Manila Standard - 2018 October 18 - Thursday

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329 bets meet poll deadline 150 senatorial, 179 party-list aspirants beat last day of filing

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Nat Mariano VOL. XXXII • NO. 245 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Fertility rate (kids per woman)

Philippines Laos Cambodia Indonesia Mayanmar Malaysia Vietnam Brunei Thailand Singapore

2.9 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.5 1.3

Source: UNFPA

Oh, baby! Pinays most fertile in SE Asia THE Philippines has the highest fertility rate of 2.9 (number of children per woman) among the member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a United Nations Population Fund report showed.

Based on UNFPA’s 2018 State of the World Population Report, 57 for every 1,000 births recorded from 2006 to 2015 were adolescent births, with mothers aged 15 to 19 years old.

At least 73 percent of the births recorded in 2006 to 2016 were attended by

a skilled health personnel while the maternal mortality ratio (deaths per 100,000 live births) in 2015 stood at 114.

The report also showed that the prevalence rate for contraceptives of any kind for women aged 15 to 49 years old was at 56 percent.

In an interview with GMA News Online, UNFPA country representative Iori Kato said while the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 was a triumph, its full implementation should be ensured.

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LARGE number of senatorial bets and party-list nominees filed their certificates of candidacy and certificates of nomination for the May 2019 elections as the Commission on Elections wrapped up the last day of filing.

CoCs from 150 senatorial and 179 party-list hopefuls were received, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

In the 2016 elections, there were 174 senatorial and 213 party-list aspirants.

Reelectionists, former senators, congressmen, Cabinet members, and other high-ranking government officials dominate the list of senatorial candidates.

Among the prominent personalities that went to the Comelec were 94year old former senator Juan Ponce-Enrile, former Palace spokesman Harry Roque, former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan, former senator Serge Osmeña, election lawyer Romula Macalintal and Florin Hilbay.

The Comelec said it will release the final list of candidates in December, as many of them would be considered as nuisance candidates.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said the filing of CoCs of the three former senators implicated in the mutli-billion-peso pork barrel scam―Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla-- was an indication of the level of disrespect and cynicism about the country’s democracy and electoral system.

“I hope our voters will see through that, and choose our opposition coalition slate who embody respect and hope for all that is good in the Filipino,” said Pangilinan.

The senatorial candidates of the opposition coalition are Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, DLSU Law Dean Chel Diokno, former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, election

FIRST NOMINEE. Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez accepts nomination as Number One nominee of the Tingog Sinirangan Party-List Group after filing her certificate at the Manila Comelec office Wednesday. Ver Noveno

Romualdez top nominee of ‘Tingog’ party

By Maricel V. Cruz LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez on Wednesday filed her Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance as the nominee of the Tingog Sinirangan Party-List group in a bid to bring more reforms in Eastern Visayas.

Romualdez, the first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan, vowed to push for the advancement of Eastern Visayas by fighting poverty and pushing for propoor programs.

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Latex may spur use of condoms PARIS—A perpetually unctuous, self-lubricating latex developed by a team of scientists in Boston could boost the use of condoms, they reported Wednesday in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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Romulo Café vies for UK’s ‘best bar ‘ LONDON—The full-service Filipino restaurant Romulo Café London is going head to head with the top businesses vying for the title ‘Best Bar or Restaurant’ in the 2018 Kensington & Chelsea Business Awards, which will be held on Oct. 18 at the Millennium Gloucester Kensington Hotel.

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Fare up P1; defer Xmas food buy—Budget chief

By Rio N. Araja, Julito Rada and Maricel V. Cruz JEEPNEY fares are going up by one peso to a minimum of P10 for the first four kilometers by early November, a leaked document from the Land Transporta-

tion Franchising and Regulatory Board showed Wednesday.

This developed as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has proposed new macroeconomic assumptions for crude oil prices from 2018 to 2022, implying a 39.1-percent increase in the mid-point assumption for 2019.

In a decision signed by LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III and board members Ronaldo Corpus and Aileen Lizada, the board granted the petition filed on Sept. 18 by five transport groups to increase the minimum fare from P9.

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3 Duterte kids also in the mix in Davao City ALL of President Rodrigo Duterte’s children, except his youngest daughter, will seek elective posts in next year’s midterm polls.

Duterte’s youngest son, Sebastian, on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor, marking his first time to enter politics.

He will serve as the running mate of her elder sister, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who declined offers for her to run for senator and will instead seek reelection after establishing the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago earlier this year.

The President’s eldest son, former vice mayor Paolo Duterte, will run as the city’s First District representative.

Duterte-Carpio, for her part, shrugged off criticisms that her family is building a political dynasty.

“We really cannot deny that, especially if our detractors and those in the opposition will make such claims. I don’t want to engage them. This is not something that is happening exclusively to Davao. When you are a family of doctors and your children become doctors, too—it’s the same thing,” she said.

Juan Ponce Enrile

Harry Roque

BINAY ENDORSEMENT. Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay and running mate Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo appear to have the endorsement of former Vice President Jejomar Binay when they filed Wednesday their certificates of candidacy for their reelection bid at the Comelec Makati office. Ey Acasio

Francis Tolentino

Ex-VP endorses Binay’s reelection bid

By Joel E. Zurbano MAKATI City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos and her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay filed their CoCs at the Commission on Elections Makati office Wednesday.

Campos is seeking a second term and will face her brother former mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay in the mayor-

alty race while their father is running for the first congressional district of Makati.

The mayor, who filed her CoC as official candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance chaired by the elder Binay, was also joined by her running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and husband, incumbent Makati 1st District Rep. Luis Campos, who is also gunNext page ning for another term.

Rafael Alunan

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ranks of poor rising in rich nations

W

ASHINGTON— Despite progress in reducing extreme poverty, nearly half the world’s population lives on less than $5.50 a day, with a rising share of the poor in wealthier economies, the World Bank said Wednesday.

In a twice-yearly report, the bank took a broader look at poverty to see where countries were lagging, even though the share of

Remembering Marawi: Rehab still in progress

By Nat Mariano THE groundbreaking for the reconstruction in the Islamic state of Marawi will happen by the end of October, Malacañang said Wednesday as it commemorated the liberation of Marawi from terrorists.

“Efforts to build a vibrant and prosperous Marawi from the rubbles of war and conflict will soon come into fruition as we expect the groundbreaking of reconstruction activities by the end of the month,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace said Marawi’s liberation from the “malevolent hands of terrorist” conveyed a strong message that Filipinos would unceasingly stand united against terrorism.

“As we celebrate the triumphs of our government troops against the Daeshinspired Maute rebels, we pay tribute to those who fell during the siege of Marawi and gave the ultimate sacrifice to make our nation safer and more secure,” Panelo said.

“The end of the intense firefighting in Marawi a year ago likewise marked the beginning of the healing and rebuilding of the Islamic city and its residents.”

President Rodrigo Duterte’s Administrative Order 3, which created the Task Force Bangon Marawi, has started the rehabilitation of the city with various agencies helping the internally displaced people rebuild their homes.

“We ask everyone to remain fully supportive of the government’s initiatives in this regard,” Panelo said.

On May 23, 2017, homegrown terrorists laid siege to Marawi, prompting Duterte to return from his visit to Russia and put Mindanao under martial law.

The Palace said the deaths of terrorists Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon thwarted the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the area.

Latex...

From A1

Protective sheaths made with the specially treated membrane take on a slick and slippery quality in the presence of natural bodily fluids, lab experiments showed.

And unlike water- or oil-based lubricants added to commercially available condoms, the hydrophilic—or liquid-loving—latex retains its “slippery sensation” almost indefinitely.

“A majority of participants—73 percent—expressed a preference for a condom containing the lubricious coating, agreeing that an inherently slippery condom that remains slippery for a long duration would increase their condom usage,” the study concluded.”Such a coating shows potential to be an effective strategy for decreasing friction-associated pain”— for women and men—”and increasing user satisfaction.”

Condoms prevent pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Some are made of lambskin but most are synthetic, manufactured from latex or polyurethane.

Without lubricants, however, all of these materials will chaff during “repeated articulations,” the term of art used by the researchers to describe thrusting motions. Added emollients wear off with use.

Discomfort during intercourse and reduced pleasure—noted by 77 percent of men and 40 percent of women in a nationwide survey in the United States—are often cited as reasons for not using condoms at all.

Researchers at Boston University led by Mark Grin staff addressed these problem by adding a thin polymer coating of moisture-activated molecules that entraps liquid rather than repelling it, as latex does.

The polymer-treated condoms did not affect the latex, and “provides consistently low friction even when subjected to large volumes of water, or 1000 cycles of articulation,” the study reported.

In touch tests, volunteers expressed a strong preference for condoms that were “inherently slippery” and remained so for a long time.

Because the material has yet to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the liquid-loving latex has yet to be tested during intercourse.

But more than 90 percent of the volunteers said they would consider using the coated condoms, and more than half said they would likely use condoms more frequently if the perpetually slippery ones were commercially available. AFP

those living in extreme poverty—defined as earning less than $1.90 a day—has continued to come down in recent years.

Under the expanded criteria for poverty, the report found the number of poor worldwide was still “unacceptably high,” while the fruits of economic growth were “shared unevenly across regions and countries.”

Even though global growth of recent years had been sluggish, the total count of people in poverty declined by more than 68million people between 2013 and 2015—”a number roughly equivalent to the population of Thailand or the United Kingdom.”

Despite the improvement, the report

said current trends indicated the World Bank’s goal of reducing extreme poverty to less than three percent of the world’s population by 2030 may be unattainable.

“Particularly distressing findings are that extreme poverty is becoming entrenched in a handful of countries and that the pace of poverty reduction will soon decelerate significantly,” the report said.

At the $5.50-a-day threshold, global poverty fell to 46 percent from 67 percent between 1990 and 2015. The bank reported last month that extreme poverty had fallen to 10 percent in 2015.

With China’s rise, East Asia and the

Pacific saw a 60 point drop in the poverty rate to 35 percent, but the region is unlikely to continue to achieve that pace going forward as growth has moderated.

And poverty is becoming entrenched in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 84.5 percent of the population still live on less than $5.50 a day, the report said.

And while two decades ago, 60 percent of the global population lived in low-income countries, by 2015, that had fallen to nine percent.

The World Bank also cautioned that in many of those countries, the poor were not sharing equally in economic growth. AFP

329 bets...

From A1

Asked for his stance on extrajudicial killings, Roque compared Santiago to the President.

“Nobody agrees with extrajudicial killing, but like the President, Miriam Defensor Santiago is a lawyer, so prove first if someone really sinned,” he said.

On Monday, Roque said he had dropped his Senate dream as he parted ways “on very good terms” with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Roque said he would vie for a seat in the House of Representatives under the Luntian Pilipinas party-list, saying it is time to be his own person again.

“It’s time to be my own person again...

I’m now back to the old person that I was.

I knew that as a spokesperson, I had no personal views, that period has ended I’m able now to freely advocate for the many issues that are close to my heart,” he told Palace reporters in his last press briefing.

He originally planned to run as the first nominee of Luntian Pilipinas, an environmental party-list, with Ciara Sotto, daughter of Senate President Vicente Sotto III as the second nominee.

He added that his decision was “largely influenced” by Duterte’s desire to protect the environment.

Roque said he hoped the President would endorse his senatorial bid.

Also on Wednesday, a spokesman for Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said he is no longer interested in politics and only wanted to spend time with his three children.

Ares Gutierrez, Public Affairs and Information Services Office chief, said the mayor told him he would no longer file his CoC on the last day of filing.

Members of the media waited for the mayor to arrive at the Comelec office on North Avenue, believing he would

run as the next vice mayor to succeed incumbent Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, who is gunning to succeed Bautista, but the mayor, who is on his last term, did not show up.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, meanwhile, said he escaped what police suspected to be an assassination attempt by a lone gunman who sneaked in after he filed his CoC for Camarines Sur governor.

The incident occurred inside the Capitol Complex of Camarines Sur in Pili town late Tuesday afternoon.

Andaya said the gunman, who was identified as Ray John Musa, member of the Capital Complex Security Unit, was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted murder and violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. Witnesses told police investigators that Musa was seen acting suspiciously when he mingled with Andaya’s supporters who accompanied the congressman in filing his CoC before the local Comelec office at 2:30 pm.

Shortly after Andaya left the Comelec office, the suspect reportedly approached him from behind and tried to pull out a firearm. The gun, however, fell to the ground, which drew the attention of Andaya’s companions.

Andaya said his close-in security subdued the gunman and recovered a .38-cal. revolver loaded with live ammunition.

The suspect and his firearm were later turned over to Police Officer 3 Renan Bongalon.

Andaya said he believes the gunman was acting on orders of powerful political figures in Camarines Sur who were “threatened” by his decision to run for governor. With PNA

Ex-VP...

administration in the first two years of her term.

“All these efforts have begun to pay off. For the first time in 12 years, Makati posted a double-digit growth in its revenue collections for the year 2017. For the very first time, Makati obtained the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit which rendered its unqualified opinion on our 2017 financial statements,” she said.

The mayor’s father affirmed his support for his daughter, saying he will campaign for the incumbent mayor.

For her part, the mayor told reporters that she was heartened by her father’s gesture of support, saying she was surprised. “I was surprised and I thanked him.,” she said.

The elder Binay is running for a seat in Congress as representative of the First District.

He earlier said he would not stop his son Junjun from running against his sister in the coming elections, saying he respect their decision to run, and that he would leave it up to the people of Makati to choose who best deserves their mandate.

Junjun said earlier he is ready to run against his sister to maintain the “Binaybrand” of governance in Makati.

UN Secretary General J.V. Bautista, meanwhile, said UNA leaders supported Junjun.

“Our presence yesterday with Mayor Junjun speaks for itself. Just like the councilors and barangay captains who have expressed their support for Mayor Junjun, we believe he is the best person for the job,” Bautista said.

Binay Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday at the Makati Comelec office, where he was greeted by over 15,000 supporters from Makati. Accompanying him were his older sister, UNA president Senator Nancy Binay; younger sister Anne; former Vice President Jejomar Binay’s chief of staff, Benjamin Martinez; former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes; and Bautista.

As early as last week, 13 out of the 16 elected councilors and 21 out of 33 barangay captains publicly declared their support for Binay Jr., who has also claimed the support of senior citizens, women’s groups, and vendors federations.

lawyer Romy Macalintal, former senator and DILG secretary Mar Roxas, and former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada.

Senator Panfilo Lacson exhorted voters to choose between politics of service and politics of interest.

The list of seven reelectionist-senators was finally completed with Senator Juan Edgardo Angara filing his CoC on the fifth and last day of filing at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

The number of former senators running next year came to seven—Angara, Enrile, Estrada, Revilla, Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, and Osmeña.

Former senator Rodolfo Biazon, who was reportedly interested in running, did not file his CoC. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III (PDPLaban) was the earliest to file his CoC, citing his wedding to chef Kathryn Yu today (Oct.18) at the Coconut Palace.

Others who followed him were Senators Nancy Binay (UNA), Cynthia Villar (NP), Grace Poe (Independent), JV Ejercito (NPC) and Aquino (LP).

With eight candidates, the opposition had the most number of Senate aspirants.

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque filed his CoC to pursue a run for the Senate, two days after he vowed to run to be a party-list representative.

Roque, who filed his CoC under People’s Reform Party (PRP), said he wants to channel the persona of late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

“My warning to the corrupt, to the stupid, to the anomalous in government, the spirit of Miriam Defensor Santiago will haunt you through the person of Harry Roque,” he said.

From A1

The team was accompanied by their friends and supporters led by former senator Rene Saguisag, whose son Rebo is running for councilor, when they filed their CoC at the Comelec Makati Office around 11 am.

Running for councilors in District 1 under UNA party are Martin Arenas, Alcine Yabut, Rebo Saguisag, Armand Padilla, Carmina Ortega, Joey Villena, Jhong Hilario and Jojo Javier.

In District 2, the party candidates for councilors are Dennis Almario, Bodik Baniqued, Ives Ebrada, Ed Marquez, Dra. Doris Arayon, Ina Sarosa, Sammy Cruz and Bong Ariones.

Campos thanked her father for choosing her as official mayoral candidate of UNA and vowed to pursue her vision of a ‘competent, compassionate and transparent leadership.’

The mayor obtained her Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance signed by her father as chairman of UNA on Sept.

27.

The mayor said that in her first term as mayor of Makati, she has succeeded in turning around the city’s social and economic status by “restoring transparency and the institutional integrity of the city government.”

“We feel the pulse of our people by going down to the communities to deliver our services at their doorsteps and address their urgent needs. Our Makatizens now enjoy more services under a transparent, professional and performing administration,” she said.

She recalled how bad things were at City Hall when she assumed office in July 2016.

“Two years ago, we found the city government in a state of neglect and disorder.

Worse, dirty politics and shameless political patronage had taken their toll on basic social services, depriving our beloved Makatizens of the service they deserve,” she said.

The mayor emphasized that drastic steps had to be taken by her new administration to repair the institutional damage suffered by the city government and restore its efficient delivery of services.

In a statement, the mayor also highlighted some major achievements of her

Romulo Café...

From A1

The family owned Romulo Café was selected as a finalist on the basis of its ability to deliver great taste, good presentation, a variety of choices, great customer service and value for money.

Operated by Rowena Romulo and Chris Joseph, Romulo Café is in good company. Its fellow finalists include Hawksmoor Knightsbridge and Orrechino Italian, both listed in the Michelin

Guide.

Rowena and Chris are hopeful their new menu of signature and tasting platos and platitos (sharing plates and tasting plates, respectively) will have caught the imagination of the judges and recognize a Filipino restaurant as the best in the royal borough.

Rowena Romulo said, “We’ll be at the awards flying the flag high for Filipino cuisine. This is where it’s being involved and participating that really counts,” Rowena Romulo said.

Fare up...

From A1

This made permanent “the provisional fare increase of P1 granted on July 6, 2018 and an additional P1 for the first four kilometers or a minimum fare of P10 from the original fare of P8,” the LTFRB noted in the decision that would cover public utility vehicles in the National Capital Region and Regions 3 and 4 (Central Luzon and Southern Luzon).

The fare increase would take effect 15 days after the LTFRB publishes its official decision in a newspaper of general circulation.

Lizada had a handwritten note on the document saying she had a dissenting opinion from Delgra and Corpus.

The Department of Transportation, which oversees the LTFRB, however expressed regret that the document on the decision was leaked “even before it was certified as official,” GMA News reported.

“We request the drivers to wait until the LTFRB releases the official document on the fare hike before charging any additional fare,” DoTr added.

In the document, the board also denied the petitioner’s bid for a P1 fare increase for every succeeding kilometer after the first four kilometers due to “lack of factual and reasonable basis.”

The petition seeking an additional P2 fare increase to make the minimum jeepney fare P12 was likewise “denied for factual and legal basis.”

Petitioners included the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Association Nationwide Inc..

Meanwhile, for 2019, the central bank has proposed an oil price assumption of $75 to $85 per barrel from an existing assumption of $50-$65 per barrel, the Department of Finance said Wednesday.

“Uncertainties in the global economy arising from the trade war, US President [Donald] Trump imposing sanctions on Iran, and declining Venezuela production scared financial and commodity markets, sending equities and commodity prices gyrating from day to day,” the department said.

“This has resulted in volatile crude oil prices,” it said in the DOF Economic Bulletin on Dubai Crude Oil Prices.

The BSP is proposing new macroeconomic assumptions for crude oil price in the medium-term, as follows: • From the current assumption of $55$70 per bbl to $70-75 in 2018 • From $50-$65 per bbl to $75-$85 in 2019 • From $50-$65 per bbl to $70-$80 in 2020 • From $50-$65 per bbl to $65-$75 in 2021 • From $50-$65 per bbl to $65-$75 in 2022 This implies a 39.1-percent rise in the midpoint price assumption in 2019, a 30.4 percent rise in 2020, and a 21.7 percent rise in 2021 and 2022.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, meanwhile, said the suspension of the higher excise tax on fuel in 2019 would cut subsidies to jeepney drivers, who were supposed to receive as much as P20,515.

Traders can't make heads or tails on Bora guidelines THE businesses on Boracay are still confused over the government’s guidelines on what and what not to do as the world-famous beach resort reopens to the public.

Elena Brugger, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay, says many establishments are still unaware of the status of their applications for a permit.

“The business sector is asking for a copy [of compliant businesses],” Brugger said on Oct. 16.

“We in the business sector have the right to know. The business community is confused because there are a lot of things that need to be clarified Brugger made her statement even as Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday urged all stakeholders in Boracay not to be complacent even if the island was no longer a cesspool.

He said much had been achieved, “but [a lot] more needs to be done to [completely] rehabilitate Boracay.”

While the resort island was “no longer a cesspool,” he said, there was no reason for the government and other stakeholders to be complacent. This is not the time for us to relax and lower our guard.”

Boracay was partially opened to local tourists on Oct. 15. it is set to be opened to the public again on Oct. 26, six months after it was closed down due to environmental problems.

Brugger said the bulk of the business applications to reopen were still on the Environment department’s desk because they had to review those businesses’ compliance with five laws.

“The DENR has lifted the suspension of the ECC [Environmental Compliance Certificate], but it’s still not clear. There are still some businesses waiting for their certificate of compliance,” she said.

“We want transparency because we have wanted to work together and cooperate since Day 1. They should have told us from the very start the guidelines because others are still unsure.”

Rio N. Araja

Romualdez...

From A1

Romualdez aside, Tingog Sinirangan’s other nominees are Jude A. Acidre, Jamie J. Go, Alexis V. Yu and Jenifer C. Padual.

Romualdez stressed the need for Eastern Visayas to be represented under the party-list system to ensure that marginalized sectors would have one strong voice in Congress.

“We hope to give one strong voice to the people of the region and champion the cause of authentic regional development and make not only Region 8 but the entire country less vulnerable to disasters,” Romualdez, the head of the House committee on accounts, said in a statement.

“After getting back on our feet following “Yolanda’s” devastation, we are inspired by the challenge to make a much better Eastern Visayas,” said Romualdez, vice chairman of the House committee on government enterprises and privatization who represents Tacloban City or the ground zero during Yolanda’s onslaught.

“Now is the time for change and we need one strong voice that will fulfill the dreams, hopes and aspirations of the people who have been battling poverty for a long time. Let’s give Eastern Visayas the chance to be one of the country’s most competitive regions in the country,” Romualdez said.

Acidre said “if Eastern Visayas comprises four percent of the country’s population, then why is it that our share in the national budget is a little more than one percent?”

“That is why we need a stronger voice in Congress that would strengthen our representation in pushing for our region’s interests as well as that of other similarly situated regions. We need to work hard to make Region VIII great.”

Oh, baby!...

From A1

“It’s one thing to have a law, it’s another thing how to implement the law.

Implementation needs to be done with the resources, both financial and human resources. We in UNFPA look forward to continue to work with the government for the full implementation of the law,” he said.

While the UNFPA findings placed the country’s fertility rate at 2.9, a 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey which was also released yesterday showed the number went down to 2.7 last year.

In the same survey 75 percent or three in four women 15 to 49 years old wanted to plan their families to have only two children.

The drop in fertility in the country was being attributed to the increase in the use of modern family planning methods by over 40 percent of currently married women who have shifted from traditional FP methods, the government survey showed.

Commission on Population Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III said the government should now prioritize permanent and long term family planning methods in the coming years.

Permanent methods include bilateral tubal ligation for women and no-scalpel vasectomy for men. Long term methods are IUDs and progestin subdermal implants.

News

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CPP-NPA ‘constraining’ Du30 to declare martial law THE Communist Party of the Philippines wants nothing less than to plunge the country into martial law.

To do this, the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, are ‘constraining’ President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law by “inciting massive unrest and lawless violence,” according to Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo.

“What the CPP wants is to weaken government prior to its takeover.

They planned to summon a critical mass of supporters to form a broad united front to remove the sitting president (‘Oplan Talsik’)” Arevalo said in a statement.

The AFP official said that by using alleged human rights abuses and inflation, the CPP-NPA is agitating the people to rebel against the government.

Insurgents also use domestic issues as weapons to destroy the image of the government in the international community to discourage foreign investors and to prompt capital flight, he added.

“If the CPP-NPA succeeds in painting chaos and discord, and in peddling conjectures of government abuses in the Philippines, foreign and local investors are seen to either withdraw or cancel their investments.

By inciting massive unrest and lawless violence, they want to constrain the President to declare martial law,” the AFP spokesman added.

At the same time, the AFP slammed claims of CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison that the country’s security officials are to blame for the termination of peace talks, saying these are all lies.

“Jose Maria Sison is once again frothing lies in his mouth as he desperately attempts to circumvent the facts on the ground and regain relevance in their so-called armed struggle,” said AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., in a statement Tuesday.

Sison had alleged that the security sector sabotaged the informal talks between the government and the communist movement in June.

“The communist armed group cannot force the people into thinking that the terror group is representative of the public and is in any position to negotiate with the government,” Galvez added. With PNA

WORLD POPULATION. Concerned officials (from left): Rosalie Masilang, DepEd CSE focal person; Janice Revilla, Labor leader, IBEDIN Philippines Inc., Iori Kato, country

representative, UNFPA, Jasmine Diorka Sulek, member, United Nations Advisory Board and Junice Lirza Melgar, co-founder and executive director of Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Inc., pose during the ‘State of World Population 2018 Report’ held at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City. Manny Palmero

President yet to release names of narco politicians

By Nat Mariano

“The President has yet to categorically announce if he will approve the release of this list amid the forthcoming elections,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement Wednesday.

He said the Dangerous Drugs Board has asked Duterte to “guide the voters” by divulging the list of narco-politicians running for the 2019 midterm elections.

“The position of the DDB finds a basis on the people’s right to information, which certainly includes the right to be cognizant of the profile, background, and upbringing of candidates we will choose to elect to powerful positions,” said Panelo.

The President, according to Panelo, has underscored the importance of knowing

such information for the public “to make intelligent and studied choices” on the upcoming elections.

Panelo said the narco-lists prepared by the country’s law enforcement agencies are not “mere conceptions” but based on “comprehensively assessed” intelligence reports.

“The public can thus be assured that these lists are credible and not propaganda tools to taint the characters of candidates,” he said.

“It should not be perceived as a verdict against those candidates named therein as they are free to seek recourse and object to the findings of our authorities in clearing their reputations,” he added.

Panelo said that the sole purpose of its release is to inform the public of various

personalities involved in destroying or ravaging the country through drug proliferation and facilitation.

“The President takes into consideration all rights and interests involved to ensure that the 2019 elections are not only credible and peaceful but also one that is truly reflective of the people’s desires and aspirations,” Panelo said.

The Palace statement came almost a week after the President refused to disclose the names of suspected narco-politicians even as the Department of the Interior and Local Government recommended the disqualification of candidates listed in the drug list.

Duterte argued such release will not be a “good policy” of the government.

Philippine National Police chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, backed Duterte’s statement that there was a need to validate reports saying that the bulk of illegal drugs entering the country is from China.

“Totoo ang sabi ng Presidente [What the President said is true.] Because what we have are intelligence information, it has to be validated,” Albayalde told reporters on Tuesday. PNA

HOUSE Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday urged world parliamentarians to engage the youth into science and technology to attain peace and address the growing need for innovation in the midst of fast-changing technology.

In a speech before the 139th International Parliamentary Union General Assembly at the Center for International Conference Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, Arroyo said that in order for the world to attain peace and cope in the age of innovation and technology, focus must be set towards encouraging more youth in science and engineering courses.

She cited a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization benchmark which set the ideal 340 research and development-capable personnel per million

population in order to sustain modernization into the future.

“To achieve that benchmark, parliaments and parliamentarians can provide the budget to encourage more youth to pursue scientific and engineering studies,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo headed the IPU Philippine delegation composed of members of Senate and the House of Representatives composed of Sensators Franklin Drilon, Panfilo Lacson and Ralph Recto and Reps. Rodante Marcoleta of SAGIP party-list, Greg Gasataya of Bacolod City, Federico Sandoval of Malabon, Ron Salo of Kabayan party-list, Ma. Theresa Collantes of Batangas and Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City.

The IPU is a global organization of national parliamentarians from 178-member states. The IPU Assembly brings together noted parliamentarians from its

member-states in a bid to promote and address democracy, equality, development and peace in their own countries and at international level.

This year, the theme of the assembly was “Parliamentary Leadership in Promoting Peace and Development in the Age of Innovation and Technology.”

Arroyo pointed out that during her time as president in 2007, the Philippine Congress provided a US$90-million budget to a program called the Engineering Research and Development for Technology which was aimed at developing a critical mass of MS and PhD graduates in engineering specifically through a highly-specialized academic research program. It is jointly implemented with seven Philippine universities in a consortium arrangement to better facilitate the production of future engineers needed for industrial growth.

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has yet to approve the release of the names of suspected politicians involved in illegal drug trade, but the Palace said the “credible” list would help inform the public.

Digong assigns urges more youth to engage in science, technology DOJ, OSC to chair GMA

By Maricel V. Cruz new inter-agency FOI committee PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has designated the Department of Justice and the Office of Solicitor General as chairpersons to create the new interagency Freedom of Information Policy Committee.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 49, the two agencies are tasked to review the inventory of exceptions to the FOI executive order in the executive branch issued more than two years ago.

He also tasked the policy committee to periodically update the list of FOI exceptions “to properly reflect any change in existing laws and jurisprudence.”

The committee’s members are representatives from the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, and the National Privacy Commission.

“The duly authorized representatives of the member-agencies of the IA-FOIEPC should be senior officials, each with a rank not lower than Assistant representative or its equivalent,” the memorandum said.

“Further, member-agencies shall designate an alternate representative with the same qualifications. The IAFOI-EPC shall meet regularly at least once every six months, or as often as necessary upon the order of either of the chairpersons,” it added.

In July 2016, the President signed Executive Order No. 2 adopting and implementing a policy of “full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest, subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law.” Nat Mariano

DOJ junks libel case filed by Garin against Ubial, 10 others

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice on Wednesday dismissed the libel complaints filed by former Health Secretary Janette Garin, his husband Iloilo Rep. Oscar Garin, Jr. against former Health secretary Paulyn Ubial and other officials of the Department of Health, in connection with the Dengvaxia vaccine mess.

In a 10-page resolution, the DOJ, through Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo, ruled that the complainants failed to prove there was “malice,” one of the elements in the crime of libel, on the statements issued by the respondents linking the Garin couple and several others in the anomalous implementation of the DOH’s antidengue vaccine program.

“It can be said that the respondents who were very vocal in their objections in the administration of the Dengvaxia vaccine, and concerned about its effects in the human body, had acted out of these sense of justice, thus negating actual malice,” stated the resolution also approved by OIC-Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

“It is understandable that like the general public, they were likewise enraged by the alleged effects of the Dengvaxia vaccine administered to school children where almost died allegedly due to the administration of the said drug,” Alejo added.

Although there is no established link of the effect of the vaccine to the human body, Alejo said it appears that there were already some protests, studies and comments from medical practitioners relative to the administration of this vaccine to the human body.

“Thus, there is this general outrage when many defenseless school children died,” he added.

The Garin couple filed 10 libel complaints in Iloilo, Quezon City and Manila against Ubial and several others in connection with their testimonies before the Senate during its investigation on the Dengvaxia mess which is being blamed for several deaths involving school children.

Bill declaring a National Bible Day OKd THE leadership of the House of Representatives is confident that the Senate will act on its approved measure declaring the last Monday of January of every year a special working holiday in observance of “National Bible Day.” Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao said he is optimistic that senators will also support House Bill 7544 which was approved on third and final reading before Congress goes on break last Oct. 12.

Pacquiao, principal author of the bill, said that based on the 2015 data of the National Statistics Authority, about 90 percent of the Philippine population are Christian.

“This makes our country the largest Christian nation in the Asia-Pacific, and the fifth largest in the country,” Pacquiao, vice chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports, said.

He said the Holy Bible “serves as the foundation of spiritual, moral and social

fiber, molding a socially responsible citizenry and a strong nation.”

He said the significance of the Holy Bible was recognized by former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, and Fidel Ramos through Presidential Proclamations 2242, 44, and 1067, respectively.

Pacquiao said these proclamations were instrumental in establishing the last week of January of every year as the “National Bible Week.”

Pacquiao said at the core of Christian belief is the Bible, its Holy Book.

“Sermons and homilies of Christian churches dwell in its teachings. It forms and transforms the lives of people across generations,” he said.

He said that the bill “takes a step further and seeks to emphasize the holiness of The Living Truth by allotting a holiday for its celebration every last Monday of January to be known as the National Bible Day. Maricel V. Cruz

FULL SUPPORT. Senatorial candidate and former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go accompanies Taguig congressional candidate Alan Peter Cayetano during his COC filing at the Comelec NCR Office in Intramuros on Wednesday. ‘Alan is a very good friend and very loyal supporter of the President. Kaya nagpapakita kami ng full support sa kanya ngayon,’ Go told the media as he stood together with hundreds of Cayetano supporters outside the Comelec NCR office. Norman Cruz

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Opinion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Still a popularity contest Obviously Go is not aware that being a senator means protecting the Constitution.

He is just all about loyalty to one man.

Once elected, a senator no longer represents any party but the common good.

This is the reason why a senatorial canAS EXPECTED, party-list representa- didate must have integrity and probity.

I am not picking on Go. I am just tion in Congress is turning out to be the biggest joke in the coming circus...I bewildered that Mr. Duterte would go out on a limb for his faithful and loyal mean, elections!

We can see that so-called party-list assistant. Will he rise and fall on Go’s nominees do not really belong to the candidacy?

Presidential Spokesman Salvador marginalized sectors as mandated by the 1987 Constitution. Rather, they are Panelo says there is just too much attention on Go’s filing. I say Panelo inelite members of society.

I have called party-list representation sults our intelligence. *** the biggest anomaly in the charter. It I have advocated the elimination of has origins in a parliamentary system.

The late President Corazon Aquino the restrictive, protectionist clauses of just made it part of the charter because the 1987 Constitution. I am glad that she had friends and allies from the Left. former Finance secretary Gary Teves Worse, it’s us taxpayers paying their shares my opinion. He sent me an artisalary. I feel like I am being swindled! cle on the need to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution. *** Teves claims that today, unlike a few So they are off and running. I refer to the 104 candidates for the Senate, as years ago and even up to last year, the of the penultimate day for the filing of country’s macroeconomic fundamentals are facing the certificates of challenges: Weakcandidacy. I have er peso, high inbeen told the numflation rate, high ber could rise to balance of paymore than 120.

Name recall is half ment deficit.

With so many According to characters run- the battle won.

Teves, the Duterte ning, the voters a d m i n i s t r a t io n will not be choosshould seriously ing political parconsider removties but personalities. This is a stark departure from the ing the restrictive provisions as a headdays when voters made their choices start to federalism.

No doubt, this will make us more combased on party affiliation.

I think those who will perform petitive in the region in terms of attractstrongly are: Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, ing foreign investments. Records show Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, Koko that we pale in comparison with ThaiPimentel, Imee Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada, land, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Mar Roxas, Juan Ponce Enrile, Serge FDIs fuel growth and create more jobs.

Teves also says we don’t need 18 Osmeña, Pia Cayetano and Bong Revilla.

I am not predicting that they will win, federated regions right away. Precondijust saying they have a strong chance. tions include expanding the capabilities Awareness is a big factor and they have of the LGUs and their officials to ensure they are prepared for regional selfthis advantage over the newcomers.

Bailiwicks of candidates are also a government. A more open economy will help accelerate the state of preparfactor.

I have covered 10 administrations. edness of the regions.

I certainly agree with that!

I think I am aware of the realities of The former Finance secretary believes Philippine elections. that federalism is important but may *** Special Assistant to the President not be urgent at this point. On the other Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go just hand, lifting the restrictive economic sounds pathetic. I listened to an inter- provisions of the Constitution is both view after President Duterte accom- important and urgent. It paves the way panied him in filing his certificate of for solutions that can immediately candidacy.

Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Weak and strong

T

HE Philippines is 56th most competitive among 140 countries in the world, according to the World Economic Forum in a report released this week.

Among the nine Southeast Asian countries included in the rankings, we placed fifth, behind Singapore (second in the world) and Malaysia (25th globally), followed by Thailand (38th) and Indonesia (45th).

The WEF ranking provides the big picture of which economies are doing well and which could do better.

All these are happening amid the changing nature of competitiveness, the WEF said, brought about by changes in digital technology interacting with traditional issues like governance, infrastructure and skills.

But aside from the big picture, the report also takes a closer look at individual economies’ performance

vis-a-vis the rest of the world in various indicators and pillars.

Our economic managers and planners can take a cue from the findings as they draw up where to work harder.

The Philippines, for instance, ranked 67th in enabling environments (institutions, infrastructure, ICT adoption and macro-stability), 94th in human capital (health and skills), 34th in market (product market, labor market, financial system and market size) and 52nd in innovation ecosystem (business dynamism and innovation capability).

Broken down further, the Philippines is strongest (32nd in the world) in market size, likely owing to our big, robust population.

We are weakest (101st), however, in institutions and in health.

Indeed, given that there are nine Southeast Asian economies in the report (Myanmar was not included), it would be equally accurate to say that the Philippines is also the fifth

least competitive country in the region.

We understand that our leaders are engaged in battles on multiple fronts: against drugs, for instance, or corruption. The proposed shift to federalism and the coming elections in May 2019 are also taking up most of our time and attention. Often, too, the people are distracted by the controversial pronouncements coming out of the President’s mouth of the colorful conduct of the people around him. That is, if the people can even forget how difficult their daily sustenance has become given the wild rise in prices of goods.

Competitiveness does much for development, because it is the competitive economies that get the inflow needed to spur economic activity, which will in turn redound to the benefit of the people. The report should serve as a guide that will remind us where we are doing well, and more importantly, where we need to improve.

Customs lawyer must be probed properties.

Belgica said his office will coordinate with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) and the BIR to pin down suspected corrupt government officials.

Mangaoang was recently in the news IF THE Duterte government is out to after testifying in the Senate Blue Ribprove how serious it is in fighting cor- bon Committee hearing on the alleged ruption, its lead agency, the Presidential P6.4 billion worth of shabu that had Anti-Corruption Commission, should slipped past the Bureau of Customs.

She served as head of Customs’ Xtake seriously the complaint filed by Ed Cordevilla against Customs Collec- ray division for a long time in the past tor V Lourdes Mangaoang for alleged administration. Critics are saying that unexplained wealth, lavish lifestyle, during her stint, no shabu haul was excessive assets and other accumulated ever accomplished by the BOC comownership that is grossly dispropor- pared to the ongoing all-out drive by tionate to her salary as a government current Commissioner Isidro Lapeña. employee. The commission must initi- Under the latter, the bureau has had ate a no-nonsense probe on the matter. an unprecedented haul of shabu intercepted and party Cordevilla, the drugs, ecstasy and complainant and cocaine appreleader of the group hended. calling for public *** accountability of There is no A solar energy government offiand storage techcials suspected of justification of how nology advocate having amassed she could have legally group, the Philunexplained ippine Solar and wealth, said that accumulated all her Storage Energy based on the sworn property if she relied on Alliance (PSSEA), Statement of Assaid that the Sosets, Liabilities and her salary alone. lar Para sa Bayan Net Worth (SALN) Corp. (SPBC) was of Mangaoang for not a showcase of the years 2012renewable energy 2017, there is no justification on how she could have le- resulting to more affordable power rates gally accumulated all her property if she for consumers.

Maria Theresa Capellan, president relied on her salary alone.

Cordevilla added that as a lawyer, of the PSSEA, said that a study on the Mangaoang is expected to know the cost of electricity in an off-grid municimportance of complying wit all the re- ipality currently served by the SPBC, Paluan, Mindoro Occidental showed quired details stated in the SALN. Actually, Greco Belgica, PACC com- it was charging electricity rates five missioner, confirmed having received times higher than that being claimed by copy of the complaint and vowed to its founder and chief executive, young thoroughly investigate. He also seemed businessman Leandro Leviste.

SPC, a subsidiary of Leviste’s Solar open to expanding the scope of the probe to include family members and Philippines, is a new solar power relatives who could have fronted for the company that has been thrown into customs executive in hiding other real Turn to A5

Once kings of TV, US broadcast networks face reckoning

By Thomas Urbain THEY once produced must-see television shows like “Seinfeld,” “ER” and “Friends” but America’s broadcast networks are facing a major crisis, as more and more viewers cut the cord in search of innovative content elsewhere.

Some are even wondering if there is a future for scripted television at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, which were roundly snubbed in major categories at last month’s Emmy Awards.

NBC came away with 16 statuettes, half of them for sketch comedy juggernaut “Saturday Night Live,” and nearly all of them in technical categories. Fox got three, CBS two and ABC a lonely award.

By comparison, premium cable network HBO got 23, as did streaming

giant Netflix.

“It is sad to say, but if the networks don’t change the way they do business, chances are they won’t be around five to 10 years from now,” Martie Cook, a writer and producer who also teaches at Emerson College in Boston, told AFP. America’s traditional networks basically invented the concept of the television series, and dominated the format for 40 years—from the 1950s to the end of the 1990s. Shows like “Dallas,” “Star Trek” and “M*A*S*H” are part of television history.

But the pioneers have been trumped, with basic cable (AMC), premium cable (HBO, Showtime) and streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu) churning out top quality programming with major stars and huge budgets—that wins major awards.

At the Emmys and the Golden Globes in recent years, only a handful of network shows were even nominated.

“They have to start taking more risks and stop pumping out the same kind of shows,” said Cook.

“They have to realize that what has worked in the past no longer works in the present... and what no longer works in the present surely won’t work in the future.”

Snobbery or too much good TV? Some industry experts say the demise of the broadcast networks is simply a question of snobbery.

“Entertainment-industry awards honor the productions they feel make them look good, not the ones the audience likes best,” Rich Heldenfels, a veteran pop culture writer, said in a column for

Turn to A5

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Opinion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018

Performance over popularity OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ THE election season is upon us once again. With the opening of the period for filing of certificates of candidacy, we are seeing the faces of our potential leaders who will lead our local governments and shape our national policies.

The Constitution and the Local Government Code provide a relatively free rein and are less restrictive on the qualifications for our national and local leaders, primarily so that anyone may run for a government position and serve the country. However, this has its downside.

The reality is some candidates are voted based on popularity and name recall. This is why candidates spend huge amounts for campaign materials in print, digital, or electronic mediums.

It seems that votes are directly and relatively proportional to the number of audience reached by the campaign posters or television ads. The more often people see a candidate’s face on TV, on social

media, or on the streets, the more that people are convinced of his competence to run and win. The more they hear the “jingle” of a particular candidate, the more they associate it with the potential of the candidate to serve. The more appealing the slogan of the candidate, the more people are amused. Hence, recall is created, and fixed.

At this time, our country needs leaders who are competent enough to make, propose, implement, and strictly adhere

We need public servants, not prom kings and queens. to policies that will improve the conditions of our country. We need to elect leaders who are skilled, if not experienced, in solving our economic and sociopolitical problems. We need people with integrity, who are motivated by the right reasons. We need public servants,

not prom kings, or queens.

Scrutinize the accomplishments of our candidates. Study their platforms, listen to their vision and determine whether their vision is aligned with the greater good. Be familiar with their views of matters of national importance— corruption, poverty, food shortage, and national security, to name a few.

I consider it a blessing that the past three years have been quite eventful. In those years, the people should be able to realize whether they have voted for the right persons during the 2016 elections, and whether they should learn from their mistakes. One can already see what the current public officials have done during their term.

With this, I strongly urge the public to reconsider their “wise” practices in voting. While candidates have yet to campaign, let’s all keep a keen eye on their intentions, views, and visions for the country. At this point where the country is constantly threatened by corruption, food shortage, crimes, illicit drugs, and terrorism, we should bear in mind first the country’s welfare and what candidates will bring to the table—whether they will be boon or bane.

Binay versus Binay IT MUST have been difficult for former Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr. to referee the sibling political rivalry of his children Junjun and the current Makati Mayor Abigail. It looks increasingly apparent that both children will slug it out on May if one will not be prevailed upon to withdraw.

In many respects, what is happening in Makati mirrors what is happening in many parts of the country. Many political families have strong holds on many cities and provinces. In Makati, the husband of Abigail is already a congressman in one of the two congressional districts of the city. The former Vice President will also run for congressman in the other district. With the mayorship in the hands of another Binay, the three most important political positions of the top financial center of the country will be in the hands of one family. This is not even counting another Binay, who is a senator of the realm. If all of them win in May 2019, they would be at the helm of Makati politics for 33 years. To be fair to the Binays, Makati under them has progressed rapidly. Whether this is because of good managerial abilities, it will be left to historians to judge.

In other parts of the country, dynastic rule has had very mixed results. In some cities and provinces governed by single families for a long time, economic progress have not been as rapid compared to areas where political leaders and their families do not stay in their positions forever. But the tendency it seems is toward dynastic politics. Even places which have normally changed political leadership are now being taken over by children or wives. In Pangasinan, for example, when Governor Amado Espino’s term expired in 2016, his son took over and is now the governor. He, on the other hand became a congressman. In La Union, the long presence of

Customs...

From A4

controversy after seeking a nationwide super franchise from Congress.

Leviste, to drum up support for the grant of the super franchise to his SPBC, vowed it will sell electricity as low as at P2.34/kwh.

SPBC now operates in Paluan, Mindoro Occidental, an area not served by the main power grid of Luzon.

According to Capellan, solar groups gathered SPBC’s actual cost of electricity from the billing statements of the company’s customers in Paluan.

Based on these records, SBPC has actually charged some customers over P15 per kilowatt-hour, not the P2.98/kwh cost that Leviste has claimed. Leviste is the son of

Once...

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the Tribune Media Service.

And indeed, if the networks are not raking in awards, they are snaring millions of viewers—for scripted series, reality shows and sports programming.

On CBS, comedy “The Big Bang Theory” and crime drama “NCIS” each earned more than 12 million viewers during the week of Oct. 1.

Over at NBC, singing competition “The Voice” earns roughly 10 million viewers twice a week.

At HBO and Netflix, most shows, even the critical darlings, cannot boast of such viewership.

the Ortega family in the political life of province is as strong as ever. The family has been involved in La Union politics as early as the turn of the 20th century.

In Ilocos Sur, it is no longer news about Chavit Singson being in charge. It used to be that he would either be the governor or congressman. Now, he does not even have to run anymore to be able to control Ilocos Sur politics.

Everyone knows Ilocos Norte is Marcos country. There are many other such places in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. In the Visayas, there are the venerable Osmeñas of Cebu. In Mindanao, Davao is considered Duterte country. The citizens of both cities, however, have benefited from the rapid economic growth which should be considered as more the exception rather than the rule.

Recognizing service to the nation: Britain’s way a knighthood is the title DBE (Dame of the Order of the British Empire). One of the most famous of DBEs is Dame Judy Dench of cinematic fame.

If this country had a Queen’s Honors List-type system for recognizing exemIN THIS country there are two ways by plary service to the nation, and if Philwhich a Filipino’s service to his country ippine heads of state could be relied is recognized by a grateful nation. One, upon to make non-political and meritoreserved for high-rank government of- rious choices for national recognition, ficials upon retirement from office or who in Philippine society deserve to in posthumous fashion, is the system of be bestowed the equivalents of knightPresidential awards, which are given on hoods and damehoods?

For their exemplary service to the a stratified basis (datu, maharlika, etc.).

The other way is the legally mandated government, past or continuing, the folNational Artist and National Scientist lowing men deserve, in my view, to be systems, in which individuals are recog- awarded knighthoods: former President nized for their outstanding contributions Fidel V. Ramos, former Prime Minister to specific fields of human endeavor (an and Secretary of Finance Cesar Virata, Senior Supreme Court Justice Antoart form, a scientific field, etc.).

Although they have from time to time nio Carpio, former Senators Rene Saencountered glitches—e.g., when Presi- guisag and Aquilino Pimentel Jr., and dent Gloria Arroyo insisted on inserting Representative Edcel Lagman. The title a personal choice for National Artist— ‘Dame’ should be bestowed on former these two ways of recognizing service Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former PEZA to the nation have (Philippine Ecoon the whole done nomic Zone Autheir job well. But thority) Adminthere is another istrator Lilia de way, not familiar If Philippine heads Lima. to most Filipinos, In the realm of that I wish were of state could be relied business and the also used to reward upon to make nonprofession, the Filipinos who have equivalent of ‘Sir’ done right by their political and meritorious or ‘Dame’ should, Inang Bayan. choices for national in my view, be It is the Britplaced before ish way I have in recognition, who in the names of SM mind. In the course Philippine society Group founder of a long stay in the deserve to be bestowed Henry Sy, San UK (United KingMiguel Corporadom) I learned to the equivalents of tion president and appreciate tradi- knighthoods and chief operating oftions that over the ficer Ramon Ang, centuries have damehoods?

PLDT chairman gone to form parts Manuel V. Pangof Britain’s storied ilinan, Ayala Corhistory. One of poration chairman these traditions is Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Robinthe Queen’s (or King’s) Honors List.

The List, which is issued twice a year— sons Group chairman John Gokongwei on the monarch’s official birthday in June Jr., Jollibee Foods Corporation chairand on New Year’s Day—contains the man Tony Tan Caktiong, National Book names of British men and women who Store founder Socorro Ramos and book the monarch wishes to honor for services publisher Dominador Buhain Jr. Richly deserving, in my view, of the rendered to a grateful nation. Although the twice-yearly list is regarded as a part equivalent of the title Dame, in the world of the royal prerogative, it is nevertheless of the arts, are ballerina Lisa Macuja, issued with the concurrence and upon the actresses Nora Aunor and Vilma Sanadvice of the Prime Minister, represent- tos-Recto, Broadway star Lea Salonga, ing the sovereign people. Also by tradi- pianist Cecile Licad, diva Pilita Corrales, tion, the Queen (or King) asks the Prime composer Ryan Cayabyab and directors Minister for suggestions for Queen’s List Brillante Mendoza and Lav Diaz Jr. At President’s Honors List for the honorees, but she (or he) is not bound to accept any proffered names, although it professions would include architect would be imprudent for her (or him) to Felino Palafox Jr., fashion designer ignore a Prime Minister-suggested name. Monique Lhuillier, furniture designer This should not be taken to mean that Kenneth Cobonpue, doctors George little thought goes into the drawing up Garcia, Joven Cuanang and Esperanza of the Queen’s Honors List. Not at all. Cabral, undersecretary Heidi MendoHer Majesty (or His Majesty) is, after za, lawyers Joaquin Bernas Jr., Ricarall, a person who keeps track of what do Romulo and Cesar Villanueva and is happening in the nation at large—in economist Felipe Medalla.

Last but by no means the least, the governance, in business and the media, in science, in arts and letters, in sports, domain of literature and the commuin community work and in other impor- nications media. A President’s Honors tant areas of British society. Only the List for this segment of Philippine socihide-bound traditionalists were heard ety should include newspaper publisher to complain when Cliff Richard and, Felipe Gozon Jr., former CBS News bulater, two of the Beatles were awarded reau chief Gabino Tabunar Jr. and forknighthoods by the present Queen in mer publisher Eugenia Apostol.

The British system of recognizing citisuccessive Honor’s List; not only were the honorees extremely popular with the zens who have served their country well youth of the UK and other countries but continues to be respected because the they also generated lots of foreign ex- grantor of the honors, in the bi-annual change for Britain’s Treasury from for- sovereign’s Honors List, is an independeign sales of their records and their over- ent and non-partisan and admired perseas appearances. A KBE (Knight of the son. The Honors List has become one of Order of the British Empire) gets to be Britain’s cherished traditions.

What a pity that this country has not addressed as ‘Sir’ and his wife gets to be called ‘Lady.’ The female counterpart of been able to install such a tradition.

Still, the unmistakable political direction is toward family members succeeding each other when their kin has maximized allowed terms and are no longer allowed to run. This is in spite of attempts of some well-meaning sectors of the society who are spearheading the abolition of political dynasties.

Recently, the constitutional commission tasked by President Duterte to draft a new constitution came up with a provision to eliminate political dynasties. But before it can even be debated seriously, it was shot down by many members of Congress from both houses. It is becoming more likely this effort will again fail. In fact, there is a high probability that the constitution may not be ratified at all.

To go back to Makati, it is not only the city in the Metropolitan area where

political control is in the hands of one family. There is San Juan, ruled by the family of former President Estrada for more than 40 years. This time, however, another family, the Zamoras, wants to take over the political reign of San Juan from the Estradas.

There are also the Eusebios of Pasig and lest we forget, the Cayetanos of Taguig.

So, the Binays are not really that unique. It has caught media attention because the family was unable to settle their differences and ended with Binay Sr. making a Solomonic decision to allow both siblings to run for mayor. With all the controversies generated by the failure of the country to abolish political dynasties, I have not come across any in-depth academic study about it pointing to the advantages or disadvantages of dynastic political rules. All that we are basing our pronouncements on are our observations which sometimes are deceptive and do not tell the whole story.

Historically, we can only look at the overthrow of long reigning monarchies in Europe where the oppressed people ended royal dynasties by chopping the heads of their kings and queens. There may still be Kings and Queens there but these royals only reign. They no longer govern.

The anti-dynasty provision of the 1987 Constitution as we know has never been enforced because there was no law promulgated to implement it. Why President Cory Aquino did not pass an implementing law is difficult to understand considering her aversion to everything Marcos. The usual defense of politicians with wives and children in politics is that it is the people after all making the final decision to put family members in office.

Another smart way politicians go around term limits if wives and children cannot run is for them to run as vice mayors or vice governors. It is really all a joke but the biggest reason why the anti-dynasty proponents cannot make any headway is that the public has not really shown any outrage strong and loud enough to make the politicians pay attention to effect change.

Senator Loren Legarda.

“This information casts doubt on SPBC’s claims and should warn our lawmakers and regulators about the folly of gifting any single private company with a super franchise that the company could use to monopolize and capture rates,” Capellan added.

Contrary to public pronouncements, the proposed super franchise does not contain any requirement for Leviste’s company to actually provide electricity to any areas at all, but gives it blanket authorization to engage in the generation, distribution, and supply of solar energy mini-grids, with no government oversight or consumer protections.

The proposed franchise further allows SPBC to use public spaces and invoke eminent domain or the right to expropriate private property for use of its facilities.

PSSEA and other groups are opposing the proposed franchise for SPBC because such a franchise would create a monopoly and inhibit competition, contrary to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and the Renewable Energy Act. Distribution utilities and electric cooperatives also oppose the bill as it would grant SPBC the license to encroach into their franchise areas.

“We reiterate our position that, instead of giving SPBC a super franchise, Congress should pass a law creating a regulatory framework for all mini-grids and micro-grids to operate on an equal footing. Under this alternative proposal, any obligations and incentives for mini-grid and micro-grid projects should apply to all qualified entities,” PSSEA said in a statement.

help address the gut issues and accelerate the attainment of the administration’s socio-economic agenda—particularly development and infrastructure.

Teves says: “It is high time to harvest the low-hanging fruit, which will yield many benefits for us today and the next generation. We need to respond with a deeper sense of urgency to bring real and positive change in our country.”

I say Amen to that! *** I feel sad that the patriarch of the Binay family, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, decided to have the residents of Makati

“The audience now has so many more options,” says Amanda Lotz, a professor of communications and screen arts at the University of Michigan.

“Going forward, it requires them to recognize what they can do well as opposed to what a streaming service can do well.”

‘Do something different’ In recent months, some of network TV’s biggest names—notably, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” guru Shonda Rhimes, and CBS comedy creator Chuck Lorre (“The Big Bang Theory”)—have made huge production deals with Netflix.

While Lorre’s deal is not exclusive, Rhimes definitely seems to be shifting her allegiance from ABC. Of course, the networks still create popular shows that do well.

NBC’s “This Is Us” has earned critical praise and won multiple Emmys for acting in recent years, while Fox’s music drama “Empire” was must-watch TV for younger viewers when it started in 2015.

But most of the successful network shows are long-running series like “Big Bang,” now in its last season, or crime procedurals popular with older viewers, like “NCIS.” “They can still capture baby boomers and up with crime shows and family comedies, because those folks grew up on network television, so it feels familiar,” says Cook.

“But to younger generations—the age range the networks most want to attract— network television is not something they race to. For many, if not most, it’s not even on their radar screens.”

Lotz says the departures of big-name cre-

ators such as Rhimes are not necessarily a death blow for the networks.

“It’s still the case that producing for a broadcast network is in general far more lucrative,” she told AFP. “So there still will be creative talent available for the broadcast networks as long as their pay rates are comparable or superior.”

After all, while they trail Netflix, which invested $8 billion in content for 2018, traditional networks are still pouring $3-4 billion a year into their content budget—and scripted series are only a part of that.

Lotz predicts that the broadcast channels will eventually slash the time devoted to scripted series in favor of more live programming—an area the streaming giants have barely touched.

What is happening in Makati mirrors the situation in many other places in the country.

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Still...

From A4

just choose between his two children, Junjun and Abby.

I am also sad that despite the request of Mayor Abby, her brother Junjun still opted to run against her.

I am sad because Mayor Abby is already doing a fine job in the city. A change at city hall can derail what she is already doing. She has made Makati crime-free and drug-free.

All I can say is “sayang.” *** Another father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, has also not been able to reconcile his sons. Both JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada are bent on running, although I can’t see how JV can win against Jinggoy. Think it over, JV. www.emiljurado.weebly.com Sports events are a success for networks —in the autumn, broadcasts of American football games are regularly the top ratings getter. So are big-time reality competition shows like “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice,” both on NBC. “Saturday Night Live” also creates buzz for NBC. In the 1980s and 1990s, NBC’s “MustSee TV” on Thursdays was exactly that.

Without the Internet, and DVR viewing, people wanted to watch “Friends” or “Seinfeld” so they could discuss it with friends and colleagues the following day.

That is no longer the case.

Networks “need to create events that people feel that they need to watch live,” said Lotz. “That hasn’t been the primary focus for broadcasters for a long time.” AFP

News

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOTC’s Orbos to run for seat in Pangasinan’s 1st district

XMAS IN A BOTTLE. Barangay workers at Barangay Payatas in Quezon City used recycled bottles to make a giant Christmas tree along their main road. The use of recycled plastic bottles for Christmas decors is one of the beautification projects of the barangay. Manny Palmero

By Joel E. Zurbano IINTERGANECY Council for Traffic chief Thomas Orbos will be running for a congressional seat in the 2019 midterm elections.

Orbos, a concurrent Department of Transportation undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure, on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy as representative of 1st district of Pangasinan.

A native of Pangasinan, Orbos said he intended to give Pangasinenses the “Orbos-style” public service where people are priority.

He said: “There is a moral decay and so many missed opportunities from the current representation in Pangasinan. We cannot afford to just let this pass.

“We have to do something for our province again. We want to give them the kind of governance they deserve by providing them quality social services and championing their welfare through policy-building measures.

“We assure our people of improved representation in the Congress.”

Orbos said he would bring to Congress the experiences he had from serving the executive department since the time he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Metro Manila Development Authority general manager and eventually acting chairman until last May 2017.

He was then reappointed as Undersecretary for Roads and Infrastructure at the Department of Transportation and head of I-ACT. Orbos, during his stint at the MMDA, introduced and implemented traffic policies such as the no-window hour, expanded number coding, and light trucks ban.

He also spearheaded the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program under the DoTr. The program aims to make the country’s public transport system safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Orbos is the son of Guillermo Orbos and Concepcion Muñoz.

His father was noted as the “most respected Bureau of Customs Collector at the Port of Manila” and was known for his legendary integrity.

His brothers Fr. Jerry and Oscar were also public servants.

Renowned priest Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, is known as the “Healing Priest” while Oscar, more popularly known as “Ka Oca,” served as Pangasinan governor from 1985 to 1990, Representative for 1st District of Pangasinan during the 8th and 9th Congress, Department of Transportation and Communications secretary in 1990 and executive secretary from 1990-1991.

PH 56 in world league table for skilled workers th

By Vito Barcelo

E

UROPE dominates the global league table for skilled workers with 14 of the top 25 countries, four from Asia two from the Middle East but none from North and South America, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2018 global competitiveness report.

Topping the list is Finland with a score of 87.3 followed closely by Switzerland with a score of 87.3 and the United States with 86.3.

The Philippines lags behind its peers in Asia and ranked 56th with a score of 62.1.

Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan 19th, 20th and 21st respectively after Estonia, lead the Asian region.

The World Economic Forum’s 2018 global competitiveness report ranks the labor forces of different countries

based on skills.

According to the World Economic Forum’s report, education is a key part of producing and maintaining a highly skilled workforce.

The WEF publishes the rankings every year based on several indicators, including institutions, infrastructure, higher education and training, and labor market efficiency.

An official from the Department of Labor and Employment, who asked anonymity for he is not authorized to speak,

said the DOLE has acknowledged the WEF ranking and the government is taking steps to address the “vital” issues being faced by the country, particularly education.

The DOLE official declined to elaborate more on the issue.

The WEF report said Finland comes top of the global league table on the back of high rankings for almost all measures of education, skills and training and for all age groups.

The country is best in the world for the quality of primary schools, youth literacy rates, and the ease with which businesses can find skilled workers.

In Asia, Japan has both the world’s highest education and skills. It also has the world’s highest rate for tertiary education of its working age population, according to WEF report.

Smuggled package of 12 pythons intercepted by BOC authorities AIRPORT and Customs authorities intercepted a smuggled shipment of at least 12 juvenile (pythons) snakes at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

The snakes, according to CustomsNinoy Aquino International Airport collector Carmelita Talusan, were brought into the country concealed inside a package and “were misdeclared as Taro chips from Indonesia.”

The authorities made the apprehension a day after Customs NAIA officials turned over a shipment of confiscated 250 heads of geckos to the Bureau of Animal Industry at the Paircargo warehouse, also in Pasay City.

Market price of newly hatched snakes ranges from P5,000 to P20,000, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources It added that a full-grown reticulated python snake, considered the world’s longest and heaviest snake that usually constricts its prey, can weigh as much as

30-40 kilograms and can grow as much as 17 to 18 feet on an average.

The government stated that importation of such wildlife species without the necessary permits violated Customs law, Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and Republic Act No 8485, or The Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

The non-venomous python snakes which recently arrived in CMEC were turned over to DENR representatives led by lawyer Andres Mikhail Villaruel for proper handling and protection.

Meanwhile, the shipment containing the exotic geckos arrived on Sept. 27, 2018 from Hong Kong and was consigned to Jose Pierino Nicolas of PC Exotic Pets in Caloocan City.

Price range of these geckos are from $100 to $450 or P5,400.00 to P24,000.00.

The shipment was intercepted due to lack of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance. Joel E. Zurbano

ZERO HUNGER. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol leads the lighting of candles and the ‘zero hunger’ pledge during the 2018 World Food Day celebration at the Quezon Memorial Circle in the former capital on Tuesday. PNA

Solon, 6 co-accused lose bid to have cases junked THE Sandiganbayan has denied the motions of North Cotabato Rep. Nancy A. Catamco and her six-co-defendants for the dismissal of the graft and malversation charges against them.

The antigraft court’s Sixth Division, in a 10-page resolution issued on Oct. 12, denied separate motions for reconsideration filed by the Catamco and her co-accused that sought the reversal of the court’s Aug. 7, 2018 resolution to first affirm the validity of the charges against them.

Catamco’s co-accused in the two counts of malversation are her former husband, Pompey Perez, and former Mayor Edgar Rama of Poro, Cebu.

Poro Vice Mayor Ronald Carcellar and Sangguniang Bayan Kagawads Gorgonita Gonzales, Sergio Zurita, Nilo Gorgonio, Gregorio Dorog, and William Surbano

were included in the lone graft case.

The Ombudsman accused them of “conspiracy to defraud the municipal government of Poro with the anomalous purchase of P5 million worth of Vitacrop liquid organic fertilizer” in 2004.

At the time, Catamco was not yet a public official and was going by the name “Nancy Perez.”

Ombudsman prosecutors alleged that the transaction was irregular due to lack of public bidding and the supplier, Perzebros Co. represented by the Perezes, was ineligible being barely two-months-old at the time of the transaction.

Investigators also hinted overpricing in the transaction, noting that the town was made to pay P1,500 per bottle of fertilizer when the actual price was supposedly only P408 per bottle or an overprice of P1,092 per bottle.

In her appeal, Catamco claimed that there was unreasonable delay of over seven years in the conduct of fact-finding investigation while the preliminary investigation took another five years.

She said that during those years, she was unaware of an ongoing investigation, and so she was unable to gather and preserve evidence crucial to her defense.

She added that she could no longer locate the manufacturer of Vitacrop liquid fertilizer or any of its officers.

Perez also invoked his right to speedy disposition of cases.

He said it was impossible for him to have conspired with the other defendants pointing to lack of probable cause.

He also claimed that his being a partner of Perzebros did not constitute enough ground to include him as a respondent. Maricel V. Cruz

House OKs bill banning corporal punishment

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives is poised to pass on third and final reading a bill banning spanking and other physical forms of punishment on children when it resumes session next month.

House Bill 8239, or the proposed “Positive and Non-Violent Discipline of Children Act,” authored by Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon, protects children from physical, humiliating or degrading acts as a form of punishment.

The bill was passed on second reading last week.

Prior to its approval on second reading, the bill was sponsored and defended on the floor by the chairman of the House welfare of children committee, Rep. Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga del Sur. Herrera-Dy, vice chairperson of the House committee on welfare of children, expressed belief the House leadership would support her bill which prohibits all forms of humiliating or degrading punishment on children.

Under the bill, parents have been prohibited from using corporal punishment in disciplining their children.

The bill tasks parents to fulfill their parental obligations “through positive and non-violent methods of disciplining their children.”

Herrera-Dy, in the bill’s explanatory note, said, “children shall be shielded from the grave consequences of corporal punishment by prohibiting the infliction of all forms of humiliating or degrading punishment on them in all settings.”

In addition, the measure establishes a legal framework to the country’s commitment to various international agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and Convention on the Rights of the Child.

HB 8239 defines physical, humiliating, or degrading acts of punishment as any form of punishment or discipline in which physical force is used and intended to cause pain or discomfort or any non-physical act that causes a child to feel belittled, denigrated, threatened, or ridiculed.

STL earns P19b in 9 months, surpassing 2017 overall sales SMALL Town Lottery operations continue to rake in revenue as it now surpassed the 2017 collections as early as September 2018.

“From January to September, STL sales has (sic) already earned P19,799,218,822, which is P4,051,797,151 above the total STL sales in 2017,” reported PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan.

Balutan explained the increase in revenue could be credited to the increase in the number of operating STL authorized agent Corporations and in the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt primarily contributed to the increased revenue, through the support of the betting public.

At present, PCSO has 85 operational Authorized STL Agents nationwide, with 18 more approved ASAs for the first semester of 2018.

ASAs are corporations or cooperatives duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or with the Cooperative Development Authority, respectively, that applied, been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in a particular area.

“Before I took over as PCSO general manager, STL was only earning P6,462,304,820 a year. When we took over in 2016, STL yielded P15,747,421,671, which was 144 percent higher than the previous year,” Balutan said.

“Unknown to many, STL is our second highest-earning product next to Lotto products.

As of September, Lotto earned P3,621,614,420; while STL earned P2,688,734,971. Ang liit lang ng difference ng STL sa Lotto, and we have credit that to our STL operators, especially to their kabos, kubradores, and organic employees,” Balutan added.

Sports

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Perpetual Help-Binan, Asia Tech College win UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help Dalta System-Binan whipped San Pedro College of Business Administration, 75-48, while Asia Technological College subdued San Pablo College, 81-75, at the start of the Philippine University Basketball League-Pacquiao Youth Champs Trophy basketball championship at Umbria gym in Biñan, Laguna.

Four players, led by Sean Laban, scored in double figures for the Biñan-City based Saints of manager Steve Salazar, coach Vic Escudero and assistant coach Merlin Custodio.

Laban scattered 14 points for Perpetual Help, followed by Angelo Alanguilan (13 points), Angelo Rosales (12) and John Paulo Paras (11).

Earlier, Jayniel Ilac at Rickson Gerero joined hands to lead ATC to victory over San Pablo College.

Ilac and Gerero, who also play for Pateros in the Metro League Open basketball tournament of the MMDA, combined for 39 points for ATC. Ilac scored 20 points, while Gerero, who also played for Diliman College in the UCBL and Fr. Martin Cup, added 19.

Basketball Association of the Philippines Region 4 head Leonardo “Ding” Andres made the ceremonial toss.

The top team in the Laguna leg of the Pacquiao’s Trophy will advance to the semis against the winners of three other legs.

The winner of the Pacquiao’s Youth Champs’ Trophy will earn the right to represent the country in the 10th Asian University Basketball Championship scheduled Nov. 18 in Sta, Rosa, Laguna.

Marshalls, Red Cubs post crucial victories in Martin Cup THE Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa Marshalls and the San Beda-Rizal Red Cubs posted crucial wins recently to stay in the hunt for quarterfinal seats in 16th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament.

Christian Aljecera connected with 23 points for the PLMUN Marshalls as they defeated the San Beda Red Lions, 95-89, at the La Consolacion College of Manila gymnasium in Mendiola.

Buboy Barnedo and Jan Posada added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Marshalls, who posted their fourth win in five games in Group A of the senior division.

Cedrix Aquino chipped in 11 points in helping the Marshalls remain in the hunt for available quarterfinal slots.

The Marshalls can join in the quarterfinals the Letran Knights and the La Salle Green Archers, who are in contention in Group B, according to commissioner Robert de la Rosa.

In the junior contest, AC Cruz delivered 16 points for the Red Cubs in their 111-81 beating of St. Michael College of Laguna.

Antonio Lledo and Rhayyan Amsali helped Cruz with 14 points in leading the Cubs to their third triumph in five games in Group A.

Lack of chess tourneys takes toll on PH athletes

Manny Machado and Yasmani Grandal (9) of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after Machado scored the winning run in the 13th inning of Game Four of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Brewers, 2-1, in extra innings. AFP

Dodgers edge Brewers to tie NL playoff series L

OS ANGELES—Cody Bellinger singled in the winning run with two outs in the 13th inning Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers leveled baseball’s National League Championship Series with a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

In a game that had been tied at 1-1 since the fifth inning, Bellinger lined a 3-2 slider from Milwaukee relief pitcher Junior Guerra into right field, allowing shortstop Manny Machado to score from second base.

“Honestly, I was surprised that they were throwing me,” Bellinger said. “I thought they would pitch around me and get me to swing. Once I saw they were attacking me, it was just kind of grind mode and do what you can to put the ball in play and try to end this game.”

Machado, who had singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, barely beat Brewers’ right fielder Christian Yelich’s throw to home.

“As soon as that ball was hit I just put my head down—trying to pick up the ball at the end and try to sneak in there,” said Machado, who didn’t see his teammates already heading onto the field to

celebrate after he rounded third.

The Dodgers, seeking to return to the World Series after falling in seven games to the Houston Astros last year, knotted the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

They host game five on Wednesday, with ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw taking the mound.

The winner of the series will take on either the reigning World Series champion Astros or the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball’s championship showcase.

The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series on Tuesday with an 8-2 triumph in Houston sealed by Jackie Bradley Jr.’s eighthinning grand slam.

The Dodgers, facing the prospect of falling into a 1-3 hole with a defeat, got off to a promising start with a run in the first inning, when Brian Dozier’s single

scored Chris Taylor.

The Brewers, whose only prior World Series appearance was a loss to St. Louis in 1982, knotted the score in the fifth inning when pinch-hitter Domingo Santana lined a double to right field and Orlando Arcia raced around from first to make it 1-1.

Both teams had plenty of opportunities to end it, but the Brewers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and the Dodgers were 2-for-10.

Both teams ran out of position players and the Dodgers, after five solid innings from starting pitcher Rich Hill, used every relief pitcher they had to eke out the victory.

The tension was evident when the benches cleared in the 10th, with Machado sparking the incident when he grounded out to short with one out.

As he crossed the bag behind Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar, Machado dragged one foot over the foot Aguilar had stretched out behind him touching the base.

Aguilar took exception and the two traded words. More players briefly piled out of the dugouts but there were no ejections. AFP

THE lack of competitive tournaments took its toll on the campaign of the Philippine women’s team in the recent 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.

Grandmaster Coach Jayson Gonzales made the admission in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, lamenting that when the going finally got tough for Janelle Frayna and Co., the inexperience of the team became obvious. “‘Yung regularity wala sa atin, but nandu’n ‘yung talent, nandu’n ‘yung galing at tapang. But in all sports, hindi lang ganu’n ang kailangan natin,” said Gonzales, who graced the public sports program at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao together with Frayna and Women’s International Master Shania Mae Mendoza.

“That’s why I always explain, reminding, or suggesting to our officials that we should have regularity (of tournaments), ‘yun ang talagang key doon,” he said. “If we keep on doing that siguro ‘yung mga darating na bata rin, if they have regularity of tournaments especially strong tournaments like the Olympiad, then masasanay na tayo sa ganu’ng klase na set-up.”

Frayna, the country’s sole Women’s GM today, and Mendoza anchored the five-women’s PH team in the Olympiad, along with Catherine Secopito, Bernadette Galas, and Marie Antoinette San Diego.

The Filipinas caused a ripple early in the tournament following its stunning 3-1 win over seventhranked Spain, but unfortunately, failed to sustain the momentum and tumbled to a 67th place finish out of a record 151 entries representing 146 countries in the distaff side. It lost its final game against Australia, 3-1.

“Somehow at the last half of the tournament, medyo pumalya ‘yung stamina and endurance natin because of lack of tournaments,” said Gonzales, the former executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

“Unlike the European countries and the other parts of the world na naglalaro, they keep on playing regularly. Tayo kasi minsan makalaro, minsan hindi,” he added in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Team Lakay helping Belingon prepare for fight HARD-HITTING Filipino dynamo Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon is in deep training for his second encounter against reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes.

Both men are set to collide in the comain event of ONE: HEART OF THE LION, which takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Nov. 9.

The 30-year-old Baguio City resident fell short in his first attempt to snatch Fernandes’ world title in January 2016 after he was submitted in the opening round with a wrenching Kimura lock.

Belingon worked his way back to the top since that fateful night as he is currently riding a six-bout winning streak against top-tier competition.

In his most recent outing, Belingon defeated two-division champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen to capture the

ONE Interim Bantamweight Title.

Unlike Nguyen, however, Fernandes is considered a much more dangerous foe on the ground, making the entire of Team Lakay work together to improve Belingon’s grappling before the rematch.

“Training is going really well. I have the entire team with me on this as I work on my wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. What we do is go down from the mountains to train with Coach John Baylon. We do the basics, gather what we can use in actual bouts, and then go back to Baguio to do it all over again. We trim down what can be used for our contests and what not,” he said.

“It’s so hard to roll with Coach John.

He’s difficult to control, and his technique is on another level. Despite his age, he’s very strong and is very flexible. We, at Team Lakay, would usually get submitted

by Coach John. Other than that, Eduard

Folayang has also brought in new techniques he learned from his training camp in the US,” Belingon added.

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang is one of Belingon’s high-profile training partners in fine-tuning his ground game against the longtime kingpin of the 65.8-kilogram weight class.

Despite the team being composed of mostly white belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Folayang bared that they have built a system which has a practical and effective use when it comes to mixed martial arts.

“We focus on No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and its practical uses in mixed martial arts. The American approach to grappling is a bit different. It is about going to a dominant position and not forcing to secure a submission. What I learned is to get to a dominant position and then score from there,” Folayang explained.

Kevin Belingon

Globe-PH Volcanoes climb to no. 3 in Asian region

By Peter Atencio

Jonico Ater Hardwick in action

THE Globe-Philippine Volcanoes finished the year with a ranking of no. 3 in Asia.

This was after the Volcanoes clobbered host Sri Lanka, 19-7, in the final stage of the three-leg 2018 Asia Sevens Series in Sri Lanka recently.

Because of this, the Volcanoes, currently sit in first place among their Southeast Asian neighbors, according to their General Manager Jake Letts.

“It’s a special feeling for the team, they deserve it. The coaching staff and players have worked so hard for a very long period of time,” said Letts.

The Volcanoes took six years to re-

turn to the world’s elite. They last qualified for the Hong Kong 7s in 2012 and reached the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, Russia, a year later.

Since then, the Volcanoes have tirelessly battled it out amongst Asia’s best for the chance to once again compete with the world’s top teams.

“It has taken years to get back to this point. The way they performed – I have only the utmost respect for what they achieved and can continue to achieve,” added Letts.

The first day saw the Volcanoes turning back Asian Games bronze medalists, Korea, 34-5.

In the second match, the Volcanoes were up against arch rivals from Southeast Asia and current SEA

Games gold medalists Malaysia, with the Volcanoes holding their on to win, 24-19.

In this game, the Volcanoes, lost four players to injuries and a suspension to Vincent Amar Young for an accidental high ball collision.

On Day 2, three players were ruled unavailable, with Mark Mapacpac Roberts and Robert Luceno Fogerty out from an accidental head collision.

The undermanned Volcanoes fell to a 12-21 setback to no.1-ranked and overall champion Japan.

The Volcanoes still progressed to the semifinals where they faced second seeds, Hong Kong.

In another valiant display, they took a 12-19 loss.

Sports

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

A8 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018

Harris’ 44 points carry Aces past Dyip

By Jeric Lopez A BOOMING third-quarter blitz enabled Alaska to thwart Columbian Dyip, 104-94, for a bounce back win as the Aces moved closer to a quarterfinal berth in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last night.

Mike Harris continued to be a monster for the Aces, turning in yet another stellar performance with a career-high of 44 points and 27 rebounds to show the way.

Vic Manuel added 16 points, while Chris Banchero nearly had a tripledouble with his 10 markers, seven rebounds and 11 assists.

Alaska upped its card to 6-2 and inched closer to a spot in the next round. It also kept its place in the top four.

The top four teams at the end of the elimination round will earn a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters over the lower-seeded teams.

On the other hand, the woeful Dyip remained winless, now dropping to 0-9 for the conference. It is now in danger of finishing its campaign without a single victory with only two games remaining in its schedule.

Completely finding its groove in the second quarter, Alaska already opened up several double-digit leads to grasp control prior to halftime.

At the half, the Aces carried over a 53-43 cushion.

The Dyip showed some signs of life early in the third, opening the second half with a 7-0 run to inch within just three, 50-53.

However, that was its last hoorah as Alaska swiftly answered with a crucial run to restore order and create a more significant separation.

The Aces continued their run with a 24-9 surge midway of the third to run away from Columbian, taking a commanding 77-53 spread after a completed three-point play from Harris at the 4:51 mark of the period.

Several minutes later, the Aces already ballooned their lead to 20 points on several occasions, putting the game out of reach in the process.

Columbian inched closer in the fourth to make the final count more respectable.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Dennis Schroder during at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Warriors silence Thunder in opener S

AN FRANCISCO—-Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant accepted their championship rings Tuesday for leading Golden State to a third NBA title in four campaigns, then powered the Warriors over Oklahoma City 108-100 in their 2018-19 season opener.

Curry scored 32 points with nine assists and eight rebounds while Durant had 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Warriors held off a fourthquarter fightback to make a triumphant launch to their quest for a third consecutive crown.

“The first game could go either way with timing and overall execution,” Curry said. “We had a terrible third quarter but we withstood the run and were able to get the job done.

“We’ve got to take care of the ball better. That will come with more possessions as we get through the season.

“We know what’s at stake. Winning three in a row would put us in some very select company. We’re not shy talking

about it. But you have to do the little things throughout the season. I think we’re ready for it.”

The first game of the NBA season was in Boston, where Jayson Tatum scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds while reserve Marcus Morris added 16 points and 10 rebounds as the host Celtics ripped Philadelphia 105-87.

But the night’s highlight came when NBA commissioner Adam Silver handed out championship jewelry— Golden State’s Steve Kerr taking his fourth as a coach to go with four he won as a player—and praised the Warriors dynasty for far more than on-court skills.

“The Warriors have a tradition of excellence based on universal values like

teamwork, respect and unity,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

“They continue a long legacy of NBA players and teams who compete for something bigger than a game by embracing the power of sport to build bridges and make better people’s lives.”

‘Unbelievable journey’ Then came the final championship banner raising at Oracle Arena, the NBA’s oldest arena, built in 1966. The Warriors will move to a new arena in San Francisco next season.

“Last year was an unbelievable journey,” Curry told the crowd. “We do all this for you guys. So let’s enjoy this all to the fullest.”

Curry scored 19 points in the first half, helping the Warriors seize a 57-47 half-time edge, but the Thunder opened the third quarter with a 22-9 run to seize their first lead at 69-66, German guard Dennis Schroder sinking the go-ahead 3-pointer for Oklahoma City. AFP

Bayron storms ahead by 2

Peter Stojanovski bucks a roller-coaster round to stay in title chase.

TARLAC—Jay Bayron kept his hot irons and putting going, producing a six-under 66 and staying on track for the elusive Philippine Golf Tour crown halfway through the ICTSI Luisita Invitational here yesterday.

With Luisita’s dreaded wind a virtual non-factor for the second straight day, Bayron cashed in on his early start and fired a five-birdie spree from No. 11 for a 35-31 card, wresting a two-stroke lead over Clyde Mondilla at 13-under 131.

The first day leader, whose bogey-free, record-setting 64 early Tuesday sparked hopes of a strong PGT finish for the reigning but winless Order of Merit champion, actually sustained his first round feat with a birdie-eagle start from No. 11 in one of the late tee-offs. But he hobbled with bogeys on Nos. 17 and 3 and needed to birdie two of the last five to save a 69 with the wind whipping up a bit late in the day.

That dropped the Del Monte ace to second at 133 even as flightmate Peter Stojanovski, who matched Bayron’s opening 65, stayed in the hunt with his own version of a three-under card for a 134.

“I’ve been playing great overall in near-per-

Newly installed coach Isaac steers Bacoor to victory over Rizal quintet ANTIPOLO—Leo Isaac didn’t waste time bringing his winning ways to the Bacoor Strikers.

Taking over as head coach of the Strikers 24 hours before the team’s game against Rizal, Isaac quickly led the team to the win column in his coaching debut as Bacoor won over Rizal, 74-63, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Ynares Center.

Gab Banal finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to power the Strikers to their third straight win and improve the team’s record to 7-4.

But the biggest story in Bacoor’s win was Isaac, who came in on the eve of the match.

“Bunot-bunot lang ginawa ko kasi hindi ko pa masyadong kilala players eh, lahat sinusubukan ko,” added Isaac, who took over the reins from Budds Reyes.

With Reyes out, his son, Mikee Reyes, who happens to be the premier point guard of the Strikers, also left the team.

He missed the team’s practice presided by Isaac then failed to show up in the game Tuesday night.

Congressman Strike Revilla, one of the managing partners of the team, said they are now entertaining thoughts of trading Reyes and heeding to the player’s request.

fect condition—my iron shots are solid and my putting is right on target,” said Bayron, one of the veteran campaigners out to avert a winless PGT campaign.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to play as good in the last two rounds,” added the former Order of Merit champion, who actually nailed a victory in the PGT Asia at Southwoods last June. His best finish at PGT was second to Justin Quiban in Bacolod last August.

Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the last PGT leg in Cebu last month, made his move with a solid 66 and grabbed solo fourth at 136, still five strokes behind Bayron heading to the last 36 holes of the P4 million championship capping the 10-stage PGT circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. The rest of the 44 players who made the cut at two-over 146 stood too far behind, virtually reducing the battle for the top P750,000 purse among Bayron, Mondilla and Stojanovski with Ababa hoping to strike from behind with conditions expected to get tougher in the last two rounds.

La Salle smothers UE, 79-59 Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. La Salle vs Adamson 4 p.m. FEU vs Ateneo

By Peter Atencio THE La Salle Green Archers weathered the hot hands of Alvin Pasaol, drew big baskets from Encho Serrano and Andrei Caracut and smothered the University of the East Warriors,79-59, yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Serrano, formerly a junior standout from the Adamson Baby Falcons, knocked in a team-high 18 points for the Green Archers, who picked up their fifth triumph in eight games in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

The Green Archers, who earned their second consecutive win, got 16 points from Caracut as they pulled even with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in third place.

Aljun Melecio, who chipped in eight points, unloaded a trey with 3:44 left in the second period as La Salle went on to enjoy a 16-point, 44-28 edge.

As the Green Archers found their range again, field goal percentage slightly went up to 50 percent midway in the second period before it settled to 47.37 percent at halftime.

They Green Archers nursed an 11-point edge before the third period got under way, 47-36, and finished with a 41 percent field goal percentage.

The Warriors, getting 22 points from Pasaol, absorbed their seventh setback in eight outings.

“I told them we need to put in the work. Because every win counts right now. Malaking panalo sa amin ito,” said coach Louie Gonzalez, whose Archers are within range of a Final Four semifinal slot.

The Warriors gave the Green Archers a mild scare at 5:43 of the third period where UE got close at 46-49 behind the baskets of Pasaol and Christopher Conner.

Red Lions, Pirates dispute NCAA top seeding SAN Beda and Lyceum of the Philippines University gun for the top seeding as the two collide today in what many viewed as a sneak preview to the finals of the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Lions are currently on top with a 15-1 (win-loss) record, while the Pirates are at second with a 15-2 slate but the winner of their 4 p.m. showdown will practically clinch the No. 1 spot.

If San Beda wins, it will automatically claim the top seeding regardless of the result of its final elimination round game with Perpetual Help on Tuesday, while an LPU triumph will book it that No. 1 spot even if the

Games today

(Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan) 2 p.m.- LPU vs SBU (jrs) 4 p.m.- LPU vs SBU (srs)

former win its last game and ends up tied at the helm since the latter beat it twice.

The Pirates won their first-round meeting with the Lions, 73-66.

“It’s going to be a big opportunity for us to learn and to grow as a team because they have a huge program, it’s going to be good fight with so much competition and respect as well,” said LPU coach Topex Robinson.

For San Beda mentor Boyet Fernandez, he will use the opportunity to

experiment on some combinations and rotations.

“We would like to use that opportunity to get all the players to play,” said Fernandez.

The LPU-San Beda duel will feature teams that own the league’s deepest rosters.

LPU, for one, parades CJ Perez, the league’s reigning MVP, Mike Nzeusseu, skipper MJ Ayaay and the energetic Marcelino twins Jaycee and Jayvee, while San Beda has an equally electrifying line up headed by Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon and Donald Tankoua.

“It’s going to be a dogfight, expect an exciting match,” said Robinson.

IN BRIEF

Corporate tax cut to create 1.4m jobs

THE Finance Department said the reduction in corporate income tax to 20 percent from 30 percent under the second package of the comprehensive tax reform package will generate 1.4 million jobs between 2021 and 2029.

The agency said in a statement the proposed reduction of the CIT by 2 percentage points every two years starting 2021 until 2029 would create over a million jobs as it would free up more capital for firms to invest and hire more workers.

“This tax reform, once approved byCongress and enacted into law, will create an estimated 113,944 jobs in 2021 all the way up to 1.4 million in 2029,” said Finance assistant secretary Antonio Joselito Lambino II. This is in line with Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua’s earlier statement on the first Senate hearing on corporate tax reform that the CIT’s reduction would have a positive impact on job generation.

“With lower tax rates, such a proposal is hardly inflationary while creating over a million jobs over the medium term as firms expand with more money at their disposal,” Chua said. Julito G. Rada

PCC slaps P16-m fines vs Grab, Uber

THE Philippine anti-trust body slapped Grab Philippines and Uber with P16-million fines for allegedly violating key provisions of the Interim Measures Order during the merger review of the two transport service providers.

It said the IMO was issued to the parties to maintain pre-transaction conditions to prevent any action that may prejudice Philippine Competition Commission’s ability to review the merger or to impose appropriate remedies.

“The IMO is a mechanism that protects the integrity of the PCC review and adjudicatory process. It requires full compliance by both Grab and Uber and these fines reflect their deficiencies and violations. Undue difficulties generated by the parties become efficiency challenges in PCC’s review process,” PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan said.

The two parties were collectively fined P4 million for failure to keep their businesses separate. It also penalized both Grab and Uber for their failure to delay Uber’s assumption of a board seat in Grab during the review period.

Grab, on its own, was found liable to pay the penalty of P8 million for failure to maintain the conditions before the transaction, such as pricing policies, rider promotions, driver incentives and service quality. Uber, as the acquired party, was fined P4 million or half of Grab’s fine for the same set of violations. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Espenilla extends leave until Oct. 26 to resume treatment

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. extended his medical leave for the second time this month, as he is currently undergoing treatment for a tongue cancer that was diagnosed in November 2017.

“BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. is extending his medical leave until 26 October 2018. Thereafter, he may be taking intermittent medical leaves,” the BSP Corporate Affairs Office said in an advisory Wednesday.

It said that during Espenilla’s medical leaves, his deputy governors― Diwa Guinigundo, Chuchi Fonacier and Cyd Tuano Amador―would take turns as officer-in-charge in accordance with established BSP business continuity protocol.

“In the meantime, the BSP team stays steadfast in pursuing the Continuity ++ Agenda while Governor Espenilla is completing his treatment,” it said.

Espenilla announced on Oct. 2 he extended his medical leave for another two weeks after consuming a twoweek absence for his cancer treatment.

Espenilla missed the policy meeting of the Monetary Board on Sept. 27, when the benchmark borrowing rate was increased by 50 basis points to 4.5 percent to rein in inflation and address excessive volatility in exchange rate market.

He said on Oct. 2 his treatment was “progressing very well” but he had “to give it the best chance possible.”

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018

B1

SM to develop 10 hectares in Clark

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P

ROPERTY developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. signed a sublease agreement with Global Gateway Development Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy to develop 10 hectares in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga province.

GGDC, the owner and developer of a 177-hectare mixed-use development in Clark, said in a statement SM Prime would initially sublease five hectares of Clark Global City, with an option to

lease another five hectares within the next three years.

The subleased space will expand the adjacent retail, office and hotel developments of SM Prime in Clark Freeport Zone. SM

has a shopping mall along M.A. Roxas Ave. in Clark Freeport, Angeles City.

“Clark Global City provides us another platform to help develop Clark and thereby unlock employment and business opportunities in the region,” said SM Prime executive committee chairman Hans Sy. “We will explore more opportunities to contribute to the transformation of Clark as a premier investment destination in Asia-Pacific,” he said.

Clark Global City is a master-planned development with a buildable area of more than 123 hectares. It will host

top-grade office buildings, up-market retail outlets, contemporary academic centers, sports centers, an urban park, an iconic tower, a hotel and casino and modern support services and amenities.

Clark Global City is home to a 173bed hospital under The Medical City brand along with two fully leased out Grade A office buildings.

The existing office buildings, with 57,000 square meters of leasable office and retail spaces, form part of a complex called West Aeropark. Three more buildings, which have been pre-leased, are under construction at the site.

PAL to fly non-stop to New York on Oct. 29

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Higher tobacco excise tax seen to hit farmers

LAWMAKERS from tobacco-growing provinces in Northern Luzon asked the Senate to study the negative impact of the government’s plan to raise anew the excise taxes on tobacco on farmers.

The lawmakers, in a letter sent to Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Oct. 8, 2018, expressed concern over the continued call of the Department of Finance, Department of Health and some groups to increase the tax on tobacco.

The lawmakers belong to the Northern Luzon Alliance in the House of Representatives who represent the tobacco-growing provinces.

“It is our shared responsibility as members of the NLA to protect the interests of our constituents who depend on the tobacco industry.

This industry has been providing livelihood for them and their families, and this will continue for many years to come,” they said.

“We are saddened by the proposals to raise the excise tax rates by more than 100 percent. Such a move will certainly affect our constituent-tobacco farmers who are still struggling from the loss of income as a consequence of RA 10351 or the Excise Tax Reform Law of 2012,” they said.

The tobacco excise tax rates were increased under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion that took effect in January 2018. Julito G. Rada

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

SM TOPS OFF FOURE-COM CENTER. SM Prime Holdings Inc. tops off the FourE-Com Center along Harbor Drive corner Bay Shore, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. FourE-Com Center will be a 15-story, three-tower office building which is set to be SM Prime’s largest office project. At the topping-off ceremony are (from left) Design Coordinates Inc. managing director Franz Ziebert, Carunungan and Partners principal architect Jose Carunungan, Arquitectonica director David Zaballero, SM Prime assistant vice president for business development Jemily Centeno, assistant vice president for leasing Joane Umali, vice president for commercial properties Russell Sy, senior assistant vice president for project development Ranilo Gison, senior assistant vice president for property management Nikki Gilladoga, EEI Corp. president and chief executive Roberto Castillo and Design Coordinates Inc. president Jose Oscar Salvacion.

PH climbs 12 spots to rank 56th most competitive country THE Philippines climbed 12 places to become the 56th most competitive among 140 economies in the world this year.

The country’s ranking in the 2018 Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum improved from its 68th spot last year. The report covered 140 economies representing 99 percent of global GDP and 94 percent of world population.

The Philippines is one of the few countries which gained double-digit increase in its ranking. Its performance improved as measured by its overall distance to frontier score of 62.1 in the 2018 GCI versus 59.8 last year.

It posted improvements in all pillars and maintained its good macroeconomy stability performance with a DTF score of 90.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez noted the brand new methodology of the Global Competitiveness Index and supported the call for governments to address the factors that will fully capture the dynamics of the global economy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, namely resilience, agility, human capital, and innovation.

“From day one, the Duterte Administration has worked on various reform initiatives to improve the country’s competitiveness. The recent positive performance in the refined GCI is a testament of the fruits of all of these reform initiatives, and we are gearing up for better,” Lopez said.

“We are optimistic that with our ongoing reform initiatives with the enactment of the EODB [East of Doing Business], Efficient Government Act, and efforts to promote government technology, the country will move us further closer to the frontier,” said Lopez.

The country also scored high on eparticipation index (93.82) under Pillar 1: Institutions. The e-participation index measures an economy’s use of online services to facilitate provision of information by governments to citizens (e-information sharing), interaction with stakeholders (e-consultation), and engagement in decision-making processes (e-decision making).

PNOC-Exploration pushing plan to import cheaper diesel

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-RUN PNOC Exploration Corp. is set to import cheaper diesel within the month, after the company’s board approved the plan Wednesday.

PNOC Exploration president and chief executive Pedro Aquino said the imports would be around P5 cheaper per liter than the prevailing pump prices.

Aquino said in a radio interview the company received an offer that was below the benchmark price of the Mean of Platts Singapore. MOPS is the benchmark pricing used by oil refiners in the region.

He said the company had not chosen a supplier yet because negotiations for the final price was still ongoing.

“It depends on the price we will get, but if we are able to get a price lower than the MOPS of Singapore, initially that is P5 less than the pump price,” Aquino said.

Aquino said the initial plan was to import 50,000 metric tons of diesel that would cost around P2 billion.

“I think it will be approved [by board] because what we aim to achieve is to bring down the cost of petroleum,” he said.

Aquino said the company would tap “aggregators” to distribute the lowerpriced diesel to consumers.

“The program runs like this. The gasoline station owners or dealers, they will have aggregators because we really lack the machinery to distribute it.

The aggregator will stand as distributor to dealer members in their specific region,” he said.

He said the aggregators would have an agreement with PNOC-EC to prioritize public utility vehicles. He said the company would suspend the contract of the aggregator if it received complaints that it was not giving out the discounts to consumers.

Aquino said he was hoping that the low-priced diesel could be brought in within the month. The company has yet to sign agreements with aggregators and ensure the readiness of its oil depot.

PHILIPPINE Airlines said it will start a direct nonstop service to New York from Manila on Oct. 29 this year.

The airline, led by tycoon Lucio Tan, said a brand-new Airbus A350900 would depart from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for a 16hour nonstop journey across the North Polar regions to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on the evening of the same day.

“We look forward with eager anticipation, as we prepare to fly almost halfway around the world on the longest route ever to be served by a Philippine carrier. What’s in store for travelers is a journey unparalleled - an ultra-comfortable flight on one of the world’s most advanced commercial airplanes,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista.

“The maiden nonstop 16 hour Manila-New York journey will usher in a long-haul travel experience marked by comfort, convenience and efficiency,” he said.

PAL vice president for sales Ryan Uy noted the brisk sales for the newest product offering.

“People want to experience this much-talked about A350 aircraft. They want to sample the spacious cabin designed for rest, relaxation, fine dining and wide choices of video entertainment. Now they can enjoy the A350 on a flight that takes them directly to the US East Coast, with no more timeconsuming stop-overs and no inconvenient transfer connections along the route. One take-off and one landing, and you’re in the Big Apple,” he said.

Prior to the new PAL service, Manila-bound passengers had to go through intermediate stop-overs in Canada, the US West Coast or airports in other Asian countries, usually by connecting from one flight to another.

The PAL service between Manila and New York City gives passengers the flexibility to choose from a wider selection of departure days.

All PAL flights to New York will depart from Naia Terminal 2. PAL flights from New York will arrive at Naia Terminal 1.

PAL also plans to fly to other destinations in North America and/or Europe as more A350 aircraft join the fleet.

“Seattle, Chicago and a point in Western Europe are being eyed,” PAL said.

PUYAT AT ROTARY CLUB. Rotary Club of Manila guest of honor and speaker, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat (third from left) receives a centennial souvenir from president Susing Pineda (fourth from left) during the group’s weekly business meeting at the New World Hotel in Makati. With them are (from left ) past director Art Lopez, tourism committee chair Bobby Joseph, past president Chito Zaldarriaga, star rotarian Cons Roberts and rotarian Jujut Enriquez.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market surges; banks lead rally T HE stock market rose sharply Wednesday as investors tracked Wall Street’s best performance in more than six months thanks to a healthy round of earnings reports.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 112.66 points, or 1.6 percent, to 7,099.68 on a value turnover of P5.7 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 129 to 57, with 46 issues unchanged.

Banks paced the rally, with BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets climbing 3.7 percent to P116.10.

Security Bank Corp., the sixth-largest, advanced 4.1 percent to P152, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest, gained 2.5 percent to P67.25.

Universal Robina Corp., the largest snack food maker, surged 7.6 percent to P148, while parent JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei rose 3.2 percent to P48.50.

The rest of Asian markets, meanwhile, staged a much-needed rally Wednesday.

Bargain-buyers took advantage of the strong readings from some of the world’s top firms to step back into the mix, with a dip in US Treasury yields and Washington’s announcement of trade talks with Japan, the EU and Britain helping sentiment.

The news helped distract from longrunning worries about the US-China trade war which shows no sign of abating.

Investors are now awaiting the release later in the day of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting, hoping for some insight into its plans for interest rates in light of fresh strong data on the US economy.

All three main indexes in New York piled on more than two percent Tuesday, the best daily performance since March, in response to a string of positive results from the likes of Netflix, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson and UnitedHealth Group.

And the gains filtered through to Asia, where Tokyo ended 1.3 percent higher thanks to a pick-up in the dollar against the yen, while Shanghai gained 0.6 percent.

Sydney, Seoul, Singapore and Wellington each put on more than one percent.

Hong Kong was closed for a public holiday.

“The earnings that came through overnight definitely is something the market has been waiting for to really change the sentiment,” IG Asia market strategist Jingyi Pan told Bloomberg TV. But Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA, said: “Perhaps a

bit surprising is that local equity markets are not exactly knocking it out of the park this morning.

“I suspected they would take their lead from the US equity froth. But again, local dealers remain a better seller of risk until a definitive shift in US-China trade tensions is offered up.”

On currency markets the dollar was down against most high-yield and emerging market economies as traders came out of their shells after recent selling.

Ray Attrill, head of forex strategy at National Australia Bank, suggested US President Donald Trump’s latest outburst against the Fed’s rate hikes, which he claims are excessive, were weighing on the dollar.

“While such name calling shouldn’t mean anything in terms of what the Fed actually does, it is a factor which somewhat undermines sentiment towards the dollar,” he said. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.4 81.3 2.19 113 1.43 28.55 15.9 11.52 4.16 796 0.435 66.05 0.83 11.46 18.54 40.15 189.9 79.9 28 147 1,825 66

59.4 83.45 2.28 116.8 1.43 29 15.98 11.94 4.17 800 0.435 67.65 0.87 11.46 18.54 41.75 189.9 79.9 28.25 153.6 1,825 66.05

58 81.3 2.19 113 1.43 28.55 15.9 11.52 3.95 795 0.435 66.05 0.83 11 18.54 40.15 189.9 76 28 147 1,825 65.8

FINANCIALS 59 81,520 82.95 2,780,870 2.28 50,000 116.1 1,683,530 1.43 3,000 28.75 76,200 15.98 1,400 11.68 2,156,400 4.04 139,000 795 510 0.435 20,000 67.25 3,405,680 0.87 198,000 11 3,200 18.54 300 40.85 134,600 189.9 70 76 960 28.25 17,200 152 1,255,670 1,825 25 65.9 30,770

4,819,361 230,672,361 111,700 194,947,030 4,290 2,189,125 22,332 25,200,942 564,770 405,600 8,700 228,927,290 167,350 35,246 5,562 5,528,305 13,293 74,754 481,860 190,178,706 45,625 2,028,601.50

4,197,676.50 -122,016,139.50 9,565,225 -1,069,715 4,272,074 -116,760 -100,258,690 0 1,100 -4,182,630 145,740 -26,498,869 -1,629,075.50

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

34.5 18.22 0.91 1.29 0.215 100 2.13 13.08 36.1 16.14 35.9 1.65 6.64 10.54 14.7 8 7 7.11 1.53 15.7 63.35 25.95 6 11.6 1.78 254.2 27.6 4.8 25.95 10.82 16.5 358 6.2 1.65 4.05 8.29 4.5 8.97 0.95 10.76 53 5.61 2.24 2.86 1.49 11.1 85 5.21 0.93 138 1.72 20.45 2.7

34.8 18.22 0.98 1.3 0.225 100 2.36 13.4 37 17.58 39.75 1.65 7.04 10.74 15 8 7.03 7.23 1.53 15.7 64.7 26.1 6.13 11.8 1.8 262 54.95 4.8 26.5 11.06 17.1 359.2 6.2 1.68 4.15 8.37 4.75 9 0.99 10.86 53.55 5.9 2.32 2.86 1.5 11.4 85.95 5.22 0.93 148 1.76 20.45 2.82

34 18.08 0.9 1.26 0.215 100 2.13 13.08 35.7 16.12 34 1.61 6.64 10.52 14.7 7.8 6.99 7.06 1.5 15.32 63.35 25 6 11.6 1.71 254.2 27.6 4.8 25.7 10.8 16.28 353 6.2 1.6 4.02 8.29 4.21 8.97 0.94 10.76 52.4 5.55 2.24 2.86 1.47 11 82.55 5.18 0.93 138 1.72 20.45 2.46

INDUSTRIAL 34.5 2,853,000 18.16 974,000 0.96 8,990,000 1.29 67,000 0.225 500,000 100 90 2.19 18,581,000 13.14 611,200 37 691,000 17.12 14,100 39.75 3,000 1.64 333,000 7.02 31,500 10.74 4,232,800 15 7,900 7.8 233,400 7.02 267,300 7.13 138,700 1.5 17,000 15.32 1,044,200 64.4 26,170 26.1 3,500 6.13 5,600 11.76 1,018,500 1.77 420,000 258.6 379,720 54.95 110 4.8 8,000 26.5 276,500 10.9 159,500 16.72 5,828,700 359.2 125,880 6.2 400 1.62 204,000 4.15 26,000 8.37 456,400 4.6 128,000 9 48,000 0.96 1,457,000 10.8 16,400 53.35 133,300 5.9 165,100 2.31 92,000 2.86 5,000 1.5 138,000 11.36 60,200 85 1,053,130 5.22 88,300 0.93 2,000 148 850,290 1.74 1,628,000 20.45 300 2.47 97,233,000

97,956,015 17,688,722 8,577,850 85,380 110,520 9,000 41,921,650 8,037,530 25,410,445 229,592 105,485 542,030 220,261 45,167,120 117,750 1,833,133 1,874,325 989,687 25,790 16,211,272 1,687,201.50 90,650 34,039 11,968,686 737,270 98,063,778 3,309.50 38,400 7,235,080 1,736,788 97,493,304 45,094,088 2,480 337,080 105,970 3,800,034 560,520 431,730 1,384,340 177,216 7,109,904 941,033 209,340 14,300 206,400 681,472 88,437,200.50 459,342 1,860 123,608,033 2,841,410 6,135 256,548,360

65,503,300 10,656,598 -48,500 -19,748,360 -2,979,538 34,000 26,400 3,621,430.00 -193,748 -544,673 405,450 -3,078,382 228,330 261,428 -151,380 -9,121,954 1,014,470 -1,063,742 9,011,428 34,203,354 -272,170 -942,952.00 17,600 1,335,534 -52,747.00 -518,252 -40,549,598.50 18,746 19,321,413 -317,200 127,380

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

0.43 45.7 11.68 6.14 25.2 1.18 1.19 905 6.1 12 7.18 4.7 719 5.84 47 0.55 4.35 13.26 0.51 4.87 0.038 1.21 2.34 163.1 860.5 0.8 1.35 275 0.24 0.199

0.44 47.4 12.04 6.14 26 1.23 1.23 923 6.31 12.28 7.18 4.7 755 6 49.2 0.56 4.48 13.94 0.53 5.02 0.038 1.21 2.35 166 865 0.81 1.4 277.8 0.245 0.21

0.425 45.4 11.68 6.14 25.2 1.18 1.15 905 6.09 11.8 7.16 4.7 719 5.84 47 0.55 4.35 13.02 0.51 4.87 0.037 1.17 2.31 163.1 850 0.8 1.35 266.2 0.24 0.199

HOLDING FIRMS 0.435 6,270,000 45.4 1,463,800 11.72 4,663,000 6.14 15,000 25.8 20,300 1.23 5,776,000 1.22 2,643,000 915 105,070 6.25 6,325,800 12 2,234,700 7.18 311,300 4.7 4,000 721 83,750 5.95 1,500 48.5 2,161,600 0.55 556,000 4.36 203,000 13.1 10,552,900 0.52 422,000 4.98 21,849,000 0.037 4,600,000 1.17 15,000 2.35 311,000 164.1 123,210 850 398,730 0.8 56,000 1.38 48,000 277.8 6,060 0.24 1,350,000 0.21 370,000

2,697,900 67,356,365 55,197,280 92,100 521,250 7,001,270 3,213,370 96,164,990 39,385,454 26,949,296 2,234,934 18,800 61,493,235 8,830 104,978,975 306,000 890,490 142,205,844 221,600 108,075,430 171,300 17,590 724,270 20,218,107 341,397,430 45,000 65,360 1,664,964 325,590 74,340

-24,128,520 -22,947,080 92,100 -67,385 545,880 24,258,355 -5,507,957 15,450,208 -18,800 15,753,935 -11,943,995 -91,970 -27,569,586 -17,024,480 -335,960 -10,047,867 -198,409,130 -1,400 2,450 -34,000

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

7.05 0.75 1.95 0.61 40.4 2.35 4.28 5.08 0.42 0.91 0.9 0.223 7.67 18.5 0.54 1.42 1.06 2.29 4.4 0.6 0.42 0.415 3.64 19.8

7.06 0.79 2 0.66 41 2.37 4.33 5.35 0.425 0.91 0.91 0.223 8.1 19.68 0.54 1.45 1.08 2.35 4.52 0.62 0.42 0.415 3.64 20.5

6.92 0.75 1.92 0.61 40.4 2.3 4.28 5.05 0.42 0.9 0.9 0.21 7.67 18.5 0.53 1.42 1.06 2.23 4.32 0.6 0.42 0.405 3.54 19.8

5,438,252 852,520 23,420 1,522,560 240,389,790 1,697,930 86,100 51,445 902,550 97,300 27,010 48,740 1,676,967 10,932,336 343,580 5,436,590 996,670 41,767,130 95,449,270 11,351,620 54,600 32,600 333,190 26,312,177

7,685 28,481,165 -1,350,300 -17,320 -2,140 4,250 -88,200 -72,290 -482,798.00 -324,500 -2,129,150 -27,790 -2,746,610 27,742,600 -127,490 2,496,713

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

1.91 3.1 33.8 1.13 5.99 0.75 5.59

1.94 3.1 34.25 1.13 6.15 0.75 5.75

1.91 3.1 33.8 1.1 5.99 0.75 5.35

1.94 3.1 34 1.12 6.15 0.75 5.49

77,000 15,000 11,037,800 1,169,000 88,500 14,000 7,704,600

147,200 46,500 375,687,040 1,288,730 539,084 10,500 42,345,555

38,310 -226,545,455.00 -18,970,663

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

10.1 21.25 1.43 0.45 0.04 13.02 1.79 8.52 66.25 4.75 15.1 900 2,012 5.1 310 2.49 93.75 12.42 7.8 0.108 2.93 2.93 14.8 3.46 0.85 17.42 0.41 5.38 6.99 2.24 1.41 5.66 10.9 8.32 8.5 105 3.68 1,375 0.85 0.345 42.3 76 7.46 2.74 0.79 0.5 5.3 0.6 10.94

11.3 21.25 1.43 0.46 0.041 13.12 1.82 8.8 68 4.85 15.88 900 2,086 5.14 310 2.55 95.05 12.42 7.8 0.11 3.17 3.09 14.8 3.55 0.88 17.7 0.41 5.38 7.01 2.34 1.48 5.8 10.98 8.32 8.5 111 3.69 1,400 0.86 0.36 42.35 77.8 7.46 2.75 0.82 0.53 5.3 0.61 11.08

10.1 21 1.43 0.435 0.039 13.02 1.72 8.52 66.25 4.69 15 900 2,012 5.09 300 2.49 93.75 12.42 7.8 0.108 2.9 2.9 14.8 3.43 0.84 17.4 0.41 5.3 6.99 2.24 1.36 5.41 10.9 8 8.5 105 3.51 1,361 0.84 0.345 40.75 76 7.43 2.57 0.77 0.495 5.18 0.59 10.88

SERVICES 11 21.1 1.43 0.46 0.039 13.12 1.77 8.65 66.45 4.69 15.1 900 2,060 5.1 309 2.54 94 12.42 7.8 0.11 3.13 3.09 14.8 3.45 0.87 17.62 0.41 5.3 7 2.3 1.4 5.41 10.98 8 8.5 110 3.65 1,400 0.84 0.355 40.95 76.1 7.43 2.58 0.8 0.51 5.21 0.61 10.94

179,100 25,900 5,000 380,000 5,000,000 800 3,006,000 5,400,700 209,930 932,000 73,600 20 54,835 181,100 5,600 1,099,000 490,950 200 11,000 1,430,000 17,461,000 24,000 100 194,000 253,000 736,000 30,000 25,000 922,900 6,017,000 171,000 3,315,000 6,000 7,500 2,000 3,239,320 583,000 47,865 4,174,000 550,000 1,448,400 453,960 2,200 20,391,000 3,364,000 21,320,000 842,300 604,000 2,716,100

1,974,222 549,000 7,150 168,350 199,500 10,486 5,295,640 46,804,300 13,955,385 4,416,790 1,116,300 18,000 112,666,610 924,158 1,707,710 2,784,490 46,452,733 2,484 85,800 155,540 53,585,320 70,260 1,480 670,460 215,480 12,918,498 12,300 133,500 6,459,862 13,918,460 238,830 18,282,267 65,864 60,350 17,000 340,138,468 2,106,650 66,409,615 3,550,850 195,600 59,767,255 34,612,418 16,391 54,093,630 2,687,120 10,969,350 4,384,876 363,180 29,679,340

10,946 7,110 -7,436,928 -2,100,684 16,161,700 -750,060 -10,010 6,320,188 -529,430.00 -38,020 2,865,348 -805,574 -53,300 650,765 50,600 -381,080 -10,326,130 -49,770 -19,058,870.00 -22,139,567 -1,486 10,427,700 -423,220 238,400 42,276 610 -6,325,954

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 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

0.0023 1.51 2.6 16 1.25 1.28 1.95 0.29 7.29 1.82 0.203 0.111 0.1 1.3 4.48 1.08 0.61 1.04 0.013 0.013 0.011 3.71 3.2 16.3 26.4 0.0068

0.0024 1.57 2.7 16.36 1.55 1.6 1.95 0.29 7.6 1.83 0.207 0.111 0.112 1.31 4.58 1.08 0.62 1.07 0.014 0.013 0.012 4.41 3.22 16.6 27.65 0.0068

0.0023 1.5 2.6 15.12 1.24 1.28 1.92 0.29 7.15 1.81 0.203 0.111 0.095 1.2 4.45 0.99 0.61 1.01 0.013 0.013 0.011 3.68 3.2 16 26.4 0.0061

MINING & OIL 0.0024 11,000,000 1.52 3,529,000 2.61 237,000 16.36 14,900 1.38 199,000 1.6 157,000 1.92 608,000 0.29 40,000 7.35 86,500 1.83 593,000 0.207 350,000 0.111 410,000 0.112 50,000 1.31 61,000 4.58 1,898,000 1.07 68,000 0.62 19,000 1.05 944,000 0.013 24,800,000 0.013 7,200,000 0.011 1,500,000 4.2 1,312,000 3.22 600,000 16.38 4,308,200 27.05 2,134,200 0.0064 6,000,000

26,000 5,430,930 616,960 235,370 279,490 218,860 1,173,310 11,600 632,955 1,077,760 72,070 45,510 5,220 78,630 8,596,900 67,710 11,720 988,730 326,900 93,600 17,200 5,483,050 1,927,750 70,617,386 58,070,150 37,900

-9,300 -36,530 48,350 -140,160 -35,250 -1,080 -1,100 -154,470 -243,190 -1,547,828.00 29,867,755 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

21.6 460 98.7 102 5 910.5 1.03 102.9 1,000 76 77 74.8 75 75.25 75 74.6

21.75 460 98.7 102 5 910.5 1.03 102.9 1,000 76 77 74.8 75 75.3 75 74.7

21 460 97.7 102 5 910.5 1.03 101 1,000 76 76.35 74.7 75 74 75 74.6

PREFERRED 21.7 9,500 460 5,500 98 12,130 102 30,000 5 118,800 910.5 10 1.03 16,000 101 28,870 1,000 2,200 76 150 76.35 1,230 74.8 57,990 75 54,460 75.3 35,540 75 1,000 74.7 8,000

203,335 2,530,000 1,188,604 3,060,000 594,000 9,105 16,480 2,916,497 2,200,000 11,400 94,050.50 4,336,702 4,084,500 2,660,292 75,000 596,880

147,530 -594,000 -15,400 -

LR WARRANT

2.4

2.45

2.37

WARRANTS 2.44 208,000

502,240

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.13 2.85 1.95

5.25 2.85 2.02

4.9 2.85 1.91

4.9 2.85 1.99

6,800,180 8,550 1,231,860

207,167 -83,630

FIRST METRO ETF

105.4

107.4

105.4

898,976

121,880

MS

PROPERTY 7.05 0.76 2 0.65 40.8 2.37 4.33 5.35 0.425 0.9 0.91 0.222 7.95 19.1 0.53 1.43 1.07 2.24 4.47 0.61 0.42 0.405 3.61 20.5

771,900 1,102,000 12,000 2,386,000 5,888,500 720,000 20,000 10,100 2,130,000 108,000 30,000 230,000 209,900 562,100 646,000 3,789,000 933,000 18,362,000 21,344,000 18,612,000 130,000 80,000 93,000 1,294,300

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

17,430,378

INDUSTRIAL

152,853,064

HOLDING FIRMS

75,680,866

PROPERTY

103,335,876

SERVICES

107,809,450

MINING & OIL

68,514,904

GRAND TOTAL

527,594,459

SME

1,339,000 3,000 619,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 107 8,410

VALUE 1,601.21 (UP) 42.51 1,163,010,204.65 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,831.73 (UP) 284.42 1,186,091,805.26 HOLDING FIRMS 6,800.57 (UP) 58.23 1,335,212,379.48 PROPERTY 3,547.86 (UP) 48.95 1,484.56 (UP) 6.85 934,287,483.31 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,131.61 (UP) 243.56 956,294,557.29 PSEI 7,099.68 (UP) 112.66 156,177,324.06 All Shares Index 4,342.28 (UP) 52.57 5,740,015,423.16 Gainers: 129; Losers: 57; Unchanged: 46; Total: 232

Avida Land allots P7.4b for Mandaluyong condo tower

By Jenniffer B. Austria AVIDA Land Corp., the mid-range brand of major property developer Ayala Land Inc., is spending P7.4 billion to build Avida Towers Verge, a three-tower condominium development located along Reliance Street corner Mayflower Street in Mandaluyong City.

Avida Land manager for project and strategic management group Melissa Corpuz said a in press briefing the first tower of Avida Tower Verge would be a 34-storey structure offering 1,020 residential units.

Avida Towers Verge is selling junior one-bedroom units costing between P4.2 million and P4.4 million each, while other one-bedroom units are priced between P6.7 million and P7.7 million each.

The company expects to generate P4 billion in sales from the first tower.

The launch of Avida Towers Verge follows that success of Avida Towers Centera, a four-tower condominium project also located in Mandaluyong.

Avida Centera, situated along Edsa corner Reliance Street, has nearly sold out all 2,526 residential units. Starting from P87,000 per square meter, Tanco said residential units were priced at P139,000 per sqm. at the close of the fourth tower, an almost 40-percent value appreciation since the launch.

“Mandaluyong is a prime real estate hotspot. Its condo market is the country’s most buoyant, with demand often outstripping supply,” Avida Land vice president Pol Tanco said.

“While prices of condo units significantly rise in the area over time, it continues to be at a mid-level price range compared to other cities in the country,” he added.

Avida Land said the new layouts were in response to market demand.

Smaller cut units were the fastest-selling and most sought-after units among Centera buyers.

“Most of them are end-users, of which 54 percent are 35 years old and below. They were from Mandaluyong and all over Metro Manila. The market is composed mainly of young working millennials looking for units closer to their places of work,” said Tanco.

ABS-CBN: DTT viewership up in Manila, suburbs

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. said over 70 percent of non-cabled homes in Metro Manila are watching via digital terrestrial television as it sold 6.1 million units of TVPlus as of October 10 since the launch in 2015 The latest survey conducted by Kantar Media in August showed that 71.6 percent of on-cabled homes had an ABS-CBN TVplus box in Metro Manila from 55 percent in August 2017.

Non-cabled homes enjoying the benefits of ABS-CBN Tvplus in Mega Manila, meanwhile, rose to 64.7 percent from 44 percent on year.

The biggest growth in DTT penetration is in the suburbs. Kantar Media reported that 57 percent or more than half of non-cabled homes in the area now watch television using an ABSCBN TVplus box, compared with only 33 percent in August 2017, a 24-percentage point increase in consumer acquisition.

The migration of viewers from analog to digital shows their eagerness to enjoy the life-changing benefits of ABS-CBN TVplus that include clear TV viewing, crisp sound, more exclusive channels, and an affordable payper-view service with no monthly fees.

ABS-CBN, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company, is also leading the country’s departure from analog following the government’s mandate for all broadcasting companies to migrate to digital TV before 2023.

It is also the first media and entertainment company in the country to make the historic switch from analog to digital terrestrial television to transform the TV viewing experience of Filipinos when it launched ABS-CBN TVplus in 2015.

ABS-CBN TVplus in July 2018 introduced new channels that were initially available in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Metro Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

extrastory2000@gmail.com

World/Business

B3 Standard CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor Manila THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

More drama to unfold in telecom bidding

FESTIVAL. Yasukuni Shrine priests walk towards the main shrine to perform a Shinto ritual during the autumn festival in

Tokyo. AFP

Saudi faces new claim over journalist’s death A NKARA―US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday held talks with the Turkish leadership in Ankara over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as Riyadh faced new claims he was killed inside its Istanbul consulate.

Pro-government Turkish media published gruesome new allegations Khashoggi was killed by being gradually dismembered by a Saudi assassination squad some of whom the New York Times said were tied to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

IN BRIEF Taiwan to hold independence rally

TAIPEI―Taiwan independence campaigners will take to the streets Saturday for what they hope will be a major rally in a rebuke to Beijing and a challenge to the island’s already embattled government.

The protest in central Taipei comes as China increasingly pushes its claims to the self-ruling democratic island and President Tsai Ing-wen struggles to appease Beijing and independence factions.

Organized by the new group Formosa Alliance, which is backed by two proindependence former Taiwan presidents, Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, the rally will call for a public vote on whether the island should formally declare independence from China.

It is the first potentially large-scale protest calling for an outright independence vote since Taiwan first became a democracy more than 20 years ago.

Organizers say they aim to draw 100,000 people.

“Every Taiwanese should get to choose Taiwan’s future. It should be a decision by the 23.57 million Taiwanese people, not by China or Xi Jinping,” said veteran independence activist Kuo Pei-horng, head of the alliance.

China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949. AFP

UN asked to meet on Myanmar report

UNITED NATIONS―The United States and eight other countries on Tuesday requested a UN Security Council meeting on Myanmar to hear from a UN fact-finding mission that has accused the country’s military of atrocities against the Muslim Rohingyas.

The request is likely to run into opposition from China, which has friendly ties with Myanmar’s military and has sought to shield Myanmar from action by the Security Council.

In a joint letter seen by AFP, the nine countries said the mission’s chairperson should brief the council to allow it to “receive further information on this situation and its implications for international peace and security.”

The UN fact-finding mission released an explosive report last month that called on the council to refer the Myanmar situation to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, or to create an ad hoc international criminal tribunal, as was done with the former Yugoslavia.

The fact-finding mission said that Myanmar’s top generals, including Commanderin-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, must be investigated and prosecuted for genocide in Rakhine State. AFP

But the United States has refused to rebuke its ally despite the mounting claims, with President Donald Trump insisting on the principle of innocence before being proven guilty and Pompeo saying after talks in Riyadh: “I don’t want to talk about any of the facts.”

Despite the lurid allegations published in media loyal to him, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also taken a circumspect line in the case, saying his priority is to uncover the truth through an investigation.

The controversy has blown a massive hole in the attempts by Prince Mohammed to promote himself as a modern reformer and led to a spate of cancellations from a major Riyadh investment conference scheduled next week.

Khashoggi has not been seen since he stepped inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to sort out paperwork for his coming marriage to a Turk-

ish woman.

Turkish police on Monday night undertook an eight hour search at the consulate, taking away soil and DNA samples, although a search expected on Tuesday at the consul’s residence has so far not taken place.

The Saudi consul Mohammed alOtaibi left Istanbul for Riyadh on a scheduled Saudia flight on Tuesday afternoon, with Ankara insisting he had not been expelled and left by his own choice.

Pompeo came to Ankara fresh from talks in Riyadh where he held a 20 minute meeting with King Salman and a far longer meeting with Prince Mohammed, where the pair shook hands and smiled.

He said before arriving in Ankara that in Saudi Arabia he stressed the “importance of them conducting a complete investigation into the disappearance” and Riyadh had vowed to do this. AFP

Canada legalizes pot after banning it for many years OTTAWA―Nearly a century of marijuana prohibition came to an end Wednesday as Canada became the first major Western nation to legalize and regulate its sale and recreational use.

The change was praised by pot enthusiasts and investors in a budding industry that has seen pot stocks soar on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, but sharply questioned by some health professionals and opposition politicians.

“We’re not legalizing cannabis because we think it’s good for our health.

We’re doing it because we know it’s not good for our children,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on the eve of the reform.

“We know we need to do a better job to protect our children and to eliminate or massively reduce the profits that go to organized crime.”

The Cannabis Act, which fulfills a promise Trudeau made in the 2015 election campaign, makes Canada only the second nation after Uruguay to legalize

the drug.

Its implementation will be scrutinized and dissected by Canadians ahead of the next election in 2019, as well as other nations that the prime minister has said may follow suit if the measure proves a success.

Trudeau himself admitted in 2013 to having smoked pot five or six times in his life, including at a dinner party with friends after being elected to parliament.

He has also said that his late brother Michel was facing marijuana possession charges for a “tiny amount” of pot before his death in an avalanche in 1998, and that this influenced his decision to propose legalizing cannabis.

But Trudeau’s office told AFP he “does not plan on purchasing or consuming cannabis once it is legalized.”

In total, Statistics Canada says 5.4 million Canadians will buy cannabis from legal dispensaries in 2018―about 15 percent of the population. Around 4.9 million already smoke. AFP

THE emerging cast of telecommunications companies bidding to become the country’s third major player is drawing the attention of the business community. Stock market investors and speculators alike are also keenly watching the final line-up that will vie for the new telecom franchise.

The initial list of companies that bought documents from the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission has not yet included powerhouse groups. The big boys are expected to formally join the bidding exercise soon and stir the telecom industry.

Seven so far have expressed interest in the bidding procedure led by Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp., the joint venture of LSC Group of Companies of businessman and politician Luis Crisologo “Chavit” Singson and Davao telco operator TierOne Communications, Norway’s Telenor Group, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp., NOW Corp. of businessman Mel Velarde and two others who requested not to be named for the meantime.

Other groups that are expected to purchase bid documents shortly are China Telecom, LG Uplus Corp., Korea Telecom, Vietnam Telecom, Converge ICT, Transpacific Broadband Group Inc. and EasyCall Communications Philippines Inc. One of these prospective foreign telecom bidders are expected to tie up with local partners and this is when the fun begins. The local partner will likely be a listed company, which is expected to fuel stock market speculations as the auction stage progresses.

One company, however, is already causing trouble to the two government agencies at the helm of the auction exercise. The government earlier formed an inter-agency committee to oversee the selection of a sorely needed telecommunications franchise holder. A year-long consultation with stakeholders was held to ensure all their concerns were put to rest and level the playing field.

But the painstaking process seems not enough for one the bidders.

After buying the P1-million bid documents, NOW Corp. haled the NTC and the DICT to court for “implementing... provisions in the memorandum circular that are detrimental to its rights.”

An official of NOW Corp. is claiming that no less than President Rodrigo Duterte will receive all bid documents on Nov. 7 and pick the third telco player, and not the NTC which was designated when the terms of reference governing the auction were drawn up last year.

Raising the issue now when the deadline is about three weeks away is incomprehensible. A lower court in Manila, nonetheless, denied NOW’s petition to temporarily stop the selection process.

Big war chest needed Under pressure by both the executive and the people to break the duopoly in the country’s telecommunications industry, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba and DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. have been walking the proverbial tightrope to balance the interests of the regulator, players and even public interest groups keenly watching the developments.

Even President Duterte has given his blessing to the selection process. “Just do what is right,” Rio quoted Mr. Duterte as telling him. “The President is supporting us. The President came up with an oversight committee. The oversight committee approved all of these rules and regulations.”

The government has drawn up stringent terms of reference for new players to join the telecom sector to separate the chaff from the grain. The winning bidder must have enough funds in its war chest to achieve a certain degree of performance that the public expects from the third telco. Except for NOW, seven other bidders have no qualms about the terms of reference.

NOW is also blaming Rio for his alleged “reckless” statement that caused the loss of about P7 billion in stock market capitalization.

NOW head of investor relations Miguel Lopez said the company’s lawyers were studying possible legal recourse against Rio. Lopez said Rio’s statement naming NOW–with only P6.3 million net income in 2017–as the mother company of NOW Telecom was “false and a malicious lie.”

“NOW Telecom is only an affiliate of NOW Corporation,” Lopez said. He said NOW Corp. held only 19-percent ownership stake in NOW Telecom. Lopez said the reckless statements of Rio damaged the value of NOW Corp. shares in the market, resulting in the loss of about P7 billion in market capitalization.

Rio countered that his statement about NOW was not the reason for the drop of its shares in the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“They are blaming me, but more or less it’s because of their action,” Rio said, adding that NOW’s share price declined on Oct. 9 even before he made the statement on Oct. 10.

“What I said is just true. They should tell the public that on Oct. 9, nobody made any statements. How can they say that I’m the reason? Their action caused the drop of its share prices. I think the people are punishing them enough, we don’t have to do anything (with it),” Rio said.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Novel set in Northern Ireland wins Booker Prize LONDON-Author Anna Burns on Tuesday became the first Northern Irish writer, and the first woman since 2013, to win Britain’s renowned Man Booker Prize for her novel “Milkman”.

Judges of the annual award praised the work, an exploration of Northern Ireland’s three decades of sectarian violence known as The Troubles told through the voice of a young woman, as “utterly distinctive”.

“None of us has ever read anything like this before,” said Kwame Anthony Appiah, chair of the 2018 judges, in announcing the winner.

“Anna Burns’ utterly distinctive voice challenges conventional thinking and form in surprising and immersive prose.”

The 56-year-old told reporters after the ceremony in London that she was “completely stunned” at receiving the most prestigious English-language lit-

erary prize.

“I just wait for characters to come and tell me their stories and I can’t write until they do,” she said.

Burns trumped English debut novelist and British bookmakers’ late favorite Daisy Johnson―at 27, the youngest author ever to be shortlisted for the Man Booker―for her novel “Everything Under”.

She also triumphed over longtime front runner Richard Powers, who had been tipped to make it three successive wins for US writers with his treethemed novel “The Overstory”.

Burns, who was born in the Northern Irish capital Belfast in 1962 and now lives in southern England, had previously authored two novels―”No Bones” and “Little Constructions”― and was shortlisted for the 2002 Orange Prize for Fiction.

Though set in an unnamed city, “Milkman” undoubtedly drew on her experiences growing up in the British province during the so-called Troubles.

The novel chronicles the struggles of a middle sister in a family as she confronts rumor, social pressures and politics amid violent sectarian divisions in her community.

“There are many marvelous things about this book... the texture of the language, it’s written in this amazing voice,” said Appiah. “It’s a very powerful novel.”

Appiah said the five-person judging panel reached a unanimous decision by consensus after a “good discussion”.

He added that although the novel confronts, among many other issues, gender issues raised by the #MeToo movement, gender played no part in their choice. AFP

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF DIONICIA BUENSUCESO-INCIONG Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the late DIONICIA BUENSUCESO-INCIONG, who was a resident of 2395 Amatista Street, San Andres Bukid, Manila and died on June 29, 2017, left no debts, and left four (4) parcels of land covered by Transfer Certificates of Title No. T-20,217 and T-274573 issued by the Register of Deeds of the Province of Bataan, and Transfer Certificates of Title No. 173017 and 173018 issued by the Register of Deeds of the City of Manila, were settled extrajudicially by her heirs, Lizbeth Inciong Ngo, Rebecca Inciong Nuguid, Rosauro B. Inciong, Eleanor Inciong Angoncillo, and Lino B. Inciong, Jr. virtue of an Extrajudicial Settlement executed on March 19, 2018 in Makati City and entered in the Notarial Register of Notary Public Denise Anne V. Sales as Doc. No. 388, Page No. 079; Book No. I; Series of 2018 and acknowledged on March 23, 2018 in the Consulate of the Republic of the Philippines in New York City

by Consul Kerwin Orville C. Tate as Doc. No. 03699; Service No. 088-091; Series of 2018.

(MS-OCT. 4,11 & 18, 2018)

LGUs

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

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thursday, october 18, 2018

LocaL government units

QC backs DILG drive against local corruption

By Rio N. Araja queZOn City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday backed the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s nationwide drive to combat corruption by educating citizens to guard against corrupt practices at the local level.

“Since the DILG under Secretary eduardo año has highlighted that P30 billion is being lost every year to corruption in the local government sector and that most cases filed at the [Office of the] Ombudsman are at the local government unit level, we really need to work on changing the culture of corruption in our city,” Belmonte said.

DILG’s “Bantay Korapsyon” drive is a pilot program to promote transparency and good governance to fight corruption among local government officials and staff.

“One of the biggest social sins is corruption because you are stealing from the people, and that’s why we must all be vigilant when we see signs of corruption,” Belmonte said.

She called on the city’s residents to watch out for developments on infrastructure especially for frequent road repairs, overpricing of purchased items, and “ghost” employees and projects.

“It is high time that we are aware.

We have to be critical and see what they really did,” Belmonte said. “as taxpayers, we have to see if the projects are worth the money. We need to ask questions of our leaders and public servants,” she added.

The vice mayor said the 37-member city council is working out to pass the first local Freedom of Information Ordinance in the country for greater transparency.

Guiani, nephew seek Cotabato’s fresh mandate InCuMBenT Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani is seeking reelection in next year’s polls, having filed her certificate of candidacy this week at the local Commission of elections office.

Guiani is running under the “One Kutawato”—new People’s Coalition Party.

The mayor’s running mate, Guiani’s nephew Graham Dumama, is also seeking reelection as vice mayor.

Two other seasoned politicians are also running for mayor of Cotabato, but Guiani is confident she and Dumama will emerge as the winning team.

Citing the numerous accomplishments achieved by her home city under her watch, Guiani said she’s bent on continuing the programs that have made Cotabato a much better place to live in. earlier this year, Cotabato was named the second safest city in the country by the Philippine national Police, which based its rankings on the crime rates of each city in the country during the first quarter of 2018. according to the mayor, the low crime rate in her city was the result of the constant implementation of the “ronda,” which teams the PnP with the “Task Force Kutawato” and the barangay “force multipliers” in patrolling the streets of the city and apprehending criminal elements.

Cotabato has also attracted a considerable amount of investments from the real estate and retail sectors, she added.

Ayunan G. Gunting

WINE AND DINE.

The Philippine Wine Merchants and Pirramimma recently hosted a dinner at Sage, Shangri-La Makati for selected clients. An Australian wine company, Pirramimma presented several of its products for wine pairing. In photo (from left) are Raymond Joseph, PWM sales and marketing director, with Mark Conroy, maker of Pirramimma wine, and Shangri-La Makati resident manager Udo Wittich.

FOR SOLDIERS. A toy soldier adorns the front desk of the renovated Camp Evangelista Station Hospital

Annex Building in Cagayan de Oro City. This is the second project of the partnership between SM Foundation and Makati Medical Center Foundation following the Cavite Naval Hospital. Camp Evangelista Station Hospital (inset) is a 100-bed capacity hospital that services the medical needs of about 18,000 uniformed personnel, their dependents and authorized civilians. It is categorized as a Level 1 hospital and accredited by PhilHealth.

Erap seals candidacy for 3rd mayoral term

By Vito Barcelo

I

nCuMBenT Manila Mayor Joseph estrada on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy to seal his bid for a third and last term at the city’s helm and fulfill his vision of bringing back the capital to its old title “Pearl of the Orient.”

estrada was accompanied by his running mate, former congressman amado Bagatsing. They will run under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, the former president’s own political party.

The tandem will carry the slogan “Team Legacy,” citing the accomplishments performed by estrada, such as making the city debt-free, a feat he said former mayors Lito atienza and alfredo Lim failed to do.

Voters will be picking between the estrada-Bagatsing pair and Social Welfare undersecretary Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who has con-

vinced incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna to be his running mate.

In filing his CoC, “erap” expressed confidence of winning the mayoralty race anew, and renewed his vow to make Manila the center of the country’s economy and a better place to live.

“Given another three years to serve the public, I will fulfill the promise of bringing back the name of Manila as the ‘Pearl of the Orient,’” the mayor told his supporters.

Bagatsing promised to support all estrada’s undertakings to uplift the lives of Manileños.

Olivarez faces Bernabe Jr. for P’que top post

By Joel E. Zurbano

estrada also vowed to serve Manila “until his last breath.”

Since assuming the mayoralty, the former president has embarked on a massive urban renewal program to clean up and beautify the capital city. among his accomplishments in Manila are the construction of six new hospitals equipped with the latest medical equipment.

He also vowed to complete the construction of the new Manila Bay International Community on reclaimed land in Manila Bay to spur the city’s economic growth.

Born in Tondo, Manila in 1937, the former movie star said he has given priority to the Manila’s poorest, providing them with free medical assistance, education, job opportunities and distribution of land titles to landless Manileños.

The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission delegation headed by executive director Jose Antonio’Ka Pepeton’ E. Goitia gathers during the awarding ceremony of the 1st Asia RiverPrize in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday.

Parañaque City Mayor edwin Olivarez on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy for the May 2019 polls in a bid for his third and last term.

Olivarez, who ran unopposed in the May 2016 elections, is now running against former mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr., who served for three consecutive terms starting 2004.

Olivarez is the son of Dr. Pablo Olivarez, who also served as city mayor from 1992 to 1995. The physicianturned-politician is the incumbent chairman of Barangay San Dionisio at the age of 82.

In 2010, the elder Olivarez faced Bernabe, who emerged as the winner.

However, in 2013, Bernabe gave way to his son, former city councilor Florencio “Benjo” Bernabe III. edwin Olivarez, who was Parañaque’s District 1 House representative then, beat the younger Bernabe for the mayoralty by about 27,800 votes in 2013. edwin’s younger brother eric also won in a landslide in the first district against Bernabe’s protége in 2013 to succeed him as congressman. eric is also running for his last term in Congress next year.

In just two years, Olivarez said he has managed to turn around the city’s financial standing.

“This is the first time that the elder Bernabe and younger Olivarez will face off for the same position,” according to City administrator Ding Soriano. He said Bernabe Sr. was elected municipal mayor from 1965 to 1986.

Pasig River Rehab Commission wins 1st Asia RiverPrize award THe Pasig river, through the Pasig river rehabilitation Commission, has bagged the inaugural 2018 asia riverPrize given by the International river Foundation during the 21st International riversymposium held in Sydney, australia on Tuesday The 27-kilometer Pasig river beat the other finalist, Yangtze river of China, which was represented by the asian Development Bank.

In announcing the winner during the

gala dinner, the IrF said the judges were impressed with the scale of the problem the Pasig river faced and the scale of the response initiated by the PrrC. “Critical to the success of the story was bringing the community, around 18,000 people, to decent housing and transforming these communities and their lives into environmentally responsible citizens,” the IrF said before the announcement of the winner.

The IrF recognizes and rewards or-

ganizations that are making a difference through effective river basin restoration and management programs.

Pasig river, being the winner of the 2018 asia riverprize, received widespread global recognition, which can build new partnerships, provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and best practices, and open doors for international support.

“One of the five critical criteria in the determination of the winner was leader-

ship, which we attribute to the leadership of our beloved President rodrigo r. Duterte,” said PrrC executive director Jose antonio “Ka Pepeton” e. Goitia.

“It was PrrD’s leadership that united both the public and private sectors into this shared mission of protecting the Pasig river and improving the lives of the communities around it with strong political will. This is a global recognition for President Duterte and every Filipino river warrior,” he added.

Caloocan ‘Kanlungan’ opens Friday

By Jun David

THe Caloocan City anti-Drug abuse Council is set to inaugurate on Friday, Oct. 19, the “Kanlungan,” the country’s first ever comprehensive drug rehabilitation complex that will offer residential treatment, reformation under Balay Silangan program, outpatient services, and a community-based rehab pod.

Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan said Kanlungan is a shelter for drug dependents who aim to turn themselves into productive members of the society.

“With the Kanlungan, we believe that it will strengthens our rehabilitation program as we want to give our drug surrenderers second chance in life,” Malapitan said.

Kanlungan, which is located beside the Caloocan City north Medical Center, is part of the city’s multi-awarded Community-assisted rehabilitation and recovery of Out-patient Treatment and Training System program.

So far, the city’s anti-drug abuse program has successfully reformed 433 former drug users who are once again productive citizens.

Life

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

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thursday, october 18, 2018

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Christmas decoration ideas from around the world W

iTH only a couple more weeks left before Christmas, it’s time to take out the holiday trimmings and start decorating. Are you going for the red-and-gold combination again this year? or are you considering decking the halls with blue and silver décor?

Here’s another idea: bring Christmas from different parts of the globe into your home.

SM Home, with its more than 500 holi-

day ornaments on offer, takes inspiration from the merry elements and bright ideas of Christmas celebrations and traditions around the world.

Bring a Parisian glow into your home with a palette of gold and silver and sparkly centerpieces.

Capture an all-American classic theme with ornaments in rich reds and wintry whites, with a touch of silver.

Joyeux Noël

Yule logs made out of Cherry Wood are often burned in french homes, and is sprinkled with red wine to give it an exquisite aroma when it is burning. This comes from an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the log to ensure good luck for next year’s harvest.

To bring a Parisian glow and warmth of Christmas to your home, opt for a shimmering palette of gold and silver, with a touch of antique brass and champagne.

American Classic

A typical celebration of Christmas day in America mixes irish, Austrian, italian, Polish, and belgian traditions into something that is its own.

An all-American classic captures the homey warmth of the holidays—with rich reds and wintry whites that never go out of style. Meanwhile, a touch of silver adds sophistication, while green suggests fresh pine.

Achieve an aurora borealislike glow with décor in greens interspersed with blues and whites.

Northern Lights

lapland in finland is a popular bucket list destination among those searching for the Northern lights. The awe-inspiring sight sometimes develop a riot of colors: green interspersed with waves of red, blue, and violet dancing across the sky.

To achieve that Northern lights dazzle, light up your Christmas tree with an aurora borealis-like glow and add a wave of aqua for that wintry feel.

Popsicle Christmas décor in pastel colors give that tropical holiday vibe.

Tropical Holiday

Not all Christmases are white, and if you live in the tropics, like here in the Philippines, all is merry, sunny, and bright. for a truly tropical holiday, decorate with favorite summer dessert ornaments—cupcakes, ice cream, and doughnuts—in pretty pastels such as baby blue, creamsicle, cotton candy, and chartreuse.

The latest Christmas Décor collection is available at the SM Home section in all SM Stores. For more choices, visit the largest Christmas Décor Display at the SM Home section in SM Makati and SM Aura Premier.

Amaia opens third phase of Bulacan project AffordAble residential property developer Amaia land Corp. has opened the third sector of its Amaia Scapes bulacan project The expansion has opened 306 more new and spacious units suitable for growing filipino families.

Complementing its masterfully designed units are Amaia Scapes bulacan’s recreational amenities, which are available for use, such as a multi-village pavilion, swimming pool, basketball court, and a children’s play area.

The site also includes patio greens and a tree-lined spine road for jogging with friends. located along Sta. Maria-Pandi road in brgy. Manggahan and Sta. Cruz in Sta. Maria, the housing development offers its aspiring homeowners easy access to key establishments such as Puregold, Waltermart, Grace of Shekinah School, Sacred Heart Academy, Mateo’s

diagnostic and General Hospital, rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital, and Sta. Maria Municipal Hall.

The bocaue exit of the North luzon expressway is a leisurely 15-minute drive away from the property.

Amaia Land brings the dream

of owning an affordable superiorquality home closer to hardworking Filipinos through easy payment options: cash, deferred cash, and bank financing. To know more, go to www. amaialand.com or follow Amaia Land on Facebook.

Located at Sta. Maria-Pandi Road, Amaia Scapes Bulacan provides easy access to key establishments like schools, hospitals, and supermarkets.

The launching of Amaia Scapes Bulacan’s third phase has opened 306 more new and spacious units.

Life

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W

HEN the rainy season comes, many Filipinos resign to the fact that their clothes would smell musty because of indoor drying.

But according to a fabric enhancer brand, indoor drying is not the number one cause of unpleasant smell in clothes.

The distinct musty odor, Downy said, is actually caused by germ growth, which may start as early as after washing the clothes, regardless of the laundry means—and not directly because clothes are dried indoors.

Downy shares these pro-tips to help keep clothes germ-free and malodorfree, especially during the wet season.

How to stop musty odor in clothes

Wash ‘high-risk laundry’ ASAP

The longer clothes remain damp with sweat and other bodily dirt, the more germs will grow. Items susceptible to more germ infestation, such as soiled gym clothes, children’s PE uniforms, shared towels, clothes used in food preparation, clothing worn over a wound, and healthcare worker’s uniforms should be washed as soon as possible, and with more attention, too.

These laundry items should be washed separately from others. Homemakers can protect themselves from infection by wearing gloves when handling highrisk laundry.

Drying clothes outdoors helps kill germs that may cause musty odors.

Stop staph

According to a 2014 study “Microbial odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes After a Fitness Session,” several odor-causing germs are found to grow in different types of fabrics.

Many healthy people normally have staphylococcus (or staph) on their skin, in their noses, or other body areas. Most of the time, the germ does not cause an infection or symptoms, but when they do, it can make them or others sick. To avoid staph infection: wash hands thoroughly with soap and water; keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered until they heal; and do not share personal items such as towels, underwear, or cosmetics.

use of water with temperature of 60 degrees Celsius or higher in washing clothes can be effective in killing possibly pathogenic bacteria.

Those who dry their clothes in the sunshine are actually killing germs as well. But for those who can’t hang clothes outdoors due to space limitations and the season’s weather conditions, there can be a solution that is more accessible and controllable: use an ingredient known as Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride, which can be found in Downy AntiBac. This ingredient ruptures the bacterial cell wall, thereby preventUse a detergent reinforcement ing germ growth and minimizing Various global studies show that the bacteria population that can contrib-

ute to musty-smelling clothes.

“To beat the enemy, we have to know the enemy. We need to be particular in treating the root cause of musty malodor to achieve long lasting freshness, not just during the rainy season, but throughout the allyear humid conditions,” said Cedric Le Goff, Downy Philippines country marketing manager.

He continued, “This can only be accomplished by the exhaustive prevention of germ growth in all the clothes that we wear—be it pambahay or panlakad. With Downy AntiBac, we can eliminate the germs that cause malodor in our clothes and provide longlasting freshness.”

Let your kid’s creativity shine by doing arts together.

6 things busy parents can do

with their kids

The distinct musty odor is caused by germ growth, which may start as early as after washing the clothes.

ToDDLErS are at a special age wherein they love to discover and explore. Thus it is important for parents to prepare their kids’ bags filled with essentials they need when their out at school, in a class field trip, or at playdates with friends.

Mothers, a preschool teacher, and other child-rearing experts share the things they put in their children’s bags.

Items susceptible to germ infestation, such as soiled gym clothes, should be washed as soon as possible.

What’s in your child’s bag?

Snacks and water

Toddlers’ appetite knows no limits; they tend to get hungry every now and then.

“I make sure I have something available that is on-the-go and not messy to keep my son’s energy up. I also make sure he is always well hydrated,” shares mompreneur Christine Li of Wandermom.ph.

First aid kit

Bumps, booboos, and wounds are part of kids’ growing up years. Hence, Li makes sure to pack her kid a first aid kit. “My staple first aid is a travel-sized ointment for multipurpose use in case of situations like rashes, dryness, itchiness, or insect bites.”

The first aid kit should also contain band aids for quick fix on wounds they get from playing, as well as a card with the contact details of parents in case of emergency.

Playtime kit

After hours of playtime and exposure to pollution, it is important that kids can easily freshen up.

“To get rid of dirty pollutants, my kids’ bags always have a hand sanitizer or alcohol. Bringing an extra shirt in case playtime gets intense and sweaty will be useful, along with powder and a roll of tissue for messy moments, so that their bodies can cool down and stay fresh,” shares blogger mom, Lanie Lluch of Mommy Bloggers Philippines.

Oral care kit

Chesca Kramer, oral healthcare ad-

For parents who balance their busy schedules between work and household chores, every minute counts.

Even a brief time bonding with their kids is special.

The rainy season makes it extra challenging for moms and dads to think of activities to do with their kids because doing anything outdoors is almost always out of the picture. With the limited time combined with the uncooperative weather, this significantly reduces their choices in making memorable experiences.

Understanding the struggle parents go through to spend quality time with their kids, paracetamol brand Calpol shares activities that will brighten the gloomy mood.

1. Be creative together. Allow kids to express their ideas through art. Parents can teach their children resourcefulness by making use of old materials like piled-up newspapers or used gift wrappers.

2. Cook heartwarming recipes. research easy-to-do recipes online and create wonders in the kitchen together. Nothing beats warm meals during a storm. This will also teach kids proper nutrition as well as useful life skills.

3. Play games. Introduce kids to classic pastimes away from their phone or tablet screens. Non-electronic activities are aplenty. Parents may opt to teach them how to play

chess, or work on a picture puzzle together. Gather the family for a quick round of Snakes and Ladders, Scrabble, Monopoly, or other board games.

Build a fort with pillows and blankets and expand their imagination.

4. Be one with music. Learn the latest dance moves or sing along to popular tunes. Moms and dads can make their own choreography or compose a family hymn with their kids, or play a dance game or two on the console.

5. Have a storytelling time. Visit different worlds and meet new characters through the pages of a book.

To make the activity more interactive, parents can take turns with their children mimicking voices and pretending to be heroes or villains off to save the world.

6. Do chores as a family. Turn a chore into a fun activity by making it a challenge. See who can put all the toys or laundry in the basket the fastest, or who can fold the most number of clothes on a time limit.

Calpol reminds parents not to forget to keep their kids protected, as the wet season leaves children vulnerable to cough, colds, and fever.

The paracetamol brand offers fast and efficient fever relief. Its suspension formula starts to work on fever in 15 minutes (at 15m/kg dosing) and is gentle on child’s tummy.

Visit calpol.com.ph or Calpol PH on Facebook for more information.

Snacks and water, a first aid kit, an extra shirt, and an oral care kit are important items that should be in a child’s bag.

vocate for Hapee Kiddie, shares she makes sure her three kids, Gavin, Scarlett, and Kendra, have their oral care kits in their kiddie bags wherever they go. This contains a colorful toothbrush and a tube of their favorite Hapee Kiddie anti-cavity toothpaste.

“When all the kids were still in traditional school, I made sure they bring an oral care kit with them always. By doing this, we teach them the importance of taking care of their teeth so that they can smile and interact confidently,” shares Kramer.

Hapee Kiddie toothpaste, which comes in different fruity flavors, contains kid-safe levels of fluoride which can help fight off dental cavities.

Bonus: Opt for mobile bags

Lift the burden off kids’ shoulders by giving them a stroller bag instead of a backpack. This would help keep their posture straight and their back pain-free from all the heavy books and school materials they bring to school.

“Get one with their favorite characters so that they would be encouraged to go to school and study,” says Celine Dy Buenaventura, former preschool teacher and now proud mother of five. She recommends an upright stroller bag over the horizontal one for easier maneuvering, especially during dismissal time when fetchers f lock the gates.

For busy parents, every minute they spend bonding with their kids is essential.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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GMA Network commemorates the enduring legacy of Kuya Germs

A

S A tribute to German ‘Kuya Germs’ Moreno and his valuable contributions and loyalty to GMA, the network renames one of its studios after the late actor, TV host, and star builder extraordinaire.

Marking the 85th birthday of Kuya Germs on Oct. 4, the network remembers Kuya Germs who was behind the ground-breaking variety shows at GMA including Germside, Germspesyal, GMA Supershow, That’s Entertainment and Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman.

During the dedication ceremony, GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon relived Kuya Germs’ enormous and lasting contribution to the lives of many individuals and in show business.

“We are grateful to Kuya Germs for devoting the more successful and longest part of his illustrious career in show business.

Naming our Studio 6 after him will ensure that he will never be forgotten for his legendary contributions to the industry and his generosity to everyone in show business.”

GMA Chief Operating Officer and President Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. described Kuya Germs as the epitome of a loyal Kapuso as he spent almost five decades of his showbiz life in the network.

GMA Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Felipe S. Yalong, in turn, shared that Kuya Germs lived his colorful life out of love and passion.

GMA Films President Atty. Annette M. Gozon proved that Kuya Germs was a man of humility and generosity.

“I’ve always admired Kuya Germs in his commitment to help aspiring stars. He had the vision, that’s why so many world-class Filipino talents came from him. And even if he was ‘the’ Kuya Germs, talagang very down-toearth. I’m very happy that we commemorate Kuya Germs by naming the studio after him,” she said.

GMA Entertainment Group Senior Vice

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN NUEVA ECIJA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.AREA 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) AND AP RENEWABLES, INC. (APRI), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY AND MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION

CC = Maximum Contract Energy per Interval in kW as indicated in Schedule 4.1 of the Agreement

ACCij =

ERC CASE NO. 2018-075 RC

1. Applicant NEECO II - Area 1 is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative (EC) duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal main office at Calipahan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, where it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, ENGR. NELSON M. DELA CRUZ, of legal age, Filipino, and with office address also at NEECO II - AREA 1 Main Office.

3. Applicants may be served notices, orders and other processes of the Honorable Commission through their respective counsel whose addresses are indicated below.

In the event that the index (a) becomes unavailable, (b) is replaced by a new benchmark rate as determined by the relevant authorized entity, its successor in interest, or (c) ceases to exist, or (d) in the reasonable determination of either Party, fails to reflect the real costs and forms an integral part of this price mechanism, the Parties shall agree to adopt a new price index.

SALlENT TERMS OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT 8. Executive Summary. Under the PSA, APRI shall supply power to NEECO II AREA 1 from Effective Date (subject to Article 4 of the PSA) until 25 December 2019 or until such time that the power supply contract between NEECO II - AREA 1 and its new power supplier commences; provided that such extension shall not exceed one (1) year and shall be subject to ERC Approval Term of Agreement. The PSA shall take effect immediately from Effective Date until the end of the Contract Period as specified in the PSA. The PSA also stipulates that the PSA may be renewed or extended in writing by the Parties not later than three (3) months prior to the expiration of the Contract Period.

[9.2]

Supply of Energy. NEECO II - AREA 1’s Maximum Contract Energy per interval is thirty-three thousand kilowatts (33,000 kW) for the duration of the PSA.

[9.3]

Adjustment in Contract Capacity. NEECO II - AREA 1 may request an adjustment in Contract Capacity and Contract Energy in respect of a particular Billing Period by delivery of a written request at least three (3) months before the date on which such adjustment is proposed to take effect and setting out the reasons and providing all documents necessary to support the request, without prejudice to the right of APRI to waive the three (3)-month notice period. Within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice, APRI shall notify NEECO II - AREA 1 in writing indicating APRI’s acceptance or refusal of NEECO II - AREA 1’s request to adjust the Contract Capacity and Contract Energy. Any such request shall be subject to approval by APRI.

[9.4]

Additional Energy. Additional Energy shall in no case exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Maximum Contract Energy per Interval or Maximum Contract Energy per Billing Period.

[9.5]

Payment of Fees. APRI shall deliver to NEECO II - AREA 1 a Billing Statement setting out the Electricity Fees due on account of the Contract Capacity and all Energy delivered during each Billing Period on or before the seventh (7th) day of the Payment Month. The hourly energy levels that will be used for purposes of the Billing Statement will be based on the amount of Energy nominated by NEECO II - AREA 1 pursuant to Schedule 6.2. of the PSA. Penalties. If NEECO II - AREA 1 fails to pay the Electricity Fee or any other amounts payable by it under the PSA in full, including full payment of VAT due (if any) and all applicable taxes thereon, on the due date, it shall pay a penalty of two percent (2%) per month (a fraction of a month to be considered one month) based on the amount due, from the date when such payment is due until the date such amount is received in full by APRI. Taxes, Fees and Costs. NEECO II - AREA 1 shall be liable for and pay (i) any and all taxes (including value-added tax, if any), fees, charges, levies and imposts imposed or assessed by any Governmental Authority on or in connection with the purchase and sale of electricity and/or payments due to APRI, and (ii) any new taxes, fees, charges, levies and imposts (including any increase in the rate or amount thereof after the date hereof but excluding income taxes imposed on APR! and fines and penalties directly attributed to APRI’s gross negligence) after the date hereof in connection with the performance by APRI of its obligations pursuant to the PSA. Electricity Fees. Electricity Fees refers to the total amount of charges due from NEECO II - AREA 1 in respect of the Contract Capacity and all Energy supplied by APRI during a Billing Period, computed in accordance with Schedule 6.1.2 (Rates Schedule).

Electricity Fees = A + B + C + D + E All computations on payments to Supplier shall not be rounded off, except for the final PHP amount, which shall be rounded off to the nearest Philippine centavo.

Where: CRF = PhP1,397.07/kW-mo OM = PhP0.8121/kWh Fuel = PhP1.5000/kWh or (0.016 x [((0.75xNm) I (0.25xJPUm))] x FXm) whichever is lower 25.6625

A = CRF x CC x Adj B = OM x TED C = Fuel x TED D = any increase in existing taxes and all future taxes, fees and imposts, real property taxes, local business taxes, transmission charges, other charges

Generation Rate and Supply Mix1

Generation Rate (Php/kWh)

Without APRI With APRI

4.8443 3.9059

The analysis of the rate impact reveals that the resultant generation charge (GC) is lower and, thus, offers the best competitive and affordable price.

Lower GC translates to the same passed-on charges to the benefit and interest of NEECO II - AREA 1’s end consumers. Therefore, the approval for the implementation of the PSA is imperative and essential because of the lower GC that will redound to the cooperative’s stakeholders.

5. Applicant NEECO II - AREA 1 is in need of a 33 MW baseload and intermediate power supply for the period covering August 26, 2018 to December 25, 2019.

7. Thus, NEECO II - AREA 1 and APRI come to this Honorable Commission for the approval of the PSA.

18. The foregoing documents constitute a compilation of information on the operations of the plant that have actual and valuable proprietary interest, which APRI must protect against competitors. This information must be protected since if this matter is known by the public, especially APRI’s competitors, the data can be used by a competitor as an input or variable in the determination of the competitor’s tariff. A competitor knowing this information will gain a competitive leverage against APRI. As explained in this Honorable Commission’s Decision in the ERC Case No. 2015-111 RC: “In the case of PNOC RC, the documents sought to be protected from disclosure contains formula and pricing structures used in arriving at their proposed tariff. The prices cited in the documents were components of the proposed tariff. In fact, all three (3) documents were used by the Commission in evaluating the reasonableness of the proposed rate. In electric power industry where prices is a major consideration in selecting one’s supplier, it is apparent that the assumption used in arriving at one’s proposed tariff is considered a competitive leverage by one player against its competitors.

Thus, the Commission resolved to treat the said documents confidential and may not be publicly disclosed.” 4

9. Estimated Rate Impact.

4. Applicant NEECO II - AREA 1 is the exclusive franchise holder of a Certificate of Franchise issued by the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power services in following city and municipalities in the Province of Nueva Ecija: Talavera, Lupao, Carranglan, Aliaga, Quezon, Licab, Sto. Domingo, Science City of Munoz, Guimba and Talugtog.

6. After careful evaluation and review of the terms of the bid offers, NEECO II - AREA 1 deemed the proposal of APRI the most advantageous and beneficial for NEECO II - AREA 1’s end consumers. Therefore, Applicants executed this Power Supply Agreement (PSA) on 8 June 2018.

“Trade secret is defined as a plan or process, tool, mechanism or compound known only to its owner and those of his employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The definition also extends to a secret formula or process not patented, but known only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having a commercial value. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that: (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous use in the operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights. The inventor, discoverer, or possessor of a trade secret or similar innovation has rights therein which may be treated as property, and ordinarily an injunction will be granted to prevent the disclosure of the trade ‘secret by one who obtained the information “in confidence” or through a “confidential relationship. “3

FXm = the average of the daily PHP /USD exchange rate for the last three calendar months prior to the Billing Period for which the Invoice is being prepared, as published in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website Notes: In the event that revisions are made on the above indices, including any shift made in the base year and other adjustments to such index made by the relevant authorized entity, its successor-in-interest, there shall be a corresponding change in the base index such that the use of the revised index will yield the equivalent values as the use of the original base index.

OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS 10. Copies of the foregoing documents and/or information are attached to this Joint Application as annexes hereof: ANNEX A A-1 B C C-1 D E E-1 F F-1 F-2 G G-1 G-2 G-3 G-4 H H-1 H-2 H-3 H-4 H-5 I J J-1 K K-1 L M M-1 M-2 M-3 M-4 M-5 M-6 M-7 N O O-1 O-2 P P-1 P-1-a P-1-b P-2 P-2-a P-2-b P-3 Q R S T U V

NATURE OF DOCUMENTS NEECO II - AREA 1`s Articles of Incorporation NEECO II - AREA 1`s Amended By-Laws NEECO II - AREA 1`s List of Board Directors APRI’s Amended Articles of Incorporation APRI’s Amended By-Laws APRI’s Certificate of Registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) APRI’s General Information Sheet APRI’s Ownership Structure Map APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. 2009-083 from the Board of Investment (BOI) APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. 2009-084 from BOI APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. 2016-152 from BOI APRI’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) No. 0109-642-203 from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) APRI’s ECC No. 0112-871-203 from the DENR APRI’s ECC No. 9206-041-203C from the DENR APRI’s ECC No. 9112-037-203 from the DENR Summary of Capacity based on ECC APRI’s Certificates of Compliance (COC) No. 15-11-M-00028L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-11-M-286rL from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-05-M-00007L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-05-M-00008L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 15-05-M-00009L from the ERC APRI’s COC No. 17-05-M-00105L from the ERC APRI’s Certificate of Endorsement (COE) from the DOE APRI’s Geothermal Renewable Energy Operating Contract (GREOC) No. 2009-10-006 APRI’s GREOC No. 2009-10-007 APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. GREOC 2009-10-006 from DOE APRI’s Certificate of Registration No. GREOC 2009-10-007 from DOE Load forecast projections in accordance with the latest 2018 Distribution Development Plan (DDP) of NEECO II-AREA 1 with DDP Summaries NEECO II - AREA 1’s Invitations to Submit Proposal NEECO II - AREA 1’s Terms of Reference Proposals from bidders to NEECO II - AREA (Confidential) NEECO II - AREA l’S Bids and Awards Committee Evaluation Report Resolution No. 2018-03-011 NEECO II- AREA 1`s Board Resolution Confirming the Approval of BAC Evaluation Report Resolution No. 04-13-18 Notice of Award issued by NEECO II - AREA 1 Diagram and Matrix on Type of Competitive Selection Process NEECO II - AREA 1 Board Resolution No. 10-13-17 on the conduct of CSP Power Supply Agreement dated 8 June 2018 APRI’s Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) - Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant APRI’s TSA - Makban Geothermal Power Plant NEECO II - AREA 1’s TSA Executive Summary on PSA APRI’s Sources of Funds/ Financial Plans (Confidential) APRI’s Asian Development Bank Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Bank of the Philippines Island Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Generation Rate Derivations (Confidential) Sample Computation of Power Rates Rate Impact Simulation APRI’s Cash Flow (Confidential Fuel Procurement Process (Confidential) Relevant technical and economic characteristics of generation capacity APRI’s Audited Financial Statements Write-Up on APRI’s Documentary Requirements Transition of Power Supply from NPC Transition Supply Contract to Power Supply Agreement with APRI. Affidavit of Engr. Nelson M. Dela Cruz

APRI’s Sources of Funds/Financial Plans (Confidential) APRI’s Asian Development Bank Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Bank of the Philippines Island Certification (Confidential) APRI’s Generation Rate Derivations (Confidential) APRI’s Cash Flow (Confidential Fuel Procurement Process (Confidential)

17. On the other hand, Annexes “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” contain information and data involving APRI’s operation, financial trade secrets, formula and pricing structures used in arriving at APRI’s tariff. These information are not generally available to the public. As such, the information and data contain in these documents are privileged and confidential in nature. In the case of Air Philippines Corporation v.

Pennswell,2 the Supreme Court explained that:

JPUm = the JPU reference coal index (USD/MT) published on the 25th of the calendar month; provided that if such day falls on a non-Business Day, the JPU reference coal index on the immediately preceding Business Day shall be used

Statement of Facts

The momentous occasion was graced by various personalities close to Kuya Germs’ heart including MTRCB Chairperson Maria Rachel Arenas, Queen of Philippine Movies Ms. Gloria Romero, John Nite, and his grandchildren Jose Miguel, Franshesca, Luis Gabriel and Jaime Rafael. Kapuso stars Jestoni Alarcon, Tina Paner, Sheryl Cruz, Jackie Lou Blanco, Sanya Lopez, Jak Roberto, Jake Vargas, Renz Valerio, Marika Sasaki, Will Ashley, and other GMA Network executives were also present to honor their mentor, friend and father figure in showbiz.

16. Annex “M-2”, the proposals from bidders to NEECO II - AREA 1, contains information on pricing and capacity. Bidders have requested that these information remain confidential as they form part of the bidders’ strategies against competitors.

Nm = the Newcastle index (USD/MT) published on the 25th of the calendar month; provided that if such day falls on a non-Business Day, the Newcastle index on the immediately preceding Business Day shall be used

NEECO II - AREA 1 and APRI, alleged the following in their Application:

[9.8]

P-1 P-1-a P-1-b P-2 P-3 Q

TED = the total energy delivered in kWh within the CC during the current Billing Period

Notice is hereby given that on 13 July 2018, the Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Area 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) and AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) filed a Joint Application (Application) dated 06 July 2018 seeking the approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA) , with prayer for provisional authority and Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information.

2. Applicant APRI is a generation corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at NAC Tower, nd 32 Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. APRI is the owner and operator of four (4) geothermal plants located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Bay-Calauan, Laguna and two (2) geothermal plants located in Tiwi, Albay, (collectively, the “Power Plants”).

CC less affected capacity due to Force majeure for interval i and day j, the number of days per Billing Period the number of trading Intervals per day

n= Int =

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

[9.7]

One of Kuya Germs’dearest friends Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda thanked the Network for valuing Kuya Germs’ works and loyalty, “I would like to extend our deepest and sincerest gratitude to GMA from the executives and to all the employees of GMA for having treated German as your very own. For that, we will forever be grateful to you.”

DSWD Undersecretary Isko Moreno, one of Kuya Germs’ talents, testified to the late icon’s loyalty, “Today, he teaches us that it pays to be loyal. We were taught that way by Kuya Germs many times.”

E = the amount due for re-delivery of any undelivered quantity due to a Force Majeure event.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

[9.6]

From left: GMA EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Luis Gabriel Moreno, Franshesca Moreno, Federico Moreno, Jaime Rafael Moreno, and Jose Miguel Moreno

that may be imposed on the procurement and purchase of steam, and other charges imposed on the Power Plant, including the charges indicated of Schedule 3.1(b) of the Agreement, in Philippine Pesos.

NUEVA ECIJA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. - AREA 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) AND AP RENEWABLES, INC. (APRI) Applicants. x---------------------------------------------------x

[9.1]

President Lilybeth G. Rasonable took pride in Kuya Germs’ hard work, integrity, and undeniable influence in the industry.

“It was such a great honor working with him. We wanted to thank him for legacy – the knowledge he shared with us,” Rasonable said.

GMA First Vice President for Program Management Joey R. Abacan recognized that Kuya Germs have touched so many lives, including his, “Kuya Germs, I’ll always be grateful for the friendship na namuo sa ating dalawa. Now that we are naming the studio after you, ang kaligayahan at ang pagmamahal na ibinigay mo sa amin will remain with us forever here in GMA.” Meanwhile, Kuya Germs’ family led by his son Federico Moreno, described Kuya Germs as “a man who did not just devote his life to his craft but also to the people he truly loves.”

Federico expressed his deep admiration for his father’s dedication to his profession and his selflessness, “For me, the most significant part of his life is honest to goodness love. I would like to say thank you for this honor that you have bestowed on him. I am sure he is here.

I know in his wildest dreams, he would never expect this because he never expected anything back.”

19. In view of the foregoing Applicants respectfully request that the foregoing documents attached as Annexes “M-2”, “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” the information contained therein be treated as confidential and privileged, and not be disclosed to persons other than the necessary officers and staff of this Honorable Commission.

20. Applicants hereby submit one (1) copy each of Annexes M-2”, “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” in a sealed envelope with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential.”

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, applicants Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Area 1 (NEECO II - AREA 1) and AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission: a.

ISSUE an Order treating Annexes M-2”, “P-1”, “P-1-a”, “P-1-b”, “P-2”, “P-3” and “Q” and the information contained therein as confidential, directing their non-disclosure to persons other than officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, as necessary, pursuant to Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, and prescribing guidelines for the protections thereof;

b.

Pending trial on the merits PROVISIONALLY APPROVE, the PSA, including all the rates, fees and charges set out therein; and

c.

After trial on the merits, APPROVE with FINALITY the PSA, including all the rates, fees and charges set out therein.

Other relief, just and equitable, are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 08 November 2018 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), at NEECO II - AREA 1`s Principal Office at Calipahan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

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

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

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

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

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

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

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

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

Pasig City, 01 August 2018.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

MOTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 11. As can be gleaned from the comparative scenarios of the Rate Impact Analysis, the PSA between the Applicants reflects the most beneficial and cheapest generation charges at a reduced rate of Php/kWh. The resultant reduction is Php 0.9384/kWh visavis the existing Php 4.8443/kWh.

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairman and CEO

12. The implementation of the PSA with APRI will afford the end-users of NEECO II - AREA 1 a stable supply and affordable rates.

13. The grant of a provisional authority will allow NEECO II - AREA 1 to immediately draw power under the PSA by 26 August 2018. This will ultimately redound to the benefit of NEECO II AREA 1`s customers in terms of continuous, reliable, efficient and affordable power supply. Attached as Annex “V” hereof is the Judicial Affidavit of Engr.

Nelson M. Dela Cruz in support of the motion for provisional approval.

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION 14. Section 1, Rule 4, of the Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that a party to any proceeding before the Commission may request that information about the party in the Commission’s possession not be disclosed.

15. In line with this, NEECO II - AREA 1 and APRI pray for the confidential treatment of the information contained in the following annexes, and not disclose the same except to the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission: Annex Documents and/or information M-2 Proposals from bidders to NEECO II - AREA 1 (Confidential)

. Please see Annex: P-2-b . G.R. No. 172835, December 13. 2007.

Emphasis supplied.

4 See Decision dated 30 May 2017, In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of the Power Supply Agreement Between Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Area 2 (NEECO II - Area 2) and PNOC Renewables Corporation (PNOC RC) with Prayer for Provisional Authority. ERC case No. 2015-111 RC, p. 26, Emphasis and underscoring supplied 1 2 3

(MS-OCT. 18 & 25, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018

YUGEL LOSORATA

Actor and ‘Lights Camera Magic’ committee member Piolo Pascual

The Draybers keep right IT HAS become common scenario that the frontman leaves the band after achieving personal success or a level of popularity beyond a collective name. A bloated ego or some ill advice from outside force often pulls the lead singer out of the band’s loop.

The good thing though, not everybody let such bump on the road get through a brotherhood’s smooth sail.

Mitoy Yonting, founder and lead vocalist of the highly touted The Draybers, is one man to prove he was able to rise up to such pressure.

Five years into his band’s active run, he eventually found mainstream recognition after winning in The Voice of the Philippines back in 2013.

No worries, he is still with them.

“Nalagpasan na namin yung problema na baka umabot sa magwawatak-watak kami dahil di nagkakaunawaan. Alam na namin ang toyo ng isa’t isa,” laid out the high-pitched singer.

The band’s tightness as a unit is rewarded with a special concert obviously backed by Resorts World Manila since its Bar 360, wherein the group is regularly performing, has become a haven for fans and the casino crowd. That means the group has been around for a decade now after settling for their name.

Dubbed Biyaheng Diyes, the concert is scheduled on the evening of Oct. 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

The Draybers, hailed for their renditions of classics from, say, Air Supply, Journey, and Survivor, is now a three-time Aliw Awardee adjudged Best Performer in a lounge, bar, or hotel in 2012, 2013, and again last year.

I agree with what Paolo Valenciano, the director for their milestone show, said about people “end up stopping” upon hearing them live. I experienced it myself when years ago I heard them play a personal favorite, Alan Parsons Project’s “Eye In The Sky,” while passing by the same bar without knowing who they were. Their version was carefully loyal to how it is heard on throwback radio and the playing was locked in. Prior to

Mitoy Yonting (third from left) has remained with The Draybers even after experiencing solo success.

that they played the Wings signature track “Band On The Run” to a similar degree of showmanship so I sensed I was hearing a showband playing the cool classics organically spot on.

“Sa pagbabanda, everyday is a challenge. Mas marami ang down moments. Pero masaya naman kapag dumating ang blessings,” he argued.

Mitoy’s triumph on the ABS-CBNaired The Voice made him into a household name overnight. Somehow he knew it’s a passing phase. But one to help his band keep a good name.

Amusingly, Mitoy is technically solo when you check the digital music world considering his recordings are credited solely to him. That he is declaring once and for all that he has remained with his band all along is a testament to his deep connection with his bandmates that include his younger brother Mylo (rhythm guitar and co-singer). The other Draybers are lead guitarist Cesar Uy Salazar, keyboardist Edwin Garcia, bassist Jerome Reformano, and drummer Jude Santos.

PIOLO

PASCUAL welcomes new filmmaking talents in

‘LIGHTS CAMERA MAGIC’ VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Compelling short films depicting everyday slice-of-life PEEK into the pantry of any Filipino home and you will find a can of sardines—the all-time favorite mealtime fare of Filipino families.

Need a hearty breakfast to start off your day? Pop a can of sardines. Paired with sinangag or bread, made into an omelet, sautéed with your favorite veggies, or simply eaten straight from the can, sardines are so versatile and easy to prep that no kitchen should ever be without it.

Because sardines are a staple at mealtimes, it is witness to the happy chatter and precious bonding moments shared by Filipino families at the dining table.

This priceless custom is what comes to mind as MEGA Sardines officially launches its new digital campaign and promise of #MegaGandaAngBuhay, a world play on “May iga-ganda ang buhay.” Through a troika of compelling and relatable short films, the campaign aims to present heartwarming everyday slice-of-life narratives that every Filipino can relate to.

For instance, in its debut short film titled Tipidity, MEGA Sardines tells the story of young newlyweds (played by Karl Medina and Kia Del Rosario) who, accustomed as they are to their easygoing lifestyle, are suddenly overwhelmed by the financial responsibilities that couples need to hurdle.

While enjoying delicious and affordable MEGA Sardines, the newlyweds realize that they need to watch their daily expenditures to make ends meet.

Director and public relations specialist Chris Cahilig, who is the director behind a slew of viral, award-winning short films for various brands, notes that Tipidity and the rest of the #MegaGandaAngBuhay shorts hit close to home as they “cast a new light on timeless Filipino themes and values through humor,

MEGA Sardines’ “Tipidity” follows the story of a young newlywed couple played by Karl Medina and Kia Del Rosario who are suddenly overwhelmed by the financial responsibilities that they need to hurdle.

sentiments, or a perfect blend of both.”

“MegaGanda Ang Buhay imparts a message of optimism, passion, and resilience as it narrates the story of the ordinary Filipino in a contemporary and extraordinary way,” Cahilig points out.

“Tipidity is all about having a positive mindset—one that assures us that even when the present times call for practicality, we can live an easy, comfortable, and good-quality life through simple and doable means.

“Through Tipidity and the rest of the MegaGanda Ang Buhay videos, we would like to show that MEGA has always been the Filipino consumers’ go-to brand of sardines, especially in the most sensitive phases and transitions in their lives.”

Aside from Tipidity, MEGA Sardines is set to launch two more inspiring short films—Adulting and First Day—under its #MegaGandaAngBuhay campaign during the final quarter of the year. The videos can be viewed on MEGA Sardines’ official Facebook page.

Tipidity was made possible by Tiu Lim Foundation (executive producer), Rommel Sales (cinematography), Yuji Gonzales (screenplay), Alec Figuracion (offline editor), Kenneth Amparo (online editor), Melai Entuna (line producer), Clark Lopez (assistant director), Kat Salinas (sound design), Richard Gonzales (scoring), Yani Bautista (production manager), and Johanna Evangelista (production coordinator). Tipidity was shot at Amaia Skies Sta. Mesa.

Manufactured by Mega Global Corporation, MEGA Sardines offers the freshest and most delicious sardines packed within 12 hours from catching to canning.

It is available in easy-to-open cans and pouch formats for convenience.

For more information about MEGA Sardines and its #MegaGandaAngBuhay campaign, visit www.megaglobal. com.ph or www.facebook. com/officialmegasardines.

Piolo with program host Robi Domingo and the shortlisted ‘Lights Camera Magic’ content creators.

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N ITS effort to discover, hone and support new filmmaking talents, Star Magic launched its first-ever video-making competition in July to encourage amateur storytellers and digital content creators to showcase their unique and strong stories, and their creative and technical expertise.

On Sunday, Star Magic talent and screening committee member Piolo Pascual personally welcomed and introduced 20 content creators who got shortlisted after two months of submission and screening process.

“Lights, Camera, Magic (LCM) has proven the abundance of amateur yet globally competitive video creators as it successfully received 220 entries,” Piolo said.

Joining the A-list actor in the screening committee are Nash Aguas, Khalil Ramos, Janus del Prado, Ketchup Eusebio, Renee Dominique and Star Magic’s Chairman Emeritus, Johnny Manahan “LCM is essentially Star Magic’s very own contribution to ABS-CBN’s continued exploration of the digital platform and an effort to acknowledge the presence of the growing audience online,” Piolo added LCM’s two-month submission period boasts of receiving different genres of videos not only from various parts of the country, but also from other corners of the globe like Canada, UAE, Thailand, Libya, US and Germany. Judged based on originality, creative and technical execution and impact, the 20 shortlisted videos, which will advance to the next round of deliberation, range from drama, thriller, rom-com, horror, science fiction and musical.

The top 20 videos are Ako, Anino, Antipara, Best Friends, Contrition As A Forceful Act, Hello, DJ Eros?, Hello Nanay, Isang Gabi Lang ‘Yon, Karamay, Kasarinlan, Liwanag, Malampasan Mo Sana Ang Sakit, Napano Ka, Arna?, Ngawa, Oh, Aking Katoto, Pala’u, Plot Twist, Static, Viral Kids, and Walang Mali.

The video creators whose works got shortlisted were aged between 18 to 42 years old.

LCM’s three finalists would then be selected from the top 20 via online voting and by the LCM jury. Chosen based on their expertise and experience, the jury are composed of industry pioneers namely: Leo Katigbak, Head of ABSCBN’s Special Projects and Film Restoration, Ronald Arguelles head of Channel Management—Cinema One and Velvet channels, and Ice Idanan, independent film director of Sakaling Hindi Makarating, Ania ‘ti nagan mo and Limang Libo.

LCM mentors and directors JP Habac (I’m Drunk I Love You, Maria and Oktopus upcoming movies Sakaling Maging Tayo), Victor Villanueva (Patay Na Si Hesus, Kusina Kings, Ang Nanay Ni Justin Barber and Abot-kamay) and Mikhail Red (Birdshot, Neomanila, and Rekorder upcoming movies Eerie and Block Z) are also taking part in the selection of the final three.

Voting for the three finalists started on Oct. 14 at lightscameramagic. ph.

The three finalists would be receiving P50,000 in cash and would have the full experience of developing their submitted entries into a 15-minute short video for digital entertainment; while being mentored by one of the three aforementioned young directors and with Star Magic artists as their videos’ headlining stars.

Korean star Alexander Lee in town to renew contract KOREAN actor and singer Alexander Lee remains a loyal Kapuso as he renewed his management contract with GMA Artist Center.

During the contract signing last month, the Kapuso Oppa was filled with gratitude and high spirits as he remains to be part of the GMA family.

“I’m very happy, you can see it from my genuine smile. For the past year, I really like how they took care of me and I really have a good time with all the Kapuso.

Everybody is so good and nice,” said Alexander.

He shared that he is grateful with the network’s immense support and looks forward to work on projects that would hone him into a well-rounded artist.

“I think I won’t limit myself into just one thing. I want to try everything to be more multitalented. I hope I can make people happy,” said the Korean heartthrob.

Alexander came back to the Philippines in July to rekindle his love for music. He released his newest single entitled ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ with fellow Korean singer Marucci.

On the other hand, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable was delighted that Alexander chose to remain a Kapuso as he ventures into the next chapter of his career.

She expressed her genuine support for Alexander and also acknowledged that Alexander excels in acting and singing.

“Now that we have Studio 7, we can have him there and in other musical-variety shows and other contests. Of course, basta may fitting role sa ating drama or sa ating comedy, he’s also a very funny guy, pwede natin siyang ilagay doon.”

Apart from Rasonable, present in the contract signing GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, GMA Entertainment Group Senior Program Manager Redgynn S. Alba, and Jong-Hyuk Lee, Alexander’s co- manager.

K-Pop idol and former 'My Korean Jagiya' star Alexander Lee renews his contract with GMA Artist Center.