Manila Standard - 2018 August 31 - Friday

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Rank Country

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B Total

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

108 58 38 30 19 15 14 12 11 10 10 9 5 4 4 4 4

71 49 46 22 18 19 17 9 20 11 3 13 11 15 13 4 1

52 65 55 37 20 19 24 11 23 38 6 36 9 14 17 3 13

China Japan Rep. of Korea Indonesia IR Iran Uzbekistan Chinese Taipei DPR Korea India Kazakhstan Bahrain Thailand Malaysia Vietnam Hong Kong Qatar Philippines

231 172 139 89 57 53 55 32 54 59 19 58 25 33 34 11 18

PH athlete settles for first-ever silver in Asiad history

GOOD FOR SILVER. Kiyomi Watanabe of the Philippines appears prepared to make an o-goshi, or a two-arm shoulder throw, Thursday against her Japanese opponent Nami Nabekura in the 63-kg finals of the judo competitions, but her muscle and determination had been good enough for the country’s first silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games at the Jakarta Convention Center

By Riera U. Mallari JAKARTA—In one fell swoop, Kiyomi Watanabe succumbed to her wily, world-class Japanese foe Nami Nabekura in the -63kgs finals of the judo competitions and settled for the Philippines’ first silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games at the Jakarta Convention Center here Thursday night.

Watanabe, the 22-year-old three-time Southeast Asian Games’ judo champion, proved no match to the many-time World Grand Prix titlist Nabekura, who took just three minutes and 21 Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 197 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

‘Let smugglers import rice’ Agri chief stirs uproar with his plan; senators cry sabotage

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATORS on Thursday slammed Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol for suggesting that rice smugglers be allowed to operate in Mindanao as legitimate importers so that the price of the staple would go down.

In an interview with radio dzMM, Piñol said the areas of Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi have long relied on smuggled rice and consider it “traditional trading.”

But prices shot up when smuggling stopped as a result of talks between President Rodrigo Duterte and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

“That’s the reason they ran out of rice in the Zambasulta area,” he said in Filipino.

Piñol suggested setting up a trading center in the south where smugglers can supply rice as legitimate importers, a pro-

posal senators were quick to lambast.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, slammed the idea as economic sabotage.

“We cannot encourage rice smuggling.

Even if it’s happening everywhere. It’s against the law,” Villar said in a mix of Filipino and English, on the sidelines of the Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum.

She said the law views the smuggling of rice worth more than P10 million as economic sabotage.

Senator Joel Villanueva branded as “horrible” Piñol’s performance following his proposal to legalize rice smuggling in some parts of Mindanao.

“With the statements that he made... I think it’s terrible,” said Villanueva as he expressed disbelief that Piñol suggested legalizing rice smuggling in the Zambasulta area.

“I don’t know if that’s his intention. I’m sure he doesn’t mean it. You have to be more circumspect of what you say when you become the head of the agency. You just have to be careful about it,” he said.

Senator Nancy Binay on Thursday called on Malacañang to step in to end the apparent standoff between two of its agencies in charge of food security.

Binay urged Malacañang to mediate between the National Food Authority and the NFA Council, saying disagreements between the two have hurt the supply of low-cost NFA rice for more than a year now.

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Palace: Situation going back to normal

By Nat Mariano and Rio N. Araja THE Palace said Thursday that the country’s rice situation will normalize next month as it defended Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol from growing calls for him to resign.

“We foresee the rice situation normalizing because the main harvest is beginning to come in by next month,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in a statement sent to media Thursday afternoon.

Roque said the Department of Agriculture will establish a rice trading post where the government can collect customs duty on legally imported rice with import permit from the National Food Authority.

“The amount of imports to be allowed will be enough to cover the needs of the Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi [Zambasulta] areas,” he Next page said.

Military girds for more BIFF terror attacks

‘‘

“We are left with two options: We either allow smuggling to continue and just close our eyes, or we take full control of the situation.

We set up a rice trading center. Ang smugglers, kausapin natin, mag-import na lang kayo.”

—Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol

Pigeon racers cause flap with bullet train ruse CHEATING to win is as old as sport itself but two Chinese pigeon racers took it to modern-day extremes when they hid the birds in milk cartons and hopped on a bullet train.

It was no surprise then when their homing pigeons scooped the first four places in the race Next page

By Francisco Tuyay, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz DENGVAXIA DANGERS. Members of the Coalition for People’s Right to Health as well as members of the families of suspected victims of Dengvaxia rally Thursday outside the Department of Justice in Padre Faura, calling on the DoJ to hold accountable former government officials and Sanofi leaders in neglecting to inform the public of the dangers of the anti-dengue vaccine.

PDEA head insists Cavite lifters contained shabu

By Maricel V. Cruz

DIRECTOR General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Thursday the four magnetic lifters seized in Cavite

by Customs and PDEA agents Next page

officials and executives of manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and its distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp.

Assisted by lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office, the parents of the three victims―Alcantara, 12, from Aurora; Leabres, 10, from Nueva Ecija; and De Guzman, 10, from Bataan, claimed that their children died after being inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The Public Attorney’s Office has been tasked by the Justice department to

SECURITY has been stepped up in densely populated areas in anticipation of more terrorist attacks after a bomb went off in Sultan Kudarat, killing three people and wounding 35 others.

Military officials said Thursday that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the group they blamed for the attack, has shifted tactics to gain prominence among international terrorist organizations, and have made urban centers their primary targets.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said they raised the level of security awareness within his jurisdiction to thwart attacks on urban centers.

“Urban centers are their target— crowded places, because that’s their

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3 more Dengvaxia charges vs Garin

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Health secretary Janette Garin and 36 others are facing three more criminal cases before the Justice department arising from the deaths of schoolchildren inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

The families of Clarissa Alcantara, Erico Leabres and Christine Mae de Guzman on Thursday filed complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Garin and other Health

Kadamay strikes again, takes over cops’ housing site NEARLY 1,000 members of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay began a campout at a housing site for the military and police personnel in Bacolod Thursday morning, the group said in its Facebook post.

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News

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Threats’ to Rody taken seriously, says Palace THE Palace said Thursday it was taking seriously the threats to the life of President Rodrigo Duterte following the remarks of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that Duterte’s fears of an alleged US Central Intelligence Agency assassination plot against him might just be based on books.

“As we all know, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has made a lot of powerful enemies with his political will and decisive leadership in fighting drugs, criminality and corruption,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

“Although there is no direct threat to his life, as Secretary Lorenzana mentioned, the defense and security sectors, including the Presidential Security Group take all threats to the life of the President seriously.”

During a budget deliberation for his department at the House of Representatives, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate asked Lorenzana if the Defense department had knowledge of the alleged assassination plot of the CIA on Duterte.

“We are in direct contact with the embassy here and they have an assurance that there is no such thing. According to them, it’s not part of activities anymore,” Lorenzana said.

“I think it’s because the President loves to read books. He reads a lot of books. In fact, whenever he has a book that is new and good, he gives us copies of the book.

Maybe he has read it.

“So maybe he’s just basing his fears on those past activities of the CIA.” Duterte has previously claimed that the CIA plans to assassinate him as he believes the security agency could be listening to his phone conversations. Nat Mariano

PH athlete...

From A1 seconds to pin the Fil-Japanese to the mat and secure Japan’s 27th gold in the games.

The 10-0 score summed up the Nabekura’s total domination of Watanabe, whose silver finish here, however, gave the Philippines its first-ever judo medal in Asian Games history.

“Coming here [in the finals], I was the challenger,” said Watanabe.

“We had a game plan, but I was so nervous before the game and could not execute. I know her because we often met in tournaments in Japan. But she is now much stronger than me because she often competes.”

Watanabe, who is on her second Asian Games having placed seventh during 2014 Incheon Asian Games, said she is happy with her first silver medal and to have contributed to the country’s campaign.

“I didn’t have a medal in my first Asian Games. I am so happy with this medal. I hope to continue playing for the Philippines,” Watanabe said.

Dave Carter, president of Philippine Judo Federation, said Watanabe had a chance against her rival.

“She had the edge in grappling and could have done it. But it did not go her way,” said Carter, who said that Watanabe earned precious points from her silver finish here for qualification to the judo competition in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Watanabe’s feat hardly moved the Philippines at the medal table as the Philippines slid one notch to 17th spot with a gold-silver-bronze harvest of 4-1-13, still behind Southeast Asian Games rivals Thailand (11th, 9 golds), Vietnam (13th, 4 golds, 15 silvers) and Malaysia (15th, 4 golds, 11 silvers).

All four gold medals by the Philippines here were won by women athletes, counting Hidilyn Diaz’s victory in weightlifting, the double-gold sweep of women’s golf team led by Yuka Saso and the skateboarding triumph of Margielyn Arda Didal.

Watanabe, ranked No. 10 by the International Judo Federation, needed only one minute and 17 seconds to win by Ippon in a women’s -63 kgs quarterfinals against world No. 204 Orapin Senathan of Thailand to advance to the semifinals against Mongolia’s Bold Gankhaich.

Pigeon...

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and total prize money of more than one million yuan ($150,000).

But the pigeons’ rapid times soon raised suspicions and Shanghai race organizers turned the men in when the scale of the ruse emerged, the state-run Legal Daily reported.

The two men, surnamed Gong and Zhang, attempted to conceal their crime by killing the birds and giving up the prize money, the state newspaper said.

But it was too late and a Shanghai court handed the duo suspended sentences of three years for fraud.

The court also fined Gong 30,000 yuan and Zhang 20,000 yuan, Legal Daily said, adding that they also broke competition rules by using older pigeons instead of one-year-olds.

The two men went to great lengths to beat the opposition in the race in April 2017 from the city of Shangqiu in the province of Henan to Shanghai on China’s east coast, a distance of about 750 kilometres (450 miles).

Gong and Zhang began their nefarious plan a year in advance, raising the pigeons at two feeding points, in Henan and Shanghai, to familiarize the birds with the locations. AFP

PH to deepen ties with Israel, Jordan

By Nat Mariano

T

HE Philippines is expected to deepen its ties with Israel and Jordan and enhance its economic cooperation with those countries when President Rodrigo Duterte pays them a visit, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said Thursday.

Filipino caregivers, scientific cooperation and investments.

“In the future, we expect improvements in deployment procedures and the elimination of excessive placement fees imposed on Filipino workers bound for Israel,” Abella said.

With Jordan, Abella said, the Philippines expects the enhancement of labor, defense, foreign affairs, trade and investment relations and the mutual recognition of the Standard of Training and Certification of Watch Keepers for Seafarers.

He said the renewal and expansion of the relations with Israel and Jordan were in pursuit of the country’s “friends to all, enemies to none” foreign policy.

“Strengthening ties with these nations will promote economic growth, create new employment opportunities and enhance security,” he said.

“A closer relationship with these nations means more opportunity to share expertise with each other in the fields of science, agriculture, industry and counter-terrorism.”

Asked about the President’s official itinerary and the list of delegations, Abella said he did not have a complete list but it should be released to the public soon.

“I’m sure that he will be visiting [certain spots]. I cannot give you the specifics of where he’ll be going exactly. But he will be visiting significant spots,” Abella said.

“These trips will be the first by a sitting Philippine President to both countries,” Abella told reporters in a pre-departure briefing.

“The visits will mark historic milestones, benefit trade and strengthen relationships with key partners in the Middle East.”

He said the Philippines was scheduled to sign at least eight agreements with Israel

and Jordan when Duterte visits those countries from Sept. 2 to 8.

Abella said Duterte’s official visit will be a huge leap in the Philippines’ bilateral partnerships with both countries after decades of diplomatic relations.

He said Duterte will enhance different areas of cooperation with Israel as he signs agreements on the employment of

Palace:...

From A1

The story of every drop of water

Asked if President Rodrigo Duterte still trusts Piñol amid mounting calls for him to resign, Roque said yes.

Piñol has been criticized as prices of the main staple have risen sharply under his watch. He has also been lambasted for his idea to allow rice smugglers to operate legitimately in Zambasulta.

In the House, AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin said Piñol’s idea to legalize rice smuggling in Basilan and Zamboanga, where prices reached P70 per kilo, was tantamount to economic sabotage.

But Roque said Piñol was misquoted.

“We understand Agriculture Secretary Piñol was misquoted on the issue of legalized smuggling of rice in Zamboanga,” he said. Piñol then eventually clarified that what he wants is for smugglers to become legal rice traders themselves.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, meanwhile, warned that the budget of the department could be held up in plenary deliberations.

“The Philippines is an agricultural country with our lush greenery, cultivated fields, and rich aquatic ecosystems. It is befuddling that the Department of Agriculture proposed the importation of rice and ‘galunggong’ from other Asian countries. Rice and ‘galunggong’ are staples of the Filipino diet,” Suarez said.

Opposition Senators Francis Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV sought to probe the rice crisis in Zamboanga City and the eight-month hike in rice prices in the country, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

They added that the National Food Authority “must explain the said shortage, the alleged hoarding, and how the situation in Zamboanga City reached calamity level.”

NFA Administrator Jayson Aquino on Thursday said his agency had nothing to do with the rice crisis in southern Mindanao.

“The rice crisis in Zamboanga City happened not because of NFA’s inefficiency or incompetence. It was due to the significant depletion of commercial rice stocks in the market, the unavailability of commercial rice sources due to the closure of the Malaysian border, which led to the sudden price surges, and the declaration of state of calamity in Zamboanga City to allow the local government to control rice prices and purchase buffer stocks using calamity funds,” he said.

Military...

From A1

thrust to gain support from international terrorists organizations,” Sobejana said.

He said this shift was a sign of weakness, as the terrorists are unable to confront ground troops in battle due to depleted armaments.

“The emplacement of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] is a clear manifestation that they are becoming weak, they have no firepower to fight government forces,” he said.

Since January, the BIFF suffered tremendous setbacks in a series of battles with security forces, particularly in Central Mindanao, losing hundreds of fighters to death or capture.

Sobejana said in the Isulan, Sultan Kudarat attack, several leads pointed to the BIFF. To protect civilian communities, he said troop visibility would be increased, with more checkpoints being set up.

On Thursday, the death toll in the Isulan blast rose to three after a 21-year-old man, Welmark John Lapides, died after remaining in critical condition in a General Santos City hospital, radio dzBB reported.

PDEA...

Coca-Cola continues to strive for water leadership throughout its value chain

MORE than a main ingredient in our beverages, water is one of the most crucial resources essential to the health and survival of individuals, communities and our business.

This is why The Coca-Cola Company developed and adjusted various aspects of its value chain in order to achieve water leadership status. From ensuring that raw materials are grown with efficient water use, to bottling facilities with minimal impact on the water supply, to brining water access to water-deprived communities, and in ensuring that critical watersheds are cared for and conserved, the Company has stayed true to its commitment of returning to the communities and the environment every single drop of water used in the production of its beverages.

The beverage company initially looked at 2020 as the year to achieve 100 percent water replenishment, but this goal was achived in 2015. To date, Coca-Cola has returned over 330 billion liters of water to the environment and the communities through various water programs and initiatives.

In the Philippines, the Company has audited an estimated 108 percent water replenishment rate through its various programs and activities, primarily through the Agos program. Under the program, Coca-Cola provides water access to 180 communities in rural parts of the country, developed mored efficient water use in all bottling facilities, and contributed to the conservation efforts of critical watersheds.

From one end of the value chain, Coca-Cola has partnered with the Department of Agriculture to bring water access to small sugar farmers in impoverished parts of the country.

Sugar is one of the key ingredients in the various beverages under the Coca-Cola line.

The Agos program of Coca-Cola Philippines has provided far-flung water-deprived communities with access to safe water through simple technologies such as ram pumps that elevate water without the need for electricity, gracity installations that bring water to lowlands, and rainwater catchment facilities.

To further serve the water poor communities, Coca-Cola also deployed a mobile potable water treatment plant which produces 2,000 liters of potable water per day.

Earlier this year, the water treatment plant has helped 4,300 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Upper Hinaplanon and Buru-un School of Fisheries evacuation centers in Iligan City. At present, the mobile potable water plant is being deployed across various barangays in Marawi and has served the water needs of 55,800 returning residents in the city.

Aside from giving back to communities, the Company returns water to nature by supporting the restoration and conservation of critical watersheds, including the Ipo Watershed-Sapang Munti and the Sapinit SubWatershed within the Marikina Watershed.

Despite achieving their global goal, Coca-Cola vows to continue with its commitment to returning to the community and the environment every drop of water used in the production of its beverages.

‘Let...

The prolonged deadlock, she added, has resulted in bouts of food insecurity.

The NFA is mandated to maintain a rice buffer stock for 15 days at any given time and 30 days during lean months, based on the country’s daily consumption rice requirement of 32,150 metric tons.

“It’s been one year that we’ve had a shortage of NFA rice, but we still have not fixed the problem,” Binay said in a mix of Filipino and English.

She said the immediate concern is the availability of affordable governmentsubsidized rice and to find solutions to the shortage by addressing the 30-day NFA rice buffer stock.

Villar, meanwhile, also questioned the Agriculture department’s policy to import rice and fish, saying this puts the livelihood of farmers and fishers at risk.

Her statement came after the department approved the importation of 17,000 metric tons of galunggong from China, in a bid to lower prices for the fish.

“Importation should not be our automatic

reaction to problems besetting the agriculture sector. We should work for long-term solutions that will make us self-sufficient and competitive,” Villar said.

Villar said importing galunggong will not solve the problem of the dwindling fish stock.

“Why is there a need to import galunggong? Can we not find another replacement for galunggong?” Villar said, adding that protein can also be obtained from consuming other local catch such as bangus, hasahasa, ayungin and many others.

Villar also proposed for the imposition of a price ceiling to stop the spike in the prices of goods and to mount a no-nonsense campaign against cartels and smuggling.

“We all know there are cartels that control the prices of prime commodities. We alrady passed a law against agriculture smuggling… but sadly, nobody has been punished under this law,” she said.

Villar also stressed the need to implement “measures that will make the produce of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk competitive in this age of liberalization.”

“We need intervention from government that will provide an alternative source of income for fishermen when we close the

fishing grounds and allow the catch to recover. To encourage inland production of fish, we need to strengthen our fingerlings distribution program,” she said.

In the case of rice farmers, Villar said mechanization will substantially reduce the cost of producing palay and farming with inbred seeds will improve the yield from four to six metric tons per hectare.

Under a rice tariff bill Villar will sponsor in the Senate, a P10-billion Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund will be created to bankroll programs designed to improve farmers’ productivity.

But Piñol said the only way to curb rice smuggling in the south and to stabilize prices was to let smugglers bring their shipments to a trading center.

“We are left with two options: We either allow smuggling to continue and just close our eyes, or we take full control of the situation.

We set up a rice trading center,” he said.

He said this would let the government control the volume of rice entering the southern part of the country, and can let in just enough for the needs of the Zambasulta area, so that farmers on the mainland of Mindanao are not hurt by the entry of cheap, smuggled rice.

The report cited Philippine National Police Region 12 spokesperson Supt. Aldrin Gonzales. Tuesday’s blast immediately killed a seven-year-old girl and a 52-yearold woman.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the recent attack suggested that neither martial law nor the Bangsamoro Organic Law could guarantee peace in Mindanao.

Lacson said security forces, particularly in Mindanao, should avert the vicious cycle of talking peace with one group while alienating others.

At the same time, an anti-terrorism bill he has proposed may give the government a much-needed boost in its fight against terrorists, since it enhances the Human Security Act of 2007 with provisions on foreign terrorists and additional predicate crimes.

“While an anti-terror law in itself cannot solve the problem of terrorism, an intensified one can however give the government and the law enforcement agencies the much-needed tool in dealing with the emerging threats of terrorism,” said Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001.

While he had a hand in drafting the earlier law, he said gaps in it prevented authorities from implementing it properly.

He said the occupation of Marawi City by the Maute Group in 2017 “revealed the many loopholes of the current anti-terrorism law.” He noted the Philippines was ranked the 12th most affected by terrorism by the Global Terror Index in 2017.

He added that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front came into being and became a dominant armed force in Mindanao after the government came to a peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front.

The bill penalizes foreign terrorists, including those who travel to a state other than their state of residence for committing or organizing terrorist acts; and those residing abroad who come to the Philippines in transit to commit or take part in terrorist acts to target countries.

Lacson’s bill adds three predicate crimes to the 12 in the present law. These are: RA 9208, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, RA 9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10175, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Covered as well are other analogous acts that tend to cause death or serious bodily injury, or intend to cause risk to the health, safety or security of the public, or intend to seriously interfere with, disrupt or destroy critical infrastructure.

From A1

The alleged one-ton shipment slipped past PDEA, the Bureau of Customs and police personnel deFrom A1 ployed at the seaports and airports and tasked to prevent the entry of illegal drugs. contained P6.8 billion worth of smuggled methamIn a previous hearing, Customs officials expressed phetamine hydrochloride or shabu. doubt on the existence of the shabu based on the He made the statement as the House of Rep- swab tests. resentatives’ committee on dangerous drugs, led Even President Rodrigo Duterte said earlier that

by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, there were no drugs in the magnetic lifters seized in resumed its probe into the alleged entry of the il- Cavite. legal drugs.

Upon questioning by Liberal Party Rep. Miro But Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop dismissed as Quimbo of Marikina, Aquino insisted that the lifters “wishful thinking” the discovery of the alleged miss- contained illegal drugs. ing one ton of shabu worth P6.8 billion that passed Aquino described as “unfair” the allegations that through the Bureau of Customs. he was wrong to announce that the magnetic lifters “If it is about getting the drugs from there, I think had contained shabu. that would be wishful thinking already from all the “Precisely, it is unfair. Because I am just telling indications that we have,” said Acop, a retired police the truth and precisely, the truth and the goodness general. will prevail,” Aquino said.

He made the statement in response to Barbers’ Aquino reiterated that PDEA’s canine sniffer “reinsistence on looking for the “corpus delicti” or the sponded twice” to every magnetic lifter when they physical evidence of the missing shabu. inspected the warehouse in Cavite.

Kadamay...

From A1

The homeless families, along with their children and belongings, asked the government to give them the unoccupied houses in Barangay Felisa, saying they would not leave the site project until the authorities gave in to their demand.

The group said the 1,500 housing units were unoccupied since 2013, adding they had been asking the National Housing Authority to award them the houses.

The housing site was supposedly made for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Kadamay Negros secretary general Berlita Ante argued that long-unoccupied housing units should be awarded to the homeless.

Ante said the homeless people would not enter the houses until there had been a dialogue between them and the authorities.

She said they would not leave the area to make sure the dialogue push through.

Meanwhile, Bacolod NHA project manager Alejandro Ongsuco said they were looking into the request of Kadamay. Nat Mariano

3 more...

From A1

conduct an investigation and a case buildup on the Dengvaxia controversy.

The latest cases brought to 15 the number of criminal cases filed so far against Garin and the other respondents before the Justice department as the PAO had already documented over 80 cases of deaths from the vaccine.

As in the previous cases, the latest complaint accuses Garin and the others of negligence as a result of their “failure to inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents/families of the dangers and risks related to Dengvaxia and to obtain their informed consent.”

The complaints accused the Justice department during the stint of Garin to conduct a proper screening of the Dengvaxia recipients and to monitor the recipients considering the risks posed by the vaccine to seronegative recipients or those who had no history of dengue.

The PAO earlier filed 12 cases involving the deaths of victims Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno, Alexander Jaime, Naomi Nimura, Michael Tablate and John Paul Rafael.

Garin and the other respondent have already denied the charges and sought their dismissal.

News Impeachment rap versus CJ is moot —lawmaker

By Maricel V. Cruz THE impeachment complaint filed against Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro will be rendered moot should her retirement precede the termination of the case, a House official said on Thursday.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon, chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on justice, made the statement as his panel was preparing to begin the impeachment proceedings against the seven justices of the Supreme Court, including De Castro who will retire in October.

“If that would happen, granting for the sake of argument that the retirement would precede the termination of this case against her, definitely it would be moot and academic. But as to the other cases they would proceed,” he told a television interview.

The impeachment complaint filed against Justices De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo last week was referred to the House justice committee last Tuesday.

The justice panel has 60 session days to dispose of the complaint.

Once the committee renders its findings on its sufficiency in form and substance, the House, in plenary session, has also 60 session days to affirm or reverse the ruling of the committee.

Leachon said his committee would finish the impeachment deliberations at the soonest possible time upon the order of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

De Castro’s tenure will only last for at least 45 days as she will retire on Oct. 8, 2018.

Leachon maintained his committee would conduct a fair hearing on the impeachment case of the seven SC justices.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CoA flags Sandiganbayan for 10 defective vehicles T

By Rio N. Araja

HE Commission on Audit has flagged the Sandiganbayan for 10 idle and defective sport utility vehicles bought for P8.4 million as of Dec. 31, 2017.

“Motor vehicles with an aggregate acquisition cost of P8,474,973,08 have remained idle since these were returned/surrendered to the Property and Supply Section, thus continuously occupying significant space in the Court’s premises exposing them to deterioration, and likewise reducing its saleable value,” an audit report read.

Out of Sandiganbayan’s 37 vehicles, six were no longer in use, two were being used by newly appointed justices and two others replaced the older service vehicles.

“Underutilization of these vehicles may indicate excessive units and may not justify the purchase of new ones,” CoA said.

Under Section 79 of the Government

Auditing Code, any unserviceable government property should either be destroyed or sold at public auction to the highest bidder depending on its assessed value.

In addition, the state auditors have called the attention of the anti-graft court for the delayed renovation of the Sandiganbayan Centennial Building along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

Due to lack of approval from the Supreme Court, the Sandiganbayan returned P72 million to the National Treasury, CoA said, adding the money was supposed to go to the reconfiguration of the Sixth and Seventh Division offices in the building’s fifth floor.

Australian nun given 30 days to answer, or be deported

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano THE Bureau of Immigration gave the 71-year-old Australian missionary Sister Patricia Anne Fox 30 days to answer or be deported after the bureau denied her motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the deportation order against her.

“We understand she has a heart for the people, but her actions must remain within the boundaries set by the laws of the land. Foreign nationals must follow Philippine laws, in the same manner that our kababayans abroad follow the laws of the country they are in,” BI spokeperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said.

In a three-page resolution signed last Aug. 23 by the BI Board of Commissioners composed of Commis-

sioner Jaime Morente, Deputy Commissioner J. Tobias Javier, and OIC Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Marinas, Fox’s motion was denied for having “no new matters raised that warrant the modification or reversal of the resolution.”

The BI issued a deportation order against Fox last July for violating the conditions of her stay and for being an undesirable alien.

Sandoval denied Fox’s accusations the bureau had prejudged her case based on the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that Fox was an undesirable alien.

“A deportation order was issued against Sister Fox for violating the conditions of her visa and for being undesirable,” she said.

“She was authorized to conduct only missionary works, but had at-

tended numerous political activities contrary to the limitations of her visa.

She was likewise seen as undesirable for joining protests, which she also admitted in her affidavit,” she added.

Sandoval reiterated that foreign nationals were not allowed to join rallies in the country.

“Foreign missionaries in the country must be actually, directly, and exclusively engaged in religious work, and are not allowed to engage in partisan political activities inconsistent with their religious vocation,” she said.

The BI said that foreign nationals must follow Philippine laws or face deportation.

“It is the responsibility of the BI to ensure that foreign nationals, male or female, young or old, follow Philippine laws,” she said.

Arroyo says she will retire after 2019 polls SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has confirmed she would not run for any position in the next midterm elections and would retire when her term as Pampanga representative ends in 2019.

The 71-year-old Arroyo, former president, made the announcement Wednesday in a CNN Philippines interview beamed nationwide.

“I am retiring. I don’t plan to run for anything in 2019, that’s sure,” said Arroyo, who said she wanted to write her memoirs.

Arroyo also said her son Juan Miguel, a former one-term party-list representative of Ang Galing Pinoy from 2004 to 2007 and one term lawmaker of Pampanga’s second district from 2007 to 2010, before her mother was elected congresswoman in 2010, would run for Congress in his mother’s congressional district.

Arroyo said she was disinterested in seeking the Prime Minister’s post under the proposed federal system of government. “[I am] not just thinking [of it], I am retiring… I do not plan to run for anything in 2019,” Arroyo told CNN. Arroyo, on her third and last term as representative of her district in Pampanga, added she would want to give new breed of young lawmakers the chance to shine in the legislature.

“Yes [I will retire] because we all have to move on. People do reach retirement age and I was also saying that one of the blessings of being a Speaker now at this time is that I have come to work with the younger congressmen and seeing how they work, seeing how good they are,” Arroyo said, in a separate interview after attending the blessing of the Romana Pangan District Hospital in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

Maricel V. Cruz

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Opinion

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Moving on, building a nation their energies to productive pursuits within the system, always looking for CROSSROADS ways to pursue the dream of building a new country by injecting values and JONATHAN practices imbibed before, during and DE LA CRUZ after the martial law years. They managed not to get trapped in the past with all the anger, frustration and bitterness (Part 2) it brought. They licked their wounds IF, AS Senator Koko Pimentel advised and nursed themselves back into solid some days back, only the victims of grounds. They became entrepreneurs, Ferdinand Marcos’ strongman rule raised good families and managed to have the right to say “ It’s time to move impart to a wider circle of people leson” in reaction to Gov. Imee Marcos’ sons learned from the earlier struggles: admonition for our people and the Discipline, patience and hard work. country “to move on from the Aquino- They cultivated friends and continued Marcos feud”—a kind of shorthand to find ways by which they can, in this used by martial law victims to insist fourth quarter of their lives, still conthat the Marcoses apologize for the tribute to the development of this bemisdeeds during that period—then nighted land and the uplifting of the Mike Molina and Dads Capellan who lives of our people.

The rest of the group—Goody Heralso joined our Hong Kong sojourn nandez, Menow Nivera and Benjie Atihave every right to declare so. lano—may not have been active parWell, they have moved on.

Mike and Dads were early recruits ticipants in the FQS struggles but they from the Ateneo of the Kabataang lived through it and learned the lessons Makabayan, described by the security well. They excelled in their own fields, forces then as the most radical youth mainly business and finance, and in organization under the control of the their own ways contributed in making the country Communist Party a better place. In of the Philippines. his younger days, Together with its Goody rose to betwin, Samahang come a top official Demokratiko ng They stood up and of one of the counKabataan, they learned their lessons try’s engineering formed the CPP’s and construction one-two punch in well. companies, EEI, the youth and stuwhich employed dents sector which and continue to readily took the employ tens of sector by storm crowding out the other Y/S groups in thousands of our people and built up not only the country’s infrastructure and schools and communities nationwide.

Mike and Dads dropped out of At- skyline but many others overseas. Two eneo for a while to “learn from the years ago he also retired after serving masses,” organized in the communi- as the Philippine Representative to the ties and actively led street protests. Asian Development Bank for six years.

They were detained a number of times He now tends a farm in Batangas, keepbefore and during martial law and like ing a nursery for the farmers within the many detainees suffered in prison. community and serves as the Treasurer They protested. Their families cried of the Ateneo HS ‘68/College ‘72 Assoout for justice as best they could un- ciation. It is in that capacity that he was der the circumstances. After denounc- able to cajole many of our classmates ing, marching and fighting against an to contribute to the Fr. Thomas Steinoppressive system with Marcos at the bugler Scholarship Fund for poor but helm in the hope of overturning it to deserving students enjoined to enroll at usher a new Philippines, they were the Ateneo.

On the other hand, Menow, ever the overwhelmed and lost. It was a bitter loss made even more tragic by the dutiful student, graduated with honors death of friends and classmates at the amidst the boycotts in Loyola and prohands of the security forces. They did ceeded to be a professional manager their best but accepted their loss. Un- in many local and foreign companies. like others who continued to denounce for a while he lived in Hong Kong and their fate and demonize Marcos and Jakarta as part of a batch of topnotch his regime, they never, as in never, Filipino managers entrusted with the sought any kind of compensation for fortunes and businesses of many of fighting for their ideals. Instead, they Asean’s tycoons. Now he heads a number of companies one of which being stood up and moved on.

Turn to A5 In their own ways they channeled

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

B

The Venezuelan crisis

ARE supermarket aisles and pharmacy stores are now commonplace in Venezuela. Meat chicken, eggs and corn flour, the Venezuelans’ staple diet, have disappeared from the shelves—a stark reminder of how the economy has sharply sunk after years of utter mismanagement by the dictatorial regime of President Nicolas Maduro.

The Philippine economic story is an unfair comparison with that of Venezuela, but the grim situation in the South American nation will serve as a lesson to everyone trying to run a government.

The inflation rate in Venezuela is currently estimated at 100,000 percent, with the International Monetary Fund predicting it could go up to one million percent toward the end of the year. The Venezuelan government raised the minimum wage by 3,400 percent to compensate for zooming prices, printed more money and devalued the bolivar by 96 percent in an effort to de-

fuse the economic crisis.

The inflation rate, however, worsened. With little foreign exchange earnings as a result of weak oil prices and capital flight, Venezuela suffered massive food shortages that, in turn, fueled the inflation rate to increase further.

Falling public services, hyperinflation and shortages of basic necessities have forced millions of Venezuelans to abandon their country. The United Nations estimated that about 1.6-million Venezuelans have been displaced since 2015 when the economic crisis worsened. It says 2.3-million Venezuelans are now living abroad but other sources put the

figure much higher.

Venezuela’s economic problems stemmed from over-dependence on its huge oil reserves. It derives 96 percent of its revenues from oil but the heavy reliance on crude created a problem when world prices plunged in 2014, leading to shortages of foreign capital.

The bad economic situation, meanwhile, resulted in a brain drain. People with capital and college education were the first to leave Venezuela. Millions soon followed as hyperinflation increased the number of poor people who were unable to purchase the basic necessities.

President Maduro introduced populist economic policies in his bid to consolidate power.

Venezuela, for one, has one of the cheapest pump prices in the world. He ignored economic fundamentals, stifled the opposition and turned to socialism.

In short, he ruined Venezuela’s economy.

Something smells fishy here sequently raises the price of transporting prime commodities to distributors and the market. Thus, we have a ripple effect on prices, including increased ALEJANDRO electric and water rates.

DEL ROSARIO Formalin is the chemical used in the THE expression in the title of this embalming of corpses to make them column is derived from an American look good during the wake before the slang which means something smells burial. Used on food, it is harmful to bad to arouse suspicion. It is akin to humans because of its toxic effect. If it another saying: “Something is rotten in is ingested through food, victims will need a larger dose of it to look good in Denmark.”

The fake news that the lowly fish the coffin. Seriously, we are not makgalunggong has been tainted with ing light of a deadly situation.

“There is no formalin has truth to the rumor kept away cashthat galunggong is strapped Filipinos tainted with forfrom buying the malin,” said Agristaple seafood.

This is the barometer culture Secretary Galunggong is the that opposition political Emmanuel Piñol. barometer that opcandidates use to attack He explained that position political the fish coming candidates use to the administration’s into the country attack the admin- failure in handling the are actually from istration’s failure economy.

Philippine waters in handling the which are caught economy.

The by poachers from galunggong price Vietnam, China went up and then down because of the false report the and Malaysia.

The Chinese, who are driving away fish, particularly the imported variety, is tainted with formalin. Market forces Filipino fishermen from the West Philippine Sea, is hauling away our dictate the law of supply and demand.

Aside from fish, the prices of ba- fish using trawlers with huge nets and sic commodities like rice, vegetables, exporting the catch back to Manila. chicken, pork and beef have gone up This is the fishy part of the Philippine because of the effects of the govern- government’s soft stand on enforcing ment’s TRAIN law which increased our territorial sovereignty. No matter the excise tax on gasoline diesel and how hard our officials try to explain Turn to A5 kerosene. Increased VAT on fuel con-

BACK CHANNEL

The R.O.C. government will promote UN participation THE 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly will convene on Sept. 18, 2018 at UN headquarters. The UNGA General Debate is scheduled to be held from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

In order to meet the expectations of the 23-million people of Taiwan of participating in the UN system, the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has decided to continue UN related campaigns. This year’s theme will be “Taiwan, a Vital Global Partner in the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.” This echoes the theme of the 73rd session

of the UNGA General Debate, namely “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable, and sustainable societies.”

Taiwan is calling on the international community to recognize its determination to contribute to regional and global affairs.

In addition to requesting its diplomatic allies to speak up at the UNGA General Debate, Taiwan’s government has solicited allies’ Permanent Representatives to the UN to write to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urging

him to resolve the long-pending issue of the exclusion of Taiwan’s 23-million people from the UN system in accordance with the spirit of the UN Charter and upholding the principles of fairness and justice.

This year, the main appeals of Taiwan’s UN bid are: 1. The people of Taiwan should be treated equally to those of other nations.

The UN should resolve the serious issue of Taiwan’s 23-million people being excluded from the UN system.

2. Taiwan passport holders and Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Protective tariffs prevent economic progress

Airports and rice VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ AT A briefing for a select group senior journalists, Ramon S. Ang, vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp. debunked fears the beer, beverage, food, power, and infra conglomerate cannot afford to bankroll alone its P750-billion airport city on 2,500 hectares of flatlands in Bulacan, 27 kms north of the present Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

San Miguel is a P1.4-trillion company (in assets as of 2017). It has Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation) of P166 billion, equity of P420 billion, and cash balance of P222.5 billion. Its power business has assets of P270 billion, food business P650 billion, and Petron P266 billion.

The airport will be the newest and most modern in Southeast Asia. With initial four runways, SMC’s New Manila International Airport can handle 100-million passengers a year upon its completion in six years, with two more runways to be built later on to increase capacity to 200-million passengers.

The airport will be serviced by highways, skyways, and a train loop where trains will run at a 180-kph clip.

So many large multinational and technology companies, the world’s best in airport construction and airport management, have signified their intention to be recruited by San Miguel to build the airport, at $15 billion, the largest single piece of infrastructure the Philippines will undertake in the last 100 years.

In their eagerness to participate in the project and secure bragging rights, these companies are willing to provide liberal and long-term suppliers’ credit and expertise.

Even without these prospective foreign partners, San Miguel by itself can easily bankroll the P750 billion cost of the airport.

RSA likes to think he could finish the airport at a third of the usual construction cost per square meter, or P150,000. For instance, the main terminal building with one million sq meters

will usually cost P150,000 per square meter or P150 billion. RSA thinks he can do the job for only a third or P50 billion, a savings of almost $2 billion.

The P750 billion will seem like peanuts to San Miguel.

Already, the company is undertaking 21 major projects at a total cost of P742 billion. They include the P175.2 billion to build toll roads and highways, the P81.2 billion expansion of its food business, the P170 billion expansion of its power plants, P112 billion for Petron refinery modernization, P82 billion for MRT7, P38 billion for Petron gasoline stations, P25 billion for cement manufacturing, P23.6 billion for Hydro-Aklan Pump Storage, and P12.7 billion for the Boracay airport. Even its beer business, a traditional bread and butter profit-maker, will expand at a cost of P5.3 billion.

‘You cannot bring your money to your grave, so better use it for the people.’

The airport has four major benefits—attract 20-million tourists a year, create 40-million jobs, decongest Metro Manila and solve its traffic, and develop Central Luzon into a major growth region.

San Miguel will remain the dominant feeds manufacturing company.

It is building 10 feed mills each with one million-ton capacity to expand its capacity to 23 million tons per year, equivalent to 50 percent of the feeds market. San Miguel will become the biggest food provider for this country.

Ang has even grander plans to solve the country’s severe food shortage.

Food is half of the total expenditures of some 24-million Filipino households, which means SMC can solve half of the Filipino people’s problems.

Once the government decrees tariff free importation of rice, San Miguel plans to import rice in bulk (not in

bags) using its fleet of bulk carriers and its network of grain ports nationwide.

The rice will be stored in silos using an air and moisture technology so that the rice you eat on your tables will be free of bukbok and lingering pesticides, and best of all, fresh, ensuring that San Miguel imported rice is yummy and delicious. The company will sell the rice at nominal cost. This will put rice cartels out of business and bring down the price of rice immediately.

The country needs to import at least two million tons of rice a year. For the long term, San Miguel wants to contract hundreds of thousands of farmers, probably a million, to grow rice.

San Miguel will provide the varieties, the feeds, the farm technology, the supervision, the warehousing and transporting and best of all, the guaranteed price and market.

If the price of rice say is P20 in other places, San Miguel will pay double, or P40, vows RSA. He thinks that with SanMig’s price guarantee (of profit), so many farmers will be enticed to go rice farming. Rice is a dying industry.

The average age of the rice farmer is 57. None of his children want to inherit the job. They would rather flock to the city, get a degree, join a BPO, become a seaman, a Saudi construction worker, or a hotel worker. Ang’s idea will make entrepreneurs of every rice farmer.

This is a classic proof of the rice is in the eating scenario and the government should take up Ang’s offer. It will disrupt and stabilize the rice business and guarantee ample supply of this staple food at reasonable prices.

Ang notes, with pride, that in businesses where San Miguel made a difference, the price of the commodity went down for the good of all. Before San Miguel went into the power business, electricity retailed for P6 to P8 per kilowatt hour. Today, San Miguel sells electricity for just P3 per kilowatt hour. Same thing happened with beer, chicken, processed food, and soon, rice and corn.

Why does Ang do all of these things?

“You cannot bring your money to your grave,” he says. “So better use it for the good of the people.” biznewsasia@gmail.com

We lost a strong advocate of an international rules-based system Statement of Ambassador Albert Del Rosario WITH the passing of Senator John McCain, the United States and the responsible community of nations, including the Philippines, have sadly lost a staunch champion for democracy and a strong advocate of an international rules-based system.

Moving...

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the Canlubang Golf Club where he gets to interact with business owners and managers encouraging them to enhance their workers’ benefits and train youngsters for the life ahead.

As in college, Benjie Atilano is his own man. Singlehandedly he built up his insurance and financial services business from the ground up noting that in college he did things his way anyway ribbing the activists in our group that he always welcomed calls for boycotts then looking at these as opportunities to look around, scout for possibilities (mainly the ladies??) and scoop for news and bond with classmates many of

Those of us who have worked with him proffer our deepest sympathy to his family and to the American people whom he represented not only with courage and dignity but also with his patriotism of the highest order.

I personally remember him as a whom later on became his clients. Today, he makes Manila and Hong Kong his home as he supervises a number of companies some of which he has already ceded to his children. He moved on and still snoops for opportunities this time as part of what he calls his giving-back initiatives to the school and the communities he once roamed in.

Multiply those life experiences thousands upon thousands over and you will see that the vast majority of those who dedicated their lives to struggles, whether in or out of school, during the heady FQS days or the dark days of martial rule lived with those memories but decided they will not let that past immobilize them no end. They moved on and took their chances learning from the past. Many of them took the punch-

unique and respected congressional leader who was most cooperative and supportive. He was without equivocation in wanting to help the Philippines in every way that he could.

Senator John McCain was a giant of a man. We will not forget him. es and nursed their wounds vowing to make something of themselves even in a society which remained mired in poverty and in the clutches of an oligarchy.

They remained unbowed by their detention and sufferings even as they continue to grieve for the lives lost and the forsaken opportunities. But they moved on. And even in the fourth quarter of their lives they continue to shoulder on hoping that somehow by giving the best examples of purposeful lives the next generations will continue to rage against the darkness and in their own ways help build a nation united in the pursuit of development, freedom and justice for all. Moving on, build a nation remains the over riding call as we all face up to the challenges and opportunities of this 21st century.

allows us to purchase a wider variety of goods at lower prices. Competition from abroad keeps domestic producers on their toes. It forces them to improve ERIC JURADO the quality of their products and keep costs down. At the same time, the vaINTERNATIONAL trade makes it riety of goods available from abroad possible for us to produce and con- provides us with a much greater arsume more goods and services at ray of choices than would be available lower prices than would otherwise be without international trade.

Unfortunately, the government impossible. There are three reasons why poses regulations that restrain internathis is so.

First, we benefit if we can acquire tional trade. These can be tariffs (taxa product or service through trade es on imported goods), quotas (limits more cheaply than when we produce on the amount imported), exchange it domestically. Resources differ sub- rate controls (artificially holding down stantially across countries. Goods that the value of the domestic currency to are costly to produce in one country discourage imports and encourage exmay be economical to produce in an- ports), or bureaucratic regulations on other. For example, countries with importers or exporters. All such trade warm, moist climates, such as Brazil restrictions increase transaction costs and Columbia, find it advantageous to and reduce the gains from exchange.

Trade restraints are like a military specialize in the production of coffee.

People in Canada and Australia, where blockade that a nation imposes on land is abundant and population sparse, its own people. Just like a blockade tend to specialize in land-intensive imposed by an enemy will harm a products, such as wheat, feed grains, nation, imposing a blockade in the and beef. The citizens of Japan, where form of trade restrictions also harms land is scarce and the labor force high- the nation.

Non-economists often argue that ly skilled, specialize in manufacturing cameras, cars, and electronic products. import restrictions can create or protect jobs. HowTrade will permit ever, it is the proeach trading partduction of value ner to use more that really matof their resources ters, not jobs. If to produce and Trade restraints are jobs were the key sell things they like a military blockade to high incomes, do well rather we could easily than having them that a nation imposes create as many as tied up producing on its own people. we wanted. All of things at a high us could work one cost. As a result day digging holes of this specializaand filling them tion and trade, total output increases and people in each up the next day. We would all be emcountry are able to achieve a higher ployed, but we would also be exceedstandard of living than would other- ingly poor because such jobs would not generate goods and services that wise be attainable.

Second, international trade allows we value.

Import restrictions may appear to domestic producers and consumers to benefit from economies of scale expand employment because the intypical of many large operations. This dustries shielded by restraints may inpoint is particularly important for crease in size or at least remain steady. small countries like the Philippines. This does not mean, however, that the With international trade, domestic restrictions expand total employment. producers can operate on a larger scale When the government erects tariffs, and, therefore, achieve lower per-unit quotas, and other barriers limiting the costs than would be possible if they ability of foreigners to sell in the Philwere solely dependent on their domes- ippines, they are simultaneously retic market. For example, trade makes ducing foreigners’ ability to buy from it possible for textile manufacturers in Filipinos. Our imports provide people countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, in other countries with the purchasing Thailand, and Vietnam to enjoy the power they need to buy our exports. If benefits of large-scale production. If foreigners sell less to Filipinos, they they were unable to sell abroad, their will have fewer of the pesos required unit costs would be much higher be- to buy from Filipinos. Thus, import cause their domestic textile markets restrictions will indirectly reduce exare too small to support large, low- ports. Output and employment in excost firms in this industry. With inter- port industries will decline, offsetting national trade, however, textile firms any jobs “saved” in the protected inin these countries can produce and sell dustries.

Trade restrictions neither create nor large quantities and compete effecdestroy jobs; they reshuffle them. The tively in the world market.

International trade also allows us to restrictions artificially direct workers benefit by purchasing from large-scale and other resources toward the proproducers abroad. Given the huge de- duction of things that we produce at a sign and engineering costs of airplanes higher cost than others do. Output and today, for example, no country has a employment shrink in areas where our domestic market large enough to per- resources are more productive—armit even a single airplane manufac- eas where our firms and people could turer to fully realize the economies of compete successfully in the world large-scale production. With interna- market if it were not for the impact of tional trade, however, Boeing and Air- the restrictions. Thus, labor and other bus can sell many more planes, each resources are shifted away from areas at a lower cost. As a result, consumers where their productivity is high and in every nation can fly in planes pur- moved into areas where it is low. Such chased economically from such large policies have and will reduce both the output and income level of Filipinos. scale producers.

Third, international trade promotes eric.jurado@gmail.com competition in domestic markets and FROM WHERE I STAND

The R.O.C....

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this ambivalent policy, the people know this is all bovine droppings.

In my last column I said Agiculture Secretary Piñol and National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino should resign and not wait for President Duterte to fire them. Yesterday the group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura filed graft charges against Aquino for allegedly diverting P5.1 billion intended to stabilize rising rice prices. It will be up to the proper court to determine Aquino’s culpability.

If true, then consumers will know why the runaway price of rice cannot be stabilized. Piñol, who has direct supervision over NFA and Aquino, shares part of the blame for the anomalous

misuse of the NFA funds.

It seems there is more than a “whiff of corruption” here which Duterte said earlier would be his basis for removing officials under his watch.

Senator John McCain, 81 John McCain—war hero, longtime senator from Arizona, and presidential nominee passed away three days ago, a victim of brain cancer. He was 81, and with his demise many Americans are probably regretting McCain did not make it to the White House.

This is not just paying tribute to a titan in American politics . McCain could have been a more competent and presidential leader than Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Trump who earlier was indifferent to the passing of McCain bowed to public pressure to acknowledge the man’s contribution and legacy to America. Trump

ordered the White House flag at half mast. McCain will lie in state at Capitol Hill and will be laid to rest at Arlington cemetery in Washington where America’s heroes are buried.

During the 2015 presidential campaign, Trump belittled McCain’s heroism when he said: “Heroes are not captured” referring to the US navy pilot who survived more than five years in a Vietnamese prison camp. While US leaders were one in paying tribute to McCain, sources at the White House said that Trump had scrapped a statement praising the Arizona senator.

McCain, however, had the last word when he stressed “I don’t want Trump at my funeral..” The late senator’s family said former Democrat President Barack Obama and Republican President George Bush will deliver eulogies extolling McCain’s greatness.

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

journalists should be granted unfettered access to the UN premises.

3. The UN Sustainable Development Goals concern the wellbeing of all humankind; Taiwan should not be left behind.

To help the international community gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s appeals, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu will author an op-ed, and the Ministry will produce a series of short videos about its implementation of SDGs addressing Taiwan’s fulfillments in the areas of clean energy, universal health coverage and the circular economy.

The government will also host a series of events on sustainable development in New York City during the UN General Assembly to demonstrate that Taiwan places great importance

on achieving the SDGs. These events can help deepen the understanding of the UN community about Taiwan’s relevant effort.

Taiwan’s civil society and overseas compatriot communities will hold creative and lively events at the same time to express a clear message to the UN, that Taiwan’s 23-million people are willing and able to implement the SDGs in conjunction with the rest of the world.

The R.O.C government sincerely thanks its diplomatic allies and friendly nations for supporting and assisting Taiwan’s participation in the UN system. It also calls upon the United Nations to recognize Taiwan’s willingness and determination to make contributions to the world and the region. Taiwan urges the UN to respond positively to its appeals, and welcome its participation in the UN system in line with the principles of equality and reciprocity, in order to safeguard UN ideals and well-being of the humankind.

News

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Aviation, airline warns public on making bomb jokes

BoC to earn P52 million from imported sugar public auction

By Joel E. Zurbano AVIATION and airline officials on Thursday called on the public to be wary of bomb pranks and warned that making bomb joke is punishable by law.

On Thursday, flag carrier Philippine Airlines announced it will file a criminal complaint against a passenger of a PAL Manila-Cotabato flight who made a bomb joke while the aircraft was about to take off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

The incident resulted in the flight delay of PAL Express flight 2P-2959.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines identified the passenger as Saidona Singgon, who initially claimed he is an employee of the Department of Transportation which supervises CAAP. In a statement, CAAP and DOTr denied any connection with the passenger and it turned out that the passenger is an employee of the Department of Transportation and Communications assigned in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolinio said that some passengers heard a fellow passenger utter a bomb joke while the plane was on cue for taxi prior takeoff.

The aircraft crew and Naia Airport Grounds Operations Division immediately informed airport security of the incident resulting in the arrest of Singgon, who is now in the custody of authorities for questioning.

Ma. Cielo Villaluna, head of PAL Corporate Communications Department and spokesperson, said Singgon will be charged with a case of Presidential Decree 1727 (False Bomb Threat) which punishes, among others, malicious dissemination of false information knowing the same to be false.

Cash support pushed for campus writers

By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Thursday batted for a P30 to P50-million budget support for campus journalists under the 2019 national budget.

Ang Edukasyon Party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr. made the call as he appealed to Congress for an enough funding for the country's campus journalists.

“We will push for at least P30 to P50 million for the conduct of the National Schools Press Conference and the other events and activities leading up to the NSPC, which will be held in Ilocos Sur from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2019,” Belaro said.

Belaro said the proposed allocation from P9.6 million for 2018 to between P30 and 50 million for 2019 is meant to cover for any training cost, competition cost, registration fee, and transportation expenses incurred by public and private students and teachers when they compete at the division to regional to national level.

He lamented that the proposed budget allocation for campus journalism activities shrunk to P2.1 million from P9.6 million last year.

“Our young scribes and their mentors are essential to the future of press freedom and our country’s democracy.

Their education and training is also our cause,” Belaro said.

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

APPROVED BUDGET. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lauded the swift approval by the Committee on Appropriations of the proposed budget of the Office of the President for 2019 in the amount of P6.7 billion. The amount is 2.32 percent higher than this year’s funding of P6.031 billion. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Undersecretary Rizalina Justol of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration presented on Wednesday to the appropriations committee chaired by Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles the details of the OP budget proposal. The OP budget was approved within 10 minutes after their presentation. Novel Paller/Pecto Camero

DENR to declare more mineral reservations area

By Rio N. Araja

T

O HELP provide equitable access to mineral resources and generate more non-tax revenues, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will declare more mineral reservation areas soon.

Undersecretary for Mining Analiza Teh said the agency's Mines and Geosciences Bureau is now in the process of identifying “mineralized areas and high mineral potential areas, including all existing operating mines,” for declaration as mineral reservations.

Certain sites have already undergone the process prescribed by law and are ready for endorsement to President Rodrigo Duterte for declaration as mineral reservations pursuant to Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act. “The law provides that when the national interest so requires, such as when there is a need to preserve strategic raw materials for industries critical to national development, or certain minerals for scientific, cultural or ecological val-

ue, the President may establish mineral reservations upon the recommendation of the MGB Director through the DENR Secretary,” she said.

Teh issued the statement in the wake of news reports of audit observation memorandum issued by the Commission on Audit's Regional Office 13 on the alleged failure of the DENR to collect almost P2.6 billion in royalty fees from five mining companies in the Caraga region.

Teh clarified that the present mining law requires payment of royalty fees only in areas declared as mineral reservations.

“The five mining companies mentioned in the CoA report are operating outside the Surigao mineral reservation

area. Thus, the permits granted to them do not contain any provision for them to pay royalty,” she said.

All actions of the DENR and MGB on the matter were “in accordance and consistent with existing laws and regulations," she said.

To address the concerns of the CoA and the government in general, to generate more revenues from the mining industry, she said the DENR is looking at the declaration of more mineral reservations to include sites where the five mining companies operate as a solution.

The agency has also proposed to the Department of Finance to include the imposition of royalty fees on mining firms operating outside mineral reservations in the second package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, she added.

“Should an amendatory law be passed, the imposition of royalties on mining operations outside mineral reservations will be applied prospectively,” she raised.

Govt-to-govt eyed in PH sub purchase

Marist School alumni grand homecoming BATCH '93 alumni of Marist School Marikina will be holding their Grand Alumni Homecoming on Sept. 8, 2018. The event will be held at the Marist High School covered court.

For details, call 09177940458.

VICTIMS. Relatives of alleged Dengvaxia victims hold photos of their departed loved ones at the entrance of the Department of Justice on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 before the filing of reckless imprudence complaint against former Department of Health officials and Sanofi Pasteur executives. Norman Cruz

‘DoLE needs more labor inspectors’ LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday asked lawmakers to increase the Department of Labor's budget to enable the agency to hire more labor inspectors.

Attending the department's budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Bello said the agency has only about 800 labor inspectors tasked to examine the compliance to labor laws of more than 900,000 business establishments.

“We badly need more funds to hire labor law compliance officers if we are expected to implement the labor standards and labor laws. We wanted to hire 2,000 [labor inspectors] but this was turned down by the DBM [Department of Budget and Management],” Bello told lawmakers in the budget hearing conducted by the House committee on appropriations, chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles.

“We need enough funds to hire more

THE Customs bureau expects to generate more than P52 million from the public auction sale of imported sugar scheduled today (Friday) at the Port of Manila.

The auction sale is pursuant to the provisions of Section 1139 to 1150 of the Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and other relevant Customs Memorandum Orders and Customs Administrative Orders.

According to the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division of the said port, the auction will be conducted through sealed bidding and will cover four (4) sale lots: one (1) sale lot of high fructose corn syrup with a floor price of P1.18 million and three (3) sale lots of refined sugar with a total floor price pegged at P51 million.

The ten (10) 20-footer containers that contain high fructose corn syrup are consigned to Chymist Trading while the 60 20-footer containers containing sacks of refined sugar are consigned to Red Star Rising Corp. Both are abandoned shipments.

The shipment of sugar, apart from being abandoned, was also misdeclared by Red Star Rising Corp. as packaging materials, kitchen utensils, and kraft paper. Further investigation revealed that the corporation has no import permit from the Sugar Regulatory Administration to import the commodity.

Officials from Red Star Rising Corp. are now facing charges for violation of Section 1401 (Unlawful importation) in relation to Section 117 Regulated Importation and Exportation of the CMTA and Section 3 of R.A. 10845 otherwise known as An Act Declaring Large-Scale Agricultural Smuggling As Economic Sabotage, Prescribing Penalties Therefor And For Other Purposes or the AntiAgricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

Public viewing of merchandise and pre-bid conference for all qualified bidders is on Aug. 30 at the POM. Actual auction sale will be held at the Auction Hall, 3rd floor, Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, POM building.

Interested bidders may inquire at ACDD-POM with hotline numbers 0977-615-7648 or 0929-569-4915.

Complete details are available on the BoC website, www.customs.gov.ph.

labor law compliance officers. We will appreciate if we get that support from Congress,” he added.

The department was allocated P13.371 billion in the proposed 2019 national government budget. This is 16.38 percent higher than its cash-based budget equivalent of P11.489 billion in 2018.

For next year, budget for personnel services under the department's Office of the Secretary will amount to P2.51 billion.

Last April, DoLE released a list of companies allegedly using illegal contracting sevices.

From June 2016 to April 2018, DoLE inspected only 99,526 business establishments owing to manpower constraints.

Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna agreed with Bello, but pointed out that about 15 percent of the approved regular positions in the department remains unfilled. Maricel V. Cruz

SHOULD the Philippine Navy submarine acquisition program pushes through, it will be acquired via government-to-government procurement, Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Thursday.

“The submarine, if we finally decide to buy them, will be on a government-to-government procurement and under a loan so that we do not need a large upfront capital outlay,” he said in a text message.

The defense chief earlier said the DND is looking at proposals made

by Russia, South Korea, Germany and France for the PN submarine acquisition program.

Of the said countries, only Russia has expressed willingness to offer its Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines to the Philippines via “soft loan.”

Lorenzana said the multi-role fighter project, which is scheduled in

the latter part of Horizon Two of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, is not being moved to the Horizon Three.

“No it is not being moved to the 3rd Horizon [Horizon] The senior leaders [military] will soon table for decision the planned MRF acquisition,” he added.

The MRFs are fighter aircraft capable of performing air-superiority, ground-attack, recon and other missions—aside from being agile and capable of attaining supersonic speeds. Among examples of the aircraft include the Americanmade F-16 and F-18 jets.

Horizon Two is scheduled for 2018 to 2022 while Horizon Three is slated for 2023 to 2028.

Horizon One lasted from 2013 to 2017 and resulted in the acquisition of the three Del Pilar-class frigates, 12 FA-50PH light-lift interim fighters, two strategic sealift vessels, among others. PNA

‘Illegally parked vehicles to get citation tickets’ THE Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Thursday that it will no longer tow, but will issue citation tickets against illegally parked vehicles along Mabuhay Lanes, which is the alternate routes designated for private vehicles avoiding the congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said beginning today (Friday) the crackdown will be conducted from 6 am to 9 pm on the 17 listed Mabuhay lanes or express routes connected to Edsa and roads going to commercial districts and shopping hubs in Metro Manila.

Violators may be charged with at least three citation tickets with corresponding penalty. A fine of P200 for violating the illegal parking rule, P150 for disregarding traffic signs and P150 for obstruction.

“Traffic enforcers are instructed to issue citation ticket to vehicle owners. For unattended

vehicles, tickets will be attached to their windshields,” said Garcia in a press conference.

“Motorists who do not have parking space have long been using major thoroughfares and the Mabuhay lanes as their own parking area. This practice has to stop,” he added.

More than a thousand traffic enforcers are tasked to remove vehicles obstructing the traffic flow on Mabuhay lanes.

“This is the agency’s response to hardheaded vehicle owners who defy the MMDA’s illegal parking rules,” said Garcia.

To decrease incidents of corruption and illegal towing activities, the MMDA will also not utilize towing services along Mabuhay lanes but will use them on inner roads upon the request of local government units in Metro Manila.

“There are many complaints about abusive towing firms. We do not want the ef-

forts of our traffic personnel to go to waste because of them,” Garcia said.

Last week, the Metro Manila Council agreed to increase the fine for illegal parking in the metropolis. Fine for attended illegal parked vehicles will be raised from P200 to P1000, while unattended illegal parked vehicles will be increased from P300 to 2,000.

However, the imposition of higher fine will not be enforced yet as the agency officials have yet to meet with MMC’s Special Traffic Committee.

According to Garcia, it is high time for vehicle owners to look for permissible parking areas or be issued with several citation tickets daily.

Their intensified efforts, Garcia explained, is to open up alternative routes for motorists avoiding Edsa, more so with the construction of various infrastructure projects in Metro Manila. Joel E. Zurbano

Sports

A7

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Baguio, Benguet to co-host Batang Pinoy Championship B AGUIO CITY will have the province of Benguet as its co-host in this year’s staging of the Batang Pinoy National Championship on September 15 to 21.

ANOTHER FILIPINA WINNER. Kyomi Watanabe of the Philippines won against Gankhaich Bold of Mongolia in Judo event during the 18th Asian Games JCC Complex in Jakarta. She advanced to the finals with this victory.

7th UNTV Cup opens Monday at Big Dome THE 7th UNTV Cup, the only basketball tournament designed for the country’s public servants, opens on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Senate Defenders hoping to become the first back-to-back champions of the league.

Backstopped by Jeff Sanders, Marlon Legaspi, Harley Ng and Senators Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara, the Defenders swept the Malacañang Kamao in their best-of-three to raise the championship trophy for the first time last March.

Armed Forces of the Philippines and Judiciary have won the annual event twice but not successively which is the reason why coach Mike Fermin has prepared the Defenders early.

“We want to make a little history in the league so we prepared early for the tournament. Hopefully, nobody gets hurt as we go for back-to-back,” said Fermin.

Senate’s bid for a “double” was ruined by various injuries suffered by key players in the Executive Face-Off won by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Responders last July.

“We prepared hard because we know everybody is after us,” said Fermin, noting that newcomers Philhealth and Philippine International Trading Corporations have also formidable crews.

Also taking part in the P10 million tournament event organized by UNTV President and CEO Dr. Daniel (Mr. Public Service) Razon are National Housing Authority, Ombudsman, GSIS, Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture.

Like last year, the champion will get P4 million, with the runner-up getting P2 million—all will go to their chosen charities.

“We want to instil to our public servants the essence of physical fitness that’s why we are holding this tournament. This event will also give them the opportunity to interact with their fellow public servants,” said Razon, who is being supported by Gerry Panghulan, vice president for administration of BMPI-UNTV.

Ababa grabs lead at ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu golf DANAO City, Cebu—Jhonnel Ababa, denied of a shared view of the top with a late mishap Wednesday, rebounded with a strong start yesterday and sustained his charge to card a bogeyfree five-under 66 and grab a two-stroke lead over Korean Kim Joo Hyung halfway through the ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational here yesterday.

In a duel at the tight, tricky par71 Club Filipino layout, Ababa opted for precision over power and proved rock solid from tee-togreen with crisp iron play, producing five birdies, including three in the first four holes at the back that spiked his impressive pair of 33s that put him on top of the heap with a seven-under 135.

“Some fairways were tight in the opening nine so I played conservative. One mishit is costly,” said Ababa due for a win with four top 10 finishes in the last six Philippine Golf Tour events in Mindanao and Visayas.

He actually snapped a six-month title spell with a three-stroke victory over Jobim Carlos in the PGT Asia Forest Hills leg last month but

Jhonel Ababa

had been unsuccessful on the PGT with his third place effort at ICTSI Negros Challenge serving as his best in the season.

But with the momentum now on his side and the course seemingly all figured out, Ababa, who fumbled with a late bogey in the first round and missed joining Aussie Damien Jordan at the helm, hopes to finally nail one this week.

But a horde of aces are hot on his trail, led by the young but talented Kim, who moved in contention for a second crown with a 68 for a 137 while Jordan stayed in the hunt at 138 despite a 70.

Stars trounce Voyagers, 115-85 THE Manila Stars continued to run roughshod over their rivals in the MPBL Datu Cup and on Wednesday night, the Robust Energy Capsule-backed squad added the Pasay Voyagers to their growing list of victims, 115-85, at the San Andres Gym. Aris Dionisio, the most consistent performer on the Stars side, dished out yet another impressive performance by tallying 16 markers on a steady 5-of-7 shooting from the field, towing Manila to its sixth win in seven games of this tournament put up

by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

The loss was the fifth in seven matches for the Voyagers.

Manila’s 115-point output was the biggest produced by any team in the young history of the league.

But Manila’s dominant performance was simply overshadowed by another shining star, who had a breakout performance in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league in the country.

Gerald Anderson, one of the celebrity ballers seeing action in the tournament, knocked in two triples while picking up two steals in what was easily his best game in the MPBL Datu Cup, helping the Marikina Shoemasters in posting an 80-76 win over the Navotas Clutch.

It was the best game played by Anderson, who returned to peak form after being sidelined by a hamstring injury days before the opening of the new MPBL season.

The partnership was confirmed at the signing of the memorandum of agreement between Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Celia Kiram, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Benguet Provincial Governor Crescencio C. Pacalso yesterday at the Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant, Baguio City.

“We are ready and we are very thankful

for the PSC for choosing Baguio City and Benguet to host the Batang Pinoy national championships,” said Mayor Domogan.

Governor Pacalso echoed this sentiment and said, “it’s an honor for Benguet to be part of one of the biggest sporting event in the country.”

“The collaboration will help cater to the 6,500 participating athletes in Batang Pinoy.

The PSC is thankful that both our co-hosts

have met the requirements of the games,” said Kiram.

The national championships will have 21 sports held in Baguio City and six sports in the province of Benguet, with over 1,000 medals at stake.

The PSC’s event for in-school and outof-school school youth, 15-year-old and below will take place in 29 playing venues including the Baguio Athletic Bowl, Baguio swimming pool facility, University of the Philippines Baguio, University of the Cordilleras gymnasium, Saint Louis University, Beneco Multi-Purpose Hall and Engineer’s Hill covered court.

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Sports

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

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Gin Kings start title defense

By Jeric Lopez COMMISSIONER’S Cup champion Barangay Ginebra makes its debut while the erstwhile unbeaten Phoenix Fuelmasters look to bounce back as they plunge into action against separate foes at the resumption of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The Gin Kings take the first step in their title defense when they play still winless Columbian Dyip (0-3) at 7 pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Preceding that is a battle between the Fuelmasters (2-1) and the ailing TNT KaTropa (1-3) at 4:30 pm in the curtain-raiser.

Still high from claiming the mid-season conference crown just three weeks ago, two-time defending champion Barangay Ginebra now looks forward to begin its title defense against the Dyip.

Gin Kings coach Tim Cone is optimistic that his team can once again have another good run in aim of winning the tournament for the third year in a row.

It actually helps that Ginebra will once again have three-time champion and Commissioner’s Cup Best Import Justin Brownlee leading their charge again.

“We’re intact and we’ve enjoyed our championship but we have to put that to rest now as we go for another one,” said Cone of his team’s approach entering the new conference. “All I can say is that I have Justin (Brownlee).”

Phoenix had a hot 2-0 start before it bumped and bowed to league-leading Alaska, 108-97, just last Wednesday night.

The Fuel Masters are looking to vent their ire on the Tropang Texters, who have lost their last two outings.

Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson (center) grabs a rebound against Columbian Dyip’s Glen Khobuntin (13) while Ginebra teammates, from left: Sol Mercado, Japeth Aguilar and Kevin Ferrer look on.

Didal set to get millions

By Riera U. Mallari

P

ALEMBANG—It’s amazing how a little, round, flat piece of metal not weighing more than 600 grams could completely alter the life of an athlete.

For skateboarder Margielyn Ardan Didal, things are about to get crazy rich.

Didal, whose mother sells kwek-kwek (deep fried hard-boiled egg in flour) for a living, stands to receive P6 million from the government and private sponsors after winning the women’s skateboard street gold in the 2018 Asian Games on Wednesday in a performance Olympic committee chief Ricky Vargas described as “breathtaking.”

Sponsors who are into skateboarding like Sprite, Vans, Red Bull, Kia and the like could come knocking on her door.

Television crews will follow her every tournament. Sportswriters will bug her for interviews, while common folks will ask to be her friend on Facebook.

Her mother, on the other hand, can stop selling kwek-kwek, or sell 2 million of them for the next three decades (if she decides to stick to the job, but we doubt it).

But as an athlete, Didal said her life will practically be the same, training five to six hours a day, almost everyday of the week.

What will change now is the number of tournaments she plans to join in the hopes of landing the bigger prize—gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I want to earn qualifying points for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” said the Cebuana, who honed her skills in the streets of Lahug City.

In the case of skateboarding, which will be making its debut as a medal sport in the quadrennial global sports showcase, it will take a series of Olympic qualifiers to determine the 80 par-

ticipants in the discipline—20 each in the men and women’s park and street events, respectively.

As the Olympic host, Japan is guaranteed one slot in each of the four events while the top three finishers in the world skateboard championships immediately before the Olympics will earn tickets to Tokyo.

The remaining 16 slots will be based on the Olympic skateboarding world rankings by June 2020, with a country allowed to field as many as three eligible skateboarders in each of the four events.

Didal, who will be the Philippine Team’s flag bearer in the closing ceremonies here, will have her first crack at earning qualifying points in the Street League Skateboarding World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in January.

“We are lining up Margie to compete in Rio so she can earn ranking points,” said Skateboard Association of the Philippines, Inc. president M o n t y Mendigoria.

If she ends up winning it all in To-

Didal

kyo, maybe she can buy her family nice things. Or build a skate park to aid her fellow skateboarders. Or put up a mega food business, kwek-kwek eggs included.

PH boxers pursue Asiad gold

NOT HIGH ENOUGH. EJ Obiena soars high while competing in the men’s pole vault event during the 18th Asian Games in GBK Grand Stadium Jakarta. Obiena fell short to place seventh.

National basketball team wants big win over Syria JAKARTA—The Philippine basketball team wants no less than an emphatic win against Syria to end their roller-coaster campaign on a high in the 2018 Asian Games here.

A win will give the hastily-formed Rain or Shine-bannered team here fifth place, which will improve the seventh rank of the Andray Blatchereinforced Gilas Pilipinas team four years ago during the Incheon games.

Gametime is 6:30 pm (7:30 pm in Manila) at the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall here.

For head coach Yeng Guiao, capping the team’s campaign here with a big win would be a nice gift to basketball-loving Filipinos, who were taken aback by the suspensions handed on Gilas Pilipinas players and coaches following their brawl-marred game against Australia during their Fiba World Qualifier.

“We didn’t practice on Wednesday, but we still did a lot of work viewing Syria’s games and broken down some clips. We looked at every advantage

we can exploit against them. We want to make a good lasting impression in our final game in the Asian Games,” said Guiao.

The Syrians are coming off a 76-66 win over the host Indonesians Tuesday to set up the clash with the Philippines, which manhandled Japan, 11380, on the same day.

Unlike China’s speed and size and Korea’s outside shooting, the Syrians don’t pose much of a threat to the Jordan Clarkson-led nationals, but the team still went through a two-hour practice on Thursday at the GOR Cempaka Putih, more than an hour from the Athletes’ Village to solidify their plays.

“We couldn’t ask anything more from the players,” said Guiao, back coaching in the international scene nine years since guiding the Powerade Pilipinas squad to a seventh place finish in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship at a time when the PBA-backed squad has no naturalized player reinforcing the squad. Riera U. Mallari

JAKARTA—Boxing officials are confident that their three remaining Filipino bets in Eumir Felix Marcial, Carlo Paalam and Rogen Ladon will be up to the task in delivering a gold medal or three for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games here.

“We have three remaining boxers chasing the elusive medal. Hopefully, they can survive the great odds like they did in the past,” said Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines Executive Director Ed Picson, referring to Ladon, Paalam and Marcial, who have assured the Philippines of at least 3 bronze medals and will shoot for the gold-medal round in the semis against different foes today.

Of the three, the middleweight Marcial has the biggest chance of advancing, owing to his credentials as a two-time SEA Games champion and a silver medalist in the 2015 Thailand International Boxing Tournament and the Asian Boxing Championship in the same year and country.

Marcial, whose most impressive performance here was a Referee-Stopped Contest against pro boxer Nn Kuok Kun of Macau in the preliminaries, takes to the ring at 7:45 pm (8:45 in Manila) against Uzbekistan’s Israel Madrimov, who himself isn’t a slouch as he was a former Asian Boxing Champion in 2017.

The flyweight Ladon, a SEA Games silver medalist (2015), takes on at 2:15 p.m. Thailand’s Tongdee Yuttapong, a recent champion of the 2018 Thailand Boxing Tournament.

Meanwhile, the light flyweight Paalam, a Presidents Cup (2017) and Thailand Boxing Tournament (2018) titlist, fights at 6:15 p.m. India’s onenamed boxer Amit, a Grand Prix Usti (2017) and Strandja Memorial (2018) champion.

“They have to dismantle all obstacles in the last two stages to reach the podium. It’s a difficult task. I have trust and confidence they can do it because they possess innate boxing skills and experience. They are grizzled veterans and battle-tested,” said Picson. Riera U. Mallari

Security Bank’s $1-b notes get investment grade

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

B1

Govt rejects all unsolicited LNG offers

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE government rejected all unsolicited offers for the proposed $2-billion integrated liquefied natural gas project after they were found non-compliant, Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said Thursday.

Marcos said with the latest development, state-run Philippine National Oil Co. was seeking solicited offers from the private sector to choose the partner for the development of the LNG integrated terminal, which would be crucial with the expected depletion of the Malampaya natural gas reserves by 2024.

IN BRIEF DoE reviewing plan to import Euro-2 fuel

THE Energy Department said it will study the cancellation of a controversial order directing the oil industry to offer Euro-2 compliant diesel to the provide a cheaper option to the transport sector.

“We have to go back to the drawing board. We have to come up with an objective review,” Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said.

The agency earlier issued an order requiring oil companies to provide Euro-2 compliant automotive diesel oil to help mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices.

Marcos said he would inform Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the concerns raised by lawmakers during the Senate hearing.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the department should also listen to the concerns of the Department of Health that the order could have an impact on respiratory diseases.

Euro-2 fuel reportedly has 10 times more sulfur at 500 parts per million against the much cleaner Euro4 diesel with only 50 ppm.

Cusi earlier said the move was meant to provide a cheaper diesel alternative, particularly for those operating older vehicles in the public transport sector.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Hotels to add 2,800 Metro Manila rooms

THE hotel industry is expected add a record 2,800 new hotel rooms across Metro Manila in 2018, on strong visitor arrivals, especially from China, Korea and Japan, a real estate consultancy firm said Thursday.

Colliers International Philippines said in a recent market report about 1,700 new hotel rooms were completed in Manila in the first six months of 2018, already surpassing the 1,580 new rooms that opened in 2017.

Four- and five-star hotels accounted for more than 60 percent of the new units that were completed in the first half.

Collier said for the second half of the year, it was expecting the completion of another 1,100 new hotel rooms. It said nearly half of the new hotel inventory would open in Newport City in Pasay City while about 30 percent would be in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The remaining 21 percent will be in Makati.

Among the new hotels due to be completed in the second half are Seda BGC Tower 2, Sheraton Hotel Manila and Hilton Manila.

Colliers said that once the additional supply of hotel rooms became available, the hotel occupancy rate was expected to ease to a range of 65 percent to 68 percent this year from 70 percent in 2017.

Jenniffer B. Austria

AIIB studies flexible loan arrangements

THE China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is studying local currency financing and a variable spread facility to help fund the ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program of the Philippine government, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday.

Dominguez in a statement welcomed the proposal by the AIIB, saying the bank was also looking into possible co-financing arrangements with other multilateral institutions in implementing big-ticket infrastructure projects.

AIIB president Jin Liqun in a meeting with Filipino officials in Beijing last week said the multilateral bank would focus on “the actual work” in implementing infrastructure projects to ensure that they would be completed on schedule without any hidden or added costs.

Dominguez led a group of Philippine officials that included Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana in discussing possible financing approaches for the government’s centerpiece infrastructure program.

“We are quite sensitive to interest rates. Although they may seem small amounts, we do not want to reverse the trend of lowering our spreads. So it is very encouraging that you are considering variable spreads [over the Libor facility]. I was hoping for an update on it. We are happy about the local currency bonds as well,” Dominguez told AIIB officials during the meeting. Julito G. Rada

Mynt, MoneyGram sign remittance deal

MYNT, the operator of GCash, said Thursday it strengthened its partnership with MoneyGram to improve the remittance service in the Philippines.

“With the growing number of overseas Filipino workers looking for a reliable way to send money back home, the collaboration with GCash aligns with our strategy to provide user-friendly, rapid-response and low-cost channels to send money across borders,” MoneyGram chairman and chief executive Alex Homes said.

“The expansion of digital channels combined with a strong network of agent locations, enables MoneyGram to offer a differentiated customer experience that allows consumers to transact with us their way,” Holmes said.

Under the tie-up, funds can be sent via MoneyGram online or at any one of MoneyGram’s thousands of locations in 200 countries and territories around the world to reach a GCash mobile wallet in minutes.

Money will be deposited into the mobile wallet in tPhilippine peso. The receiver will get an SMS notification of every incoming money transfer and will be able to use funds instantly for purchasing goods and services online or paying bills. Darwin G. Amojelar

Marcos said PNOC asked its board to approve the solicited mode of partnership selection instead of the previous unsolicited approach.

“PNOC is seeking for a partner.

Their scheme is solicited, Previously it was unsolicited,” Marcos said.

Marcos said PNOC moved toward a solicited mode partnership “because there were no offerors who became compliant or comprehensive.”

“So now they asked the approval of the board to look for a partner through solicited terms,” he said.

Marcos said PNOC would establish its own terms of reference. After selecting a partner, PNOC will apply for a permit with the Energy Department, he said.

“Everything is DoE in terms of permitting and regulation,” he said.

PNOC last year tapped the Asian Development Bank for technical assistance for its LNG venture.

The ADB acted as transaction advisor for PNOC. ADB’s scope of services included the assessment of the viability of the unsolicited proposals.

The ADB will also assist in the drafting of the tender documents for the PNOC’s solicited offer and assist in the negotiation with the winning bidder.

PNOC previously received seven unsolicited offers from Lloyds Energy, Korea Electric Power Co., China National Offshore Oil Corp., Energy World Corp., First Gen Corp., PT. Jaya Samudra Karunia and PT PGN LNG Indonesia/PT Bosowa Corporindo with local partner MOF Corp.

Marcos said the Energy Department

also received interests from Jera Co. Inc. of Japan, Chevron and NYK to participate in the emerging LNG industry.

“More are less there are 15 [interested parties] for LNG,” he said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said he wanted the Philippines to put up an LNG hub in preparation for the eventual depletion of the Malampaya natural gas reserves in northwest Palawan, which supplies fuel to power plants in Batangas with over 3,000 megawatts of capacity.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; MPIC, Shell climb T HE stock market rose Thursday, tracking the record close on Wall Street overnight after encouraging trade negotiations between the US and Canada.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 22.20 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,853.16 on a value turnover of P6.3 billion. Gainers edged losers, 99 to 97, with 50 issues unchanged.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, infrastructure, water and electricity distribution, and hospitals advanced 5.4 percent to P5.50, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty climbed 4.5 percent to P890.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., the smaller of the country’s two oil refin-

eries, added 1.3 percent to P57.95, but PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, lost 1.1 percent to P1,400.

Most Asian markets, meanwhile, fell Thursday, with investors unable to build on another record close on Wall Street, instead taking profits after a strong week.

New York’s indexes powered ahead as news that Canada and the United States were close to a fresh deal that would revive the North American Free Trade Agreement coincided with betterthan-expected US growth and a possible breakthrough in Brexit talks.

Tokyo ended up 0.1 percent but Shanghai sank more than one percent and Hong Kong lost 0.9 percent in the afternoon.

Singapore lost 0.4 percent, Seoul was off 0.1 percent and Sydney was marginally lower, while there were also losses in Wellington, Taipei and Mumbai.

The pound and euro were also holding up after surging when the European Union’s top negotiator said it was open to a unique deal with Britain, which raised hopes the country will leave the bloc with a working relationship.

For most of this year world markets have been under pressure as China and the US have threatened and imposed titfor-tat tariffs that fueled fears of a global trade war, while Washington has also picked fights with allies including the EU, Canada and Mexico.

But optimism has recently picked up. On Monday Donald Trump and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto announced a new trade agreement and on Wednesday came news that Canada was close to a deal, fueling hopes for a Nafta 2.0.

Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed optimism

a deal was close and the White House plans to notify Congress on Friday of its intention to enter into a new free-trade agreement.

Also on Wednesday the Commerce Department said the US economy expanded more than initially reported in the second quarter thanks to a rise in business investment.

“If you think about the handbrake on sentiment over the past six months or so, it’s mostly about the handbrake on growth and the uncertainty that the trade wars have caused with a little added worry about what Brexit might look like,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

“So, news overnight that we could have Canada in a new Nafta deal by the end of this week and that the EU is ready to offer the UK an unprecedented deal is good news for markets. And for the global economy.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 60 17,220 94 1,051,960 2.55 188,000 130 3,872,120 1.7 66,000 31.9 57,500 16.4 155,400 14.42 345,200 4.05 91,000 8.67 2,400 1.61 2,000 820 20 0.57 835,000 74.15 1,784,850 1 1,567,000 11.8 700 48 224,500 194.5 1,130 83.05 1,160 28.6 98,900 199.9 896,880 1,850 205 78 20,060

1,032,289 98,967,277.50 479,570 506,948,803 112,260 1,835,735 2,554,704 4,991,722 366,110 20,808 3,150 16,400 480,860 132,334,457.50 1,568,880 8,260 10,821,995 220,742 96,445.50 2,856,335 179,337,170 379,250 1,566,953.50

893,305 2,844,027.50 21,405,883 -115,125 -701,272 -36,689,285.50 -118,800 -3,985,670 9,770 -2,434,425 -14,270,484 44,248.50

35.7 17.08 1.02 1.2 0.235 3.28 14.48 210 28.5 19.7 45.5 69.1 1.79 5.01 7.42 10.3 15.98 10.24 7.27 7.04 16.94 63.8 27.8 7.35 13.5 2.19 278.6 4.95 3.2 24.6 13.32 18 366 0.197 2.08 4 8.95 5 7.65 0.99 11.34 57.2 4.75 2.49 3.14 1.68 13.12 93.5 5.46 1.01 139.1 2.1 1.86

INDUSTRIAL 36.15 1,525,000 17.26 952,600 1.02 9,195,000 1.21 263,000 0.235 900,000 3.3 5,087,000 14.5 951,700 210 10 31.45 2,193,300 19.92 3,700 45.6 91,000 69.1 790 1.79 27,000 5.01 100 7.44 5,800 10.58 1,288,800 16.22 1,700,500 10.4 746,000 7.3 399,700 7.05 4,173,700 17.1 3,870,400 65 1,013,940 28.25 408,600 7.36 50,500 13.8 69,700 2.22 1,326,000 286 545,750 4.97 187,000 3.26 21,000 24.9 1,608,000 13.4 863,500 18.3 1,417,400 374 383,430 0.197 40,000 2.1 1,195,000 4.02 189,000 9.05 375,500 5.08 145,000 7.65 35,200 1.01 3,389,000 11.7 114,500 57.95 2,154,680 4.77 36,000 2.49 165,000 3.14 16,000 1.7 474,000 13.4 382,100 94 1,719,270 5.6 294,600 1.01 117,000 140.6 642,640 2.12 1,754,000 1.86 42,944,000

54,829,860 16,406,816 9,486,250 318,060 211,890 16,813,290 13,803,898 2,100 69,131,505 74,316 4,148,790 54,595 48,500 501 43,294 13,553,414 27,473,690 7,691,330 2,914,208 29,422,834 66,082,878 65,113,277 11,388,855 375,603 956,276 2,960,020 154,098,064 929,400 67,820 40,123,215 11,661,346 25,946,482 141,688,808 7,880 2,513,390 767,370 3,385,636 727,315 270,117 3,422,170 1,326,696 124,870,016.50 171,330 410,850 50,450 803,490 5,120,256 161,965,463 1,644,441 118,570 90,212,310 3,714,410 84,001,510

-34,976,985.00 -307,664.00 53,000 -9,442,360 -3,161,126 -33,391,705 -3,706,470 5,762,954 14,848,636 -3,281,456 -1,795,964 -18,448,559 17,890,938 4,191,804 24,565 219,232 -55,929,538 9,375,925 -1,805,676 21,892,032 5,561,030 -282,460 -98,670 546,055 5,010 -2,466,530 560,444 -26,554,952.50 171,330 3,775,056 -99,231,985 55,800 -3,766,412 -147,610 -79,000

0.38 52.5 13.4 0.92 6 35.5 1.44 1.45 975 5.97 12 7.01 0.205 861 5.98 59.1 0.58 4.65 17.4 0.62 5.26 0.04 1.25 2.8 169.1 2.6 959.5 0.77 1.5 417 283 0.33

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 12,610,000 53.3 1,270,470 13.58 6,438,400 0.92 150,000 6.1 25,600 38.25 598,200 1.47 26,561,000 1.49 3,441,000 990 164,740 6 3,373,800 12.2 4,322,000 7.05 83,500 0.205 220,000 890 411,500 5.98 2,300 59.5 1,594,590 0.6 55,000 4.8 4,351,000 17.4 661,400 0.62 1,914,000 5.5 67,002,200 0.041 20,700,000 1.26 194,000 2.84 745,000 169.5 662,160 2.6 3,000 965 180,700 0.77 21,000 1.5 64,000 440 30 298.8 6,520 0.34 18,130,000

4,856,050 67,569,629 87,533,706 139,400 155,782 22,578,880 39,652,700 5,191,900 162,789,470 20,232,157 52,866,842 588,167 45,320 365,025,400 13,756 95,021,013.50 32,490 21,078,580 11,548,358 1,192,870 363,148,736 844,900 244,860 2,108,660 112,957,655 7,800 174,424,290 16,170 96,340 12,890 1,909,672 6,119,550

-3,405,606.50 34,287,686 138,982 -62,640 -52,840 -12,233,320 -11,999,136 11,001,174 -99,601,025 44,628,475 865,090 -2,385,446 60,051,400 -1,526,076 -1,339,615 -15,400 -1,363,856 -10,450

1,408,914 2,895,850 348,120 39,400 124,670 472,628,440 3,985,990 1,483,930 105,094 4,486,200 1,791,230 436,880 1,352,910 2,072,217 22,952,150 5,800 2,260 1,711,750 291,950 11,935,040 119,069,620 10,980,370 5,844,800 251,350 1,122,610 86,674,305 824,250 662,160 370,583,825 1,535,380

148,943,585 -1,953,340 -172,720 -3,494,500 9,100 -4,586 -1,087,200 1,387,690 332,120 -48,815,480 104,160 142,750 -302,120 -21,620,160 -6,030.00 116,289,475 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.8 93.5 2.55 130 1.7 31.9 16.44 14.42 4 8.67 1.54 820 0.57 73.85 1.03 11.8 48.4 196 83.4 29 199.9 1,850 78.95

60 94.7 2.57 131.7 1.71 32.1 16.44 14.52 4.06 8.67 1.61 820 0.59 74.6 1.03 11.8 48.5 196 83.4 29.2 201 1,850 78.95

59.8 93.05 2.55 129.1 1.7 31.85 16.4 14.42 3.98 8.67 1.54 820 0.56 73.8 0.99 11.8 47.9 194.5 83.05 28.6 199.5 1,850 78

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL 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 PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

36.05 17.24 1.06 1.22 0.235 3.3 14.5 210 29 20.4 45.5 69.1 1.8 5.01 7.5 10.3 16.24 10.38 7.27 7.04 17.04 63.8 27.8 7.44 13.66 2.21 285.8 4.97 3.25 24.85 13.8 18 372 0.197 2.15 4.11 9.01 5.08 7.85 1.03 11.4 57.2 4.75 2.49 3.15 1.74 13.12 94.5 5.46 1.04 140 2.11 1.93

36.5 17.32 1.07 1.22 0.239 3.33 14.66 210 33 20.4 45.65 69.15 1.8 5.01 7.5 10.58 16.24 10.44 7.3 7.05 17.12 65 28.4 7.46 13.92 2.27 286 5 3.26 25.85 13.8 18.48 375 0.197 2.15 4.15 9.05 5.08 7.85 1.04 11.7 59.5 4.77 2.49 3.18 1.74 13.5 95 5.6 1.04 141.5 2.13 2.04

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC 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 SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS

0.385 52.5 13.44 0.93 6 36.5 1.54 1.56 992 5.98 12 7.09 0.207 861 5.98 59.2 0.61 4.7 17.5 0.63 5.26 0.04 1.27 2.82 171 2.6 970 0.77 1.52 417 290.2 0.34

0.39 53.7 13.7 0.93 6.1 38.6 1.54 1.56 992 6 12.32 7.09 0.207 897 6 60.15 0.61 4.99 17.5 0.64 5.5 0.041 1.28 2.89 173 2.6 975 0.77 1.52 440 300 0.35

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND

7.28 0.98 13.1 1.97 0.72 44.1 3.1 4.54 5.62 0.45 0.93 0.98 0.25 9.22 26.1 0.58 0.113 1.53 1.2 1.72 4.67 0.63 0.46 0.5 3.45 21 2.01 3.22 38.55 1.15

7.36 0.98 13.2 1.97 0.73 45 3.1 4.57 5.62 0.45 0.95 0.98 0.25 9.39 26.3 0.58 0.113 1.53 1.2 1.75 4.73 0.63 0.485 0.5 3.51 21.4 2.03 3.22 39 1.15

7.24 0.95 12.56 1.97 0.72 44.1 3.05 4.5 5.62 0.44 0.87 0.96 0.248 9.2 25.3 0.58 0.113 1.51 1.19 1.68 4.66 0.62 0.46 0.49 3.42 20.95 2.01 3.19 38.55 1.13

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

7.18 0.78 6.4

7.2 0.78 6.41

7.1 0.77 6.38

7.11 0.77 6.4

395,900 11,000 1,307,600

2,826,273 8,570 8,363,790

-31,242 2,684,984

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER 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 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

13.72 24.85 0.53 0.045 13.5 3 9.02 0.064 73.15 6.21 8.3 2.25 25.7 2,096 5.6 315 4.05 2.07 94 7.83 0.122 3.14 3.64 15 4.03 1.02 20 0.435 5.34 6.56 2.93 2.07 1.96 8.16 10.6 8.7 113.5 5.07 1,403 0.88 0.455 46 79 8.15 2.14 0.85 0.7 5.09 0.81 11.6

14 24.9 0.55 0.045 13.58 3.26 9.26 0.064 74.6 6.27 8.64 2.25 25.7 2,118 5.6 320 4.12 2.09 95.9 7.83 0.123 3.15 3.65 15 4.06 1.04 20 0.45 5.5 6.88 2.95 2.1 2.09 8.25 10.7 8.7 113.5 5.1 1,414 0.88 0.52 46.05 79.85 8.28 2.2 0.88 0.71 5.19 0.81 11.66

13.6 24.75 0.5 0.044 13.5 3 9.02 0.062 73.15 6.2 8.2 2.25 24.9 2,082 5.49 307.2 4.03 2.07 93.6 7.8 0.121 3.06 3.51 15 3.96 1.02 19.94 0.435 5.09 6.48 2.86 1.97 1.96 8.15 10.6 8.7 106 5.01 1,398 0.86 0.41 45.6 77.9 8.13 2.13 0.85 0.66 5.06 0.78 11.58

SERVICES 13.6 24.75 0.5 0.045 13.58 3.13 9.26 0.062 74.35 6.2 8.5 2.25 25 2,110 5.53 314 4.04 2.09 94.7 7.8 0.121 3.13 3.65 15 4 1.03 19.96 0.45 5.3 6.82 2.89 2.06 2.07 8.16 10.7 8.7 109.5 5.09 1,400 0.87 0.415 45.95 77.95 8.28 2.18 0.86 0.66 5.15 0.79 11.6

14,500 76,000 39,902,000 15,700,000 197,700 11,670,000 7,008,200 22,510,000 222,120 1,233,400 202,100 3,000 44,900 64,125 52,900 1,780 771,000 2,000 1,772,430 20,000 1,490,000 3,619,000 14,000 6,200 511,000 287,000 115,600 30,000 85,500 1,177,600 439,000 295,000 14,000 1,214,200 3,500 2,100 241,600 545,800 117,405 1,503,000 74,760,000 803,000 1,524,490 24,900 1,522,000 4,807,000 76,145,000 4,345,700 3,575,000 1,210,800

198,888 1,887,915 20,668,080 698,300 2,672,678 36,658,660 64,350,059 1,395,960 16,525,723 7,673,435 1,690,678 6,750 1,125,295 134,974,270 291,292 559,750 3,122,780 4,160 169,413,116 156,300 180,630 11,259,780 50,250 93,000 2,042,820 293,470 2,309,776 13,200 451,282 7,916,636 1,277,610 594,220 28,230 9,941,433 37,240 18,270 26,559,500 2,751,369 164,496,620 1,301,750 33,165,650 36,913,475 119,326,136 202,699 3,309,530 4,152,660 51,622,550 22,302,187 2,820,310 14,039,594

-13,640 -5,800 2,039,850 200,270 -4,789,027 2,674,870 -1,239,579 -3,078 75,713,150 130,160 -35,627,266.50 -12,100 1,764,900 -450,960 341,880 -1,629,914 -638,310 -272,440.00 -135,348 -115,410.00 29,733,450 426,550 190,700 -1,153,695 -75,736,942.00 23,577 1,129,040 -1,565,110 632,050 -2,838,791 -8,073,900

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

0.0028 1.58 3.53 20.5 1.42 1.46 2 0.305 7.29 1.99 0.212 0.13 0.126 0.0089 0.0085 1.44 5.51 1.16 0.56 1.18 0.013 0.012 3.6 4.15 15.82 28.9 0.01

0.0028 1.6 3.54 20.5 1.42 1.46 2 0.305 7.4 2 0.214 0.13 0.128 0.0089 0.0086 1.44 5.64 1.2 0.58 1.28 0.013 0.012 3.7 4.17 16.26 29.35 0.01

0.0027 1.58 3.49 20 1.41 1.45 1.96 0.305 7.29 1.97 0.212 0.121 0.122 0.0084 0.0085 1.42 5.45 1.16 0.56 1.14 0.012 0.012 3.56 4.1 15.8 28.7 0.009

MINING & OIL 0.0027 100,000,000 1.6 1,357,000 3.49 152,000 20.45 22,900 1.41 13,000 1.45 11,000 1.96 376,000 0.305 20,000 7.3 5,700 1.97 1,812,000 0.212 160,000 0.122 4,300,000 0.122 1,520,000 0.0085 18,000,000 0.0086 13,000,000 1.44 298,000 5.45 3,096,600 1.17 298,000 0.58 216,000 1.17 7,520,000 0.012 28,200,000 0.012 9,200,000 3.7 200,000 4.13 1,028,000 16 1,651,300 29.1 4,158,400 0.0093 355,800,000

273,100 2,161,010 533,130 462,950 18,390 15,960 737,040 6,100 42,097 3,584,260 34,100 530,450 190,370 153,100 110,700 428,140 17,049,581 353,210 123,480 9,107,720 355,500 110,400 731,370 4,247,540 26,459,778 120,848,315 3,398,040

-20,900 -30,340 860,370 17,200 -373,265 76,520 -21,600 644,570 1,484,928 -50,784,750 -

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

24.2 501 502 101 101.2 500 5.3 970 1.04 100.3 1,011 1,050 99.5 999 76.05 80.2 75.85 75.3 77 75.5 75.8

24.8 504 502 101 101.2 500 5.32 970 1.04 100.3 1,011 1,050 99.5 1,000 77.45 80.2 75.95 75.4 77 75.6 77

24.2 501 502 100.1 100.4 500 5.28 970 1.03 95.1 1,011 1,002 99.5 999 76.05 80.2 75 75.3 77 75.5 75.5

PREFERRED 24.35 1,700 504 3,950 502 2,000 101 48,000 100.4 440 500 1,110 5.28 45,500 970 510 1.03 10,000 98.1 33,450 1,011 1,500 1,050 3,025 99.5 16,430 1,000 1,005 77.45 1,380 80.2 9,800 75.5 501,450 75.3 42,290 77 8,950 75.5 4,320 77 173,590

41,830 1,986,140 1,004,000 4,809,966 44,336 555,000 240,949 494,700 10,320 3,189,589 1,516,500 3,077,590 1,634,785 1,004,700 106,741 785,960 37,609,670.50 3,187,387 689,150 326,161 13,154,390

-7,350 -185,294 -

LR WARRANT

2.46

2.53

2.38

WARRANTS 2.48 443,000

1,085,390

19,120

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.39 2.88 2.89

5.54 2.88 2.9

5.23 2.88 2.83

5.46 2.88 2.84

10,423,242 141,120 2,529,530

-27,300 -17,630

FIRST METRO ETF

116

116.9

116

1,249,751

-

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10 1

10 1.04

10 1

75,000 149,836.80

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.25 0.97 13.2 1.97 0.72 44.7 3.05 4.57 5.62 0.44 0.95 0.96 0.249 9.35 25.8 0.58 0.113 1.53 1.19 1.69 4.69 0.63 0.47 0.495 3.5 21 2.03 3.22 38.85 1.15

194,100 3,008,000 27,000 20,000 173,000 10,569,700 1,295,000 327,000 18,700 10,120,000 2,023,000 452,000 5,440,000 224,500 895,200 10,000 20,000 1,123,000 245,000 6,998,000 25,344,000 17,669,000 12,310,000 510,000 326,000 4,097,200 409,000 207,000 9,546,100 1,357,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

1,279,617

INDUSTRIAL

97,668,379

HOLDING FIRMS

176,762,543

PROPERTY

116,833,736

SERVICES

290,639,658

MINING & OIL

553,376,681

GRAND TOTAL

1,249,434,326

SME

1,927,300 49,000 886,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.8 10,700

10 1.04

DDS

7,500 147,920

VALUE 1,821.68 (up) 9.49 947,033,418.30 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,287.06 (up) 23.76 1,295,847,657.26 HOLDING FIRMS 7,737.48 (up) 63.47 1,679,459,965.87 PROPERTY 3,951.05 (down) 8.37 1,535.34 (down) 4.26 1,143,737,989.70 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,952.63 (up) 29.89 1,059,935,312.87 PSEI 7,853.16 (up) 22.20 192,091,923.69 All Shares Index 4,760.9 (up) 10.04 6,332,453,260.08 Gainers: 99; Losers: 97; Unchanged: 50; Total: 246

PT&T bullish on resuming trading soon

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE new investors of Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. are optimistic on resuming trading of the shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange this year to raise fresh capital for a planned expansion and its bid to become the third major telco player.

PT&T said in a statement it completed all the requirements set by PSE for the lifting of the voluntary suspension trading of its 800 million common shares. PT&T shares have been voluntarily suspended since Dec. 13, 2004.

“Having fulfilled the requirements set by the PSE, PT&T should be allowed to resume trading and enact future plans of the new shareholders and management team,” PT&T chief operating officer Miguel Bitanga said.

Menlo Capital Corp., jointly owned

by Nickel Asia Corp. founder Salvador Zamora II and businessman Benjamin Bitanga acquired substantial interest in PT&T from Republic Telecommunications Holdings Inc. in August 2017.

“Whether from a perspective of compliance to the PSE or based on purely economic/market driven benefits, there should be no reason why the company should be prevented from bringing the publicly traded shares into play again, and eventually raising capital to fund future plans, both within and outside of the fixed broadband space,” Bitanga said.

Shares of PT&T were last traded on Dec. 9, 2004 when they closed at P0.33 apiece.

PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez said the resumption of trading on the company’s shares would also boost PSE’s market capitalization by several billion pesos.

Velasquez said the increased volume would be beneficial to both the bourse and investing public.

The lifting of suspension would also allow the entry of new investors into PT&T for its bid to become the third telco player in the Philippines’ telecommunication industry, Velasquez said.

Security Bank’s $1-b notes receive investment grade

By Julito G. Rada GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service assigned an investment grade rating to the $1-billion mediumterm note program of Security Bank Corp., the country’s sixth-largest lender in terms of assets.

Moody’s said in a statement Thursday the rating was underpinned by Security Bank’s “baa3” baseline credit assessment and incorporated one notch of uplift to reflect Moody’s expectation of a moderate probability of support for the bank from the Philippine government in times of need.

“Security Bank’s ‘baa3’ BCA is underpinned by the bank’s above-industry-average asset quality and strong capital buffers, boosted by a capital infusion from its new strategic partner, MUFG Bank Ltd.,” it said.

Moody’s said the BCA took into account expectation that following the capital infusion, the bank’s asset quality and capital profile would moderate over time because of its higher-thanindustry growth plans.

“The notes issued under the program constitute the issuer’s direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and unsecured obligations, and will rank pari-passu with the bank’s other senior unsecured obligations,” Moody’s said.

It said the assessment also took into account Security Bank’s modest funding, owing to its relatively smaller deposit franchise and branch network in the Philippines compared to that of large domestic banks and its higher reliance on market funds than that of its domestic peers.

“The bank’s overall liquidity remains comfortable, with sufficient liquid resources to meet near-term obligations,” Moody’s said.

Security Bank’s medium-term note program rating of Baa2 is at the same level as the Philippines’ sovereign rating.

“It is unlikely that the bank’s ratings will be higher than the sovereign rating because we view the correlation of risk between the bank and the sovereign as high. If the sovereign’s rating or the bank’s BCA [or both] is upgraded, Security Bank’s ratings could be upgraded,” it said.

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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IN BRIEF

Old foe cholera returns to haunt Algeria BOUFARIK, Algeria―Outside a hospital in Algeria, worried relatives arrive daily in a desperate bid to talk to those quarantined inside -- the victims of the country’s first cholera outbreak in more than 20 years.

Cases began appearing in early August and two people have so far died, with scores hospitalised in Boufarik, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Algiers.

Said, whose mother has been quarantined for 10 days, told AFP he is “tired and demoralised”.

“I want to visit my mother. But they do not allow me access”, he said.

Only suspected cholera admissions, confirmed cases and staff are allowed into Boufarik hospital’s infectious diseases department, where 91 people have been quarantined.

For others, access is “formally forbidden”, said manager Reda Daghbouche.

If they are fit enough to leave their beds, patients on the ground floor can talk to their loved ones through the windows.

Standing a metre (yard) or so in front of an open window with blue shutters, three women covered their mouths with veils or handkerchiefs, as they exchanged a few words with a relative.

And truck driver Fatah spoke through the bars of a locked door to his mother -- one of 59 confirmed cases. AFP

Trump takes aim at Carl Bernstein

WASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump took aim Wednesday at Carl Bernstein, one of the reporters who helped bring down Richard Nixon’s presidency, accusing him of “making up” stories.

Bernstein and Bob Woodward led the Washington Post team that investigated the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex, which eventually led back to the White House, prompting a scandal that forced Nixon to resign in 1974.

“Sloppy @carlbernstein, a man who lives in the past and thinks like a degenerate fool, making up story after story, is being laughed at all over the country!” Trump tweeted.

He also slammed CNN―a frequent target of criticism from the president―saying the network “is being torn apart from within based on their being caught in a major lie and refusing to admit the mistake.”

Bernstein was one of the reporters on a CNN story that cited sources as saying Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen claimed the US president knew in advance about a June 2016 meeting in which Russians were expected to share dirt on thenelection rival Hillary Clinton. AFP

is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of an FME. A copy of the FM Pass-Through Amount Computation is hereto attached as Annex “D.”

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT REGULATED FM PASSTHROUGH FOR EARTHQUAKE IN LEYTE IN THE VISAYAS REGION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

16. Further, the FM Pass-Through Amounts in this Application do not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA) of PhP0.0357/kWh in accordance with the RTWR. A copy of the FMTA Computation is hereto attached as Annex “E.” 17. Also, NGCP considered the NFAV of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Earthquake in Leyte given that NGCP would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of their economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by said FME.

ERC CASE NO. 2018-073 RC NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant. x - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

CELEBRATION. Paris Jackson attends the Michael Jackson

diamond birthday celebration at the ‘Michael Jackson One by Cirque du Soleil’ at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on August 29, 2018, in Las Vegas. AFP

Thousands dead and unidentified S

ENEGAL―In 2006, Khady Dieye’s husband left the family home on Senegal’s northern coast and boarded a dugout canoe in the hope of reaching Spain.

“Since then, we have not had any news of him,” said Dieye, who lives in the small fishing village of Ndiebene-Gandiol near Saint-Louis.

Like many other would-be migrants, he disappeared, leaving his family not knowing whether he was dead or alive, stuck between hope and grief.

With thousands of migrants dying at sea every year across the globe, European and African governments are struggling to keep up with the deaths and identify the bodies, experts told AFP. “Many migrants’ bodies wash up here because of rip currents,” said the local deputy mayor, Arona Mael Sow, referring to notoriously dangerous coastal areas where river and sea waters mingle.

Despite close collaboration with the police and firemen, “there are always bodies we are not able to identify,” Sow told AFP. So families like Dieye’s go through the mourning process anyway, observing the proper rituals in this Muslim-majority country.

“We said the Koran and gave the alms five months later,” added

the 50-year-old, who lives with her four children on a small plot of land.

Dieye heads a support group for families of missing migrants with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which posts their pictures online to help with the search.

Another villager, Safietou Ndiaye, said it took her family seven months to accept the probable death of her brother in 2006.

But not all families manage to do so.

“Some keep the hope that their relatives are still alive,” Ndieye said.

Earlier this month, a canoe carrying 150 would-be migrants from The Gambia ran aground in Dakar, the Atlantic port city and capital of Senegal.

Similar incidents have multiplied on the coast of Senegal and Mauritania in recent months― sometimes with tragic outcomes.

And rescuing victims from the sea can make identification much harder because “bodies which have been taken out of the water have often started rotting,” a security official in Saint-Louis told AFP. AFP

Republic of the Philippines CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 24- 18 TO

: ALL AIR OPERATORS

FROM

: THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT : DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF FOCUSING ON ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION DATE

PROGRAMS

: 24 AUGUST 2018

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines continuously formulates and adopts policies and measures to reduce hazard, mitigate and manage residual risks for the safe air transport.

Air operators must be prepared and equipped in various imminent circumstances to ensure safe operation. One of the factors that imperil flight operations is adverse weather condition. As weather conditions significantly affect air transport operations, practical thorough planning may address operational obstacles due to adverse weather conditions.

In recent years, the Philippines has been experiencing extreme weather conditions.

Particularly, during wet season, torrential rains have become very common. The amount of rainfall on the heaviest rainy days have also increased.

In the interest of flight safety and in consonance with Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations, all Air Operators are hereby directed to develop and implement a comprehensive program and standard operating procedures and protocols in conducting aircraft operations during adverse weather conditions.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 05 July 2018, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 21 June 2018 (Application), seeking the approval of Force Majeure Event Regulated FM pass-through for earthquake in Leyte in the Visayas Region, in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates, with prayer for provisional authority.

19. NGCP needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. It must be emphasized that the rehabilitation of the assets damaged by the FME Earthquake in Leyte required capital infusion, the recovery of which should be allowed immediately in order to avoid any financial strain in the operation of NGCP and to allow the continuous provision of transmission service to the grid customers.

NGCP alleged the following in its Application: 1.

2.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire that operates and maintains the nationwide transmission system pursuant to Republic Act No. (RA) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPlRA).1

20. In addition, the timely implementation of the FM Pass-Through Amounts will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost.

21. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs, in support of the instant Application, is hereto attached as Annex “F.”

2

Under RA 9511 , NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines.

PRAYER

STATEMENT OF FACTS

WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission to:

3.

4.

5.

On 6 July 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter Scale occurred in Leyte in the Visayas region. Due to its intensity, NGCP’s transmission assets and other related facilities in Visayas were damaged. A copy of the Certification dated 31 August 2017 issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is attached hereto as Annex “A.”

7.

DECLARE the earthquake in Leyte in the Visayas region as Force Majeure Events (FME);

2.

Immediately GRANT Provisional Approval to implement and bill the following FM Pass-Through Amounts starting August 2018 billing month to December 2020 for Visayas, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered: Visayas P/kW-mo.

P/kWh

Immediately after the devastation of the earthquake, NGCP started the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related facilities in order to restore transmission service to its customers and the public. As a result, NGCP incurred additional costs for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the said damaged transmission assets.

FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CLAIM

6.

1.

In compliance with Article X of the Rules for the Setting of Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), NGCP filed with this Honorable Commission a Force Majeure Event (FME) Notice dated 24 August 2017, copy is attached hereto as Annex “B,” receipt of which was acknowledged by the Honorable Commission in its Letter dated 19 September 2017, copy is attached hereto as Annex “C.”

8.

Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR, NGCP is· allowed to recover the cost it incurred in the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the earthquake in Leyte through an FM PassThrough Amount.

9.

Within three (3) months after the occurrence of the FME Earthquake in Leyte, NGCP filed before the Honorable Commission FME Notice dated 24 August 2017, pursuant to Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 of the RTWR.

10. Thereafter, within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of the FME Earthquake in Leyte, NGCP hereby files the instant FME Application, in accordance with Sections 10.2.1 and 10.2.3 of the RTWR. FM PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT COMPUTATION 11. It must be noted that NGCP has not recovered from its Industrial All-Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy procured from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2017 the cost NGCP incurred in the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Earthquake in Leyte, considering that the affected assets are not covered by the IAR as they are located beyond the 1,000 meters radius from the nearest substation perimeter fence, and that the total cost of damage is below the One (1) Million US Dollars deductible amount. Thus, it is but proper for NGCP to file the instant FME Application to recover the cost it incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Earthquake in Leyte pursuant to the RTWR. 12. The total cost NGCP incurred for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Earthquake in Leyte is One Hundred Ninety-Three Million Eight Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Four Hundred Forty-Eight Pesos and 44/100 (PhP193,831,448.44) broken down as follows:

41,616,874.46

Net Fixed Asset Value (NFAV)

39,290,534.84

Total

193,831,448.44

For your strict compliance.

P/kWh

Visayas

2018

2019

2020

7.24

3.21

3.40

0.0150

0.0067

0.0072

0.0067

0.0072

2018

2019

2020

7.24

3.21

3.40

0.0150

0.0067

0.0072

5.

APPROVE and ALLOW the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Earthquake in Leyte amounting to Thirty-Nine Million Two Hundred Ninety Thousand Five Hundred Thirty-Four Pesos and 84/100 (PhP39,290,534.84) given that it would have been fully recovered by NGCP if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by the said FME; and

6.

EXCLUDE the proposed Pass-Through Amounts from the side constraint calculation.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and evidentiary hearing on 28 September 2018 (Friday) at one o’clock in the afternoon (1:00 P.M.) at the ERC Visayas Field Office, St. Mary’s Drive, Banilad, Cebu City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the “ Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

Pasig City, 01 August 2018.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson & CEO

14. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts for the years 2018 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the expenditures incurred

by NGCP relative to the FME Earthquake in Leyte, pending the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth Regulatory Period.

15. Considering that NGCP’s Final Determination for the fourth (4th) Regulatory Period has yet to be issued by the Honorable Commission, the proposed FM Pass-Through Amounts can be recovered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR where NGCP

0.0150

NGCP prays for other relief deemed just and equitable under the premises

13. NGCP proposes the FM Pass-Through Amounts, in P/kW month, as additional network charges starting August 2018 billing month until December 2020 for Visayas, or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, computed as shown in the tables below:

P/kW-mo.

3.40

APPROVE, after due notice and hearing, the proposed FM PassThrough Amounts to be collected from the Visayas customers starting August 2018 billing month or until such time that the amounts incurred are fully recovered, as follows:

P/kWh

112,924,039.14

Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)

2020

3.21

4.

P/kW-mo.

AMOUNT Operating Expenditures (OPEX)

2019

7.24

APPROVE the FME CAPEX and OPEX amounting to One Hundred Fifty-Four Million Eight Hundred Fifty-Three Thousand Forty Pesos and 16/100 (PhP154,853,040.16) incurred by NGCP for the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to FME Earthquake in Leyte;

Visayas

Based on the Certification issued by PHIVOLCS, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter Scale occurred on 6 July 2017 in Leyte in the Visayas region, thus, falling within the definition of an FME in accordance with Section 1.3 of the RTWR.

2018

3.

Under Section 1.3(a) of the RTWR, an FME is defined as a “typhoon, storm, tropical depression, flood, drought, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tidal wave or landslide; or an act of public enemy, war (declared or undeclared), sabotage, blockade, revolution, riot, insurrection, civil commotion or any violent or threatening actions.”

The objective is to establish a proactive culture across air operations in organizations, increase flight crews’ situational awareness of the standardized procedures and protocols in cases of adverse weather conditions and other potentially hazardous atmospheric conditions such as heavy rain.

CAPTAIN JIM C. SYDIONGCO Director General

18. NGCP respectfully moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FM Pass-Through Amounts pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

1

2

Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, “An Act Ordaining Reforms in the Electric Power Industry, Amending for the Purpose Certain Laws and for Other Purposes” Republic Act No. 9511 entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for Other Purposes” (MS-AUG. 23 & 31, 2018)

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Estrada leads Manila annual family planning rites at UDM FINE FOOTWORK. Members of the Association of Foot and Mouth painting artists demonstrate their skill with the brush during the kickoff of the ‘Art For Everyone 2018’ in SM City Marikina. The event dovetails with a selling exhibit that serves as a fun venue for artists to showcase and sell their masterpieces. Norman Cruz

Caloocan ranks 8th in lowest crime rate among cities

By Jun David

CALOOCAN City is ranked eighth among cities in the country with the lowest crime rate, a report from the Philippine National Police said.

Data from the PNP showed that from January to July 2018, Caloocan City got 33.38 percent average monthly crime rate, while Ormoc City has the lowest crime rate with 16.24 percent.

In the National Capital Region, only Caloocan was listed among the top 10 cities with the lowest crime rates.

In February, a survey conducted by the National Police Commission showed Caloocan police also came out as the most trusted among other police stations in Metro Manila.

Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan vowed to continue supporting the city police headed by Sr. Supt. Restituto Arcangel in their mandate to ensure peace and order in Caloocan.

‘Yolanda’ survivors hold 4th storytelling session T

By Ronald O. Reyes

ACLOBAN CITY—Victims of the 2013 Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in this city held another round of storytelling through the 4th edition of “LIVErary” on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Entitled “People vs. Big Polluters,” this ‘LIVErary’ volume highlights Living Books, with stories about the impact of climate change to a community’s livelihood, children’s rights, human rights in general, and how it breeds disaster capitalism, said Joanna Sustento, one of the organizers of the event.

Sustento, who lost most of her family to “Yolanda,” said the event coincides with the public hearings triggered by a groundbreaking climate change and human rights petition filed in 2015 at the Commission on Human Rights of the

Philippines.

The third public hearing on Wednesday in Manila was represented by Arthur Golong, a transgender community leader from northern Tacloban, whose statement was streamed live during the LIVErary session, followed by a panel discussion.

“The LIVErary is an intimate space where you can listen to stories of experts and storytellers instead of reading a book. This was fueled by the need for a safe space where Yolanda survivors can share their stories of loss, survival,

Forum helps clarify laws on child porn, abuse

PQCA DONATION.

Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (second from left) and Mayor Marife Rondina of Babatngon, Leyte (left) receive a facsimile check for P1.3 million from the Philippine Qipao Cultural Association through its Chairwoman Emeritus Winnie Chang (second from right) and President Jewell Gomez (right) during the group’s Quarter 2&3 Members’ Birthday Party at Chef Jessie in Rockwell Center, Makati City.

The PQCA donated the money for the construction of the Barangay Lukay Primary School Building in Babatngon, after also donating school equipment and P500,000 for the repair of Barangay Lukay Elementary School, which was damaged by Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ Ver Noveno

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Even if children have not been physically or sexually abused in a potential crime― by suspects that may include their parents―there still is a crime committed against the kids as provided by the law that protects them against pornography and other abuses.

This was stressed by Atty. Eunice Mina, chief of the Legal Services Bureau of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as the keynote speaker in a forum on child pornography here Thursday.

“Criminal and sexual acts alone have huge emotional impacts to the child,” said Mina, adding that although there is no physical and sexual contact and no harm done to the victims, the perpetrators are still liable under law.

These abuses must be avoided and stopped as children “are not to be used for commercial purposes specially in child pornography,” she said.

The forum aimed to educate parents and children on the provisions of Republic Act 9775, the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, and to teach them on the dynamic of victims-survivors mechanisms in the child pornography in the region.

and the cry for accountability years after the historic tragedy,” said Sustento, the 27-year-old “climate warrior.”

In 2017, Sustento joined Greenpeace to confront the Norwegian government and a giant oil company Statoil in the Arctic Ocean for its oil drilling activities which, according to the global environmental group, have contributed to the climate crisis.

The climate change hearings in Manila were set as a response to the petition filed by “Yolanda” survivors, fisherfolk from Alabat Island in Quezon City—originally known for its rich fishing grounds—plus communities living near the Bataan coal-fired power plant, and civil society groups.

“The petition aims to set the record straight that the coal, oil, and gas companies are the most responsible for the climate crisis and must take action to prevent further harm,” Sutento said.

Subic youth urged to take part in community development SUBIC BAY FREEPORT―Youths here are being urged to become active partners in community development.

“Start with yourself. Learn to lead others. Take action in your community problems. You are the solution,” said Jason Gavina, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Redondo Peninsula Energy, on his talk on youth leadership in the first Barangay

Cawag, Subic youth assembly.

RP Energy was invited to take part in the first-ever Katipunan ng Kabataan gathering organized by the Sanguninang Kabataan of Cawag held at Nagyantok Daycare Center on Sunday.

Gavina shared how young people participated in RP Energy’s corporate social responsibility programs.

“From volunteering in our Protect the Bay Clean Up Drives, to implementing the Basura Palit Gamit Eskwela program in their school, to upcycling materials, youths are integral part of our community development.”

Aldrian Marzan, former intern at RP Energy, shared how he led KinaBOOKasan, a book drive for remote sitios in Cawag using social media. Butch Gunio

MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday led the celebration of the Annual Family Planning Month to raise awareness and access of Manileños to various family planning methods at the Universidad De Manila.

Speaking before hundreds of parents, health workers and students, the Manila chief executive also urged the couples in the audience to be openminded on family planning because the growing population is a main concern of the city government.

The celebration was attended by Dr. Benjamin Yson, officer in charge of the Manila Health Department, Dr. Criselda V. Coroza, City Family Plannning head, officials of the Population Commission, and several nongovernmental organizations.

“Population has a great impact in our city, and one of my objectives is to give every family here a good life by providing them free education, hospitalization, and job opportunities,” Estrada said.

“From health to education, and later on to job opportunities, I want all our young people to have what they need to succeed in life,” added Estrada, who is seeking his last term in the coming local elections.

The mayor also cited President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the intensified implementation of the country’s family planning program.

“In his most recent State of the Nation Address or SONA, President Duterte said family planning has been a priority program of his government for the past two years, along it one of the solutions to poverty,” Estrada said.

Herbert OKs new budget for senior citizens’ vaccines

By Rio N. Araja

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has signed a measure approving a budget allocation for free pneumococcal vaccination to the city’s registered senior citizens.

Bautista backed City Ordinance 2699 that provides for the free vaccination to be administered by the health department, subject to the availability of 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine.

The ordinance noted there is a need to amend an earlier measure to provide a definite allocation for the purchase and acquisition of the vaccine to sufficiently supply the needs of senior citizens who are not yet vaccinated.

Section 8 of City Ordinance No. SP2381 of 2015 provided that an initial budget of at least P12 million would be divided equally among the city’s six districts subject to existing auditing rules and procedures.

“It is the objective of the city government to ensure proper budget allocation of the annual funds to augment the pneumococcal vaccination of seniors that shall be included in the next annual budget of Quezon City,” the ordinance read.

Meanwhile, the city’s health department announced the temporary transfer of its frontline services to various health centers as its main building inside the city hall compound is undergoing renovation.

AIA’s Recovery and Relief Operations in the Aftermath of Consecutive Heavy Monsoon Rains that Hit the Freeport Asia International Auctioneers, Inc. (AIA) is the premier and pioneer auctioneer of quality trucks and equipment in the Philippines. As the country’s leading auctioneer, AIA continuously commits to be a socially responsible company through various CSR initiatives which includes Livelihood and Outreach Programs, Educational Grants, Biodiversity Conservation and Reforestation, Disaster Aid Activities and other similar undertakings.

Just recently, AIA deployed its trucks and heavy equipment at Aparri Road, Subic Bay to help clear out mud and debris from the landslides that were triggered by the series of tropical depressions which struck the Freeport for the past few weeks. It is not the first time for AIA to be involved in such a modest cause, in fact, AIA has been actively responding in rescue aid, cleanup operations and road rehabilitation

during times of disasters and calamities. The main objective is to speed up clearing of passageways to ease mobilization and logistics in greatly affected areas and to make remote communities accessible.

AIA also provided thousands of relief goods to severely impacted areas in Olongapo and Hermosa, Bataan as well as to its work force and affiliates who were affected by the recent calamity.

As part of AIA’s corporate social responsibility programs, the company formed and established Asia International Auctioneers Foundation (AIA Foundation), which is duly registered with the Securities Exchange Commission and is spearheaded

by AIA’s group of directors and management team.

The foundation was organized solely and exclusively for charitable, educational and environmental preservation purposes.

A MODEST CAUSE. Asia International Auctioneers, Inc. deployed trucks and heavy equipment at Aparri Road, Subic Bay to aid in clean up operations and road rehabilitation.

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

culture and media

friday, august 31, 2018

c1

The 102x229 cm oil on canvas painting, entitled 'Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil' is among Perfecto Mercado's breathtaking and mesmerizing large-scale 'dreamscapes.'

From films to dreams

Perfecto Mercado celebrated in book, exhibit

L

ate Kapampangan artist Perfecto Sablan Mercado was already 25 years old when he switched from painting movie billboards to painting fine art. It was 1975.

It was in the first decade of the 21st century when Mercado produced his masterpieces, which art historian and museum curator Gari Apolonio labeled as “Dreamscapes” or works depicting “new representations of landscapes, mindscapes, or otherworldly vistas that are strangely familiar and deeply spiritual.”

This series of artworks is rich in colors, camouflages human figures, and connects the viewers to the “experience of the spiritual, the dream-like, and the magical.”

Mercado was on his way to reaching his artistic summit when he passed on due to a fatal stroke on March 30, 2011. Unfortunately, he did not see to fruition a landmark achievement in his career: his first solo exhibit at a major Philippine museum.

His son arnold opened the Dreamscapes of Perfecto Mercado exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in September 2011.

'Binhi,' oil on canvas, 2007

From left: Manila Bulletin's Barbie Atienza, SM senior vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, Philippine Red Cross chairman and chief executive Richard Gordon, and PRC secretary general Oscar Palabyab

Immortalizing his legacy

To ensure Mercado's art will be forever remembered, Arnold commissioned Apolonio to “provide a truthful and accurate documentation” of the life of the artist and his “intriguing and breathtaking collection of work” that the public hardly saw when his father was still alive.

The 151-page coffee table book, entitled Dreamscapes: The Art of Perfecto Mercado, was launched on Aug. 25 at Gateway Gallery, the art museum of Araneta Center.

Apolonio, a UP College of Fine Arts alumnus, began working on the book in 2008.

The landmark book celebrates the “artistic achievements of a relatively unknown but relentless artist whose talent and body of work deserves exposure and recognition.”

“As the reader turns each page, Apolonio serves as a curator and exhibition guide, enlightening, imparting analysis, and drawing conclusions,” artist and art critic Cid Reyes wrote in the book’s foreword.

While the book aims to inspire artists to strive for excellence and have unwavering commitment to art, Dreamscapes is also a testament to the struggles and triumphs of Mercado whose artistry was nurtured by a deep faith in God and devotion to family.

The book is published by Arnold Mercado through AT Mercado Publishing with photographs taken by book designer Denes Dasco and additional images by award-winning photographer Ruston P. Banal, both UPCFA alumni.

The book launch coincides with the opening of a retrospective exhibit of Mercado’s “dream-making” that spanned 40 years.

S Maison hosts exhibit for a cause

'Jesus of Nazareth,' oil on canvas, 2007

UPSCAlE lifestyle center S Maison recently hosted “Art for Red,” a charity art gala and exhibit that showcased the works some of the country’s top artists.

Featured artists Julio Austria, Benjie Cabangis, Ferdinand Cacnio, Michael Cacnio, Ross Capili, Valeria Cavestany, Salvador Ching, Dansoy Coquilla, Thomas Daquioag, Fil Delacruz, Janos Delacruz, Mario de Rivera, Vincent de Pio, Edgar Doctor, Gregory Halili, Raul Isidro, Raul lebajo, Romeo lee, Carlo Magno, Jason Moss, Sam Penaso, Juvenal

Sanso, Ian Veneracion, Roy Veneracion, Nestor Olarte Vinluan, Betsy Westendorp, and Edwin Wilwayco presented their creations.

The week-long exhibit was staged for the benefit of the Philippine Red Cross.

PRC chairman and chief executive Richard Gordon graced the event together with Philippine Red Cross secretary general Oscar P. Palabyab and Susanne Tiausas of Galerie Francesca.

Art for Red also allowed guests to participate in the humanitarian efforts of the Philippine Red Cross.

'Hysterical Women'

by Valeria Cavestany

Dream-inspired works

apolonio says Mercado is a dream-inspired artist who painted what he dreamt, much like the weavers of the T’boli community who made weaving patterns out of their dreams.

Perfecto Mercado working on his painting at his studio in Tarlac.

'The Golfer,' oil on canvas, 2003

He says that Mercado’s “innovative and fresh idiom” in his works is valuable for its “distinct style, technical excellence and value-laden intent.”

“His large-scale Dreamscapes such as ‘The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil’ and ‘Third Heaven’ are breathtaking and hypnotic with their fine renderings of visual and actual textures, cleverly camouflaged faces and human forms, vividly soft colors and panoramic vistas,” says Apolonio.

For noted artist and art educator Buds Convocar, past president of the art association of the Philippines and the Saturday Group of Artists, Mercado is “a reflection of what a true artist should be: passionate in his art, persistent in his vocation; an artist who aims for perfection.”

The retrospective exhibit, which presents a concisely comprehensive chronicle of Mercado’s artistic journey, also serves as the “actual equivalent” of the book, allowing viewers to have a first-hand experience of his artworks, his major styles and its colors, textures, and nuances.

The exhibit will also feature Mercado’s old photographs, art paraphernalia, and a video material for a holistic perspective of his life and his art.

Apolonio says Mercado’s dream-making may have abruptly ended, but through the book and his body of work, extensions of his dreams and vision, his memory will be kept alive by their “sheer power and magic” and the support of his family, followers, and friends.

Gateway Gallery, located at 5/F Gateway Tower, Araneta Center, is open from Monday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Janos Delacruz with his work, 'Kaharian ni Haring Alon'

'Balance' by Ferdinand Cacnio

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

KRIS BERNAL’s

BUGOY’s

wish comes true FOR a singer who comes from farming village in Camarines Sur, his only dream is to make it big in the big city, and he means not Naga in his province, but in Manila, where anything is possible for someone with a talent in music.

And Bugoy Drillon’s wish is at last coming true.

Wish 107.5 is granting his wish to be featured in a major concert at one of Manila’s popular venues.

After 10 years in the Philippine music industry, Bugoy will never forget and in no way will he waiver to fulfill his childhood dream — to perform on stage in a major solo concert.

Bugoy today is a notable balladeer signed with Star Music and has been making waves both here and abroad for his amazing performances.

Bugoy has an exceptional singing voice that is truly world class. His outstanding rendition of Matishayu’s “One Day” has gone viral, gaining popularity in different parts of the world.

Seeing him now, nobody would even think that this young balladeer was born in Camarines Sur to an impoverished family.

As a farmer’s son, making his dreams come true was never easy.

He wanted to finish his studies and sing before a big crowd on stage someday. To sustain his studies, he worked as a canteen janitor in a university. Soon a rare opportunity knocked at his door as Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) accepted him as one of its scholars in which he emerged as the 1st runner up.

Bugoy expressed his gratitude to Wish 107.5 not only because his WISHclusive cover of “One Day” has been getting massive reactions online―he even received invitation from Matisyahu, the song’s original singer, to perform with him in the US. The American reggae star watched, praised and shared the video of Bugoy’s performance on Wish 107.5 on his Facebook page.

He wrote “ Wow! This dude knock it out da park!!!!”

Bugoy received the Silver Wishclusive Elite Circle Award, one of the highest citations in the 2018 Wish Music Awards as his Wishclusive performance of Matisyahu’s “One Day” amassed a total of 38 Million views in December 2017.

Wish 107.5 gives Wishclusive Elite Circle Awards based on the views garnered by a Wishclusive video in a specified period of time: Bronze- 10M views, Silver- 25M views, Gold- 50M views, Platinum —75M and Diamond for 100M views.. As of writing, the ONE DAY wishclusive video of Bugoy has more than 74M views and counting.

Wish 107.5 will be presenting Bugoy: One Day, One Decade at Kia Theater in Araneta Center, Quezon City on Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m..

This marks the realization of Bugoy’s childhood wish to perform on stage in a major solo concert.

Film on child punishment wins Sine Kabataan award Koleksyong Pamalo, a project for a Cinematography class under the Digital Filmmaking program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) bagged the Special Jury Prize at the Sine Kabataan short film competition.

Director Jocelyn “Len” Frago received the award for her film during the 2018 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) Gabi ng Pasasalamat held on Aug. 19 at Whitespace, Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City.

Koleksyong Pamalo tells the story of a boy who collects all the memories of his mother’s different kinds of “pamalo.”

Frago said that the innocence of a child plays a big factor in how we view children. The film, which she submitted as a project for her CINEMAT subject under Danton Wieneke, deals with the questions “When does a child stop being a child?” and “When does a mother stop being a mother?”

Lorys Plaza and Ardinian “Jaq” Sanque won Best Short

new rival is a transwoman

Balladeer Bugoy Drilon

Kris Bernal talks to select members of the entertainment press at her recently opened restaurant that offers unlimited Korean bacon.

The restaurant is just one of the few businesses the Kapuso actress is venturing into.

By Nickie Wang

I

N KRIS Bernal’s upcoming series, she finds a fierce rival in Thea Tolentino who plays a transwoman in the television project. Interestingly, Thea’s character is her former lover who now goes after the same man that Kris’s character is having an affair with. Such an intriguing romantic drama, don’t you think?

The 29-year-old actress understands that one cannot just come up with an idea of a conflict and present it to the audience. She knows that apart from being realistic, the story should be backed by research especially as they’re training the spotlight on no simply issue.

“I did my research, and immediately asked our writers on how I’m going to portray my character and talk about sensitive issues surrounding the LGBTQ community. It’s never been heard of or been done on Philippine TV that makes me very excited to do this project,” Kris said of the new challenge of portraying a pivotal character in GMA’s yet to be titled series.

She added, “This story will offer a new perspective to our Kapuso viewers, and I am excited to work on this project. I will be with Thea, whom I truly adore, and I’m excited na akong makasama siya rito.

I know she’s a terrific actress, kaya inaabangan ko ang matututunan ko sa kanya.”

Being one of GMA Network’s prized artists, Kris continues to explore the different facets of her talent as an actress. Her most notable roles include Andy in the Network’s Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama Coffee Prince; the lead role of Tinay with intellectual disability in Little Nanay; and her first dual role as Nimfa/Rosette in the top-rating afternoon drama series Impostora.

The versatile actress is now also included in the long line of female celebrities to launch their own businesses.

Kris shared her passion, ”I am an entrepreneur by heart. I want to have my own business where I can tap my creativity. Gusto ko kasing maging inspiration sa mga kapwa ko artista to invest their earnings. More than that, I also want to create jobs for other people.”

She recently opened House of Gogi, a Korean barbeque restaurant at Dapitan 55 Lifestyle Complex in Banawe, Quezon City.

Apart from her food business venture, Kris also revealed that she is working on an all-natural and cruelty-free lipstick line called SHE that will be launched soon.

Inaugural ‘tri-pageant’ for HIV advocacy ambassadors launched Film for Bato Bato Pik, which is about a young teenage girl faced with an untimely pregnancy.

Daniel Delgado and Tiara Angelica Nicolas received the Best Director prize for Masaya Ako, which tells the story of a boy who encounters many struggles in life, like bullying, his parent’s separation and trouble in school, but he still forces a smile to get by each day.

Enalyn Legaspi’s Alas-Nuebe ng Tanghali brought home the Audience Choice Award.

Runner by Levi Jun Miscala got the #GlobeOfGood award for honoring the youth’s representation of current social issues the young Filipino faces day-today.

The other Sine Kabataan finalists were Anonymous Student Vlog by Christian Babista, Bahay-bahayan by Brian Spencer Reyes, and Isang Tula Para Sa Nawawala by Rod Singh. The short films were featured along with the PPP full-length film entries from Aug. 15 to 21 in cinemas nationwide.

The Sine Kabataan films were judged by award-winning director Mikhail Red, producer Bianca Balbuena-Liew and actress Angeli Bayani.

HBO Asia premieres The Handmaid’s Tale Season 2 Viewers in Asia will be able to catch the complete first two seasons of the award-winning adaptation of acclaimed author, Margaret Atwood, award-winning classic novel anytime, anywhere, by downloading episodes on HBO GO. Additionally, all future seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale will be available in Asia on HBO online streaming and on demand platforms throughout the life of the series.

The Handmaid’s Tale tells the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birth-rate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state.

By Eton Concepcion A ONE-OF-A-KIND, equality ‘TriPageant’ search has been launched in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH)’s new campaign on HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention. Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza was chosen to act as ambassador to lead the DOH’s LHIVE FREE awareness campaign to the general public.

Verzosa, the 26-year-old model from Baguio City, was chosen as the DOH believes in her status and influence and being able to provide the voice to dispel fear, anxiety, depression, and the stigma that comes with HIV and AIDS. “It’s an honor to be a part of this campaign. Joining the DOH project at its face was easy. I would like to use my influence the best way I could to contribute and help advance the DOH achieve its goals,” said the beauty queen who is also an advocate for depression and suicide awareness.

“As we are aware, the condition does more than just destroy a person’s immune system, it also affects the psychological state of the person affected by it, not to mention his or her capability to earn a living, and the way that society would treat him or her. Their prejudices stem on lack of information about HIV. We need to fully inform the public, to arm them with a thorough understanding of the disease and its effects, physically, emotionally and psychologically. Making the public aware

is the key, especially those who are at high risk,” Versoza said.

The DOH called upon individuals, men, women and transwomen, to join the threeway pageant to select the department’s new set of HIV/AIDS advocacy ambassadors.

“The LHIVE FREE Redvocates is a search for individuals who are willing to be champions of this campaign, who like Ms. Versoza, will help spread significant information on HIV and AIDS and promote safe sex with the goal of preventing new cases,” Sec. Francisco Duque said.

“As we speak, HIV cases continue to rise and the worst part is many of these cases are among those who are afraid to be tested. We want to correct this wrong information about the virus, to give hope, to make them stop being afraid to get tested, that there is a big chance to live a normal life even if you are HIV positive,” Duque explained.

Led by acclaimed pageant trainer and event director Rodgil Flores, the REDVOCATES: Search for 2018 HIV & AIDS Advocacy Ambassadors, will have thirty official candidates which will bring together people of different sexual orientations (Male, Female and Transwoman), into a landmark event of Love, Purpose and Equality. The three winners will become the official DOH HIV & AIDS Ambassadors for the year 2018 to 2019 to spearhead the DOH’s LHIVE FREE HIV Awareness Campaign.

The Finals Night will be held on Sept. 28.

From left: Marione Callo-Brionnes of Integrative Competitive Inteligence Asia Inc., Dr. Ferchito Avelino of Epidemiology Bureau, Ambassador Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa and pageant director Rodgil Flores.

‘Side Show’ lead cast Gab Pangilinan and Kayla Rivera

Show and stay for ‘Side Show Manila’ DISCOVERY Suites Manila in partnership with Atlantis Theatrical offers Show and Stay for the Broadway musical Side Show that runs from today to Sept. 23 at the Carlos P. Romulo auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

Guests checking in until Sept. 22 will get a unique promo code that entitles them to a 20 percent discount when they buy tickets to Side Show Manila, the heart-warming Tony award-nominated Broadway musical about love, loss, sisterhood and what it truly means to be unique.

Those who book Discovery Suites’ Show and Stay for as low as P4,000 nett will get a chance to win free tickets to Side Show Manila. The Show and Stay offer is valid for weekend stays, Friday to Monday nights, until Aug. 27. Each of 12 lucky winners will receive two tickets to Side Show Manila for their shows on Sept. 8 or 9 as announced through the official Facebook Page of Discovery Suites.

Discovery Suites is also offering all Side Show Manila ticket holders a complimentary room upgrade from Junior Suite to One-Bedroom Suite when they book a weekend stay for only P4,500 nett, inclusive of breakfast buffet for two.

Guests may avail of the complimentary room upgrade by simply presenting their Side Show ticket upon check-in.

For inquiries and reservations, visit https://www.discoverysuites.com/ show-and-stay/ or call 719-8888. For tickets to Side Show Manila, visit www. ticketworld.com.ph/online/article/ sideshow or call 891 9999.

Motoring

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

C3

COMMANDING PRESENCE

The 2018 HR-Vis touted as a sporty and stylish lifestyle vehicle

H

ONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile unit in the Philippines, is pleased to introduce the New 2018 HR-V updated with modern sporty styling cues and advanced technology features which aim to give customers a stylish capable crossover with flexible utility and convenience elements expected from a Honda. For 2018, the New HR-V will now have a New 1.8 RS Navi variant that will satisfy customers looking for an enhanced sporty compact SUV. For 2018, The New HR-V now introduces new exterior styling cues. At the front, new features such as a newly designed Front Bumper, Front Grille and Full LED Headlights with Integrated Day Time Running Lights give the New HR-V a signature yet familiar Honda front fascia. At the back, new LED Guide Type

Tail Lamps give the New HR-V a more futuristic styling, which not only gives it an up to date look but also makes it more visible on the road. Complementing this updated design is the new 17-inch Sport Black Alloy Wheels, which give the vehicle a more aggressive stance and presence on the road.

In addition to its refreshed sporty exterior, the New HR-V retains its distinct coupe like advanced and sophisticated interior feel with its high center console, which give the driver and passenger that sports car like feel. In terms of features, the New HR-V receives a new 7-inch Touch Screen System now equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a more intuitive smartphone - infotainment connectivity. Furthermore, the New HR-V is equipped with ULT (Utility, Long, Tall) seats, which allow three different adjustment modes allowing customers to have flexible seat configurations that can be adjusted depending on the customer’s need.

Powering the New HR-V is Honda’s established 1.8 Liter SOHC i-VTEC engine that produces a maximum power of 142 ps at 6,500 rpm and 17.5 kg-m of torque at 4,300 rpm. Mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed based on Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology, the engine and transmission provide responsive performance, acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. Honda’s

Eco Assist System, which consists of the ECON mode and Eco-Coaching Ambient Light, helps encourage fuel-efficient driving.

For 2018, a New RS variant will be made available for the New HR-V which gives it an enhanced sporty and sharp exterior design. Outside, the New HR-V RS comes with an RS design Front Honeycomb Grille together with the new LED Headlights. LED Fog Lights are also available exclusively for the HR-V RS and at the side, the HR-V RS receives Dark Chrome Finished Door Handles and Door Trims and a different two-tone 17-inch Alloy Wheel Design specifically made for the RS. And at the back, smoked LED Tail Lamps further enhance the sporty image of the New HR-V RS. Inside, the New HR-V RS receives additional upgrades which features a Full Leather Interior complemented with Piano Black Accents in the Steering Wheel and Center Console giving the interior a premium upmarket feel. For the RS Variant, the new 7-inch Touch Screen now also comes with a navigation system as

standard. Capping off the overall sporty package of the New HR-V 1.8 RS Navi, the Phoenix Orange Pearl color exclusively found in other Honda RS Models will now be exclusively available for this variant of the New HR-V. To ensure the highest level of safety and customer confidence with the New HR-V, all variants are equipped with advanced and class leading safety features namely the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Driver and Front Passenger SRS Airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

The 1.8 RS Navi CVT variant will get additional Side Airbags for added protection for the passengers. With these superior safety features combined, customers are assured with better safety and peace of mind on the road.

Starting August 24, 2018, the New HR-V will be available in all 38 dealerships nationwide and will be available in five (5) colors at the following suggested retail prices:

DUCATI SUPERSPORT

An eyeful of might Text and Photo by Diana B. Noche

Volkswagen goes Filipiniana FUELED by its renewed drive to make Volkswagen a premium motoring lifestyle, Volkswagen Philippines engaged members of the motoring media on a Filipiniana-themed lifestyle tour of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan on board its three newest vehicles: the Santana and Lavida sedans and the compact SUV Tiguan from August 20 to 22, 2018.

The “Volkswagen Media Driving Experience,” a ride-and-drive of three units of the Santana, three of the Lavida, and two of the Tiguan, was enriched by an itinerary that included local culinary stops at restaurants famous for their Filipino cuisine: Bale Dutung in Angeles, Pampanga; Hapag Vicentico’s in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; and, Bahay na Tisa Restaurant in Malolos, Bulacan.

The group also visited sites notable for their cultural and historical significance, such as the Barasoain Church Historical Landmark and The Museo ng Republika ng 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan. The tour was both educational and recreational, as well, making stops at two Nueva Ecija landmarks, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Muñoz, and at the Pantabangan Lake. At all destinations, Pinoy pride was seen, touched, and tasted all throughout. To top this Pinoy vibe off, August has been “Buwan ng Wika” (The Month of National Language).

The media ride-and-drive route highlighted the three Vplkswagen models’ capabilities and comfort features.

Day 1 of the tour was on relatively flat lands from Volkswagen Quezon Avenue in Quezon City, to Pampanga, then to Highland Bali Villas Resort and Spa in Nueva Ecija. The three models ran in combined city and expressway drives that

showcased the power and fuel efficiency of their engines (optimized with the use of Shell V Power, Volkswagen Philippines’ official event fuel partner): Santana’s 1.4-liter Multi-Point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder gasoline engine, and the 230 TSI engine with BlueMotion Technology of the Lavida and 280 TSI engine with BlueMotion Technology of the Tiguan.

The drivers also noted the ease of use of the Santana’s 5-speed manual transmission, the cruise control of the Lavida, and the seamless 7-speed and 6-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission of the Lavida and Tiguan, respectively.

Drivers and passengers also felt the comfort amenities of the Lavida’s Climatronic air conditioning and leather seat material, and the Tiguan’s “Vienna” leather seats, 2-zone Climatronic airconditioning, 8 speakers, and driver power 12-way seat adjustment.

Day 2 was spent touring unexplored Nueva Ecija, with its rolling hills created by the convergence of three mountain ranges (the Sierra Madre, Caraballo, and Cordillera) was the perfect setting to try the power, stability, and handling of the Santana, Lavida, and Tiguan.

The twisty, winding roads and the series of uphills and downhills made the drivers and passengers feel the Santana’s maximum power output of 90 Ps at 5,500rpm and maximum torque of 132 Nm at 3,800rpm. The vehicle’s electronic power steering, front McPherson Independent Suspension, and rear composite torsion beam semi-independent suspension also added to the stable ride during the more challenging parts of the drive.

The Lavida’s 130 Ps of power at 5,000 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 1,400 to

3,500 rpm came to good use in the mountain passes, while its Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) with Brake Assistant, ABS, Electronic Differential Lock and Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), and hill hold control added to a more confident, secure ride. The Tiguan also unleashed its maximum power output of 150 Ps at 5,000 rpm and maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1,750 to 3,000 rpm, and like the Lavida, provided more ride stability with the ESP, ABS, brake assistant, ASR, EDS, EDTC, and hill hold control.

Passengers in the Lavida and Tiguan had the added treat of enjoying the view of Nueva Ecija’s lush forests and skies via the sunroof.

Day 3 of the tour saw the group drive from Nueva Ecija to Bulacan province, then back to the Volkswagen Quezon Avenue dealership after a fuel fill-up at Shell along the North Luzon Expressway.

Like Day 1, the route was a combination of provincial, city, and expressway drives, which highlighted even more the comfort amenities and fuel efficiency of the three models, two of the most soughtafter qualities in cars today, considering the worsening road congestion in urban settings and the steadily increasing prices of fuel.

After this three-day, more than 400-kilometer tour of the provinces of Central Luzon, the participants had a clearer understanding of why the three new models of the Volkswagen -- the Santana, Lavida, and Tiguan -- have consistently been global bestsellers. Along the way, the group also had a deeper appreciation of Central Luzon’s key role in the culture, heritage, history, economy and identity of the Filipino.

EVERY once in a while something comes along that’s so strikingly good-looking your jaws will simply drop. The curvaceously scene-stealing Ducati SuperSport is sheathed with a bold sleek styling that is sporty and rebellious, youthful in spirit , a hurricane force on the road, yet it unbelievably assures a comfortable ride and exemplary responsiveness during city drives and off-road adventures.

Ducati SuperSport has all the stuff in a monster of a bike --- what one may fitly call the Ducati Effect. With a bright and shining red armor, it is the kind of sway stirred up during the launch of Old Spice/ Ducati “Spice Up Your Ride” team-up held at the Social House, Circuit Makati, in Makati City --- macho scent plus macho machine.

A motorcycle is still the most preferred way to go, an irresistible technology that whisks riders to their destinations. Today’s bikes are built rock-solid and are affordable, and to the best of a rider’s ability, avoiding unexpected hazards like a huge pothole, a dip, or a bump is a walk in the park. It’s a beautiful form of keeping in touch with one’s masculine

side. That feeling of freedom. That feeling of having the road tar melt under the motorcycle wheels or tasting the mud and grime as the big bike slices into the earth during treks and races.

You don’t need great excuses to go out.

Indulge your inner outlaw. Just grab your helmet and drive.

Hassle-free PMS at Kia COLUMBIAN Autocar Corporation, the distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, is enlisting the help of Kia’s beloved cast of characters, Enzy & Friends, to help spread the word on the benefits of regular PMS visits for your Kia. Enzy & Friends are a set of characters developed with motifs drawn from vari-

ous automobile-related characteristics that were designed to help people foster a deeper interest and familiarity with their car.

Enzy, the lead character, likes to go on great adventures with friends who each have different abilities. Enzy represents the spark that delivers the power required

to move a car. Razy represents the radiator that blows cool wind to keep the car from overheating. Aqu represents the washer liquid that keeps the car windshield clean. Tory represents the battery, the source of a car’s electricity. Laito represents the headlamps that enable cars to run safely at night.

The whole group works together to help spread vital information to vehicle owners regarding the importance of following your Kia vehicle’s PMS schedule via Kia Motor Philippines’ social media accounts. From friendly reminders on how frequent you should drop by a Kia service center to what sort of questions they can ask their Kia service advisors on how to better care for their car at home.

The PMS process is done by trained Kia technicians. They inspect, adjust and replace parts as necessary and help keep your vehicle running in optimum condition. PMS needs to be done at regular intervals according to the recommended

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

Lamborghini

officially unveils Aventador SVJ

THE METRO CAR SHOW

A GALAXY of BEASTS and BEAUTIES Text and photos by Diana Noche

I

T’S AUGUST and there was still a chance of rain but the weather held --- the air was as thick as glue, in fact --- so Automoto Philippines’ Metro Car Show 6 at the Makati City Hall Concert Grounds got the kind of attention it deserved. It was a most welcome pause in a flux of storms and cat-and-dog weather with people hassling to report for work in shin-deep floodwaters.

The Metro Car Show 6 had an unpretentious approachability. All cars were so arranged for a wide range of spectators who watched a dance of color and sheet metal glint cutting quite a silhouette against the open air light. There were quite a number of kids at the show, displaying a positive enthusiasm for the exhibited cars. This early their acquaintance with them are being cultivated and encouraged to keep

their young dream of driving one happen.

Automoto Philippines, thru its chief organizer James Aliviado, had aimed at exploring a more diverse range of automobile options at each car show. This year has quite an impressive array of cars covering multiple genres without lots of the gimmicry stuff, both mechanical and auto architecture-wise. Restorations on the older models were at a minimum but

the few things that were updated were tasteful modifications that added to the stuff car legends are made of.

The car show is chuck-full of masterpieces. A long look at the Yamaha4 x 4 Difflock Rov Viking can easily turn into a prolonged preoccupation with nature trips and escape from the 21st century suburban traffic to quieter places. The Toyota Fortuner and its camouflage decals make for a true muscle car and stampeding horsepower. The 2-seater BMW shown off by Padi’s Point would put wow into any ride and make driving another sports car a lot flat and so ho-hum.

But the real attention-getter is a fleet of Mustangs --- the ultimate index of upward mobility and jet set aura --- the easiest datum to show one has made it.

It’s hard to ignore a Mustang, especially if it’s a red one. Or a golden one. Take a Mustang to any car show and never drive back home without a trophy or two.

Put it all together and it made for an exciting Sunday of showing off and eye candy.

FOR A car that’s essentially a track-focused version of an existing model, there’s been a lot of noise and anticipation lately surrounding the launch of the Aventador Superveloce Jota (SVJ).

There have been endless spy shots and teasers for weeks now, but Lamborghini has now finally taken the wraps off its stunning new model.

The addition of the number 63 after the SVJ designation of some of these new Aventador flagships has even more significance. In the first instance it refers to the year 1963 which is when Lamborghini was founded, and it also refers to the limited production run of just 63 units of these most exclusive of Lamborghinis.

There’s an awful lot of carbon fiber on display as well as plenty of lessthan subtle graphics that will definitely make this one stand out in just about any crowd, but the main focus of this car is power and performance.

Under the hood of the Aventador SVJ is a V-12 engine putting out 770 horsepower and 530 lb.-ft. of torque, which translates into a 0 to 62 mph time of just 2.8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 217 mph. While there are plenty of cars these days that can claim similar or better numbers than those, it’s the way this beauty handles that will really set it apart. And we don’t just have to take Lamborghini’s word for it either as the SVJ is the current Nurburgring production vehicle lap record holder with a time of 6:44.97.

A major contributor to the car’s performance is Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva 2.0, which is a system making its debut here on the SVJ that’s similar to the one found on the Huracan Performante, where electronic actuators can open or close flaps in the front splitter and on the engine cover. When combined with Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Attiva 2.0, the electronic brain of the SVJ is capable of adjusting between zero and maximum downforce in less than 500 milliseconds. Air passing over the car’s rear wing can be sent left or right as required, so downforce is only applied to the wheel needing it.

There may be only 63 of the SVJ 63s being built, but there will be considerably more of the slightly less-exclusive Aventador SVJ. The total production run will number 900 cars, including the 63 SVJ 63s, and prices start from $517,770 with deliveries getting underway in the first part of next year.

BMW Z4 M40i

First Edition at Pebble Beach 2018 A LOT of focus at Monterey Car Week is still on very rare, sought-after and expensive classic cars, but Pebble Beach is increasingly becoming an event where major manufacturers like to launch brand new models too. One of the most highprofile debuts this year is the all-new BMW Z4, which has just been unveiled in its 2019 M40i First Edition form.

Thirty years after BMW began production of the Z1, and a year on from the Z4 Concept making its debut in the same place here at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, we’ve finally been given a full reveal of the much-anticipated new BMW roadster.

This M40i First Edition trim of the 2019 Z4 comes in a striking color called Frozen Orange Metallic and also features a BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line. The Munich automaker has this time chosen to go with an anthracite fabric roof instead of one of its cool but heavy and expensive folding metal systems, but the fabric top does have a “silver effect” and can be stowed away in as little as 10 seconds. Other highlights of this First Edition model are adaptive LED headlights, black mirror caps and twotone, double-spoke 19-inch wheels.

The world premiere of the new Z4 sees it being shown on the Reviewing Stand

of the world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where on Sunday BMW will be hoping it’s named as the most outstanding automobile on display so it can be presented with the prestigious Best in Show trophy.

Inside this particular model is a black leather interior featuring contrast stitching, power adjustable seats, a head-up display, a premium Harman Kardon surround sound audio system, and BMW Live Cockpit Professional with two digital screens.

As for the mechanicals, the new roadster makes the most of its 3.0-liter inlinesix engine with the inclusion of an adaptive, M-tuned sports suspension setup, an M Sport rear differential and M Sport braking package.

Although the manufacturer did release some estimated performance figures for the car during its initial press test drives recently, the precise figures are not going to be revealed until September 18. It’s likely the car will be as fast as it looks though, as the official numbers are almost certain to reveal a zero to 60 mph time of below four seconds.

But if you want to buy one of these new Z4s you’ll have to wait a while as they’re not going to be landing in dealerships until the second quarter of next year.