Manila Standard - 2018 October 2 - Tuesday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 229 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

‘Keep terror suspects in detention for 30 days’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

M warrant.

Bodies buried in mass grave INDONESIAN volunteers began burying bodies in a mass grave with space for more than a thousand people on Monday, victims of a quake-tsunami that devastated swathes of Sulawesi and left authorities struggling to deal with the sheer scale of the disaster.

Indonesia is no stranger to natural calamities and Jakarta had been keen to show it could deal with a catastrophe that has killed at least 844 people and displaced some Next page 48,000 people.

EARTHQUAKE FURY. Shock survivors search (topmost) for usable items among debris in Palu, Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi, on Monday after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area three days earlier on Friday. The death toll has nearly doubled to 832 and was expected to rise further. Below the topmost frame, people drive past a washed up boat and collapsed buildings as authorities battle to stave off disease and reach desperate people still trapped under shattered buildings. AFP

WEATHER

Typhoon gains strength near PAR

TYPHOON “Kong-Rey” (international name) has intensified and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday afternoon, by which time it will be called “Queenie.”

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Medal more valuable than Rolex—Lacson

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday opposed the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to give Rolex watch to soldiers who served the country well, stressing that a Medal of Valor would be worth much more than a luxury wristwatch.

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‘‘

For the past three years that I’ve been a member of Congress, once a year we have a monthly period. I’m just human, fragile, and I get hot-headed and stressed from work.

—ACTS-OFW Party-list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III

ILITARY officials want Congress to amend the Human Security Act to allow them to detain suspected terrorists for 30 days even without a

At a hearing of the Senate public order committee chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson, Armed Forces chief General Carlito Galvez Jr. cited the need to extend the three days detention allowed under the current law to 30 days.

“We see that if we will be able to capture the bomber, in a week, we won’t get anything. Normally, based on our experience, the suspect [will] break...in two to three weeks,” Galvez said.

“In the case of the Isulan [bombings over the last two months], we already captured the supposed bomber but because of very permissive law, the bomber [was] released from detention.”

An extension of the detention period to 30 days wo uld be a preemptive measure, Galvez said, because terrorists make subsequent attacks.

“The 30 days can also serve as a disruptive period for the terrorists, give us time

Reds on attack mode, military warns

By Joyce Pangco Pañares COMMUNIST rebels will escalate their attacks across the country from Oct. 11 to 17, a high-ranking military official said, citing recovered documents on the socalled Red October plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The plan fizzled out a bit when we exposed the Red October plot. But based on our indicators now, the trend is that they will still continue with the attacks and these will be nationwide,” Armed Forces deputy chief-of staff for operations Brig.

Oil prices still rising: 7th straight week now OIL companies raised pump prices for seventh consecutive week by as much as P1.35 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

Diesel prices rose by P1.35 a liter, kerosene by P1.10 a liter and gasoline by P1 a liter, said PTT Philippines. The 11 other companies followed suit, raising their prices by the same amounts.

The latest adjustment brings year-todate total adjustments to a net increase

of P10.40 per liter for gasoline, P10.70 per liter for diesel and P9.35 per liter for kerosene.

The oil companies also raised the price of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas by as much as P2.35 a kilo, adding P25.85 to the cost of an 11-kilo tank to reflect higher contract prices for LPG in the world market for October.

The oil firms also increased autoLPG

by P1.30 per liter.

World oil prices have been largely

to gather counter intelligence, [and] determine if the terrorist is a lone wolf or [part of] a pack of wolves,” he said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government OIC Eduardo Año, a former military chief, said 30 days will be enough for the security forces to conduct a follow-up investigation and operations.

“We do not need to maximize the 30 days. A terror attack can be neutralized within 30 days. Thirty days would just give the security forces a guarantee to be able to do their jobs properly,” Año said.

Defense Secretarty Delfin Lorenzana cited the need for stringent measures such as those adopted by Australia, and said this was an alternative to using martial law to address terrorism.

“Let us not use martial law but give more teeth to our security agencies,” he Next page said.

Gen. Antonio Parlade said in a phone interview.

“We have yet to determine the significance of those dates, and if they have recalibrated after the plot was exposed,” he added.

The attack teams were coded based on the recovered documents, Parlade said.

“There is the code ‘supermarket’ to refer to attacks against police stations and army detachments where they aim to seize arms and ammunition, ‘bulldozer’ to refer to mining firms and government Next page

BIG THREE Petron Gasoline Diesel Kerosene Caltex Gasoline Diesel Kerosene Shell Gasoline Diesel Kerosene

influenced by anticipation of US sanctions against Iran, which will be imposed on Nov. 4 and their impact on global supply.

Meanwhile, a leftist lawmaker denounced the decision of the Metro Manila Water Sewerage System Board to allow its water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water to raise their prices that added P5.73 per cubic meter and P6.22 to P6.55 per cubic meter, respectively.

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P1.00 P1.35 P1.10 P1.00 P1.35 P1.10 P1.00 P1.35 P1.10

PRICE RISE. An unidentified gasoline attendant adjusts the price signage of LPG in a Manila station on Monday after its price was increased by P2 per kilogram. Norman Cruz

Bertiz apologizes for breach of airport security

By Joel E. Zurbano AIRPORT officials said Monday Rep. Aniceto Bertiz rejected his claim that Chinese-looking men also did the same when he was screened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Saturday.

Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, said Bertiz clearly violated the security protocol by not removing his shoes during the passenger screening process at the NAIA Terminal 2.

Bertiz apologized for confronting a security checker at the airport, a video of which went viral over the weekend.

In a press conference on Monday, he likened his behavior to a woman going through the pre-menstrual syndrome.

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US warship sails through waters off disputed islets WASHINGTON—An American warship has sailed through waters off the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in the latest implicit challenge to Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims in the region, the Pentagon said Sunday.

“Guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur conducted a freedom of navigation operation,” an official told AFP.

“Decatur sailed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the Spratly Islands.”

The official said all US military operations in the area “are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.”

The 12-mile distance is commonly accepted as constituting the territorial waters of a landmass. Beijing claims all of the Spratly chain.

There was no immediate reaction from China, but a similar US operation in July, involving the disputed Paracel islands, prompted a furious Beijing to deploy military vessels and fighter jets. Next page

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tuesday, october 2, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Nine nominees for SC post bared

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Judicial and Bar Council on Monday submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte nine nominees for the position of associate justice in the Supreme Court left vacant by the appointment of Ombudsman Samuel Martires in July.

The JBC selected eight Court of Appeals magistrates and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez from the 13 applicants for the vacancy.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevara, an ex-officio member of the

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infrastructure projects, ‘tabasco’ to refer to suspected Oplan Tokhang agents, ‘casino’ to refer to military intelligence assets, and ‘Hades’ to refer to government personalities with a blood debt to the New People’s Army,” Parlade said.

“This is the last hurrah of Joma,” he added, referring to self-exiled Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison.

He said the attacks are expected to continue until December.

The CPP Central Committee last year released its plans for its 50th anniversary on Dec. 26.

“The Filipino people are suffering gravely under the Duterte regime. The entire Party and all revolutionary forces must exert vigorous efforts to unite the Filipino people in a broad united front to resist and overthrow the fascist Duterte regime,” the CPP said in a statement last year.

A leftist student group dismissed talk of “Red October.”

“There is no ouster plot against the President. He is the one digging his own grave because of his anti-poor policies, extrajudicial killings, Oplan Tokhang and other [oppressive] economic policies, such as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law,” said Kara Taggaoa, national spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students.

“This widespread disinformation is a conscious move by the government forces to discredit the people’s growing dissent, lay down the conditions for establishing their ‘revolutionary government’ and railroad Charter-change. This is a nationwide conditioning for martial law,” she said.

She also slammed the Duterte administration for its second tax reform package known as the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO). With Rio N. Araja

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JBC, said the shortlist also included Court of Appeals Associate Justices Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia, Manuel Barrios, Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang, Edgardo delos Santos, Ramon Paul Hernando and

Amy Lazaro-Javier.

Dimaampao and Garcia topped the shortlist after getting six votes from the JBC members, followed by Barrios, Brussels and Carandang with five members each. Delos Santos, Hernando, Lazaro-Javier and Marquez, on the other hand, got four votes each.

Marquez made it to the shortlist despite the opposition of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who accused him of moving to have a disbarment case against her withdrawn to be included in the nomi-

Gov’t corporate counsel, four envoys appointed

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a new government corporate counsel, along with four special envoys, the Palace announced on Monday.

Duterte promoted Elpidio Jumalon Vega from being the deputy government corporate counsel to being the government corporate counsel on Sept. 27, according to Vega’s appointment paper, released by Malacañang on Monday.

Vega replaced the embattled lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado, who was previously axed by Duterte in May for his alleged issuance of legal opinion jus-

tifying the grant of a 75-year gaming franchise to a free port locator in Aurora province.

Jurado argued Aurora Pacific Economic Zone could issue online gambling permits outside the Aurora Economic Zone as long as it was within an area controlled by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Duterte, however, was not amused by Jurado’s opinion, dismissing him for allegedly abusing his authority as GCC. Meanwhile, the President has also reappointed local newspaper owner Dante Ang as special envoy for international public relations, former lawmak-

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AGAINST TERROR. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon (left) Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (center) and AFP chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez ask lawmakers to amend the law against terrorism during a hearing conducted by the Senate on Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs jointly with the Committees on Justice and Human Rights, National Defense & Security and Finance at the Senate building in Pasay City on Oct. 1, 2018. Lino Santos

‘Keep terror...

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there was no need for such a provision, saying that those who are falsely prosecuted and wrongfully detained can sue the government under existing laws.

“Why do we need this provision?

They can go after the government. Why are we scaring our enforcers?” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Lacson, meanwhile, proposed that the definition of a terrorist be modified because a terrorist does not necessarily coerce the government to give in to his or her demands as provided for under the Human Security Act. “We need to simply define it as someone who commits the act of terrorism and who has the intent to commit an act of terrorism. That is practical and logical,” Lacson said, noting that the existing definition is too limiting.

In South Cotabato, police and military agents arrested three suspected members of the Islamic State-inspired Ansar Kalifa Philippines Monday morning.

Authorities are also tracking down two other members of the terrorists AKP group facing murder charges.

The suspects were identified as Akmad Bulacon, his sons Muktar Bulacon and Zandro Bulacon.

Recovered from them was a backpack containing two emblems with ISIS markings, two blasting caps, ammonium nitrate, a bandolier with several M16 bullets, a fragmentation grenade, three rifle grenades, and two motorcycles.

The seized motorcycles were believed used in the killing of P01 Achiles Tablazon on Sept. 15, 2015. With Francisco Tuyay

nautical miles from a reef in the Spratly archipelago.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

Further angering those countries, and the US, Beijing has moved aggressively to build reefs into artificial islands ca-

pable of hosting military planes.

US-Chinese relations have been strained on multiple levels since Donald Trump became president in 2017. A trade war launched by Trump has infuriated Beijing, as did his authorization of a $1.3-billion arms sale to Taiwan, which China considers a rebel province.

AFP self-sacrifice and distinctive acts of heroism and gallantry.

Under Republic Act 9049, awardees of the Medal of Valor are entitled to a lifetime monthly gratuity of P20,000, aside from the salary or pension they are getting.

Medal of Valor awardees, their widow/widowers or dependents are also entitled to privileges including precedence in employment in government agencies if they are qualified.

Office of Transportation Security manning the final security check before his departure around 6:45 am on Sept. 29.

“What we have seen in the video footage was that he [Bertiz] failed to follow protocol,¨Monreal told reporters.

He also denied Bertiz’s claim that there was “a group of Chinese-looking passengers escorted by airport staff that breezed through and did not undergo the same security protocols that everybody else had to go through.

With Nat Mariano and Maricel V. Cruz

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon also noted that by “mere suspicion” in Australia, suspects could be detained for as long as seven days or more.

“In our country… [we can] only detain suspects [for] three days,” he said.

“And I don’t know why instead of giving law enforcers more leeway or capabilities… The Security Act could penalize us for mistakes,” he said, referring to a provision in the law that penalizes law enforcement agencies P500,000 a day in damages for the false prosecution of individuals for terrorism.

Senate President Vicente Sotto said

“To any soldier, a Medal of Valor is worth more than a hundred Rolex watches. Every soldier dreams of having one more than he dreams of owning a Rolex watch,” he said.

Lacson, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971, said the Medal of Valor was rarely given

since the opportunity for it would rarely arise.

He noted the Medal of Valor was rarely given, “not only because the feat itself that qualifies anybody from getting it is extraordinary, but more so, the opportunity very rarely arises.”

Earlier, the President promised to give luxury wristwatches to future awardees of the Medal of Valor.

The Medal of Valor is the highest military honor for his or her supreme

bertiz...

to watch the video. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted that way. It’s very uncalled for for a public official to act that way.”

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said government officials should follow President Rodrigo Duterte’s example of rejecting any special treatment.

“Let’s learn by way of example from what the President is doing. Even the President does not ask special treatment,” Roque told reporters.

“The President complies with security

checks at the airport. He goes through the X-ray machine and he does not ask for any special treatment.”

In Congress, the minority bloc in the House of Representatives will take up with the ethics committee the issue on Bertiz.

The bloc’s leader, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, said his 44-man group will refer Bertiz’s case to the House ethics committee led by Rep. Delphin Gan Lee. Bertiz was asked to remove his shoes by a screening security officer of the

“For the past three years that I’ve been a member of Congress, once a year I get something like a monthly period. I’m only human, someone who’s weak and sometimes gets hotheaded. I also get stressed because of work,” Bertiz said.

“I would just like to express my sincerest and deepest apology to those who were able

er Monica Teodoro as special envoy to the United Nations Children’s Fund, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. as special envoy for intercultural dialogue and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers concerns Abdullah Mama-O as special envoy to Kuwait; Datu Ras Sinsuat Lidasan Jr. and National Youth Commission Chairperson Ronald Cardema as National Commission on Muslim Filipinos commissioner and NYC representative to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, respectively.

SOLICITOR General Jose Calida on Monday insisted that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV had no copies of his application for amnesty and his admission of guilt for the rebellion he committed during the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“There is no document or record evincing his admission of guilt or narrating the facts of his involvement or participation in the July 27, 2003, February 2006, or Nov. 29, 2007 incidents,” Calida said in a statement.

“There is no proof of his recantation of all his previous statements that are inconsistent with his admission of actual involvement and guilt.”

Calida said Trillanes deceived the trial courts into granting his motions to dismiss the coup d’etat and rebellion charges against him on the false premise that he had already complied with all the requirements to be eligible for amnesty.

“Thus, the grant of the amnesty to him through the Department of National Defense Ad Hoc Committee Resolution No. 2 is void,” Calida said.

On Aug. 31, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 572 declaring voided ab initio the amnesty granted to Trillanes by his predecessor President Benigno Aquino III in 2010.

Calida said Trillanes failed to meet the minimum requirements under Proclamation 75 issued by Aquino.

Calida said when Trillanes applied for amnesty, the people expected that he would comply with the requirements for the grant.

“Amnesty presupposes the commission of a crime. One must admit guilt before the state may grant an applicant forgiveness. Having failed to comply with these requirements, petitioner is therefore not entitled to the benefits of amnesty,” Calida said. PNA

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But four days on, some remote areas have yet to be contacted, medicines are running out and rescuers are struggling with a shortage of heavy equipment as they try to reach desperate victims calling out from the ruins of collapsed buildings.

In response, President Joko Widodo opened the door to the dozens of international aid agencies and NGOs who are lined up to provide life-saving assistance.

Officials fear the toll will rise steeply in the coming days and are preparing for the worst, declaring a 14-day state of emergency.

At Poboya—in the hills above the devastated seaside city of Palu—volunteers began to fill a vast grave with the dead, with instructions to prepare for 1,300 victims to be laid to rest.

Authorities are desperate to stave off any disease outbreak caused by decomposing bodies.

Three trucks arrived stacked with corpses wrapped in orange, yellow and black bags, an Agence FrancePresse reporter on the scene saw. Oneby-one they were dragged into the grave as excavators poured soil on top.

In Balaroa, a Palu suburb once home to a housing complex, the scale of the damage was obvious. A wasteland of flattened trees, shards of concrete, twisted metal roofing, door frames and mangled furniture stretched out into the distance.

Dazed groups of people ambled over the wreckage, unclear where or how to start digging. Among them were three men looking for their younger brother. AFP

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nees in the 15-member bench.

The disbarment case was filed in 2011 by the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines over an incident where Mayor Duterte punched a court sheriff in Davao City in connection with an operation to demolish shanties there.

Marquez denied the allegation and said he only spoke to the confederation in September, or five months after the group decided to withdraw the disbarment case in April.

The JBC came up with the list after interviewing the aspirants last week.

Trillanes failed to file amnesty papers—SolGen

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The Paracels, north of the Spratly Islands, are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

On May 25, the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed less than 12

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The increases will be passed on to consumers in tranches, beginning October 2018 and ending in January 2022.

“We condemn MWSS and the Duterte administration for favoring big water concessionaires and pushing through with the water rate hike that will certainly affect the poor sectors, amid the price shocks brought about by the TRAIN law, this simply proves that the government is not serious in resolving the runaway inflation, but a staunch sponsor of neoliberal privatization of water utilities,” said Casilao, member of the leftist Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.

Casilao said the water rate hike to be imposed on Maynilad and Manila Water subscribers would also affect small businesses, who will be compelled to pass their costs on their consumers.

Also on Monday, Senator Francis Pangilinan urged the government to focus on the price of rice, because it is a primary driver of inflation. Alena Mae Flores, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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As of 3 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said KongRey was last spotted at 1,565 kilometers east of southern Luzon.

The typhoon, to be locally named Queenie once inside PAR, was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Kong-Rey, moving west northwest at 15 kph, was not expected to make landfall in any part of the country.

Pagasa weather forecaster Ariel Rojas said the trough of the typhoon would bring cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

Floods and landslides are also possible due to severe thunderstorms.

The northern section of northern Luzon will experience strong gale force winds from northeast with rough to very rough coastal waters.

Temperature in Metro Manila ranges from 25-33 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao 25-34 degrees Celsius; Baguio City 16-24 degrees Celsius; Angeles City 25-32 degrees Celsius; Lipa City 23-33 degrees Celsius; Metro Cebu, 23-34 degrees Celsius; and Metro Davao 26-33 degrees Celsius. PNA

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senate bicam committee backs bill on Expanded Maternity Leave

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE DONATION. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (4th from right), assisted by Committee on Accounts Chairperson and Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (2nd right) and her husband Philippine Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez (3rd from right) turn over a check of P6.075 million to Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. president Luli A. Bernas (6th right) for Marawi rehabilitation. The money that comes from the contribution of all House members totaled P11.25 million. Looking on are other officers of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. Ver Noveno

SC urged to create special courts for Dengvaxia cases THE Public Attorney’s Office on Monday urged the Supreme Court to form special courts to handle criminal and civil cases arising from the deaths of school children inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

PAO chief Persida RuedaAcosta said that they have formally asked the SC to assign two trial courts to specifically hear criminal and civil cases, respectively, borne out of Dengvaxia controversy.

“We have already submitted to the Supreme Court our request in writing. We hope the Supreme Court will act favorably on our request that will expedite the resolution of cases filed by families of victims,” Acosta said in an interview after preliminary investigation hearing at the Department of Justice.

Reports had said that over 80,000 school children or 10 percent of over 800,000 have died after being inoculated with Dengvaxia.

The PAO chief called on the SC to immediately act on the request, citing the lack of significant progress in the first civil case filed by several families before the Quezon City regional trial court since the judge handling it is already up for retirement. Rey E. Requejo

Paolo Duterte to run for Congress, Sara says DAVAO City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio said his brother, former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte will run for congressmen in the midterm elections next year.

Duterte-Carpio made the revelation, even as she denied that she is running for a Senate seat.

Instead, the feisty mayor said she will seek reelection as chief executive of the city despite a recent survey showing her to be among the top 12 preferred potential senatorial candidates in a recent Pulse Asia survey.

“I am honored and overwhelmed by the trust of the people but I will run as mayor this coming elections,” she said.

Swedish actor-hubby suspected in OFW’s murder THE Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Philippine Embassy in Norway, is in coordination with the Swedish authorities on the investigation into the death of a Filipina in Kista, Sweden.

The victim was identified as Mailyn Conde Sinambong, a Filipina mother of two, who was allegedly murdered by her Swedish actor-husband on Sept. 23.

The DFA reported the incident to the media on Sunday but did not name the suspect.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, the agency was informed of the incident by Mailyn’s mother Maria Monato, who personally sought assistance from the DFA Consular Office in Cebu.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano extended condolences to the bereaved family of Sinambong. PNA

Romualdez urges Senate to prioritize DDR measure

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

L

EYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Monday appealed to the Senate to prioritize the approval of the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience following the bill’s approval on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

“I appeal to the Senate leadership to also fast-track the passage of the DDR bill as this would help drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape that has caused many delays in the delivery of immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on accounts, and principal author of the bill, said.

The bill was approved on third and final reading Monday by a 181-5-2 vote.

Romualdez acknowledged the commitment of the House led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to to support the measure.

“I thank my colleagues and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for their strong commitment to pass the DDR that guarantees a unity of command, science-based approach, and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters,” Romualdez said.

“With Speaker Arroyo’s competence and sterling qualities as experienced leader, we can be assured that the measure will also be approved in the Senate and

becomes a law very soon,” she added.

“Speaker Arroyo has a clear vision for the country and has a great ability to get the job done,” she added.

The proposed DDR is solely dedicated to concerns on disaster mitigation and quick response. The measure guarantees fast and responsive procurement process to ensure the swift delivery of assistance.

“Guaranteeing disaster resiliency through closer coordination and stronger management synchronization at all levels of the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system cannot be delayed any further. With the lives, safety and the welfare of our people at stake,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez said it is high time that we create a truly empowered department that will focus on natural hazards and disasters; and characterized by unity of command, a science-and ICT-based approach, and the wherewithal to take charge of three key result areas: (a) disaster risk reduction; (b) disaster preparedness and response; and (c) recovery, rehabilitation

and building forward better “The DDR will effectively improve the institutional capacity of the government for disaster risk reduction and management, reduce the vulnerabilities surrounding the affected local population as well as build the resilience of local communities to calamities.” Romualdez said.

Another author of the bill, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, echoed Romualdez’s appeal.

Villafuerte said the trail of death and destruction left by Super Typhoon ‘‘Ompong’’—the strongest typhoon thus far to hit the country this year—should prompt senators to write new legislation creating a Cabinet-level department that would institutionalize the government’s disaster preparation, risk reduction and relief and rehabilitation efforts.

“A new Cabinet-level department would put in place and oversee disaster preparation, risk management and postdisaster relief and rehabilitation operations in lieu of the ad hoc nature of current government efforts, which has now become untenable with climate change,” Villafuerte said.

Several similar bills filed in the Senate, including one submitted by Senate President Vicente Sotto III last August, remain pending at the committee level. These measures were read on first reading and were referred to the Senate committees on national defense and security; civil service, government reorganization and professional regulation; and finance.

AFP denies coddling detained retired general Palparan THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday vehemently denied that it was coddling retired Major Gen. Jovito Palparan.

“The AFP shares the aggrieved parties’ call for justice. In deferring the transfer, the AFP is not protecting Major Gen. Palparan et al. It merely submits to the judicial processes already in place and running,” AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in statement to the PNA Monday.

Arevalo said the AFP wanted to ascertain which commitment order takes precedence in Palparan’s case and how the court will resolve the pending motion for continued detention at Camp Aguinaldo Detention Facility in Quezon City.

Once this is resolved, Arevalo said, the AFP will comply with the order of the relevant court.

“Note that Major Gen. Palparan et

al. are facing two cases: one before Regional Trial Court Branch 15 of Judge Alexander Tamayo for Cadapan and Empeño case.

“The other case is with Regional Trial Court Branch 19 presided by Judge Francisco Felizmenio for Manalo Brothers case,” he added.

In both cases, the courts ordered that the accused be committed to the Philippine Army Custodial Center for custody.

Major Gen. Palparan et al. were convicted for the Cadapan and Empeño case where the court ordered that the former be confined at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

Meanwhile, the Manalo case is pending and the accused’s continues commitment at the PACC stays by virtue of said Commitment Order,” the AFP spokesperson said.

Following his conviction, Arevalo

said the lawyers of Palparan and his fellow convicts have filed for motion for reconsideration last Sept. 18.

“Counsels also filed on Sept. 24 an urgent motion to defer the implementation of the order to transfer Major Gen. Palparan—the resolution of which they are awaiting hence the continued detention at the PACC,” he added.

He added that the military respects the law and pertinent judicial process and will not frustrate any pursuit for justice.

“The conviction and the new commitment order to NBP in the Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño case now confuses with the hitherto existing commitment order to the PACC in the Manalo Brothers case,” Arevalo said.

To resolve the conflicting issue on commitment orders, the PACC filed a manifestation with motion praying for court determination which commitment order prevails on Sept. 24. PNA

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has said that the legislative bicameral committee tasked to reconcile the Senate and the House of Representatives’ versions of the Expanded Maternity Bill Law successfully concluded its conference on Monday.

The bicameral version of the law provides the following: 105 days of paid maternity leave credits to all working mothers, of which 7 days (daddy quota) are transferable to fathers, and an additional 15 days additional to solo mothers, for a total of 120 days.

The law applies to all instance of pregnancies, removing the four-pregnancy cap.

The reconciled version of the bill will now be submitted to the Senate and House of Representatives for ratification. The ratified version will then be signed by the President into law.

In the House of Representative, the Gabriela Women’s Party lauded the approval of the bicameral version of the expanded maternity leave bill as it kicked off the month-long #PinkOctober campaign for women’s health.

“This is a very positive start of our #PinkOctober campaign that seeks to highlight women’s health. This is proof of women’s resounding call for lawmakers to increase the current 60-day maternity leave period for normal delivery, which is way below the international minimum standard of 98 days,” said Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus, member of the bicameral conference committee on the proposed maternity leave bill.

“At a time when women workers are increasingly crushed by the pressure of making ends meet amid rising prices, a longer paid maternity period is one of the few positive things that the government can enact,” De Jesus added.

Pakistani terrorist ‘trainer’barred from entering Clark Int’l Airport

By Vito Barcelo IMMIGRATION agents barred a Pakistani national suspected to be a trainer for the terrorist group Daesh from entering the country at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Intercepted at the Clark airport was a certain Naeem Hussain, who arrived last Sept. 22 aboard an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai.

Deputy Commissioner Mark Red Mariñas said Hussain was immediately excluded and booked on the first available flight to his port of origin.

“He was turned away because he is on our alert list of suspected international terrorists for being an alleged trainer of Daesh,” he said.

Daesh is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Its members have been waging a fanatical and brutal war against the US and its coalition partners in Iraq and Syria where it wants to establish an Islamic caliphate.

Hussain is reported to be on the watchlist of the military intelligence community which sought the BI’s help in monitoring the Pakistani’s possible entry or departure from the country.

Jinggoy allowed to travel to Singapore

RIZAL SACO. Members of the Philippine National Police from Rizal Provincial

Office present to the media the 29 pieces assorted firearms which were confiscated during the provincewide Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Operation(SACO) conducted through a search warrants, buy-bust operation, Oplan Street Hawk and Clean Riders Checkpoints and arrested several most wanted persons in different areas of Rizal province. Manny Palmero

THE Sandiganbayan has approved former senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada’s eight-day trip to Singapore where he will accompany his mother, former senator Loi Ejercito, who is scheduled to undergo a medical checkup in that country.

Estrada and his mother flew to Singapore on Monday, Oct. 1.

He is allowed by the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division to travel until Oct. 8 as is required to report to the court five days of his return.

He said his mother will spend most of her time at the Singapore Brain-Spine Nerves Center at Mount Elizabeth Hospital to meet a neurosurgeon named Dr. Pillay.

The elder Ejercito has been diagnosed with severe compression deformity of the lumbar spine with vertebral body collapse.

The Ombudsman has opposed the motion to travel of Estrada, claiming that he is a flight risk and that the Singapore travel is not an excuse for him to leave

the country.

But the court said it cannot deprive of Estrada’s right to travel abroad since his previous trips abroad were also allowed.

“For the reason stated therein and considering that the right to travel is a constitutional right which cannot be impaired except in cases provided for by law, and that accused-movant Estrada has been previously granted travel abroad, the instant motion is granted,” the Sandiganbayan said.

The anti-graft court also said the P2.6million travel bond Estrada posted when he traveled last year will guarantee his return to the country.

Aside from plunder, Estrada also faces 11 counts of graft for allegedly pocketing some P183 million in kickbacks from his pork barrel allocations, which were coursed through bogus non-government organizations established by alleged pork barrel scam architect Janet Lim-Napoles.

Maricel V. Cruz

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Meaning what he says TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

they cannot dispute the fact that Super Typhoon Ompong has aggravated the whole thing.

I am not an economist, but I know that countries with uncontrollable inflation have been pushed to the brink.

Ad hoc solutions will not do when the people can no longer afford the food they eat. The President may now have very good acceptance and trust ratings, but if inflation is not addressed soon, people will lose faith in the government. I have seen this happen to many governments in the past.

PRESIDENT Duterte made another controversial statement recently. He has neither stolen anything nor jailed his critics, and his biggest sin is extrajudicial killings. After that, his minions, specifically spokesman Harry Roque and presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, scrambled all over the place to explain what he really meant.

Roque said the President should not *** be taken seriously because he was just With the retirement of Chief Justice joking. But who is laughing?

Teresita Leonardo de Castro last MonWhat Roque is implying is that the day, the Judicial and Bar Council is President is someone who does not mean now looking for her replacement from what he says. If I were the President, I among the three most senior associate would have fired him on the spot. justices: Antonio Carpio, Lucas BerPanelo, in an attempt to deflect samin and Diosdado Peralta. They are criticism, claims that the President all automatically qualified. is a Visayan—someone who does not Carpio has been bypassed so many realize the implications of what he is times. After Sereno’s ouster, he desaying. clined nomination out of delicadeza.

Does he want us to think that our Presi- He said he did not want to profit from dent is stupid?

Sereno’ ouster.

The minions at Now there is no longer any obthe Palace should stacle to his apstop trying to inRoque and Panelo terpret what the pointment. Carpio President means only succeeded at is due to retire in when he talks.

October 2019. His making the President The only thing time has come not in which they less credible. only because of have succeeded the time-honored so far is to make seniority rule, but Mr. Duterte less because of his crecredible. I am dentials, probity sure that thePresident can correct and integrity. himself if he wants to instead of relying on his minions. *** The question now is whether this The appointment of Tourism Secstatement was an admission of guilt. I retary Bernadette Romulo Puyat was know that statements against interests well received. Indeed she is qualified, weigh heavily in a court of law whether having the experience as agriculture or not these are uttered in court.That’s undersecretary. I have gone on record for a court of law to decide, in the case hailing her appointment. of the President.

But now as tourism secretary, Berna What I am saying is that the less his must think out of the box. She cannot minions do damage control, the better. just rely on “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” I think this is meaningless. *** Tourists can have fun anywhere they Poll surveys have shown that people go. It’s a state of mind. are concerned most of all about soarWhat Miss Puyat should do is to come ing prices of goods and services. Why, out with a more appropriate slogan and inflation may hit 7 percent by the end concentrate on the aspect of tourism of the year! that other Southeast Asian countries No matter how our economic man- do not have. I refer to medical tourismagers try to minimize the situation, dentistry.

Turn to A5

Representation

N

OT many people knew who Aniceto Bertiz III was before, but thanks to a video that had gone viral, he now enjoys quite the reputation.

The party-list representative apologized Monday for confronting a security checker at Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who had asked him to take his shoes off. He also snatched the ID of the security officer on duty.

Explaining his behavior, Bertiz likened himself to a woman going though pre-menstrual syndrome— frail, quick-tempered, and stressed.

Bertiz had earlier complained that a group of Chinese-looking passen-

gers were allowed to breeze into the airport without observing the same protocol.

Airport authorities have denied this.

The Palace distanced itself from Bertiz and said no less than President Duterte complies with security procedures despite their inconvenience and does not ask for special treatment.

By now, Bertiz must be licking his wounds upon realizing that in this day and age one cannot just conduct oneself boorishly in public places. The standards are high for public officials

especially those purporting to represent marginalized sectors of society—at least on paper.

The backlash on Bertiz has been so great that we wonder if he would ever be free from the stigma, years on.

May this episode serve as a reminder to all that security procedures exist for a reason, that public officials are held to a higher set of standards, and that an act of apology does little to erase brazen acts of arrogance.

We are sure Bertiz has not dreamed of becoming popular this way, but thanks to his own sense of entitlement, he has achieved not fame but notoriety.

Three crimes against humanity his back on the railroad tracks. People nearby attested that he raised his hands and pleaded to the men, “huwag po, huwag po, suko na po ako.” The policeman shot him and shoved him down. Djastin was seen convulsing IF ONE had doubts that crimes against violently, possibly because he had epihumanity are being committed in the lepsy. Seemingly taken aback, the poconduct of the war against drugs, this liceman slapped Djastin’s face and shot will be dispelled with the stories of him again. He slapped Djastin again, Djastin Lopez, Danilo Dacumos, and checking if Djastin was still moving.

David John Jezeel “JJ” David. Their Other policemen also came to see for stories are memorialized in the Com- themselves what was the matter. They munication and Complaint filed by also shot Djastin, lying bloody on the Rise Up for Life and for Rights, as- tracks.

The official police report stated that sisted by the National Union of People’s Lawyers, with the International Crimi- the incident was a buy-bust operation.

But upon inquiry by Djastin‘s famnal Court.

In my column last Saturday, I high- ily, policemen tried to turn the story around, saying lighted the signifithat he was a suscance of President pect in a murder of Duterte’s admisa tricycle driver a sion that he is reThese are the month prior. sponsible for the Danilo DacuEJKs going on in stories of Djastin, mos’s story is just the Philippines. I Danilo and JJ. as sordid. He lived also described two with his family in cases highlighted a big slum area in the Rise Up in Caloocan City complaint, that of Bernabe Sabangan and Salvador Loca- and was often caught petty gambling. sia Jr, In this article, using the Rise Up He probably ended up on a drug list, document as a source, I examine cases says his family, because of prejudices. where the police portray their victims Danilo was caught in April 2017 playas petty criminals in order to link drugs ing cards with friends and was released to criminality. As in the previous cases, after a few days Several months later the narratives are taken from the testi- the police came back and barged into monies of the relatives and from police their one-room home in August 2017, at around 10:30 pm, while his wife Purireports.

Let us start with Djastin Lopez, who sima and their grandchildren were alwas killed in the railroad tracks of ready in bed. Seconds later, Purisima Tondo, Manila, a usually safe pace for says she saw the police chief fire his whiling away time with friends. Lopez armalite through the doorway. Anothwas perched on the tracks drinking er policeman fired his pistol at somesoftdrinks with a friend when a group thing, or someone, inside the house, of armed policemen suddenly came she recalls. A policeman told Danilo’s running. Panicked, Djastin ran, but daughter-in-law, who was in the aparttripped along the tracks in front of one ment room above Purisima‘s,―[s]ana piarmed man. Witnesses, including Mary natakas niyo na lang ang tatay niyo dahil Rose Dela Cruz, from whom Djastin yan ang utos ni Duterte, na patayin ang Turn to A5 had bought softdrinks, said he fell on

Tightrope tradition teeters on verge of extinction in Russia’s Dagestan

By Nikolay Korzhov DRESSED in a red and silver sequined jacket and trousers, 13-year-old Muhamed Balikhanov holds a long pole as he slowly rides an old red bicycle along a tightrope suspended several meters off the ground.

In his remote village of Chakhchakh in the southern Russian region of Dagestan, Balikhanov is one of the few to continue a tradition of tightrope walking that dates back hundreds of years.

For locals in the mountainous North Caucasus region, tightrope walking began centuries ago as a way to take

shortcuts between precipitously placed villages with no roads between them.

“In Dagestan, tightrope walking has always been the ‘road of the highlander’ because there were no roads. That’s how tightrope walking was invented,” said Askhabali Gasanov, who heads a circus studio in the regional capital of Makhachkala.

Dagestan’s tightrope walkers later gained fame by performing daring feats in circuses. During the Soviet era, a troupe of artistes from Dagestan performed in Moscow and abroad and its members were awarded the prestigious title of People’s Artists of the USSR.

One of Russia’s current top tightrope walkers, Rasul Abakarov, is of Dagestani origin though he grew up in Saint Petersburg. This month he walked along a wire at a height of 100 meters (330 feet) between skyscrapers in Grozny, Chechnya.

The skill could be long forgotten in the small settlement of Chakhchakh where cows and chickens wander freely, were it not for the efforts of Yamudin Ekhmetkhanov, a 68-year-old former acrobat, who is now passing on his knowledge to a group called Gunar that includes Balikhanov, his cousin’s son.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

Ratings see-saw FORMATION GARY OLIVAR SPEAKING at the Palace recently before the oath-taking for new career executive service officers—our equivalent of a civil service mandarinate—President Duterte couldn’t help indulging in another one of his flights of rhetoric, when he asked the audience: “Ano ang kasalanan ko? Nagnakaw ba ako diyan ni piso? Did I prosecute somebody na pinakulong ko? Ang kasalanan ko lang yung extrajudicial killings.”

Unfortunately, that last statement was like scraps of red meat thrown to the wolves. Immediately the usual critics— from UN rapporteur Agnes Callamard to Caloocan Archbishop Virgilio David to the hapless Senator Antonio Trillanes—were jumping all over Duterte’s supposed admission of guilt to EJKs. We don’t suppose these folks will even listen to any other plausible explanation for this gaffe: that Duterte’s native language is neither English nor Tagalog; that he was just being “playful” (to hear Harry Roque tell it); or—if you want to construct a whole semantical tree—that all three statements are formally equivalent descriptions of various crimes being alleged or imputed, which was why Duterte didn’t see the need to qualify the EJK statement with “alleged.”

The critics and the snobs often forget that the President—behind his accent and his profanity—is a trained lawyer and a former fiscal/prosecutor. When his mouth seems to be running off, it’s likely that it’s because he has a good reason for doing so. *** What’s making the wolves take their red meat against Duterte wherever they can find it, is his continuing ability to confound.

When Pulse Asia conducted its third quarter survey from September 1-7, Duterte’s gross approval rating dropped by a full 13 points to 75 percent from 88 percent in June, while his gross trust rating dropped by an even higher 15 points to 72 percent from 87 percent in June. The declines were noted “across all geographic areas and socioeconomic groupings,” according to Pulse, with the biggest drops recorded in “Balance of Luzon” and socioeconomic Class D. It’s virtually indisputable that the biggest cause for this decline was the crisis experienced with rice prices and shortages. This was also the reason for a similar

sharp drop in former President Ramos’ ratings two decades ago.

Two weeks later, during SWS’ own third-quarter survey from September 1523, Duterte’s gross satisfaction ratings moved in an entirely opposite direction.

His gross score improved by 5 points to 70 percent, moving him up from “good” to “very good.” His net rating of +54 was a full 9 points above a personal record low of only +45 just last June.

True, there were likely differences in methodology as well as timing between the two surveys. But it seems reasonable to credit Duterte’s improvement in the SWS survey to any concrete measures his men may have taken to bring down inflation, as well as other subsequent developments like the revival of charges against Trillanes. If this was viewed positively by the public, the mutinous senator’s supporters may wish to think twice about sticking with him.

It’s virtually indisputable that the biggest cause for this decline was the crisis experienced with rice prices and shortages.

*** The relationship between the two largest economies in the world has been souring in recent months, especially after US President Trump went through with his threat to slap huge tariffs on $200 billion worth of imports from China.

Last week, the US Air Force conducted B-52 bomber flights over the disputed South China Sea region. Japanese fighter jets escorted the bombers on Tuesday as they made their way through the desolate Diaoyu Islands, which are controlled by Japan but claimed by China. A senior US military official proclaimed that “the United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows at times and places of our choosing.”

The trade war is clearly spilling over into the military arena, with China protesting recent US arms sales to Taiwan, after the US instituted sanctions on Chinese officials over their purchase of Russian military equipment. And now the rest of the region is being pulled into a tug-of-war between both giants.

Last week, after co-chairing a USASEAN ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, US

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said that the meeting “reaffirmed the US-ASEAN strategic partnership and discussed US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region with ASEAN at its center.”

Around the same time, speaking in Makati at the 69th anniversary of China’s founding, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said that “we firmly count on the Philippines to bring China-Asean cooperation and East Asia regional cooperation to a new high,” after the Philippines had earlier agreed to assume the role of China-Asean country coordinator last August.

And over at Camp Aguinaldo, at the annual meeting of the Mutual Defense and Security Engagement Boards of both countries, the Armed Forces announced that Manila and Washington had agreed to a higher number of 281 security cooperation activities next year, including military to military drills, tabletop exercises, visits and exchanges.

The tightrope that Duterte decided to walk between the US and China is now swaying ever more violently. If the US escalates its naval forays ostensibly in support of ASEAN, China may expect us to persuade ASEAN to express concern.

At the same time, China will be watching closely the conduct of those 281 military exercises—20 more than this year— between us and our oldest ally. This may seem risky now, but over the long term may actually be a good thing, since it puts some muscle behind our nominally nonaligned foreign and security policy. *** Last week, the famously thin-skinned community of U.P. Diliman was up in arms over the mysterious “intrusion” of three uniformed policemen on campus.

University President Danny Concepcion wrote PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde to express the “deep alarm” of his precious constituency.

Well, it turns out that the three cops were not there to arrest or intimidate anyone. As a matter of fact, they were simply looking for student-trainees who might be able to help improve a museum inside Camp Crame. In other words, they were offering paid job training for a worthy cause.

To his credit, Albayalde was profusely apologetic. But, really, he shouldn’t have been. The last thing the famously inflated egos need at their famously tax-subsidized “Republic of Diliman” is more of the same special treatment that over the decades has convinced them they deserve to be outside the reach even of the long arm of the law.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

Three...

From A4

mga adik (You should have made him flee because that is the order of Duterte, to kill addicts.) Danilo sustained three gunshot wounds on his neck, one gunshot wound above his ear, another gunshot wound on his hand, abrasions and a fractured arm.

The police claimed Danilo shot at them first.

Finally, there is the terrible, frightening story of David John Jezreel David, nicknamed “JJ”, a hotel room attendant in a Pasay City Inn. He was last seen alive on January 19, 2017, when after his shift that ended early morning, he said goodbye to his boss, and then took on his friend as passenger on his motorcycle home. His father next saw him in the hospital morgue, cold and lifeless.

After haranguing and pulling strings, police returned JJ‘s motorcycle—repainted black—to the family. They all next met at the prosecutor‘s office, where police had filed drug selling charges against JJ. The police report says JJ, his companion Kim Ocenar, and one George Yap were killed by operatives of Police Station 11 of the Manila Police District in Binondo, Manila, in an alleged buy-bust operation.

Police reports claim that the three were armed drug suspects who fought back against the police during the operation, sustained wounds, and were brought dead-on-arrival at Justice Abad Santos General Hospital.

JJ, Kim, and George had no record of relation to the drug trade in their respective areas, and were probably ac-

costed somewhere. JJ‘s father Dennise says his son might have been flagged along Jones Bridge and taken into custody because JJ only had a student driver‘s permit. The arrival of the bodies of JJ, Kim and George at the hospital were covered by Reuters in a chilling special report ―Dead on Arrival. The report tracks procedural issues and mistakes by the police in the course of investigation, and shows their horrible indifference. In a damning clip inside the hospital grounds, after something falls off one of the dead men‘s pockets, a policeman casually puts it back in.

The police later claims sachets of shabu were found in JJ‘s pocket. Dennise, thoroughly aggrieved, believes that the case was intentionally filed to portray his son as a criminal.

In October 2016, Madam Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, warned the Philippines about “worrying reported extrajudicial killings of alleged drug dealers and users in the Philippines, which may have led to over 3,000 deaths in the past three months.” She said she was “deeply concerned about these alleged killings and the fact that public statements of high officials of the Republic of the Philippines seem to condone such killings and further seem to encourage State forces and civilians alike to continue targeting these individuals with lethal force.”

Madam Bensouda, a lawyer’s lawyer, at once a brilliant, collected and

deliberate person, then pointed out that extra-judicial killings may fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC “if they are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population pursuant to a State policy to commit such an attack. She then made clear: “any person in the Philippines who incites or engages in acts of mass violence including by ordering, requesting, encouraging or contributing, in any other manner, to the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC is potentially liable to prosecution before the Court.

The cases of Dacumos, David, and Lopex and that of Sabangan and Locasia are no doubt crimes against humanity. Because justice for them and their families cannot be obtained here in the country, the latter have rightly chosen the International Criminal Court as the right place to go to. While my preference has always been for us to and our domestic institutions to hold people responsible for EJKs accountable, it is clear that such justice is not forthcoming from such institutions. That is why I support the Rise Up Communication and Complaint and urge the ICC Prosecutor to conclude the preliminary communication and to begin the next stage of these proceedings, the formal investigation that will surely lead to indictment and issuance of international arrest warrants against those who have admitted and are accountable for crimes against humanity in our country.

*** During the Marcos regime, there was a concerted effort to promote arts and culture, primarily because of former First Lady Imelda Marcos. She gave priority to visual arts, sculpture, dance, and folklore.

It was during the Marcos administration when the country gave priority to the preservation of traditional places

and culture. National artists were recognized. Sadly, after Marcos, arts and culture were no longer a priority. President Cory Aquino tried her best to erase anything identified with the Marcoses.

Is it time for President Duterte to revive the people’s interest in the arts?

Why not?

There are so many artists here who could well compete with international masters.

Meaning...

From A4

She can tap the leading hospitals in the country. I have been told that the Philippines can truly excel in medical/ dental tourism.

She can also concentrate on retirement, considering the aging populations of Japan, the United States and other countries in the EU. There are many developers in the Philippines who can help the DOT along this line.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The pricing of medical professional services when a doctor performs at his best when he or she has snatched a patient from the jaws of death, a doctor is truly RUDY a wonder to behold.

ROMERO Even greater sources of wonder are those instances, which are infrequent, ONE of the most controversial issues when top-notch medical professionals associated with a health care system either effect huge cuts in their billed is the pricing of the services of medi- fees or waive their fees totally. Every cal professionals. Indeed, levels of the time stories of that kind are told, the fees charged by doctors and consult- overall reputation of the medical proants usually figure prominently in the fession is enormously enhanced. Doctypical list of complaints against most tors cease to be the heartless, patienthealth care systems. The words often gouging individuals that they are used to describe the PF (professional widely believed to be. fees) charged by medical professionals A case in point is that of the team include “outrageous,” “excessive” and of doctors from different medical spe“unconscionable.” cializations, who, I am told, seemed to Truth to tell, professional fees in cer- have reduced the fees that they charged tain professions are very often close to a man who entered Asian Hospital and outrageous and the fees charged by medi- Medical Center in a very critical, infeccal professionals are among the highest tion-caused condition. Having been in fees charged by members of the profes- the hospital’s ICU (intensive care unit) sional class. The fees charged by mem- the entire time that he was there, the bers of my own patient racked up profession—law an enormous topractice—match, tal of hospital and or closely approxiprofessional fees. mate, the numbers Asian Hospital, Generosity, that appear on docafter all, is part of compassion and tors’ bills. the largest group Charging for dedication go a long of high-class hosservices in gener- way toward giving pitals in this counal is more difficult try. than charging for the Philippine medical Because their merchandise, and profession the credit patient was an incharging for prodividual of modand goodwill that often fessional services est means, all the is far more dif- elude it. members of the ficult. Charging team that attended and getting paid to him agreed to for professional take reductions in services rendered is far different in ur- their professional fees. Although most ban medical facilities than in provincial doctors are not keen on publicity about clinics and doctors’ offices. There is no their hospital work, five members of the paying with eggs and other food items team—cardiologist Dr. Christopher de in urban medical facilities; all financial los Reyes, nephrologist Dr. Pelagio Esprocedures are undertaken with the in- maquel, infectious diseases specialist Dr. tervention of technology.

Roberto Salvino, neurologist Dr. Joanne There are at least three reasons why Robles and hematologist Dr. Anna May medical professionals charge fees Agdamag—deserve special mention. that are termed excessive or, at times, But this team’s generosity is not all downright outrageous. The first, obvi- about money. The patient’s family is ously, is the length of time it takes for specially appreciative of the care, coma student to be licensed as a doctor; for passion and dedication that the doctors doctors the period, including internship showed not only toward the patient, but time, is around ten years. The second most importantly, to his children (The reason is the experience that doctors patient was a single father). From Day have to acquire before they perform One, this team showed total profestransplants, mend bones, fight off sional dedication to their patient. They deadly infections and do other acting- even went out of their way to the extent, like-God things. The third—and by of providing counsel, to members of the far the most important—reason why patient’s family. They have remained hospital-based doctors charge the fees true to the compassionate service that that they do is the well-honed judgment Asian Hospital brands itself to be. they have to bring into play when they Dear doctors, generosity, compasgo about their health-preserving and sion and dedication like yours go a long life-saving duties. way toward giving the Philippine mediBecause they deal with life itself, cal profession the credit and goodwill doctors arguably are the most impor- that often elude it. May your tribe intant professionals in the world. And crease.

BUSINESS CLASS

Tightrope...

From A4

The teenager limbers up with gymnastics: grabbing the tightrope from a standing position and swinging himself up into the air.

In another stunt, he stands with his feet in a metal washtub and shuffles along the rope.

The boy has been practicing tightrope walking for two years and has managed to achieve incredible results, his teacher said.

“He has a great future and is not afraid of anything,” said Ekhmetkhanov, praising his “huge talent.”

The teacher said he believes the tradition is still valued in the region.

“Our people... very much respect tightrope walking tradition in Dagestan,” he said.

“I am happy about it because in this case it will never disappear.”

‘Revive this art’ Balikhanov said he aspired to excel on the tightrope because in past years “my grandfathers and great-grandfathers did this.”

“When I’m grown up I want to revive this art so my children, my grandchildren also do it,” he said, adding that he dreams of opening a specialized school in his village.

In Makhachkala, children are learning the art at a circus studio called Pekhlevan —meaning hero or fighter. Its 64-yearold founder, Gasanov, has been tightrope walking himself since he was 18.

In a high-ceilinged room with peeling paint, a group of girls and boys in T-shirts, jeans or tracksuit bottoms take turns to perform on the tightrope to music.

One girl stands in an upright wheel that rolls along the wire.

At one point, two girls perform on the wire together with long, velvet veils

covering their faces.

Gasanov manages a troupe of eight children, who perform tightrope stunts all across the region—one of Russia’s poorest—in an attempt to preserve this ancient tradition, which he admits risks becoming forgotten.

“It is a dying talent, a disappearing one, but we try,” says the wiry man with white hair and a mustache.

‘A circus republic’ With dwindling state support it has become more difficult to sustain local performance schools and to get children involved in tightrope walking.

The authorities have expressed interest in building a circus in Makhachkala and supporting schools to teach the traditional skill.

But Dagestan, like neighboring Chechnya, is struggling economically and dependent on Moscow for funding to balance its budget.

Gasanov wants Makhachkala to have its own permanent circus building like in many other cities in Russia, to show off the regional art form.

“Since 1995, I’ve been knocking on all the doors of government institutions and the culture ministry, trying to explain to them that Dagestan is a circus republic and there should be a circus here,” says Gasanov.

He sees a risk to the tradition from young people moving away to find work due to high unemployment and poverty in the region.

“Now only enthusiasts who love tightrope walking work here. The values are different now, people go where you can earn more.”

Many also have ceased to value the skill behind tightrope walking, he said regretfully.

“Young people especially (say): ‘what’s the point?’” AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

Manila

Standard

TODAY

A6

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

LTFRB: New drivers’ salary scheme good A

TRANSPORT official has expressed fear some bus firms may have to stop rolling due to what he calls looming revenue losses following a Supreme Court decision affirming the legality of a salary scheme that gives bus drivers and conductors fixed salaries and additional pay for good performance.

Provincial Bus Opertators Association of the Philippines executive director Alex Yague said the Court, in a ruling released last week, dismissed the petition of the PBOAP and transport groups that questioned the wage scheme set in 2012 by the Department of Labor and Employment and transport regulators.

Aileen Lizada, member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said the new salary system would entice drivers to follow traffic rules as they would no longer need to rush to load passengers to take home a commission.

The new wage rules, she added, would discourage drivers from working long hours and abusing drugs to stay alert.

Lizada, addressing bus companies and operators, told dzMM in

an interview beamed nationwide, “To the bus companies, operators, we know that you need to earn money.

“But let’s also understand that these bus drivers, who are in their prime, are giving everything for your firms.

“To the few who have yet to comply, we hope that you give what is due to your driver.”

According to Yague, some bus firms were already incurring losses over high fuel and maintenance costs, even without the wage scheme that would replace the commission or boundarybased payment system for drivers and conductors.

Yague said there was nothing they could do but to follow the Supreme Court ruling, but the effect of this would be that there would be some bus firms that might have to shut down.

GMA turns over P6m to help Marawi victims

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday turned over P6.075 million to the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. to provide assistance to the victims of the Marawi seige.

In a brief ceremony at the Speaker’s Social Hall, Arroyo was accompanied by Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez when CSFI president Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, CSFI Region VIII Rep. Martin Romualdez, and other CSFI officials received the oversized check with the amount of P6.075 million and P500,000 cash from lawmakers’ fund drive.

Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on accounts, said the donations were sourced from the salaries of her colleagues and the average contribution of every lawmaker was P5,000 while some gave P10,000 to P20,000 each.

“The fund drive is a collective effort of all House members in the pursuit of helping distressed fellow Filipinos in Marawi City. This will also give message of hope, love and faith that the government is doing its best to assist them,” said Romualdez on the fund drive that started in the previous House leadership.

Vina Pastor, CSFI officer-in-charge, said former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had turned over P4 million from the House fund drive to help their constituents affected by the Marawi crisis.

TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES (KATIPUNANG MANGAGAWANG PILIPINO)

NOTICE OF GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING In Compliance with the Supreme Court Decision, you are hereby notified and invited to attend the TUCP General Council Meeting on October 8, 2018, 10:00am at Victorino Balais Board Room, 2nd floor TUCP Building, TUCP-PGEA Compound Maharlika cor. Masaya Sts. Diliman, Quezon City.

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Alliance of Workers in the Informal Economy Sector (ALLWIES) Associated Metal and Allied Workers Union (ALU-METAL) Associated Textile, Garments and Allied Workers Union (ALUTEXTILE) Associated Transport and Allied Workers Union (ALUTRANSPORT) Associated Labor Unions- VIMCONTU (ALU-VIMCONTU) Alyansa ng Manggagawa at Pilipinong Organisado (AMAPO) Associated Professional, Supervisory, Office and Technical Employees Union (APSOTEU) Associated of Trade Unions (ATU) All Workers Alliance Trade Union (AWATU) Confederation of Labor and Allied Social Services (CLASS) Federation of Unions of Rizal (FUR) Pambansang Kilusan ng Paggawa (KILUSAN) Kapisanan ng mga Kawani ng Koreo sa Pilipinas (KKKP) Lakas sa Industriya ng Kapatirang Haligi ng Alyansa (LIKRA) National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) National Union of Portworkers in the Philippines (NUPP) Overseas Filipino Workers Family Association (OFW/FA) Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (PACIWU) Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) Philippine Federation of Labor (PFL) Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union (PIILU) Public Sector Labor Independent Federation (PS-LINK) Associated Philippine Seafarers Union (PSU) Philippine Trade Union and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) Samahang Mangagawang Pilipino-National Alliance of Teachers and Office Workers (SMP-NATOW) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Association of Concerned Employees (TESDA-ACE)

For inquiries and confirmation please contact the TUCP Secretariat at TeleFax number (02) 922-3199, cellphone number 0917-5023310, email address info@tucplaborcenter.com. website www. tucplaborcenter.com

Atty. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza President

(MS-OCT. 2, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Petrogazz turns back Oragons in PVL Games Wednesday

(Flying V Center, San Juan) 4 p.m. – Adamson-Akari vs Pocari-Air Force 6 p.m. – Creamline vs Tacloban

PETROGAZZ overcame fatigue and a gritty Iriga-Navy side, scoring a 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 28-26 decision late Sunday to bolster its campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Playing their fifth straight game in a nine-day stretch, the Angels seemed to have lost steam in their third set setback but bounced back in an extended fourth set duel to turn back the Lady Oragons and improve their card to 3-2.

The victory came after overcoming the fancied Creamline Cool Smashers in a grueling five-setter late Saturday.

“The girls are really tired. One also has to consider our training, so kahit sinong bunutin, there’s really the fatigue factor,” said PetroGazz coach Jerry Yee, who used all but reserve libero Rica Enclona in the match.

With his mainstays showing fatigue in the third set, Yee started Ranya Musa in the fourth and sent Rachel Austero off the bench.

The duo delivered with Austero scoring all her four points in the frame, including an offspeed hit and an ace that sealed Petrogazz’s victory.

“Again, we tell them, ‘yung mga coaching staff, na ikot tayo, gamit tayo ng timeout. Kumbaga gamitin natin ang depth natin kung anong meron,” said Yee, whose wards get the much-needed break tomorrow before facing another tough opponent in Ateneo-Motolite on Saturday.

Earlier, Tacloban foiled the AdamsonAkari attackers at the net to score a 2521, 25-12, 25-22 rout as the Fighting Warays notched back-to-back wins after an opening game loss.

Spartans clinch 1st NBL victory ROMYL Jornacion scored 13 points and hit the game-winning triple with 10 seconds left and the Rizal Spartans captured their first win with a 70-67 win over the Quezon City Rising Stars last Saturday in the National Basketball League at the Antipolo Sports Hub. The three-pointer by Jornacion in front of his hometown fans lifted the Spartans to their first win after losing their first three games of the league for homegrown talents.

Bernard Repato topscored for Rizal with 15 points, while Benjie Jimenez had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Nomar Isla-coached squad.

Nikko Lao had 11 points, while Mark Puspus had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks for Quezon City but the Rising Stars fall to 1-2.

In the other match last Saturday, Ferdie Limin had 15 points as the Marikina Shoemakers picked up their second win in four tries with an 82-75 win over the Paranaque Aces, which dropped their first game in three outings.

The Laguna Pistons, meanwhile, beat the Dasmarinas Ballers, 87-82, last Sunday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig City behind 22-point effort of King Fadriquela. The Pistons hold a 4-1 win-loss slate, while the Ballers slid to 1-3.

Richmond Gilbero had 15 points as the Taguig Generals won over the Bulacan Makabayan, 81-74, to improve their slate to 3-2 as the league now shifts to Nueva Ecija this coming weekend for two doubleheaders.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

A7

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Emotional Ryder win for Europe

S

AINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES—Europe’s finest golfers, sparked by a record-setting victory for Italy’s Francesco Molinari, recaptured the Ryder Cup on Sunday, denying a dramatic United States fightback to complete an emotional 17.5-10.5 upset victory.

Reigning British Open champion Molinari defeated fivetime major winner Phil Mickelson 4 and 2 as Europe took an insurmountable edge over the favoured Americans, including point-less flop Tiger Woods, in the biennial team showdown at Le Golf National.

“It was amazing,” Molinari said. “It’s an incredible achievement. We did just an amazing job.”

In the process, Molinari—who had been winless in six prior Ryder Cup matches—became the first European and only the fourth player ever to go 5-for-5 in a Ryder Cup and did so just two months after hoisting the Claret Jug. “It feels great but it’s not about me,” he said. “It was about time to have them but it’s about the group not the individual.

“I couldn’t even dream of a summer like this.”

Europe had seized a 10-6 edge in Saturday’s foursomes and fourballs matches and got the points they needed to swipe the trophy after an early US surge. Every European player won at least once in the event.

“The attitude they had was unbelievable,” Europe

captain Thomas Bjorn said. “There was a moment when I thought this was going a little bit wrong but when we got our momentum going it went very quickly.”

It turned out to be the most lopsided European triumph since an 18.5-9.5 victory at Ireland’s K Club in 2006.

The US team, needing a record-tying comeback to keep the Cup, found no French magic to equal Europe’s 2012 ‘Miracle at Medinah’ or the Americans’ 1999 ‘Battle of Brookline’ win.

“Their captain did a better job than I did,” US captain Jim Furyk said. “Their players played better. We just have to tip our caps.”

Woods, a 14-time major champion who snapped a five-year win drought last Sunday, went 0-4 after being hailed as the star attraction.

“Very disappointing,” Woods said. “To have a Ryder Cup end that way, for me personally, it doesn’t feel very good because I didn’t help my teammates earn any points.”

Woods noted his run of playing seven of nine weeks coming into France, saying: “A lot of big events and a

lot of focus, a lot of energy, goes into it.”

The Americans, who haven’t won in Europe since 1993, lead the all-time rivalry 26-14 with two drawn but the Europeans’ ninth victory in 12 attempts gave them an 11-8 with one drawn edge since expansion from a British-Irish squad after 1977.

Americans pulled within 10.5-9.5 before Europe’s first singles victory by Danish rookie Thorbjorn Olesen, who beat three-time major winner Jordan Spieth 5 and 4.

Spain’s Jon Rahm followed by downing Woods 2 and 1, snuffing out any US momentum.

‘Best feeling of my life’ Rahm, who led after all but one hole, pumped his fists and screamed with joy after his clinching four-foot birdie putt left Europe two wins from victory.

“To beat Tiger, one of the greatest players of all time, for the pivotal point, it’s the best feeling of my life,” Rahm said.

England’s Ian Poulter birdied the 18th hole to beat topranked Dustin Johnson 2-up and put Europe on the brink.

That set the stage for Molinari to clinch the win, making his 5-for-5 history after Mickelson found water at 16 and conceded, setting off a champagne-spraying celebration.

Palace, Agri notch 2nd UNTV Cup triumphs Games Tomorrow

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. – PhilHealth vs Ombudsman 3:30 p.m. – DA vs NHA 5 p.m. – PNP vs AFP

Malacañang-PSC‘s Erick dela Cuesta drives to the basket during their game against Judiciary in the UNTV Cup Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center.

12 Filipino kids join international football camps through TM Sports Para sa Bayan TWELVE Filipino tweeners from different regions in the Philippines landed an opportunity to further hone their football skills at the Astro Kem Bola Advanced Training camp in Malaysia through Globe Telecom’s TM Football Para sa Bayan Program. The program was held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Regarded as the second phase of the Astro Kem Bola program, the Advanced Training camp is an intensive experience that formally immersed the young athletes in the rigors of football. Together with other participants from Singapore and Malaysia, the kids, aged 10-12 years old, received in-depth training revolving around pitch and classroom sessions from Barca Academy coaches who were flown down to Malaysia specifically for the camp.

The participants consisted of James Philip Domens, 11 years old, Pasig City; Charles Cedrick Lajom, 12, Mandaluyong City; Nazer Merendad, 11, Mandaluyong City; Tadashi Rysuei Omiya, 11, Montalban, Rizal; Angelane Joy Ortega, 12, San Carlos City;

No more...

From A8 The 12 talented Philippine delegates to Astro Kem Bola Advanced Training Camp in Malaysia.

Elijah Raj Pabalete, 11, San Carlos City; Caitlin Clare Panilan, 10, Quezon City; Roy Panunciar Jr., 11, San Carlos City; Michaella Ann Tolones, 12, Zamboanga City; Winceyette Louise Aleichem Tumala, 12, San Carlos City; Zhaira Gail Velasco, 12, San Carlos City; and Joeny Yap, 11, Batangas City.

“Football is not just a game but an overwhelmingly positive force that can

change the lives of these young athletes.

That is what we want to do with our sports program. We want to inspire these financially-challenged children to be the best they can be and be instrumental in giving them a brighter future by opening opportunities to them in the sport that they love,” said Miguel Bermundo, Director for Globe Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing.

ESPN5 teams up with PH cheerleading body LEADING sports network ESPN5 gives Filipino sports fans something to cheer for as Season 14 of the National Cheerleading Championship kicks off with the South Luzon Qualifiers on Oct. 6 at Robinson’s Mall, Las Piñas.

This event will activate a series of qualifying tournaments, where over 300 teams will vie for the chance to compete at the 2019 Nationals, the annual Cheer, Dance, and Drumline Competition of the NCC, which will be held on March 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The NCC also seeks to elevate Filipino cheerleaders to international acclaim with Team Pilipinas. As the official representative of the International Cheer Union, the recognized world governing body for cheerleading, this NCCgroomed team participates in competitions in Asia and Oceania, as well as the World Championships to be held in Orlando, Florida in 2019.

Last April, the Team Pilipinas delega-

MALACANANG-Philippine Sports Commission and Department of Agriculture bested their respective rivals in contrasting fashions to forge a threeway tie for Group B lead in the 7th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The Malacañang-PSC Kamao rode on a big fourth quarter assault to pull off a 74-70 win over the Judiciary Magis while the DA Food Masters clobbered the Ombudsman Graftbusters, 85-67.

With their wins, Malacañang-PSC and DA tied National Housing Authority for the early Group B lead with similar 2-0 cards in the annual tournament for public servants.

Department of Justice outlasted GSIS, 71-65, for its first win in two games in the lone Group A match.

Jose Marie Villegas scattered 15 points to lead the Boosters to a morale-boosting win.

Eric dela Cuesta produced 20 points, while Gerry Gadong and Michael Jimenez chipped in 11 points for Malacañang-PSC which outscored Judiciary, 22-12, in the fourth to stay unbeaten in the event organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon.

The Magis fell to 0-2.

Henry Fernandez erupted for 23 points, while Sherwin Silva and Emerson Oreta combined for 29 points in leading the Food Masters to victory.

tion was composed of athletes selected from the different high schools and universities that compete at the Nationals.

Assumption College and Poveda Juniors competed for the cheer hip-hop and the Junior Championships. respectively, while the All-Girl and Co-Ed Elite Teams were drawn from students from NU, Ateneo, UST, De La Salle, FEU, Holy Spirit, Miriam, St. Paul Pasig, and other schools.

ESPN5 will be present throughout this journey, covering the regional qualifiers through Sportscenter Philippines and The Nationals live on free TV. Season 14 will carry the theme ‘We Are Fearless’, a quality which epitomizes each and every cheerleader, who shakes off the fear, takes risks, and exceed limits. It also represents the bold steps the NCC takes into recognizing the strength and resiliency of Philippine cheerleading.

As Founder Carlos Valdes states: “In a real sense, the NCC is just like the sport of Cheerleading. It requires courage

over anxiety, resolve over doubt, discipline over comfort. You really have to be fearless.”

‘Fearless’ also defines ESPN5’s mission of elevating Philippine sports to international heights.

“Our network remains steadfast in its role of supporting every Filipino athlete as they represent our country on the world stage; in line with this is our active pursuit to expand awareness for our breadth of local talent, and the different sports in which they excel. It was only natural for us to continue our partnership with the NCC as they pursue their vision of advancing cheerleading as a sport in the country,” said TV5 President Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes.

“ESPN5 has stayed true to its mission of bringing great sports content to Filipinos.

With their world-class content delivery platforms, we are elated to have them on board for the whole season of the NCC, and together with the journey of Team Pilipinas,” said Valdes.

Rastafari, a taolu athlete, has a sister named Zion, who has seen action in international meets twice.

Camacho said they agreed to let the kid sleep over because Rastafari was enthusiastic in training and upon the request of his parents.

Ramirez said support to the Darialay family will be extended following talks with the kid’s parents, Bobbit and Hazel.

His remains lie in state at the Sanctuario de San Vicente in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

PH chessers grab share of 13th THE Philippine women’s team brought down 15th seed Spain, 3-1, to zoom to a share of 13th place after six rounds of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia Sunday night.

The Pinay woodpushers used their opening preparation to catch the fancied Spaniards off balance as Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza and Woman International Master Bernadette Galas pulled off shock wins over FM Marta Garcia Martin and WGM Monica Calzetta Ruiz on boards two and four, respectively.

WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WIM Antoinette San Diego eked out fighting draws with IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez and IM Ana Matnadze on first and third boards, respectively, earlier before Mendoza and Galas put on the finishing touches with a pair of masterful wins.

That sent the Philippines, which is being backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, from a share of 23rd to

a seven-country tie at 13th spot with nine match points each. The team was tackling 14th seed Georgia 2, which fell to Georgia 1, 1.5-2.5, in the seventh round at press time.

The Filipinas are also eyeing to surpass the country’s best finish in this biennial meet at 22nd place in 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

“We’ll play the same line up we used in round six and hopefully get a similar result,” said women’s team coach GM Jayson Gonzales.

The men’s squad, for its part, bounced back from three straight defeats by whitewashing Jersey, 4-0, on wins by GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez and IMs Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Haridas Pascua to move from a forgettable tie at 101st spot to a share of 77th with six points.

The PH hopes to climb further out of ignominy as it tangles with Albania in the seventh round at press time.

Sports

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

A8

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

Nuggets spoil James’ LA debut SAN DIEGO—LeBron James dazzled the crowd in his exhibition debut for the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday but he couldn’t get them a victory as they dropped a 124-107 decision to the Denver Nuggets.

James finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in just over 15 minutes of playing time in front of 13,500 fans at the Valley View Casino in San Diego.

“It was great to get back on the floor and start a new journey for myself,” he said. “It was great to hear the roar from the (San Diego) crowd.”

James was cheered throughout the contest with one of the biggest ovations coming when he emerged from the tunnel for the pregame warmup.

He played eight minutes before sitting down on the bench.

James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for a four-year, $153 million free-agent deal with the Lakers.

Lakers fans feel James is just what the struggling team needs during its worst halfdecade in history.

The Lakers’ regular-season opener is October 18 at Portland, followed two nights later by their first home game against Houston. AFP

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass in front of Will Barton (5) and Mason Plumlee of the Denver Nuggets during a preseason game at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. AFP

No more double-deck beds after death of wushu athlete 3 disciplines added to PH SEAG roster THERE will be three sports disciplines st likely be added in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games when it is held in the Philippines next year.

Officials, led by former Philippine Olympic Committee president Dr. Celso Dayrit, currently chairman of the SEA Games Council Executive Committee, said this in a report to POC President Ricky Vargas and Chairman Bambol Tolentino yesterday.

Indoor hockey, floorball and vovinam have been approved for inclusion during the meeting that Dayrit and Tolentino attended over the weekend at the SEA Games Federation Office in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dayrit said that the sports submitted by the Sports Committee, headed by Cong.

Tolentino, were all approved by the member countries present in the meeting.

Tolentino said this was “a positive development which validated the decisions made by the SEA Games Council in the Manila meeting last May.” Final approval of the sports will be made in the next Council meeting to be held in Manila on Nov. 22 to 24.

“I am happy to report that the SEA Games Fedration Office accepted all the proposed sports submitted by POC, with the addition of Indoor Hockey, Floorball and Vovinam,” said Dayrit.

Vargas said the added events are subject to compliance by the national sports associations concerned.

And this is with regards to capability to host, arrangements, logistics, etc., plus the recognition by their respective international federations and the POC. Peter Atencio

By Peter Atencio

D

OUBLE-DECK beds will no longer be used inside the quarters of the national team.

The Philippine Sports Commission plans to make such changes following the death of wushu junior athlete Rastafari Daraliay after falling from the second level of his double-deck bed in the wee hours of the morning last Saturday.

“No more double-deck beds. Lesson learned ito,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez of the government sports agency’s immediate plans following the incident, adding that single beds will most likely be placed in the dormitories.

The 11-year-old Daraliay fell off the top bunk of a double-decker bed at around 3 a.m.

Saturday, while he and three other teammates in the national pool were resting at one of the dorms inside the Wushu Federation of the Philippines training center’s fourth floor facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Daraliay has been sleeping over the quarters every Saturday night for the last three years, while undergoing training.

According to WFP secretary-general Ju-

lian Camacho, the kid was with three others when he went back to sleep inside the room, which had three double deckers.

An older teammate accompanied him in the lower bunk after he assured others that he was fine following his fall.

Since he was facing the wall while sleeping, nobody knew about his real condition until a staff member of the WFP went looking for Daraliay that morning for breakfast and saw that the kid was frothing in the mouth.

“We are shocked at the untimely death of one of the members of the wushu family,” said Camacho.

Both the PSC and the WFP will extend assistance on the medical and funeral expenses incurred by the family following Darialay’s death.

Rastafari Daraliay

There were efforts to revive Darialay at a nearby clinic.

Later on, Darialay was rushed to the Manila Sanitarium, where he passed away at around 9 a.m.

The incident, according to Ramirez, has compelled the agency to fast track efforts to renovate the quarters of national athletes, bring in additional dorm personnel, security Turn to A7 staff and nurses on duty.

SEASON 3 of the Spikers Turf holds court in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao.

Tournament director and former national team player Mozzy Ravena will be on hand to discuss the upcoming edition of the country’s premier men’s volleyball league.

Ravena will be accompanied

by Miguel Vea, head channel management and programming of Cignal TV, in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The public sports program starts at 11:00 a.m.

St. Dominic Savio crowned champ of PVF-Tanduay U-18 volley meet

Members of the St. Dominic Savio College in Caloocan City display their medals.

Pirates eye twice-to-beat bonus WITH a Final Four slot already in the bag, Lyceum of the Philippines University sets its sights on closing in on a twice-to-beat incentive as it tackles Mapua today in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Pirates along with the San Beda Lions, who are at joint first on identical 13-1 (win-loss) records, were given a free pass straight to the Final Four after the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals pulled the rug from under the St. Benilde Blazers, 69-67, Friday.

They can now look forward to snaring that precious semifinal incentive.

In fact, a victory in their 4 p.m. encounter with the Cardinals, who are already out of it all with a 4-10 mark, would book the Pirates at least a playoff for that edge given to the top two teams

Spikers Turf at PSA Forum

after the eliminations.

“The goal remains the same, which is to win a championship. But we know it will take a step-by-step approach for us starting with this (Mapua) game,” said LPU coach Topex Robinson.

LPU has vented its ire on AU, 11379, Tuesday, or a game after it was denied a potential elims sweep following a heartbreaking 81-83 defeat to Perpetual Help.

In that one-sided win over AU, LPU has rearranged a lot of season statistical records like most points scored (113), most three-pointers made (14), most assists (27), most fast break points (34) and most bench points (81).

AU (4-9), meanwhile, seek resuscitate some life to its dying Final Four hope as it clashes with an already-ran EAC (3-11) at 2 p.m.

THE undermanned yet seasoned volleyball team of St. Dominic Savio College in Caloocan City defeated Muntinlupa Volleyball Club to claim the 2nd PVF-Tanduay Athletics Under 18 Girls’ Championship over the weekend at the Tanduay Athletics Center (formerly Cantada Sports Center) in Taguig City.

A total of 12 teams participated in the Under 18 event, including Infanta National High School in Infanta, Harell Integrated School and St. Thomas More Academy of Bacoor, GMA, Sapang Palay Volleyball Club, Parañaque Volleyball Club, Balanga Volleyball Club, Stalwarts Volleyball Club and Hope Integrated School.

It was a fun day filled with exciting action gen-

Games Tuesday (Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan) 10 a.m.- AU vs EAC (jrs) 12 nn.- MU vs LPU (jrs) 2 p.m.- AU vs EAC (srs) 4 p.m.- MU vs LPU (srs)

erously supported by young tycoon Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. The participants and officials enjoyed complimentary meals and drinks in the event organized by the Cantada family, led by Philippine Volleyball Federation president Edgardo ‘Tito Boy’ Cantada and supported by Tanduay Athletics. There were no entry fees.

Posadas, 33 others advance in BWC national finals NATIONAL bowler Lara Posadas collected 1946 pinfalls in 10 games to lead 33 other lady pintopplers into the second round of the 2018 Bowling World Cup national finals last Monday at Coronado Lanes (Starlanes).

The 28-year-old Posadas rolled five 200 games—245, 233, 214, 213 an 205 —to fnish 32 pins ahead of multi-titled Liza del Rosario, who carded 1914.

Posadas represented the Philippines in the BWC international finals in Shanghai in 2016 while Del Rosario is gunning for a seventh international appearance. The national men’s and women’s champions will earn the right to carry the Philippine colors in the 54th BWC international event set on Nov. 4-11, this year at Sam’s Town Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Another national bowler, Alexis Sy, also remained in the race for the Las Vegas trip by checking in third with 1858.

The other ladies who qualified for the second round follow: Abbie Gan (1848), Pure Anselmo (1844), Dyan Coronacion (1839), Farah Onasa (1826), Mades Arles (1749), Rochelle Munsayac (1736), Alyssa dela Rosa (1706), Jo Anne Bonifacio (1678), Mae Malvar (1661), Liza Pabico (1640), Sherry Anne Cruz (1639), Gina Varilla (1624), Cielet de Leon (1624), Arlena Bucao (1594), Rowena Cabas (1589), Erlinda Afos (1579), Abby Lanuza (1539), Nancy Frianeza (1524), Yolly Floralde (1521), Winnie Kilito (1492), Alice Cabazor (1491), Jane Bonifacio (1451), Cita Yumul (1450), Jill Odulio

(1443), Soledad Lorna Magabo (1415), Joanna Santos (1386), Vanessa Pabalan (1383), Myls Creencia (1381), Cindy Edquilane (1365), Esterlita Santiago (1360) and Luzen Escoto (1340).

With their games carried over, the remaining 34 male contenders will play 12 games today while the 34 ladies will roll another 10 games tomorrow—both at Superbowl—to determine the top 8 who will compete on Friday at Paeng’s Eastwood Bowl for the national title and the right to play in Las Vegas.

Nicco Olaivar paces the 34-man field, followed by RJ Bautista and Merwin Tan. Last year’s BWC women’s international champion, Krizziah Tabora of the Philippines, failed to compete this time because she’s on medical leave.

IN BRIEF Bechtel of US eyes LNG terminal project BECHTEL Corp., the largest construction company in the United States, is interested in becoming the joint venture partner of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. in a liquefied natural gas terminal project.

US Embassy officials and Bechtel executives led by managing director Uday Mathur, recently called on PNOC president Reuben Lista to express interest in the LNG Hub project through a solicited tender perocess.

“Bechtel intends to (participate in the solicited bid process). The board is currently discussing the pre-qualification criteria for the selection of the private sector participants for the LNG project.

Terms of reference is being finalized by the technical working group and Asian Development Bank,” Lista said.

Bechtel has delivered over 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. It is involved in nuclear, security and environmental, oil, gas and chemicals, and mining and metals markets.

Bechtel has joined the growing list of local and international companies keen on joining the country’s emerging LNG industry. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Megawide OKs P2-b share buyback plan MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said its board approved a P2-billion share buyback program to be implemented over period of two years, Megawide said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board also approved the declaration of cash dividends equivalent to 20 percent of 2017’s net income, amounting to P247 million or P0.12 per share.

Megawide said the twin moves were part of the company’s capital management strategy and shareholder value enhancement program, especially at a time when the local bourse is negatively affected by geopolitical and macroeconomic issues here and abroad.

“Amid the volatility in the stock market, the company’s management and board believe it is an opportune time to repurchase its own shares, which have been grossly undervalued following the overall market weakness,” Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said.

The cash dividend is payable to shareholders on November 12, 2018 on record as of October 15, 2018. Jenniffer B. Austria

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

B1

By Julito G. Rada

SECURITY BANK DONATION. Security Bank Foundation Inc. donates funds for two ambulance units to the Philippine Red Cross during a ceremony at the Security Bank Center in Makati City. Shown are (from left) SBFI Corporate Secretary Melissa Aquino, Security Bank executive vice president Takahiro Onishi, Security Bank president and chief executive and SBFI trustee Alfonso Salcedo Jr., SBFI chairman Rafael Simpao, PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon, PRC secretary general Oscar Palabyab and PRC assistant secretary general Ramon Murillo.

Govt orders PT&T to settle unpaid fees worth P500m T

By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE National Telecommunications Commission ordered Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. to pay nearly half a billion pesos of unpaid regulatory fees as of last year.

NTC, in a resolution dated Sept. 28, denied the request of PT&T to reverse its resolutions dated October 2011 and March 2017. The agency also ordered the company to settle supervision and regulation enforcement fees amounting to P329.67 million from 2002 to 2015 and P114.11 million from 2016 to 2017.

“For respondent’s failure to con-

test the computation within the time allowed, the commission deems the basis and resulting computation of the respondent’s SRF from 2002 as final and binding,” it said.

“As the finality of the March 31, 2017 decision likewise fixed the basis for computing SRF on the respondent’s paid capital of P10.76 billion,” it said.

PT&T said it would contest the NTC decision. The company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its board of directors approved the filing of an appropriate action or petition before the Court of Appeals to question the NTC ruling, requiring the company to pay an “erroneous” amount of SRF. “While PT&T is required to pay an annual SRF, the amount PT&T is being required to pay under the 28 September 2018 decision of the NTC is erroneous for the same was computed by the NTC based on the wrong paid-

up capital of PT&T,” it said.

Telecom and broadcast companies pay an SRF of P0.50 for every P100 of paid capital.

Based on the terms of reference issued by NTC, interested participants should have no uncontested outstanding liabilities such as SRF and SUF, other penalties, surcharges and interests to the agency as of Oct. 1, 2018.

PT&T, a potential third player in the local telecom industry, holds a 25-year franchise which allows the company to establish, maintain and operate both wired and wireless telecommunications systems for domestic and international communication in the Philippines.

Its existing, scalable network and infrastructure, spanning over 10,000 kilometers of pure fiber optic cables allow it to easily meet the network demands of customers in the Greater Manila area, northern and southern Luzon and Cebu.

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, October 1, 2018

NEDA still bullish on ‘18 economic growth outlook THE government remains optimistic about the country’s growth prospects despite the downward adjustments in growth forecasts by the Asian Development Bank and Fitch Solutions Inc. National Economic and Development Authority director-general and Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said Monday the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals would be the key for the sustained expansion in the coming months.

“We understand the concerns of ADB and Fitch, but we remain confident about the strength and stability of the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals,” Pernia said.

ADB cut its 2018 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.4 percent from 6.8 percent. The Manila-based lender also revised its 2019 outlook to 6.7 percent.

ADB’s revision came after Fitch Solutions, a member of the Fitch Group, last month recast its growth outlook for the country down to 6.3 percent from 6.5 percent.

“Our economy has been strong, growing by an average of 6.4 percent in the last eight years. This is the fastest since the mid-1970s,” Pernia said.

He attributed growth in the past years since 2010 to robust domestic demand, rising contribution of investments and the industry sector and high growth in total factor productivity.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that in the first half of 2018, the economy grew 6.3 percent, below the target range of 7 percent to 8 percent, weighed down by higher inflation rate, trade imbalance, sluggish agricultural output and the closure of Boracay and mining companies. Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BDO selling 15% of rural bank unit to Singapore firm

Ayala unit appointed official Maxus dealer CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said its unit has been appointed by SAIC MAXUS Automotive Co. Ltd. (Maxus) as official distributor of Maxus vehicles in the Philippines.

Maxus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai-based automotive giant SAIC Motor, with an emerging portfolio focused on light commercial vehicles.

Ayala said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the appointment of AC Industrials Technology Holdings Inc. as distributor of Maxus vehicles in the country would expand and strengthen its automotive portfolio offerings.

“The addition of Maxus will strengthen and diversify AC Industrials’ portfolio of product offerings in alignment with evolving Philippine market preferences,” Ayala Corp said.

“As incomes and productivity have grown, Filipino automotive buyers have increasingly gravitated toward the light commercial vehicle segment, which offers greater utility, flexibility to accommodate a wide range of business and lifestyle needs, and improved comfort and drivability,” it added. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

READY FOR BIGGER SHIPS. Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez inaugurates the new Pier 6 facility of Puerto Cortes operated by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Manila-based International Container Terminal Services Inc. The $145-million greenfield development is expected to further strengthen the country’s position as Central America’s premiere logistics hub. ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. (left) shares a light moment with President Hernandez and First Lady Ana Garcia Hernandez during a walk-through of the new Pier 6 at Puertos Cortes.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

54.1020

Japan

Yen

0.008792

0.4757

UK

Pound

1.304400

70.5706

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127769

6.9126

Switzerland

Franc

1.020096

55.1892

Canada

Dollar

0.778271

42.1060

Singapore

Dollar

0.731475

39.5743

Australia

Dollar

0.722400

39.0833

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

143.5257

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

14.4268

Brunei

Dollar

0.728810

39.4301

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030931

1.6734

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.7305

Euro

Euro

1.162000

62.8665

Korea

Won

0.000902

0.0488

China

Yuan

0.145159

7.8534

India

Rupee

0.013793

0.7462

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241721

13.0776

New Zealand

Dollar

0.660900

35.7560

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032844

1.7769

Strong competition keeps local flour prices affordable—Pafmil

By Othel V. Campos THE increasing capacity of flour millers and the entry of two more players will keep flour prices in the country competitive, according to the Philippine Association of Flour Millers Inc. Data from Pafmil showed that despite the high prices of global wheat, Philippine flour prices declined to P670 per 25-kilogram bag this year from a range of P870 to P900 a bag four years ago.

“The industry continues to expand, putting a check on the competitiveness of prices which is good for the baking industry,” Pafmil executive director Ricardo Pinca said at the sidelines of the 9th Annual Southeast Asia Region Conference and Expo staged by the International Association of Operating

Millers Monday.

Pinca said while retail prices of flour remained competitive, other inputs to baking rose because of inflation and the devaluation of the peso against the USdollar. Most inputs are imported.

The association said with the entry two more players, the industry’s capacity would expand to 7 million metric tons from the current 5.06 million MT. It will also add to the existing 21 players, bringing the total to 23 operating flour millers.

It said competition led to customization of flour requirements as prescribed by customers and bakeries. Research and development created different types of flour for different products, such as special flour and whole wheat flour.

The industry said the current capac-

ity utilization is only about 51.3 percent. Pinca said the industry might be anticipating an increase in the consumption of flour-based products in the near term due amid the growing health awareness and the increasing spending capacity of Filipino families.

The Philippines, a predominantly rice-consuming economy, has an estimated annual per capita consumption of 114 kilograms of rice and 20.6 kilograms of bread.

Pinca said there was still a huge potential to increase bread consumption, as spending capacity of families increased.

Flour demand in the country reached 86.26 million bags in 2017, with 92 percent of them supplied by local millers.

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender in terms of assets, said Monday it is selling a 15-percent stake in rural bank unit One Network Bank Inc. to Singapore-based Osmanthus Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd. BDO said in a statement it signed an agreement with Osmanthus, in which the Henry Sy-controlled bank would retain 85-percent ownership of ONB. “This transaction formalizes the working relationship between ONB and Osmanthus, with the latter helping ONB since last year in developing the framework for its MSME lending business, leading to the establishment of the initial pilot test sites before the end of 2017,” BDO said.

It said the partnership with Osmanthus would further strengthen ONB’s strategic foothold in the microfinance business and contribute to the government’s efforts in improving financial inclusion.

Osmanthus is a unit of Singaporebased private equity firm Archipelago Capital Partners Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based fund that invests in small to mid-market companies in Southeast Asia. Archipelago is managed by former McKinsey and banking professionals, led by chief executive Jovasky Pang, who has an extensive experience in microfinance in Asia.

Pang was previously involved in growing BOC Fullerton Community Bank into the biggest village bank group in China and also headed the SME and commercial business of Bank Danamon Indonesia.

BDO will retain a majority 85-percent ownership, providing continued financial and operational synergies to ONB. BDO’s partnership with Osmanthus in ONB is expected to accelerate ONB’s ongoing thrust into the micro-SME market and further extend coverage of the unbanked and underserved markets.

Dutch aircraft recovery company eyes PH presence AIRCRAFT recovery and rescue industry leader RESQTEC is seeking to establish its footprint in the Philippines by offering a wide array of solutions to lift and move a new generation of bigger and heavier aircraft.

The Netherlands-based RESQTEC wants to the Department of Transportation to consider investing in modern and state-of-the-art aircraft recovery kits that can work on every type of aircraft quickly and easily.

It said the recent runway excursion incident with Xiamen Air at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Philippines Airlines flight’s blown out tire episode in Sibulan Airport in Dumaguete City―which both took place in August―underscored the need for the government to review its protocols and update its aircraft recovery system to ensure speedy recovery of aircraft and mitigate costs as a result of the flight delays.

The Aug. 17 Xiamen Air incident alone prompted airport authorities to cancel hundreds of domestic and international flights and divert flights to other provinces. It was estimated that some 150,000 air travelers had been affected by the closure of the Naia runway, and initial tally of losses and damages was placed at P33 million.

“The new generation of aircraft are heavier and bigger and could seriously pose a big challenge to recovery efforts.

You cannot use the old and conventional aircraft recovery equipment if you’re dealing with larger aircraft with new wing design,” RESQTEC said.

“What RESQTEC is offering is not just equipment, but a comprehensive solution backed by technical experts to ensure quick aircraft recovery and manage risks,” it said.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market slips; URC, Meralco down T HE stock market fell Monday, with investors digesting the monetary policy response of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 54.74 points, or 0.8 percent, 7,222.08 on a value turnover of just P4.2 billion. Losers beat gainers, 101 to 75, with 53 issues unchanged.

The Bangko Sentral on Thursday raised the policy rate by another 50 basis points to 4.5 percent in a bid to temper the accelerating inflation that is still seen to peak in the third quarter.

The central bank said Friday the inflation rate in September likely rose to as high as 7.1 percent, driven mainly by higher prices of rice, fuel and some

agricultural products as well as the weakening peso.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, declined 3.5 percent to P139.50, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. lost 2.6 percent to P880.

Security Bank Corp., the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, fell 2.6 percent to P150, while Manila Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, dropped 2.4 percent to P331.80.

Japanese shares, meanwhile, powered to a new 27-year high on Monday after the US and Canada clinched a long-awaited trade deal, but other Asian equity markets struggled in subdued holiday trading.

Tokyo’s leading Nikkei index closed at 24,245.76, finally crossing the record level it had flirted with on Friday, as traders shrugged off disappointing business confidence data and a week-

end typhoon that shredded the country.

Also driven by a weaker yen against the dollar, this represented a gain of 0.52 percent and was the top performer in Asia, where markets in Hong Kong and China were closed.

Analysts warned, however, that traders could be looking to take some cash off the table following healthy gains in recent days.

“While the market maintained its strong momentum, it would be no surprise to see investors cash in on the recent gains at any time,” Hikaru Sato, senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities, told AFP. Elsewhere in the region, South Korea’s Kospi index was off 0.1 percent and Australian equities were lower by 0.6 percent in thin trade due to a public holiday.

Traders appeared broadly encouraged by news that the US and Canada

had reached an agreement on a new free trade pact that will include Mexico, with the Canadian dollar jumping on news of the deal.

“Reaching a 27-year high is symbolic but still a stop on the road to further gains,” Toshikazu Horiuchi, a broker at IwaiCosmo Securities, told AFP. “The news about Nafta gave an extra boost to the market.”

In other markets, oil continued to climb amid fears that US-Iran tensions and instability in the Middle East could push prices towards the $100-per-barrel mark.

Both Brent Crude and the WTI index moved higher by around a quarter of one percentage point.

Foreign exchange markets were relatively calm, with a climb in the dollar’s value against the yen providing a boost to Japanese exporters. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 39,000 83.5 2,529,350 2.56 5,000 120 1,226,060 1.58 7,000 29 34,200 6.9 1,500 16.16 10,000 12.56 238,400 4.2 340,000 8.59 2,000 0.64 1,000 1.74 48,000 0.53 232,000 67.4 1,628,340 0.93 116,000 43.4 68,200 188.3 910 120 90 86.9 10 25.4 23,400 150 846,200 66.6 35,260

2,287,500 210,925,928.50 12,800 146,680,076 11,060 995,375 10,350 161,614 3,004,814 1,406,370 17,185 640 82,910 122,960 109,564,606.50 106,990 2,944,750 171,474 10,850 869 598,110 127,746,025 2,351,901

1,341,139 -137,343,561.50 22,632,826 -270,590 -1,533,852 -17,185 -4,610,372.50 -8,370 -1,744,575 -313,200 -76,245,630 -219,964.50

33.45 17.9 1.02 1.27 0.217 2.4 12.9 194 32.5 18 38 67 1.7 7.45 9.75 15.38 8.45 7 7.06 16 63.6 28.7 6.84 12.3 1.83 252 23.75 11.56 15.24 329.4 5.23 1.78 4.07 8.4 4.9 8.9 1 10.28 52.9 5 2.38 1.54 11.9 97.05 5.69 0.124 0.97 139.5 2.04 2.03

INDUSTRIAL 33.6 2,708,300 18.18 1,239,900 1.03 3,169,000 1.27 89,000 0.224 690,000 2.7 9,132,000 12.9 1,020,700 194 60 33.9 492,000 18 100 38 3,628,000 67 220 1.7 24,000 7.45 1,000 9.79 1,154,000 15.38 252,600 8.5 33,800 7.04 126,500 7.06 4,793,600 16 2,264,900 63.6 41,660 29 3,300 6.84 1,100 12.5 1,239,400 1.84 278,000 252 394,210 25.2 1,169,100 11.66 114,700 15.94 6,422,500 331.8 273,720 5.51 9,400 1.81 33,000 4.12 66,000 8.4 3,383,000 4.9 60,000 9 48,300 1 310,000 10.98 57,800 53.15 690,050 5 105,000 2.47 2,665,000 1.55 21,000 12 90,900 99 759,950 5.69 6,200 0.124 10,000 0.97 169,000 139.5 1,533,140 2.05 807,000 2.15 13,846,000

90,858,505 22,440,996 3,260,220 114,120 150,210 22,877,910 13,428,758 11,640 16,649,355 1,800 138,840,950 14,760 40,840 7,457 11,300,573 3,891,094 287,059 889,137 33,869,148 36,439,140 2,652,343.50 95,900 7,539 15,489,666 513,290 100,350,836 28,877,910 1,336,912 101,876,194 90,899,252 52,083 60,260 270,700 28,867,749 294,760 442,858 310,040 607,098 36,763,618 527,430 6,554,490 32,810 1,091,012 75,482,431 35,295 1,240 168,240 214,560,443 1,650,520 29,420,600

-46,816,640 8,686,696 71,820 3,205,490 -9,534,430 -2,862,970 -243,250 -25,500 -3,232,936 -1,766,796 -170,000 9,196 -23,848,125 -31,763,514 -774,340.50 12,671,468 -36,800 -26,434,486 1,875,505 -1,116,994 -53,082,872 -45,890,790 -14,380 -24,989,521.00 -18,878,316.50 -330,000 -73,700 166,788 6,528,509.50 -26,642,927 2,402,440.00

0.415 46.7 12.22 0.89 6.11 26 1.28 1.31 906 5.76 11.22 7.21 798 52.05 5.06 0.55 4.35 14.4 0.58 4.65 0.038 1.17 2.44 168.9 880 0.81 1.38 340 280 0.26 0.218

0.43 48.25 12.46 0.94 6.13 26.75 1.29 1.31 910 5.83 11.8 7.21 798 53.65 5.06 0.57 4.39 15 0.58 4.73 0.038 1.17 2.46 171 880 0.81 1.42 340 280 0.27 0.218

18,770,000 2,171,700 1,692,400 17,000 25,900 82,400 12,133,000 5,755,000 180,820 1,939,600 3,144,000 200 47,720 833,070 9,000 504,000 695,000 2,705,800 722,000 15,196,000 2,700,000 208,000 204,000 599,080 292,940 100,000 148,000 50 2,180 2,120,000 30,000

7,997,950 103,634,265 20,895,754 15,320 158,489 2,189,700 15,806,140 7,554,650 165,151,680 11,296,626 36,422,336 1,442 38,864,005 44,149,095 45,540 277,290 3,050,540 40,342,434 421,020 71,381,940 104,300 246,010 500,390 102,545,205 258,096,645 81,000 209,310 17,180 610,400 563,000 6,540

-13,037,195 -4,849,970 158,489 284,275 4,426,600 -30,399,500 -92,579 -8,916,354 5,380,695 2,523,985.50 -1,720,640 6,964,702 -15,371,290 3,900 483,859 4,120,380 -8,100 -

7.1 0.86 11.98 2.07 0.64 39.4 2.41 4.32 0.44 0.96 0.93 0.221 8.25 19 0.55 0.117 1.42 1.11 2.25 4.25 0.61 0.435 0.415

PROPERTY 7.29 0.87 11.98 2.08 0.64 40.6 2.41 4.42 0.445 0.98 0.93 0.233 8.3 19.16 0.55 0.117 1.45 1.11 2.43 4.38 0.62 0.455 0.42

518,600 589,000 3,400 58,000 622,000 3,343,900 962,000 117,000 2,050,000 111,000 12,000 2,710,000 68,500 270,300 41,000 20,000 3,596,000 920,000 21,581,000 5,272,000 19,636,000 4,230,000 120,000

3,758,759 511,630 40,732 120,360 398,990 134,078,870 2,334,840 515,470 902,150 107,890 11,160 626,660 566,526 5,171,228 22,550 2,340 5,150,280 1,025,100 51,163,570 22,867,540 12,186,010 1,872,300 50,650

32,235 1,740 -20,562,485 -694,990 -8,800 -9,700 -9,960 -2,978,280 420,210 -1,668,290 -8,947,130 -7,370 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 83.75 2.56 118.9 1.58 29.7 6.9 16.18 12.64 4.29 8.6 0.64 1.63 0.54 66.75 0.93 43 190 125 86.9 25.7 156.2 67

59 84.3 2.56 120.3 1.58 29.7 6.9 16.18 12.66 4.3 8.6 0.64 1.75 0.54 67.5 0.93 43.85 190 125 86.9 25.7 156.2 67

58 81.9 2.56 117.5 1.58 28.9 6.9 16.16 12.56 4.05 8.59 0.64 1.63 0.52 66.1 0.92 42.95 188.3 120 86.9 25.4 150 66.6

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

33.45 18.2 1.03 1.3 0.225 2.42 14.1 194 33.45 18 38.5 67.4 1.71 7.46 9.84 15.48 8.55 7 7.08 16.76 63.6 29.5 6.92 12.3 1.87 257.2 24.45 11.66 15.5 337.6 5.93 1.82 4.12 8.7 5 9.49 1.01 10.6 54 5 2.65 1.54 12 97.05 5.73 0.124 0.99 144.5 2.05 2.03

33.95 18.2 1.05 1.3 0.225 2.7 14.2 194 33.9 18 38.5 67.4 1.71 7.46 9.89 15.48 8.55 7.05 7.08 16.76 64.05 29.5 6.92 12.54 1.87 261 25.2 11.8 16 338.6 5.93 1.84 4.12 8.7 5 9.49 1.01 10.98 54 5.4 2.65 1.58 12.2 100.5 5.73 0.124 1 145.2 2.07 2.18

HOLDING FIRMS 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 GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.425 48.1 12.4 0.94 6.11 27.2 1.32 1.31 929 5.78 11.3 7.21 820 53.7 5.06 0.58 4.43 14.4 0.58 4.75 0.039 1.19 2.44 168.9 900 0.81 1.38 346 280 0.27 0.218

0.435 49 12.48 0.94 6.13 27.3 1.33 1.33 931 5.87 11.8 7.21 830 53.7 5.06 0.58 4.55 15.14 0.6 4.76 0.039 1.19 2.46 172.5 903 0.81 1.42 346 280 0.28 0.218

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS 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

7.3 0.88 11.98 2.07 0.64 39.95 2.52 4.4 0.44 0.96 0.93 0.235 8.34 19.38 0.55 0.117 1.43 1.12 2.3 4.4 0.62 0.45 0.415

7.3 0.88 11.98 2.08 0.66 40.6 2.52 4.42 0.445 0.98 0.93 0.239 8.34 19.96 0.55 0.117 1.45 1.15 2.47 4.4 0.63 0.455 0.435

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

3.99 20 1.92 3.19 36 1.18 6.6 0.75 6.07

4.04 20.3 1.95 3.2 36.1 1.18 6.6 0.75 6.18

3.86 19.6 1.91 3.15 35.5 1.13 6.45 0.75 6.01

3.9 20.25 1.95 3.2 35.65 1.17 6.6 0.75 6.05

502,000 1,551,600 84,000 35,000 8,529,600 2,595,000 139,400 122,000 2,753,300

1,972,020 31,124,170 162,010 111,020 303,639,215 3,036,050 909,504 91,500 16,637,867

-71,820 -14,459,051 40,500 18,960 -178,595,495 -11,005,435

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

11.2 21.3 1.43 0.475 0.042 13.5 1.99 8.7 0.062 71 8.1 5.5 8.99 23 2,200 5.37 313.8 11.32 2.72 92.8 7.75 0.117 2.78 3.35 3.61 0.92 16 5.78 7.01 2.45 1.5 1.4 16.38 7.34 10.8 8.26 3.44 101.5 4.32 1,344 0.86 0.385 45.7 80.95 7.73 2.22 0.88 0.56 5.2 0.67 10.4

11.2 22 1.43 0.475 0.044 13.5 2.06 8.7 0.063 71.75 8.1 5.53 8.99 23.5 2,208 5.37 313.8 11.32 2.82 94.15 7.75 0.117 2.78 3.5 3.67 0.95 16.16 5.84 7.03 2.45 1.55 1.73 16.38 7.49 11 8.26 3.44 101.5 4.32 1,412 0.87 0.39 45.7 80.95 8 2.29 0.91 0.58 5.2 0.69 11.3

11 21.3 1.43 0.47 0.04 13.5 1.94 8.31 0.061 66.1 8.1 5.47 8.7 21.5 2,106 5.33 289 11.32 2.69 91.3 7.75 0.115 2.42 3.3 3.61 0.91 15.9 5.6 7.01 2.34 1.43 1.4 16.36 7.2 10.8 8.26 3.05 99 4.25 1,336 0.85 0.375 44.5 79.65 7.71 2.21 0.86 0.56 5.11 0.67 10.3

SERVICES 11.2 21.5 1.43 0.475 0.042 13.5 1.95 8.35 0.063 66.1 8.1 5.5 8.7 22.5 2,208 5.37 312 11.32 2.75 92 7.75 0.115 2.47 3.43 3.65 0.95 16.08 5.84 7.01 2.36 1.53 1.7 16.36 7.24 11 8.26 3.36 99 4.28 1,412 0.85 0.375 44.5 80 7.71 2.21 0.89 0.56 5.19 0.68 11.3

11,100 18,300 10,000 1,830,000 6,200,000 136,900 6,361,000 5,663,500 11,730,000 325,140 500 299,600 1,400 31,200 56,690 98,900 5,280 100 1,071,000 803,210 3,000 700,000 16,560,000 48,000 453,000 15,000 486,900 140,100 1,617,700 1,445,000 75,000 14,000 1,500 892,100 17,000 100 7,000 5,670 107,000 85,870 4,050,000 400,000 315,400 993,230 19,800 5,846,000 4,058,000 13,950,000 904,800 665,000 2,284,600

123,140 399,020 14,300 862,200 259,700 1,848,150 12,639,700 47,676,882 734,560 22,186,586.50 4,050 1,647,765 12,209 707,830 124,786,050 529,199 1,600,080 1,132 2,955,810 75,131,246 23,250 80,900 42,936,140 160,420 1,649,670 13,790 7,800,128 815,343 11,346,686 3,507,670 112,980 21,350 24,550 6,485,162 186,700 826 22,470 567,243 459,080 118,419,845 3,471,570 151,500 14,137,510 79,456,680.50 154,106 13,112,030 3,569,060 7,922,230 4,658,979 450,550 24,651,950

-21,600 160,140 -14,387,089 -21,004,762 315,940 61,498,160 -890,502 -11,070 -2,148,544 34,500 -267,290 -130,920 1,056,856 -3,449,219 2,197,910 28,930 -60,022 11,390,885 -224,140 -1,469,225 800,209.50 -32,422 566,160 14,080 -293,260.00 230,712 -87,700 18,825,716

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

0.0024 1.48 3.01 1.15 1.92 0.295 7.16 1.83 0.208 0.111 0.12 0.007 1.3 4.38 1.16 0.65 1.17 0.013 0.011 3.5 3.31 15.76 26.7 0.0068

0.0025 1.48 3.01 1.15 1.93 0.295 7.21 1.86 0.208 0.111 0.12 0.007 1.3 4.42 1.16 0.68 1.17 0.014 0.012 3.5 3.34 15.9 27.4 0.0068

0.0024 1.46 3.01 1.08 1.92 0.295 7.16 1.83 0.206 0.108 0.111 0.0068 1.3 4.31 1.15 0.64 1.12 0.012 0.011 3.4 3.31 15.5 26 0.0065

MINING & OIL 0.0024 235,000,000 1.47 503,000 3.01 65,000 1.08 7,000 1.93 184,000 0.295 160,000 7.16 2,500 1.85 366,000 0.206 90,000 0.108 900,000 0.111 310,000 0.0068 32,000,000 1.3 1,000 4.32 630,000 1.15 2,000 0.68 1,614,000 1.12 291,000 0.013 95,000,000 0.011 2,300,000 3.5 41,000 3.31 365,000 15.8 739,400 26 692,400 0.0067 10,000,000

569,900 738,660 195,650 7,730 353,580 47,200 17,905 676,220 18,680 98,660 34,500 218,800 1,300 2,723,780 2,310 1,078,570 331,010 1,235,100 25,400 141,540 1,211,130 11,628,634 18,136,360 66,700

-9,030 -32,710 -273,220 -1,794,240 -67,180 -7,000 -72,820 1,674,548 -7,276,240 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

19.8 485.4 99.5 5.16 95.2 1.04 1,047 103.2 981 76.45 78.05 75 74.05 75

20 485.4 99.5 5.16 96.9 1.04 1,047 103.2 999.5 76.45 78.05 75 75 75

18.8 485 99.5 5.15 95.2 1.04 1,045 103.2 981 76.45 78 75 74 75

PREFERRED 18.8 16,700 485 550 99.5 1,550 5.16 74,000 95.4 9,030 1.04 1,000 1,045 25 103.2 90 999.5 2,050 76.45 100 78 2,690 75 1,130 75 1,500 75 6,700

324,460 266,754 154,225 381,835 863,942 1,040 26,135 9,288 2,044,200 7,645 209,868.50 84,750 112,009 502,500

-324,460 -368,940 103,680 -

LR WARRANT

2.47

2.47

2.37

WARRANTS 2.37 85,000

202,690

-59,550

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.24 2.18

5.29 2.24

5 2.18

5.28 2.22

5,459,985 488,400

-71,040

FIRST METRO ETF

110

110

108

1,281,196

8,666

NAME

MS TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES 8,360,387

INDUSTRIAL

65,777,150

HOLDING FIRMS

73,181,913

PROPERTY

83,199,425

SERVICES

91,013,274

MINING & OIL

382,693,256

GRAND TOTAL

705,520,687

SME

1,062,200 221,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108 11,820

VALUE 1,620.68 (UP) 0.12 699,107,400.81 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,475.3 (DOWN) 172.23 1,195,477,095.46 HOLDING FIRMS 7,060.57 (DOWN) 99.36 1,049,617,224.60 PROPERTY 3,616.56 (DOWN) 4.28 SERVICES 1,502.22 (UP) 7.25 602,232,086.75 MINING & OIL 8,854.12 (DOWN) 117.88 641,482,178.10 PSEI 7,222.08 (DOWN) 54.74 39,586,531.58 All Shares Index 4,442.09 (DOWN) 22.83 4,234,733,248.24 Gainers: 75; Losers: 101; Unchanged: 53; Total: 229

URC assumes full control of joint venture with ConAgra

By Jenniffer B. Austria UNIVERSAL Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, is taking full control of the Hunt-Universal Robina Corp. joint venture.

URC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed an agreement involving the acquisition of the entire 50-percent stake of ConAgra Foods, one of North America’s leading packaged food companies, in HURC for P3.18 million.

“The acquisition of the HURC shares of ConAgra will result in URC having full control of HURC and will allow URC to integrate and simplify its business operations as part of its Philippine business portfolio,” URC said.

URC will also continue to manufacture and sell Swiss Miss Products under a trademark license agreement with ConAgra Formed in September 1983, HURC manufactures and packs food and food products at every class and description such as vegetables, fish, dairy products, fruits and other agricultural products.

HURC in 2018 sold its Philippine license for Hunt’s, the country’s leading pork and beans brand, to Century Pacific Foods Inc. at an undisclosed amount.

URC said the sale of the Philippine license for Hunt’s was in line with the company’s thrust to focus on core businesses, which are snack foods and beverages.

URC, the food manufacturing unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc., said last month it would take over Calbee-URC, a joint venture with Japan-based snack confectionary manufacturer Calbee Inc. URC signed a an agreement to acquire Calbee’s 50-percent stake in Calbee-URC for P170.60 million.

Calbee is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of snack confectionary, bakery food and cereal food.

It manufactures and sells potato series snacks, such as potato chips, wheat series snacks and corn series snacks, bakery food such as confectionary bread and prepared food bread, as well as cereal food.

Yuchengco, Ayala education merger pushed THE planned merger of the education businesses of Ayala and Yuchengco groups has been firmed up following the approvals of their respective companies.

Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its executive committee approved the merger of unit AC Education Inc. with iPeople Inc., the education subsidiary of Yuchengco-led House of Investments Inc. Listed iPeople will be the surviving entity under the terms and conditions of the merger.

The merger, which will be completed as a statutory merger under Philippine laws, will be subject to the approval of the respective boards and stockholders of AC Education and iPeople, other regulatory clearances.

House of Investments in a separate disclosure to the stock exchange said its board approved the execution of an agreement in connection with the planned merger of iPeople and AC Education.

Bith companies in January entered into a non-binding term sheet over the potential merger of AC Education and iPeople, which have a combined population of over 40,000 students.

Ayala Corp. and House of Investments agreed to an exclusivity period to complete due diligence and finalize the terms and conditions of the proposed merger of their education businesses. iPeople controls Malayan Education System Inc., which is operating under Mapua University, a leading private engineering and technical university in the country. Mapua has two subsidiaries, Malayan Colleges Laguna and Malayan Colleges Mindanao. iPeople’s other unit is Pan Pacific Computer Center Inc., which serves the information technology-related requirements of the Yuchengco Group and selected clients.

AC Education owns University of Nueva Caceres, one of the oldest and largest universities in the Bicol region, and APEC Schools, the largest standalone chain of private high schools in the country, and National Teachers College. Jenniffer B. Austria

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Koreas close land mines at tense border SEOUL―The two Koreas on Monday started to remove land mines along a section of their heavily fortified border as part of a summit deal to ease military tensions, Seoul said.

The agreement between the nations― which are technically still at war―was reached at a meeting in Pyongyang last month between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un. The summit was the third this year between the leaders, following a rapid thaw in relations.

Both sides undertook to carry out land mine removal work at the Joint Security Area over a 20-day period, according to the South Korean defense ministry.

A spokesman said the operation had begun on both sides, though this was not confirmed by the North.

The JSA, also known as the truce village of Panmunjom, is the only spot along the tense, 250-kilometer frontier where troops from the two countries stand face to face.

It is often used as a venue for talks between the two Koreas. AFP

Mexican officials hail new NAFTA MEXICO CITY―Mexican officials hailed a new North American trade accord Sunday as the US and Canada announced they had reached an agreement to keep a three-country deal and rename the 24-year-old NAFTA. Canada had risked being frozen out of a US-Mexican deal to update the North American Free Trade Agreement reached in August, but 11th-hour talks between Ottawa and Washington finally yielded an agreement to keep all three members in the new version of the trade pact.

“It’s a good night for Mexico, and for North America,” tweeted Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray.

Other top Mexican officials also welcomed the deal.

“We celebrate the trilateral agreement,” Jesus Seade, who represented Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the talks, wrote on Twitter.

“The door has been closed on the region’s trade fragmentation,” he said, adding the deal “will give certainty and stability to Mexico’s trade with its North American partners.” AFP

B3

Macedonia vote on new name to end Greek row is welcomed

S

KOPJE, Macedonia― Macedonians went to the polls Sunday to vote on whether to rename their country North Macedonia in a bid to settle a long-running row with Greece and unlock its path to NATO and EU membership.

Macedonia has struggled for recognition of its name since its birth in 1991 when the landlocked country declared independence from Yugoslavia.

Athens protested immediately, accusing Skopje of stealing the name of its own northern province also called Macedonia.

The dispute stretches back nearly three decades, with both countries claiming links to Alexander the Great’s ancient empire of Macedon, which spanned the territories.

A grandiose “antiquization” project under Macedonia’s former government that plastered Skopje with neo-classical facades and statues of Alexander the Great added fuel to the fire.

But in June Macedonia’s new premier Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras reached a

landmark compromise under which Greece would drop its objections to Macedonia joining the EU and NATO in return for the name change.

Polls opened at 7am (0500 GMT) and are to close at 7pm in the referendum on whether to accept or reject the deal.

Only a trickle of voters showed up at a polling station set up in the high school Josip Broz Tito in downtown Skopje in the first hour of polling.

“I hope that the result will be positive. This referendum will change something if it opens the door for Europe and NATO,” 74-year old retired nurse Olivera Argirovska told AFP after casting her ballot.

“It will change things for the youth”.

Some feel it is embarrassing to have to change the name at the request of another country.

But a desire to anchor their future to the West―and the economic prosperity that it could bring―is a powerful motivation to accept the deal in one of Europe’s poorest nations.

“We cannot really say it is fair, but the EU and NATO matter more for all of us, so let’s move forward,” 28-year-old Abedin Memeti said ahead of the vote.

The referendum is not binding, but a ‘yes’ majority would give parliament a political mandate to change

TOKYO―Two people have been killed in a powerful typhoon that battered Japan over the weekend, officials said Monday, as the storm’s aftermath brought travel chaos to Tokyo’s morning commute.

By Monday morning, Typhoon Trami had cleared Japan, but its powerful winds and heavy rainfall caused damage that blocked roads and train lines.

Local officials and police said two people had been killed in the storm. One was engulfed by a landslide in western Japan’s Tottori and the another drowned in high waters in Yamanashi, west of Tokyo.

Both men were believed to have died on Sunday, when the storm made landfall in western Japan.

Two more people were reported missing, and more than 120 people were injured in the powerful storm, public broadcaster NHK said.

Trami made landfall in western Japan Sunday night, bringing fierce winds and torrential rain to areas already battered by a string of recent extreme weather episodes. AFP

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1755 with 77 shares of Universal Motors Corp. in the name of Regina T. Mariano was declared lost in an Affidavit of Loss executed by Regina T. Mariano Tanada and recorded with notarial register of Atty Romualdo delos Santos of San Juan City on September 27, 2018 as Doc No. 349; Page No 71; Book 633; Series of 2018.

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1757 with 77 shares of Universal Motors Corp. in the name of Alexandra T. Medina was declared lost in an Affidavit of Loss executed by Alexandra T. Medina and recorded with notarial register of Atty Romualdo delos Santos of San Juan City on September 27, 2018 as Doc No. 351; Page No 72; Book 633; Series of 2018.

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1754 with 77 shares of Universal Motors Corp. in the name of Rebecca Tanada was declared lost in an Affidavit of Loss executed by Rebecca Tanada and recorded with notarial register of Atty Romualdo delos Santos of San Juan City on September 27, 2018 as Doc No. 351; Page No 72; Book 633; Series of 2018.

Notice is hereby given that the following share certificates numbers 21801;23040; 24868 with total of 27 shares of Manuel L. Quezon University and stock certificate number 1753 with 388 shares of Universal Motors Corporation issued to Anna Tanada were declared lost in Affidavit of Loss executed by Regina T. Mariano and recorded with notarial register of Atty. Paula Mae Tanquieng of Pasig on January 5, 2012 as Doc No. 95; Page No 20; Book 1; Series of 2012.

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE InvItatIon to BId no. Goods-052-2018 052

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Education Fund intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening Name of Project 1.

WORLD SALSA FESTIVAL. Italian salsa

million euros) in Hong Kong.

The sum is nearly three times the previous record, also held for a Zao, set only nine months ago for another of his masterpieces, “29.01.64”.

Painters like Zhang Xiaogang, Zeng Franzhi and Chen Yifei―one of whose hyper realistic depictions of melancholic women in traditional dress sold for $22.7 million in December―are leading a new wave of Chinese art superstars.

“In China one million contemporary artists are living from their work,” said Artprice founder Thierry Ehrmann.

“They are coming to dominate the market

=P=19,379,750.00

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

because of their number, the quality of their work and their sharp critical sense,” he added, with sales from China and Taiwan nearing half a billion dollars.

Ehrmann had earlier predicted that the art market was entering a “new era of prosperity” thanks to the thirst for modern and contemporary work.

The $110.5 million paid for a painting by the black American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in May was no flash in the pan, he told AFP. Basquiat, who began as a graffiti artist and died at 27 from a heroin overdose, is now the sixth most expensive artist ever. AFP

Murders of trailblazing Iraqi women spark conspiracy fears sparked as much debate as her racy photos.

Fares had built an Instagram following of 2.7 million people thanks to edgy fashion shoots, assertive missives and eye-catching, colorful hairstyles.

She also posted publicly about a violent ex-husband and a fiance who died after being attacked in Istanbul.

But while Fares’ fearless embrace of social media inspired many young Iraqis, it upset traditionalists.

Fares was the target of a del-

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

Purchase of Instructional Materials for distribution to Elementary Schools in the Division of Bataan

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement.

Delivery of goods is required within 30 Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

dancers Simone Sanfilippo and Serena Maso participate in the couples cabaret elite category during the XIII World Salsa Festival in Cali on September 30, 2018. AFP

New wave of Chinese artists driving art market PARIS―The contemporary art market is booming with Chinese artists helping to push prices up by nearly a fifth in the past year, the world’s biggest art index said Monday.

Rocketing prices for living artists have for the first time become the motor of the market, Artprice told AFP. Nowhere is the trend more marked than in the Chinese-speaking world, with works sold in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan accounting for more than a quarter of the global total.

The record price for an Asian artist was smashed Sunday when the late Zao Wou-Ki’s huge abstract triptych “Juin-Octobre 1985” went under the hammer for $65 million (56

the constitution.

If the deal is backed in the referendum and is ratified by two-thirds of MPs, the Greek parliament will be called on to give the final stamp of approval.

While the Macedonian government plans to call any significant majority in favor of the deal a success, the right-wing opposition may question the vote’s credibility if turnout is below 50 percent.

Some critics of the name deal have been calling for a boycott, including President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition.

Massive emigration in recent decades could also affect the numbers, with nearly a quarter of the 2.1 million population estimated to live abroad.

Less than 3,000 of those overseas have signed up to vote.

Europe and the US have campaigned hard for the deal, with many leaders passing through Skopje to urge Macedonians to accept the “historic” opportunity.

NATO has already issued an invite―on hold until the deal passes –while EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next year.

The West is keen to have another foothold in the Western Balkans, a region where Russia, which is opposed to NATO expansion, has historically had influence. AFP

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

2 dead after typhoon batters Japan

BAGHDAD―Over the last few weeks, four go-getting Iraqi women have separately met premature deaths―two falling victim to men firing automatic weapons into their vehicles.

The deaths have sparked fear among women who dare to break the mold and visibly achieve in the conservative country.

The latest to die was 22-yearold social media influencer and model Tara Fares.

Her bloody demise at the wheel of a white Porsche convertible in Baghdad on Thursday has

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Manila

uge of online insults over her perceived lack of modesty, in a society where many adhere to hard-line interpretations of Islam.

It was this darker side of online platforms that forced the outspoken Fares to quit living in her native Baghdad and spend much of her time in comparatively liberal, secular Iraqi Kurdistan.

Fares is not the only Iraqi fashion and beauty entrepreneur to have met her death in recent weeks.

In August, the managers of Baghdad’s two most high profile

aesthetic and plastic surgery centers died in mysterious circumstances.

The first was Rafif al-Yassiri, whose nickname was Barbie -- the same name as her business venture.

A week later Rasha al-Hassan, founder of the Viola Beauty Centre, was also found dead.

Both were found at their homes, and despite ongoing investigations, the causes of their deaths remain undetermined.

But the rumor mill has churned up plenty of theories: drugs, heart attacks and murder. AFP

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00

More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 9, 2018 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan.

Bids must be delivered on or before October 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 or Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 2. Eligibility Check 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents 4. Request for Clarification 5. Opening of Bids

Schedule October 2 - 8, 2018 Refer to date of Opening of Bids October 2 - 22, 2018 October 12, 2018 October 22, 2018

The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Ms. Aileen C. Sagun Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(MS-OCT. 2, 2018)

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LOCaL gOveRNmeNt uNitS

tuesday, october 2, 2018

EDUCATION FAIR. European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen speaks during the 2018 European Higher Education Fair at a mall in Mandaluyong City on Sept. 27. The EHEF is set on Oct. 20 and is organized by the Delegation of the European Union of the Philippines, together with EU Member States’s Embassies and Cultural Groups, and in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education. It will feature universities and higher education institutes from EU member states. Manny Palmero

‘Big agri data to shape ARMM’ In BrIef Jobs in QC await 280 tech-voc grads AT leAsT 280 student graduates in Quezon City have completed technical-vocational courses under the special training for employment program of the city government. saying those who have passed any technical-vocational courses have jobs waiting for them, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte led the recent graduation ceremony at the Robinsons Novaliches.

“I am proud of all of you because, with technical and vocational skills training, there are no limitations. Now you know that you can study as much as you can and generate as many skills as you want to, whether as a mechanic, massage therapist, make-up artist, or cook,” Belmonte said.

The vice mayor said the Technical education and skills Development Authority, through the city’s skills and livelihood training center, is offering various skills trainings to help reduce poverty.

In her speech, Belmonte called on graduates not to think that technicalvocational education is any less than a college education due to its versatility and relevance to the latest skills required by companies and customers. she also reiterated the city government’s end-to-end support for those seeking employment. Rio N. Araja

By Nash B. Maulana

C

OTABATO CITy—The incoming Bangsamoro government will abolish a present agriculture agency, but will inherit tons of research data that helped shape the improving economy of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the last few years, officials said.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv hataman said the region’s agriculture and fishery sector will be the “broadest base of economic and human development to host the transformation of Moro guerrillas in the period of normalization.”

The shift to Bangsamoro ARMM from the present regional government provides for a transition period, which also covers time for “normalization” in transforming and reintegrating former Moro combatants into the mainstream communities.

After the January 2019 plebiscite, ARMM will evolve into a Bangsamoro

Transition Authority, will skip the May 2019 national elections and will exist until the election of members of parliament in May 2022.

ARMM’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will soon be abolished, as prescribed under the Bangsamoro Organic law or Republic Act 11054.

As the prime agency for mostly Moro farmers and fishers in the region, it will be replaced by another office that will merge agriculture and fisheries with agrarian reform functions.

DAF-ARMM Regional secretary Alexander Alonto Jr. said the agency

PASSIONATELY PINK.

Designer Carissa Cruz Evangelista, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City general manager Gerhard Doll, Project Pink’s Melissa de Leon, and JJ Duque of South Arts Festival cut the ceremonial ribbon for ‘Passionately Pink’ on Sept.

27 in Muntinlupa City. The event is Crimson Hotel’s month-long campaign to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month for the benefit of STAGEZERO by Project Pink Support Group, a non-stock, non-profit organization that provides assistance and support to cancer patients and their families. Teddy Pelaez

NCRPO lauds Caloocan police The National Capital Region Police Office has awarded the Caloocan City government led by Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan for being among the local governments with huge contributions to the Metro Manila police force.

The Caloocan City Police station was also awarded for having the most number of arrested person in anti-illegal drug operations and most number of confiscated firearms.

The awards were given by National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde during the 117th Police service Anniversary Awarding at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

“The whole city police force is very thankful to Mayor Oca for his unwavering support,” said supt. Ferdinand Del Rosario, city police deputy for administration. Jun David

Segregate wastes, Navoteños urged MAyOR John Rey Tiangco has called on Navoteños to segregate their wastes at home and help protect the ocean.

During the Waste Assessment and Brand Audit of the Mother earth Foundation at Brgy. Tanza II, Tiangco reminded participants that fishing is Navoteños’ main source of living.

“Most of us depend on the sea for our livelihood. sadly, our oceans are now polluted with different sorts of trash, especially plastic, and this causes gradual death of marine life,” he said.

“Waste sorting at home goes a long way in our efforts to keep our city clean and prevent further pollution of our oceans,” Tiangco added. Jun David

has helped farmers adopt new technologies in a bid to increase agricultural productivity and income level for the region’s tillers during the last 28 years.

In a series of provincial assemblies that ended last weekend, officials said one challenge to the ARMM’s agriculture sector was coping with a 12.25-percent decrease in corn production, even as its level of rice production increased by 11.53 percent during the last three years from 2015 statistics. sittie Anida Tomawis limbona, administrative director of DAF-ARMM, said agriculture and fishery databank should cover the most updated agricultural statistics in aid of research and development (R and D) for the welfare of the incoming BARMM government.

Another agency will be created in which the agriculture agency will be merged into a regional Department of Agrarian Reform.

Makati opens 31 satellite tax payment centers

By Joel E. Zurbano The city government of Makati on Monday announced the opening of 31 satellite payment centers in various barangay halls in the city for real property owners with taxes due this fourth and last quarter of 2018.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the payment centers will open starting today (Tuesday) from 9 am to 4 pm on scheduled dates in various barangays for the convenience of real property owners.

“The taxpayers should take advantage of this opportunity to pay their taxes without going to City hall, and save on transportation costs and time,” she said.

The city chief executive said through the Realty Tax Division under the Finance Department, the city government ensures the efficiency of services at the satellite payment centers, where each transaction usually takes a maximum of five minutes.

Taxpayers only need to present their previous receipt and pay the taxes due to receive an electronic receipt from the authorized tellers, she said.

“We are bringing our services practically in your neighborhood as our way of showing our appreciation for your important contribution to the city’s continuing progress,” added Binay.

On Oct. 2, the payment centers will be opened in Barangays Bel-Air and Urdaneta, followed by Magallanes and san lorenzo on Oct. 3.

The schedule for the rest of the week is as follows: Oct. 4, Barangays Dasmariñas and Forbes Park; and Oct. 5, Barangays Bangkal, Pio del Pilar, san Isidro, Palanan, and san Antonio.

Manila beefs up HIV/AIDS drive with new center The Manila City government has opened the Klinika Rosario sundown Clinic as part of the city’s intensified campaign aimed to reduce the number of human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDs) cases not only in the city but in the country as well.

Mayor Joseph estrada said the new clinic will encourage people living with hIV/AIDs to continue their treatment.

The opening of the facility is the capital city’s response to the rapidly increasing number of hIV cases in the country, which is reported to have the fastest growing hIV incidence in the Asia Pacific region.

Klinika Rosario sundown Clinic is located in Rosario Reyes health Center, san Andres, Malate, under Manila health Department’s Manila social hygiene Clinic.

It will be open from 2 pm to 10 pm to cater to the “most at risk population” in Manila, particularly the entertainment establishment workers.

“We are encouraging the public to take advantage of our medical facilities, which offer free consultation, testing and treatment to contain and arrest the spread of this alarming health threat,” estrada said during the opening ceremony.

Carmen Copper bags DENR’s Gawad Tugas for responsible mining CARMeN Copper Corp. was recently awarded the 2018 Gawad Tugas for Responsible Mining in recognition of the company’s outstanding performance in the fields of safety, occupational health, environment and community development at the Cebu Grand Convention Center in Cebu City.

The Gawad Tugas is conferred by the Department of environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas to rec-

ognize its partners for their contribution towards effective environmental management and development. It started in 2015 and is now on its fourth year.

Carmen Copper also received the Gawad Tugas for Responsible Mining in 2015 and the same award for Forest Protection and Management in 2017.

“Carmen Copper has been a role model in responsible mining. They have shown that

mining can be done responsibly and dispel the notion that it is purely destructive,” said DeNR 7 Director Gilbert C. Gonzales.

DeNR also awarded other outstanding groups that greatly contributed to 1) Biodiversity Conservation and Management, 2) enforcement of environmental laws, 3) National Greening Program, 4) Protected Area Management, 5) Patent Issuance, 6) Clean Air and Water,

7) solid Waste Management, and 8) Adopt-an-estero Program.

Gonzales said that having these 14 awardees “worthy of emulation” proves that DeNR has been successful in promoting environmentalism in the region.

“The responses from the different sectors and their initiatives, whether big or small, prove that all environmental issues can be resolved,” he said.

Iglesia Filipina gets red-tagged

By Lance Baconguis CAGAyAN De ORO CITy—A bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente has cried foul after their chapel was vandalized by unknown suspects in an apparent case of “red-tagging.”

IFI Bishop Antonio Ablon said that Reverend Felix espra, Jr., IFI parish priest of Tigbao, Zamboanga del sur, reported malicious markings painted the fence of their chapel on sept. 30 that said: “IFI=NPA.” NPA commonly stands for the communist New People’s Army. The chapel is in Gitub, lakewood town.

“The markings on the wall of the chapel, which lies along the national

highway leading to Zamboanga City, is visible to all passersby,” Ablon said.

Ablon said that espra, Jr received a text message of sept. 28, 2018 informing him of the incident.

Ablon said that the incident was reported to barangay officials to the police.

The bishop said other markings can be found in three different locations in Zamboanga del sur.

“Three areas were vandalized. One is the IFI chapel in Gitub, lakewood, the other one is a slope protection concrete wall in Barangay lacupayan, Tigbao, Zamboanga del sur, and [the third] one along the boundary of Gatub and Kumalarang in Zamboanga del sur,” Ablon said.

MEDICAL MISSION. Bulig Bugto founding president lawyer Chris Bolastig (right) talks to a mother with child as he leads a two-day medical and dental mission to Daram, Samar.

There, 5,000 residents availed of various healthcare services through Bulig Bugto, a nonstock, non-profit organization in Samar that pushes for socioeconomic advancement of its people through cooperation. Lino Santos

Life

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

health and environment

@MstandardLIFe tuesday, october 2, 2018

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Pace yourself A triathlon coach’s data-backed methods

Certified Ironman coach Don Velasco uses scientific methods to help triathletes figure out their fastest but most sustainable intensity, which they need to finish a race. (Photo from flyingdonv.com)

T

RIAThLoN is challenging. Lasting hours at a time, the race demands so much from the human body across swim, bike, and run phases with little to no rest in between. The sport requires utmost dedication and preparation, and athletes who are serious about their performance are always on the hunt for the right tools and training methods.

This is where Coach Don Velasco’s scientific and data-backed methods come in. A certified Ironman coach and consistent top finisher in his age group, Coach Don promotes the use of lactate and metabolic performance testing.

“Lactate testing is an assessment to see how lactate or acidity builds up in your body. So as you go harder, your body generates more acidity, which in turn prevents you from going longer or going faster,” he explains.

The goal of these tests is to figure out an athlete’s ideal intensity—one that is the fastest

but also the most sustainable. It all comes down to one word: pace.

This is especially important for the cycling phase of the race.

Typically the race’s longest section, the biggest challenge in cycling, according to Velasco, is maintaining pace and effort while keeping oneself in a fairly uncomfortable yet aerodynamic position.

“You’re hunched over and tucked in. It’s almost like you’re lying down, not like how you regularly ride a bicycle where you’re up-

Coach Don uses his Samsung Gear Sport to improve his cycling performance.

The biggest challenge in cycling, according to Velasco, is maintaining pace and effort.

greens transportation

Green Falcon, the first electric motorcycle that uses bamboo as bodywork.

right. You’re riding your bike in an aggres aggressive manner, but also pacing yourself, so you don’t burn yourself out too early,” the sought-after trainer says.

In Velasco’s training lab, the coach is with his athletes on the bike at least three times a week to measure their heart rate and power and to ensure they are aware of their opti optimum pace.

The right tools play a big part in Don’s da data-driven methods.

“I ask my athletes to keep an eye on their efforts through heart rate,” he explains. “That ties in very nicely with Samsung Gear Sport.

Its built-in heart rate monitor is very useful be because it allows you to see whether a particular effort is too easy or unsustainable.”

Sticking to a pace may initially be difficult, but one just has to keep practicing in order to succeed on race day, according to him.

“From tests we generate guidelines. The guidelines are what they execute in training, and they become more familiar and more used to holding particular efforts for a longer period of time. So come race day, it’s a lot easier for them to execute the game plan perfectly.”

The Gear Sport also has a host of other features for veteran and newbie athletes alike: it helps wearers stay on top of their diet with its calorie counter and measure their heart rate to ensure they’re exerting just the right amount of effort. The Gear Sport can also be used when diving into the pool as it counts laps. It also offers timely suggestions about stretching—even when it’s not training day.

The Samsung Gear Sport is available in the Philippines at a suggested retail price of P14,990.

To know more, visit the Samsung Galaxy Studio located at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig or visit facebook.com/SamsungPH or samsung.com/ph.

WITh greater tensile strength than steel, bamboo is becoming a material of choice for many innovative and ecofriendly products. Its sustainability and versatility also make it an increasingly popular material for designers.

Proof of the versatility of bamboo is the Green Falcon, an electric motorcycle produced by Banatti. The marine-lacquered bamboo bodywork and the sleek, falcon beak-shaped front are a perfect showcase of bamboo’s natural characteristics and Filipino craftsmanship.

The Green Falcon made its debut at Bamboo Extreme, an exhibit organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, which shone the spotlight on many boundary-pushing products using bamboo. The exhibit was in line with the Design Center’s mandate to improve the range, quality, and competitiveness of Philippine products.

The Green Falcon is the brainchild of Chris Lacson, chief executive officer and design director of Banatti.

The company name was derived from the word “banat,” a favorite expression of Filipino drivers which means “speed up.”

Also part of the design and production team are body sculptor Eduardo

Cañete, prototype engineer Jess Alimbo, and Milo Naval and his team of bamboo craftsmen.

Lacson said the team had the environment and the country’s transport needs in mind in developing the firstof-its-kind electric motorcycle. The two-wheel vehicle, powered by electricity, is suited for the clogged streets of Metro Manila. Its top speed of 60 kilometers per hour is the speed limit in the metropolis.

Lacson and his team hope to take advantage of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ plan to plant bamboo on 15,000 hectares of land under the agency’s National Greening Program.

After the Green Falcon, the team said they want to create more products using bamboo, including a bamboo jeepney. They hope the bike will be the first of many innovative Filipino products that will have a positive impact on everyday life.

The Green Falcon was also featured in trend forecasting agency WGSN’s report, “Reengineering Nature.” It has gained traction in local and international media for the innovative use of bamboo.

Life

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LIGHTING company reveals that eye care is not a high priority for adults globally.

According to a research conducted by ResearchNow in July 2017, over half or 57 percent of individuals globally do not get their eyes checked regularly, while only two in five people or 42 percent currently opt for lighting that’s kinder on their eyes.

This comes at a time of record levels of myopia, with the World Health Organization predicting that one in two people will be short sighted by 2050, and ever-increasing strain on eyes with people spending more time indoors in front of computer screens and smart devices.

In a gathering entitled “Eye’d Make the Switch: light your eyes will thank you for,” Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), explained how quality LED is related to eye comfort. The research revealed that while the average person spends more than six hours a day looking at a screen, 42 percent are currently using lighting that is softer on the eyes.

And, only a third, or 32 percent, of people globally would consider how comfortable a light was on their eyes, when making their purchasing decision.

Research reveals people don’t take care of their eyes

The importance of light

When it comes to lighting and eye comfort, people aren’t acting on their convictions. While 74 percent of those surveyed agree that quality lighting positively impacts eye comfort, only 28 percent would choose a light bulb that is more comfortable for their eyes.

“Quality lighting is not only related to longevity, but is also incredibly important when it comes to ensuring our eyes feel comfortable,” explains Jagan Srinivasan, country leader of Philips Electronics & Lighting Inc., Philippines.

“Crucially, flicker*. This is fundamental to what our team of scientists do, innovating to develop quality and indus-

Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) has developed EyeComfort LED lights that are comfortable for the eyes after discovering through research that only two in five people currently opt for lighting that is softer and kinder on their eyes.

try-leading LEDs that consumers love, tive families and communities to funcwhich are easier on the eyes.” tion better and live better.

Misa-Fernandez said, “Eyesight is EyeComfort advocates one of the major concerns of moms like This year, Signify in the Philippines me when it comes to the wellbeing of brought together multimedia influencer my children. Our eyes’ health is critical Kelly Misa-Fernandez, vitreo-retina to all of our daily tasks, whether that’s surgeon Glenn Carandang, MD, MPH, getting dressed, eating, moving around, and interior designer Cyndi Beltran, to or studying. discuss the use of the right lighting and Pressures of modern life and advancproper eye care, allowing their respec- es in technology see children spending, on average, 12 hours a day either under poor quality lighting, in front of a screen, concentrating on school or doing homework, making quality lighting a priority for many parents.

“Eye care then, should rightly occupy a place on a parent’s list of concerns, as it’s incredibly important to both the child’s development and academic performance,” emphasized Misa-Fernandez.

Dr. Carandang, for his part, averred, “For all age groups, quality lighting is vital when reading or working to prevent eye strain. To decrease eye strain, one should take regular breaks using the ‘20-20-20’ rule: every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.”

Philips Electronics & Lighting Inc., Philippines country marketing manager Pam MallariWhen working in front of a screen Valenzuela and EyeComfort advocates Kelly Misa-Fernandez and Cyndi Beltran talk about which is much brighter than the surthe importance of lighting in their respective professions.

rounding light, our eyes have to work harder to see. One should adjust the room lighting and try increasing the contrast on screen to reduce eye strain, said Dr. Carandang.

“We can protect our eyesight by eating healthy, not smoking, using ocular protection to prevent injury, hand washing, working in good light, and having regular eye check-ups with your local eye doctor,” recommended Dr. Carandang.

On the other hand, for renowned interior designer Beltran, “Lighting design sets the tone of a particular space—be it residential, commercial, or hospitality interiors.”

“It is a powerful tool that adds dimension and visual texture to a space. It is an aspect that is often underestimated in planning, but its importance is as high as the materials used on the surfaces or furnishings in a room because without it, all these will appear dull and flat, taking away any drama intended for a particular space,” she said.

According to Beltran, there are three essential types of lighting for the home: general lighting, which illuminates majority of the areas in a home; task lighting, which is used for specific works that may or may not be close-range; and finally, accent lighting, which alters the mood of the space.

Comfortable lighting

Signify scientists have developed an industry-first Philips EyeComfort Standard, committing to delivering EyeComfort LEDs with no visible flicker. Besides flicker, the standard measures against key comfort criteria such as glare, stroboscopic effect, photobiological safety, dimming effects, tuning and color rendering—factors that can impact eye comfort.

Philips EyeComfort LEDs are checked to ensure they pass its prescribed standards while providing energy efficiency and an average lifespan of over a decade. All Philips EyeComfort LED lamps and luminaires will be marked with the EyeComfort trademark starting this year.

Included in the Philips EyeComfort LED lamps and luminaires are Philips MyCare LED Bulb, Philips SceneSwitch, Philips Deco Classic, Philips Meson, and Philips Moire.

6 simple ways to increase your savings DO yOu find yourself wishing you could stretch your money just a bit further and be able to add more to your savings?

Building your savings for your short or long-term goals can really be difficult at times especially when certain events beyond one’s control arise. Still, it can be done. Philippine Savings Bank suggests making an extra effort and a little bit of sacrifice each day for it to become possible.

PSBank, through its Good-to-Know campaign, shares some penny-pinching ideas that can help individuals save more, stretch budget, and manage expenses.

yourself to a fancy restaurant every oth- ate from availing of discounts, you may er day will not help. Several stores offer be able to put back some items you recoffee and restaurant quality food that moved from your list of must-haves. cost less. you can also save a few pesos by bringing your own lunch to work instead of going out to eat. All you need is to spare a few minutes of your time to prepare your meals at home. Not only will you be able to save money, you will learn something new too.

Sell unused items

you might have clothes that you never wear or things in the house that are in good condition but no longer use. Nowadays, there are apps that can help sell these items online and turn them into cold hard cash.

Curb your bills

Review your cable TV, internet, mobile phone, and other subscription plans. Curb or lower your bills by altering your subscription on these utilities accordingly. For instance, you may no longer need a cable TV subscription beAdjust your budget cause you are already subscribed to a Review your household budget and video-on-demand service. adjust your allocation for important items such as food and fuel. Reduce Use a debit or prepaid card to spending allotment on items that you pay for purchases can do without, such as branded apBe able to control your spending by parel. By reducing those extra expensusing your PSBank Debit or Prepaid es, you will be creating space in your MasterCard to pay for your purchases budget to boost your savings. instead of cash or credit card. Since PSBank Debit MasterCard is tied up to eiCommit ther Savings or Checking Account, you won’t ever run the risk of overspending to frugal as you can only use up to its purchase choices Identify and limit of P25,000 for point-of-sale transmake a clean actions and P30,000 for online or interbreak from bad Look for discounts net purchase transactions per day. On spending habits. use discount coupons, sales, rewards the other hand, you only get to spend Spending P200 or loyalty points to save money where the amount loaded in your PSBank Preon coffee every morning or treating you can. With the savings you gener- paid MasterCard account.

Life insurer Manulife encourages more Filipinos to look after themselves.

Campaign encourages Filipinos to invest in themselves LIFE insurance firm Manulife Philippines has recently launched a new campaign that urges Filipinos to invest in themselves more, so that they can become financially independent and live their best lives.

“Because we have such strong family ties, Filipinos tend to think of our loved ones before we think of ourselves,” said Melissa Henson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Manulife Philippines.

She continued, “Manulife’s new campaign encourages Filipinos to make plans that will allow you to take care of yourself in the future, so you can remain financially inde-

pendent and able to maintain your desired lifestyle.”

The campaign opens with a digital film about a loving mother, who, after focusing on her child for many years, reveals the plans she has made for herself. The film debuted on Manulife’s Facebook page on Sept. 25.

Manulife offers a range of protection, investment, health, education, and retirement solutions that can help Filipinos realize the lives they aspire to live.

“Our experienced and knowledgeable financial advisors are here to help consumers chart their plans, so they can more easily find the solution that best fits their needs and goals,” added Henson.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

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Julie Anne on idol’s rumored transfer to ABS-CBN

Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Inc., supported by SM Cares, joins the celebration and were given the opportunity to meet and greet Mickey Mouse

Smiling with Mickey

By Darwin Pesco

M

ickey Mouse has a birthday treat for everyone.

celebrating the 90 years of the Disney’s The True Original and 60 years of SM, a retail campaign was started to celebrate Mickey’s 90th anniversary in the Philippines with “Share-A-Smile.”

A fun event commenced the retail campaign with Mickey dancing and mingling with special guests at SM North eDSA Atrium, Sept. 26.

“Mickey has become a friend of every kid and everyone who is a kid at heart.

This year marks our milestone year as we are celebrating 90 years of fun, laughter, and smiles that Mickey Mouse has brought to fans all over the world,” said Veronica Cabanilan, country Head of the Walt Disney company Philippines.

The retail campaign showcases mickeyinspired merchandise at all SM stores,

which the fans of the character would love.

“We are happy to be collaborating with SM in a series of celebrations, activations, and retail promotions that will allow Mickey to celebrate his anniversary with all his Filipino fans.” cabanilan added.

Until Oct. 31, the 60 Tees for 60 years shirts are available with 60-exclusively designed Mickey-inspired shirts from SM youth, which tells the story of the iconic mouse.

Also, Disney and SM are releasing special-edition Mickey and Minnie plush toys, which marks the milestones of both companies available on all Toy kingdom stores nationwide. “coming together to share smiles among mall-goers, we are honored to partner with Disney as they celebrate a magical milestone of giving unparalleled joy to kids and kids-at-heart,” Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing, said.

Shoppers can also experience the festivities by visiting the “Share-A-Smile” caravan in the following SM malls: North eDSA, Megamall, Mall of Asia, Aura, Southmall, Fairview, Manila, San Lazaro, east Ortigas, and Marikina.

For exclusive updates about the caravan, visit www.smsupermalls.com and share the experience with Mickey’s special treat using the hashtag #MickeyTrueOriginal.

A miracle as musical MUSic in itself, defined as the “primitive language of the soul”, often works miracles among its hearers. if it so happens to revolve around the theme of a real miracle, then the effect would be doubly so.

Guadalupe: The Musical promises to be one such example. Based on the real story surrounding the miraculous tilma bearing the image of the mother of God found in Mexico, the Musical captures stories of faith, love, fear, doubt, war and peace in one opus.

“As a lifelong devotee of Our Lady of Guadalupe, i have long dreamed of creating a musical based on this wondrous story,” said the founder of the performing arts school and choreographer (along with Rose Borromeo) of the musical, Julie Borromeo, at the launch in Makati city. “it’s not a ‘religious’ musical as such,” theater legend Baby Barredo, Director of Guadalupe, said. “it’s a powerful piece of theater that just happens to contain religious elements. it’s an important distinction, and one that drove the creation of the show from the start.”

To make this almost 500-year old mir-

acle resound among today’s audiences, Borromeo and Barredo tapped the talents of renowned director, actor and writer Joel Trinidad and composer Ejay Yatco.

After more than three years of research, rejection and revision, the script for Guadalupe: The Musical was done. “By that time, my natural skepticism had long since begun to erode”, Trinidad says. “The version was the one i wanted to share with the world”.

For his part, composer ejay yatco quips “the creative task was to use factual, historical events as a backdrop for a true story that contains some fictional elements.

Some of the most popular musicals in the world combine fact and fiction this way”.

“We want [the audience] to be inspired, entertained, and uplifted,” Trinidad said. “if it happens to make them reassess their faith, then great. We want them to leave the theater feeling hopeful for the future, [and] that the world is not such a bad place. Maybe [there] can be paradise on earth. We just have to make it happen.”

The musical has an opening night on Sept. 28. it was sponsored by “The Friends

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, October 2, 2018

ACROSS 1 Trounces 6 Union flouter 10 Complain 14 Courtyards 15 Roman’s garment 16 Chocolate cookie 17 In-flight features 18 Irregularities 20 Decorating, as leather 22 Hackett or Holly 23 Clock part 24 Machine part 25 Rugged 28 1957 launch 32 Jot 33 Willowy 35 Take at gunpoint 37 — donna 39 Docs’ group 40 Apply liberally 42 Cul-de- — 43 Briny 46 “— Karenina” 47 Doors in a plane 49 Take into custody 51 Lillie or Arthur 52 Wearisome task 53 Cart 56 Spunkiest

61 Revision 63 Silly 64 Film 65 Chelsea chap 66 Watering place 67 Poet’s tributes 68 Garcia or Griffith 69 Zonked out DOWN 1 Evening gown fabric 2 Information of note 3 Find fault 4 Two pounds, plus 5 Talked back 6 Flight of steps 7 Neighbor of Mass.

8 All excited 9 Thud 10 Pillar 11 Dry 12 Bulrush 13 Bouquet 19 Subsides 21 Answers 24 Skip a class 25 Little swallows 26 Hebrew scroll 27 City in New York 28 Big rigs 29 Make preparations

30 Ms. Dunne of “I Remember Mama” 31 Zen riddles 34 Caesar’s farewell 36 Hard-to-handle kid 38 Go higher 41 Iffy 44 Triumphant cry 45 Sense organs 48 Steakhouse orders (hyph.)

50 Stock figures 52 Jingle

53 Texas town 54 Surrounded by 55 Basic physical unit of heredity 56 Nonflowering plant with fronds 57 Novelist — Bagnold 58 Pave the way 59 Fabric sample 60 Kind of pilot 62 Wall Street deg.

of Punlaan School” for the New Punlaan Project by the Foundation for Professional Training, inc. (FPTi). inspired by St. Josemaria escriva, founder of Opus Dei, the school was started informally by a group of volunteer housewives to help house helpers professionalize their work in the home and to learn the value and importance of the spirit of service. To date, Punlaan School continues its dedication to women empowerment and poverty alleviation. its dual training scholarship program in Hospitality and culinary Arts offered to young ladies with lesser resources, has been recognized here and abroad. With the combination of high level skills and excellent work attitudes, the Punlaan graduates are much sought after and they enjoy 100 percent employability.

The Gala premier at the Meralco Theater started with cocktails followed by the show proper at 8:00 p.m..For more details, please contact “Friends of Punlaan” at +63 917 3011384.

ASkeD about Regine Velasquez’s possible transfer to ABS-cBN, Julie Anne San Jose said she was not aware if there’s any truth to the rumor but she would still give her all-out support to the songbird whether or not she’s making that big decision.

“Honestly, i don’t know what to say. In the first place, I’m not certain if the rumors are true. Whether it’s true or not, it’s only Ate Reg who can answer that. i’m just here for her no matter what. Whatever decision she makes, i’ll just support her.” it’s no secret that she idolizes Asia’s Songbird.

“Since the start, i’ve always looked up to her. i admire her talent and humility. Despite her achievements, her feet remain planted on the ground.

She’s like a big sister to me. “if ever it’s true that she’s going to transfer, of course, i’ll be sad.

We won’t be able to sing together in production numbers anymore. in rare events perhaps. But as long as she’ll be happy, i will support her!”

With this development, many say that she’ll eventually take Regine’s place in GMA as one of its premiere singers. Any reaction?

“Honestly, i don’t think about it. it’s far from my mind. i’m not expecting.

All i want to do is share and express my singing talent in order to entertain the public,” avers Julie Ann. *** Katrina Halili reveals that in her next soap opera, she wishes to be the antagonist of Jennylyn Mercado who is her batch mate in the maiden season of StarStruck.

“That’s right!” she says. “it’s only Jen among the premiere kapuso leading ladies who hasn’t experienced my villainy on screen. Ha-ha-ha! i think it’s about time that we do a soap together. For sure, the public will like our fresh combination.”

Actually, it won’t be the first time if ever that they’ll be working together on a project.

“Remember the GMA soap Forever in My Heart in 2004 which was top-billed

by Richard (Gomez), Ariel (Rivera) and Regine (Velasquez)?

Jen and i were cast to be part of the show.

That was our first major program after StarStruck. i wasn’t a full-blown ‘contravida’ yet during those times. “if you’ll remember,

Katrina Halili content with her baddie roles

she and Mark (Herras) were already a love team then. in the story, i was the third party who wanted to ruin their relationship. After that, we haven’t worked together for a long period of time.”

Since that time, kat established herself as one of the kapuso’s leading screen villainesses.

She has played antagonist to a number of GMA female leads like Marian Rivera in MariMar, My Beloved and Darna, Angel Locsin in Majika, Iza Calzado in Beauty Queen, Heart Evangelista in Langit sa Piling Mo, Carla Abellana in Rosalinda, Rhian Ramos in The Rich Man’s Daughter, Kylie Padilla in Adarna, Yasmien Kurdi in Sa Piling ni Nanay, and Megan Young in The Stepdaughters. “even with Ken Chan, i was his ‘contravida’ in Destiny Rose. The same with Ms. Jaclyn Jose in D’ Originals and Tita Gloria Romero in Munting Heredera. So you see, it’s only Jennylyn, right? i really hope GMA would give us a project together soon. But it should be a good material since it will be a reunion project for us.”

On the lighter side, the seductive actress plans to take a short break once her currently airing afternoon soap “The Stepdaughters” wraps up. “yes! i want to take a vacation to recharge my batteries, so to speak before i start on a new project. i want to have quality bonding time with my daughter katie. Since i got busy taping for the soap, i’m always in a hurry and goes home late. This time though, i want to enjoy my time with my daughter,” ends katrina.

Julie Anne San Jose

Entertainment

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

C4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

A rendezvous with the biggest stars

Fans turned to Twitter to share the kilig they felt when they saw their favorite love teams enjoying the night with DonKiss, MayWard, KathNiel, JaDine and LizQuen (in that order) leading the number of tweets posted on the micro-blogging site.

Another Revilla in showbiz

VERY WANG

INTERNATIONAL

M

NICKIE WANG

ORE than 300 Kapamilya stars descended on the red carpet at the Makati Shangri-La Saturday night for the inaugural ABS-CBN Ball.

London's Royal Festival Hall and Philharmonia Orchestra is hoping virtual reality headsets will open new audiences to classical music.

VR unleashes full power of top UK orchestra LONDON’S Royal Festival Hall is putting visitors on center-stage with one of the world’s top orchestras, using cutting-edge technology amid claims it will transform the arts and entertainment industries.

Virtual-reality (VR) headsets and a cylindrical bank of speakers deliver the full force of the Philarmonia Orchestra’s performance of Mahler’s Third Symphony, Visitors can turn their head and focus on any musician, or toe-tapping members of the audience, from their vantage point in-front of Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen.

A performance of Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony” moves in between each section of the orchestra, giving close-up views of musicians as the conductor brings them in.

The orchestra hopes the project will help open new audiences to classical music.

“It allows you to step inside the orchestra,” said Luke Ritchie,, Head of Innovation at the Philharmonia. “People who are new to orchestras, it totally changes their preconceptions. They are insanely loud and the dynamics are incredible.”

Although only temporary, the project serves up a taste of how the “transformational” technology could be used in the not-too-distant future.

The set-up can be recreated off-site, meaning live performances could be potentially beamed into cinemas, while schoolchildren could wander through world-class orchestras and watch maestros at work.

“We could pack it into a van, take it to a school and build it in a couple of hours, then a class of 30 kids have a group experience.” explained Ritchie.

“It’s all about getting the orchestra out of the usual places.”

The immersive audio and visual technologies developed by the Philarmonia also have the potential to transform the creative process itself.

“It’s about being inside music, and having agency and being able to travel around -- a composition you can travel through, or that responds differently to how you are behaving,” said Ritchie.

“You already see it in the evolution of video games.”

The technology could eventually be combined with playing live instruments, promising wide-ranging consequences for education and the entertainment industry.

“Imagine, you could be part of the cellist section of the Philarmonia,” said Ritchie.

“Or I could rock out with Dave Grohl,, I could get John Paul Jones playing bass,” he added. AFP

Billed as the country’s highly anticipated celebrity fashion event, the gathering which succeeded that annual Star Magic Ball, was a celebration of giving back as the evening marked the launch of collaborative efforts to relaunch Bantay Bata 163’s Children’s Village.

To kick-off the night, Vice Ganda introduced the advocacy dedicated to the Children’s Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan, which aims to provide immediate care and holistic healing for abused, exploited, and neglected children and help them build a better future for themselves through physical and psychological means in a structured, therapeutic family-like environment.

The celebration of friendship and togetherness was also made more exciting by the giving out of glam awards, including the Oppo Couple of the Night, which went to Exes Baggage stars Carlo Aquino and Angelica Panganiban.

Jericho Rosales and Erich Gonzales, meanwhile, proved to be the fashion stand-outs as they took home the Metro Best Dressed Male and Metro Best Dressed Female awards, respectively.

The ball also saw Maymay Entrata winning the Belo Beautiful Star of the Night, while Chienna Filomeno was named The Bar Next Generation Star.

Daniel Padilla and Gary Valenciano kicked off the celebration by singing “Girl From Ipanema/LOVE,” while Iñigo Pascual and Billy Crawford hyped up the crowd with “Girls Like You.” KZ Tandingan, Janine Berdin, and Yeng Constantino delivered show-

The #ABSCBNBall2018 also gave out special awards to the celebrities who gave so much effort to look fierce in their dashing outfits. Best Dressed Awards went to Erich Gonzales and Jericho Rosales.

stopping renditions of Aretha Franklin’s hits, while Martin Nievera, Jona, and John Arcilla performed a powerful medley of “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “Not While I’m Around,” and “You Raise Me Up.” The ABS-CBN Ball was hosted

by Boy Abunda, and graced by the network’s glittering constellation of stars such as Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, Angel Locsin, Coco Martin, Anne Curtis, Sarah Geronimo, Kim Chiu, Erich Gozales, Bea Alonzo, Jodi Sta. Ma-

ria, Maja Salvador, and Piolo Pascual, as well as the country’s biggest love teams including Nadine Lustre and James Reid, Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber, Kisses Delavin and Donny Pangilinan, Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, and Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

Beauty queens Catriona Gray, Pia Wurtzbach, Kylie Verzosa, Nicole Cordoves, and Ariella Arida were also in attendance at the event.

Also present were ABS-CBN executives such as chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez, chairman Mark Lopez, president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio, COO for broadcast Cory Vidanes, Star Magic head Mariole Alberto and chairman emeritus Johnny Manahan, and Freddie Garcia.

Fans worldwide also shared the love and merriment as they tweeted non-stop about the event, pushing the official hashtag #ABSCBNBall2018 to the top of Twitter’s list

As the Kapamilya stars shared their proud and loud moments on Twitter, so did the rest of the fandom as they joined the conversation using the hashtags#ABSCBNBall2018 and #ABSCBNBallSharetheLove. Here are Xian Lim and Kim Chiu in their trending outfits during the ball.

AS A child and even when he was growing up, joining showbiz much less become an actor, was never an option for Luigi Revilla. Not even if he knew that his dad, former Senator Bong Revilla, and grandpa and Agimat king Ramon Revilla Sr., would back him up.

Both his dad and grandpa have a long list of action films that were all big hits at the box office.

“I had other priorities in my younger years,” Luigi, now 26 years old, recalled. “Foremost is to finish a college course. I was sent by my parents to very good and exclusive schools. I didn’t want to let that opportunity go.”

He finished both his elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Manila University. Prior to entering college, he had the privilege of attending classes at an international school. Luigi holds a degree in Entrepreneurship from the Enderrun College in Taguig City.

Initially, he was about to venture into a small business when his dad suggested that he joined his elder brothers, Cavite Vice-Governor Jolo Revilla and Bryan Revilla in Tres, which was to serve as the comeback vehicle of their family owned film outfit, Imus Productions.

Tres, which is an action-packed trilogy, has all three of them featured in one episode each. Each episode will be a complete movie in itself, as it will have its own title, leading lady, co-stars and director.

His episode is titled “Amats,” where he has Assunta de Rossi and Myrtle Sarroza for his leading ladies. The director is Dondon Santos.

Santos is also at the helm of “72 Hours,” which is top billed by Jolo and co-star Rhian Ramos.

Jolo’s mom, Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado plays a special role in “72 Hours,” which also include in the cast, Albert Martinez, Phillip Salvador and Tirso Cruz III. Meanwhile, Bryan’s “Virgo” has Richard Somes directing. The episode also stars Carla Humphries and Joey Marquez Tres unspools at theaters nationwide tomorrow, Oct. 3.

Showbiz scion and upcoming action star Luigi Revilla