Manila Standard - 2018 October 13 - Saturday

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DOMINGUEZ: WE GET PUNISHED FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING THE Philippines is “being punished” for managing its economy in the right way, given the effect of the tightening US monetary policy on the embattled emerging market, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said Thursday.

Speaking to CNBC at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bali, Dominguez said the US should consider that its actions “affect everybody.”

“It affects the entire world, capital flows back to the US, and we’re trying

our darndest here, [but we’re] being punished for something we’re doing right,” Dominguez said.

He was responding to the news that US President Donald Trump said the Fed had “gone crazy” in continuing to raise interest rates.

The Philippine central bank in September raised rates for the fourth time in five months, and has signaled that it’s prepared to tighten monetary policy further to support its currency, if needed.

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 240 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Rody won’t bare ‘narco’ bets Bakers’ Xmas treat: No price hikes for

‘pan de sal’

FILIPINOS won’t find relief from expensive rice and petroleum products anytime soon, but at least one basic commodity won’t contribute to the country’s crippling inflation.

A group of bakers, mostly Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal makers, announced Friday there will be no price increases for their baked goods this Christmas season.

In a meeting with the Trade department, members of the Philippine Baking Industry Group made known their commitment to maintain the current price of P35 per loaf of Pinoy Tasty and P21.50 per 10-piece pack of Pinoy Pandesal until the holidays are over.

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By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE leaders will study measures that call for the lifting of the excise tax on fuel, the chairman of the committee on ways and means said Friday.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing said her panel will still need to consult with its members in deciding on a resolution filed by opposition congressmen, among others, suspending the excise tax increases on fuel and oil products in a bid to address the soaring prices of basic goods.

“This has not been calendared yet and so the committee has yet to deliberate on the matter,” Suansing told the Manila Standard.

She said the committee will come up

‘Trapo,’‘bongga,‘ new Oxford words THE Oxford English Dictionary has added a new word to its extensive list: trapo.

“In Philippine English, a trapo is ‘a politician perceived as belonging to a conventional and corrupt ruling class’,” Oxford said in a statement.

It cited the word as an example of the multilingualism of the Philippines,

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with a collegial decision that is beneficial for the public, at a proper time.

Suansing made the statement in reponse to the clamor of administration senators for the suspension of a looming increase in the excise tax on fuel. The senators said this will ease the burden on consumers, who have been reeling from the continued increase in prices.

Suansing said her committee will deliberate on House Joint Resolution 27 when Congress resumes session next month.

Pending the collective decision of the House leadership on the matter, Suansing said the government has extended the much-needed assistance to the people to cushion the impact of skyrocketing Next page

‘Shrinking farms doom goals for rice sufficiency’

By Nat Mariano and Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday underscored the need to increase the country’s rice supply through unimpeded importation, maintaining that the Philippines will fail to achieve rice sufficiency due to narrowing farmlands.

“The stomach comes first. So, the policy of the government is to keep the people... away from hunger,” he told reporters in Davao City as he arrived from his trip to the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering in Bali, Indonesia.

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By Nat Mariano and Rio N. Araja

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday refused to release the names of suspected narco-politicians running in the 2019 midterm elections, even though the Department of the Interior and Local Government is doing so to the Commission on Elections.

He said it was not “a “good policy” for the government to disclose the names after the DILG recommended the disqualification of candidates in the drug list.

“It’s not a good policy to telegraph your intention or what you know about the other fellow [politicians], especially in matters of breaking penal laws,” Duterte said in a press conference in Davao City Friday morning.

DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said they would submit the list of politicians linked to drugs, corruption, and abuse of authority to the Comelec as the period of filing of the certificates of candidacies started on Wednesday.

“The pronouncement of Secretary Eduardo Año is that we are going to release [the names of] all of those narco-politicians and we are also going to forward to the Commission on Elections all of those lists, the narco-politicians and those with cases for their proper disposition,” Malaya said in a Palace press briefing Friday.

By Othel V. Campos

Solons look into fuel excise tax freeze

DILG to submit list to Comelec for disqualification

Duterte confirms Locsin to replace Cayetano at DFA

The DILG previously called for the disqualification of politicians in the said drug list who plan to run in the upcoming elections.

Senators Francis Pangilinan and Aquilino Pimentel III, on different sides of the political fence, both said disqualifying candidates based on the narco-list was illegal.

The Comelec has scheduled a hearing on the DILG petition.

Meanwhile, the poll watchdog group Legal Network for Truthful Elections said the DILG cannot recommend the disqualification of candidates.

The executive director of the group, Ona Caritos, told a TV interview that the law says persons can only be disqualified based on a final judgement or conviction.

The Palace had previously maintained, too, that a suspected narco-politician can only be disqualified if convicted with finality and that the accessory penalty for disqualification from public office has Next page been decreed by the court.

More election hopefuls file CoCs, Comelec sees many as ‘nuisance’

By Vito Barcelo, Macon RamosAraneta, and Nat Mariano SENATOR Nancy Binay led several incumbent lawmakers who filed their certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 elections on Friday, even as the Commission on Elections vowed to screen all possible nuisance candidates a week after the filing of CoCs ends on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Binay joined former police and prisons chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, lawyer Larry Gadon, and little-known bets Ricky Bacolod and Nid Anima as Senate hopefuls in the midterm elections.

One prominent rumored Senate candidate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, isn’t running—according to her father,

President Rodrigo Duterte, on Friday.

“She won’t run as a senator, she won’t as a president. Believe in me. She’s too wise for that,” he said in a press briefing in Davao City upon his arrival from Bali, Indonesia.

The President’s son, former Davao vice mayor Paolo Duterte, is instead running for congressman of Davao province’s first district. He filed his CoC together with Sara Duterte and brother-in-law Manases Carpio, the mayor’s husband.

Another prominent bidder for a House seat is Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, son of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is stepping down after three terms to take a break from politics “as agreed upon by their family and the party,” he said.

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By Nat Mariano, Macon RamosAraneta, Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he has chosen Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro “Boy” Locsin to replace Alan Peter Cayetano as Foreign Affairs secretary.

He made the announcement during a press conference in Davao City upon his arrival from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering in Bali, Indonesia.

“He might not want to announce [his name]. I do not have his permission,” the President said, hesitating to name Locsin.

He then instructed Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go to phone Locsin.

Duterte’s top aide then nodded, implying it is all right to reveal Locsin’s name.

Locsin took to Twitter to comment on Duterte’s statement.

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DELA ROSA

BINAY

ANIMA

GADON

BACOLOD

Carpio accepts nomination for CJ post, Del Castillo declines

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court’s most senior Associate Justice, Antonio Carpio, on Friday formally accepted his automatic nomination for the most coveted post in the judiciary, which was left vacant following the compulsory retirement of Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-Castro on Oct. 10.

The high court’s Public Information Office confirmed that Carpio accepted the nomination for the post of chief justice.

“Confirmation that Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio has accepted his automatic nomination for CJ from his Judicial Staff head Atty. Maria Teresa Sibulo,” the PIO said in a text message to reporters.

With Carpio’s joining the chief justice

race, it will now be a three-way fight among him and Associate Justices Diosdado M. Peralta and Lucas P. Bersamin who had also earlier accepted their automatic nominations.

But this scenario will change if Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe also submits her acceptance of her automatic Next page nomination.

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News

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

'Red October' is now 'White Christmas' DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, lightheartedly adverting to the forthcoming “White Christmas” in December, has said the reported “Red October” plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer push through.

Lorenzana said it was now time for “White Christmas,” a 1942 Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting, with the first version sung by Bing Crosby.

In July, the military said it uncovered the ouster plot dubbed “Red October” through documents recovered by troops and confirmed by testimonies of communist rebels who have since surrendered.

But the defense chief when the plot was discovered, the conspiracy was discontinued.

Lorenzana earlier said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army was planning to get support from various civic organizations to join their mass actions led by “progressive groups,” a euphemism for militants and anti-government alliances.

Rody...

From A1

The department said about 93 local officials, including 58 mayors, are reported to have been included in the government’s list of narco-politicians.

Malaya admitted the department was aware of the legal impediments should they go after these officials, and would let the Comelec handle such concerns.

Año said he feared the politicians in the narco-list might use drug money to win and buy votes, emphasizing they “will look at the severity of the officials’ involvement.”

During the barangay elections, the government declassified the names of barangay officials linked to the illegal drug trade. The President, however, has not given the DILG the leeway to do the same.

DILG Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco Densing III added that the DILG estimates that the country is losing P70 billion a year to corruption at the local level.

Also on Friday, DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said the department would file administrative charges against barangay officials who fail to create their own barangay anti-drug abuse councils and submit reports

by Oct. 30.

At the Usapang Politika, Agrikultura at Komunidad media forum in Quezon City, Diño said, “I can’t wait forever.”

Even the DILG’s regional offices have a lot of explaining to do over the barangay officials’ failure to activate or reactivate BADACS, he said.

The aid barangay executives must lead the fight against illegal drugs and ensure that measures are being undertaken to implement the war on drugs.

“There should be a BADAC desk in every barangay,” he said.

Solons look...

From A1 prices of basic commodities, including fuel. These include the fuel vouchers being distributed to jeepney operators and drivers to help them cope with the higher excise tax on fuel.

On Sept. 10, 16 opposition lawmakers filed the HJR 27, which calls for the immediate suspension of the excise tax increases and scheduled increases on fuel and oil products provided under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. earlier said the House leadership would ask the National Price Coordinating Council to submit a report on measures it has adopted to address the rising prices of goods.

In their joint resolution, the lawmakers said a suspension was needed in light of the 6.4 percent inflation in August and the rising price and short supply of rice.

Reps. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte and Federico Quimbo of Marikina City, have also filed bills seeking to freeze the excise tax on fuel. The bills have yet to be referred to the Suansing’s panel, however.

Barbers’ HB 8369 sought the repeal of the excise tax imposed on fuels under the TRAIN Law. Quimbo’s House Bill 8171 proposes to return to zero the excise taxes on kerosene and diesel imposed by TRAIN. Quimbo’s bill also provides for the automatic suspension of the implementation of fuel excise tax increases under TRAIN when inflation exceeds the government’s quarterly target.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos, meanwhile, said the government can make up for revenue loss from the value added tax suspension she has proposed.

“A combination of 10 percent improvement in income tax collection and other measures can generate P362 billion. That would replace the VAT that would be missed,” Marcos said.

She added that although the substitute combination she suggests will take some effort, she pointed out that “it can be done and done well.”

“I have confidence in the leadership and persuasive powers of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, NEDA Director General Ernesto Pernia, and other economic bloc members over the BIR and other revenue agencies. I am not asking for the impossible,” she said.

DoJ nixes recall of Trillanes arrest

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice on Friday objected to the appeal of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 to recall its order for his arrest, in connection with the DoJ’s move to revive the coup d’état and rebellion cases against him.

In an 11-page comment, the DoJ state prosecutors asked the Makati City RTC to dismiss the motion for reconsideration filed by Trillanes for lack of merit.

Trillanes’ lawyer did not oppose the DoJ’s filing of the comment, but manifested that it was filed out of time or 11 days after the appeal itself was filed on Oct. 1.

Nonetheless, the court gave Trillanes’ camp up to five days to file its reply to the comment,

while the prosecution was given five days, within which to file its rejoinder.

Judge Elmo Alameda, the presiding judge of Branch 150, earlier ordered the arrest of Trillanes, in connection with previously dismissed rebellion charges in late September, but allowed him to post bail.

This prompted Trillanes to file a motion for reconsideration seeking to vacate and set aside the order for his arrest for being “premature”

and for lacking factual and legal basis.

The senator also asked the court to set the DoJ’s motion seeking his arrest for hearing for the reception of testimonial evidence and to ultimately deny the government motion.

However, Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christina Dugay argued there was no need for a hearing on the reception of evidence.

In its 11-page comment, the DOJ stressed there was no basis for Trillanes to request to set the case for reception of evidence on the factual issues.

The DoJ insisted the Makati City court had already ruled in favor of Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 “after both parties were able to present their evidence.”

“Further, the issues/grounds raised by the accused in their motion for reconsideration were comprehensively and correctly ruled upon by

Widodo likens economic tensions to ‘Game of Thrones’ NUSA DUA, Indonesia—Indonesia’s president Friday turned to blockbuster television show “Game of Thrones” to sound the alarm over global trade tensions at an economic conference, warning that “winter is coming.”

Joko Widodo’s offbeat reference to the wildly popular show drew applause from the audience attending the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bali.

And he sparked raucous laughter with a further reference to the show’s “Mother of Dragons” character—in a nod to IMF chief Christine Lagarde, who smiled broadly at the comment.

The meetings open amid warnings of economic peril, fueled by growing protectionism and economic conflict.

But Widodo—who last month evoked the latest “Avengers” movie at a global economic forum— managed to elicit chuckles amid the gloom with his extended “Game of Thrones” reference.

“Several great houses, great families, battle each other fiercely to seize control over the ‘Iron Throne’,” he told delegates.

“The mother of dragons explains the cycle of life: The contest for power among the great houses, she says, is like a great big wheel that turns,” he said.

“When one great house is on the top, another great house is on the bottom.”

Widodo used the comparison to urge global leaders to avoid the conflict, rivalry and evershifting allegiances that drives the swords-andsorcery TV series.

“Games of Thrones” next year airs a highly anticipated final season, and Widodo ended on a positive note.

“I am certain that the series will end with a moral lesson, that confrontation and collision impose a tragic price not only on those who are defeated but also on those who are the winners,” he said.

Despite the serious subject matter, delegates seemed to appreciate the levity provided by Widodo’s speech.

Lagarde later took the lectern to thank him for “raising the bar for excellence and conviction in delivering a speech.”

A former furniture salesman, Widodo, 57, is the first Indonesian president not to come from an elite or military background and is beloved at home for his common-man touch.

Friday was not the first time that he added a touch of pop culture to aid digestion of weighty economic topics.

At the World Economic Forum in Hanoi last month, he compared trade disputes to “infinity wars”—a reference to the latest “Avengers” superhero instalment—vowing to fight protectionism.

“But rest assured I and my fellow avengers stand ready to prevent Thanos from wiping out half the world population,” he said, referring to the film’s villain. AFP

More election...

From A1

Comelec Commissioner Sheriff Abas said the body will also resolve disputes within political parties in the coming weeks, following the filing of folk singer Freddie Aguilar for senator under the breakaway faction of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

“The Comelec has yet to identify which wing of President Duterte’s PDP-Laban party should be deemed as the legitimate group,” Abas said.

Printing of election ballots for the May 2019 elections will start on January next year after the Comelec finalizes the list of qualified candidates, including substitutes, he added.

The filing of CoCs for the 2019 polls will not be extended beyond Oct. 17, Abbas said Friday.

The Comelec also warned it may declare reelectionist Senator JV Ejercito’s as a nuisance candidate should he plan to run using his father’s surname “Estrada.”

JV has been using Ejercito—instead of the name of his father, Manila Mayor and former president Joseph Estrada—since

entering in politics.

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who has his father’s blessing for a Senate bid unlike JV, will continue to use his surname.

The poll body will hold an executive session on Oct. 18 to discuss election rules, including who are legitimate political parties, nuisance candidates, qualified party-list nominees, among others.

Candidates who belong to groups deemed as “breakaway” would become independent candidates, said Comelec Law Department Director Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal.

“A political party is only entitled to nominate only the number of positions to be voted for,” Casingal said.

Only 12 candidates will be allowed to run under a political party, she added.

“If a political party fielded 12 and another 12 for the same party but with different wing, the second party with 12 candidates may be considered independent candidates,” Casingal said.

“We have to determine who are the real members,” she said.

Mikey filed his CoC as a candidate of Lakas-CMD. One legislator setting his sights on local politics is Senator Francis Escudero, who is running for governor of his home province of Sorsogon.

Former movie stars filing their election papers on Friday were Social Welfare Undersecretary Isko Moreno, who will run for mayor of Manila; and Rep. Vilma Santos, the former Batangas governor who is seeking a second term as Lipa City’s representative.

Meanwhile, on the second day of the filing of CoCs, the Comelec received more than 60 applications —more than half of them that could be considered as nuisance, including a janitor.

The poll body expects more than 200 senatorial bets to file their CoCs until the last day of filing on Tuesday. In the last local elections, the Comelec received a total of 310 CoCs for senator, but only 60 were qualified to run.

Duterte confirms...

From A1 “I was asked I said yes; but love UN, the many friends & intellectual companions I made. But I didn’t say no when asked as I didn’t [know] when he told me I was UN ambassador. If my Tito Chito Ayala trusted him implicitly; how can I not. Still, UN work is like sharpening a blade every day,” said Locsin.

“I will be Secretary of Foreign Affairs which includes the UN; I will have a direct hand until the architecture of sovereign independence in all matters of state that my team started to erect is remitted. The talent that doesn’t exist outside DFA will complete it,” he added.

Cayetano, who has said he will run for Congress with an eye toward becoming Speaker, said he could no longer carry out the functions of his office.

Cayetano, who assumed office in May 2017, said he was proud of his accomplishments as DFA chief.

In a statement, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Locsin was the “best appointment” in the Duterte administration.

“One of the best appointment ever. Excellent choice. The Philippines cannot be bullied with him as DFA chief,” Sotto said.

Senator JV Ejercito added that the DFA would benefit from Locsin’s long years in public service.

“As our country navigates a world facing trade wars, the resurgence of protectionism, violent extremism, transnational crimes and territorial disputes, I am confident that he can ably represent the interests of the Filipino people before the international community,” Ejercito said in a statement.

Carpio accepts...

From A1 Of the four, Justices Peralta and Bersamin have already been interviewed by the JBC during their automatic nomination for the vacancy caused by the granting of the quo warranto petition against Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Associate Justice Mariano C. del Castillo has declined his automatic nomination for the top judicial post. He is one of the five most senior associate justices in the 15-member bench.

In his letter dated Oct. 12, 2018 to the JBC, Del Castillo said he was compelled to decline his automatic nomination because his being the chairman of the 2018 Bar Examinations had constrained him from undertaking “notable projects” that a top magistrate would like to implement before his retirement next year.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Locsin was an excellent choice to replace Cayetano.

“Anyone with a Twitter account knows that Ambassador Locsin does not mince words,” he said.

“I am hoping that Ambassador Locsin will be able to cut through the diplomatic doubletalk in order to foster deeper, more meaningful ties with our allies and further advance Philippine interests across the globe,” he said.

Also on Friday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra welcomed the President’s appointment of former Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon as the new chief of the Bureau of Corrections.

Faeldon, who is currently the deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, will replace Ronald dela Rosa, who is running for senator in the 2019 elections.

Faeldon, a former military officer, resigned from the BOC last year following the controversy over the smuggling in of P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China.

Meanwhile, Duterte said he still needs to discuss matters with his spokesman, Harry Roque, on whether he should remain in the Cabinet or pursue his political ambitions with a run for the Senate.

In the meantime, he said, he ordered Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo to be his mouthpiece “temporarily.”

“I’ll just talk to him [Roque]. Better. [Ask him] what is it really, running or not running, running or not running,” Duterte told reporters in Davao.

“We still need to talk. Because if we talk now, tomorrow it might change. I’m afraid I might get it wrong... I’m scared to be embarrassed in front of the public,” said Duterte, adding the decision-making between him and Roque is a private thing.

“I am honored to be automatically nominated to the post of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court... My compulsory retirement next year, however, compels me to respectfully decline the nomination,” said Del Castillo who will reach his mandatory retirement age of 70 on July 29 next year.

“I foresee that, as chairperson of the 2018 Bar Examinations, my work will extend to the months just prior to my retirement. That will leave me not much time to embark on notable projects that a Chief Justice will normally want to have an imprint on,” Meanwhile, the Judicial and Bar Council extended to Oct. 26 the deadline for the application period for the top judicial post vice De Castro who retired on October 10.

The JBC had originally set on Oct. 15 the deadline for the application or nomination for the chief justice.

Earlier, the JBC announced the opening of

Bakers’ Xmas...

From A1

The group decided to maintain prices in response to the Trade department’s call for manufacturers to refrain from increasing the price of basic commodities this holiday season.

Despite the rising cost of ingredients, PhilBaking said it continues to absorb the additional cost brought about by the increasing prices of raw materials.

But come January, Pinoy breads will increase prices per loaf for Pinoy Tasty and per 10-piece pack for Pinoy Pandesal, said PhilBaking president Paolo Valderama.

“While other products have gone up, Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal will remain at P35 and P21.50, respectively, until end of December,” Valderama said.

“Based on the major costs, such as flour, sugar and yeast, there has been an average of 6 percent increase due to the impact of these factors,” he said.

Since breads are not high on sugar, the only ingredient that will cause the immediate increase in bread prices is flour, but the Trade department assured consumers that the price of Harinang Pinoy will remain stable until Christmas., Bakers are also expecting a P45 increase in flour prices, including Harinang Pinoy, once the price hold-off is lifted by December.

Since April 2016, Pinoy breads have not moved up.

Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal are products of a joint project between the Trade department and the bakers group as an integral component of the industry’s corporate social responsibility to provide accessible and affordable bakery products to consumers. another vacancy for the post of high court Associate Justice Noel Gimenez Tijam, who will compulsorily retire on Jan. 5, 2019.

The JBC will interview on Oct. 18 Sandiganbayan Justice Alex D.L. Quiroz and lawyer Rita Linda Jimeno, two of the candidates vying for the post of high court Associate Justice De Castro.

The interview will be conducted from 9 am to 12 noon at the Division Hearing Room, Supreme Court Main Building, along Padre Faura, Manila. There are 10 more applicants vying for the position of Associate Justice but whose previous interviews remain valid.

They are Court of Appeals Justices Oscar V. Badelles, Manuel M. Barrios, Apolinario D. Bruselas Jr., Rosmari D. Carandang, Stephen C. Cruz, Edgardo L. Delos Santos, Japar B. Dimaampao, Ramon D.R. Garcia, Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar L. Villanueva.

the Honorable Court,” the DoJ said.

It cited Alameda’s finding that Trillanes “failed to substantiate” his claim that he applied for amnesty due to his failure to present a copy of his application form.

“As correctly held by this Honorable Court, the best evidence to prove that accused Trillanes filed his application for amnesty is the duly fillup application form itself, its duplicate or photocopy,” the DoJ comment stated.

Without this document and given a “negative certification” from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, “there is no application to speak of, and its existence is suspect,” the DoJ pointed out.

It also cited portions of the transcript of a hearing at the Makati RTC Branch 148, which handled the coup d’état case against Trillanes, that was held last week.

‘Trapo,’...

From A1

because not only is it an abbreviation of “traditional politician” but is also an allusion to the Tagalog word that means rag, which in turn was borrowed from Spain.

And isn’t that just bongga?

“Another new item from Philippine English is the adjective bongga, borrowed from Tagalog, which means extravagant, flamboyant, impressive, stylish, or [more generally] excellent,” Oxford added.

Aside from that, at least nine new Filipino words have been added to the dictionary as of October this year. And not surprising to Filipinos, they’re all related to food.

These words are bagoong, bihon, calamansi, carinderia, ensaimada, palay, panciteria, sorbetes and turon.

The Oxford English Dictionary is one of the oldest repository of English words in the world, and is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its first edition this year.

It currently has more than 600,000 words, and is constantly being updated.

‘Shrinking farms...

From A1 “So, we have to import, whether we like it or not and we have to plan. But frankly, I do not think that we will be rice sufficient. I don’t know in the years to come. The problem is that the large tracts of land have been converted into cash crop[s for] export,” he said.

He said it is up for Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to come up with a formula to balance the need for rice importation with the interests of local rice producers.

“That’s the job of Piñol. And I hope he will do his homework well in the years to come. As I have said in the Cabinet meeting, I thought that problem would never confront me. So that early on I appointed people, precisely to meet the challenges of rice shortage,” said Duterte.

The President added he was the first one to order the importation of rice since the problem of shortage came up months ago.

“But would you believe it or not, it really happened, and I was the first one who ordered the importation. Some approved, some did not,” he said.

Duterte on Wednesday certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent to facilitate the passage of the proposed measure to help temper inflation, citing an “urgent need to improve the availability of rice in the country, prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.”

The Palace also said on Tuesday the President has lifted the restriction on rice imports to “flood the market” with rice. It will also eliminate the power of the National Food Authority to accredit importers and determine how much rice should be imported.

A pro-administration lawmaker, meanwhile, urged the Department of Agriculture to file charges of economic sabotage against the owners of a warehouse stockpiling and repacking rice in Iligan City.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said rice hoarders are liable under the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

Dominguez:...

From A1 Despite having already embarked on tightening, the Philippine peso has taken a battering from the recent emerging markets rout, which analysts have blamed partly on weak sentiment and a strong US dollar pushed by rising rates.

Still, Dominguez said that the Philippines was in a “pretty good” position to deal with the emerging markets rout. He pointed to its “solid” foreign exchange reserves, strong banking system and fiscal position.

The Philippines will not cut its infrastructure spending just to be cautious about its deficit spending, he said, but instead may look into dialing down on non-infrastructure expenditure.

“Infrastructure for us is a real critical investment that we have to make,” Dominguez said.

He said the Philippines only averaged 2.3 percent of GDP in infrastructure spending in the past 50 years.

“Our economy’s choking. We have a very bad traffic situation, our ports and airports need to be upgraded,” Dominguez said.

“Sometime in the future we will have to re-think that this is the last thing we are going to cut.”

News

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Economy, environment top priorities —Duterte

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Friday that the country’s growth, environment, and economy as national priorities after he returned from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering in Bali, Indonesia.

In his arrival statement, the President underscored the importance of pursuing ASEAN-centered efforts together with heads of Southeast Asian countries and other international institutions.

“I stressed the importance of a stronger ASEAN in order to sustain the efforts towards greater peace, progress and prosperity for Southeast Asia and its peoples,” Duterte said.

“I emphasized that we should invest in ourselves and within Asean,” he added.

According to the President, the Asean should capitalize on its strength as a highly-competitive region in order to maintain its steady growth path.

“Only when we are willing to invest in ourselves can we ensure resiliency amid the challenges of trade tensions, threats to security and stability, and increasing natural calamities,” he said.

Duterte shared he personally conveyed the country’s condolences to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian people who suffered successive earthquakes and a deadly tsunami.

“In times of need, Indonesia was ready to help. Now, we are giving back.

That’s the ASEAN way. That’s our duty as brother and a neighbor,” he said.

Duterte said he met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to discuss “delineation of the boundaries.”

Marawi rehab groundbreaking set Oct. 17 —Del Rosario MORE than a year after the now infamous Marawi siege, the government will finally push through with groundbreaking rites on Oct. 17 to signal the start of the city’s rehabilitation right at the heart of the fivemonth war at ground zero.

The groundbreaking rites marks the first year since President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city’s liberation. A week after on Oct. 23, combat operations ended.

According to Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman Eduardo del Rosario, the ceremony will start with the clearing of the remaining debris at the 6-hectare area “most affected” by the conflict.

The debris clearing operations, which will amount to P75 million, will be carried out by a local firm.

“After debris clearing, we will undertake road network construction with underground facilities. Once it is done, we will proceed with vertical structures, construct 320 classrooms, 24 barangay centers, a convention center, grand central market, school for living tradition, parking area, and so forth,” Del Rosario said in a Palace press briefing.

Originally, the groundbreaking was set for June, set a cost of P16 billion, but decided to suspend it due to problems in the procurement process.

Del Rosario also said that the military has already cleared ground zero of about 80 percent of unexploded ordinance, paving the way for the panned groundbreaking.

NEW HIGHWAY. Public NEW LAKAS-CMD MEMBERS. Philippine Constitution Association president and Lakas-CMD Party president Martin Romualdez (left) and Lakas-CMD secretary general and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. (right) endorse new Lakas-CMD member Tony Boy Tabora (center), who is running for mayor of Baguio City, after a short meeting at the social hall of speaker’s office in the House of Representatives. In the same event, Romualdez and Pichay also administers the oathtaking of Christian Unabia (2nd right) as new member of Lakas-CMD. Unabia is running for congressman in the 1st District of Misamis Oriental to continue the legacy of his father incumbent Rep. Peter ‘San Pedro’ Unabia (right). Ver Noveno

Ex-Speaker Belmonte backs GMA on ‘caretaker’ issue

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

IBERAL Party stalwart and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Friday took the cudgels for Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who was accused of ‘‘vindictiveness” on the issue on the appointment of caretaker of the lone legislative district of Batanes.

L

“It is unfair to accuse Speaker GMA of vindictiveness and partisanship. She has a free hand in the choice of caretaker, duly considering the needs of the constituents of the lone legislative district of Batanes and my inability to continue performing my duty as such,” Belmonte, the former Speaker, said.

Belmonte said he was appointed caretaker of Batanes by former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez weeks after the death of the late Congresswoman Henedina Abad on Oct. 8, 2017.

“As a former Speaker myself, I know that the choice of caretaker is solely the prerogative of the Speaker, who must ensure that the needs of the legislative district continue to be addressed and its constituents taken care of,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“In my time as Speaker, the only

hint of tradition or custom on the appointment of caretaker was that the Deputy Speaker covering the area would be designated as caretaker if the Speaker himself or herself is unable to take on the role,” he added.

Since Arroyo has decided not to take on the Speaker’s role of caretaker, Belmonte said he believes it is appropriate for Deputy Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie Arenas, who represents Northern Luzon to take on the role.

But Belmonte’s partymates in the Senate did not approve the move of House Speaker Arroyo to appoint Arenas as Batanes caretaker, saying it shows “petty vindictiveness and partisanship.”

LP president Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said Arenas was designated by Arroyo during the waning minutes of the last day

of session Wednesday, Oct. 10.

“It is sad that right around the first death anniversary of the late Rep. Dina Razon-Abad on Oct. 8, Arroyo chooses to disrespect her memory by imposing upon the people of Batanes a new caretaker without the benefit of any consultation with the Batanes constituents.

The Batanes people, Pangilinan said, were the ones who gave Abad an overwhelming mandate to represent them in the House of Representatives for the term 2016-2019.

Pangilinan said the tradition in the House has been to respect the nomination of the political party that the deceased member represented in the House.

“This has not been followed,” said the opposition leader. “Worse, Arroyo listened to a politician that twice had been defeated by Abad in the 2010 and 2013 Congressional elections and as a result of which opted not to run in 2016 and instead returned to his hometown in Iloilo,” he added.

Pangilnan also said that it seems Arroyo has not forgotten the active participation of Abad and her husband, former DBM secretary Butch Abad, in the Party’s campaign to impeach her for cheating in the 2004 presidential elections and hold her accountable for numerous cases of graft and corruption during her almost 10 years in office.

Healthcare advocate seeks hike in Sin Tax to fund UHC

By Macon Ramos-Araneta HEALTH Care advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon of the Sin Tax Coalition described the approval of the Universal Health as a “gamechanger” for the country’s healthcare as he renewed their call to increase taxes on tobacco.

“The recent developments have increased the impetus to lobby for higher tobacco taxes,” said Leachon, who is also a PhilHealth independent director.

While there will be pooling of resources from casino and lotto income, Leachon, however, noted that this is unpredictable and might not meet the need for sustained funding.

He said the successful implementation of UHC will require enormous financing

that cannot be supplied by the current pool of funds.

He added that over and above the direct health benefits of curbing tobacco use, an increase in tobacco tax will help fund UHC, and improve healthcare access by solving chronic problems such as the severe shortage in healthcare workers.

“UHC without sustainable funding will not work. It’s the most important issue that should be tackled before its final approval.,” he said.

Because of this, Leachon said, they at the Sin Tax Coalition is again calling for higher sin taxes for tobacco and alcohol to address this problem.

The Sin Tax Coalition is a multisectoral coalition composed of healthcare professional organizations, civil society

organizations and youth groups that has been pushing for an increase in tobacco taxes, over and above tax rates imposed

by RA 10351 (Sin Tax Law of 2012).

He said the goal of the coalition is to protect the health of Filipinos by averting an epidemic of 1M new smokers by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2022.

“Our proposal included an initial increase in tobacco tax from P30 to P60, followed by an annual increase of 9 percent. This proposal targeted a decrease in the number of smokers from 14M to 13M by 2022,” Leachon said.

“Sadly, the proposal was not even considered during deliberations for the recently passed TRAIN law. Neither the Senate nor the Lower House addressed the health problem caused by the smoking epidemic,” he added.

Cimatu lifts suspension of EECs in Boracay

By Rio N. Araja

RUNNING IN MANILA. Former vice mayor Isko Moreno and incumbent Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna filed their COCs in Arroceros, Manila as Manila City mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Moreno and Lacuna later showed their COCs after the filing. Lino Santos

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu has lifted the suspension on the environmental compliance certificates of several businesses in Aklan’s Boracay Island two weeks before its reopening.

In an Oct. 5 Memorandum Circular 2018-14, Cimatu gave the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau in Region 6 the go-signal to lift the suspension on the ECCs issued to “complying” hotels and other establishments on the island.

“In view of the upcoming opening of the Boracay Island on 26 October 2018, after its closure for 6 months, the EMB Regional Office 6 is hereby authorized to lift the suspension of ECCs of all complying hotels and establishments in said island,” the memorandum read.

Last July, the DENR chief issued a directive suspending the ECCs of all business establishments in Boracay pending a thorough review of their

compliance with existing local and national laws.

Memorandum Circular 2018-03 dated July 18 also created a committee composed of representatives from the DENR, EMB and Mines and Geosciences Bureau to review the compliance of these establishments with their respective ECCs. In the new memo, Cimatu ordered the committee to continuously monitor all Boracay establishments on their compliance with existing ECCs and environmental management plans.

He also directed the committee to submit to him its regular monitoring reports.

“Likewise, the EMB Regional Office 6 shall continue to monitor establishments despite such lifting of suspension of their respective ECCs, and monitor all establishments issued with certificate of non-coverage to ensure their compliance with environmental laws and assure that no violation against the same is committed,” he said.

Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano and DOTr Secretary Art Tugade lead the inauguration on Tuesday of the first stage of the Laguna Lake Highway, a 10.7-kilometer highway connecting Taguig to Taytay Rizal province. Norman Cruz

No PHL-US exercise to coincide with Xi visit IT’S official: There would be no military exercises between the Philippines and the US next month in time for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This was confirmed by Department of National Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday, following the announcement of the US Embassy in Manila and the Palace itself that there would be no major US-Philippines joint exercise planned for November.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque earlier said that China expressed concern over a military exercise that the United States will be conducting the same time that the Chinese president will be in the country.

“Every time they [us] do that naman e, especially mag-port call ditto ’yung papunta dun sa mga port natin... meron naman silang pasabi e, and we will ano, we will just tell them not to, ‘wag lang i-timing dun sa visit,” Lorenzana said.

Naming of new Army chief lauded THE military on Thursday lauded the designation of Major Gen. Macairog Sabeniano Alberto as the next Philippine Army chief replacing Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, who is scheduled to retire on Monday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

“Major Gen. Alberto is a highly respected leader and commander having distinguished himself in the field of combat, intelligence, and civil military operations in various echelons of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) hierarchy,” AFP spokesperson Brig.

Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.

The incoming commander is “wellrespected among subordinates, peers, and more senior officers” of the more than 98,000 Army troopers.

“He is known for his dedicated, no non-sense, and passionate approach to mission accomplishment while ensuring the welfare of the men and women under his command,” Arevalo added. PNA

‘Sentimental’ Nancy files CoC on Friday SINCE filing her certificate of candidacy on a Friday when she first ran for senator, Senator Nancy Binay said she opted to file again her COC on the same day Friday due to sentimental reasons.

“It’s for sentimental reasons because back in 2013, it was a last-minute filing and it was on a Friday. So today, I also chose a Friday to file my certificate, like I’m continuing what I have started,” said Binay.

She was accompanied to the main office of the Comelec by her brother, former Makati mayor Jejomar Binay as their parents, former Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Makati mayor Elena Binay are in a pilgrimage in Italy and are set to return to the country over the weekend.

If given another fresh term by the electorate, the lady senator vowed to continue and improve her advocacies.

“I guess the kind of service that I’ve been giving for the past six years is what I’ll continue and even make it better,” said Binay, who was recently elected as president of the United Nationalist Alliance, the political party founded by her father.

Binay added that she does not mind ranking lower in recent surveys, adding that there is still a long way to go since it’s still six or seven minths before the 2019 midterm elections.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Silent no more, hungry no longer

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Ka Abdul laments that he and his fellow workers of Pacific Plaza have been long suffering from starvation wages, contractual work, and denial of the right to self-organize. He was the union auditor when it was founded in IF MAHATMA Gandhi is the bench 2014 and during the Collective Barmark, a human being could survive gaining Agreement negotiations that without food for three weeks. But if year, management offered nothing. The you’re approaching the age of retire- negotiation did not reach a conclusion ment, a week of starvation could be and the union collapsed due to pressure fatal. from management and demoralization The striking workers of the ritzy Pa- of the former officers. cific Plaza Towers Condominium in Earlier this year, the workers deBonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, cided to take a second shot at forming have been waging a hunger strike for the union. However, the Pacific Plaza nine days as of this writing, if only to management continued to take a hard persuade the homeowners to immedi- line against the workers. Last May, ately act to address the labor unrest. they denied the entry of a duly accredThe workers speited DoLE Labor cifically demand Inspector after the two things: reunion requested instatement and for an inspection. regularization of In July, manageOne cannot avoid the 17 illegally ment terminated terminated con- seeing how much the 17 contractual tractual workers wealth there is in the workers due to and recognition of end of contract. their union, who Philippines in the office Owing to union have won DOLE’s buildings and especially busting and uncertification elec- in the condominiums. fair labor praction last month. tices, the workers Among those launched a strike who joined on Aug. 6, which the hunger was initially disstrike is maintenance worker Abdul persed by security personnel and the Tambulangan, 58. Whilst his younger police. The workers were temporarily and bulkier comrades have more beef to held at the police station, but an order lose, Ka Abdul’s body has sagged, losing from DOLE enabled the workers to at least ten pounds, and his famished successfully build its picket tent. facade makes him look like he’s 70. His Ka Abdul and the workers insist that comrades had discouraged him to join they will not eat unless management the hunger strike, but he insisted. gives in to their demands of reinstate“Before I came to Manila, I’ve expe- ment and regularization. Even if entails rienced poverty and hunger in Mind- their lives. Still, a ranking management anao,” explained Ka Abdul. He then officer reportedly quipped regarding the explained his stint as a Moro activist workers’ strike, “Bahala silang magpathere, struggling for recognition and gutom.” (“Let the workers starve.”) genuine autonomy. “Being Moro in the This is the state of Filipino workers countryside is no different from being today. And it will only worsen now a worker in the city. We suffer from that the regime is starting a crackdown poverty, starvation, and discrimination against strikes and militancy. This as second class citizens.”

Turn to A5

Uncomfortable conversations

I

F THE world stopped emitting carbon today, limiting the increase of global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius from preindustrial periods would be possible.

And then catastrophic scenarios of rapid glacier melting, more frequent and more powerful weather disturbances—worse than what we are seeing now—would be prevented.

The problem is that stopping the emissions altogether would be a near-impossible task, given how the world has been operating. According to The Global Carbon Project, global emissions reached 36.18 billion tons of carbon in 2016.

Broken down per nation, China is the worst polluter at 10.15 billion, followed by the United States and India at 5.31 billion tons and 2.3 billion tons, respectively.

A report released last week by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—a body composed of over 100 scientists—

revealed that a “rapid and far-reaching transformation of human civilization at a magnitude that has never happened before” is needed.

The world’s emissions “would have to be on an extremely steep downward path by 2030 to either hold the world entirely below 1.5 degrees Celsius, or allow only a brief ‘overshoot’ in temperatures,” says The Washington Post.

The Post reports: Overall reductions in the next ten years would likely need to be more than 1 billion tons annually. The report also calls for a total or near-total phaseout of the burning of coal. Electricity from renewables will have to increase to 50 or 60 percent from the current 24. Existing coal and gas plants have to be prevented from spewing carbon onto the air. Renewable energy should power most transportation means. At present, just 4 percent of road transportation is powered by renewable fuels.

The report says that the situation is dire and that terrible things will happen in the next decades if mankind refuses to do what is necessary.

But that is nothing new; it has been obvious from the beginning.

What it really does is to pose a question anew to decision-makers around the world: Are they willing to do more than deliver impassioned rhetoric during forums and negotiations, and translate what they say they believe into measurable action?

Everybody except climate deniers will agree that the word needs to take drastic measures to prevent worstcase scenarios. Perhaps it is a comfort to our generation that we will all be gone when these scenarios take place with alarming normalcy.

Then again, isn’t it even more distressing to contemplate that all these will be witnessed by our grandchildren and great-grandchildren?

Grim climate change talk is indeed nowhere as exciting as the latest quarrels in government or the controversies among people in power. But the threat of danger is constant, like low but persistent humming that never quite goes away. This is exactly why we need to have the uncomfortable conversations now, weighing interest against interest, consequence against consequence, before that humming gets even louder.

Florin Hilbay: From Tondo to Yale and beyond Chief Bato dela Rosa, whose leadership resulted in the killing of thousands of suspects under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

From the opposition side, a relatively unknown and newcomer in politics THE election season has officially Samira Guntoc, a Maranao woman begun with the start of the period for leader and activist, also filed her canfiling of Certificates of Candidacies didacy for the Senate. From what I of those intending to run for the May have been hearing, Guntoc is worth 2019 midterm elections. The first day watching out for.

The Liberal Party (LP), on the other of the filing was almost uneventful save for a few comedic moments hand, has earlier announced that it is involving candidates who readily sang fielding the trio composed of former and danced for the cameras, the filing representative Erin Tañada, current of COCs of singer Freddie Aguilar senator Bam Aquino, and the found(supposedly under PDP-Laban), and ing Dean of De La Salle University’s a guy who claimed that he was a College of Law, Chel Diokno as the former PCOO Assistant Secretary’s party’s (first list of) candidates.

It is obvious ex-boyfriend. that LP is capitalOf the sitting izing on the good senators, only political image of Senator Koko Pifamily names mentel has filed ‘Pwede na’ should no the of the three. This his COC. Interis a good tactic estingly, Pimen- longer be acceptable. considering that tel, the President people are lookof PDP-Laban, ing for credible created a problem and respectable for Aguilar when he said that the singer is not a candi- candidates to go against the admindate of his party because he has not istration’s hoodlum-like and abrasive been issued a Certificate of Nomina- bets. This, however, does not mean tion and Acceptance by the party. The that Tañada, Aquino, and Diokno canCONA is a vital document released not stand on their own merits. The by the political party that nominates a first two have credible track records person as a candidate under the party as politicians and the third as the banner. The paper is submitted by the President of the Free Legal Assistance aspiring candidate to the Commis- Group (FLAG), an organization of sion on Elections upon filing of COC. lawyers that handles human rights and Aguilar submitted a CONA but be- social justice cases.

I will not be surprised if eventually, cause of Pimentel’s statement, he may face disqualification if it gets proven former senator and losing presidential that what he submitted is unauthor- candidate Mar Roxas joins the three.

He fits the bill to a T. ized by the PDP. The race to the Senate just got Other administration-backed candidates are Larry Gadon, infamous for more interesting with the declaration his filing of an impeachment com- of former Solicitor General Florin plaint against former Chief Justice T. Hilbay that he will run for the Maria Lourdes Sereno that led to the Senate in the coming elections. Like latter’s removal from office via a quo Guntoc, even if Hilbay has held an warranto petition, and former PNP Turn to A5

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

EVERYMAN

Mirror of rich Ilocano culture

By Honor Blanco Cabie NEARLY two dozen nationally and internationally sponsored literary contests underwritten by patrons of Ilocano arts and culture, including a few for new writers—young or old— or aspiring to become polished writers before long, reflect a rich culture field of northerners.

Northerners here refer to those who speak and write Iluko, sometimes spelled out Iloco, who are mainly in the north of the Philippines and are called Ilocanos.

Others are in the rising megapolis of Metro Manila, some provinces south of the capital, and overseas “invaded”

by Ilocanos following the migration of workers to those countries in all but one of the seven continents.

The wealth of this culture is precise and unequivocal in the themes the

sponsors declare in their respective contests: One that mirrors the distinct legacy of the language and the culture of the Samtoys.

Samtoys is a term from the corrupted “saomi ditoy”—our language here —which has for generations been a euphemism for Ilocanos, or the y-loco people, or people from the rivers.

The provinces in the north of the country, where Ilocanos have built their homes, are divided by, if adorned with, meandering rivers that overflow their banks in the rainy season.

Busy All Year Round. Many of these are almost dry to their beds in the scorching summer months of April and May—as those between Pangasinan and La Union which originate from Benguet, between La Union and Ilocos Sur, the Badoc River and the Laoag River in Ilocos Norte.

The sponsored contests make Iloca-

no writers literally very busy throughout the year—those aspiring to become richer by a few thousand pesos and winning Plaques of Recognition to display in their receiving rooms.

The contests cover various genres— from traditional to avant-garde poetry to fiction to short stories for children to one-act plays to novelettes and novels.

The contests here don’t include others—sponsored by the government or private institutions—which keep many Ilocano writers up with eyes open beyond midnight, hopes high they could participate eventually in a harvest of awards and recognition from peers or even from those outside their region.

Elegance of Doing Things. These Ilocano-populated areas have their identifying folk dances where they showcase the elegance and beauty of the manner Ilocanos do things.

Turn to A5

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

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Demolishing himself?

AT THE last round of the Supreme Court oral arguments last Oct. 9 on the Philippine withdrawal from the International Criminal Court initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte, acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio argued that by doing so, the Philippines has deprived itself of the only court to defend its rights in case China launches an invasion of the Philippines’ claimed islands or it sets up military facilities at the Scarborough Shoals.

However, Carpio never took the mater that the ICC would never get to act on any petition against China as it has veto power in the UN Security Council where any ICC case would be first referred to.

How a justice of the Supreme Court could make such a fundamental error in opinion in a formal discussion before the court is simply shocking.

Moreover, Carpio made other errors such as in saying that a recourse to the ICC offers a “very strong” deterrent against possible invasion of the West Philippine Sea when in the first place the most effective deterrent has been what President Duterte has been doing—engaging China in peaceful dialogue and negotiations, and potentially engage China in joint exploration and eventually development of resources in the disputed areas.

For a member of the Supreme Court, Justice Carpio has long behaved inordinately, showing undue involvement with issues not yet raised before the court and now one of these is carried into that forum. Justice Carpio has long been faulted for “extrajudicial” forays into matters that have not been brought to the court but could be, like the issues involving the Philippines’ and China’s claims over portions of the South China Sea which the Philippines has legislated into the West Philippine Sea. Carpio has created a dilemma for

Florin...

From A4

important political position, he can still be considered an outsider especially on electoral politics for he has never held an elective post. Prior to his being SolGen and outside of the legal circles, his name would not attract attention.

Hilbay, however, has an interesting and inspiring story. He was not born rich. In fact, he comes from very humble beginnings. His parents are ordinary folks and he grew up in Tondo, Manila.

He was (and still is) known in Tondo as Pilo. Florin was a very smart boy, and diligent in his studies. He finished his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in the University of Santo Tomas (UST), got his law degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) Law School in Diliman, topped the Bar exams, and received his Masters of Law from the

Silent...

From A4

started when Labor Undersecretary, the activist Joel Maglunsod, was fired for allegedly supporting “illegal strikes.”

This claim by the President is absurd considering that Maglungsod himself assisted the Pacific Plaza strikers to ensure the legality of their strike.

Thereafter, workers of farm factory DBSN in Albuera, Leyte, were arrested and jailed for cyber-libel filed by the factory owner, Mayor Ramon Onate of Palompon town. He alleged that the workers committed libel for protesting the rampant contractualization practiced in his factory. He was ordered by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello to regularize the workers yet what he did was to file a dubious criminal case.

Last Thursday, private security forces violently dispersed a group of striking workers of the Sumifru banana plantation in Compostela Valley. It is still to be determined if there were casualties

Mirror...

From A4

That holds true with the way they dress, the way they see things as shown in different paintings—as they have been influenced by events in their colorful history.

The Ilocano culture—underscored in their literature and the other things that separate the Ilocanos from the rest of the world—depicts a colorful and lively culture that makes them distinctly of the north of this Land of the Morning.

Such culture is seen in their museums—many silently dotting the urban

himself in having been so involved in the SCS matters outside the court that now creates credibility issues when he raises the issues in the court.

Carpio’s public involvement in the SCS issues has already created the impression that this is a personal and pet issue of his. Worse is the association with pro-American elements this has created.

That is, the close links Carpio is seen to have established with American funded institutions such as the CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) which the American independent media NGO Fairness and Accuracy InReporting describes as “Think Tank Funded by Gov’t and

Arms Industry” in the US and the CSIS supported Albert del Rosario Institute of the American green card holder and Noynoy Aquino’s DFA secretary Albert del Rosario.

That Justice Carpio would raise these weak arguments in the oral argumentation which was certain to be splashed in media raises some questions. They coincide with blatantly clear provocation and psy-war operations of the US in proposing a military/naval exercise in the SCS all the way up to the Straits of Taiwan in time for President Xi Jinping’s visit to President Duterte here in the Philippines when many all important agreements fulfilling the $24-billion investment commitments of China will be signed. The known American-

leaning writers have also been very active at their work putting PH-China cooperation in a bad light.

Did Carpio use the Supreme Court oral arguments on the ICC issue as a forum to inject anti-China propaganda in a coordinated effort to becloud the atmosphere leading up to the President Duterte and President Xi Jinping meeting in November? To becloud the atmosphere the US has scheduled a military/ naval exercise in the SCS leading all the way up to the Taiwan Straits, inviting the Philippines to participate along with Japan and other US treaty allies. News reports in local media alarmed Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua.

Duterte has actually been constrained to announce that the Philippines will not be joining any US military exercises with its allies, and assured Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua that the Philippines will not be taking part in the US proposed exercise. The Asia Times also featured two articles creating misinformation about PH-China projects, i.e. Mindanao writer Bong Sarmiento’s “China leaves Duterte dream train at the station” and Richard Heydarian’s “US, Philippines tacitly realign against China” and Jason Castañeda’s “Duterte creating cracks in his military’s command”. All these three articles smack of disinformation prior to the November Xi visit to Duterte.

My response to the three articles: President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo R. Duterte are signing the $3.5-billion Manila-to-Matnog 600-kilometer train project development loan at 2-percent interest rate that will revive the legendary “Bicol Express,” while the Mindanao projects are scheduled for finalization in Package 2 mid-2018.

The rejection of US enticement for the PH to join its military exercise and the PH’s participation in the China-Asean military exercise recently should make clear that the PH continues its independent foreign and military policies.

Lastly, Duterte’s crackdown on the attempted “Red October” consolidates the unity of the government and its military forces.

prestigious Yale School of Law. From Tondo to Yale, Hilbay’s academic credentials are quite impressive. Poverty did not deter him from achieving his goals in life.

He worked at the Office of the Solicitor General before being appointed SolGen himself. It was his stint as SolGen that the public began to know about him. He became a rock star to RH advocates when he valiantly defended the RH Law during the oral arguments at the Supreme Court.

Moreover, as SolGen, he played an important role in the Philippines’ huge and historic victory over China on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.

After his stint as SolGen, Florin returned to the academic world and resumed his teaching. He is a professor at the UP College of Law. He has, however, continued to be politically active by expressing his opinions on controversial issues that include how this

administration seems to have become subservient to China on the WPS problems; the war on drugs, human rights and social justice.

He has also taken cases of victims of political harassment like Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes.

And now, Pilo, the boy from Tondo, has accepted the challenge by people for him to run for elections. His entry into the race, like the entry of other credible candidates, should raise the bar in terms of standards by which candidates should be measured. The electorate needs to seriously scrutinize those applying for the job of being a public servant. “Pwede na” should no longer be acceptable now.

I hope people will look closely at what candidates like Florin Hilbay can offer the country. We should look for the best and only choose those who can help the country get out from the rut we are in. Like, from Tondo to Yale, we can make that jump, too.

among the workers as of writing time.

The bottom line is, workers have long been attacked by both capital and the State, and it seems as though things are only continuing to intensify under this regime. It is imperative, then, for all workers to fight not only against plantlevel issues or unjust labor policies, but for democracy and dignity.

And it is just as important for young professionals, students, teachers, writers, and citizens from all other sectors of society to stand with workers in their fight for justice. The struggles of the workers for justice in the workplace is intimately connected with the broader struggle for democratic freedom. In these precarious times, a strong and vibrant labor movement would go a long way towards safeguarding the democratic rights of all citizens.

This is why I decided to write this column. Twice a week, this semester, I find myself in BGC and Rockwell, Makati teaching constitutional law, philosophy of law, and environmental law to young people in the University

of the Philippines College of Law, De La Salle University College of Law, Ateneo School of Law, and Far Eastern University Institute of Law. In other semesters, I also teach in Lyceum College of Law also in Makati. In these places in BGC and Makati, one cannot avoid seeing how much wealth there is in the Philippines in the office buildings and especially in the condominiums. The least that I expect from the owners and residents of these condominium units and the managers of these buildings is that they treat their workers well, with respect and dignity.

Pacific Plaza is not an exception. I have special knowledge about the building and the union there because one of my relatives is connected to the latter. I have told him that there are good people who live there, some prominent ones. I sincerely believe that they care about these workers on strike, that like me, they want those workers to be silent no more, hungry no longer.

centers of the region—as well as their Spanish era-inspired Roman Catholic churches and galleries.

Two of these churches—the baroqueinspired one in Paoay, Ilocos Norte and the other in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur are in the United Nations World Heritage List.

Showcase for Rich Culture. In the Ilocano-sponsored literary contests, sponsors see to it the contestants showcase the rich culture of their sturdy region—that culture generally referring to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give those activities substance and importance.

In the short story category, many are

successful in depicting the arts, beliefs and institutions of the Ilocano nation that have been handed down from generation to generation, their way of life, their codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior like law and morality as well as systems of belief.

Cultural Anthropologists. There are those who believe the harvest in the different Ilocano-sponsored literary contests will form part of what cultural anthropologists may well describe as communicating the experience of the authors through symbols their skills allow them to.

Whether the contestants write about

How Justice Carpio could make such a fundamental error in opinion in a formal discussion before the court is simply shocking.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Scrap the presidential term limit or voted out of office.

Of course, the Americans had their reason in limiting the term of their president. Accordingly, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stayed too long in office from 1933 to 1945, but PUTTING a term limit to the tenure he did not violate the constitution or of the President is undemocratic. De- broke any law, except the tradition mocracy has something to do with observed by all previous Presidents the will of the majority to a decision- before him from George Washington making process involving the com- to Herbert Hoover, which all sought munity. It is the will of the majority one reelection. Had he not died in that gives life to it and such should office and opted to run for the fifth not be interpreted as a means but an term, he would have easily won.

Roosevelt was so popular that he end itself. It does not promise anything like being good or bad but fo- was not only able to rally Americans cuses on the decision of the majority to fight the war but was able turn the tide of war against its enemies. of the people.

As US President Lincoln succinctly Roosevelt exhibited extraordinary put it, “democracy is of the people, stewardship as a leader by extricatby the people and for the people.” It ing the US economy from the Great is a means for people to resolve their Depression and pushing the country contradictions based on the accepted to become the mightiest industrial political tenet that the will of the ma- powerhouse. He initiated social and jority should always reign supreme. welfare legislations to stem the onThus, when the majority of the people slaught of communism that threatelect their President, they are deciding ened to engulf their country they call on what he can do for the present, and the “Free World.” He created jobs to promote mass employment, intronot on what he will do in the future.

Prohibiting the incumbent President duced the social security system, profrom seeking another term is undemo- vided mass housing, welfare, medical cratic because it is contrary to the basic and retirement benefits to all Ameriprinciple for which it stands. Election can workers, and bravely put a break to the greed is about peoof the bankers ple deciding on by introducing whether or not to the landmark vote for a certain “Glass-Steagall candidate. When People became Law” prohibitthe Constitution more corrupt ing banks from provided that engaging in the President is because of their investment or prohibited from miscomprehension of putting up busiseeking another freedom. nesses other term, it is actualthan banking. ly the people that It was more are being denied of political jealof their right of ousy that goaded choice. It diverts the issue from our system of govern- American politicians to posthumousment where the majority should decide ly put a term limit to all who will sucwhether or not to allow a candidate to ceed the man who served their counserve for another term. This is based try best. Demagoguery prevailed, on the same principle of putting least arguing as ever that imposing a proqualification to any citizen to run for hibition from seeking a third term is a public office because the presumption refinement to their democratic tradition. They overlooked the truth that is it should be open to all.

Besides, the holding of an election it is the people they denied of their is different from allowing a candi- right of choice. While re-election date to seek reelection. When people refers to the individual, the right to allow their incumbent President to elect refers to the entire members of seek reelection, the people in effect that given society.

They could not even point what are giving him their vote of confidence. Nonetheless, it is the majority lesson in history the Americans of the people that decide, and not of should forget from the administraa man-made law that is often biased, tion of President Roosevelt so as to avoid it from happening again or as whether or not he must go.

This is more democratic because the malcontent radicals would say, it is the system that gives the verdict “Never Again.” On the contrary, the whether or not to extend his public Roosevelt era was a milestone in service. Prohibiting him is undemo- US history where “Pax Americana” cratic because he is being prejudged reached the peak of its glory.

In our case, after the ouster of Presinot by the people but by a group of entrenched bigots who have their dent Marcos by the US-installed Cory eyes in preventing intruders from en- Aquino, her government embarked on a vigorous campaign to erase from our croaching into their turf.

When Russia and China scrapped memory all the traces in what they call the term limit for President Vladimir the “darkest chapter in our history.”

Putin and President Xi Jinping, the Even if her government enjoyed the two countries in effect discarded the blessings and benediction of the hypowrong interpretation made by Ameri- critical religious leaders, that did not can constitutionalist. That limitation prevent the people from committing found its way to become universally corruption. Denying the incumbent accepted because the US has emerged President the right to seek reelection as the most powerful nation on earth has nothing to do with democracy nor to impose a term limit to other presi- will serve as deterrent to the commisdents. To deny Putin and Xi to seek sion of shenanigans in government. re-election, which saw their country’s Rather, people became more corrupt phenomenal economic resurgence un- because of their miscomprehension of der their leadership, is to deny their freedom.

We are stacked deep in the mud of people that important sequel in their history. It is a setback to democracy corruption and could hardly extricate that is in fact causing today political ourselves from it because many of us consider corruption as part of our instability to many countries.

The right given to elected officials democratic process. We have bastardto seek re-election is akin to one seek- ized democracy, such that many of us ing a vote of confidence, not from a now believe that a government that given parliament but directly from is honest is dictatorial. This happens the people. To deny him that would because we have been brainwashed by equally amount to denying the people the wrong notion of equating corruptheir right to express their ultimate tion with democracy just as we equate verdict. Judging one’s presidency it to putting a fixed period for our would forever hang in limbo because president to serve but not on how to his term would be cut short. Only his properly apply the rule of the majority. supporters will give him their saving rpkapunan@gmail.com grace to claim he was never defeated

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

hopes, aspirations, dreams, grief, sadness, bliss, social inequities, historical fiction and other zones of human experience, they invariably write on the ways of living together as a clan, their value systems, their distinct traditions and beliefs.

There are those that discuss folk beliefs, stories that take the reader through the rich landscape of the region, love of family and country in the last gasps of a bloody war, gender stories and others that entertain and educate.

There are stories about deaths in a family, underlining the values of a closely knit, if typical, Ilocano fam-

ily, about ambition, which is one of the driving forces that push a man to strive for greater heights.

Then there are those about hostage taking, the destruction of marijuana plantations against all risky odds with the help of a Protestant pastor assigned in the mountain provinces—and many, many more that run through the valleys of human experience.

(HBC, award-winning poet and journalist, was president from 1995 to 1999 of the biggest formally organized literary association in the Philippines, GUMIL Filipinas, which has active chapters at home and overseas).

News

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF 10 LGUs win Galing Award AT LEAST 10 local government units have bagged the 25th Galing Pook Award “for doing extraordinary things for our people, quietly, without much fanfare.”

The Galing Pook Foundation acknowledged the outstanding contributions of first-time winners—Del Carmen in Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte and Navotas City for being the home of the second largest mangrove forest in Mindanao, and various early childhood education and health initiatives, respectively.

Repeat winners this year included Bindoy, Negros Oriental; Loboc, Bohol, and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

Cagayan de Oro City, Iloilo City, Naga City, Tagum City and Valenzuela City rounded up the top 10 local government units for their innovative programs covering land tenure, environmental conservation, cultural heritage preservation, literacy and education, healthcare, and community safety and security.

As keynote speaker, Vice President Leni Robredo also conferred the 4th Jesse Robredo Leadership Award for effective, empowering and ethical leadership of a local government executive to Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal. Rio Araja

369 laggards held in Manila THE continuing campaign against the socalled ‘tambay’ or street loiterers in Metro Manila resulted in the apprehension of more than 369,000 individuals.

Based on the data released by Metro Manila police director Guillermo Eleazar, a total 369,148 persons were apprehended for violating city and municipal ordinances such as drinking in public, half naked, curfew, smoking ban and urinating in public.

As of 5 am Friday, 17, 424 individuals were arrested for drinking in public; smoking ban with (115,778 arrest); half naked (25,584), and curfew on minors (24,713).

The authorities also arrested 185, 649 people for other various offenses.

The Central Police District topped the list of police districts with the highest number of apprehension in the National Capital Region.

The district got 210,632 violators arrested.

The Eastern Police District placed second with 79,536 followed by the Manila Police District (34,370), then Southern Police District (26,262) and Northern Police District (18,348).

But Eleazar was quick to clarify that violators are immediately released after paying fine or for humanitarian considerations.

He said 66,776 of those arrested were penalized while 44,145 were charged in court. Joel E. Zurbano

Dy wants Ombudsman to look into charges ISABELA Rep. Napoleon Dy on Friday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to resolve the charges of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents and graft filed against his brother, incumbent Gov. Faustino Dy III, by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption in 2015.

At the Usapang Politika, Agrikultura at Komunidad media forum in Quezon City, the lawmaker urged Ombudsman Samuel Martires to look into the charges and sanction those behind the ghost purchase of P15 million worth of canned goods and other food items and P15 million worth of rice for the province of Isabela.

“The resolution of the charges would end corruption among local officials in our province,” he said.

“For over three years, the Ombudsman has slept on the case despite the submission by the complainant of overwhelming testamentary and documentary evidence,” he added. Rio Araja

Udenna eyes telco sector UDENNA Corp. of Davao-based tycoon Dennis Uy has followed through on its interest to participate in the government’s plan to bring in a New Major Player for the telecommunications sector.

The conglomerate purchased selection documents from the National Telecommunications Commission on Oct. 8 as “a confirmation of the said expressed interest,” Udenna said in a statement Friday.

“Specifically, in the area of logistics, a crucial component of the telecommunications industry, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. will explore opportunities in this sector,” the statement said, referring to Udenna’s shipping subsidiary.

But for the time being the firm said it was still “doing its own comprehensive research and study on the probable participation in the bid.”

Nothing has been finalized yet, including potential partnerships with foreign or local companies, Udenna stressed.

The Udenna Group has grown exponentially over 15 years.

It listed Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. on the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2007 and 2017, respectively.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology, which oversees the NTC, recently amended its Administrative Order 11, series of 2018 to ensure the successful entry of an NMP in the public telecommunications market, following the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte.

LIVING TESTIMONY. The Hardin ng Lunas Gazebo, a living testimony of the stakeholders’ cooperation, displays solid partnership between Tarlac Heritage Foundation and the Philippine Army. The renovation and repair have been made through efforts of the Foundation headed by Isa Cojuangco Suntay and Maj. Gen. Joselito Reyes, Commander of ASCOM, Lt. Col. Romeo Cabanalan, Commandant SSPS ASCOM, with their staff and personnel. The complex was inaugurated on Tuesday at Camp Gen. Servillano Aquino, San Miguel, Tarlac City.

House leadership supports anti-sexual harassment bill

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE leadership of the House of Representatives backed the measure expanding the scope of acts constituting sexual harassment in the office, schools, and training institutions, and which increases penalties for the offense.

The proposed measure contained in House Bill 8244, or the Expanded AntiSexual Harassment Act, was approved on second reading before Congress adjourned its session last Friday.

The bill aims to expand the definition of sexual harassment, strengthen the mechanisms to monitor compliance with policies against sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational and training institutions, as well as prescribe penalties for violations.

It upholds the rights of women and secure their well-being especially in the workplace or in training and educational institutions where discrimination against them is prevalent.

“The State shall value the dignity of every individual, enhance the development

of human resources, and ensure full respect for human rights. Thus, all forms of sexual harassment against anyone are declared unlawful,” the approved bill stated.

HB 8244 seeks to repeal Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.

RA 7877 currently imposes a fine of P10,000 to P20,000 and imprisonment ranging from one month to 6 months.

HB 8244 provides stiffer the penalties to a fine of P50,0000 to P200,000. The length of imprisonment remains the same.

It also imposes a fine of P20,000 to P50,000 for those who will violate the victim’s right to privacy during the investigation, prosecution, and trial period.

Sexual harassment as defined in the

bill, is “an act, which may be committed physically, verbally, visually or with the use of information and communications technology, including any other means, that would result in an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for the victim. This, regardless of the act committed within or outside the place of employment, training, or education.”

The bill mandates the employer or head of office in a work-related, education, or training institution to implement a comprehensive written policy on sexual harassment, which shall outline the detailed procedure for case investigations and the administrative sanctions.

It shall be their duty to prevent the commission of sexual harassment acts.

In line with this, the employer or head of office shall 1) promulgate appropriate rules and regulations; 2) create a Committee on Decorum and Investigation within one year of the agency’s existence or initial operations; and 3) resolve cases within 15 days from the submission by the CODI of its report to the disciplining authority.

BOC seizes contraband at MICP worth P3m

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Customs seized seven shipments of carrots, apples and used clothes, shoes and toys worth P3.77 million abandoned by its importers and importers at the Manila International Container Port.

The shipments were ordered confiscated after District Collector Balmyrson Valdez issued a Decree of Abandonment on the seven container vans after the consignees failed to file the entry within the prescribed period.

“The six container vans of carrots arrived at the MICP on August 24, 2018 with no filed goods declaration for more than 15 days from the date of discharge of the last package,” customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said.

The abandoned shipments were consigned to ASD Total Package Enterprises Inc. and declared as fresh apples.

However, upon examination, the BOC found boxes of carrots covered by boxes of fresh apples with a total dutiable value of more than P1.97 million.

Meanwhile, the shipment containing used clothes, shoes and toys which arrived at the port on Sept. 4, 2018 was consigned to Freccia Prime Marketing Co. “The shipment of used clothing and shoes was placed on red alert due to discrepancies after examination of the goods,” the BOC official said.

“The consignee declared the shipment as to contain hangers and plastic racks.

It was deemed abandoned since the consignee and their broker showed no interest in processing their alerted shipment,” Lapeña said.

Upon physical examination, the big box was found to contain 500 boxes of used clothes, shoes and toys with dutiable value of P1.8 million.

The consignees will face criminal charges and revocation of Customs accreditation for the foiled attempt to defraud the government.

MANAGING TRAFFIC. San Miguel Corp. is working closely with Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. to find ways to manage traffic flow on the conglomerate’s South Luzon Expressway and Skyway System, both of which will be heavily affected by MPIC’s C-5 South Link Expressway project. MPIC, through its unit Cavite Infrastructure Corp., is the concession holder for the 7.7-kilometer, six-lane C-5 South Link Expressway that will connect C-5 to the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.

PhilHealth to correct P4.7-b loss

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has remained steadfast to correct its net operating loss of P4.7 billion, acting president and chief executive officer Dr. Roy Ferrer said Friday.

He also assured all its members and stakeholders that the agency was financially stable and well-managed.

With the sustained positive cash position of the agency, he said members would continuously enjoy more responsive benefits and unceasing benefit availment.

He said the 2017 financial statement had been validated “and we are confident that certain conditions were not taken into account such as unrecorded premium receivables from the formal sector that was at P49.1 billion but reported to be only at P48.7 billion and the over recording of the benefit claims expenses in 2017 from P105 billion to P102 billion.”

He also cited the reduction in 2017 Primary Care Benefit Accrual of P2.1 billion to P1.1 billion, the recording of 2017 benefit payout under the Point of Service program had yet to be refunded by the Department of Budget and Management.

This was initially recorded as benefit claim expenses that amounted to P926 million; and the unrecorded share of PhilHealth in the 2017 Bases Conversion Development Authority amounting to P25 million.

Despite the erroneous reports, PhilHealth guaranteed its 97-million beneficiaries of its undaunted commitment to work harder towards achieving stronger financial condition by improving collection efficiency, tighten anti-fraud activities, heighten member consciousness to pay their dues and implementing prudent spending proved to be very promising.

The PhilHealth chief announced an enormous increase in income at end July 2018, posting a net income of P10.66 billion, surpassing its performance last June by more than P3 billion.

In his speech during his first 100 days accomplishment report to more than 6,000 employees nationwide of the state run social health insurer, Ferrer said that the increase in net income was a result of the aggressive premium collection drive and the employee’s hard work and dedication.

MMDA to close to traffic portion of Quezon Avenue on Sunday

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority has announced it will close to vehicular traffic on Sunday portion of Quezon Avenue in Quezon City to give way to the culmination of the annual festivities of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary “La Naval de Manila.”

In its advisory, the MMDA public information office said the affected road— Quezon Avenue westbound from the split/ tunnel of Araneta Avenue to D. Tuazon Avenue—will be closed to traffic from 4:30 pm to 7 pm on Oct. 14, 2018.

At least 30,000 devotees are expected to participate in the grand procession which will serve as the highlight of the activity.

From Sto. Domingo Church, the procession will exit at the gate facing east, turn left at Sto. Domingo Street, left Dapitan Street, left D. Tuazon, left Quezon

Avenue (counterflow using Westbound of Quezon Avenue) then return going to Sto. Domingo Church.

Motorists are advised to take the following route: -From Quezon Avenue West bound, all vehicles turn left to Araneta Avenue, right ERB to Welcome Rotunda and destination -Or from Quezon Avenue West bound, turn right Araneta Avenue, left Maria Clara Street, left Mayon Street to Welcome Rotunda and destination -They may go further along Araneta Avenue, turn left Amoranto Sr. Street, and left at Mayon Street to Welcome Rotunda and destination The east bound of Quezon Avenue will not be affected by the procession and the usual traffic flow will remain as it is except several affected U-turn slots.

Meanwhile, the agency commended the driver of MMDA chairman Danilo Lim for honesty after he returned a purse

containing money back to its owner.

The driver, Rex Ronald Romero, 34, said he saw the purse on the road while driving along EDSA-Ayala Tunnel (northbound) around 7 pm on Oct. 8.

“I checked the contents of the purse and found $220, P700, identification cards, ATM cards, etc.,” said Romero, who has been with the MMDA for the past 10 years and Lim’s driver for a year.

Upon reaching home, Romero immediately contacted the owner through the emergency contact numbers shown in one of the identification cards to return the purse as soon as possible.

The owner redeemed his lost purse at the MMDA’s Administration department last Wednesday and expressed gratefulness to Romero for returning the purse he lost.

He also met Lim and personally laud Romero’s act of kindness and for exerting effort to locate him.

Sports

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PH Superliga to hold 1st collegiate tilt THE Philippine Superliga is set to roll out its very first collegiate tournament when its All-Filipino Conference fires off.

PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said the PSL Collegiate Grand Slam promises to be another action-packed battle as it features the country’s brightest collegiate players in preparation for their potential career in the semi-professional league.

The tournament will be played every Saturday and will be shown live in the league’s official broadcast partner in ESPN5, AksyonTV and sports5.ph.

PSL rules will also be applied and teams will be given a chance to use the challenge system to make sure that the officiating will be at par with international standard.

So far, six teams in University of the Philippines , Far Eastern University, University of the East, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle UniversityDasmarinas and Colegio San Agustin (Binan selection) are already confirmed to join the inaugural tourney.

Juico said they expect more teams to jump in when the tourney completely goes full blast next year.

“We want to explore the possibility of having a strong collegiate league,” said Juico, a former Philippine Sports Commission chairman and president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association. “We have six teams in our inaugural conference. But we expect more college squads to join as soon as we get this tournament off the ground.”

Having collegiate teams in a regular tournament is nothing new to the PSL. In the past, collegiate squads like University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, UST, UP and UE were given the chance to join in the Invitational Conference.

Khabib threatens to bolt UFC LOS ANGELES—Unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov threatened to leave the UFC on Thursday if the MMA promoters fire teammate Zubaira Tukhugov for striking Conor McGregor in a post-fight melee Saturday.

Nurmagomedov, a 30-year-old Russian, kept his UFC lightweight crown with a fourth-round submission victory over Ireland’s McGregor in Las Vegas, improving to 27-0 in his professional career and 11-0 in UFC bouts.

After the victory, Nurmagomedov climbed out of the Octagon and went into the crowd to attack a member of McGregor’s entourage who had been heckling him throughout the fight.

Tukhugov, who is from Chechnya, was seen in a brief exchange with McGregor during the post-fight brawl.

McGregor was confronted by three members of Nurmagomedov’s team in the melee but later said he would not press charges.

Tukhugov had been scheduled to fight a teammate of McGregor, Artem Lobov, later this month but that bout has been cancelled.

Nurmagomedov told the UFC in no uncertain terms that any move to cut ties with Tukhugov would see him follow his teammate away from the UFC. “If you decide to fire him, you should know that you’ll lose me too,” Nurmagomedov posted on Instagram and Twitter.

Korean steals show, captures John Hay title

Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso topped the final round with a one-under 69 but her efforts to win a medal still fell short.

Saso blows chance to win medal at Youth Olympics B

UENOS AIRES—Golfer Yuka Saso blew her chance to secure a medal after miscalculating a crucial putt in a three-way playoff Thursday at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games here.

The 17-year-old Filipino-Japanese saw her six-footer for par miss the cup, ending the hunt for a possible bronze medal for the Philippines in women’s individual golf.

Saso figured into a playoff with Alessia Nobilio of Italy and Emma Spitz of Austria after finish the final round tied at 214.

Kim Grace of Australia fired a oneover 71 and assembled 211 to secure the gold medal amid the chilly weather and overcast skies at the Hurlingham Club. ``Malamig po talaga, pati lips ko dry na,’’ said Saso, the Asian Games individual gold medalist who topped the final round with a one-under 69.

Nobilio, the leader for two consecutive days, birdied hole No. 1 during the playoff to secure the silver medal.

Left to gun for the bronze, Saso bogeyed after missing at six feet while Spitz went on to join Grace and Nobilio on the medal podium following a par on the same hole. ``Sayang talaga,’’ said Masakazu Saso, Yuka’s father who joined American coach Rick Gibson on the fairway throughout the round. ``For me, it’s already a medal. Pero nangyayari talaga yan, especially if you’re competing with the best in your

sport,’’ said Philippine chief of mission Jonne Go. On the men’s side, Carl Jano Corpus also failed to medal after winding up tied for 16th with South Korea’s Sangha Park. Both were 17 strokes behind eventual champion Karl Vilips of Australia.

Saso and Corpus will join forces in the mixed team event scheduled to begin Saturday.

The Philippine team, whose trip was bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, has two more athletes in the hunt for a medal with Christian Tio aiming to stand on the medal podium in kiteboarding and archer Nicole Olive shooting for a great finish for three days starting Saturday. ``May chance pa tayo sa (golf) team event and we still have two other athletes who will be competing,’’ said Go.

BAGUIO—Amateur Lee Ji Hyeon put on a strong start to get into the mix then held sway in a scrambling finish to humble Thai Waralee Atcharerk and Chakansim Khamborn and snare the ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Championship crown by two on a closing four-under 65 here yesterday.

Lee caught up the Thai leaders with a blazing 31 start, spiked by three straight closing birdies at the John Hay layout, then proved steadier than her pro rivals in a pressure-packed stretchrun battle, rebounding from a bogey on No. 13 with two birdies in the next three to regain control.

Not even a bogey on the last hole could stymie Lee’s breakthrough drive as the young Korean, whose previous best was second to Chihiro Ikeda at Eagle Ridge last February, secured the crown on a 54-hole total of five-under 202 in the P1.5 million event put up by ICTSI. Khamborn, tied with compatriot Chommapat Pongthanarak and twoup on Lee after 36 holes, kept the Korean in check in a flight behind with a 33 at the turn but fumbled with two bogeys in a birdie-less backside finish, dropping to joint second with Atcharerk at 204 after a 69.

Atcharerk, who shared the first round lead with five others Wednesday, also stayed in the hunt with a 33 but wavered at the back with two bogeys against a birdie for a 68.

The Thais later split the combined top two purses and took home P267,000 each with Lee taking the crown and the honors of matching Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso’s feat at ICTSI Ayala Greenfield Ladies Challenge last January.

She also became the second Korean amateur to win on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour after Hwang Min Jeong toppled the pro field at Mt. Malarayat in 2015.

Onkanok Soisuwan, winner at Mt. Malarayat last May, birdied the first three holes, held back by two bogeys against a birdie in the next eight but closed out with two birdies in the last three to match Lee’s 65 and snatch fourth place at 205 worth P125,000.

‘19 World Slasher kicks off Jan. 28

WSC 2019 at the Big Dome will showcase the best breeds and bloodlines in the 9-cock invitational derby

THE most-awaited international cockfight competition, the World Slasher Cup, returns to the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum on Jan. 28.

The long bout, which will have its Grand Finals on Feb. 6, will be the stuff cockfighting legends are made of.

Participants are encouraged to register their entries early while they prepare their fowl fighters to face their toughest competitors in this gruelling nine-cock invitational derby. They may do so by calling the WSC Derby Office at 588-8227 or 911-2928; or via the registration page on the website www. worldslashercup.ph.

The first three days of 2-cock Eliminations are from Jan. 28 to 30. The 3-cock semis begin on Jan. 31 to Feb. 2; and the 4-cock Pre-Finals will be on Feb. 3 and 4, with the 4-cock Grand Finals on Feb. 6. The number of entries will determine if there will be a one-day break before the Grand Finals.

Known to its numerous followers as the Olympics of Sabong, the World Slasher Cup is a smackdown of only the best breeds and bloodlines of winged war-

riors meticulously cared for in fowl farms here and abroad. The upcoming derby is also a chance for hundreds of hopefuls to outlast and outshine last year’s WSC 2 solo champ, Greengold Uno, owned by sabong enthusiast and newspaper executive Rey Briones and his farm manager Rod Advincula, whose father also has a long history with WSC. In May this year, Briones’ “sweet victory” once again landed him another WSC championship with what he thought was an underdog entry. He used his signature Spartan Black during eliminations and his Sweater Roundheads mixed with Brownred bloodline in the semis and finals to emerge victories over hundreds of entries.

Briones isn’t the only one to beat in WSC 2019 if you count returning champs in the roster. Among them are “sabong idol” Patrick Antonio, who returned to the champion’s list as the solo champ at 2018’s WSC 1; and Frank Berin, who almost dominated 2017 with a solo win in that year’s first edition, and a co-champion finish in the second edition along with Anthony Lim, and the Escolin brothers.

Vosotros, Viernes lift MPBL teams NEW recruits Almond Vosotros and Jeff Viernes quickly made their presence felt for their respective teams as they came away with big games and led their squads to huge wins in the MPBL Datu Cup. A player who briefly saw action for Blackwater but spent a long time being part of the national team program either as a rookie or as a pro, Vosotros wasted no time unraveling his game.

Vosotros finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to stop Caloocan’s bleeding and help the team score an 84-75 triumph over General Santos City.

With Vosotros taking charge, the Longrich-backed Supremos were able to snap a seven-game losing skid, winning their third in 11 games.

The Warriors absorbed their sixth loss in 10 games.

Mar Villahermosa led all scorers with 25 markers, but his effort had to give way to Vosotros’ entry into the Supremos camp where the former La Salle Green Archer became

the game changer.

“Iba talaga yung impact niya. Not on scoring, but providing leadership,” said Caloocan coach John Kallos. “Dati, lumalaban naman kami, pero pagdating sa endgame, doon kami nagkakaproblema. Ngayon, we have someone who can take charge.”

Like Vosotros, Jeff Viernes, who briefly saw action for the TNT Ka Tropa last season, provided the Batangas City Athletics-Tanduay a big lift in frustrating home team Mandaluyong El TigreDataland, 61-57, in the other game.

Plucked to take over the spot vacated by Bong Galanza, who was released to the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, Viernes fitted into the system of coach Mac Tan nicely. The spitfire guard knocked in 11 of his 13 points in the second half, while providing stability in the backcourt that allowed the Athletics to get back to the win column.

Batangas has hyet to make it the .500 mark, but the win improved its win-loss record to 5-6.

SANO CUP 2018 ROAD GAME. Legazpi-based SANO alumni priests and former seminarians of St. Gregory the Great Seminary

(Tabaco, Albay) and Mater Salutis College Seminary (Daraga, Albay) travelled, met up and clashed with their Manila-based SANO counterparts in a friendly basketball game at the Santa Rosa City Laguna Sports Stadium last Oct. 1. In an intense and exciting game dubbed as “SANO CUP goes to Laguna,” the Team Manila-Malaniton beat the visiting Team Legazpi-Oragon, with Fr. Hector Cañon and Dwyne Camacho (Manila) topscoring for the winning team, and Brigs Bringino (Legazpi) carrying his team in a losing effort. Now on its 2nd Season, the SANO CUP 2018 is a friendly basketball game organized by Fr. Jonnathan Calleja and Ronald Ramirez in Legazpi City, aimed at fostering camaraderie, rekindling fond memories and strengthening brotherhood among SANO baller participants. The Laguna road game was organized by the SANO Manila Team, led by Dwyne Camacho, with Boss Jun Fernandez (SGGS-B94), Boss Choy Magracia (SGGS-B93), Atty. Joey Garcia (SGGS-B92) and Fr. Alvin Chavez (SGGS-B91) as major sponsors. Special thanks goes to Fiscal Atty. Xaxy Calubag for the warm welcome at the sports stadium. Jo Samarista

Sports

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

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

NorthPort’s Sean Anthony tries to retain control of the basketball against Meralco Bolts defenders Anjo Caram (17) and Niño Canaleta (12) while NorthPort teammate Bradwyn Guinto (30) looks on. PBA Media

Lydia sprints to PH Sports Hall of Fame

By Peter Atencio SPRINT queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado, who was considered Asia’s fastest woman during the 1980s, leads the third batch of enshrinees to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

De Vega, who first made waves at the 1981 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Manila with gold medal performances in the 200 and 400 meter events, were among the 10 who were nominated by a review committee headed by former Philippine Sportswriters Association president Teddyvic Melendres.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said the committee selected from among 17 athletes who excelled before the cutoff year of 1984.

Ramirez heads the selection committee, which is composed of commissioner Celia Kiram and Charles Maxey, Games and Amusement Board’s Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Commission communication chief Ed Picson, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas offcial Bernie Atienza, Philippine Olympian Association member Akiko Thomson and PSA president Eduardo “Dodo” Catacutan of spin.ph.

Ramirez said it was not easy to select the 10 nominees.

De Vega, now 53, also ran away with the gold medal in the 100-meter dash in the 1982 New Delhi Asiad and duplicated the feat in the 1986 Seoul Asiad.

She will be joined by bowler Rafael “Paeng Nepomuceno (bowling), Olivia “Bong” Coo (bowling), Lita de la Rosa (bowling) and Erbito Salavarria (boxing).

Getting posthumous recognition are Sen. Ambrosio Padilla (basketball), Filomeno “Boy” Codinera (baseball/ softball), Ben Arda (golf), Bonnie Carbonell (basketball) and Josephine dela Vina (athletics).

De Vega was a two-time Olympian who represented the Philippines at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics.

Among the first inducted to the Hall of Fame were late boxing heroes Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Francisco “Pancho Villa” Gilledo and Ceferino Garcia and Olympians Jose “Cely” Villanueva and his son, Anthony, and Teofilo Yldefonso.

Anthony, Pringle power NorthPort past Meralco 84-74, with less than seven minutes left in the contest.

Still showing signs of life, Meralco ORTHPORT hit some crucial shots down the fought back and trimmed its deficit to stretch to preserve a hard-fought 99-94 victory only two, 84-86, after a 10-2 run was over the Meralco Bolts in the 2018 Philippine capped by Mike Tolomia with 3:41 left, making it anyone’s game to take.

Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Mall of NorthPort carried a 46-41 edge at the Asia Arena in Pasay City last night. half following a firm second quarter.

As of this report, Phoenix (6-2) and Sean Anthony and Stanley Prin- putting the game in the bag. struggling San Miguel Beer (2-4) are gle were in their best element for the NorthPort kept its bid alive for a spot going at it in their own clash.

Batang Pier. in the top eight with this critical victory Anthony poured in a team-high 26 as it improved to 2-6 following its secThe scores: points while Pringle filled up the stat ond straight win to climb to ninth place.

NorthPort Batang Pier 99—Ansheet with 24 markers and eight reOn the other hand, the road got even thony 26, Pringle 24, Woods 20, Taubounds across his name. harder for Meralco, who had lost its tuaa 14, Elorde 4, Arana 4, Espinas 2, NorthPort was in the driver seat sixth straight, as it slipped to 1-6 in 10th Gabayni 2, Javelona 2, Taha 1, Fortuna since the second period but was place.

0, Guinto 0, Grey 0. threatened late.

The Batang Pier banked on a 15-6 Meralco Bolts 94—Durham 37, Still, it was able to stand its ground spurt midway in the third to carve a Tolomia 18, Newsome 13, Hodge 12, in the closing minutes, thanks to some double-digit lead, 63-51, after a basket Hugnatan 5, Salva 4, Canaleta 3, Caram big baskets in times of need. from Woods with over six minutes left 2, Lanete 0, Amer 0, Ballesteros 0, SiPringle’s triple bounced in with 53 in the period. mon Atkins 0, Jimmer Jamito 0. seconds remaining, bringing the Batang NorthPort carried its double-digit Quarter scores: 22-21, 46-41, 74Pier to safety as it gained a 95-88 lead, lead into the fourth as it was still ahead, 69, 99-94.

By Jerick Lopez

N

Angels, Lady Eagles eye rebound vs winless foes PETROGAZZ and Ateneo-Motolite try Today’s twin bill also serves as apGames today to get back on the winning track as they petizer for tomorrow’s (Sunday) big 4 p.m. – Ateneo-Motolite vs Iriga-Navy face winless rivals today in the Premier game pitting Creamline and Pocari6 p.m. – PetroGazz vs Adamson-Akari Volleyball League Season 2 Open ConAir Force at 6 p.m., also at the San ference eliminations at the Filoil Flying Juan venue.

V Center in San Juan.

The Alyssa Valdez-led Cool Smashers and the Lady The Angels blew a 2-1 set lead and bowed to the Lady Ea- Warriors, bannered by former MVP Myla Pablo, are both gles in five last week to drop to 3-3 while the latter received on a three-game roll, making their initial encounter a match a stinging shutout loss from the unbeaten BanKo-Perlas side to watch. last weekend that snapped their big 2-0 start.

Still, focus will be on the Angels and the Lady The two teams are tipped to regain their winning ways Eagles with the former expected to bank on the likes with the Lady Eagles taking on the Iriga-Navy Lady Or- of Jonah Sabete, Paneng Mercado and Cherry Nunag agons at 4 p.m. and the Angels colliding with the Adamson- against Adamson’s Bernadette Flora, May Permentilla Akari Lady Falcons in the 6 p.m. main game. and Joria Pinar.

Adamson has dropped its first four games in the double Ateneo, on the other hand, will pin its hopes again on its round eliminations while Iriga lost all its five matches in the tall frontline composed of Maddie Madayag, Bea De Leon season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports and Kat Tolentino with rookie Vanessa Gandler also ready to Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics. provide solid backup.

Ateneo rules UAAP badminton

ATENEO capped a Cinderella run by annexing its fourth women’s title - and the first in five years - with a 3-0 conquest of UP Friday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

Chanelle Lunod took 79 minutes to beat Poca Alcala, 21-19, 14-21, 21-16, in the first singles before the Lady Eagles got the needed buffer after Samantha Ramos rallied from a set down to dispose Jessie Francisco, 16-21, 21-17, 21-16, in the second singles.

Lunod and Geva de Vera, who late became co-tournament MVPs, dominated Leah Inlayo and Mary Ann Marañon, 21-13, 21-8, in the first doubles to seal the deal for Ateneo.

Meanwhile, National University became the most successful men’s program in badminton after a 3-0 romp over University of the Philippines.

The Bulldogs, who nipped the Fighting Maroons, 3-2, in last Wednesday’s Finals opener, completed their fifth straight perfect season, extending their

streak to 43 ties dating back from 2014.

“Maganda ang team bonding din namin. This is my final playing year so itinodo ko na para makuha ko yung goal na five-peat. Ang panalong ito ay para sa National University,” said Mike Minuluan, one of the five graduating players who claimed the season MVP honors.

“Tulungan lang. Teamwork lang,” he added.

The Bulldogs have won six championships overall in the last seven seasons.

Ros Lee Pedrosa carved out a 21-17, 21-14 win over JM Bernardo in the opening singles before Minuluan bested Michael Clemente, 21-12, 21-14, in the second singles to put NU ahead.

Alvin Morada and Alem Palmares then sealed the title for the Bulldogs by prevailing over Betong Pineda and Harvey Tungul, 21-15, 21-17, in the first doubles.

Among the graduating NU standouts who are part of this dynasty are Morada and Members of Ateneo’s women’s badminton team display their championship trophy after Pedrosa, who were previous MVP winners. ruling the UAAP Women’s Badminton Tournament.

Iniong hungry for ONE redemption TEAM LAKAY standout Gina “Conviction” Iniong is arguably the most popular female atomweight competitor in the field of women’s mixed martial arts in the Philippines.

However, she lost some luster after bowing to two of the three former world title contenders that she faced on the ONE Championship stage.

The 29-year-old Baguio City native admitted that she was outworked by Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in their November 2017 rematch at ONE: Immortal Pursuit in Singapore, yielding to her Japanese rival via unanimous decision.

Although she was able to pick up a dominant unanimous decision win over ex-world title challenger Jenny “Lady GoGo” Huang this past April, Iniong lost again last July as she was overwhelmed by Brazilian spitfire Istela Nunes’ length and size advantage to keep her out of range over the course of three rounds to drop another decision loss.

“I failed to show what we have trained for in those two matches against top contenders of the division.

Those are definitely tough losses to take, but it is a perfect opportunity for me to learn and improve,” Iniong said After going back to the drawing board to review what went wrong in her outings against Yamaguchi and Nunes, Iniong is now eager to get back to action to prove to all and sundry that she is still one of the top caliber competitors in the deep 52.2-kilogram weight class.

“Coach Mark always tells me to not be disappointed, but instead be more motivated to become better. Losing is part of the game, which gives me the urgency to improve,” she said.

Iniong is very vocal of her desire to become a world champion under the promotion’s umbrella, but after evaluating her previous performances, she conceded to the fact that she is not yet ready to vie for the division’s intricately-crafted hardware.

“There is a lot of work to do.

Yes, it’s my dream to have a world title belt strapped around my waist.

It takes time and patience to get to that moment. I am willing to work for it,” she said.

The six-time Philippine National Wushu Champion also believes that she needs to work her way to the top and face the best of ONE Championship’s female atomweight bracket if she would like to earn a title shot in the future.

Adamson tries to bounce back against DLSU ADAMSON Falcons, who lost to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws last Wednesday, are expected to quickly bounce back when they meet the La Salle Green Archers at 4 p.m. today in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Falcons coach Franz Pumaren has a lot of faith in the team even if they bowed to the Tams, 85-88, in overtime.

They are going for their sixth win in seven games at the end of the first round.

Pumaren knows that his squad is one of the teams to beat this time around.

For Pumaren, the challenge for the Falcons is for them to stick to the game plan for at least three-fourths of the game.

“The old Adamson, if we’re down fourteen or fifteen, we’ll lose by twenty to twenty-five points. But this time around, it showed the sense of character of every member of my team right now. We can make a comeback,” said Pumaren.

He added that playing forty to fortyfive minutes of good basketball will allow the Falcons to get past their coming opponents.

“That’s what we showed in this game (against FEU). Even though this team is down, we will never give up on our game,” said Pumaren.

La Salle, which has a 3-3 win-loss record and in fourth place is reeling from one of their worst losses to the Ateneo Blue Eagles after their 55-71 setback last week.

The Green Archers finished with season-lows in scoring, field goal percentage (29 percent), points in the paint (28), perimeter points (11), assists (3), blocks (3) and points off turnovers (2).

And they also had a season-high 28 turnovers.

Earlier, the University of the East Warriors (1-5) will clash with the National University Bulldogs at 2 p.m. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

Peco virtually loses legislative franchise PANAY Electric Co. virtually lost its legislative franchise early this week amid protests over its declaration of hundreds of millions of profits in the past three years while Iloilo City residents condemned its bad service and inefficiency.

The House of Representatives voted on third and final reading on a bill granting the franchise to More Minerals Corp. on Monday evening, thus, ending half of the legislative battle for Peco to secure a new franchise to replace the current congressional franchise expiring on January 18, 2019.

The Cacho family owns 70 percent of the company, which is seeking to renew its legislative franchise.

The company’s alleged bad record of service to its franchise area covering Iloilo City has convinced members of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises to deny the renewal of its franchise.

The House, instead, approved the committee’s recommendation that the legislative franchise to operate the electricity distribution service in Iloilo be granted to another applicant—More Minerals Corp.

BIR complains of slow network connections THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said it continues to experience interconnection problems despite the interventions made by the Department of Communications and Technology.

The BIR said in a statement Friday it was experiencing erratic network connections in all its systems and electronic services in August this year, further impairing the revenue agency’s productivity and delivery of frontline services.

The BIR asked the DICT to provide an update on the measures it has taken so far to resolve the bureau’s intermittent network connection as well as the long-term solution to support the BIR’s complex requirements “on Data Center hosting and provisioning.”

The BIR in a letter to DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said it experienced erratic network connection affecting all its systems and e-Services on Aug. 10, at the height of the DICT’s work on the hardware provisioning, facility preparations and network reconfiguration to restore and back up the bureau’s Electronic Tax Information System. Julito G. Rada

Business Globe favors more tower firms to raise competition

By Darwin G. Amojelar

G

LOBE Telecom Inc. is pushing to open up the establishment of tower companies to all mobile network operators to avoid anti-competitive risks.

“Limiting the building of towers to two-player independent tower companies unfairly discriminates against the other models and is contrary to best practices,” Globe legal counsel Froilan Castelo said.

Data from TowerXchange showed that around 51 percent of the world’s towers built by TowerCos are owned by MNOs. “In most Asian markets, MNOs have divested or spun off their tower assets

and instead rent tower space from other operators or independent TowerCos,” Castelo said.

“The most successful and thriving tower companies are those established by tower companies or through a consortium of MNOs. Opening up the TowerCos to all MNOs avoids anti-competitive risks because even new entrants may join a TowerCo consortium,” he added.

The latest draft policy rules on common tower limit the creation and operation of towers to only two independent private companies with up to 100-percent foreign equity.

Globe said the draft rules drew strong protest from various stakeholders, including ICT advocates, opinion makers and existing MNOs, calling them “anticompetitive.”

Considering the increasing demand for coverage and capacity and the implied target of about 50,000 cellular towers, Castelo reiterated that the Phil-

ippines needed as many TowerCos as possible to construct the required towers within the shortest possible time.

Latest data released by TowerXchange, an independent community for global tower industry, showed that Asian markets with the highest number of cellular towers in the region implemented a common tower policy that allowed more than two tower companies.

Countries with the most number of TowerCos, like India and Indonesia, have the highest number of towers, a 2017 TowerXchange report showed.

India, one of Asia’s early movers in terms of tower sharing, has over eight TowerCos with 461,550 cellular towers as of 3rd quarter of 2017. TowerXchange said it expects around 130,000 more to be built in the coming years.

Between 2007 and 2010, towers in India grew from about 100,000 to 310,000, fueling an increase in tenancy ratios to 1.6 per tower, data from TowerXchange showed.

Rosatom eyes other nuclear applications

RUSSIAN State Atomic Energy Corp. is looking for more opportunities to support the Philippines by expanding the application of nuclear to other sectors such as medicine and agriculture.

Rosatom is currently working with the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute as it leverages its experience in building research reactors and laboratories for the country.

Rosatom has been teaming up with countries, including Bolivia and Zambia, to create a Center for Nuclear Science and Technology that allows them to start the development of nuclear technologies that may be applied in science, healthcare, agriculture, geology and other fields.

A CNST can have several elements-Center for Nuclear Medicine, Research Reactor, Research Laboratories and Multipurpose Irradiation Center--which could be established in various modifications. Alena Mae S. Flores

Pernia says PH addressing trade finance deficits ECONOMIC Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Friday the government is making the needed interventions to address trade finance gaps in the Philippines as part of global efforts to narrow the global trade finance deficit estimated at around $1.5 trillion every year.

At the sidelines of the 2018 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group being held in Bali, Indonesia, Pernia said such efforts of the government were in the context of making financing more inclusive.

“We need to boost financial services to help our small and medium enterprises. More importantly, such services will establish an inclusive financial sector,” Pernia said.

Pernia said the Personal Property Security Act, among other government initiatives, strengthened the legal framework for the use of personal property as collateral, and establishes a modern, centralized online collateral registry.

The Personal Property Security Act was signed into law on Aug. 17.

“We expect this to make financing more accessible to Filipino SMEs, including export-oriented firms,” he said.

“The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is also strengthening retail payments systems by adopting the National Retail Payments Systems framework, or NRPS. This should facilitate more convenient, affordable, and secure electronic fund transfers and payments,” Pernia added.

He also said the government was increasing credit guarantees from P10 billion to P50 billion for SME exporters through the Philippine ExportImport Credit Agency, an attached agency of the Department of Finance.

Julito G. Rada

TOYOTA DONATION. Toyota Motor Corp. donates a brand-new Hilux to Conservation International Philippines in a turnover ceremony held at the Toyota plant (TMP) in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. The unit will be used by CI Philippines in its conservation projects in the Verde Island Passage, which has one of the richest marine biodiversity in the world. At the donation ceremony are (from left) TMP senior executive vice president Dr. David Go, TMP president Satoru Suzuki, Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing vice president Yoshiaki Ishimoto and CI Philippines executive director Enrique Nunez.

September auto sales slightly increased to 32,116 units

By Othel V. Campos AUTOMOTIVE sales rose 2.6 percent in September to 32,116 units from 30,313 units year-on-year, reversing the trend in the past few months.

A joint statement of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said newer and better choices in automobiles drove the growth.

Cumulative sales from January to September, however, were still down 13.8 percent to 261,057 units from 302,869 units year-on-year.

“We remain optimistic that this trend will be sustained before the year ends, as we expect boost in

sales from the upcoming 7th Philippine International Motor Show this month and the Christmas season,” said Campi president Rommel Gutierrez.

Sales of the passenger car segment rose 8.8 percent to 9,441 units in September from 8,678 units in the previous month.

Sales of commercial vehicles were virtually flat at 21,675 units from 21,635 in August. Sales of category 1 or the Asian Utility Vehicle declined 1.8 percent to 2,926 units from 2,981 units.

Sales of the light commercial vehicle or Category 2 inched up 1.6 percent to 17,626 units from 17,354 units a month ago.

Sales of light trucks dropped 16.6 percent to 571 units from 685 units while those of trucks and buses (Category 4 and 5) declined 7.7 perdent and 17.6 percent, respectively.

The Category 4 sold 421 units while Category 5 sold 131 units in the same period this year.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remains the sales leader with nearly 42 percent of market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. at 19.3 percent.

Nissan Philippines Inc. was at third with a market share of 9.4 percent, followed by Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with 6.9 percent and 6.6 percent market, respectively.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

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Manila court denies Now’s plea to stop telco auction A MANILA Regional Trial Court has denied the petition of Now Telecom Co. Inc. to temporarily stop the selection process for the new major player in the telecommunications sector.

Presiding Judge Dinnah AguilaTopacio of Manila RTC Branch 42 denied the petition of Now Telecom for the issuance of a 20-day temporary restraining order for “lack of urgency in the meantime justifying such a provisional remedy.”

“The court notes that the bidding process for the selection of the new major player under NTC Memorandum Circular No. 09-09-2018 is yet scheduled for November 7, 2018.

From the time of the issuance of this order until the said time, there will still be ample opportunity for plaintiff [Now Telecom] to prove its entitlement to the issuance of an injunction,” Aguila-Topacio said.

“Verily, as yet, there is practically nothing to enjoin that will warrant the grant of obtaining such injunctive relief from this court at this time... ,” she added.

“Such a fact underscores the lack of any urgency on the part of plaintiff [Now Telecom],” said Aguila-Topacio The court set the hearing for preliminary prohibitionary injunction on October 23 and 24 this year.

Businessman Mel Velarde’s Now Telecom questioned certain provisions in the terms of reference for the selection of a new major player in the sector, saying the rules violated existing laws and could also be declared onerous, confiscatory and potentially extortionary.

China Telecom, Mobiltel Holdings GmBH, Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp., the joint venture of businessman Chavit Singson’s LSC Group of Companies and TierOne Communications Norway’s Telenor Group and an undisclosed company have purchased bid documents.

The submission and opening of bid documents is set on November 7 this year.

Under the final terms of reference issued by NTC and DICT, the potential bidders will be chosen based on the highest committed level of service for over a period of five years.

The three criteria are national population coverage with a weight of 40 percent, minimum average broadband speed at 25 percent and capital and operating expenditure at 35 percent.

The rules stated that the minimum population coverage for the first year should be 10 percent, a figure that should reach 50 percent by the fifth year.

The new player is expected to invest a minimum of P40 billion in the first year and P240 billion in five years.

The selection committee will use a point system based on the documents submitted by the potential players.

The bidders should post a participation fee of P700 million, or equivalent to 0.5 percent of the minimum capital and operational expenditure at the end of the commitment period.

Darwin G. Amojelar

DoE to establish renewable energy zones

By Alena Mae S. Flores

HOSPITAL PARTNER. For the mission to provide a much better, high-quality and affordable medical services, Himex Corp., the leading healthcare provider and the pioneer in rehabilitation and development projects, signs a partnership with Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital for the acquisition of Hitachi MRI Echelon Superconductive 1.5 Tesla. The joint venture will bring ongoing benefits to the many patients that need quality diagnostic service. Shown signing the agreement are Rema Padilla-Ohno (center), Himex president and chief executive; (from left) Dr. Gregoria Villaflor, administrator; Dr. Jose Vivencio Villaflor III, medical director; Dr. Jose Vivencio Villaflor Jr., chairman of the board and president; and Dr. Betha Fe Castillo, president of medical association.

THE Department of Energy issued a new directive establishing and developing competitive renewable energy zones in the country to accelerate the development of resources in the country.

The circular aims to identify Competitive Renewable Energy Zones and complement a study entitled “Greening the Grid: Solar and Wind Integration Study for Luzon-Visayas systems in the Philippines,” which seeks to achieve 30 percent and 50 percent RE, respectively, by 2030.

“Whereas, in planning for new transmission infrastructure and/or upgrades to existing transmission infrastructure, the DeE deems it necessary to ensure the cost-effective delivery of electricity generated in regions with abundant RE resources in order to attain sustainable, secure, sufficient, accessible and reasonably-priced electricity supply and services,” the department said.

It said the CREZ would enhance the planning process and strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Energy Plan, Philippine Development Plan, Transmission Development Plan and the National Renewable Energy Plan.

“To achieve this, the DoE, in partnership with other stakeholders, shall identify and develop Renewable Energy Zones and upgrade and expand transmission facilities through policy initiatives and activities that shall enable the optimal use of the indigenous RE resources of the country,” it said.

The CREZ Process aims to support the DoE in overcoming RE development obstacles, such as transmission constraints and regulatory barriers to financial investments in the private sector.

It will identify RE zones which represent areas characterized by highquality, low cost RE potential in addition to high levels of private sector developer interest.

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Business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH, Asian stocks bounce back

S

TOCKS bounced back Friday on bargainhunting, joining a rally in other Asian and European markets after two days of ferocious selling sparked by higher US interest rates, trade war fears and attacks

by President Donald Trump on his “crazy” central bank.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index surged 120.39 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,004.77 on a value turnover of P5.3 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 127 to 56, with 47 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, advanced 7 percent to P137, while Security Bank Corp., the

sixth-biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 5.8 percent to P140.90.

Now Corp., which is bidding to become the third major telecommunications firm, jumped 28.7 percent to P5.61, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty rose 4.3 percent to P700.

Equities across the rest of Asia, meanwhile, closed in the green after another topsy-turvy session that saw stocks initially suffer further heavy losses before bouncing back strongly.

European markets followed Asia’s lead, with Paris and Frankfurt enjoying a strong opening, both up more than one percent.

The fightback followed two days that have seen something approaching panic in global equity markets, as investors took fright in the face of rising US interest rates and an intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing.

The global sell-off was also due in

US index lost more than 1,300 points in a two-day stocks bloodbath.

“There’s a semblance of sanity returning to the markets, but we are no nearer a significant recovery,” Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia Pacific at OANDA, said in a commentary.

Markets are “exhausted after the most significant sell-off in global equities since February,” he added.

After a volatile session on Wall Street, the Dow Jones ended 2.1 percent down, taking its losses for the week to more than five percent and closing at the lowest levels in months.

Some experts warned that the correction, which came after many indices had hit multi-year highs, would be more than a flash in the pan.

“When we have a recalibration in values, it’s not surprising that it takes more than one day,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley FBR. With AFP

part to Trump describing the policies of the Federal Reserve as “loco” and “crazy,” sparking concerns over the independence of the world’s top central bank.

Tokyo closed near half a percentage point higher after a see-saw session that saw it open in the red but quickly pare losses.

Elsewhere in Asia, China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite climbed by 0.9 percent after suffering more than most in the recent capitulation.

Official data released earlier Friday showed that China’s trade surplus with the US hit a new record in September, despite Washington’s tariffs—adding fuel to a spiraling trade war between the world’s top two economies.

Seoul, Hong Kong, Sydney and Wellington also enjoyed strong gains.

The futures market pointed to gains worth several hundred points when the Dow Jones opens later Friday, after the

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 81.2 1,488,610 2.5 18,000 110 1,808,970 1.3 76,000 29.1 37,200 15.8 1,200 11.56 3,779,600 4 49,000 1.62 10,000 829.5 330 0.49 360,000 66 1,247,880 0.87 281,000 11.6 700 42.1 40,200 186 400 72.6 420 28 61,900 140.9 1,523,710 1,820 100 66 16,830 1.17 416,000

121,363,821 45,350 197,712,410 97,960 1,074,810 19,030 43,372,448 192,760 16,200 254,695 162,000 82,297,935 239,480 8,120 1,701,680 74,973 31,476 1,735,330 215,470,072 182,360 1,110,332.50 486,720

-62,280,201.50 -67,837,072 9,640 -75,540 14,647,944 -32,844,097.50 -67,220 -794,965 -90,404,392 -531,078.50 -

33.3 17.2 0.83 1.22 0.214 1.92 13.38 34 16.5 1.69 4.5 6.7 10.16 14.5 8.05 6.92 7.07 1.51 15.2 62.8 25 5.8 11.62 1.63 249 42 4.8 25 10.52 14.34 349 0.183 6 1.64 3.88 8.21 4.1 8.5 0.94 10.1 51.95 4.7 2.1 1.46 10.98 85.3 5.2 0.122 0.89 128 2.41 1.57 2.07

INDUSTRIAL 34 970,100 17.9 892,700 0.9 6,676,000 1.27 344,000 0.214 90,000 2.1 11,154,000 13.38 8,800 34 630,200 17.66 200 1.69 29,000 4.5 15,000 7.07 4,100 10.38 2,348,500 14.64 309,900 8.05 5,700 7.01 1,652,200 7.09 1,401,600 1.51 4,000 15.6 788,800 63.85 387,090 25.95 3,700 5.85 318,900 11.7 733,000 1.7 1,790,000 262 440,520 44.95 400 4.8 30,000 25.2 504,000 10.9 46,600 15.6 10,657,700 351.8 149,520 0.183 100,000 6 500 1.64 58,000 4.1 5,000 8.57 338,100 4.4 107,000 8.6 37,000 0.94 229,000 10.84 24,400 53.8 311,830 4.7 1,000 2.18 566,000 1.52 183,000 11 581,300 89.5 688,860 5.2 369,100 0.122 180,000 0.9 41,000 137 997,990 2.41 5,000 1.73 3,958,000 2.12 4,449,000

32,738,740 15,780,524 5,899,400 427,810 19,420 23,049,030 117,770 21,582,130 3,416 49,190 67,500 27,673 24,273,518 4,585,644 46,150 11,564,458 9,934,499 6,610 12,286,016 24,682,409.50 92,705 1,864,687 8,629,030 2,952,670 113,808,286 17,390 144,000 12,774,825 507,530 161,782,696 53,003,808 18,300 3,000 95,800 20,280 2,854,601 451,030 321,220 215,880 259,170 16,280,955.50 4,700 1,213,680 270,770 6,394,170 60,876,736.50 1,920,158 21,960 36,810 134,711,116 12,050 6,728,290 9,382,650

898,210.00 3,488,102 31,390 -8,856,150 -30,774 -1,015,775 10,715,274 1,294,756 -9,680 -4,012,713 -996,747 -440,606 -7,170,556 -1,310,917 2,544,050 -1,733,210 34,065,522 2,825,015 -150,888 -1,299,586.00 17,794,050 18,300 -10,190 -1,140,187 -10,782 -3,342,945.50 4,700 -3,656,488 -31,627,557 68,813,577 41,900 -173,030

0.395 45.65 11.4 0.8 6.11 25 1.09 1.09 880.5 5.86 11.82 7.15 5.71 661 44.6 0.52 4.3 12.86 0.51 4.9 0.036 1.15 2.2 2.69 161.5 850 267 0.214

HOLDING FIRMS 0.41 2,540,000 46.05 2,368,200 11.72 3,349,600 0.8 5,000 6.11 14,900 25.65 45,000 1.16 8,808,000 1.17 5,678,000 900 133,930 6 9,677,500 12 2,450,400 7.15 3,200 5.71 100 700 310,760 45.5 1,960,300 0.55 66,000 4.52 18,000 13.42 5,231,000 0.52 1,251,000 4.94 14,153,000 0.038 8,600,000 1.22 61,000 2.25 325,000 2.69 8,000 167 131,160 871.5 195,650 268 1,430 0.222 860,000

1,028,050 109,366,610 39,251,294 4,000 91,039 1,141,150 9,864,790 6,447,590 120,412,495 58,009,447 29,346,882 22,880 571 215,984,510 89,183,205 35,420 80,730 68,879,040 639,910 69,857,310 315,900 70,820 732,800 21,520 21,729,892 168,680,095 384,040 193,100

-81,500 -27,795,580 -31,177,422 91,039 -10,245 -135,340.00 -25,295,855 229,768 2,411,074 -40,901,830 -11,348,865 -13,510 -2,575,366 -19,324,990 763,078 -61,715,920 42,900 -

176,188 1,651,880 54,644 145,430 258,450 396,810,030 4,359,310 867,130 1,615,900 91,400 42,780 447,340 7,160,398 5,655,784 32,510 70,050 3,714,880 3,908,110 45,500,410 88,989,440 41,316,920 38,100 192,100 4,073,520 63,589,070

-25,125 -103,597,220 -2,921,270 4,100 19,400 -62,400 -2,746,826 190 205,900 -111,660 779,770.00 -24,880,560 -198,130 -4,350 38,470 -22,957,986

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

81.9 2.53 108.9 1.29 28.15 15.9 11.36 3.99 1.62 770 0.43 65.3 0.86 11.6 42.4 190 75 28 133.3 1,835 66 1.17

82.25 2.53 110.3 1.3 29.6 15.9 11.76 4 1.62 829.5 0.49 66.45 0.87 11.6 42.6 190 75 28.25 144 1,835 66 1.17

81.2 2.5 107.4 1.28 28.15 15.8 11.32 3.6 1.62 770 0.43 64.7 0.85 11.6 41.8 186 72.6 28 133.3 1,820 65.8 1.17

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG 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 VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

33.35 17.34 0.86 1.24 0.218 1.96 13.4 34.85 16.5 1.7 4.5 7 10.28 14.58 8.2 6.93 7.09 1.7 15.36 63.9 25 5.9 11.8 1.64 253 42 4.8 25.95 10.52 14.84 355 0.183 6 1.7 3.88 8.56 4.11 8.5 0.95 10.36 51.95 4.7 2.11 1.53 10.98 86 5.21 0.122 0.91 128 2.41 1.57 2.12

34 18.18 0.91 1.27 0.218 2.15 13.4 35 17.66 1.7 4.5 7.07 10.38 15.4 8.2 7.03 7.09 1.7 15.64 64 26 5.9 11.9 1.74 263 44.95 4.8 25.95 10.98 15.66 357.6 0.183 6 1.7 4.1 8.57 4.48 8.8 0.96 10.86 53.8 4.7 2.18 1.53 11 89.5 5.22 0.122 0.91 137 2.41 1.76 2.13

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 FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS

0.395 46.7 11.5 0.8 6.11 25.85 1.12 1.13 880.5 5.99 12.08 7.15 5.71 675 45.3 0.56 4.3 12.86 0.51 4.95 0.037 1.16 2.2 2.69 163 850.5 267 0.214

0.41 47 11.84 0.8 6.11 25.85 1.17 1.17 910 6 12.08 7.15 5.71 700 45.85 0.56 4.52 13.48 0.52 4.98 0.038 1.22 2.3 2.69 167 871.5 278 0.227

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 PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND

7.22 0.7 10.5 1.82 0.56 38.1 2.34 4.36 0.4 0.88 0.91 0.208 7.9 18 0.53 0.103 1.4 1 2.26 4.05 0.59 0.435 0.375 3.54 19.96

7.22 0.75 11.98 1.95 0.6 39.5 2.38 4.36 0.42 0.9 0.92 0.218 7.9 18.48 0.55 0.104 1.45 1.04 2.41 4.28 0.62 0.44 0.42 3.6 19.96

7.05 0.7 10.5 1.81 0.56 38 2.33 4.28 0.395 0.88 0.91 0.208 7.52 17.84 0.53 0.103 1.4 0.96 2.2 4.03 0.58 0.41 0.375 3.41 19.12

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

1.93 3.17 33.7 1.13 5.3 5.73

1.94 3.17 34.2 1.14 5.8 5.75

1.91 3.15 33.15 1.09 5.3 5.64

1.93 3.15 34.2 1.14 5.69 5.7

68,000 4,000 11,504,500 1,153,000 367,200 3,736,200

131,010 12,620 390,226,265 1,275,300 2,055,842 21,275,869

-48,190 -204,593,235 -275,730 -13,264,271

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

9.64 20 1.36 0.425 0.037 1.48 8 0.056 66.2 4.59 12.98 900 2,148 5.03 310 2.53 2 93 11.62 7.7 0.109 2.7 14.5 3.4 0.88 16.72 5 7.01 2.15 1.42 1.59 4.2 7.55 3.05 101 3.6 1,350 0.84 0.33 41.5 74.9 7 2.45 0.68 0.485 5.2 0.59 11.16

9.67 20.8 1.36 0.435 0.04 1.65 8.42 0.057 68 4.85 14.96 900 2,280 5.08 312.6 2.63 2 93.75 11.62 7.7 0.114 3.02 14.5 3.5 0.88 17.1 5.2 7.02 2.21 1.46 1.63 5.94 7.55 3.05 106 3.7 1,400 0.84 0.355 43 80 7 2.65 0.74 0.51 5.2 0.62 11.16

9.5 20 1.36 0.42 0.037 1.47 7.86 0.055 66.1 4.4 11.34 890 2,100 5.03 300 2.5 2 91.35 11.6 7.65 0.109 2.65 14.2 3.35 0.84 16.72 4.51 6.99 2.15 1.36 1.59 4.11 7.55 3.01 100 3.51 1,349 0.82 0.33 40.5 73.55 7 2.42 0.67 0.465 5.18 0.58 10.86

SERVICES 9.6 20.25 1.36 0.435 0.04 1.57 8.4 0.057 67 4.82 14.12 890 2,100 5.08 310 2.59 2 93.05 11.6 7.65 0.114 2.92 14.2 3.5 0.88 17.04 5.2 6.99 2.18 1.44 1.63 5.61 7.55 3.01 106 3.69 1,400 0.82 0.35 43 80 7 2.62 0.74 0.51 5.2 0.61 10.86

28,600 3,400 10,000 1,190,000 3,000,000 3,980,000 6,993,200 19,030,000 452,080 1,868,000 454,100 330 126,105 180,300 810 927,000 4,000 1,362,380 7,000 4,100 1,240,000 8,316,000 3,500 392,000 73,000 1,354,000 335,700 1,856,600 1,860,000 32,000 6,000 43,271,000 100 66,000 573,940 491,000 65,605 6,617,000 630,000 200,200 83,130 22,900 29,893,000 3,485,000 37,820,000 11,155,200 1,534,000 898,200

274,069 69,815 13,600 509,350 116,100 6,251,390 58,287,028 1,054,360 29,909,629 8,673,660 6,006,672 296,400 275,795,780 909,584 248,946 2,387,540 8,000 126,705,515.50 81,260 31,465 136,350 23,793,020 49,772 1,342,030 63,030 23,044,052 1,700,089 12,988,407 4,062,700 45,410 9,600 229,591,520 755 199,680 60,260,710 1,792,050 91,611,385 5,500,070 211,050 8,461,950 6,416,838.50 160,300 77,656,740 2,461,110 18,780,550 57,941,851 916,860 9,845,066

9,550 127,160 -5,973,654 13,107,569.50 216,150 43,766,650 -18,260 6,044,665 -16,350 -26,600 -3,100 -5,309,584 -4,682,474 883,200 -83,590 236,900 19,424,260 -277,700 -1,416,380 -3,697,495.50 4,055,520 36,930 50,900 -29,563,375 32,280 -4,798,584

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

0.0025 1.45 2.77 15 1 1.89 0.295 7.05 1.83 0.202 1.18 4.25 1.04 0.62 0.92 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.5 3.27 14.66 25 0.0064

0.0025 1.48 2.77 16 1.01 1.93 0.3 7.09 1.83 0.208 1.29 4.35 1.05 0.62 0.97 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.59 3.28 15.4 26.05 0.0068

0.0023 1.44 2.69 15 1 1.88 0.29 7.05 1.8 0.202 1.1 4.24 0.98 0.61 0.9 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.45 3.24 14.6 24.9 0.0064

MINING & OIL 0.0025 87,000,000 1.46 2,815,000 2.69 431,000 16 4,900 1.01 3,000 1.93 1,273,000 0.3 390,000 7.09 1,300 1.83 779,000 0.206 390,000 1.28 55,000 4.31 742,000 1.05 25,000 0.62 273,000 0.97 1,069,000 0.013 21,900,000 0.013 2,100,000 0.012 12,700,000 3.59 30,000 3.25 768,000 15.2 1,060,200 26 1,301,800 0.0068 5,000,000

203,100 4,078,930 1,165,390 76,410 3,010 2,425,970 113,700 9,169 1,408,870 80,450 63,520 3,183,790 25,610 167,610 1,007,670 283,400 27,300 139,900 104,690 2,502,700 16,063,054 33,467,215 32,800

-7,300 -64,560 -19,200 93,580 -934,690 -55,200 -1,199,570 -2,736 2,360,270 -

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

19.6 489.4 490 98.8 101 480 489 4.93 945 1.02 1,037 1,000 76 77.5 74.9 74 74.75 74.95 74.8 74.7

20.3 489.4 498 98.9 101 480 489 4.93 945 1.02 1,037 1,000 76 77.5 74.9 75 75.2 75 74.9 74.7

19.6 475 489.2 98.8 101 480 487 4.93 911 1.02 1,037 997 75.5 77.5 72.65 74 74.75 74.5 74.8 74.7

PREFERRED 20.2 182,900 475 5,670 498 1,060 98.9 55,560 101 3,640 480 6,590 489 6,560 4.93 46,000 945 1,460 1.02 241,000 1,037 5 1,000 2,105 75.5 350 77.5 340 74.85 84,820 75 41,800 75.2 680 75 25,730 74.9 1,000 74.7 560

3,695,240 2,693,990 518,680 5,494,687 367,640 3,163,200 3,205,840 226,780 1,335,500 245,820 5,185 2,100,600 26,550 26,350 6,206,193 3,120,720 51,062.50 1,926,443.50 74,850 41,832

3,191,040 -177,480 -56,700 111,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.35

2.35

2.3

WARRANTS 2.34 112,000

259,620

-

820,000 788,000

3,688,130 1,523,450

-94,200 -57,800

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 105.1 20,570

2,153,143

135,729

63,730

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.05 0.75 11.98 1.95 0.6 39.3 2.33 4.36 0.42 0.9 0.92 0.218 7.65 17.94 0.54 0.103 1.43 0.96 2.39 4.13 0.61 0.41 0.405 3.56 19.9

24,800 2,265,000 5,100 75,000 440,000 10,216,900 1,865,000 201,000 3,980,000 102,000 47,000 2,130,000 932,100 313,700 60,000 680,000 2,600,000 3,907,000 19,624,000 21,521,000 68,174,000 90,000 480,000 1,155,000 3,237,200

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.32 1.87

4.63 1.96

4.31 1.87

FIRST METRO ETF

103.4

105.6

103.3

USD DMPL A2

9.7

10

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

14,624,073

INDUSTRIAL

55,650,861

HOLDING FIRMS

68,504,388

PROPERTY

161,024,220

SERVICES

194,985,579

MINING & OIL

140,437,810

GRAND TOTAL

636,861,777

9.7

4.63 1.93

10

SME

DDS

6,400

VALUE 1,549.86 (up) 15.56 978,452,486.38 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,575.37 (up) 230.58 793,938,121.61 HOLDING FIRMS 6,796.92 (up) 106.21 1,086,416,063.03 PROPERTY 3,479.81 (up) 56.58 1,488.10 (up) 27.73 1,091,279,228.69 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,775.43 (up) 224.92 1,258,643,443.31 PSEI 7,004.77 (up) 120.39 66,655,306.35 All Shares Index 4,301.80 (up) 60.55 5,282,771,323.23 Gainers: 127; Losers: 56; Unchanged: 47; Total: 230

BDO Leasing bares plan to issue P15b worth of CP

By Jenniffer B. Austria BDO Leasing and Finance Inc. plans to raise up to P15 billion from the issuance of commercial paper.

BDO Leasing said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it was issuing P15 billion worth of CP to finance maturing obligations and relend part of the proceeds.

The company tapped BDO Capital and Investments Corp. as the exclusive selling agent for the CP. BDO Leasing as of end August this year had P8.8 billion worth of maturing CPs and P5.4 billion in maturing promissory notes.

BDO Leasing is the leasing and financing unit of BDO Unibank Inc., which provides customers direct leases, real estate leases, sale and leaseback arrangements as well as receivables factoring.

It also provides operating leases through its wholly-owned subsidiary BDO Rental Inc. BDO Leasing is among the industry’s dominant players in terms of total assets, capitalization and profitability.

BDO Leasing posted a net income of P178 million in the first half of the year, down 36.8 percent from P282 million year-on-year, due to higher funding and operating costs.

Gross revenues rose four percent year-on-year on steady interest income from its lease and finance portfolio of P34 billion, augmented by service fees and other income. The revenues, however, were negated by higher financing charges and lower interest margins, as well as increased documentary stamp tax on its commercial paper issue following the implementation of the TRAIN law early this year.

Amid a challenging operating environment, the company will continue to strengthen its marketing efforts in emerging provincial areas while leveraging on the parent company’s broad market reach to extend leasing and financing services to the growth sectors of the economy.

The company also plans to expand and optimize funding sources to match its asset growth and manage funding costs.

Share price of BDO Leasing on Friday closed at P2.50, up P0.10 from the previous previous day.

2 Vivant units sell interests in Bakun hydro

By Alena Mae S. Flores VIVANT Energy Corp. and Vivant Renewable Energy Corp., two whollyowned subsidiaries of listed Vivant Corp., have sold all their shareholdings in Vivant-Sta. Clara Northern Renewables Generation Corp. to Northern Renewable Energy Corp.

Vivant disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday the company would continue to look at opportunities in the power generation sector despite the sale.

VSNRGC is the administrator of the 70-MW Bakun Hydroelectric Power Plant in Alilem, Ilocos Sur. VSNRGC won the right to manage the contract of the Bakun plant in 2010 for $145.47 million.

Vivant owns a 48-percent equity in VSNRGC through VEC and VREC. It did not provide other details of the sale.

“Vivant Corporation will continue to develop and explore new opportunities in power generation, including renewable and conventional technologies that are viable and designed to adapt to the changing needs of energy consumers,” Vivant chief operating officer Arlo Sarmiento said.

Vivant is publicly listed holding and management company with interests in different segments of the power value chain, from generation to distribution, to serve the needs of communities in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

It is best known for its strategic holding in Visayan Electric Co., the country’s second largest power distribution utility. VECO supplies electricity to a franchise area covering cities and four municipalities in Cebu.

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Russia probes ISS rocket failure BAIKONUR, Kazahkstan―Russian investigators have launched a probe into why a Soyuz rocket failed shortly after blast-off, in a major setback for Russia’s beleaguered space industry.

US astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin were forced to make an emergency landing after the incident on Thursday, but were rescued without injury in Kazakhstan.

Russian officials said they were launching a criminal investigation into the accident, the first such incident on a manned flight in the country’s post-Soviet history.

The Russian space industry has suffered a series of problems in recent years, including the loss of a number of satellites and spacecraft. Officials said they would suspend manned launches in light of the latest accident.

“The emergency rescue system worked, the vessel was able to land in Kazakhstan... the crew are alive,” the Russian space agency Roscosmos said in a tweet.

“An accident with the booster, two minutes, 45 seconds,” the voice of Ovchinin could be heard saying calmly in live-streamed footage of the launch from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome. AFP

Malaysia frees 11 Uighurs KUALA LUMPUR―Malaysia has freed 11 ethnic Uighur Muslims who escaped from immigration detention in Thailand, their lawyer said Friday, ignoring a request from Beijing to deport the group to China.

In the dramatic breakout last November, 25 members of the persecuted minority used blankets to climb out of their cells in a daring pre-dawn escape from immigration detention in southern Thailand.

Eleven of them, all men, escaped overland to neighboring Malaysia, where they were caught and charged with illegal entry.

Southern Thailand and Malaysia share a common border, which is easily penetrable.

The group were freed and flew to Turkey on Tuesday, their lawyer Fahmi Abdul Moin told AFP. “Prosecutors decided to drop all charges on humanitarian grounds,” he said.

The decision was made after lawyers wrote to the Malaysian attorney general urging that the charges be withdrawn, Fahmi added.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the group’s release. AFP

At least 13 dead after Uganda landslide KAMPALA―At least 31 people have been found dead in eastern Uganda after heavy rain caused a landslide, a government official said Friday.

“The number of confirmed dead as of now is 31 people,” Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness Martin Owor told AFP. The disaster took place on Thursday, and also involved a river bursting its banks in the town of Bukalasi in the Bududa district, sending muddy water coursing through a market.

Nathan Tumuhamye, director of an organization which helps communities recover from natural disasters and conflict, told AFP that “four to five villages”, and possibly a primary school had been affected.

Uganda Red Cross spokeswoman Irene Nakasiita on Thursday shared photos of the scene of what she described as a “massive landslide” on WhatsApp, including images of dismembered corpses caked in mud laid out by the river.

Some of the bodies have been partly covered with banana leaves by members of the public.

“I have received the sad news of landslides wreaking havoc in Bududa District, killing a yet-to-(be)specified number of residents. The government has dispatched rescue teams to the affected areas,” President Yoweri Museveni wrote on Twitter.

Bududa district in the foothills of Mount Elgon, which lies on the border between Uganda and Kenya, is a high risk area for landslides. AFP

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Riyadh pressed on journalist

I

STANBUL―Turkey and the United States on Thursday ratcheted up the pressure on Saudi Arabia to explain how a journalist vanished after entering its Istanbul consulate last week, with US lawmakers warning that military ties were at risk.

President Donald Trump became more forceful in his call for answers from Saudi Arabia but he also rebuffed calls from the US Congress to show more resolve, saying he would not jeopardize arms sales to the close ally.

Khashoggi, a Saudi national whose articles have criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since October 2 when he went to the consulate in Istanbul to obtain official documents for his coming marriage.

Turkish officials have said he was killed- reportedly by a 15-man “assassination team” that arrived on two planes―but Riyadh insists that he left the consulate safely.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his most extensive remarks on Khashoggi, challenged Saudi Arabia to provide CCTV images to back up its account.

“Is it possible there were no camera systems in a consulate, in an embassy?” he asked.

“If a bird flew, or a fly or a mosquito appeared, the systems would capture this; they (Saudi Arabia) have the most cutting-edge systems,” he was quoted as

telling Turkish reporters.

The consulate said CCTV cameras were not working that day and dismissed the murder claims as “baseless”.

The Washington Post reported however that the Turkish government has told US officials it has audio and video recordings which show how Khashoggi was “interrogated, tortured and then murdered” inside the consulate before his body was dismembered.

AFP was unable to independently verify the report and US State Department officials weren’t immediately available for comment.

The case has come to threaten the strong relationship the Trump administration has built with Prince Mohammed, initially hailed by US supporters as a reformer who wants to turn the oil-rich conservative kingdom into a hub for innovation.

The two sides have worked together

in confronting Iran despite growing concern over the prince’s campaign against dissidents, which critics say has revealed the true face of his rule.

Raising his tone a notch from Washington’s initial low-key response, Trump expressed determination to get to the bottom of the matter.

“We can’t let it happen. And we’re being very tough and we have investigators over there and we’re working with Turkey and frankly we’re working with Saudi Arabia,” Trump said in an interview with “Fox and Friends”.

However, a Turkish diplomatic source quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency denied US investigators had been tasked on the case. Asked to elaborate, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert later said that the United States had offered help but declined further details. AFP

Not much left in resort town after storm destroyed it MEXICO BEACH―Walk through the deserted, debris-clogged streets of this little resort town after Hurricane Michael largely destroyed it and, oddly, one of the few things you hear are fire alarms― blaring away from piles of detritus that used to be people’s homes.

That, and the groan of bulldozers clearing away the wreckage left by Michael when it blasted this and other Florida Panhandle towns on Wednesday with 240 kph winds and a huge storm surge.

Mexico Beach used to be a little beach town of about 1,000 people, popular with vacationing families and retirees.

But Michael changed it all, wiping away everything in a stretch of 100 yards or so between the beach and the coastal highway.

Wooden beach bungalows that were built without foundations were simply swept away, leaving empty lots.

Remnants of everyday life―sinks, washing machines, bikes―are scattered all over the muddy ground.

Houses that were built with foundations remain standing but their doors and windows were burst open by the force of the most powerful storm to hit the US since 1969 and the strongest ever in this part of Florida.

At the marina, pleasure boats were tossed around like toys, some of them ending up all the way up on the highway.

Most of the town’s residents heeded evacuation orders, but some stuck it out―and said the storm’s passage was sheer hell.

Rose Loth, 53, hunkered down with her husband and dog and hoped for the best.

“We had one window break. We braced that window to try to let, you know, keep some of the weather out.

But then the house started shaking so much. Like ‘look, open another window, let the air blow,’ Loth told AFP. “I think that’s the only thing that saved us because the pressure had somewhere to go,” said Loth, who works at a military base in the direction of Panama City, another town hit hard by the hurricane.

Water from a seven-foot storm surge gushed into her garage and dining room. Loth and her husband were the only ones on their block who waited out the storm.

As fire alarms from nearby houses rang out, she said next time a hurricane comes she will evacuate. AFP

GALA. Tinsley Mortimer and Sonja Morgan attend the Global Lyme Alliance Fourth Annual New York City Gala on October 11. AFP

Japan’s Prime Minister Abe to make rare visit to China BEIJING―Shinzo Abe will pay the first visit to China by a Japanese prime minister since 2011 later this month, Beijing announced Friday, in the latest sign of warming ties between the rivals.

Abe will visit from October 25 to 27 and mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

The visit will “elevate our bilateral ties and put bilateral cooperation back on the right track,” Lu said at a regular press briefing.

Lu added that the two sides will work to “jointly uphold multilateralism and the free trade system”―a comment that comes as China and the United States are mired in a trade war that the IMF said this week will hobble global growth.

Lu said there a reception was planned to celebrate the Sino-Japanese friendship treaty, which was signed on October 23, 1978.

Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met numerous times over the last few years on the sidelines of international events.

But no Japanese prime minister has paid an official visit to China since 2011 and no Chinese president has visited Japan since 2010.

Relations between Beijing and Tokyo soured in 2012 over a territorial dispute over several tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea. Upon returning to power in 2012, Abe took a firm position on Japan’s sovereignty over the island chain, aggravating tensions with Beijing.

But he has since softened his rhetoric and called on China to press North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs.

Abe announced last month that he planned to visit China later this year.

“After that, I very much wish to invite President Xi to Japan,” Abe said after meeting the Chinese leader on the sidelines of an economic forum in Russia. AFP

Thousands to march against Trump’s ‘anti-woman’ agenda CHICAGO―Energized by a bitter fight over a US Supreme Court justice nominee, thousands of women were expected to march Saturday in Chicago and cast early midterm election ballots against the “anti-woman agenda” of President Donald Trump’s administration.

The protest organized by Women’s March Chicago was a sign of the political fallout from the partisan fight to confirm Trump’s nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the nation’s highest court despite sexual assault allegations.

Organizers timed the march to coincide with the run-up to the crucial November 6 midterm elections, when Democrats could wrest away control of the lower house of Congress from Republicans.

They said similar marches fueled by anger over the Kavanaugh confirmation were scheduled later in October in other states, including the Republican strongholds of Texas, Georgia and South Carolina.

“Women are very upset over the Kavanaugh confirmation and are fired up to vote,” Women’s March Chicago spokeswoman Harlene Ellin told AFP.

NOTICE

All but one Republican in the US Senate voted in favor of Kavanaugh’s elevation to the Supreme Court. All but one Democrat voted against.

Women’s March Chicago said in a statement that it was targeting the “anti-woman agenda of the White House and the Republican party.”

After a rally and a march, protesters were to be directed to early voting locations in downtown Chicago to cast ballots.

Republicans currently hold the White House and both chambers of Congress, but many in the GOP fear anti-Trump voters will overwhelm the president’s supporters in the midterm elections.

The protests came as early voting was ramping up in Illinois, and had already begun in more than a dozen other states. More will join in in the coming days.

Most states allow early voting by mail-in ballot or at a limited number of polling stations. The process allows those who cannot show up at polls on election day to have a chance to vote.

Chicago organizers insisted their event―where

a giant “Baby Trump” balloon was to make an appearance―did not favor any one party, even though funding came largely from unions and Democrataligned groups.

“We want to take back the reins of a government that is out of control, and give to lawmakers who can steer us always in the right direction,” Women’s March Chicago organizer Eman Hassaballa Aly told a news conference earlier in the week.

Simultaneous marches were to be held in nearby cities in Republican areas of Illinois―outside of the Democrat-stronghold of Chicago.

“Our marching community is fired up to begin the process of voting out politicians who ignore, demean and disrespect women,” Women’s March Chicago said in a news release.

“With the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, women across the country have been calling for marches more broadly where they can vocalize their dissatisfaction regarding his elevation to one of the most powerful positions in our country.” AFP

Extra – judicial settlement of the Estate of Antonio Talavera by Nenita and Bryan Anthony Talavera containing an area of 164sq.m located at #5 Marcel Drive Himlayan, QC covered by TCT No.104176 of the Registry of Deeds, QC.

“With deep grief we inform the sad demise of Mulford J. Colebrook on Saturday, August 18, 2018. His remains will be taken back to his home country the United State of America”.

(MS-SEPT.29 OCT. 6 & 13, 2018)

(MS-OCT.6, 13, & 20 2018)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 214 Mandaluyong City JENNIFER BAUTISTA-FLORES, Petitioner, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. R-MND-18-00800-CV For: DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRIAGE OLIVER BERIONG FLORES, Respondent. x------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER An amended petition for declaration of nullity of marriage was filed by Jennifer Bautista Flores (PETITIONER) against Oliver Beriong Flores (RESPONDENT) on 04 May 2017.

PETITIONER prays that after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered declaring her marriage with RESPONDENT null and void ab initio on the ground of bigamous marriage under Article 35(4) of the Family Code of the Philippines. PETITIONER further prays for such other reliefs just and equitable under the circumstances.

To support her claim, PETITIONER cites the following allegations; (1) PETITIONER is a Filipino citizen and with address at No. 533 Cordillera Street, Mandaluyong City while RESPONDENT is likewise a Filipino, of legal age and with last known address at 301-A- 186 15th Avenue corner Monterey Street, Quezon City; (2) PETITIONER and RESPONDENT were married on 02 October 2004 at the Roman Catholic Church of San Felipe Neri Parish, Mandaluyong City;1 (3) Out of their union, a child was born on 26 January 2005 and named him Ruiz Miguel Alejandro Bautista Flores2; (4) PETITIONER later discovered that RESPONDENT has a subsisting marriage with one Glenda S. Dizon on 05 July 1995 and had a child with his previous marriage named Lance Spencer D. Flores3; (5) That because of PETITIONER’s discovery of RESPONDENT’s prior marriage, the latter left their conjugal home; (6) That the minor child of PETITIONER and RESPONDENT is presently under the custody of PETITIONER; (7) That RESPONDENT’s first wife is still alive as there is no report of death filed before the Philippine Statistics Authority; and (8) That during their marriage, PETITIONER and RESPONDENT did not acquire real or personal properties.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance and pursuant to Supreme Court A.M. No. 02-11-10SC in rel. to Sec. 15, Rule 14 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, let SUMMONS be served upon RESPONDENT OLIVER BERIONG FLORES by PUBLICATION in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines accredited by the Office of the Executive Judge of Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City once a week for THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS and a copy of the summons and this Order be sent to RESPONDENT by registered mail to his last known address at the expense of the PETITIONER. RESPONDENT is directed to file his Answer to the Petition within THIRTY (30) DAYS from the last issue of publication.

Finally, PETITIONER is DIRECTED TO SUBMIT proof of service by publication by submitting affidavit of publication, together with copy of the publication, and an affidavit showing the deposit of a copy of the summons and the Order for publication in the post office, postage prepaid, directed to the RESPONDENT by registered mail to his last known address, in STRICT COMPLIANCE with the Rules on service of summons by publication.

SO OREDERED. Mandaluyong City 28 August 2018.

(Sgd.) IMELDA L. PORTES-SAULOG Presiding Judge

Copy Furnished: Office of the Solicitor General Office of the City Prosecutor, Mandaluyong City Atty. David Michael O Gabriel (COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER) GABRIEL & MENDOZA Law Offices Suite 601, Fil-Garcia Tower, 140 Kalayaan Avenue Corner Mayaman Street, Diliman, Quezon City Jennifer Bautista-Flores (PETITIONER) No. 533 Cordillera Street, Mandaluyong City OCC-RTC, Mandaluyong City 1 Certificate of Marriage as Annex “A” of the Petition.

2 Certificate of Live Birth as Annex “B”, ld.

3 Birth Certificate as Annex “C”, ld. (MStandard-Sep. 29, Oct. 6 & 13, 2018)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

Joel D. Lacsamana Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

construction equipment, fixtures and finishing solutions, as well as related services from 23 different countries.

“With the government’s aggressive pursuit of infrastructure development through the Build, Build, Build program as well as the private sector’s drive to produce globally competitive projects, there are plenty of opportunities for both local and international suppliers to grow their business here,” explained Morris Agoncillo, president of the PCA (Inset).

More than 70,000 architects, engineers, interior designers, government representatives, and other professionals from the industry are expected to visit PHILCONSTRUCT. Some 1,500 companies are slated to be part of the event, headlined by its copresenter Pacific Paint (BOYSEN) Philippines, Inc.; major sponsors CW Home Depot, Hyundai Philippines, and QSJ Motor Philippines; and show sponsors Caltex / Chevron Philippines, Civic Merchandising, Inc., Co Ban Kiat Hardware, and Isuzu Philippines. For more information, one can log on to www. philconstructevents.com.

CONSTRUCTION SHOWCASE RETURNS IN NOVEMBER

P

HILCONSTRUCT, one of the country’s biggest construction trade events will hold its 29th edition at both the SMX convention and World Trade centers, both in Metro Manila.

“We are converting the entire front Pancho, 1st vice president of the parking lot of the World Trade Philippine Constructors Association

Center into an exhibition hall, (PCA) and overall chairman of this adding as much as 3,000 sq. m. year’s PHILCONSTRUCT. more of indoor exhibition space He promised an even wider for the show,” announced Gerardo showcase of building materials,

BETTING ON A CO-LIFESTYLE CONCEPT. Eton properties is building Eton WestEnd Square, a promising location for individuals and enterprises, from tech and online companies, eco-friendly shops, social enterprises, to homegrown restaurants and other new enterprise concepts. Currently rising at the corner of Chino Roces Ave., Yakal, and Malugay streets, the development’s location in West Makati offers a highvalue business and commercial address, while being distinct enough from the city’s known hustle and bustle. eWestMall has two storeys of retail spaces that Eton Properties aims to transform into a co-play hub, featuring brands that gather and connect people through shopping and dining experiences, as well as services. The project will offer up four floors of work spaces best-suited for BPOs, tech companies, and start-ups. Just a walk away is Blakes Tower, a 36-floor mixed-use development that houses serviced apartments, a dormitory, and boutique offices. The development will feature breakout rooms and lounge areas per floor which will serve as a respite from the structured small office and condo living, or dormitory lifestyle. “At Eton WestEnd Square, community is king,” said said Martha Herrera-Subido, Eton’s AVP for marketing. “With opportunities for leisure enjoyment, career pursuits, and quality residences in one mini-township, we plan a self-sustaining and vibrant enclave.”

CULTURE-INSPIRED TOWNSHIP IN PAMPANGA. Megaworld is bringing its township lifestyle experience to northern Luzon, and hopes to light up the skyline of San Fernando, akin to the communities of McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio, Eastwood City, and Newport City. San Fernando, Pampanga boasts of a storied past that makes it an ideal destination for anyone looking for new discoveries. Connected to the city is the history of the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (PASUDECO)—the first Filipino-financed sugar mill in the country. Here, Megaworld is building a 35.6-hectare township named Capital Town. Set near the provincial capitol, the development will have residential, office, institutional, and commercial components. It will also open a six-hectare shophouse district, inspired by neoclassical architecture reminiscent of the 1950s era. Chelsea Parkplace, an 11-storey residential development to rise within Capital Town, is envisioned to become the center of arts and culture in the province (Seen in photo). Taking inspiration from the iconic neighborhood of Chelsea, New York, the residential development promises the same charm as the apartment buildings of Manhattan, while blending with Pampaga’s bucolic environs.

GENTRIFYING ESPAÑA.

Developer Prince Jun real estate corporation and infrastructure firm Megawide recently broke ground for the University Tower España . This is the fifth University Tower project constructed

by Megawide for Prince Jun. The development is a 52 storey commercial and condominium unit with 1337 residential units, and four commercial units at the ground floor. At the event were (from left to right): ASYA principal architect Albert Yu; John David Roque; PJREC VP for operations Elizabeth Sunga; Rev. Fr. Arturo Pestin OP; PJREC president Domingo Roque; Megawide chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra; Doris Gay Roque-Tan; PJREC VP for finance Rachel Anne Roque; PJREC director David Que Pe.

POWER FOR BUILD! BUILD! BUILD!

LAUNCH PAD FOR NEW IDEAS, VENTURES. The Design Center of the Philippines kicks off today the 10th edition of Design Week Philippines (DWP) — to run until October 21 — at Malingap Central in Quezon City, Robins Design Center in Ortigas, Intramuros and The Alley at Karrivin in Makati, and. Workshops, talks, and other activities will be held in these venues. Design Week Philippines is a bi-annual multifaceted platform that brings together visionaries from diverse creative backgrounds and disciplines in a series of programs and events that foster creativity, and spur innovations.

“Design Week Philippines acts as force that gathers trailblazers, tinkerers, creatives and designers in a central interactive platform,” said Rhea O. Matute, executive director of Design Center. “ The pool of ideas and best from this collaboration will hopefully usher in trade opportunities in the Philippine design industry.” Among the activities on tap will be a furniture design masterclass by SoFA Design Institute, talks on sustainable design leadership with the MUNI Community, NCCA art workshops, and an animation master class by Toon City.

THE Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) is pushing for the immediate construction of new power plants to secure the country’s long-term power requirements and support the government’s Build! Build! Build! program.

FPI, , composed of 34 industry associations, urged the power industry – including the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and private companies – to work together to ensure that electricity supply and prices will not be an additional burden to consumers.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza, FPI chairman, said different sectors, including property, real estate and construction, are experiencing the impact of inflation, which is reflected on the costs of basic goods and commodities. “We want the power in-

dustry to step up and do something, so we can prevent a potential problem on electricity supply,” said Arranza, noting that building more power plants and bringing in more supply to the market can bring down power prices. FPI also raised alarm that most of the power plants in the Philippines are ageing and most of them are already 15 years old or older, which make them prone to unplanned blackouts. The group cited the 1,200 Megawatt coal-fired power

project of Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E), which has yet to start construction due to pending regulatory approvals.

Power plants of A1E’s scale take around four to five years to build.

“The Atimonan project is an example of a very significant power project that can ensure supply availability in the future,” Arranza said. He added that the project will even pioneer the Philippines’ first plant that will utilize high efficiency, low emission (HELE) technology called ultra supercritical, which is already being used in other countries like Japan.

“We may have enough supply right now but we cannot say the same for the future,” Arranza warned. “We cannot just cross the bridge when we get there because it is not a problem that can be solved in an instant.”

Life

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

young life

saturday, october 13, 2018

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From the field to real life

TEAMWORK. Prestigious international football camp Milo FCB Lorenz Tortona with FC Barcelona legend Eric Abidal

Road to Barcelona helps instill good values into young athletes.

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erhaPs the best way to teach children good values in life is to let them play sports.

These young athletes who recently participated in an invitational football camp share what they learned from the experience.

The Milo FCB road to Barcelona, a prestigious invitational football camp, which is now on its second year, sent nine young Filipino footballers from key football clubs and schools in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu to Barcelona, spain in 2017.

The deserving athletes embarked on a nine-day journey headlined by trainings facilitated by FC Barcelona’s very own players, as well as a special session with football legend, former FC Barcelona and French National Team player eric abidal.

The kids also got to interact with 55 other young players from australia, Colombia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Tahiti, Thailand, singapore, and Panama, and together learned to play as one team, keeping in mind Milo and FC Barcelona’s shared values of hearT (humility, effort, ambition, respect, and teamwork).

Playing football has helped transform Kevin Hadap from a ‘rebellious’ student into a determined one.

Lorenz albert Tortona, 13, is one of the model student-athletes in the Barcelona delegation. It was his first time to go to europe, and the whole experience broadened his perspective of the sport.

“I learned that we always have to play for our team and not for ourselves,” shared

Mickey shares a smile at SM Two retail giants, both celebrating their milestones this year, team up to bring smiles to kids and kids-at-heart.

The “share-a-smile,” launched recently at sM City North edsa, brings together sM, which turns 60 this year, and the walt Disney Company Philippines, whose beloved Mickey is celebrating its 90th anniversary.

“Mickey has become a friend of every kid and everyone who is a kid at heart,” says Veronica Cabalinan, The walt Disney Philippines country head. “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,” she added, “we we are w happy to be collaborating with sM in a series of celebrations, activations, and

Mickey Mouse and Donald walkie talkie sets

retail promotions that will allow Mickey to celebrate his anniversary with all his Filipino fans.” a joint project of sM supermalls and sM retail, in partnership with The walt Disney Company, the campaign showcases the Mickey True original collection now available in sM Malls nationwide.

There are 60 exclusively designed Mickey inspired shirts that tell the iconic story of Mickey through the years. aside side from that, a special edition Mickey and Minnie Mouse plush toys were released and are now available at all Toy Kingdom stores nationwide. other # M i c k e yTr u e Original merchandise also include bags, toys, stat i o n e r y items, and many more.

Joseph Kyne Garces got a boost of confidence thanks to the sport.

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Mickey 90 years tote bag

Mickey Mouse shares smiles to members of the Down Syndrome Society of the Philippines.

Dreams do come true as Mickey also treated his fans to an exclusive Meet and Greet session. Members of the Down syndrome association of the Philippines had the chance to hug Mickey tight and close.

Disney fans can join in share-a-smile’s roving Caravan which is scheduled to make stops at different sM Malls: Megamall (oct 2-16), Moa (oct 1-12), aura (oct 17-26), southmall (oct 18-31), Fairview (oct 2-16), san Lazaro (oct 2-16), and sM Marikina (oct 18-31).

Go to www.smsupermalls.com for more information.

Disney Minnie Mouse R/C Airplane

Life

C2

saturday, october 13, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Adorable Shopkins fans Jasmin Maydao and Athalia See

Kids went shopping Celebrity guests Melissa Ricks and Helga Krapf with their daughters Kiera Kelly and Amelie at the exclusive Shopkins meet and greet.

Y

oung fans of the animated series Shopkins had a wonderful ship with Richprime global, has launched the Shopkins Season 10 time meeting and greeting their favorite grocery characters toy collection. during a recent event at SM Mall of Asia.

The latest collection is a throwback

Shopkins is an animated series that features shopping items transformed into cute fascinating characters. kids were evidently delighted to meet their favorite Shopkins characters live, including Apple Blossom, Miss. Pressy, Jingle Purse, Spilled Milk, Lippy Lips, Straw-

berry kiss, and Cupcake Queen during the exclusive Meet and greet session.

Celebrity guests Melissa Ricks and Helga krapf brought their daughters as well for an afternoon of fun.

Aside from the exclusive meet and greet, Toy kingdom, in partner-

BULLETIN BOARD

to the show’s beginnings, and includes miniature grocery items from seasons one, two, and three.

All Shopkins Season 10 items are now available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in The SM Store, as well as at Toy Kingdom stores in most SM Supermalls.

From...

From C1

Vatel scholars have a chance to be like one of these selceted Benilde students who took part in the six-week Vatel Nimes Summer Exchange Program.

College announces list of available

scholarships for AY 2018-2019

Looking for a scholarship?

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde has recently announced a list of scholarships available for academic year 2018-2019 Among the grants offered are six types of academic scholarships, seven kinds of merit scholarships, and several categories of financial aid for incoming freshmen and currently enrolled students.

The Pierre Romançon grant provides full tuition subsidy and fees waiver to qualified enrollees in need of financial support.

For incoming freshmen, Benilde grants the top 20 achievers of the Benildean Entrance Exam the Entrance Academic Scholarship, which entitles recipients with waived tuition and other fees.

The Honors Scholarship likewise awards incoming college students who ranked in the top 10 of their graduating class with full tuition and other fees subsidy, free dormitory accommodations, and a monthly allowance.

Currently enrolled students with outstanding academic performance, on the other hand, can take advantage of the Benildean Excellence in Scholastics and Talents Scholarship, which awards full tuition, miscellaneous support, and a stipend per term.

To qualify, students must have a high school grade point average of 90 percent or equivalent and must embody the characteristics of a potential student and community leader.

The Vatel Scholarship, made possible through an existing partnership with the Vatel international Business School of Hotel and Tourism Manage-

ment, awards students of Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and institution Management who showed an exceptional academic performance for five consecutive terms full tuition and waived fees for a year.

The Top Ten Honors Scholarship confers the top 10 ranking student-achievers from DLS-CSB’s respective schools with a stipend commensurate to their ratings for three consecutive terms.

The Athletic Recruit Scholarship gives the opportunity for the athletically skilled to represent the institution in intercollegiate sports competitions while having access to quality education.

Abiding by the philosophy of innovation and inclusion, the kapitbahay grant reaches out to academically deserving but impoverished high school students residing within the college’s beneficiary areas in Manila and Pasay City. They may enjoy full tuition, fees subsidy, and allowance. Applicants must be residents of the community for at least two years and present a certification from the Barangay Captain.

Finally, the Benildean Hope grant likewise endows education for those from the marginalized sectors, such as street children, and youth from indigenous communities, identified and recognized by the college and endorsed by non-government organizations and partners.

Benilde’s student population is currently composed of 25 percent scholars based on merit and circumstance, but regardless of class, age, gender, and culture.

Visit www.scholarships.benilde. edu.ph or call (02) 230-5100 loc 1821 for more information.

Shopkins Mini Packs Collector’s Edition

religion, Enzo started playing football when he was 4.

Considering his roots, football could very well have been his main priority, but his mom, Marizel, said that Enzo’s biggest challenge was balancing his academic standing as an honor student while fueling his passion for the sport.

“The Milo FCB program emphasized and impressed upon Enzo the value of discipline, which is very crucial in excelling both in academics and football,” said Marizel.

Lorenz, who was overwhelmed when he saw football greats Lionel Messi and Abidal in the flesh. “We always have to respect our teammates, coaches, referees, and, especially, our opponents.”

The lessons he learned, Lorenz said, will not only make him a better football player, but will also help him in his everyday life. A year after the trip to Barcelona, he said the experience improved his personality and helped him become a better leader, student, and friend.

Another talented football player who joined the trip was Joseph kyne garces from Don Bosco Technical College-Cebu.

“My experience in the camp playing with some of the best kids in the country helped me grow as an athlete and as a student by boosting my self confidence,” said The MILO-FCB the 13-year-old athlete.

2017 delegates are all excited when His mom, Jo Ann, they arrived in Barcelona, Spain to hone their skills. couldn’t be more appreciative of what the training has done for her son. “i find the training For his part, Enzo was very appreciain football to be an effective partner in tive of the work ethic he gained from the rearing my son to have the right values, Barcelona experience. “i learned the imsuch as humility in both victory and de- portance of putting more effort and enerfeat, respect, and teamwork. These values gy in everything that i do, whether on the made my son well-liked by his peers and pitch or in the classroom,” he said. more confident in his abilities.”

“Seeing all the talented football playAlso part of the delegation was ers from other countries, i realized that 13-year-old Enzo Courbet, an 8th i should not be complacent because grade student at Brent international there are others who are better than School-Manila. me,” he added. influenced by his dad who played kevin Hadap, a grade school pupil the game a lot growing up and by his at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Elemencousins in France who treat the sport as tary School, also made it to the nine-

man delegation. growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood where it was more common to play football in the streets, kevin’s journey is not one without hurdles. He had to grapple with schooling during his early years playing the sport.

“Dati, hindi yan mahilig mag-aral. Sa katunayan, tatlong beses siya umulit ng grade 1 (He didn’t like studying before. in fact, he repeated grade 1 thrice),” related kevin’s father Conrado.

Fortunately, there were some football coaches from the nearby gawad kalinga football team who saw kevin’s potential and inspired him not only to play the sport but also pursue his studies. He has since become a gk scholar, currently balancing his academics with his passion for football.

While performing well in school in recent years, kevin has also been recognized as the gawad kalinga MVP. His resolve to finish his studies and excel in the sport is what fuels his bigger ambitions in life.

The nine-day trip instilled in kevin, a fan of Messi, the rewards of determination and hard work.

“Nagpapasalamat ako na nakasama ako sa Barcelona dahil nakita ko ang mga idol ko na maglaro at ako rin mismo nakapaglaro kasama ang mga players mula sa ibang bansa. Na-inspire ako na mas galingan pa ang pag-football ko dahil sa lahat ng natutunan ko sa Spain (i’m grateful i was able to join the Barcelona camp because i saw my idols play and i was able to play with other players from other countries. i became inspired to do better because of what i learned in Spain),” shared kevin.

The Philippine team at the international invitational football camp.

Entertainment From C4

9 films vie for Cinema One honors I AM Original. This is this year’s tagline of Cinema One Originals, the film festival that championed filmmakers in the last 13 years.

On its 14th year, it is once again paving the way for directors and producers to bring stories that are moving, relevant and most importantly original, into the big screen. There are nine official entries chosen to compete in this year’s film fest - movies that speak truth about the struggles, the victories, the joys and the pains of living.

A Short History of Few Bad Things (Keith Deligero) is described as the most straightforward, Deligero was hailed as Best Director in Cinema One Originals 2016 for the movie Lily.

Asuang (Raynier Brizuela) is an odd superhero inversion kind of film.

In Charliebebs Gohetia’s Bagyong,Bheverlynn, a heartbroken woman hears that a super typhoon with the same name is fast approaching and realizes it’s a typhoon made of her own feelings and the only way to stop it from wreaking havoc on the country is to find happiness.

Double Twisting Double Back (Joseph Abello) is an erotic sports thriller set in the world of gymnastics.

Never Tear Us Apart (Whammy Alcazaren), originally titled Fisting, is a movie that combines Third World espionage with old country folklore.

Hospicio (Bobby Bonifacio) is a sort of sequel to his movie Numbalikdiwa, which starts with a botched crime and concludes in the hospice of the title, which happens to be haunted.

Mamu and a Mother Too, (Rod Singh) tells the story of a middle-aged transgender who finds herself becoming surrogate mother to her transgender niece.

Paglisan (Carl Papa) is an animated movie that tells the story of a couple who are struggling to keep their marriage together as one of them suffers from the early signs of dementia.

Comedian John Lapus joins the film festival with Pang MMK, which tells the story of a young man who visits his estranged father’s funeral with unexpected results.

Aside from the main competition program, this year’s Cinema One Originals Film Festival features short films, restored classics, and feature guest films, in order to elevate and heighten the movie experience of the Filipino movie audience even more.

Cinema One Film Festival runs on until Oct. 21.

The films are screening in TriNoma, Glorietta, Gateway, Santolan Town Plaza, Powerplant, Cinelokal theaters—SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Manila, and SM Sta. Mesa, – and in alternative cinemas—FDCP Cinematheque Manila, Up Cine Adarna, Cinema ’76, Black Maria Theater and Cinema Centenario.

Ticket prices are at P200 each in major and alternative cinemas and P150 for students and at SM CineLokal theaters.

Festival passes are available ktx. abs-cbn.com. Visit @CinemaOneOriginals (FB), @c1origs (Twitter) and @c1originals (IG) for more updates. #C1ORIGINALS #IAMORIGINAL

A

Broadcast icon Ted Failon returns to Boracay to show the result of the government’s rehabilitation efforts and uncover other issues surrounding its closure in Failon Ngayon’s ninth anniversary special airing today at 11:00 p.m. on ABS-CBN. On April 26 this year, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the island officially closed after reports showed its alarming condition caused by illegal construction and business operations, garbage problems, poor sanitation and sewage systems, lack of environmental safeguards, and more.

As Boracay prepares to reopen to the public this month, the multi-awarded broadcast journalist digs into the various changes implemented in the island in the past six months. Has Boracay recovered from the negative effects of tourism on the island’s resources? What happened to the local businesses and residents affected by the closure?

What is the government doing to ensure the island’s preservation?

Ted and team search for answers to these questions as they continue their probe into the state of Boracay, which they first began investigating in 2012.

Since it premiered in 2009, Failon Ngayon has come up with in-depth features and documentaries that inform and enlighten Filipinos

A latest aerial view of Boracay after six months of rehabilitation. on the important issues in the country. Previous specials of the program that received great praises from viewers and netizens include “Pamana ng Mina” on the perils of mining in the country, and “Kalamidad sa Pabahay” on the plight of the residents of National Housing Authority (NHA)’s

Edgar Allan and Kim defend their love from ‘engkanto’ in Wagas

KAPUSO stars Edgar Allan Guzman and Kim Rodriguez banner an interestingly mysterious love story in Wagas today.

Trying to win the heart of someone you love is difficult enough when you have competition. But the playing field becomes more challenging when your rival turns out to be an “engkanto”—or a mythical environmental spirit.

For Daniela (Kim) and Vincent (Edgar), nothing can equal the love they have for each other— they are happy and content with their relationship.

But things begin to change the moment Daniela have these frequent nightmares. It seems that an “engkanto” has fallen in love with Daniela and he is so smitten with Vincent’s girlfriend that he would do anything to have her. The couple’s once peaceful life is now being threatened by this “engkanto.”

How will Daniela and Vincent fight such formidable force? Will the “engkanto” succeed in ruining the couple’s relationship?

Don’t miss “Ang Karibal” in Wagas tonight at 7 o’clock on GMA News TV.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

DOWN 1 Schmoozes 2 Beat decisively 3 Bear, to Brutus 4 Not subject to change 5 Held up 6 Suppose 7 Lockbox document 8 Suitable 9 Yes, in Tokyo 10 Seasoned veteran (2 wds.)

11 Skin coolant 12 Puerto Rican port 13 Pampas backdrop 21 Table extender 23 Weak, as an excuse 25 Reduce speed

nickie.standard@gmail.com

FTER a sixmonth closure, the Philippines’ tourism hotspot is finally reopening on Oct. 26. Is Boracay ready to welcome tourists back to the island?

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 54 Container weights 55 Reagent 59 Narrow inlet 60 Vacillate 63 Debby or Pat 64 Type 65 Stay clear of 66 Senseless 67 Affirmative vote 68 Ms. Zellweger 69 Organic compound

C3

Ted Failon probes into Boracay rehab

Simply...

ACROSS 1 Thin porridge 6 Spud state 11 Sauna site 14 Ventricle neighbor 15 Himalayan country 16 Didn’t lose 17 Urban transport 18 Malodorous 19 Conclusion 20 Shocked 22 Situate 24 Not e’en once 25 Chides 27 Comstock Lode state 30 Figure on a cake 31 Gemstone 32 Good hoppers 34 Not very difficult 38 — Moines, Iowa 39 Long-horned ox 40 Admin. head 41 Strive for 43 Ranch measure 45 Compete at Indy 46 Wildlife refuges 48 Arkansas mountains 50 Book appendixes 53 Jog

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

26 Selene’s sister 27 Gives silent assent 28 Rapier’s kin 29 Flower container 30 Toothed wheels 33 Spandex fiber 35 Culture medium 36 Argyle item 37 — St. Laurent 42 MOMA artist 43 Relief 44 Aching 45 Metes out

47 Reply 49 One of the living dead 50 Courtyards 51 Every morning 52 “Golden Hind” captain 53 A crowd?

55 Give up land 56 Blazer 57 Actress — Heche 58 Ogle 61 St. 62 Vehicle

controversial housing projects.

Now on its 9th year, Ted and the program continues its fearless probing and reporting into topics that matter and have a direct impact to Filipinos.

Catch the 2018 Golden Dove Awards and 2018

Aral Parangal Awards’ Best Documentary program on its 9th anniversary episode on ABS-CBN. Visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/failon. ngayon.fanpage and follow it on Twitter via @ Failon_Ngayon. Tweet your thoughts and reaction this weekend using the hashtag #FN.

Flying high with ‘M Butterfly’ IT DEFINITELY ended on a high note -- that is most certain. The RS Francisco headlined and reincarnated production of M Butterfly did not only aroused the curiosities of the theater going public, it also created a buzz and a tempest of sorts as the David Henry Hwang play seduced everyone who saw it at the BGC Performing Arts Center.

The stage play mounted and produced by Frontrow Entertainment and Jhett Tolentino is based on the story of a French diplomat duped by an opera singer-turned spy as written by David Henry Hwang.

One of the reasons why it truly ended with a bang and not with a stage whisper, per a post in their official Facebook page, “Tallying up the final and official amount, but at this point, it’s safe to say that we have raised more than P10M for charity. Thank you to all who have joined us in this amazing journey.”

Adding more bang-bang, of course, is Hwang’s appreciation of the production, “Beautiful rendition of the show. The iconic performance by RS Francisco which matches any Song Liling and tops so many that I’ve seen in the last 30 years.”

He declared, during an intimate press conference held prior to the final show, “I usually don’t go to see productions of M Butterfly outside New York but I’ve had to see this ALWIN one because the Philippines has a IGNACIO special place in my heart. My mom grew up here in Manila. My family has been in the Philippines, three to four generations of them. When I was a kid, I used to come visit my grandparents in Cebu.

So I always found an excuse to come to Manila. “ Hwang added, “RS has this iconic legendary performance of Song Liling that even in the States we knew about and heard about. And I didn’t get a chance to see it in 1990. So the fact that he was gonna do it again and I would be able to revisit this play that has become legendary is another great reason to be here, even if it is just for a few days.”

Hwang staved his thoughts about the Manila production, “It’s a beautiful production. I think that all the theatrical elements are beautifully put together. The opera singer is pretty fantastic.”

“I’m very proud of it,” he carried on. “I really like the impressionistic aspect of the production. It’s like a montage of the different characters, it’s very powerful.

I like the way the production created a vision of what’s going on in Gallimard’s mind. That sets the tone for the seamless recreation of a man struggling to understand his predicament.”

Incidentally, it was announced that M Butterfly will have a five-city tour – Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, Dumaguete and Baguio starting Jan. 21 touring shows are already confirmed.

RS Francisco’s reaction to all these, “28 years ago, when I first did the role, at that time, I just did it because I’m an actor, I simply read my line. So every time I got praises like ‘R.S. you’re so good!’ I’d say thank you sincerely and humbly but deep inside, I said ‘Are you serious? I’m too young and I’m just pretending to be old for the role. I really didn’t believe myself back then.

When we stopped running in 1992, I promised myself there will come a time that I will be age appropriate for Song Liling.”

Manila’s Song Liling incarnate ended our conversation with, “I believed that my performance of Song Liling now is more layered, nuanced and textured. You know, I’ve gone through so much, the ups and downs I’ve encountered. As a person, all my life experiences honed me, it sharpened me and that’s why there are so many emotions I can put out now.”

M Buttefly flies and flutters again, very, very soon! It 'M Butterfly' leads Olivier Borten and RS Francisco is truly worth the wait!

ARIAS

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

C4

Entertainment

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

Julie Anne San Jose joins Christian Bautista and Mark Bautista and other young talented GMA artists in 'Studio 7,' the network's newest musical variety program.

ISAH V. RED

Adrian Alandy: from ‘Onanay’ to ‘Kadenang Ginto’ ADRIAN Alandy, the actor formerly known as Luis Alandy, appeared dazed when we talked to him a week ago during the press presentation of the cast of Kadenang Ginto. And why? He said, he got the surprise of his career when his manager asked him to proceed to ABS-CBN for a go-see for a prospective soap. And he did not knowing that the production company had its sight on him as one of the lead stars.

Kadenang Ginto piloted last Monday, and it seems that the soap his headed right where Dreamscape, the production group at ABS-CBN that crafted the soap, predicted to be – at the top of the ratings game in the afternoon block.

Alandy who has been shuttling between the Kapamilya and Kapuso networks for a variety of projects, the latest of which before Kadenang Ginto was the advocacy series Onanay in which he played an architect that fell (literally and figuratively) for a little woman named Onay said that he feels more comfortable as he isn’t bound by a contract with a specific network. His role in Onanay gave him just a week’s exposure before his character was killed literally giving him enough time to move to the Kapamilya network for the start of the taping for Kadenang Ginto.

In Kadenang Ginto, he is Carlos, the man two women – Beauty Gonzales (Romina) and Dimples Romana (Daniela) – love at the same time.

Often cast as a dependable best friend, a doting sister, or a dedicated mother, Dimples Romana made an impact among viewers of Kadenang Ginto with her refreshing turn as a kontrabida.

In the pilot episode of the Kapamilya Gold series, Romana is introduced as Daniela, the lone heiress of the canned fish company of her father Robert (Albert Martinez).

Seeing herself as her father’s second priority after the business, Daniela turns her feeling of neglect into envy, with Robert’s secretary, Romina, as her target.

Aside from noticing her father’s fondness for his employee, Daniela finds further reason to despise Romina.

Daniela’s ex-boyfriend, Carlos, whom she still loves, turns out to be Romina’s fiancé.

Alandy has been around for a while. In this series, he’s still able to astonish the audience with his compelling performance as seen during the pilot week.

And it gives him a chance to do some great acting scenes with Martinez who has not seen a day, a week or a month without a TV exposure on either daytime or prime time. His ability as an actor has been recognized, proof of which is the interminable projects he gets from the Kapamilya network.

“It distracted me from being weighed down by the passing of Liezl (Martinez).

When I work, it takes my mind off from thinking about the loss. It’s good,” he said adding that he hasn’t even thought about dating another woman now.

“My children will definitely disapprove.”

A formidable line-up of top-billers definitely requires an equally talented roster of supporting cast. Completing the all-star ensemble are Susan Africa, Ronnie Lazaro, Kyle Echarri, Luke Conde, Nikko Natividad, Kim Molina, Adrian Lindayag, Kat Galang, and Ruby Ruiz, with the special participation of seasoned actors Eric Fructuoso and Eula Valdez.

Jerry Lopez Sineneng directs the series produced by the well-renowned and widely acclaimed Dreamscape Entertainment spearheaded by Unit Head Roldeo Endrinal. Continued on C3 Actor Adrian Alandy returns to ABS-CBN via a refreshing role in ‘Kadenang Ginto’

Fresh entertainment experience in

‘Studio 7’ S

TUDIO 7 is GMA Network’s newest musical variety-program.

Premiering tomorrow at 7:40 p.m., the show aims to serve up something new by involving its audience and featuring latest pop trends as well as performances from the station’s new crop of performers.

The program announcement was made during the finale of the much talked about reality singing show The Clash, whose Top 5 contenders Golden Cañedo, Jong Madaliday, Garrett Bolden, Josh Adornado, and Mirriam Manalo were said to be joining the show.

At the grand launch of the program, where the complete lineup of performers was revealed, the network executives said that the show will make “every Sunday night special as they want to surprise their viewers with

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG watching the show,” said Julie Anne.

Stars Kyline Alcantara, Migo Adecer, Mikee Quintos, Kate Valdez and twins Mavy and Cassy Legaspi will offer one-of-

STUDIO 7. The cast of GMA's newest program that aims to bring music on primetime television while featuring the latest trends on pop culture. versatile performances from their artists.”

In its first two episodes, balladeers Christian Bautista and Mark Bautista, and pop sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose are going to be the featured artists. They will be joined by Gabbi Garcia and Rayver Cruz who will bring their trending musical performances and grooves on the dance floor.

“We are not just bringing the music back on TV, it’s a gathering of stars and fresh faces so people can expect a mix of performances and some interesting personalities each week. The show wants to connect with our audience more by making them involved in the program, not just merely people

a-kind performances to their fans, as well.

Adding more excitement in the show with their amusing brand of comedy are Donita Nose and Tekla who will serve as hosts.

For more colorful Sunday nights, fans and viewers will be able to feel the ultimate Kapuso music tambayan as they will have the chance to interact with various stars as they jam and dance with them in different episodes every week.

The upcoming television spectacle will have new segments every week including “Trending” where it will feature viral, heartwarming and interesting personalities online.

In “G na G,” the hosts will take on the challenges given to them by the netizens.

“On the Spot,” in turn, will showcase a grand vocal showdown among GMA’s

finest singers.

Studio 7 is under the helm of young TV director Miguel Tanchangco while heading the creative team is creative director Paolo Valenciano.

Soundfest II offers big discount The Yupangco Electronics Corporation (YEC) is calling on everyone to take advantage of the ongoing Soundfest II promo until Oct. 15.

The promo offers portable P.A. system package which includes Yamaha Stagepas speaker, Yamaha microphone, 2 speaker stands, a cable and a Stagepas bag at an amazing price Also, purchase high-quality audio into your hands by enjoying the Yamaha EMXseries powered mixer. In one integrated portable unit, you can mix and balance your microphone and musical instruments to magnify your sound and power to your main or monitor speakers Amazing digital mixers also await you including the new digital mixing console that gives the user’s intuition even in freer rein. TouchFlow Operation™ introduced in the TF series consoles allows the user to respond to the music and artists on stage with unprecedented speed and freedom, taking live sound reinforcement to a new level of refinement.

The YEC SOUNDFEST II 2018 Promo offers up to 70 percent discount, with the much requested YEC Professional (PA) and Commercial Audio (CA) equipment packages plus the “Create-Your-Own Package” (of up to less 10 percent + less 5 percent discount with minimum purchase of 3 items and at least P100, 000.00 net invoice price). For more information, you may call at 899-9757 / 899-9759. You may also log on to www.yupangco.com or e-mail yupangcoelectronics@yupangco.com

The Maine girl in new sitcom

By Nickie Wang IN Daddy’s Gurl, Maine Mendoza is the center of everyone’s attention—even of the sitcom’s other lead, Vic Sotto, and Wally Bayola, who plays a familiar yet interesting role.

In an interview with Manila Standard and some select members of the entertainment press, Vic Sotto admitted that the new sitcom will train the spotlight on the phenomenal star who’s going to dip her toes on situational comedy for the first time.

“She has improved a lot. She’s a very good actress who deserves this kind of exposure. So we felt that she deserves to be given a role in a sitcom. It’s her first sitcom and it’s a first for her to act in full comedy and I know, even before we started, that she can deliver,” Bossing said.

The senior TV host and comedian also commended Maine’s ability to do comedy and praised her for being such a natural talent.

“She has a very good timing. If you get to watch her in Barangay Jokers: Pamilya Nunal, you could sense that there’s timing in the way she drops a punchline, may dating at hindi ‘yung tipong basta binasa lang ‘yung script.”

In terms of her improvement, Vic further said that he has witnessed how Maine has evolved as an actress—from a seemingly timid girl who just wanted to have the job done to someone whose passion is now visible in everything she does and takes everything in her showbiz career seriously.

“You could see how she was able to level up as an actress. I must admit, I saw her as if she just woke up and she was there.

I mean hindi n’ya feel but I’ve seen her progress as a performer. We felt that Maine has begun to put into her system the joy in what she does,” he shared.

“I’m still in a process of exploring the things that I can do in showbiz, though I can also feel that I have improved, I’m just thankful that there are people who guide me in this process,” Maine said in turn.

The new sitcom, directed by Chris Martinez, sees Maine plays daughter to Vic and Wally.

Most of the scenes are on location and filmed with cameras meant for movie production.

As the title suggests, the program centers on Maine as the “Daddy’s Gurl” who grew up in Batangas in the loving arms of her father and with the guidance of her mother, who apparently perished and just connects with her through an apparition.

The sitcom premieres tonight on GMA. “It’s comedy but I am positive that people can pick up something from the lessons that we would be imparting in every episode,” Maine ended.

MayWard brings ‘kilig’ in another endorsement TEEN stars and popular love team Maymay Entrata and Edward Barbers are taking their connection to the next level as the new endorsers of PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi, the first prepaid service of the country’s No. 1 home broadband.

Both very active on social media, MayWard—as their throngs of fans call them endearingly—know too well the importance of a reliable Internet connection when it comes to reaching out to their followers and sharing every step of their journey to stardom the moment they finished their stint at a famous reality TV show.

Just like many celebrities their age, Maymay and Edward have turned into their very own social media managers, creating content and managing the account all by themselves. They often start their days scrolling through their own social media feeds, liking and commenting on posts, and then posting their own content to engage with their followers.

Instagram remains to be the duo’s main social media platforms, with Maymay boasting 1.8 million followers, and Barber amassing 1.2 million followers. Recently, they also got on board the Tiktok craze, using the app to take short videos and edit them with special effects before uploading them for millions of followers.

Available at PLDT Stores and retailers nationwide, the PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi comes with FREE 10GB data valid for seven days for a one-time fee of P1,995. Because it is prepaid, there are no monthly bill payments, locked-in periods, or even uncontrolled data usage.

PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is powered by Smart, the country’s fastest mobile Internet, according to a user-generated survey by Ookla, the world’s network testing leader.

To know more about PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi, visit www.pldthome. com and follow PLDT’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ PLDTHome) and Twitter (@PLDTHome).

Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber