 15.3 0.74 1.21 0.236 119.9 3.51 15.2 220 39.8 20.2 49.8 71 1.78 7.5 10.5 15.72 10.5 7.28 6.99 15.94 63.55 27.6 7.45 14.1 2.34 266 4.95 3.1 26.2 13.4 18.8 366 0.18 7 2.22 4.11 9.04 5 1.18 11.74 55.8 6.2 4.76 2.56 1.69 13.2 77 5.18 0.13 1.06 138 2.45 20.5 1.51

INDUSTRIAL 36.1 2,051,100 15.86 1,337,800 0.75 1,572,000 1.26 1,003,000 0.237 1,280,000 119.9 270 3.57 5,020,000 15.2 342,500 220 150 40.05 354,700 21 22,600 49.8 140 75.85 150 1.82 86,000 7.88 18,100 10.5 1,676,600 15.8 244,200 10.68 55,200 7.32 43,000 6.99 33,422,500 16.08 1,084,000 63.85 90,060 28.1 330,100 7.45 114,600 14.3 251,200 2.35 1,013,000 267 492,160 5.04 65,400 3.1 9,000 26.2 222,200 13.72 168,100 18.84 1,493,800 368.2 207,190 0.18 50,000 7 4,900 2.22 74,000 4.11 116,000 9.04 1,544,800 5.09 119,000 1.19 286,000 11.94 85,200 56.5 187,230 6.25 5,000 4.76 231,000 2.58 479,000 1.74 131,000 13.22 865,800 80 641,830 5.2 238,900 0.13 20,000 1.07 393,000 140.6 882,450 2.5 1,731,000 20.5 50,000 1.52 1,902,000

74,532,855 20,865,208 1,172,520 1,273,820 304,330 32,373 17,991,980 5,260,550 34,200 14,220,450 469,315 6,976 11,017 154,150 141,611 17,982,538 3,849,154 584,816 316,023 233,865,629 17,355,806 5,749,968.50 9,317,295 854,082 3,599,914 2,389,250 131,822,456 327,280 28,260 5,887,535 2,304,292 28,140,146 76,322,402 9,000 34,300 164,850 479,650 14,146,326 599,630 339,100 1,006,046 10,576,510.50 31,269 1,099,560 1,245,430 224,940 11,457,836 51,094,457.50 1,241,991 2,600 419,690 123,177,814 4,288,150 1,025,000 2,881,590

-45,356,395.00 3,436,662 2,280 5,592,280 -1,010,292 -4 9,100 -60,790 -2,725,512 1,208,166 -13,897 44,023,457 5,964,382 1,392,140.50 4,197,285 -206,533 1,018,410 47,000 -40,540,146 -263,020 -823,824 -24,529,916.00 -12,696,064 -60,330 -123,300 5,240,996 2,967,841.50 -6,245 147,560 159,960 2,426,424 -26,244,864 26,000 72,586,129 -84,250 -1,025,000 -50,540

0.243 59.3 12.3 0.91 31 1.4 1.41 984 6 12.1 7 4.31 970 6.01 57.4 0.59 4.34 17.28 0.67 4.96 0.037 1.3 2.78 138.3 954 0.78 1.57 421 0.32 0.209

HOLDING FIRMS 0.245 870,000 60.35 859,050 12.58 12,939,300 0.91 24,000 32.15 210,300 1.41 82,243,000 1.41 30,288,000 985 446,040 6.07 7,364,400 12.38 2,150,100 7 12,300 4.31 11,000 980 68,890 6.01 4,900 58.5 808,210 0.6 527,000 4.36 3,160,000 17.28 2,940,200 0.69 3,182,000 4.98 19,595,000 0.037 13,800,000 1.3 1,131,000 2.88 2,155,000 143 1,577,350 956 267,370 0.78 15,000 1.6 500,000 421 100 0.325 3,930,000 0.209 180,000

212,310 51,919,989 161,889,982 21,940 6,693,940 119,283,220 43,785,980 440,108,437.50 44,472,872 26,561,888 86,100 47,410 67,336,700 29,469 47,161,394.50 315,250 13,772,970 52,130,860 2,158,150 97,847,650 511,700 1,479,460 6,149,360 223,567,491 256,921,360 11,700 799,790 42,100 1,279,300 37,620

23,036,279.50 -74,380,972 270,850 -658,050 -80,771,762.50 -4,983,121 15,106,792 -32,985,225 10,968,603 216,150 -1,191,590 -34,651,920 13,600 -37,384,260 43,100 12,434,741 -86,610,680 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.85 98.1 2.75 130.1 1.95 33.1 16.42 14.34 3.67 0.66 0.55 76.5 1.02 21.4 47.15 201 88.4 30.1 202.6 84 1.19

59.9 98.1 2.75 130.8 1.96 33.15 16.46 14.56 3.78 0.66 0.56 77.2 1.02 21.4 47.3 201 88.45 30.8 203 84 1.19

59.25 96.5 2.75 127.8 1.86 33 16.4 14.34 3.67 0.66 0.55 76.2 0.99 21.4 46.75 200 88.4 30 199.7 83.9 1.19

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

36.8 15.34 0.76 1.22 0.24 119.9 3.61 15.5 230 40.8 21 50 74 1.82 7.74 10.8 15.8 10.8 7.4 7 16 63.55 27.6 7.46 14.1 2.37 269 5 3.2 26.7 13.7 18.8 370 0.18 7 2.25 4.15 9.13 5 1.19 11.82 55.8 6.29 4.76 2.69 1.75 13.2 79 5.22 0.13 1.08 138.5 2.5 20.5 1.55

36.8 15.9 0.76 1.31 0.243 119.9 3.61 15.6 230 40.8 21 50 75.85 1.82 7.88 10.96 15.86 10.8 7.4 7.01 16.2 63.95 28.55 7.54 14.4 2.41 274 5.05 3.2 26.7 13.96 18.9 370 0.18 7 2.25 4.15 9.2 5.1 1.19 11.94 56.75 6.29 4.76 2.69 1.75 13.26 81.65 5.22 0.13 1.1 141 2.5 20.5 1.55

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.244 59.65 12.42 0.92 31.7 1.49 1.49 999 6.15 12.34 7 4.31 970 6.03 58.15 0.61 4.5 17.72 0.69 5 0.037 1.35 2.78 138.3 957 0.78 1.57 421 0.32 0.209

0.247 60.9 12.66 0.92 32.7 1.53 1.53 1,002 6.15 12.4 7 4.31 980 6.03 58.5 0.61 4.52 18 0.7 5.03 0.038 1.35 2.9 144.9 978 0.78 1.6 421 0.33 0.209

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

7.87 1.05 13.46 0.73 42.2 3.13 4.63 5.6 0.445 0.94 1 0.21 0.405 9.86 27.5 0.6 1.47 1.21 1.6 4.97 0.68 0.455 0.51 3.7 20.7

7.95 1.07 14.68 0.74 42.75 3.16 4.64 5.6 0.475 0.97 1.01 0.21 0.405 10.14 28.65 0.6 1.52 1.22 1.6 4.99 0.68 0.465 0.53 3.7 21.5

7.69 1.04 13.4 0.72 42.2 3.12 4.61 5.6 0.435 0.94 0.99 0.208 0.405 9.86 27.25 0.59 1.47 1.2 1.56 4.92 0.67 0.455 0.51 3.62 20.6

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

1.99 3.25 38.5 1.15 7.47 0.76 6.04

1.99 3.25 39 1.15 7.47 0.76 6.04

1.98 3.25 38.35 1.14 7.3 0.75 6.01

1.99 3.25 38.5 1.14 7.36 0.76 6.04

512,000 83,000 6,561,400 390,000 206,400 246,000 1,632,600

1,015,730 269,750 253,237,245 444,750 1,515,514 184,960 9,851,602

-260,000 38,430,095 131,970 -18,240 -2,598,031

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

14.48 25.4 1.43 0.47 0.045 13.4 4.28 10.66 0.053 70 7 7.4 2.23 22.3 915 1,975 5.43 330 3.9 2.09 90.4 12.7 7.83 0.132 3 3.56 14.62 4 1.06 26.5 0.455 4.77 7.48 2.78 2.16 2.35 8.24 10.94 8.53 3.8 8.13 112 5.32 1,352 0.92 0.385 46.9 87 8.5 2.26 1.08 0.73 5 0.77 11.54

14.5 25.4 1.46 0.475 0.046 13.4 4.69 10.78 0.055 71.1 7 8.15 2.27 26.2 915 1,980 5.43 330 4.03 2.09 90.55 12.7 7.83 0.135 3.15 3.64 14.62 4.04 1.06 26.9 0.455 5.2 7.65 2.87 2.24 2.35 8.9 10.94 8.63 3.95 8.13 112 5.34 1,375 0.92 0.4 46.9 87 8.5 2.43 1.09 0.74 5.13 0.8 11.72

14 24.85 1.43 0.46 0.045 13.4 4.28 10.5 0.053 69.95 6.79 6.85 2.23 22 915 1,969 5.41 321 3.9 2.09 88.45 12.3 7.6 0.128 2.98 3.5 14.62 4 1.06 26.5 0.455 4.77 7.48 2.75 2.15 2.1 8.15 10.94 8.53 3.68 8.13 112 5.25 1,345 0.89 0.37 45.6 85.3 8.38 2.26 1.07 0.7 4.99 0.76 11.52

SERVICES 14.46 25.3 1.43 0.465 0.045 13.4 4.69 10.5 0.054 70.35 6.8 8.11 2.27 25.8 915 1,976 5.41 329 3.94 2.09 88.45 12.3 7.83 0.13 3.02 3.6 14.62 4.01 1.06 26.5 0.455 5.09 7.5 2.87 2.2 2.27 8.8 10.94 8.63 3.94 8.13 112 5.3 1,375 0.92 0.375 45.6 85.45 8.39 2.4 1.08 0.72 5.12 0.76 11.54

6,900 76,700 66,000 1,630,000 5,700,000 1,000 11,000 12,212,100 10,500,000 2,162,520 6,316,600 1,439,500 67,000 332,000 20 17,750 324,600 5,150 1,183,000 15,000 1,186,860 32,600 21,500 11,720,000 7,679,000 119,000 200 297,000 5,000 1,233,900 30,000 266,000 14,763,200 1,828,000 466,000 27,000 5,876,600 1,000 1,500 198,000 643,200 13,100 467,500 111,985 7,360,000 3,330,000 1,952,600 657,050 94,400 11,854,000 204,000 90,022,000 2,971,000 4,871,000 5,957,600

98,448 1,941,720 94,680 759,300 256,800 13,400 49,620 130,171,458 565,400 151,866,642.50 43,046,790 11,292,848 150,320 8,228,820 18,300 35,041,075 1,758,245 1,690,914 4,696,790 31,350 105,817,269.50 413,420 168,192 1,530,090 23,362,670 420,840 2,924 1,190,360 5,300 32,890,885 13,650 1,351,820 111,945,848 5,083,520 1,022,910 60,170 50,562,067 10,940 12,831 768,630 5,229,216 1,467,200 2,473,985 152,579,835 6,715,470 1,256,700 89,576,675 56,175,995.50 794,935 28,202,860 220,280 64,554,490 15,155,874 3,806,970 68,860,386

4,344 23,000 13,400 54,475,936 5,940 -136,259,975.50 -33,122,801 4,013,293 4,500 -2,440 24,193,555 19,800 83,100 24,807,577.50 143,300 -775,780.00 -40,090 1,099,235 20,800 14,167,066 800,220.00 -839,521 1,710 -11,700 0 -39,623 114,980,895 787,920 -46,994,985 -24,412,503.50 128,367 4,004,340.00 -95,040 896,890 1,223,687 -39,500 -31,515,582.00

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

0.0025 1.62 3.75 23 1.98 0.305 7.41 2.01 0.204 0.128 0.13 0.0086 1.58 4.84 1.16 0.54 1.08 0.012 0.012 3.15 4.29 16.1 32

0.0026 1.66 3.75 24 2.02 0.305 7.41 2.01 0.209 0.128 0.135 0.0086 1.58 4.95 1.17 0.54 1.14 0.013 0.012 3.17 4.43 16.4 32.3

0.0025 1.61 3.71 21.5 1.98 0.3 7.16 1.98 0.2 0.127 0.13 0.0086 1.54 4.77 1.12 0.54 1.07 0.012 0.011 3.05 4.29 15.7 31.95

MINING & OIL 0.0026 44,000,000 1.63 6,083,000 3.71 6,000 21.5 119,900 2.02 382,000 0.3 30,000 7.36 10,500 2.01 12,784,000 0.205 900,000 0.127 1,510,000 0.135 200,000 0.0086 10,000,000 1.56 392,000 4.83 2,981,000 1.16 368,000 0.54 68,000 1.14 6,767,000 0.012 8,700,000 0.011 10,300,000 3.17 72,000 4.29 423,000 15.72 10,239,700 32 3,381,300

110,100 9,939,340 22,300 2,646,870 763,820 9,050 77,240 25,467,390 182,000 192,740 26,890 86,000 609,550 14,398,390 420,250 36,720 7,571,780 104,900 119,300 223,290 1,816,190 164,262,834 108,328,710

-494,910 -1,353,120 -2,003,000 671,120 -214,900 1,100 -150,270 3,166,478.00 -77,195,145

ABS HLDG PDR FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

26 103.5 505 5.32 960 100 76.55 75.05 76.9 75.3 75.6

26.35 103.5 505 5.32 960 101 76.6 75.05 77 75.3 75.6

25.85 103.5 505 5.16 960 100 76.55 75.05 76.55 75.3 75.6

PREFERRED 26.1 75,400 103.5 200 505 100 5.16 122,500 960 20,000 101 11,050 76.6 820 75.05 1,040 76.55 15,040 75.3 6,800 75.6 33,500

1,969,735 20,700 50,500 635,580 19,200,000 1,105,550 62,804 78,052 1,157,304 512,040 2,532,600

1,010,220 -

LR WARRANT

2.36

2.43

2.36

WARRANTS 2.4 26,000

62,150

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.13 3.03 3.1

5.19 3.1 3.15

5.11 3 3.08

5.19 3 3.12

2,779,430 100,260 3,849,510

198,779 -198,510

FIRST METRO ETF

116.5

116.5

115.8

605,218

-278,410

87,649.80

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.9 1.06 13.98 0.72 42.6 3.13 4.62 5.6 0.475 0.97 1.01 0.209 0.405 10.14 28 0.6 1.5 1.21 1.56 4.98 0.67 0.455 0.52 3.67 21.4

2,067,900 17,898,000 29,000 589,000 7,886,200 234,000 266,000 1,500 32,310,000 3,000 675,000 1,100,000 90,000 502,700 1,705,100 690,000 14,259,000 938,000 2,842,000 20,118,000 29,797,000 610,000 8,695,000 284,000 6,347,400

16,312,144 18,956,870 391,806 424,920 335,441,265 734,580 1,230,450 8,400 14,897,250 2,880 672,350 230,380 36,450 5,025,655 48,289,960 413,970 21,373,260 1,135,590 4,449,670 99,994,310 19,985,360 281,300 4,486,060 1,038,320 134,341,190

-104,805 -39,820 64,858,790 -118,970 -707,330 -8,400 -176,000 62,850 24,355,045 -346,200 179,530 -257,150 73,600 20,781,260 255,270 49,920 32,880 -55,470,540

USD DMPL A1

10.18

TRADING SUMMARY

10.18

SHARES

FINANCIAL

8,701,172

INDUSTRIAL

64,133,044

HOLDING FIRMS

191,346,005

PROPERTY

895,189,042

SERVICES

218,612,324

MINING & OIL

119,723,562

GRAND TOTAL

1,499,523,196

10.18

SME

541,300 33,000 1,238,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.4 5,210 DDS 10.18

8,610

VALUE 1,854.77 (down) 0.88 865,509,470.50 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,134.46 (down) 25.42 907,523,987.302 HOLDING FIRMS 7,723.13 (down) 19.02 1,690,299,043.475 PROPERTY 3,890.50 (down) 1.24 1,535.40 (down) 3.06 3,293,384,933.465 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,325.65 (up) 73.76 1,228,202,771.10 PSEI 7,804.98 (down) 15.73 337,444,279.71 All Shares Index 4,714.69 (down) 1.13 8,329,700,895.29 Gainers: 96; Losers: 86; Unchanged: 51; Total: 233

Semirara’s profit up 3% to P8.1b in six months

By Alena Mae S. Flores SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. said Friday net profit in the first six months of 2018 rose 3 percent to P8.1 billion year-on-year.

Semirara said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange the coal business continued to benefit from stable benchmark prices while cushioning the impact of power plant shutdowns.

It said the coal business improved its margins year-on-year. Global coal prices dipped in April then recovered June.

Semirara owns the country’s biggest coal mining project in Semirara, Antique. Coal output slipped two percent to 7.2 million metric tons from 7.4 million MT a year ago.

Coal production in the second quarter dropped by around one million MT to 3.1 million MT from 4.1 million MT in the first quarter. Semirara said despite the lower production, coal sales rose 9 percent to 6.9 million MT from 6.3 million MT on year. Demand from domestic customers climbed 11 percent while coal exports increased six percent.

Semirara’s coal segment booked core profits of P7.2 billion, up 35 percent from last year’s P5.3 billion.

Gross generation of unit SEM-Calaca Power Corp. declined five percent to 1,311 gigawatt-hours from 1,383 GWH on year.

SCPC’s unit 2 underwent a maintenance shutdown until the first week April.

Following a brief shutdown in March, Unit 1 ran continuously in the second quarter. Electricity sales volume decreased three percent to 1,355 GWH from 1,401 GWH from the previous year.

SCPC’s total revenues, however, increased six percent to P5.7 billion from P5.4 billion posted in the same period last yea due to better electricity prices.

Gross generation of unit Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. dropped 46 percent on year to 442 GWH from 817 GWH. The composite average price per kilowatt hour increased 24 percent to P5.36 per kWh from P4.33, partially offsetting the 41-percent decline in sales volume as a result of the shutdown of SLPGC’s Unit 1.

RCBC booked income of P2.2b in first half of ‘18

By Julito G. Rada RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp., the 10-largest lender in terms of assets, said net unaudited consolidated income in the first half fell 6 percent to P2.2 billion from P2.35 billion a year ago on lower trading gains.

The bank said in a statement Friday excluding non-recurring income (trading gains), core income grew 47 percent from a year ago, reflecting the robust growth in earnings from core businesses.

Net interest income rose 12 percent to P9.7 billion year-on-year. Even with the intense pricing competition, the bank still achieved an annualized net interest margin of 3.98 percent, which remains one of the highest in the sector.

The bank’s lending business is vibrant with net loans and receivables expanding by 14 percent to P372 billion.

All market segments sustained their solid growth with 11-percent growth in corporate loans, 36-percent increase in SME Loans, 17-percent rise in consumer loans and 33-percent expansion in credit card receivables.

“The bank’s trajectory is on an uptrend. We’re above target for the first half of 2018. With the new P15 billion capital raised in July, we will remain focused on growing our lending business especially the consumer and SME and micro-finance business throughout the Philippines,” RCBC president and chief executive officers, Gil Buenaventura said in a statement.

Rizal MicroBank, the micro-finance unit of the bank that provides financing requirements for micro and small enterprises, increased its outstanding loan portfolio by 27 percent year on year.

RCBC Bankard has a strong and active card base of 625,000 in the first half of 2018, up 16 percent from a year ago.

Despite the sustained growth momentum in loans, asset quality remained well-managed with consolidated NPL ratios of 1.18 percent, better than 1.35 percent in the same period last year.

NPL coverage improved to 100 percent from the previous year’s 80 percent at the consolidated level, and a healthier 151 percent at the parent bank level.

World

B3

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

TRAFFIC STOPPER. In

Kidder’s death ruled a suicide LOS ANGELES―The death of Margot Kidder, the actress who soared to fame in the ‘70s playing Lois Lane in the “Superman” movies, has been ruled a suicide, a Montana coroner’s office said.

When she died in May at age 69 neither her agent nor the funeral home who handled her arrangements specified a cause, but Montana’s Park County coroner’s office has announced she killed herself.

“Ms. Kidder’s family urges those suffering from mental illnesses, addiction and/or suicidal thoughts to seek appropriate counseling and treatment,” the statement said.

Her death came one month before designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain took their own lives, casting a spotlight on the jarring global spike in suicides and the importance of confronting the issue.

Kidder starred in the Superman trilogy released between 1978 and 1983 as hotshot reporter Lane, who was also the love interest of Clark Kent―played by Christopher Reeve, who died in 2004.

She also made a cameo appearance in the 1987 film about the DC Comics superhero titled “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.” AFP

Flash floods kill 27 in South India NEW DELHI-Flash floods have claimed at least 27 lives in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said Friday, prompting the US to advise its citizens to stay away from the tourist hot spot.

The coastal state, famed for its pristine palm-lined beaches and tea plantations, is battered by the annual monsoon every year but the rain has been particularly severe this season.

Nationwide, more than 700 people have been killed in monsoon flooding.

Last year 1,200 people perished.

In Kerala the army has been roped in for rescue efforts after two days of rain that have forced authorities to open the shutters of 24 reservoirs to drain out the excess water.

Some 20,000 people have been displaced and 260 relief camps have been set up. Fifty-seven tourists including 24 foreigners were stranded in the hill station of Munnar.

One of the five shutters of a large reservoir in the mountainous Idukki district was opened for the first time in 26 years.

“Twenty-four dams have been opened so far, which is unprecedented and is telling of the seriousness of the situation,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wote on Twitter.

“People living in the downstream areas of these dams must be cautious.”

AFP

N. Korea to preserve nuclear know-how TEHRAN-North Korea will preserve its nuclear know-how despite its promise of denuclearization to the United States, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said during a visit to Tehran, Iranian media reported on Thursday.

Despite the agreement to denuclearize the Korean peninsula struck during a landmark summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump, “we preserve our nuclear science as we know that the Americans will not abandon their hostility toward us,” Ri said, according to the conservative Mehr news agency.

“Dealing with Americans is difficult, and as our main goal is total disarmament of the whole Korean Peninsula, it is necessary that the Americans also abide by their commitments but they refuse to do so.”

At the June summit with Trump, Kim made a vague commitment to denuclearization―far from the longstanding US demand for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang’s atomic arsenal.

Ri was meeting with Iran’s influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the third day of an official visit.

“The Americans utter beautiful words when negotiating and promise a very bright future but they deliver on none of their commitments when it comes to action,” Larijani said. AFP

this photo taken on August 9, 2018, commuters stop their vehicles as a wild male elephant crosses a national highway at Baragoan in Guwahati.

The elephant came down from Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary in search of food, and later forest officials tranquillized it.

As the pressure of population pushes human habitation closer to forests, incidents of wild animals straying into cities is increasingly reported. AFP

Russia warns US over sanctions

M

OSCOW―Russia warned Friday that if the US followed through with threats to impose further harsh economic sanctions it would be seen as a “declaration of economic war”.

The warning by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev came after Washington unveiled a raft of new sanctions against Russia over its alleged use of the Novichok nerve agent against a former double agent which Britain has blamed on Moscow.

The incident, which took place in a city in southern England in March, triggered a major diplomatic crisis despite Russia’s denial of any role.

The announcement of the sanctions prompted Russian stocks and the ruble to tumble on Thursday.

“While I don’t want to comment on the talk about future sanctions, I can say that if we end up with something like a ban on banking activities or the use of certain currencies, we can clearly call this a declaration of economic war,” Medvedev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

“And we must absolutely respond to this war. By economic means, by political means and if necessary by other

means,” he added.

“Our American friends must understand this.”

Announced late on Wednesday, the first set of sanctions, which will take effect in just under two weeks, impose a ban on the export to Russia of “national security sensitive” US technologies.

Until now such exports had been previously allowed on a case-by-case basis, with a senior State Department official saying the move could cut off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports to Russia.

A second round of sanctions that could go into effect 90 days later would cut far deeper, including blocking all American

Canada asks for help in its dispute with Saudi Arabia

Embattled lira hits record low against dollar

ISTANBUL―Turkey’s embattled lira on Friday hit new record lows against the US dollar, losing some five percent in value as the strains with the United States showed no sign of easing and fears grew over the exposure of European banks.

The lira was trading at 5.85 to the dollar, a loss in value on the day of 5.5 percent. However it had rallied somewhat after earlier crashing some 12 percent through the 6.0 level for the first time in history, trading at one point above 6.2.

The lira has now lost over a third of its value against both the dollar and the euro this year, with the currency battered by the concerns over domestic economic policy and the political situation.

Turkey remains at loggerheads with the United States in one of the worst spats between the two NATO allies in years over the detention for the last two years of American pastor Andrew Brunson and a host of other issues.

The talks this week in Washington failed to resolve the impasse which has led both sides to slap sanctions on senior officials amid fears of graver measures to come.

Meanwhile, markets are deeply concerned over the direction of economic policy in Turkey where inflation has hit nearly 16 percent but with the central bank reluctant to raise rates in response. AFP

CELESTIAL DISPLAY. A bolt of lightning is seen over the ‘Molecule Man’ art work

by US sculptor Jonathan Borofsky in Berlin on August 09, 2018. AFP

Russia and China block US bid to slap more sanctions on North Korea UNITED NATIONS―Russia and China on Thursday blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official and two entities, diplomats said.

The United States last week asked a UN sanctions committee to slap an assets freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions.

The request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy representative of North Korea’s Foreign Trade Bank and two North Korean front companies.

In a response to the council, Russia raised doubts about the allegations while China told the council that it objected to the proposed sanctions designations put

forward by the United States.

“We would like to underline that designation requests submitted to the committee should be adequately substantiated by sufficient information,” said the Russian mission to the United Nations in a message to the council seen by AFP. The request followed a US Treasury Department decision to impose unilateral sanctions on the Russian bank, the North Korean official and the two entities.

The two companies were named as the Dandong Zhongsheng Industry & Trade Company and the Korea Ungum Corporation.

Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for

bank loans to Russian entities, an outright ban on US exports to Russia, and suspension of diplomatic relations.

The State Department said the sanctions were aimed at punishing Moscow for having “used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law”, mandated under the Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991.

However the sanctions announcement could bolster US President Donald Trump’s claim that his administration is taking a tough stance on Moscow, even as he continues to denounce as a “witch hunt” an independent probe whether his election campaign colluded with Russia. AFP

opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests.

But the United States has called for maintaining “maximum pressure” from sanctions until North Korea has fully dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Earlier Thursday, the North Korean foreign ministry issued an angry statement, denouncing the United States for responding to its overtures by “inciting international sanctions and pressure.”

The council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions targeting North Korea’s economy through export and import bans, as well as restrictions on banking.

It was the second time in three weeks that Russia and China have objected to a

US request to tighten sanctions on North Korea.

On July 19, the two countries put a six-month hold on a US request to halt all deliveries of refined oil products to North Korea.

The United States had made the request to the sanctions committee after finding that North Korea had exceeded the cap on fuel imports though illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea.

UN sanctions resolutions place a ceiling for North Korea of 500,000 barrels of refined oil products per year and four million barrels of crude.

A cut-off of oil and fuel would have to be enforced primarily by China, which supplies most of North Korea’s energy needs, but also by Russia, which delivers some oil to Pyongyang. AFP

OTTAWA―Canada is quietly nudging allies including Germany and Sweden for help with resolving its row with Saudi Arabia, a government source confirmed Thursday.

The senior official, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the diplomacy, said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland had spoken with her counterparts in the two European nations.

Germany and Sweden previously were targets of Saudi backlashes for calling out the kingdom over human rights abuses.

Freeland sought to understand how they resolved those disputes, and asked for their support, the official said. Ottawa also planned to reach out to regional heavyweight the United Arab Emirates and Britain, which has strong historical ties to Saudi Arabia.

Women’s rights advocates, charitable organizations, and civil rights groups, meanwhile, urged the international community “to join Canada in calling for the unequivocal respect of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.”

They also called for Riyadh to “immediately release” women activists in detention, and commended Freeland “for her uncompromising stand for human rights, and for her bold leadership in walking the talk on women’s rights globally.”

“We join Canada in urging Saudi Arabia to release women’s rights activists Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sada,” said the statement signed by 22 nongovernmental groups and individuals, including the Nobel Women’s Initiative, Oxfam, and Lawyers without Borders.

Tensions have been high since Monday, when Riyadh expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new trade and investments after Ottawa denounced a crackdown on rights activists in Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm, saying: “Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and in public on questions of human rights ... at home and abroad, wherever we see the need.”

“Canadians expect that, and indeed people around the world expect that leadership from Canada,” he said.

Trudeau noted that Freeland had “a long conversation” on Tuesday with her counterpart Adel al-Jubeir to try to resolve the dispute. AFP

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

Sprucing up your sanctuary

BUILDER FOR THE AGES. Construction and engineering firm Megawide Corporation recently celebrated back-to-back milestones with two of the country’s aggressive developers, Rockwell Land and Araneta Center, Inc. Rockwell Land and Megawide topped-off the Edades Suites at 68.9 metres last week. The project is a 23-storey prime residential development located in Makati, scheduled for completion in 2019. Megawide is the project’s general contractor for structural works. Megawide was the contractor for the Rockwell Business Center in Ortigas, and is currently completing the Lincoln and Lorraine towers of the Proscenium. Groundbreaking kicked off as well for Gateway Mall 2 and its adjacent hotel. Gateway 2, targeted for completion in 2020, will have seven floors and features such as a gourmet food hall, cinemas, a 500-seat chapel, an activity area and three levels of basement parking. At the latter event were (from left to right): Earl Jason R. Vistro, VP-procurement, Megawide; Antonio T. Mardo, ACI SVP-operations; Romeo Furigay, AVP, Megawide; Rowell Recinto, ACI senior management consultant; Ronald Paulo, EVP, Megawide; John B. Castelo, ACI SVP-business development; Noel B. Leonor, ACI VP-materials management.

MPIC Foundation reaches out to Typhoon-hit families in Pangasinan

Shores up delicate mangrove ecosystem damaged by floods

Master bedroom design ideas

COMMUNITY RELIEF. Del Rosario distributes portable table top water filters to Alaminos families.

W

HEN doing home renovations, the master bedroom is usually last on the list to decorate as most of your budget is allocated to bigger spaces, such as the kitchen or the bathrooms. For most, the bedroom is their sanctuary.

With the right interior design, you, too, can have a welcoming sanctuary from the outside world.

Here are some helpful tips to design a master bedroom which can help you to escape the hustle and bustle of modern day life.

PLAN YOUR VISION When upgrading your room, be sure to plan it properly. From the colour of the walls to the type of furniture you want in the room. By doing this you’re able to take full advantage of your upgrades without wasting any money as everything is planned for accordingly.

LIGHTING OPTIONS If you’re thinking of upgrading the lighting in your bedroom, consider adding a dimmer lights as well as new bedside lamps.

Ensure you have sufficient natural light coming into the room and if it’s not possible, install enough artificial lighting in the forms of lamps.

CHOOSE A COLOR THEME Neutral bedrooms are always best, as they provide you with a sense of peace and serenity. This will also prove to be of benefit later on should you wish to sell your property— most people are attracted to neutral colours.

INCORPORATE A VARIETY OF TEXTURES To maximise the space you have in your bedroom, try to incorporate different textures to give the room more character. If there is no pattern on your bedding, choose some scatter cushions with patterns and sequence on it.

BE CREATIVE WITH STORAGE If your master bedroom doesn’t have sufficient storage space, redecorating is the perfect opportunity to be creative. Having an ottoman at the bottom of the bed is the perfect way to maximize space.

NEW ROOTS, NEW LIFE. An MPIC Foundation volunteer plants a mangrove seedling along the Alaminos coastline.

ADD SOME WARMTH WITH A RUG With most modern rooms having laminate or wooden flooring, add some natural warmth to your room with a rug.

With so many options to choose from, opt for something that won’t date, and is soft in texture to make sure the start to everyday is a good one.

GIVE YOURSELF A SEATING AREA By having a designated seating area, you’re able to ensure you can keep technology out of your bed and that you’re able to give your partner the undivided attention they deserve.

INCORPORATE PHOTOGRAPHY, ART PIECES IN YOUR ROOM To keep your bedroom a sanctuary, add a combination of photography and family portraits to the walls. By varying the sizes of the photos, you can make

the size of the room appear bigger than it is.

CHOOSE A FOCAL POINT If you’re unable to upgrade the entire room to look more modern due to budget constraints, choose a focal point in your room you can upgrade. By changing the room around so you can incorporate a dresser, or an occasional chair, you’re able to change the whole look of the room.

ENSURE YOUR PARTNER IS INVOLVED This is a space both you and your partner are going to live in for years to come. Ensure your partner is involved in the decision-making process. Make it a modern room that meets both your desires.

You don’t need to break the budget to afford a beautiful main bedroom. Look forward to retreating to your happy place at the end of a long day.

ALAMINOS, Pangasinan – The city of Alaminos and the province of Pangasinan recently received help from the Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC) after being battered by a typhoon which flooded much of the province.

Melody M. Del Rosario, President of the MPIC Foundation, Inc. (MPIF), spearheaded a team of volunteers from the company, and the Shore It Up, MPIF’s nationwide environmental awareness initiative, to bring dozens of portable table top water filters for families of the local Core Shelter Assistance Program of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The units were used to provide safe drinking water to the families affected by the recent calamity.

“This area is frequently flooded during storms and causes potential health problems especially for children,” explained Del Rosario.

The volunteers likewise brought over a hundred mangrove seedlings which were immediately planted in the area over the weekend.

ECOSYSTEM BOOST The mangrove center has given Alaminos a boost in terms of preserving its coastal ecosystem with the construction over the past two years of a sprawling 8.17-hectare mangrove, and birdwatching area.

The center serves as a focal point for the development of mangrove nurser-

ies, multiplication and planting of mangrove trees in coastal estuarine areas, and rehabilitation of the province’s degraded mangrove ecosystem.

“We also brought more mangrove seedlings to increase the number of trees, especially here in Barangay Bued,” Del Rosario said. “The mangrove is a vital ecosystem, and the MPIC Foundation intends to propagate it through Shore It Up, our flagship environmental sustainability program.”

“The LGU of Alaminos would like to thank MPIC for its support to the communities here, and its continuous advocacy to preserve our mangrove park,” said Miguel L. Sison, city tourism officer of Alaminos. “The park is one of the biggest attractions here in Alaminos, which after the hundred islands eco-tour, is our top draw for tourists and young people interested in protecting the environment.”

SIU merchandise were also brought in by the volunteers to be sold at the Alaminos Mangrove Propagation and Information Center, the proceeds of which will go to the maintenance of the center and allowances of its Eco-Guides.

SPREADING THE WORD The MPIC Foundation has been carrying out similar mangrove propagation programs in other parts of the country such as Del Carmen town in Siargao Island and in Bohol. These delicate coastal woodlands provide food and shelter for a diverse group of fish and shellfish and provide protection from storm surges and high winds.

Mangroves also serve as a wildlife sanctuary, and protect against soil erosion and sedimentation in the sea which degrade coral reefs.

Del Rosario revealed that the MVP Group of Companies is scouting for other communities in the Philippines to complete the nationwide presence of mangrove centers under Shore It Up.

PROPERTY SEEKERS, SELLERS CONFAB IN CEBU. The Lamudi Housing Fair will kick off in Cebu City on September 8 and 9, 2018 at the Ayala Center in Cebu City. The fair will feature some of the biggest property brands of the country.

Lamudi CEO and managing director Bhavna Suresh said with all past housing fairs being hosted in Metro Manila, the Cebu leg of Lamudi’s housing fair series will be the first provincial event for the online property portal. “The massive growth of Cebu City has prompted real estate developers to catch up and supply the much-needed residential, commercial, and retail spaces for home and business relocators,” she explained. Cebu’s economy has been displaying massive growth for years, driven mainly by tourism and the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industries. At the fair, Aspiring new homeowners and real estate investors can look forward to completed and upcoming projects by Primehomes, Ortigas & Company, RFK Holdings, DMCI Homes, Aboitizland Inc., Primary Homes, Softouch Property Development Corp., Avida Land, Contempo Property Holdings, King Properties, and Priland Development Corporation, among others.

Life

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

young life

@MstandardLIFE saturday, august 11, 2018

C1

PADRE DE FAMILIA PERFORMS.

A short film, entitled ‘Europe,’ tells the story of a husband and father working as a female impersonator abroad in order to provide for his family in the Philippines.

Hustle abroad How OFWs earn extra cash to send home

A

CCOrDInG to Merriam-Webster dictionary, hustle (v.) means “to make strenuous efforts to obtain especially money or business.” In today’s conversation, we say “hustle” when we mean working hard toward the goal of generating an income. When it comes to “hustling,” overseas Filipino workers are experts.

Filipino performers showcase their talents wherever they are.

Many OFWs take advantage while they are abroad by performing several duties at the same time, juggling fulltime and part-time jobs. This delicate balancing act requires not just skills but a deep sense of commitment to make life better for their loved ones.

Jacks and Jills of all trades

Dolores Perez, a registered nurse, discovered a hidden talent that became her source of extra income when she was working in Dubai.

“One time my friend asked if I could give her a massage. After I gave her one, she said I was really good,” recalls Perez. “So after that, I decided to do massages for a fee on my days off.”

She continues, “I chose giving a massage as my sideline because it only lasts for an hour, no more, no less. If a client wants to extend the session, then they must pay extra.” having a few practical skills can be quite useful, says Teddy Santos, Jr., a husband and father of two. having lived in Italy for the past 18 years, he has gone through many ups and downs when it comes to work. Today, he prefers having several part time jobs over regular work as this set-up pays him more and gives him more flexibility in terms of work hours.

Santos’ regular day consists of working in a pharmacy from 7 to 11 in the morning, doing odd jobs like housekeeping, babysitting, or driving for various clients from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and doing clerical work in a law firm from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

“It’s tiring and sometimes the travel time between jobs is challenging,” admits Santos. “But the work that I do every day pays good money and is enough to support my family.”

OFWs share the ups and downs of working abroad.

making sure their loved ones back home are well provided for is top priority, no matter how difficult.

Dondon Mangilog, Jr., a telecom technician in Saudi Arabia, agrees. For the past 15 years, he has been installing TV satellite dishes for private clients after office hours and during weekends. But despite its financial rewards, he admits working extra has its disadvantages.

“Tinitiis ko ang init o lamig tuwing umaakyat [ako] sa bubong at hirap sa pag-install at pagbabarena ng dingding (I endure the heat or the cold when I go up on rooftops and the difficulty of drilling walls),” shares Mangilog. “Ginagawa ko ito para maitaguyod nang maayos ang pamilya at makapag-ipon para sa magandang kinabukasan (I do this so I can give the best support for my family and save money for our future.),” Santos echoes Mangilog’s statement: “I guess every padre de pamilya would say family comes first above anything else. All they need should be provided by the parents, might it be in the manner of financial or moral support.”

More than providing for her family, Doing it for the family OFWs are one in saying their family Perez also wants to teach her children is their motivation to work hard abroad; how to prioritize their needs.

“Tuition, books, baon…these are the most important,” says Perez. “If there’s extra money left, that’s the only time we buy other stuff or go malling.”

Too many sad stories have been told about OFWs not being able to save or losing their money because of uninformed financial decisions.

“You don’t have to be good in Math to manage your income,” avers Santos.

“It’s just simple: don’t spend too much above your pay.”

For OFWs, it’s crucial to have a trusted bank that will assist them in making sure their hard-earned money makes it to their families back home.

BDO Kabayan, a savings account made for OFWs and their beneficiaries, recently released a short film illustrating the story of many overseas Filipino workers who work hard abroad to provide for their family.

The video, entitled “Europe,” is about a husband and father who works as a female impersonator in Europe. Inspired by true events, it shows the great lengths a father will go to in order to provide for his family.

BDO Kabayan commits to providing OFWs with products and services that adapt to their and their families’ needs.

The video, produced by BDO Kabayan, shows the great lengths a father will go to in order to provide for his family.

Dance majors Aileen Quilatan and Jaja Dapat Sy win gold for their self-choreographed performance

Filipino dancers win in Hong Kong ThrEE Filipino contingents bagged awards at the hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition, an annual contest that promotes dance and cultural exchange.

Members of the Saint Benilde romancon Dance Company, the official dance company of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, red Arboleda, Mark Juelar, and Cheska Vasallo together with Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance alumnus Michael Patrick De La Tore took home the Gold prize in the Flamenco category. They were choreographed by the College’s Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance chairperson Christine Crame.

DLS-CSB dance majors Aileen Quilatan and Jaja Dapat Sy were likewise awarded Gold for their self-choreographed performance for Latch.

Jireah Cariaso in a rousing performance of a poem of broken parts.

Dance major Jireah Cariaso bagged the Bronze prize for a poem of broken parts choreographed by Kim Clarete.

Saint Benilde Romancon Dance Company members Red Arboleda, Mark Juelar, and Cheska Vasallo, together with Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance alumnus Michael Patrick De La Tore win gold in the Flamenco category.

Life

C2

saturday, august 11, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

How ‘mudders’ conquered this muddy course A

Celebrity mudders take on the challenging and muddy obstacle course Tough Mudder, held for the first time in the Philippines on July 21-22, wearing purpose purpose developed footwear from Merrell.

tough, muddy course tested the mettle of about 2,000 mudders on July 21-22 at Portofino Amore in Alabang.

the first-ever tough Mudder obstacle course held in Southeast Asia was headlined by some of the biggest stars in the country including Raymond gutierrez, Christi Mcgarry, Rodjun Cruz, Marco Alcaraz, Alex Diaz, Luis hontiveros, and more. getaway and hiking shoe brand Merrell was the event’s official footwear partner. heavy rains pummeled the venue the entire weekend but it did not deter mudders who came set to conquer the course. Despite the unexpected downpour, with purpose developed Merrell gear, they were as equipped to take on the extreme elements as they could be.

In fact, some participants exclaimed: “the muddier the better.”

With the help of their fellow mudders, celebrity participants overcame best-inclass obstacles and adrenaline-pumping challenges packed into the 5km and half courses.

Model and actor Brent Javier at the finish line said: “It was very exciting, so much adrenaline before starting, and then being able to conquer everything in your path is also an accomplishment.” he also expressed delight with his footwear, which he said helped him tackle the challenging course.

Tough Mudder is a teamwork-focused, muddy fun-filled challenge.

“the grip [of the Merrell pair] is good. I saw other people, their shoes were falling off when they got stuck in the mud. And these ones that I have perfectly lock in my foot.”

Actor Rodjun Cruz, meanwhile, enjoyed the teamwork factor of the mud run. “tough Mudder was a great experience. Sobrang nag-enjoy kami kasi nandun yung teamwork and we conquered all the obstacles together,” shared Cruz. he conquered the muddy course in his Agility Peak Flex 2. “Kung hindi ako gumamit ng Merrell, hindi ko magagawa ‘to dahil very slippery talaga (had I not used

Merrell, I would not had been able to do it because it was very slippery).”

Beauty queen Christi Mcgarry celebrated her finish with her Merrell All out Crush. “Without the Merrell shoes, I promise you couldn’t grip or climb Everest or even track in the mud. I saw some people lose shoes in the mud but I had mine on.”

Actor Alex Diaz got down and dirty at the Kiss of Mud course in All out Crush 2. “there was a lot of tractions even on the obstacles that were slippery.

And it was overall just a really good experience and the shoes definitely helped make the race a lot more fun.”

Shared office provides dynamic workspace and premium coffee AMStERDAM-FounDED co-working space provider in the Philippines has partnered with a local café to provide its tenants and guests premium bites and coffee.

Shared office provider Spaces has partnered with renowned homegrown company Wildflour Café + Bakery. the dedicated deli café will take a spot in the center of the massive community hall of Spaces’ first brand in the Philippines located at the penthouse of World Plaza in Bonifacio global City, taguig.

Spaces is the Philippines’ largest coworking space provider with 3,000-squaremeter space offering over 500 workstations in various office settings. this partnership aims to provide Spaces’ tenants and guests, who are mostly entrepreneurs and creative freelancers, with a wide array of healthy bites, savory pastries, and the famous artisan Wildflour coffee. By offering hearty and appetizing food and beverage selections within the compound of a social working atmosphere, Spaces

Spaces boasts 3,000-square-meter co-working space with over 500 workstations in various office settings.

Kids assist in placing tags on merchandise.

Kids learn about retail to CELEBRAtE the gap Kids summer collection, which is all about embracing adventure and inspiring kids’ imagination, the Central Square gap store in Bonifacio high Street gave a lucky group of children a chance to experience the excitement of a gap store first-hand and become part of the gap family for a day.

Dressed in gap logo tees, the kids, aged between 5 and 12 years old, got involved in greeting the customers, assisting cashiers, helping customers find product, tagging merchandise, and folding clothing.

Among the kids who took part were Instagram style icons Cadee Lavadia (@juliannecadee), Anja Lucero (@anjalucero), Maviz Piedad (@mavi_and_ xavi), and Yen Saniel (@glamyen). this fun and exciting experience gave the children an insight into the

These young ‘staff’ learn different styling techniques.

world of retail as well as skills they could take back to their everyday lives.

iPhoto

Shared office provider Spaces partners with Wildflour Café + Bakery to offer a dedicated deli café to its tenants and guests.

hopes to provide an innovative vibe and to inspire creative flair.

Spaces’ country head Lars Wittig said, “our vision is to create a dynamic community workspace with a unique and entrepreneurial spirit that can help our clients think, create, and collaborate.”

Wittig added, “opening a deli café adds value in business sense, too. If they need to receive a client, interview a potential employee, or connect with a partner or an investor, they wouldn’t need to worry about finding a cozy place for meetings.”

Spaces has been introducing the concept of community among its patrons.

In this community, members are given access to talks and special events.

Retail giants conveRge at nRce 2018 The 25th National Retail Conference and Stores Asia expo (NRCe) 2018, organized by the Philippine Retailers Association, was attended by over a thousand top executives of retail giants in the local and international markets. Guest of honor Senator Grace Poe (6th from left) opened the two-day Stores Asia expo 2018 on Thursday at the SMX Convention Center. Stores Asia expo 2018 is a twin event of the National Retailers Conference. Joining Sen. Poe are PRA board and officers (from left) Mars Chua, president of Sportshouse; Jorge T. Mendiola, director at SM Retail Inc.; Roberto ‘Bobby’ Claudio, chairman of Toby’s Sports; Chairman emeritus Samie Lim, chairman of BLIMS Lifestyle Group, Canadian Tourism and hospitality Institute; Rosemarie Bosch Ong, senior executive vice president-chief operating officer of Wilcon Depot Inc.; Paul Santos, president of Picture City; Lorenzo ‘enchong’ C. Formoso, vice chairman of Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Associations and director of Ace hardware; and Arthur Coronel, chief executive officer of Cinderella Mktg. Corp.

Entertainment Simply...

From C4

Arts and crafts in 13th Las Piñas Waterlily Festival Waterlily-inspired gowns and costumes and waterlily-made handicrafts brought splashes of color and vibrant life to this year’s celebration of the 13th Las Piñas Waterlily Festival held Friday at the Villar SIPAG grounds in Las Piñas City.

The annual festivity, a brainchild of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, was packed with families and foreign and local tourists who flocked to the city to marvel at the exhibit display of creative and innovative water lily products and to participate in the handmade paper demonstration using the versatile aquatic blooms.

Villar, who initiated the use of waterlilies as raw materials for handicrafts, cheered at how weavers from the country’s weaving and handicrafts industry were able to introduce modern concepts and innovation in the development and production of artistically designed waterlily baskets, bags, textiles, trays, mats, hampers, slippers, chests, lampshades and other products.

Participants in the exhibit display were the Water Lily Arts & Crafts Center ( Las Piñas City), Sta. Rosa Livelihood Organization Inc. (Sta. Rosa, Laguna), Cardona Livelihood Products (Cardona, Rizal), Kabuhayan sa Water Lily (Cainta, Rizal), Joneg Foundation (Teresa, Rizal), Pililla Waterlily Weavers (Pililla, Rizal), Maynilad Waterlily Weavers (Potatan, Muntinlupa) and Pateros Weavers.

A street-dancing competition among Las Piñas’ junior highs chool students, who gyrated to modern beats in costumes and props using waterlily as their main components, also got visitors on their feet as they clapped and cheered their favorite groups.

Villar, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, was among the board of judges in the beauty pageant, which was participated in by representatives from the city’s 13 barangays, and the streetdancing competition.

Arlyn Claire M. Sangab of Barangay. Pamplona 1 brought home the Miss Las Piñas Water Lily 2018 crown and P25,000 cash. Her first runner-up, Ms. Rebecca Kirsten S. Lopez of Barangay. Talon 4, won P15,000; while Ms. Rojielen Angela Autencio of Barangay. Pulanglupa 1 went home with a cash prize of P10,000.

IV of Spade…

From C4

Gearheads will surely drive fast to the Shang this August as three luxury car labels — Mercedes Benz, Jeep, Land Rover and Jaguar are set to take their wheels inside the premier shopping destination. Sophisticated car aficionados can drool over a wide-range collection of high-end coaches, all happening the mall’s Luxury Lane.

Mark your calendars as Shang presents the Mercedes Benz Exhibit until Aug. 15, the Jeep Exhibit from Aug. 17 to 29, and Jaguar and Land Rover Exhibit from Aug. 31 to Sept.12.

Nora Aunor Christopher de Leon

Sharon Cuneta Vilma Santos Victor Consunji

+E Networks Asia has announced the stellar line-up of Filipino luminaries who will be honored for their significant contribution to the nation’s life and culture with the History Maker Award.

This year’s distinguished recipients are Victor Consunji, Jessica Soho, Lea Salonga, Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Albert Martinez, Sharon Cuneta, Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach, and The Philippine Azkals.

History Con 2018 ticket purchasers are welcomed to join in the celebration to honor these extraordinary Filipinos at the award ceremony, which will be conducted today, the second day of History Con 2018 at the World Trade Center Manila.

History Makers are a special few whose talent, efforts, dedication and sacrifices illuminate and inspire the lives of many others. The inaugural History Maker Award was launched in 2017 with distinguished dignitaries, namely, Pia Wurtzbach, Anne Curtis, Hidilyn Diaz, Himalayan Adventure Team, Ryan Cayabyab, Illac Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, Reinabelle Reyes, and Romi Garduce.

History Con 2018, Manila’s biggest entertainment convention is running at the World Trade Center Manila until tomorrow, Aug. 12. Katheryn Winnick of History’s Emmy-winning series, Vikings

makes her first special appearance in Asia as the headlining international celebrity alongside Giorgio A. Tsoukalos of History’s hit series, Ancient Aliens. The starstudded extravaganza also include Manila’s favorite local celebrities Xian Lim and Diego Loyzaga starring in History Asia’s award-winning original automotive reality series, Celebrity Car Wars, Jamie Dempsey (Ride N’Seek), Simon Yin (Hidden Cities Extreme and History Hustle) and popular Singaporean social media influencer, Yeoh Mong Chin of Lifetime Asia’s latest digital-first original series, Who Runs the World.

History Con 2018 tickets are available in three different categories with exclusive privileges for the History Maker VIP pass at P10,000, limited to 100 tickets for sale only. Other ticketing categories include the History Maker pass at P 2,500 for a three-day admission and General Admission pass at P350 for a one-day access to the mega entertainment convention. Tickets are available for sale exclusively on SM Tickets.

Then, from Aug. 10 to 12 and Aug. 17 to 19, check out stirring artworks, handcrafts, and heavenly food selection in Artisan Fair at the Food Forum. You can also take a pick from the well-curated collection of unique local novelties in Urban Pod Fair on Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

Walk through Shang’s Home Exhibit from Aug. 15 to 23 at the Grand Atrium and get inspired to revamp your home with a sophisticated vibe.

Then, explore unique urban finds in Articraft de Charite from Aug. 24 to 26 at the East Atrium.

Immerse in some art at the Astrologist Gallery Exhibit until Aug. 21 at the East Atrium.

Finally, Shang doesn’t want you to

leave your beloved dogs behind, so bring them over because it’s Waggy Welcome. Your furry friends are allowed to roam around the mall with you, as long you present a proof of anti-rabies vaccination and keep them leashed with you at all times.

Whether you are a laidback music enthusiast, a hippie artsy or an adventurous foodie, Shang definitely has a phenomenal plethora of different events that would make anyone feel right at home.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, August 11, 2018

ACROSS 1 Karl or Groucho 5 Frat-party attire 9 Surpass 12 Away from the wind 13 Lasso 15 Invisible emanation 16 Small change 17 John of “Crocodile Rock” 18 Long-billed wader 19 Pedro’s wife 21 Pizarro’s quest (2 wds.)

23 Agrees silently 25 Raunchy 26 — -relief 29 Jai — 31 Sombrero go-with 35 Gross!

36 Techies 38 Wooden rod 39 Dorm unit 41 Applies caulk 43 Family man 44 Knight’s quest 46 Army uniform material 48 Job application info 49 Yellowish 51 Kimono fasteners 52 Holed up

53 Click-on item 55 Take a spill 57 Fellow members 61 Ocean sighting 65 Bigfoot kin 66 Pile of papers 68 Water, in Baja 69 Salad fish 70 Pamphlet 71 Like redwoods 72 MPG monitor 73 Sporty trucks 74 Paris hub DOWN 1 Slickers 2 Lotion additive 3 Curb 4 Kin of argon 5 Foot pedals 6 Fix a squeak 7 Turnstile 8 Lagoon boundary 9 Fidel’s country 10 Saharan 11 El —, Texas 14 Alpaca habitat 15 Send by parachute 20 Sorrel or bay 22 Had some bills 24 Mr. Spock’s dad 26 Villages 27 Socrates’ hangout 28 Sailing hazard

30 Utah neighbor 32 Overflowing 33 Soft drink brand 34 Spiral-horned antelope 37 Concrete foundations 40 Armed force 42 Vail gear (2 wds.)

45 Nessie’s hideout 47 Osiris’ beloved 50 Most awful 54 Indira’s dad

56 Beetle Bailey’s pal 57 Data unit 58 Do another hitch (hyph.)

59 Sicilian spouter 60 Uncluttered 62 Culture medium 63 Declare invalid 64 Actress Tyne — 67 Golf coup

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

HISTORY MAKER AWARD

HONORS NORA AUNOR, VILMA SANTOS, OTHER LUMINARIES

Lea Salonga

A

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

CINEMALAYA’S CINEMATIC GOODIES IT IS almost in the homestretch stage but the 14th season of Cinemalya is making more people fall in love with worldclass Filipino films. And with so many people lining up in the venues, hope springs eternal indeed for Pinoy movies.

When you are in the Cultural Center of the Philippines to have your fill of the finest sampling of independently produced motion pictures, one immediately experiences the prevailing communal spirit, familiar vibe and contagious energy. At times, it becomes a reunion of sorts as you get to see old friends with ties rekindled and exchange pleasantries with new acquaintances forging fresh friendships and possibilities.

As each film rolls inside the CCP Main Theater, every one turns silent, enjoying the unraveling of twist and turns. Sometimes, bouts of laughter are elicited.

When a scene gets heart tugging, your soft sniffs and sighs are often heard. When the concluding scene happens and the audiences love what they watch, the best reward of course is the instantaneous and thunderous applause from the appreciative crowd. If they don’t like what transpires, still, a polite clapping is bestowed upon the film.

For this year’s harvest of cinematic goodies, from the films that I have watched, I love the emotionally committed and truthful performance of Celeste Legaspi in Mamang.

Legaspi, as the grand lady who encounters moments of forgetfulness and mood swings, made me realize why mothers are God’s best gift to their children. Hers is a performance that made you feel that she never faked it.

A movie with lesbian lovers that did not make me squeamish is Distance. Here, Iza Calzado was divine, a mother who defied the society script because she left her family to be with her lover and share a different kind of love. She found

the perfect acting collaborator in the person of Nonie Buencamino, who ALWIN IGNACIO loves her beyond measure.

Therese Malvar as their eldest daughter holds her own candle with the two leads. Her emotional outburst made every one weep.

In School Service, Malvar again, together with her comrades Felixia Dizon, KenKen Nuyad and Celine Juan, are young tots being used by a syndicate led by the dynamic acting duo of Joel Lamangan and AiAi delas Alas.

The newbies did not disappoint and the seasoned ones showed why they deserve the admiration and respect. Kudos to AiAi and Joel for being fierce and frightening.

Bodjie Pascua, in the mystical Pan de Salawal, gives a career defining performance as Sal and Miel Espinosa, as Aguy, the little angel who brings hope, magic and healing in the film, was his exemplary match.

In Kuya Wes, Ogie Alcasid plays his role with a lot of truthfulness, a man who does not receive love and acceptance from his immediate family gets his heart beating fast and furiously because of a comely mother of two, with Ina Raymundo giving life to part. Alcasid’s heart break scene, with him pounding his chest strongly while walking, wreaks a viewer’s belief in the saying that love begets love.

Musmos na Sumibol sa Gitna ng Digma is a heady cinematic trip that showcases how armed conflict some portions of Moslem Mindanao gravely affects the lives of children. No one is winning in this unwinnable war.

I have yet to see the martial law themed movies ML and Liway, the gay erotic thriller The Look Out and Kung Paano Hininihintay Ang Dapit Hapon, the supposedly “best picture” in this year’s festival.

Yes, it is easy to fall in love and lose everything in the movies because of the films in Cinemalaya.

See you next year!

ARIAS

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

C4

Entertainment

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 Comedian Vhong Navarro and beauty queen Winwyn Marquez team up for the first time on the big screen.

Boy Abunda key to Celine Dion concerts in Manila ISAH V. RED JOED Serrano, the “That’s Entertainment” starturned- show promoter, is more than thankful for Boy Abunda’s help in making the recent two-night show of Canadian singer Celine Dion at the MOA Arena.

Over lunch at Annabel’s recently, Joed, enthusiastically related how the Dion show came to be in Manila. “It almost didn’t,” he admitted, “if not for Tito Boy (Abunda).

Backstage with Celine Dion

He related how Abunda came into the picture and he said it might have been destiny that he thought of him when he was in near desperation to seal the deal for Celine’s Manila leg of her world tour.

Several days before he should fly to Vegas to seal the deal, he received some heart breaking news. The guy who promised the amount he needed to make the Dion show in Manila green and go backed out. And Joed had a flight to the US to catch to meet Dion’s management waiting for the balance of $3 million to make sure Dion’s Manila leg would be a go.

He was counting the hours before the flight, but also wondering how he would be able to raise $3 million, the balance to pay the Dion management.

“I thought of calling Kuya Boy. Wala lang. We’re not close but I was hoping he’d listen to me and perhaps understand my predicament. When the phone answered, Tito Boy asked who I was and after I introduced myself, he said ‘What did I do to deserve the call from a Joed Serrano?’ That was the start of a long and successive phone calls between the two of us.

He didn’t promise me anything but said he’d try to call some people who might be able to help.”

To cut the story short, on a Sunday morning at mass, Joed was listening to the priest’s homily about a surprise that God would give His children. So he rang up Boy Abunda after the mass to find out if he were able to connect him to a generous person who could help him. And it was just hours before his scheduled flight.

Lo and behold, Boy Abunda told Joed he found the person who might be able to help and gave him a number to call. It turned out to be Flor Santos, mother of singer L.A. Santos. She said she was in Guam, but will be back in Manila on that day. She was willing to help but she just needed to speak to Boy Abunda over lunch the following day.

"Boy said he wasn’t available lunch time, but got back to me to tell me to tell Flor he could meet her at dinner time," Joed recalled.

That made Joed breathe freely after days of being preoccupied with the thoughts of “what if”.

Immediately, he decided not to fly to the US. He was supposed to fly to the US on that day, but without the money it would be futile.

The smash-hit two-night concert of Celine Dion at the MOA is another feather in the cap of Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions, which has produced concerts of several other big international artists in Manila. Renen and wife Celina’s son Bogie handles the company’s production, road management and security.

“I take my hat off to Bogie for being a genius in putting up a show,” said ex-actor Joed Serrano who, unknown to many people (including some of his friends), was a co-producer of Celine’s concert. He simply requested Renen and Celina not to put his company’s name (Joed Presents) on the ads and in the press releases for reasons that only he knew.

“Tito Boy saved me,” Joed said. With the “problem” solved, Celine’s two-night concert proceeded without a hitch despite the nasty weather.

Celine came from Taipei and from Manila she flew on her private plane to Bangkok. Her concert covered four other Asian cities.

“I consider Celine’s concert my most challenging so far and I have no regrets,” continued Joed who has also co-produced concerts of such international artists as Katy Perry, James Ingram, The Jonas Brothers, Boyzone, Michael Learns To Rock, Korean singer Psy (Gangnam Style), American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias, Pentatonix, Snow Patrol and Lifehouse.

Joed also produced the concerts of local artists like Vice Ganda, Alden Richards, Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Jaya, Pops Fernandez, Jessa Zaragoza, Lani Misalucha, Ogie Alcasid, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Sharon Cuneta (including her concert in Davao City with L.A. Santos as featured singer). Continued on C3

A winning tandem in

‘Unli Life’ I N Unli Life, a Regal Entertainment’s entry to the 2018 edition of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Vhong Navarro promises the same kind of impeccable comic timing and witty dialogues as he portrays a man who is given a chance to mend the breakup with his girlfriend, played by Teresita ‘Winwyn’ Marquez, by going back in time through the help of a magic potion, an alcoholic drink called “wishkey.”

By drinking “wishkey,” Vhong says that his character is transported to different time periods, such as the Dinosaur Era, Magellan, and the ‘70s Era, in an effort to correct his mistakes and prevent her girlfriend from breaking up with him in the current time.

“It’s an adventure film with a romantic side. It’s very mysterious as well because of the different eras Vhong’s character is taken to. It’s very different from the usual predictive comedy films we’ve seen in the past,” Winwyn shared.

The film tackles, according to its director Miko Livelo, how much one is willing to go great lengths to get back that person he loves the most and what one is willing to do just to preserve it.

“This is the kind of film that after the shoot, you’re just happy because you know maganda yung mga eksenang iniwan nyo. We made the A scene from the comedy film, which the actors describe as an adventure film as a team. It’s like a basketball game in that for you to win the game, you need to have flick with a romantic twist.

IV of Spades headlines Shangri-La Plaza’s August festivities PREPARE for an amazing month as premier lifestyle mall Shangri-La Plaza goes all out in giving aweinspiring art exhibits, gourmet strips, and remarkable concerts this August. Apart from the shopping, dining and entertainment experiences you already love, you won’t want to miss the food discoveries, furniture finds, and fine performances that await mallgoers this month.

If local funk is more your speed, breakout indie band IV of Spades will also be bringing their signature sound to the stage this month. Recently hailed as Myx Music Awards’ New Artist of the Year for 2018, IV of Spades gained massive popularity with their catchy, refreshing retro-inspired tunes like “Hey Barbara” and “Mundo”— as well as for their slick, ‘70s-inspired outfits. Get into the groove with Zild Benitez, Badjao de Castro, and Blaster Silonga as they rock the Shang on Aug. 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Atrium.

Meanwhile, the music madness at the Shang kicks off with world-famous John Ford Coley, one-half of the duo that gave us iconic soft rock ballads that we still love to sing today, like “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “It’s Sad to Belong,” “We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again,” and so much more. Watch and sing along favorite throwback hits as this legendary American singer conquers the stage tomorrow, Aug. 12, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Atrium.

After some cool musical jams, embark in an extraordinary gastronomic experience in a series of foodie fairs at the Shang this August. Mall guests discovered unique local finds in Urban Pod Fair from Aug. 3 to 5 at the East Atrium. From Aug. 24 to 26, come and enjoy good food from local farmers, organic food producers, and chefs in Garden Gourmet at the Food Forum. (In case you miss it then, this all-green foodie fair returns from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.). Continued on C3

Emerging Pinoy rock band IV of Spades

Vhong is a time traveller in the movie

a plan,” Vhong said.

On his leading lady, the comedian has nothing but praises and good words to Winwyn commending her versatility and hidden talent in doing comedy.

“We know her as a good dancer and for playing ‘kontrabida’ roles in different soap operas. But this time, she showcases her ability in comedy. Her timing is so perfect so we know she got it from her mom, Alma Moreno,” Vhong said in jest.

Wynwin said that she had to adjust playing the female lead in the movie due to the fact that she’s used to portraying baddy roles.

“Sometimes nawawala ako sa character ko, but Vhong was always there reminding me of the role I’m playing. I just feel overwhelmed because before I was just watching Vhong, now he’s my leading man. He treats everyone equally, he has respect for everyone and he will teach you if you don’t know what to do,” she mused.

The star-studded cast includes Joey Marquez, Ejay Falcon, Donna Cariaga, Jon Lucas, Isabelle de Leon, Alex Calleja, Kamille Filoteo, Red Ollero with James Caraan, Anthony Andres, and Jun Urbano, and with special participation of Dimples Romana, Joem Bascon, Jun Sabayton, Epi Quizon and Jhong Hilario.

The film starts showing on Aug. 15.

WBR Entertainment Productions Inc. Chairman and CEO Willie Revillame renewed his co-production contract with GMA Network, Inc. for the airing of his top-rating variety program Wowowin.

On Aug. 8, the television host met with GMA Network bigwigs to seal their continued partnership.Present during the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Films President Annette M. Gozon, GMA First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz, GMA Assistant Vice President for Program Management Mitzi Garcia, WBR Entertainment Production’s Atty. Alfonso R. Reyno Jr., Atty. King Reyno, and Atty. Ferdie Domingo.

Also in attendance were composers Lito Camo and Vehnee Saturno together with Revillame’s co-hosts Janni Alipo-on, Sugar Mercado and Patricia Tumulak.

Revillame expressed his happiness for finding a home in GMA, “The network is already our second home. Dito ko naramdaman yung haplos ng pagmamahal. Iba kasi ang tibok ng puso dito. Yung tibok ng puso sa GMA talagang may love, may pagmamahal. There’s no competition within the company.

May pagtutulungan.”

The TV host likewise promised that he will carry on with his program’s goal of extending help to more Filipinos while sharing joy and happiness.

“They can expect fun, more games and additional segments. Everyday naman ang Wowowin from Monday to Friday. Ayokong pinahihirapan yung mga tao, dapat masayang-masaya pag-uuwi sila. Dapat extension ka ng kanilang hapag-kainan. Kasama mo sila sa kusina, sa bahay, sa bus, sa lahat. Itong Wowowin talaga, it’s really a win. Winner ka dito,” he added.

Meanwhile, Atty. Gozon praised Wowowin for performing well in the ratings game. He is also pleased with Revillame’s reaffirmation of loyalty with GMA. “We are very happy that he remains a loyal Kapuso. Siguro nga dahil yan si Willie, dati nasa atin yan, lumipat, bumalik pero ngayon mukhang talagang nakita na niya ang kanyang tahanan sapagkat dito nagre-rate ang mga program niya.

Walang kaduda-duda yun.”

Mr. Duavit, on the other hand, thanked Revillame for his continued trust in the network and revealed that the viewers can look forward to seeing him do international shows.

“We thank Willie for his trust. He is a good friend, a very loyal partner, co-worker, and he’s being loved by the audience. We are glad that Willie considers GMA his second home.

With that he can expect our all-out support. In fact, we’re looking at what we can do with Willie more frequently sa international naman.”

Willie Revillame considers GMA his second home TV host Willie Revillame