Manila Standard - 2018 November 5 - Monday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 263 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

CAMIGUIN’S OFFERING. The sight of lanzones coupled with native women garbed in colorful traditional costumes makes one want to travel to Camiguin, an island province situated in Northern Mindanao. Camiguin, the second-smallest province in the Philippines, held last month its Lanzones Festival, the 38th staging of the annual merriment that lasts the whole of October. Teddy Pelaez

No to tax hike—oil players Growth likely picked up in third quarter BUSINESSS B1

Vietnamese beauty crowned Miss Earth

By Eton Concepcion MISS Vietnam Phuong Khanh Nguyen bested 88 beauties from around the world to win the Miss Earth 2018 title at the glittering finals night at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Next page

‘Tax freeze gives consumers reprieve from inflation’

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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IL companies hope the Department of Finance will not change its mind and reimpose higher excise taxes in January so that consumers can get a break from the effects of higher inflation.

At the same time, they carried out price cuts in the last two days to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines announced a price cut of P1.10 per liter for gasoline and P1 per liter for diesel on Sunday but other oil companies carried out lower price cuts of P1 per liter for gasoline and P0.90 per liter for diesel effective Monday.

Eastern Petroleum and Seaoil Philippines followed the move of Phoenix but PTT Philippines and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. cut prices slightly lower, marking the fourth consecutive Next page weekly price rollback.

Capo no more, Sinaloa drug lord faces trial in NY NEW YORK―Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman goes on trial in New York on Monday, accused of running the world’s biggest drug cartel and spending a quarter of a century smuggling more than 155 tons of cocaine into the United States.

Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel, often described as the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere, is believed to be operating in at least 40 countries.

In the Philippines, a recent arrest of a cop using cocaine inside a bar during a Halloween party has led the Philippine National Police to believe that the cartel has penetrated the domestic market through the Asian Triad.

Next page

Aussie nun slams ‘reign of tyranny’ in PH AN ELDERLY Australian nun who lost a long legal battle with Manila to stop her deportation attacked President Rodrigo Duterte’s “reign of tyranny” asa she returned home Sunday.

Sister Patricia Fox, who spent almost three decades working with Philippine laborers, farmers and urban poor, was accused of illegally engaging in political activism as Duterte’s administration cracked down on foreign critics on its soil.

The 71-year-old apparently angered the fiery president by joining a fact-finding mission in April to Next page

‘Dengvaxia cases up for decision’

By Rey E. Requejo

EL CHAPO. In this file photo taken on Jan. 19, 2017 This handout picture released by the Mexican Interior Ministry shows Joaquin Guzman Loera aka ‘El Chapo’ Guzman (center) escorted in Ciudad Juarez by the Mexican police as he is extradited to the United States.

Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman goes on trial in New York on Monday, accused of running the world’s biggest drug cartel and spending a quarter of a century smuggling more than 155 tons of cocaine into the United States. AFP

THE Department of Justice is expected to resolve this month the first batch of criminal cases filed against former Health Secretary Janette Garin and other officials by families of schoolchildren who allegedly died as a result of being given the Dengvaxia vaccine.

On Oct. 30, a panel of prosecutors concluded its preliminary investigation on the first case of Dengvaxia cases. Next page

Festive mood at Bar exams

By Rey E. Requejo THE start of the 2018 Bar examinations at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila was generally peaceful and orderly, the Supreme Court said Sunday.

The court made its state-

ment even as Malacañang offered its ‘‘fervent prayers” to the expected 9,000 examinees and aspiring lawyers to give it their best shot.

“As you take another step on the ladder of your legal career, we offer you our fervent prayers,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement Sunday.

Next page

Joke only, Palace clarifies ‘Santo Rodrigo’ remarks

By Nat Mariano A JOKE is a joke, Malacañang maintained on Saturday after President Rodrigo Duterte seemed to mock Catholics in remarks about All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo came for Next page

SENDOFF. Aspiring lawyers receive a warm sendoff from family, friends and schoolmates as they take the 2018 Bar Examinations on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Some 8,701 examinees will take the grueling examination on all four Sundays of November. Norman Cruz

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NoKor threatens US: Return to nuke buildup possible SEOUL—North Korea has warned the United States it will “seriously” consider returning to a state policy aimed at building nuclear weapons if Washington does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime.

For years, the North had pursued a “byungjin” policy of simultaneously developing its nuclear capabilities alongside the economy.

In April, citing a “fresh climate of detente and peace” on the peninsula, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the nuclear quest complete and said his country would focus on “socialist economic construction.”

But a statement issued by the North’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang could revert to its former policy if the US did not change its stance over sanctions.

“The word ‘byungjin’ may appear again and the change of the line could be seriously reconsidered,” said the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency late Friday.

At a historic summit in Singapore in June, US President Donald Trump and Kim signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearization.

But little progress has been made since then, with Washington pushing to maintain sanctions against the North until its “final, fully verified denuclearization” and Pyongyang condemning US demands as “gangster-like.”

“The improvement of relations and sanctions are incompatible,” said the statement, released under the name of the director of the foreign ministry’s Institute for American Studies.

“What remains to be done is the US corresponding reply,” it added.

The statement is the latest sign of Pyongyang’s increasing frustration with Washington.

Last month, the North’s state media carried a near 1,700-word-long commentary accusing the US of playing a “double game,” implicitly criticising Trump for his comments aimed at barring Seoul from lifting sanctions against Pyongyang.

Despite a flurry of diplomacy on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its nuclear-armed neighbor.

The South’s dovish president Moon Jae-in has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearization, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programs. AFP

‘Dengvaxia...

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The panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Emilia Victorio has submitted the case for decision, saying they will try to come up with the resolution this month.

With the preliminary investigation concluded, the DOJ panel will determine whether there exists probable cause to indict the respondents led by Garin for the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide under the Revised Penal Code and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act filed by families of nine victims.

The first batch of Dengvaxia cases filed in April and May involved the deaths of Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno and Alexander Jaime.

Named respondents along with Garin were nine other DOH officials -- Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-go, Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Dr. Irma Asuncion, Dr. Julius Lecciones,

Capo...

From A1

“I think this is indicative of the fact that the Sinaloa cartel have probably infiltrated the drug industry in our country,” said PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the Mexican drug syndicate was active in the Philippines.

“I think this dope situation in Southeast Asia is being run by the Triad of Asia. And [Sinaloa] it’s doing its thing, the Medellin Cartel, using the network of containers,” the President said in a speech last month.

Guzman has been branded the world’s

Vietnamese...

From A1

Nguyen, an Instagram model and Mekong Delta native, was crowned by Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco of the Philippines.

During the coronation, the 23-year-old marketing graduate from the coastal province of Bến Tre, in the Mekong Delta, was visibly emotional when she was announced the winner, making her the first

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Reds won’t fall for Rody’s trap P

By Nat Mariano

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to the communists to return home and wage their war here is a “childish provocation,” said Jose Maria Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

He said they will not fall into Duterte’s trap and added Duterte had long vowed to kill him if he had the chance.

“He continues to be overeager to have the chance to kill me by challenging me to return home and wage war,” Sison said.

“I will not fall into his trap, but I merely laugh at this childish provocation that manifests his roguish or stupid kind of mentality.”

Sison made his statement after Duterte dared him to prove his leadership over the communist rebels by coming back to the Philippines and waging his war here.

No to tax...

From A1

“That’s the beauty’ of deregulation. To gain competitive advantage some companies make price differentiation. In the bigger picture, we’re positive that his fourth straight week of price rollbacks and the availability of NFA rice and reduction in price of commercial rice will certainly reduce inflation for the last quarter of the year,” Eastern Petroleum president Fernando Martinez said.

“Nonetheless , the oil price rollbacks should not encourage DOF [Finance Department] to reimpose the P2.50 per liter specific tax which was officially deferred... to give consumers breathing room from inflationary pressure,” Martinez said.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines led the latest price rollback on Sunday.

Aussie nun...

From A1

investigate alleged abuses against farmers, including killings and evictions by soldiers fighting guerrillas in Mindanao.

Welcomed by supporters at Melbourne airport, Fox told reporters she was happy to be home but had found it hard to leave.

“At present, the Philippines, the human rights abuses are just increasing and it is a reign of tyranny at present,” Fox said.

“There has been a culture of impunity for a long time and it is getting worse.”

Vice President Leni Robredo paid tribute to Fox, saying she was “more Filipino Dr. Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Vianzon, and Mario Baquilod, along with Drs. Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Incumbent DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III was included in the charge sheet since in two cases, the victims got their Dengvaxia shots during his term.

The executives of manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur named in the complaints are Carlito Realuyo, Sanislas Camart, Jean Louis Grunwald, Jean-Francois Vacherand, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, Pearl Grace Cabali and Marie Esther De Antoni.

The officers of distributor Zuellig Pharma in the charge sheet, on the other hand, are Kasigod Jamias, Michael Becker, Ricardo Romulo, Imran Babar Chugtai, Raymund Azurin, Nilo Badiola, John Stokes Davison, Marc Franck, Ashley Gerard Antonio, Ana Liza Peralta, Rosa Maria Chua, Danilo Cahoy, Manuel Concio III, Roland Goco and Ma. Visitacion Barreiro.

The respondents were accused of negligence through “arbitrarily, maliciously, and deliberately failure to inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents or families of the dangers and risks related to Dengvaxia and to obtain their informed consent.”

“If you are the leader of a cause, go home and go to war here. Why do you keep on sitting with legs wide open scratching your b**** there in the Netherlands?” Duterte said during his visit to Cagayan de Oro. “Grit and grime are accumulating on your b****. Why don’t you just go home?”

Duterte then bragged that he had control of the armed forces.

“I have the Air Force. Airplanes? We have plenty. I have the Navy. Do you know how many ships I have? Just choose. Army?

Navy? I have plenty of ships.”

But Sison said the President is only engaged in a puerile game under the guise of hyper-masculinity by challenging him to a combat.

“Should stop boasting about his macho bravery. The two of us are already far beyond the age of combatants. The most he can do is to wear an army uniform and wobble his way to a podium in the safety of a military camp,” Sison said.

He said the country’s ground, aerial and naval weapons were all foreign-supplied and useless.

“All of these have been proven inutile against the nationwide growth and advance of the New People’s Army during the last 50 years,” Sison said.

“In due course, the people’s war will advance wave upon wave until it is time to overpower the reactionary government in the cities.”

Sison said Duterte had no control over his decision on when he would return to the country.

“For the 4th straight week and for motorists to enjoy lower pump prices for the long weekend. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline

by P1.10 per liter and diesel by P1 per liter effective 6 am of 04 November 2018,” the company said in its advisory.

Before the latest rollback, gasoline sold for P50.40 to P64.65 per liter and diesel sold for P45.05 to P53.69 per liter. Kerosene sold for P50.07 to P60.20 per liter.

The oil companies also implemented a P1.50 to P1.65 per liter price cut for gasoline, P0.60 per liter for diesel and P0.65 per liter for kerosene effective Oct. 29.

Oil prices were also reduced on from Oct, 20 to 22 with rollbacks ranging from P1.85 to P2.00 per liter for gasoline, P0.90 per liter for diesel and P0.90 to P0.95 per liter for kerosene.

Year-to-date adjustments prior to the latest rollback implemented are a net increase of P8.70 per liter for gasoline, P10.60 per liter for diesel and P9.60 per

liter for kerosene.

The Philippines imports more than 90 percent of its fuel requirements thus it is exposed to price volatilities in the world market.

World oil prices have declined recently but the market remains positive on the supply security due to the several developments, the Department of Energy said in its monitoring report.

It said oil prices continued the downward trend after reports of a strong buildup in US crude stockpiles and increased confidence about the availability of supplies towards the end of the year and into early 2019.

Swelling US inventories and concern that trade wars were curbing economic activity also pushed oil prices down.

Traders also noted that Iran’s exports have not declined as much as predicted a couple of months ago and it is now clear they will not fall to zero, even after US sanctions are imposed against Iran.

than many of us” for serving the poor.

“It is sad to think that a non-Filipino like her who has dedicated her life for 27 years just to help the poor [is now leaving],” she said.

“It saddens [me] that she was asked to leave. She is even more Filipino than many of us,” she added.

Robredo expressed disappointment over the grounds for Fox’s departure.

“It is sad to think politics is the reason behind. It is sad that she has to pay the price to speak out,” she said.

She said she believes Fox could still have the chance to return to the Philippines to pursue her mission to help the Filipino people.

Fox had been arrested briefly on charg-

es of violating her visa’s terms against activism in the Philippines and the slow turning wheels of the country’s bureaucracy began moving to strip her of her papers.

Immigration authorities last week refused to extend her tourist visa and ordered the 71-year-old out by Saturday.

She decided to return to Australia rather than risk being forcibly removed.

Church figures have previously criticized Duterte’s policies, particularly his signature war on drugs that has left almost 5,000 people dead since he took office in 2016.

Human rights groups charge that the actual death toll is about five times that total. Rio N. Araja with AFP

Festive mood...

From A1

Panelo, a lawyer and concurrent Chief Presidential Legal Counsel of President Rodrigo Duterte, said the Bar examinations for aspiring lawyers were “arguably the hardest” among other licensure examinations, calling them “one of life’s greatest equalizers.”

The high court, which administered the conduct of the Bar exams, said no untoward incident was reported inside and around the vicinity of the venue where 400 policemen were deployed by the Manila Police District.

Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, chairman of this year’s Bar exams committee, met with the law school deans for their traditional breakfast where they discussed the questions for the first day of the exams.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen also visited the venue to inspect the security operations of the police and also to personally wish the examinees well.

“Eat well, sleep well. Don’t panic and take the exam one question at a time,” Leonen, a former law dean of the University of the Philippines, told the Bar takers as he greeted them at the gate of the venue.

As in previous years, Bar send-off operations were held by law schools, fraternities and sororities, organizations as well as families and friends for the examinees on the first day of the four-Sunday exams.

Banners, balloons and even religious images greeted the Bar hopefuls during the Bar operations before they headed to the venue.

The Manila City government imposed a liquor ban within the 100-meter radius of UST and a “no parking” policy along España and Dapitan Streets during the conduct of the exams.

“No tent and tarpaulins” and “no loud music” policies at the vicinity of the venue were also imposed for the four-Sunday exams.

Medical personnel were also deployed for emergency situations. With Nat Mariano

biggest drug lord since Colombia’s Pablo Escobar, who was dubbed “The King of Cocaine” and was one of the wealthiest men in the world until police shot him dead in 1993.

The mammoth trial in a Brooklyn federal court, which will cost millions of dollars and is expected to last more than four months, will see Chapo, one of the world’s most notorious criminals, face the US justice system.

Prosecutors spent years piecing together a sweeping case against Guzman, who was extradited in 2017 after twice escaping prison in Mexico―first hidden in a laundry cart, then slipping down a tunnel that reached his prison shower.

Experts say the government has a near water-tight case likely to send Guzman, 61, to a maximum security US prison for the rest of his life. But at what price?

“Is it going to stop even one additional pound of cocaine from coming into the United States? Probably not. The machine keeps rolling,” says Rob Heroy, a North Carolina lawyer who has defended other Mexican drug barons.

The Sinaloa cartel that Guzman founded in 1989 is still hugely powerful. His codefendant Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada remains at large, and violent drug trafficking continues unabated in Mexico.

Last year, there was a record 29,000 murders in Mexico. In the United States,

opioid addiction has spiraled into an epidemic. In 2016, an average of 174 Americans died every day from drug overdoses.

Jury selection will be conducted in security conditions reserved only for the most dangerous defendants. US District Court Judge Brian Cogan will preside over the process behind closed doors.

The 12 jurors, with six alternates, will remain anonymous. US Marshals will escort them to and from court every day.

These ordinary men and women will determine whether Guzman―the diminutive father of two whose nickname means “shorty”―is guilty or not of 11 trafficking, firearms and money laundering charges.

AFP

Vietnamese woman to win the title.

A cat lover and an eco-activist, Nguyen focused on the preservation of the famous Mekong Delta River, which was the spotlight of her video for the environmentthemed pageant, as the Vietnamese beauty talked about an ongoing project to protect the ecological resources of the Mekong river and those areas that depend on it for survival.

“We millennials should use technology and social media not for vanity. We should spend our time to think and feel what’s

happening to the Earth right now. And one small action multiplied by a million people can transform the world ,” the exotic beauty said in halting English to explain her ‘‘hashtag’’ reply to the final question: ‘‘Being a millennial, what do you think is the most pressing issue of your generation?

The Vietnamese stunner was one of the early favorites in the competition, winning three sponsor awards during the pre-pageant activities. On the final night, she won gold medals for Best National Costume and Best in Evening Gown and a silver

medal for Best in Swimsuit.

Named Miss Earth Air was Miss Austria Melanie Mader, a Fil-Austrian Medical Assistant. Miss Earth Water was Miss Colombia Valeria Avos, an International Relations student, and Miss Earth Fire was Miss Mexico Melissa Flores, a psychology student who made it as semi-finalist as the Eco-media winner.

Miss Philippines Celeste Cortesi, a FilItalian model, made it to the Top 8 along with Miss Italy, Miss Portugal and Miss Venezuela

“It is not up to Duterte to decide when I will return home,” he said.

“I will return home either to clinch his downfall or to persuade him further to make peace after he ceases to terminate the peace negotiations and allows the GRP negotiating panel to meet its NDFP counterpart to complete and sign the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms.”

The 79-year-old Sison then urged Duterte to read his poem for the latter to understand why the CPP had thrived for 50 years in the countryside with the NPA as the main component of state power.

Duterte said he had not seen “anything good” from the decades-old communist rebellion other than “killing and destruction.”

“Good has come out of it. We suffered. I keep on buying bullets and bombs to bomb the Filipino. You just don’t know how much it hurts deep in my heart,” he said.

The President earlier suspended the peace talks with the communist rebels, citing their continuing attacks.

Boracay rehab a continuing effort—Cimatu

By Rio N. Araja BORACAY’S rehabilitation will continue after its opening following its closure for six months, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said Sunday.

He vowed to monitor the water quality on the island and to see to it that the businesses there complied with the rules on keeping the famous tourist destination clean.

He said his department’s Environmental Management Bureau had put up a state-of-theart monitoring system that would provide realtime data on the water quality around island.

The water quality there could be checked even if Environment personnel were outside the island, he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had called the waters of Boracay a “cesspool” and then ordered the island closed for rehabilitation.

But Cimatu said Boracay no longer was a cesspool after its rehabilitation.

He told the business establishments on the island to prevent the deterioration of the island’s water quality.

On Oct. 26 Cimatu, along with other highranking government officials, spearheaded the reopening of the world-famous island.

Joke only,...

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the President’s defense, stressing Duterte’s remarks should be taken for what they were, a joke.

“A joke is a joke and the same does not require an explanation. Nor should it be given as a religious slight,” Panelo said in a statement on Saturday evening.

He said Duterte was only making “light” in a serious situation briefing on the aftermath of Typhoon “Rosita.”

“The fact that they [the audience] burst into laughter, as shown by the video clips of the TV news, showed that they were not offended by what the good bishop and a few critics perceived to be an offensive religious statement against the celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day,” said Panelo.

The Palace official also said actions should be given more weight than words when one ascertains the true attributes of a person.

He argued that Duterte recognized that it is important to “commune with our ancestors” and fulfill “obligations to the dead” as he paid respects to his late parents’ in Davao City.

“The strength and credibility of a religious faith that has been there for more than 2,000 years and survived wars and internecine cannot be affected by what some deem as an assault by non-believers nor will its faithful be offended by any playful jab on its saints,” he said.

“Christianity, or any major religion that preceded it, will always survive the test of time,” he added.

In his speech on Thursday, Duterte questioned the successive celebration of All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day. “Well, these Catholics. Why do they have All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day? We don’t even know who those saints are. Who are those? Just drunkards,” he said, telling the audience to have him worshipped as a saint.

“Get hold of a picture of mine. That’s what you put on the altar - Santo Rodrigo,” the President added.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Vice President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David then took to Facebook to encourage the public to pray for the “sick” President following his recent remarks.

“Please remember, Jesus taught us to be merciful when dealing with sick people. I think it should be obvious to people by now that our country is being led by a very sick man. We pray for him. We pray for our country,” the bishop’s Facebook post said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III acknowledged that some would be offended by Duterte’s remarks and said the President, by virtue of his office, should be more careful about what he jokes about.

In an interview on radio dwIZ, however, Sotto also said it was not his place to advise the President what to do or say, recalling that Duterte’s predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III disdained unsolicited advice.

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Vaping could kill, Health dept. says

20 airports night-flight capable—DoTr

By Macon Ramos Araneta

Almost half or 20 of the existing 42 airports nationwide are now capable of handling evening flights, according to the Department of transportation.

Equipping airports with night-rated capabilities will enable these facilities to serve more passengers, transportation secretary Arthur tugade has noted.

“Night-rated capacity is important because without this, our airports can no longer be used after sunset. We are aiming for commercially operational airports in the country today to have night-rated capacities,” tugade said. the Dotr aims to have all the country’s 42 airports to be night-rated by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.

Four airports in the country—legazpi, Roxas, Dumaguete, and Caticlan—were night-rated in 2017. PNA

thE Department of health has called on the public to beware of consumer products in the light of the recent explosion of a vaping device while being used by a 17-year-old boy.

Because of this incident, the Doh cautioned parents and guardians to be vigilant and to exert more effort in discouraging minors from using e-cigarettes/vaping devices, as well as accessing these devices from social media. these devices are not toys and contain concomitant health and safety hazards which may lure teenagers into picking up the habit of smoking. the Doh, through the Food and Drug Administration and in cooperation with the Department of trade and Industry, shall continue to investigate and look into the safety and health issues of these products and devices including its on-line sale.

Currently, the FDA regulates e-cigarettes as medicinal products because of its nicotine content and no device/e-liquids have been registered nor evaluated by the agency for safety, efficacy and quality. the Doh encouraged medical practitioners, hospital facilities and the general public to report any injuries and accidents related to vaping use under its online national electronic injury surveillance system by calling the Doh hotline 711-1001 and 711-1002.

According to the medical doctors at the East Avenue medical Center, the patient suffered injuries to the lips, oral mucosa, palate, and tongue, as well as burns and hematoma in the upper and lower lids of the eye. he was admitted at EAmC last oct. 30. the victim’s mother said the batteries used were swapped and exchanged by the patient through acquaintances in social media. however, the social media account used was already inactive when the family tried to access it.

LAndpoRt. The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange officially opens today (Nov. 5, 2018) in a strategic location along Macapagal Blvd, Parañaque City. The P5.6-billion transport facility aims to help decongest EDSA and other major roads by directing provincial buses and other public utility vehicles passing through Cavite Expressway and Coastal Road to start and end their trips at the modern terminal dubbed as ‘Landport’ because of its airport-like features. norman Cruz

Customs warned: Don’t touch ‘balikbayan’ boxes s

By Macon Ramos Araneta

ENAtoR sonny Angara on sunday warned Customs employees against tampering with balikbayan boxes and reminded the bureau officials to enforce the Customs modernization and tariff Act that mandates less intrusive examination of such boxes brought into the country.

It is clear in the law that balikbayan boxes cannot just be opened or tampered with, Angara said.

“We pushed for this law in response to the complaints of our oFWs and their families that some items in their balikbayan boxes were allegedly stolen or damaged upon inspection,” Angara said.

Under the implementing rules on balikbayan boxes, all deconsolidators

must establish their own Customs facility and warehouse equipped with CCtvs and baggage X-ray machine for the examination of balikbayan boxes.

All baggage X-ray facilities shall be under the control and supervision of the BoC, and only trained personnel shall be allowed to operate the baggage X-ray machines.

“We are hopeful that with this law in place, violations never happen again,” An-

gara said as he exhorted the BoC to take care and respect the balikbayan boxes as they contained what our countrymen have worked hard abroad so they can send them to their relatives in the Philippines.

Angara, sponsor of the CmtA or Republic Act 10863, which also provides for higher tax exemption of balikbayan boxes, said thatt under the 2016 law, balikbayan boxes sent by any Filipino worker or resident abroad not exceeding P150,000 in value are exempt from payment of taxes and duties.

Before the CmtA was enacted, the tax exemption ceiling for balikbayan boxes was only P10,000.

According to the BoC, the number of balikbayan boxes shipped in the country, which is around 400,000 every month, doubles in number during the Christmas season.

Extra pay sought for state workers on night shift GovERNmENt employees working in “graveyard” shift or in hazardous areas will receive new night-shift differential pay and hazard pay under two bills now being finetuned by the senate. senate Bill No. (sBN) 1562 and senate Bill No. (sBN) 559, which are now in second reading at the senate, were sponsored and authored by senator Antonio trillanes Iv, chairman of the senate Committee on Civil service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation. “our government workers have long suffered neglect and poor working conditions. this Act is just a simple effort to repay them for their service and to recognize their role as the backbone of our government,” he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

Raising the minimum wage is a bad idea dling in the economy, supporting wage control laws and pushing for higher minimum wages The US Democratic Party’s 2016 platform proposed a national minimum wage of $15 an hour. At the time, even Hillary Clinton admitted the new rules would lead IF YOU would like to see concrete, realto job losses, and yet, Democrats today world evidence that government’s wage continue to defend the plan. control policies are a bad idea, Venezuela Recently, Democratic socialist and conjust produced the perfect example. gresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visAs the South American country enters ited New York City’s iconic cafe, the Coffee yet another dark period of its long battle Shop, at Union Square, after the firm anagainst liberty, nounced it was shutPresident Nicolas ting its doors after Maduro’s minimum 28 years of service. wage rules, which inThe cafe said that it creased the salary by Support for a could no longer stay nearly 3,500 percent in business after minimum wage hike at once, has wiped Governor Andrew out 40 percent of the is about pandering to Cuomo’s minimum country’s stores. wage hike and yet, the masses, not about Firms that had Ocasio-Cortez, who been struggling to policies that will actually worked at the cafe stay afloat thanks at some point, conbenefit workers. to Maduro’s ongotinues to claim she ing war on business will not rest “until finally succumbed, every person in this claiming that the country is paid a outrageous wage inliving wage to lead crease finally put them out of business. Oth- a dignified life.” ers that managed to remain open are only But despite the rhetoric, support for a doing so to liquidate their merchandise so minimum wage hike is about pandering they can then close completely once all is to the masses, not about policies that will gone. actually benefit workers. Even major leftAccording to Maria Carolina Uzcátegui, leaning outlets such as the Washington Post president of the National Council of Com- have concluded that rapid increases in the merce and Services of Venezuela, the situa- minimum wage in certain counties would tion has turned into a dead end for business cost thousands of jobs. Unfortunately, the owners. madness continues.

“It is a perfect storm,” Uzcátegui said. *** “These decisions are leading many business Economists Walter E. Williams and people to say, ‘No, I can’t do it anymore.’”

Thomas Sowell have long explained that The obvious and immediate conse- government’s wage rules have a very real quence of this wage increase is the rapid consequence: To disproportionately hurt the rise in unemployment, as a massive number youth, the unskilled, and minorities. of employers are no longer able to provide As Williams wrote, racist unions in jobs. But the job loss was to be expected, as South Africa during the apartheid period, for Maduro explicitly ignored the laws of eco- example, were the most passionate defendnomics once again, thinking he could ignore ers of minimum wage laws for blacks, as supply and demand by mandating artificial they wanted to make it difficult for natives economic growth. to be employed.

In the Philippines and the United States, “‘Equal pay for equal work’ became the politicians have long defended direct medTurn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A call to action

N

ATIONAL and city officials have a new reason to hang their heads in shame—and to work harder.

A new study by the Amsterdambased design and consultancy firm Arcadis found that Metro Manila is among the world’s least sustainable cities.

The 2018 Sustainable Cities Index, which takes into account social, environmental and economic factors, ranked Manila 95th out of 100 cities in overall sustainability.

In the people sub-index, where the quality of life is measured, Manila ranked 93rd overall.

The capital also ranked 91st in the planet sub-index, which measures green spaces and pollution.

Manila was almost at rock bottom at 98th in the profit sub-index, which takes into account the overall economic health of the city.

Manila’s low ranking in the 2018 survey confirms what many of us know by experience, living daily in a congested, dirty and polluted city, inured to the sight of children playing and begging

on the streets. It is a reality that is drummed into us every day when we struggle with public transport systems that have been allowed to deteriorate over the years to the point that they are no longer safe.

In contrast to Manila, the top 20 sustainable cities are mostly established European metropolises, including London, which was ranked the world’s most sustainable city in 2018. Representing Asia in the upper ranks are Singapore (4th), Hong Kong (9th) and Seoul (13th).

Manila ranked 21st out of 23 Asian cities in the study, besting only Hanoi in Vietnam and Kolkata in India.

To improve the lot of its residents, Manila was urged to “boost its sustainability and livability by enhancing transportation network and resiliency against natural disasters.”

Arcadis also emphasized that

“focus on building resiliency and investment in infrastructures to ease congestions will be the key to achieving sustainable success for Manila.”

National and local officials can take the results of the Arcadis survey two ways. The usual and more common reaction is to dismiss the survey out of hand, question its fairness and claim some kind of bias or error in the data.

The more productive approach, however, is to take the results as a call to action that something must be done soon to alleviate the suffering of Metro Manila residents. Results of the administration’s ambitious Build, Build, Build projects must come sooner rather than later. Officials can also use the survey results as a guide to specific areas that need improvement most.

It is a national shame that our capital so regularly fails its residents and fares so poorly against other major cities in the world.

We need to right this wrong.

‘Kalag-kalag’ and Mexico replaced the trade between preHispanic tribes and Amoy (now Fujian), why not cocaine replacing shabu?

But seriously, Duterte plays enfant terrible to the Roman Catholic traditions, not to our faith, which is why I find Bishop David’s insult about “praying for a sick man” so very un-Christian.

THE Bisaya have a better word for Undas The president knows, as many of the or Undras as we in San Pablo call those first better-educated among us, that one of the two days of November. main reasons why we are where we are and Kalag means skeleton. When you repeat where we shouldn’t be is because we have the Visayan word, it signifies “make-believe been following our faith to the “letter” and skeletons.” Kunwari kalansay, kung baga. not in spirit.

The Mexicans are more to the point. They Just like our democracy, which has all say “Dia de los Muertos.” Araw ng mga the forms, but lacks the substance of equal patay. What could be more direct to the opportunity and social justice. So too point than that? our religion, which is more form, ritual, But they have made a tourist attraction ceremony, than the substance of charity and of it, something similar to what Rio does to spirituality. its carnival in February. The difference lies Our poor blindly accept the papal in Rio’s parade of half-naked women while admonition against any form of “artificial” Mexico parades birth control, giant mock-ups calling it “pro-life,” of skeletons and without weighing ghosts, with an army the consequences of macabre and of having to rear ‘Bahala na ang ghoulishly-painted children in a life Diyos’ cannot be a parade participants. of unjust poverty Neighboring and deprivation. way of life. But in this Americans who are Choosing a better country, it is. so unlike Donald life and a more Trump, the kill-joy, secure future than travel to their land giving untold births down under to revel to a “life” of abject in the parade of misery. kalag-kalag’s.

“Bahala na ang Diyos” Diyos cannot be a way At least the Mexican economy makes of life. But in this country, it is. money out of their commemoration of the And so I understand why the president dead. In the Philippines, only the flower keeps coming up with “mal mot’s” at the merchants and the candle-makers make traditions and practices of our numerous money, but leave the cemetery caretakers church. It is not out of disrespect for the and the police with such a mess to clean faith but a judgment call against its often up. illogical and outmoded prescriptions on the Which is probably why our irreverent conduct of our mortal lives. president finds it difficult to understand And he did not hide his disdain for these why his constituents adore saints in the practices even during the campaign of 2015Roman Catholic tradition, and lump these 16. Despite having “blasphemed” the santo “adorable” saints with their ancestors lying papa, Filipinos voted him overwhelmingly six feet underground, skull and bones intact. as their leader for these troubled times.

It could also be his way of mocking the He defined his terms even then: “Do uber-traditional numerous church of his not get me wrong. I have nothing against forefathers, whose friars once upon a time religion, for after all it is the anchor of our thought that super-imposing the Italian and faith, the moorings of our conduct as human Spanish “saints” on the natives’ worship beings…” of anito’s and bathala would hasten their And so he continues to this day, asking conversion to the faith. questions with characteristic satire, mocking As the frailes did in Mexico and the rest traditions, irreverently defying age-old of Latin America, so they did in these Islas practices that do not contribute to nationdel Oriente. With amazing success. building, or constitute obstacles to good Now Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel is beginning governance. to look at las islas Filipinas as a potential Just imagine: If we had practiced “mercado” for their cocaine imported from population management as the Thais did Colombia. If Madre España lorded it over from the 80’s (without taming their libido) the indios orientes through the Viceroy of using condoms and pills, instead of blindly Mexico in those days, why Sinaloa should accepting Cardinal Sin’s prescriptions, we also have a place in this benighted land. And would not have as large an army of the poor por eso, if the galleon trade between Manila Turn to A5

In liberal Washington, dating leaves conservatives with much to desire WASHINGTON—Dante Bucci is a 22-year-old marketing student who lives in one of Washington’s most hip neighborhoods.

The New Jersey native is clean cut, well dressed and well spoken.

But as a Republican in one of the most liberal cities in America, his political views are kryptonite in the US capital’s dating world, where he frequently finds himself attracted to Democrats.

“A lot of first dates. Not a lot of second dates,” Bucci says of his love life these days. “I think Donald Trump has a lot to do with that.”

In the 2016 presidential election, Trump earned 4 percent of the vote in

the District of Columbia.

It’s not exactly great math for a young, single conservative man who backed the real estate mogul.

And with November’s key midterm vote stoking political tensions, Republicans like Bucci are finding that romance is all but dead.

“They want to date someone that they can agree with on some issues,” laments Bucci, who supports abortion rights and gay marriage and calls himself a moderate Republican. “‘I’m a Republican but...’—I’ve started so many sentences that way.”

Enter: DonaldDaters.com, a website connecting those who support the Republican president.

Its slogan? “Make America Date Again,”

of course.

“I felt a real need for this app,” said Emily Moreno, a 25-year-old Republican who founded the site after speaking to many of her friends.

Moreno told AFP that many people in Washington said if they mentioned working for Trump or Republican causes to a potential love match, “the date is shut down—it’s a deal-breaker.”

Four days after launching the site in mid-October, Moreno said the app had been downloaded 20,000 times.

Bucci says that so many of his first dates go off the rails with the first question: “Did you vote for Donald Trump?”

When he says yes, he gets all kinds of Turn to A5

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

Lessons learned IMMEDIATELY after presenting their senatorial ticket for the 2019 elections, Liberal party stalwarts re-introduced themselves to the public with a mouthful of slogans revolving around the theme “LESSONS LEARNED.” It is a catchy theme, a derivative of an ongoing narrative which this once mighty party has used since its trashing in the 2016 presidential elections. It is, for all intents and purposes, a dig at President Duterte whom the group has been trying real hard to pin down as a clone of the man they have long demonized as a corrupt and brutal dictator for years on end since their forces took over government in 1986.

Well, it has not caught fire. In fact, to a growing number of people, their tirades against Duterte and even against the ‘dictator Marcos’ have lost luster. President Duterte won and the Marcos legacy is slowly but surely getting a better public briefing. Why, Bongbong Marcos has won two national elections and many Marcos associates have gotten back the people’s trust. Indeed, more and more of our people are revisiting the Marcos years with a fresher and better understanding. To them, these are old and tired denunciations meant only to divert people’s attention from their own failures and prejudices. These are slogans or intentions without any kind of grounding.

As one of their more prominent former colleagues exasperatedly noted after hearing the speeches at the senatorial launching these slogans, these statements are worse than motherhood ones. These are slick, tricky sleight-ofhand things signifying nothing. He reminded us as we took our coffee that good intentions, sweet high falutin rhetoric can lead to scams or to hell, as the case maybe.

In any event, it is well that the Liberal Party has decided to contest the upcoming polls using this over arching theme. It is time we take stock as a nation of the lessons we should imbibe and pass on to guide not just this generation but future ones as well. It is time we get a broader, much expansive understanding of ills bedeviling our country, our fears and hopes as a people. It is time we get to appreciate the good and the bad things we have gone through, the issues and concerns which have seemingly become constant in our lives. It is time we get to come around and look at our situation from unprejudiced eyes, uncolored by the bitter and divisive battles of the past.

By invoking the ‘evils of martial rule” and proceeding to ‘learn the lessons’ from that period as party narrative, it is clear that these guys are trying very hard to divert and skew attention from their own record. We should not let them escape their own past. After all, they have managed to gain extraordinary powers

CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ and lots of moolah, not to mention undeserved honor, by unduly blackening their political enemies before, during and after 1986.

In the 2016 elections, they actually went overboard targeting their every possible obstacle to their whispered ‘12 year plan’ (yes there was a 12 year plan which was put in place after Mar Roxas decided to give up his presidential ambitions in 2010 and run as Pnoy’s VP with the promise that he will be “IT” in 2016). First, they put then Vice-President Jojo

We should encourage our people to truly be more discerning... let the true, proper and responsible scrutiny of the party’s and Pnoy’s governance record get going.

Binay, the putative front runner right from the get-go in 2010, through the wringer culminating in a punishing 18-month Senate skewering courtesy of then Blue Ribbon committee chairman Koko Pimentel and the twin Torquemadas, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Sonny Trillanes. Then, they subjected their ally, Senator Grace Poe, to a similar excruciating test questioning through various means her citizenship. This, after the party itself gloated in her number one finish in the 2010 elections as a ‘guest candidate,’ with Pnoy no less as her mentor. Finally, they conspired and snickered as then Mayor Duterte got enmeshed in a number of boo-boos before finally stabilizing and setting the country on fire with his unorthodox and totally out-of-the-box presidential campaign. And even before he got to Malacañang, the daggers were out to get him. The demolition job has not stopped since. It has only become more hysterical.

And since the target is no less than President Duterte’s half term record, then

Enabling Democracy the obvious question is: are we better off and going in the right direction than in the previous administration? The answer, if we go not only by the surveys but on the actual realities on the ground, is obvious. Despite the hiccups and his very own style, the public remains hopeful that Duterte will deliver on his promise to make the country a better and safer place for our people.

He has delivered on his promise to stop the country’s demise into a ‘narco state.’ At the very least, despite the deaths associated with the war on drugs and the corresponding extra legal means employed by some security forces, he has somehow slowed down the country’s fall into a ‘Mexico-in-the-Far-East.” Not even the latest highly problematic smuggling of tons of shabu has dented the administration’s drive to rid the country of this scourge.

He has also delivered on a number of other promises from, among others, the Moro secessionist issue and the collateral problem of radicalization which spawned the setting up of an ISIS conspiracy; the fight against corruption and laziness in government; levelling up of our police and security forces, including the disaster risk management service; setting the country’s finances on even keel; righting the MRT-3 mess; and of course, the Build, Build, Build program.

The case of the MILF and other secessionist forces bears watching as the promised ‘Bangsa Moro” autonomous region comes into play. We are now hearing voices about the ‘failure of Marawi’ and the marginalization of certain sectors. Well, we should be hearing more sneering as this effort to finally end one of the longest secessionist movements in the world gets traction. Why so? Because some highly placed LP leaders appear to have had some hand in getting the core ISIS network in place long before the Marawi siege. That is, if we believe the intelligence reports, which circulated in the run up to that siege. There was even a report that top LP leaders were monitored dancing, in a manner of speaking, with the core ISIS leadership before the 2016 elections.

So, compare Duterte’s half term record with the full six-year PNOY record on all aspects of governance and nation building and you will have an idea how the 2019 elections and other political skirmishes before, during and even after, will turn out to be. We should encourage our people to truly be more discerning and, yes, put into practice the party’s campaign slogan—“Makinig, Matuto at Kumilos.” Let the true, proper and responsible scrutiny of the party’s and Pnoy’s governance record get going.

Foxy FUNNY how the opposition has been using the issue of deported nun, Sister Patricia Fox, just to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte in their fervent hope to advance their political agenda.

On the eve of Fox’s forced departure, Senator Francis Pangilinan launched another barrage of attack against Duterte, describing the deportation of the Australian nun as a sign of “fear, cowardice and weakness.”

“Deporting a 70-year-old, ailing nun is not a sign of power and strength. It is a sign of great fear, of cowardice and of weakness,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

Pangilinan even added the Duterte administration was afraid of losing its power, prompting them to deport Fox. “This administration is deathly afraid of losing its grip on power and so even a 70-yearold, ailing nun critical of government’s abuse must be deported,” he said.

So sorry, dear Senator, but I beg to disagree.

Standing pat on the deportation order against Fox was a manifestation of the administration’s firm resolve to uphold our sovereignty.

Yes, Fox has been known as a human rights activist, a Duterte critic, but that is not the issue here. The issue here is the violation of immigration laws and Fox had been found to have violated the conditions of her stay. She was found to be an undesirable alien due to her participation in partisan political activities.

According to the Bureau of Immigration, those activities do not fall within the ambit of the religious missionary visa given to her as she never represented her congregation in these events, but instead represented different cause-oriented groups.

MAIL MATTERS

“The law is clear, the entry and admission of an alien is a matter of privilege and not a right,” Immigration spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval stressed.

And with the deportation of Fox, our government has finally shown its foreign coun-

Fox has been known as a human rights activist, a Duterte critic, but that is not the issue here.

terparts that we are no longer patsies when it comes to matters concerning Westerners meddling in our internal affairs.

Since time immemorial, any opposition to an incumbent government would always seek assistance from foreign groups or individuals, particularly from Western countries, to invite

international attention to the Philippines and give credence to their criticisms of the sitting government, even unfounded or unverified.

How many foreign participants do we see every time a huge rally is mounted against a sitting government? Foreign funding has been reported to also be pouring to support these anti-government activities.

And yet these anti-government protesters who are said to be receiving foreign funding and allowing foreign participants among their ranks are those vehemently protesting against foreign intervention.

How ironic.

Can these people protesting Fox’s deportation, especially Senator Pangilinan, attend a rally in the United States or in Australia where Fox hails, and denounce human rights violation in their host country and expect them to be coddled by the host government as they are simply exercising freedom of speech and expression?

The Fox deportation is one clear step of putting a halt to these foreign meddling in our country’s internal affairs.

As dear friend Leslie Bocobo posted on his social media account, “Foreigner meddling in the affairs of a sovereign. State has all the right to deport an undesirable alien, and so what if she’s a nun?”

Leslie also offers a piece of unsolicited advise to Pangilinan and it goes, “And you Kiko need to drown yourself in more cesspools to bring out your true nature like a dead duck in the water.”

Leslie’s words, not mine.

All I can say is that the opposition’s play on Fox, especially that of Pangilinan, is too foxy.

LandBank denies overpayment

WE WISH to clarify the article “COA flags P710M allowances of GOCC execs” which came out in your Oct. 31, 2018 issue. The said news report cited the Commission on Audit questioning LandBank allowances of P196.25 million, which we deem erroneous and inaccurate.

First, the amount in question was P67.12 million, and not P196.25 million as reported.

Second, Landbank maintains that the COA Audit Observation on the “overpayment of P67.12 million” is not a COA disallowance but an observation, and has been the subject of discussions between Landbank and COA. This was duly explained by LandBank to the Commission on Audit in reply to its Audit Observation Memorandum dated May 10, 2018. In the said AOM, COA cited that there was an overpayment of the Collective Nego-

In liberal...

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responses, not all of them pleasant.

“Sometimes they probe me into why I

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tiation Agreement Incentive for CY 2016 of P67.12 million or P8,550 for each LandBank employee.

COA claimed that the payment of the CNA Incentive for 2016 amounting to P196.25 million was sourced from the savings computed based on the corporate budget approved by the LandBank Board instead of the budget approved by the Department of Budget and Management which resulted to the overpayment.

Since it was an observation, COA recommended for LandBank to seek clarification from the Department of Budget and Management which acknowledged that LandBank adhered to the provisions of the DBM Circular for the grant of CNA Incentive.

LandBank maintains that there was no overpayment because it sourced the CNA Incentives from the allowable Maintenance

and Other Operating Expenses allotment in 2016—which, according to DBM, is within the approved budget for LandBank.

Furthermore, DBM clarified that GOCCs are given flexibility in the use of the MOOE budget provided that “actual expenses incurred on each object of expenditure must be equal to or less than the Board’s approval level; and actual total MOOE does not exceed the DBMapproved level.”

LandBank complied with both requirements, hence there was no overpayment.

Through the years, LandBank has strictly adhered to COA rules and regulations, and continues to comply with government policies.

voted Trump, as if it’s a murder and I’m on trial,” he said, adding that his friends are having similar experiences. “It really is tiring.”

For Bucci, the polarization of America has basically transferred to the dating pool.

“We are in a society where you can only date or be with people that think like you,” he said.

The only other option is one he says his friends have used: Lie about who they voted for. AFP

Catherine Rowena B. Villanuena First Vice President Corporate Affairs Department

reality on the ground is much less chipper.

The arrival of election season in the Philippines is notoriously compared to a circuslike political charade; the supposed political and social benefits of such an exercise rendered doubtful at best. Three key practices dilute the potentially radical spirit of the PHILIPPINE elections has been recording elections in the Philippine context. one of the highest voter turnout in the world, Firstly, the rule of “guns, goons, and a sign of a vibrant populace raring to exer- gold” has, since time immemorial, been an cise their right as citizens of a democratic unchallenged reality that routinely characrepublic. However, our election season is terizes the arrival of the election season. Pooften marred by gruesome electoral vio- litical rivalry is resolved and exacerbated by lence, symptomatic of a backward political violence, including harassment and assassiculture in which “guns, goons, and gold” nations. Dirty money is used to buy votes, still reign supreme. taking advantage of vulnerable voters who With half a year to go before the 2019 are probably too hungry to resist the temptamidterm polls, it is perhaps opportune to re- tion of a quick fix—even if it means bartervisit the idea of the elections in the context ing their future. of such energetic, and some say the “freest,” Secondly, political dynasties have restyle of democracy. It is a system that some ceived much attention lately precisely becritics say is “too free” and has weakened cause the cases have been far too glaring some of the basic democratic institutions and too numerous to ignore. But the prevain the country with corruption. All corrupt lence of political clans is only symptomatic governance are, in fact, ultimately rooted in of how the very electoral contest has long the electoral system, the moldering mother, been susceptible to the manipulation of the if you will, of all forms of government cor- elite. ruption.

Not only is there a constitutional proThis is perhaps truer now more than hibition on dynasties, its proliferation is a ever, some three decades disservice to after the People Power the people as Revolution and the restothey allow the ration of democracy. Not concentration only will the 2019 polls be of power to Only more seen as a referendum for a few—the the polarizing administraantithesis to participation—not tion of President Rodrigo democracy— less—can send a strong Duterte, it will also serve and in the proas a critical juncture in the cess limits the message that the people Philippines’ continuing playing field will not take such struggle toward genuine because of the and progressive democsheer politiattacks on democracy racy. cal advantage sitting down.

On paper, political of such clans. contestation is one of the These clans major hallmarks of a parhave become ticipatory democracy: evdependent on ery so often the balance of political powpower tilts in favor of the people as they are er and thus must do all to perpetuate their given the chance to evaluate the position of power. incumbent and outgoing leaders of governFinally, corruption also mars the elecment at various levels and decide to whom tions—from violence and vote buying to the to give their mandate. This regular exercise misuse of public funds. This is crucial in this also represents a test of institutions, in par- juncture because the incumbent administraticular on whether they can serve to facili- tion had won on a supposedly grassroots tate or impede democracy. campaign against corruption in government, But power for the most part rests on the a promise that has yet to materialize. people, who, in the act of choosing candiAll in all, these practices undermine dates, get to actualize a significant part of the potential value of elections. They alert their political rights. As part of a broader us to the reality that while on paper a viexercise, the vote can be seen as an invest- brant election season signals a healthy dement: their participation signifies their stake mocracy, there are many factors that prein the future of their communities and the vent such vibrancy from translating into country at large. And if the consistently progress. high voter turnout were any indication, this But is the alternative to an often messy basic premise of the elections is fully and democracy worth considering? Despite the passionately realized in the Philippines by seeming rise of a clamor for or openness to Filipinos. an authoritarian leadership, a recent Social Still on paper, the elections also serve as Weather Station survey revealed that 84 pera regular opportunity to either maintain or cent of Filipinos remain satisfied with the challenge the status quo. By choosing can- way democracy works in the country, with didates with character, platforms, and policy only 20 percent conceding that “under some stands that reflect their own, voters in a way circumstances” an authoritarian one can be forward their own interests and participate more desirable. in a debate of ideas. Broadly speaking, As a society then, the elections is a time opinion polls can also sway the prevailing for assessment, analysis and action. It is a discussions during campaigns to issues that cyclical opportunity to correct the mistakes mean most to voters. and vote for a the leaders who have the inFor instance, recent surveys reveal that tegrity, the right qualifications and compehigh inflation, stagnant wages, and job cre- tence to run our country. The fact that coration, among others, are still the issues that rupt practices amplify during this season most people deem important. An astute and only serves to underscore how some quartruly service-oriented candidate listens to ters are committed to protecting the corrupt such a pulse and may proactively aim to status quo. In this light, only more participamake such important issues center to a cam- tion—not less—can send a strong message paign. that the people will not take such attacks on While these are promising in theory, the democracy sitting down.

Raising....

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rallying slogan of the South African white labor movement,” Williams explained.

“These laborers knew that if employers were forced to pay black workers the same wages as white workers, there’d be reduced incentive to hire blacks.”

Today, a major minimum wage hike would have the same effect, killing jobs and hurting the youth, the unskilled, and minority communities the most. But despite this reality, so-called social justice warriors and the left have no problem defending and promising to push the policy through whenever possible.

In no time, the Philippines could look a lot like Venezuela—if the left and businesshating bureaucrats continue to get their way. *** In an interview on Meet the Press, US Democratic socialist and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez scolded American leaders for not setting the minimum wage as high as Venezuela, whose hyper-

‘Kalag-kalag’ From A4

as we now have.

In 1978, there were 43-million Thais and 44-million Filipinos. Today, there are 66-million Thais and 106-million Filipinos.

There is more to that simple arithmetic: Thailand is all of 51 million hectares in one contiguous whole territory with a sprinkling of islands; our territory is just 30 million hectares of land separated into 7,100 islands.

Yet we keep wondering why we import our staple grain from them. And our arithmetically-challenged media keep chiding our government because the Thais “only learned farming at Los Baños.”

And so back to kalag-kalag of the Bisaya, undas to media, undras to the Tagalogs.

I have always wondered: why don’t we do away with this practice of commemorating our dearly departed on Nov. 1 and 2, sprucing

inflated currency is forcing minimum wage increases all year long.

Ocasio-Cortez then pointed out that if the minimum wage would just be raised to somewhere in the millions like the socialist South American country did, everyone will be a millionaire.

“Venezula’s minimum wage is, like, millions per month, and ours isn’t even close to that,” she said. “Our minimum wage is, like, seven bucks an hour or something. We call ourselves a developed country, but we don’t even just like print nearly as much money as Venezuela and give it out for free, because of greedy businesses and corporations and things like that.”

She also called Venezuela’s leaders “really smart” for overloading the economy with more currency, and called on America’s leadership to do the same. “It just goes to show that socialism is better because you can inflate the currency to a lot more, and more is better than less, obviously.”

“It’s just common sense, and you know, like, human rights and stuff,” she added. eric.jurado@gmail.com

up their tombs on the last days of October, so we could gorge ourselves on picnics beside these tombs in merry reunion of extended family with skeletons six feet under?

And in the process, creating monstrous traffic, logistical nightmares, tons and tons of garbage, and so many other vexations of life and spirit?

Why don’t we just visit our dead where they lie entombed or in cremated ashes inside niches during their birthdays, or death anniversaries?

This way we commemorate in relative peace and quiet, in the serenity of relative solitude, instead of the madness of multitudinal cacophony?

A postscript: My youngest daughter, with whom I discussed this proposal once over the dinner table, sheepishly made a comment—“But pa, that’s removing more fun out of the Philippines!”

Oh well…more fun but more poor.

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News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Visayas fishing ban seen to boost production THE three-month fishing ban in the Visayan Sea which will start on Nov. 15 is expected to boost production by 20 percent in one of the country’s richest fishing grounds.

Remia Aparri, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Western Visayas, said Friday the closed fishing season will allow the yearly spawning of sardines, herrings and mackerels.

“We hope to maintain or even increase production by at least 20 percent,” Aparri said.

In Western Visayas, the annual fish production is almost 400,000 metric tons.

BFAR’s Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167-3 prescribes the three-month fishing ban until February 15 next year, but it may be extended until March depending on the result of the study being conducted particularly on the “changing” spawning pattern of fish.

FAO 167-3 prohibits the catching, killing, selling or possession of sexuallymature sardines, herrings and mackerels or their larvae, fry or young known locally as “lupoy,” “silinyasi,” linatsay” or “manansi” in the portion of the Visayan Sea and adjoining waters enclosed by lines drawn through following points and coastlines.

Solon wants more female cops in PNP

A

MEMBER of Congress wants to double the number of female officers in the Philippine National Police.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel seeks to reserve for women at least 20 percent of the PNP’s annual recruitment, training and education quota, up from the legal minimum of 10 percent.

“We are also pushing for immediate administrative reforms in the PNP so that only female officers should have direct and immediate custody of children

brought to police stations for any reason, regardless whether they are considered in conflict with the law or not,” Pimentel said.

“In other jurisdictions with strong child protection systems, whenever a young girl is taken in for any reason, male officers cannot just put her in a police car. They have to call for a female

officer to accompany the child,” he said.

“There’s no reason why the PNP cannot do this now. We already have ‘Women and Children Protection Desks’ headed by female officers in all police stations,” he added.

Pimentel’s call for reforms in the custodial handling of minors came after a Manila policeman was accused of forcing a 15-year-old girl to have sex with him in exchange for the freedom of her parents who had been arrested for alleged drug offenses.

Although there was no case filed against them, the daughter and her aunt were also

brought to the Sampaloc police station when the parents were nabbed.

It was at the station that PO1 Eduardo Valencia threatened the girl and told her to have sex with him so that the case against her parents would be dropped.

In a viral video clip, Valencia claimed that what happened between him and the girl was nothing new, and that officers like him were accustomed to having their way with suspected drug offenders and their family members.

Valencia made the remark as he tried to wiggle out of trouble while he was being berated by Director Guillermo Eleazar, the chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office.

The girl’s mother had reported the rape to the police, alleging that Valencia brought her daughter to a motel in Manila on Oct. 26.

Valencia is facing a statutory rape charge and dismissal from service.

To prevent abuse, Pimentel also wants children and even women visiting family members in police detention to be accompanied by a female officer at all times.

‘Create more AFP engineering units to help in disasters, government urged’

By Rio N. Araja

ISABELA Rep. Rodolfo Albano on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to create more military engineering brigades to help in disaster response and rescue operations, and rehabilitation of damaged communities.

This he said after Typhoon “Ompong” battered Isabela and even Cagayan, adding military engineers were also tapped as first responders in disasters during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

“There should be at least one military engineering brigade in every region that is fully equipped and ready for disaster response mission,” he said.

He called on the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines to modernize the military’s existing engineering units.

The DND and AFP must procure new road repair and construction equipment for the military’s corps of engineers, he said.

“I understand that many of their road repair and construction equipment are already old and not running. The AFP modernization program should include the procurement of new equipment for its engineering units. The military should be prepared not only for internal and external defense but for civil defense as well,” he added.

The military could ask its counterparts in the United States of America, Japan, Australia and other allied countries to provide the Philippines with their excess or used engineering equipment, Albano said.

SINGING PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sings along with one of the performers when he attended the joint birthday celebration of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco and his wife Rowena Kristina held at the Marinduque State College on Nov. 3, 2018. Presidential Photo

PH hosts SEA meet on nutrition-sensitive ‘agri’

AN INTERNATIONAL conference on nutrition-sensitive agriculture will be held in the Philippines to help boost vitamins and minerals-rich food production and cut malnutrition that’s adversely affecting 15 to 25 percent of 105-million Filipinos.

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, in a tie-up with the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, will host the “Strategic Approaches to Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Southeast Asia” on Nov. 7-10, 2018 at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City.

“Our food security ranking globally shrunk from rank 62 in 2011 to 72 in 2017 out of 109 countries. FAO through

its Integrated Food Security Classification mapped the entire Philippines as food insecure,” according to a SEARCA NSA primer.

“Food security is continuously challenged by poor agricultural productivity brought about by climate change, environmental degradation, higher input cost, low farm income and lack of competitiveness.”

NSA is a concept that has recently emerged in light of the pervasiveness of malnutrition especially in developing countries as the Philippine s.

It seeks to maximize a farming system that enhances nutritional supply especially in impoverished areas through provision of a variety of affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate and safe food.

Anti-turncoatism bill pushed by party-list solon

By Rio N. Araja

CHRISTMAS DÉCOR. After the All

Saints ‘ and All Souls’ day, people turn to shopping for Christmas decorations, like this one at the Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City in time for the Holidays.

Manny Palmero

CITIZENS Battle Against Corruption Rep. Sherwin Tugna is batting for the passage of the anti-turncoastism bill into a law before the 17th Congress ends in June 2019.

Tugna, House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms chairperson, said the substituted four bills, including House Bill No. 697 principally authored

by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, aim to stop political butterflies during and after election period.

He said he is hoping that the consolidated bill would be passed on second and third reading as soon as the House of Representatives resumes session on Nov. 12.

“Here at the lower House, I think the bill has already been agreed [in principle]. This is the pet bill of the Speaker.

This is such a good measure,” he said.

Sports

A7

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Tams arrest 4-game skid, overwhelm UE Warriors

Highlanders romp off with WGAP Cup plum

By Peter Atencio Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. UST vs Adamson 4 p.m. NU vs La Salle THE Far Eastern University Tamaraws bounced back from four straight losses with a bang.

The Tams struck hard with their outside sniping in the first half and earned a needed 80-61 swamping of the University of the East Red Warriors yesterday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

Arvin Tolentino showed the way with 15 points for the Tamaraws, who claimed their first win since their 63-60 upset of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Fil-Kiwi cager Ken Tuffin came up with a career-high 15 points for the Tams, who moved back into contention in the race for a Final Four seat.

In doing so, the Tams came up with their best showing from the three-point range, with their 15-of-30 clip for a 50 percent accuracy that allowed FEU to pull even with their 6-6 win-loss slate in fourth with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

The Tams came out with guns blazing early, with Tuffin hitting two treys and Arvin Tolentino unloading one during an 11-0 blast that gave FEU control, 14-3, in the last 4:03 of the first period.

Two treys from Brandrey Bienes and Tolentino midway in the second canto allowed FEU to pull away by 21 points, 34-13.

“Definitely, there were doubts nu’ng four-game losing streak namin. But you have to give it to these boys for staying positive,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela.

FEU went on to post its biggest edge at 22 points, 41-19, following Barkley Ebona’s basket with 2:26 left in the half.

With Ebona tallying a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds, the Tamaraws took a 11-0 run midway in the third period, to keep their 22-point edge, 54-32, with 5:17 to go.

Alvin Pasaol led the struggling Red Warriors with 24 points.

The Tams played without Prince Orizu, who missed his fourth consecutive game due to a high ankle sprain.

The Red Warriors, who are on a seven-game skid, slipped to 1-11.

Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers soars for a basket against the Boston Celtics at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

Oladipo’s clutch triple lifts Pacers past Celtics L OS ANGELES (AFP)--Victor Oladipo drained a clutch three pointer with three seconds left on the clock as the Indiana Pacers cooled off the redhot Boston Celtics with a dramatic 102-101 victory on Saturday.

The second year all-star Oladipo finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers who trailed by four points with 37 seconds to go before charging back.

Tyreke Evans added 17 points as the Pacers shot 41 percent from the field.

Marcus Morris had a team-high 23 points and six rebounds for the Celtics, who shot 43 percent overall in a tightly-contested game in front of a crowd of 17,500 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse arena.

Indiana trailed 101-97 after Boston’s Kyrie Irving hit a three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining.

Oladipo was fouled by Jaylen Brown with 29 seconds left and made both free

throws to cut the Celtic lead to 101-99.

With the clock winding down, Oladipo seized a defensive rebound and dribbled up the court before stopping on the right side and nailing a three pointer over top of Boston center Al Horford.

On the next Boston possession, Gordon Hayward inbounded and had his pass deflected and stolen by Oladipo, who tossed the ball up to begin the victory celebration.

Elsewhere, James Harden scored 25 points in his return to the Houston lineup, and the Rockets defeated the Chicago Bulls 96-88.

The NBA’s reigning MVP Harden scored 11 straight points in a two minute span of the third quarter as the Rockets went on a 15-0 run.

Lady Volcanoes touring India

By Peter Atencio

NU cagebelles extend win streak to 75 games ANTIPOLO CITY—Titleholder National University overpowered Ateneo, 76-52, for its 11th straight win, extending its remarkable unbeaten run to 75 games Sunday in the UAAP Season 81 women’s basketball tournament at the Ynares Center here.

Reigning MVP Jack Danielle Animam had 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while Congo’s Rhena Itesi also produced a double-double with 14 points and 22 boards as the Lady Bulldogs moved three wins of gaining an outright passage to the best-of-three championship.

Valerie Mamaril had 17 points, six boards and five assists as Far Eastern University solidified its hold on second spot with a 64-57 decision over University of the East.

The Lady Tamaraws improved to 8-3 with also three games left in their elimination round assignments.

FEU opened an one-game cushion over Adamson University (7-4) in the race for the twice-to-beat semifinals incentive.

The Lady Eagles and the Lady Warriors fell to 4-7 and 2-9, respectively.

The scores:

First Game FEU (64) -- Mamaril 17, Adriano 9, Taguiam 8, Castro 8, Quiapo 6, Bahuyan 6, Antiola 5, Vidal 5, Payadon 0, Bastastas 0, Hortaleza 0.

UE (57) -- Requiron 19, Ganade 14, Cortizano 10, Pedregosa P. 8, Francisco 6, Borromeo 0, Strachan 0, Nama 0, Fernandez 0.

Quarterscores: 10-10, 27-21, 4342, 64-57

Harden had missed three games with a sore left hamstring, suffering the injury in a loss to Utah on October 24.

Harden started slowly in his return to the lineup. He didn’t score until completing a driving layup with 3:55 left in the second quarter.

Then he hit back-to-back shots from beyond the arc.

Houston won their second game in as many nights after beginning the season a dismal 1-5.

Veteran Carmelo Anthony had 17 points and James Ennis added 15 in the win.

Houston seized control of the contest by outscoring the Bulls 21-7 in the third.

Zach LaVine led Chicago with 21 points, and Wendell Carter had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls who lost their fourth consecutive game.

Jabari Parker added 15 points as the Bulls also dropped their fifth straight to the Rockets.

TAGAYTAY Highlands flashed consistency in a grueling coursehopping WGAP Cup, coming away with 3.5 points each at Summit Point, Riviera and Ayala Greenfield to crown itself the new champion recently.

The Highlanders topped the High-Low format for Classes A and B at the Summit Point Golf Club in Lipa, Batangas last Oct. 17 and at Riviera’s Langer layout under the Best Ball competition last Oct. 24, edging Camp Aguinaldo by half-a-point in both legs.

They sustained their form in the Greensome for Classes A and C at Ayala Greenfield last Oct. 31 to pool 10.5 points and claim the coveted crown in the highlight event of each WGAP season featuring the top five teams in the WGAP (Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines) Circuit.

The victory also made up for the Highlanders’ fourth place finish in this year’s WGAP Circuit, which Forest Hills won by the slimmest of margins, 2524, over Sta. Elena at its home course.

Sharing the spotlight was Forest Hill’s Jhona Ilagan, who scored a hole-in-one on No. 3 of Ayala Greenfield.

Aguinaldo scored 2.5 points in Greensome to finish second with 8.5 points while Forest Hills failed to sustain its WGAP Circuit feat and settled for third with 5.5 points, including two points each in Best Ball and Greensomes and 1.5 points in High-Low. Sta. Elena posted two points in Greensome up and wound up fourth with three points while last year’s champion Villamor struggled in all three legs and ended up fifth with 2.5 points.

WORLD BOXING CONGRESS. Philippine Olympic Committee and ABAP

president Ricky Vargas (right) and ABAP secretary-general and POC communications head Ed Picson (2nd from right)represent the Philippines in the 2018 AIBA World Congress in Moscow with 135 countries participating in the opening session at 10 a.m. Friday (3 p.m. here).

PH Sports Commission partners with Department of Education PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez will lead the strategic planning on the proposed partnership on grassroots sports between his agency and the Department of Education from Nov. 5 to 7 in Davao City.

Ramirez said that this partnership has been in the works for some months now and that this planning session shall help finalize plans to partner with the DepEd on expanding the grassroots development drive of the premier government agency on sports.

“We hope to be able to train our teacher-coaches and get them up to speed with the developments in different sports. The more knowledgeable they are, all the better they can teach our youth,” said Ramirez.

Also on the table for discussion is a unified sports calendar which will sync the Batang Pinoy, Philippine National Games, Regional Athletic

meets and the Palarong Pambansa.

Ramirez informed that this is one of the main concerns raised by different parties during a series of consultative meetings with schools, universities, colleges and local government units.

“We have to admit that resources to fund the training and participation of athletes are limited so we have to be able to give them a well-planned calendar so they can also do their own planning,” said the sports chief.

Initial meetings with DepEd counterparts were done previously, the most recent being in Philsports Complex last week.

After this strategic planning with DepEd, a consultative meeting and planning with the Philippine Olympic Committee and the different national sports associations is being organized for the end of November.

THE national youth under-18 women’s team is on an international tour in India, with athletes selected to be part of their nationwide grassroots development program.

Their stint comes after they finished with a silver medal in Brunei the other week, winning five out of six games.

“The U18s players featured in India this weekend will have their eyes set on making the next step up to the women’s team after this tournament,” said Philippine Rugby Football Union general manager Jake Letts.

Letts said it is their goal to expose the girls to the international standards of play for their development and prepare them for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Known as the Lady Volcanoes, national U18 national girls’ rugby team is

sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation and First Pacific, The young Lady Volcanoes have drawn top seeds China, Laos and Qatar in Pool A. Other nations competing in the event include Sri Lanka, UAE, Bangladesh, Thailand, Hong Kong, Nepal, Chinese Taipei and host India.

Members of the team include Inna Kwan, Diana Cosare, Aira Lumanta and the Hifume sisters Angelie & Angela, representing Davao and Mindanao.

They also have Maylene Dadivas of the Makati Chiefs, Ysabel Del Fierro of the Santos Knight Frank Mavericks and Yamani Dumlao of the Subic Sharks also being selected.

Four members of Eagles RFC will compete the line up, namely Satchi Gonzalez, Briela Baui, Atasha Muhlach and Nicole Kovanen all representing Luzon.

Bataan, Cebu defeat foes BALANGA, BATAAN -- Streaking teams Bataan and Cebu sustained their winning runs late Saturday night in the resumption of the MPBL Datu Cup. Playing in front of another soldout crowd here at the People’s Center, the Bataan Risers outplayed the Pasay Voyagers, 77-60, as Rob Celiz led the way with 16 points.

The ex-pro who had a brief stint playing for the Blackwater Elite in the PBA and Alab Pilipinas in the ABL, also grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists, his all-around plays rubbing off on the rest of the Zetapro-backed Risers, who also picked up their fifth win in as many games at home.

In stretching its winning streak to 11, Bataan kept its hold on the solo lead, but head coach Jojo Lastimosa

doesn’t want to see his team stopping from here and push the squad to go the extra mile.

“We want to see how far we can go,” added Lastimosa. “Either as a player or as a coach, you don’t want to feel contented on what you’ve achieved, because in reality, we haven’t achieved anything yet.”

The 11-game winning streak is also the longest by any team in the league.

Like Bataan, Cebu also kept the good times rolling as the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks edged the Pasig Pirates, 56-53.

It was the fourth straight win for the Sharks, who improved to 5-8.

Pasig, owner of the tournament’s worst record, absorbed its 10th loss in 12 games.

Sports

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

A8

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2018

Donaire crowned new WBA bantam king NONITO “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is the new World Boxing Association bantamweight super champion.

Donaire got the crown when the fight ended in the fourth round as he won over Irish boxer Ryan Burnett, who suffered a back injury in the third round.

It was the first fight of Burnett’s career in which he faced a good puncher, according to reports, and he wasn’t ready for it.

Burnett, who now has a 19-1 winloss record, including, 9 knockouts, was doing good in the first two rounds against Donaire (39-5, 25 KOs).

But the Filipino Flash stood his ground as well, taking the third and fourth rounds.

It was over in the fourth round when Burnett missed on a right hand and fell on his knee immediately, clutching at his lower back.

He got up and finished the round, with Donaire continuously hitting on Burnett.

The round ended with Burnett going back to his corner, clearly hurting, and the fight was called off there.

This gave Donaire the WBA super world title at 118 pounds, his first fight at that weight in seven years.

Fans looked at Donaire for being professional and gentlemanly when he repeatedly checked on Burnett.

Peter Atencio

Mac Belo (left) of Blackwater Elite drives to the basket against JC Intal of Phoenix Fuel in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Fuel Masters grab no. 2 seed

By Jeric Lopez

P

HOENIX finally got the breakthrough it was seeking.

The Fuel Masters had plenty of gas in winning time to take down Blackwater, 97-91, and finish at No. 2, taking the last twice-to-beat incentive in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Calvin Abueva was at his best, dropping a conference-high 25 points with eight rebounds to lead Phoenix, while Matthew Wright was right behind with 23 markers.

Phoenix finished at 8-3, tied with

Magnolia and Alaska in the standings.

Due to its superior quotient, the Fuel Masters leap-frogged the Hotshots and the Aces to end up at No. 2.

They will play No. 7 NLEX with a

twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters.

For the Elite, it fell to No. 5 and will play No. 4 Alaska with a twice-to-win disadvantage.

With the last spot in the top four at stake, Phoenix came through in the crucial stretches to ensure it is going to the quarterfinals with an advantage.

After overtaking the Elite in the third period, the Fuel Masters hit the necessary baskets in the fourth to stay in the driver’s seat and eventually seal the win.

A dunk by Abueva with 2:24 remaining gave Phoenix a comfortable

93-84 advantage from where it never looked back.

The importance of the game was quite evident as both teams played all out and had a nip-and-tuck affair for most part.

Phoenix only held a 72-69 edge through three quarters.

The Fuel Masters turned the tide in their favor by finishing the third with an 8-0 run to transform a five-point deficit into a three-point lead heading into the payoff quarter.

Mike DiGregorio’s ejection in the second quarter clearly gave Blackwa-

ter a disadvantage the rest of the way and it never recovered.

DiGregorio was tossed after he commited a Flagrant Foul 2 after hitting Eugene Phelps with the ball.

The scores: Phoenix 97 - Abueva 25, Wright 23, Phelps 16, Revilla 11, Perkins 9, Jazul 4, Chua 4, Intal 3, Wilson 1, Alolino 1, Kramer 0.

Blackwater 91 - Walker 21, Pinto 17, Zamar 12, Belo 10, Erram 9, Maliksi 9, Digregorio 7, Al-Hussaini 4, Javier 2, Cortez 0, Sumang 0, Jose 0.

Quarters: 21-18, 44-48, 72-69, 97-91.

Robins dethrones Betten in 5150 triathlon; Iijuma wins women’s tilt

By Ram Christian Agustin MITCH Robins waded through a league of internationally renowned pros in triathlon and came out victorious at the Black Arrow Express 5150 on Sunday in Subic Bay as he ended the reign of a fellow Australian and reigning champion Sam Betten.

The world-class course setup with an Olympic distance of 1.5k swim followed by a 40k bike and 20k run, was traversed by a total of 627 participants from 21 countries, including eight pros.

“In any day, a win is a good day. I’m super happy to take on the Black Arrow Express 5150 here in Subic Bay,” said Robins. “I’ve been joining for 6 or 7 years in Sunrise Events. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a win here, so I’m very happy and of course I’ll be back and keep coming back for a long time.”

Robins recently placed third at the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Shanghai and clinched second behind champion Betten at last year’s Regent 5150 Subic Bay. “Sam is such a tough competitor, he’s beaten me so many times here. Today, I simply man-

aged the heat a little bit better and that just gave me an advantage at the end,” said Robins.

Betten, a three-time champion from 2015 to 2017 here, settled for second place, with Czech Jakub Langhammer coming in third in beating other pros Tim Linn and Dan Brown.

“It’s not what I hoped for, but it’s a really tough race,” said Betten. “It was a really good race and I pushed really hard and I was very happy with that, but the result was not really what I wanted in the end. But it just goes to show that in this sport, you are constantly trying to improve and stay at the top and that’s what really motivates me. Just trying to push every single day, get better every single race. I’ll be back here. I love racing in the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, Guam’s Manami Iijuma dominated the female pro division against Leanne Szeto from Hong Kong and Dimity Lee Duke from Australia.

“I think I did really good despite some hiccups in my training and in the race. I’m very happy and thankful for such an amazing event. I’m so happy to wrap up my season here,” said Iijuma.

Black Arrow Express 5150 champion Mitch Robins (third from left) is flanked by his runner-up and dethroned champ Sam Betten (second from left) and third placer Jakub Langhammer. Paul Gelario

IN BRIEF

Business

Meralco eyes Ayala’s Mindanao coal plant MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity is studying the possibility of bidding for the unsold energy assets of AC Energy Inc. in Mindanao as the power plants near completion.

Meralco chairman Manual Pangilinan said the assets “look interesting.”

“It seems to be almost finished so ready for operation. So it looks interesting because we don’t have to wait for all sorts of approval. We will probably take a look at it,” Pangilinan said.

AC Energy, a unit conglomerate Ayala Corp., said it was in talks with other investors to sell its energy assets, which includes the GN Power Kauswagan plant.

AC Energy owns an 85-percent economic stake in GNPower Kauswagan in partnership with the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure Fund and Power Partners.

The construction of the plant is in full swing and is expected to be in commercial operation by 2019. The 552-MW plant will operate as a baseload plant to support the power demand and economic development of Mindanao. Alena Mae S. Flores

Steel group defends furnace technology THE Philippine Induction Smelting Industry Association defended the advantages of using the Induction Furnace Smelting Technology, or IFST, in the manufacture of steel bars.

The local steel smelting group is composed of Melters Steel Corp., Real Steel Corp., Wan Chiong Steel Corp., Metrodragon Steel Corp. and Davao Mighty Steel Corp.

Former Senator Nikki Coseteng, who has backed up the group, said earlier “there appears to be a lack of appreciation in terms of this new technology, which is the Induction Furnace Smelting Technology, or IFST.” “As you see, this is the more advanced technology, which in fact, minimizes air pollution and in fact, even lowers electricity cost. This technology was developed over a decade ago in Germany and Italy, (and) is also being used by steel smelters in the Asean region, India, Middle East, Africa, China, Japan, Taiwan and some European countries,” she said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

B

Mitsubishi plans to export Mirage vehicles from PH

By Othel V. Campos

October inflation rate likely slowed to 6.5% THE Department of Finance said inflation in October likely slowed to 6.5 percent from 6.7 percent in September due to more stable food prices for the month.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said in an economic bulletin released over the weekend month-on-month inflation in October might have slumped to 0.05 percent from 0.8 percent in September.

“Year-on-year price change in October 2018 may have eased to 6.5 percent, down from the 6.7 percent price increase the prior month,” Beltran said.

“This development comes as food prices start to stabilize: Rice harvest season starts, rice imports by NFA and the private sector have started to come in and the vegetable industry has partly recovered from the prior month’s severe weather disturbances,” Beltran said.

He said other administrative streamlining measures signed by President Rodrigo Duterte to boost food supply were under way.

Beltran said the month-on-month decrease in the electricity rates helped temper the rise in fuel prices. Julito G. Rada

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

NETWORKERS CONVENTION. The Asian Networkers Convention & Expo 2018, the biggest networking event in the world, gathers professionals from the networking and the multi-level marketing industry. About 42 companies from 10 different countries and 15 awardees were honored for their outstanding performances, while a record 15 speakers graced the event. The participants are led by (from left) RS Francisco of Frontrow Enterprise; Catherine Policarpio of IAM Worldwide Corp.; Billy Dela Fuente of Usana Philippines; Shahin Noble Pilli, founder of Asian Networkers Convention & Expo; Paul and Ren Dela Fuente of Usana Philippines; and Thirzah Tanya Morales of Alliance in Motion Global.

Growth likely picked up to 6.3% in Q3—Moody’s T

By Julito G. Rada

HE Philippine economy likely grew 6.3 percent in the third quarter, faster than 6 percent in the second quarter, on the back of sustained investment and strong domestic demand, Moody’s Analytics said in a report over the weekend.

Moody’s Analytics, which operates independently of the Moody’s Investors Service credit rating agency, said investment and domestic demand likely offset a slowdown in factory output in July to September.

“The Philippines’ GDP growth likely

hit 6.3 percent year-on-year in the September stanza following the 6-percent expansion in the June quarter. Manufacturing slowed in the third quarter, but investment and broader domestic demand were relatively upbeat, providing some offset,” Moody’s Analytics said.

The economy grew by a slower-thanexpected 6.3 percent in the first half, after the second-quarter outturn was registered at only 6 percent, down from 6.6 percent in the first quarter.

The 6-percent expansion in April to June was the weakest in three years and ended a run of 10 consecutive quarters in which the economy grew at least 6.5 percent.

Economists blamed the slowdown in the second quarter to the government’s policy decisions that included the shutdown of Boracay island in May for the purpose of rehabilitation.

Other reasons cited were the faster inflation, trade imbalance, low agricul-

tural output and the closure of mining companies under the previous leadership of the Environment Department.

The government is scheduled to release the third-quarter GDP figures later this month.

Moody’s Analytics said that despite the softer GDP growth, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might deliver another 25-basis-point interest rate hike by the end of the year to tame inflation, which was hovering near 7 percent year-onyear due to a combination of the weak peso, high oil prices and adverse weather that disrupted fresh produce supplies.

Inflation in September hit 6.7 percent, faster than 6.4 percent in August, bringing the first nine months’ average to 5 percent, above the upper limit of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year.

The Bangko Sentral raised by another a total of 150 basis points the benchmark interest rates this year.

MITSUBISHI Motor Philippines Corp. unveiled a plan to export locally-assembled Mirage subcompact cars.

Mitsubishi first vice president for sales and marketing Dante Santos said the company decided to inform the Board of Investments of its plan to export Mirage vehicles as a participant in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy.

“We have to open all these doors.

We have to look at every influencing element on the program. As a major participant, we have an obligation to update the government,” he said.

Participants in the Cars program and the government are required to conduct the next periodic update before end-2018.

The export of the sub-compact car is one of the major topics that Mitsubishi plans to put on the table.

Mitsubishi Motors, the Japanese parent company, already approved the export plan of the Philippine unit.

“What is definite is that we will restrict exportation within Asia only.

There are many markets here willing to accommodate the Mirage as another vehicle of choice,” Santos said.

Santos said exporting Mirage would also help the local economy, as the brand had high local content. This would allow the growth of local parts suppliers, he said.

The Mirage model achieved a 32-percent to 37-percent localization across nine variants, as the company invested in body shell and large plastic parts. It outsources parts like steering wheel, suspension and radiator to local suppliers.

The target under the Cars program is to achieve 50-percent localization based on bill of materials of programenrolled models.

The Philippines used to export cars in the past before Ford Philippines packed up and abandoned manufacturing in the Philippines.

Mitsubishi committed to produce 200,000 units of the Mirage within six years under the Cars program.

It received approval to join the program in June 2016, with the Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan variants as the enrolled models.

Metro Pacific still keen on MRT-3 deal

By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacific Investments Corp. said it is still awaiting the final decision of the government on its unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate, operate and maintain the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 system.

“There has been no official communication. At the end of the day, they decide, right?” MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan’s statement came after Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government was considering to bid out the rehabilitation and operations and management of

MRT-3 instead of the unsolicited proposal.

An unsolicited bid is a proposal made by a company to one that is not actively pursuing an offer, while a solicited bid is a result of an open invitation made by one company or organization. An unsolicited bid is subject to Swiss Challenge.

The Transportation Department in September 2017 granted the original proponent status to MPIC which submitted the unsolicited bid for the rehabilitation and O&M of MRT-3.

When asked if his company would join the open bidding for MRT-3, Pangilinan

said: “ I think [it] depends pretty much on the terms. So we have to review.”

The consortium of MPIC and Ayala Corp. earlier submitted an unsolicited proposal to DOTr to upgrade and rehabilitate MRT 3 system for P12.5 billion.

The consortium is also looking at buying out the stake of the government and private investors in MRT 3.

The government through Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines own a combined 80-percent economic interest in MRT-3, while the balance is held by creditors of Metro Rail Transit Corp.

Ama Group, Middle Eastern partners joining bidding for third telecom player THE Ama Group of businessman Amable Aguiluz V, along with its Middle Eastern partners, is joining the bidding for the third major telecom player that will challenge the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. Ama Telecommunications Inc., a subsidiary of Ama Education System that pioneered IT education in the country, bought bid documents on Oct. 31, 2018 from the National Telecommunication Commission to join the auction.

“Yes, we bought the bid documents to officially express our interest together with our Middle Eastern partners with technical and financial experience,” Amatelco president and former Rep. Felizardo Colambo said.

Amatelco obtained in July 2016 a 25-year congressional franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public interest, wire and/or wireless telecommunications system in the Philippines.

Colambo said Amatelco would participate

and bid as a member of a consortium of investors with prospect of delivering to consumers the highest committed level of service and lower subscription cost.

“If selected, our commitment is to build telecom infrastructure up to the farthest barangays in the Philippines which is more than compliant to the terms of reference of the bid,” he said.

More than 10 groups have expressed interest to join the bidding. The NTC said it would start receiving bids on Nov. 5 at 8 a.m. The deadline of submission is Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology said it would provisionally name the winning bidder on Nov. 7. The winner will be based on their scores which will be determined by a computer algorithm.

DICT acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said the winner would still undergo a post qualification process, which would involve verifying all the documents submitted.

CENTENNIAL SCHOLARSHIP. St. Brigets College in Batangas City receives the Dolores Paredes Leviste Centennial Scholarship (2019-2023) to commemorate Dolores’ 100th birthday. She was a member of the SBC Faculty from 1957 to 1960. The SBC Sisters received the donation from four of the six children of Dolores and Jose Leviste Sr. on Oct. 31, 2018. Shown are (from left) Cecilia Pleno, Mario Leviste, Roberto Azores (youngest grandson), SBC alumni director Sr. Rose Ababao, SBC president Sr. Clare Bagot, Jose Leviste Jr. and Carina Azores. The two other children are Teresa Guanio and Christine Consunji who live in the United States. This is the second grant from the family after the Dolores Paredes Leviste Memorial Scholarship was awarded through the SBC Education Department from 2013 to 2017. Recipient Ethel Mae Siason is now teaching at the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas City.

Payatas energy project undergoes Swiss challenge

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE local government of Quezon City started the Swiss Challenge process for Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s P22-billion unsolicited proposal to build a waste-toenergy project in Payatas, Quezon City.

The Quezon City government said in a project information memorandum that it would accept competitive proposals for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of an integrated solid waste management facility.

The project involves the construction of biodegradable source separated waste treatment facility and residual combustible

waste treatment capacity capable of processing up to 3,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste per day and generating 36 megawatts of power.

The Quezon City government said that based on the studies and due diligence it conducted, these technologies were deemed as the most appropriate technologies for processing the municipal solid waste.

The consortium composed of Metro Pacific, Covanta Energy Llc and Macquarie Capital Limited earlier submitted a P22-billion unsolicited proposal for a waste-toenergy project to the Quezon City government.

Under the plan, the LGU will

conduct a pre-bid conference on Nov. 22, while the submission of competitive bids will be on Jan. 31, 2019.

The winning bidder will be announced on Feb. 28, 2019 while the notice of award was expected on March 5, 2019.

Under the Swiss Challenge, the consortium of Metro Pacific will have the opportunity to match the financial proposal of the winning challenger and, if it did, it would be awarded the contract.

The winning bidder shall be responsible for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the project and will receive compensation in the form of tipping fee from the LGU.

B2

Business

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market likely to move sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways with a positive bias as corporate earnings could boost market morale.

Online brokerage firm P2P Trade Online trader Gabriel Jose Perez said the strong foreign buying in the last trading day last week and the positive momentum would hopefully spill over this week.

After 44 consecutive days of net foreign selling, foreign funds were net buyers Wednesday, with net purchases reaching P228.7 million.

Investors will also be monitoring third-quarter financial results of listed companies as well as several economic releases, including October’s inflation trade on Tuesday, the trade data on Wednesday, and the thirdquarter economic performance report this month.

“The coming weeks present a good trading window, having seen a lot of fundamentally strong stocks beaten by the selling stigma,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said.

Meanwhile, companies that are scheduled to release their financial reports this week are Ayala Land Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Globe Telecom Inc., Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., SM Investments Corp. and Aboitiz Equities Ventures Inc. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week gained 1.1 percent to close at 7,140.29 points, while the broader All Shares Index rose 0.9 percent to 4,370.46.

All major sub-indices ended in the green, led by financial (+2.8 percent), mining and oil (+1.7 percent), industrial (+1.2 percent), holding firms (+0.7 percent), services (+0.1 percent) and property (0.03 percent).

The stock market is down 16.7 percent year-to-date.

Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P1.1 billion, pushing the year-to-date foreign selling to P93.37 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were DMCI Holdings Inc., which rose 7.2 percent to P12.84; BDO Unibank Inc., which advanced 5.5 percent to P122.40; and San Miguel Corp., which increased 3.9 percent to P171.

Weekly top price losers were Cebu Air Inc., which dropped 3.6 percent to P64; Puregold Price Club Inc., which lost 3.4 precent to P40.55; and GT Capital Hold-

ings Inc., which fell 3.2 percent to P760.

Meanwhile, hopes for a speedy resolution to the USChina trade impasse lifted Asian stocks early Friday but gave way to doubts later in the global trading day that pushed Wall Street lower.

Trading in Asia started with a bang after US President Donald Trump hailed positive talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, which was a rare sign of hope in the stand-off between the world’s top two economies.

A report by Bloomberg News later said Trump had asked officials to draw up a draft bill as he eyes a potential trade deal between the two.

Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo all rose more than 2.5 percent, while the positive commentary also boosted European shares.

US stocks too got off to a winning start but the momentum quickly vanished on doubts about the likelihood of an imminent agreement.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow poured cold water on expectations for a breakthrough, telling CNBC “there’s no massive movement to deal with trade,” in an interview that helped push stocks lower. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

OCTOBER 29-31, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

59.5 122.40 82.15 2.45 1.34 28 7 15.7 11.32 4 1.53 810.00 0.480 65.55 0.91 39.60 77.95 122.9 185 29 144.4 1830.00 66.85

80,280 5,635,950 5,004,890 16,000 95,000 191,300 1,800 37,900 1,334,900 467,000 128,000 150 280,000 7,192,810 140,000 256,200 580 2,860 860 76,500 2,321,890 380 8,060

FINANCIAL 4,748,866.00 684,430,303.00 403,265,036.00 39,240.00 127,760.00 5,378,140.00 13,579.00 583,370.00 15,164,060.00 1,827,050.00 196,000.00 121,500.00 133,000.00 465,317,687.50 128,260.00 10,253,410.00 45,226.50 338,132.00 161,090.00 2,222,820.00 330,197,668.00 695,725.00 538,780.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

33.7 17.8 0.95 1.29 25.35 0.219 16.10 2.12 13.36 39 61.1 38 1.56 5.34 6.8 11.400 15.2 8.88 6.96 6.87 15.62 63.7 25.00 6.44 10.76 1.630 276.00 55.00 4.81 25 10.76 17.94 0.175 367.80 6.15 1.65 4.05 8.10 4.55 9.06 0.96 11.00 48.55 5.7 4.79 2.19 2.84 1.58 10.38 85 5.2 0.126 0.99 130 1.61 2.49

7,724,900 952,000 4,907,000 544,000 64,200 680,000 11,300 8,250,000 2,131,800 1,148,900 240 1,700 663,000 47,500 5,300 15,962,000 448,270 3,207,300 2,618,500 166,500 1,101,200 580,980 44,600 21,300 4,443,900 486,000 2,655,570 210 356,000 3,049,000 325,200 16,601,300 500,000 704,610 7,800 918,000 79,000 953,500 161,000 46,900 552,000 84,500 1,387,000 1,517,200 14,000 186,000 4,000 69,000 302,600 2,749,920 464,600 20,000 574,000 2,542,420 8,956,000 47,652,000

INDUSTRIAL 252,620,730.00 17,046,450.00 4,602,190.00 680,460.00 1,626,215.00 146,250.00 182,126.00 17,400,260.00 28,154,302.00 43,282,685.00 14,669.00 64,600.00 1,037,380.00 243,840.00 36,270.00 176,104,996.00 6,782,080.00 28,433,147.00 18,237,886.00 1,221,166.00 17,330,826.00 37,185,608.50 1,093,950.00 137,300.00 47,995,604.00 793,890.00 715,142,790.00 11,160.00 1,710,220.00 49,185,420.00 3,546,228.00 296,034,006.00 87,500.00 254,898,232.00 48,121.00 1,543,260.00 321,050.00 7,778,547.00 713,260.00 422,828.00 529,220.00 917,212.00 67,170,150.00 8,314,844.00 67,060.00 408,550.00 11,380.00 105,870.00 3,164,422.00 232,892,747.00 2,416,947.00 2,480.00 536,960.00 332,598,927.00 14,117,980.00 123,020,860.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.455 47.00 11.36 0.78 6.21 1.250 1.280 920 6.77 12.84 7.23 0.224 760 5.83 47.30 4.29 0.53 4.23 14.5 0.540 4.8 0.0370 1.200 2.280 2.70 171.00 900.00 1.35 0.77 280.000 409.80 0.2350 0.217

46,620,000 3,334,000 14,653,100 8,000 198,900 24,624,000 5,379,000 690,340 4,767,700 19,664,700 28,300 1,650,000 293,080 10,500 3,221,600 20,000 550,000 3,926,000 2,687,100 2,782,000 66,205,000 4,500,000 247,000 528,000 407,000 1,679,640 617,950 204,000 15,000 11,660 50 3,890,000 310,000

HOLDING FIRMS 21,721,400.00 152,459,505.00 167,046,186.00 6,720.00 1,233,290.00 31,203,150.00 6,855,180.00 632,038,805.00 33,215,913.00 246,144,392.00 203,659.00 341,090.00 224,214,340.00 61,915.00 153,857,765.00 85,940.00 280,760.00 16,801,900.00 39,196,948.00 1,511,320.00 317,340,390.00 166,900.00 285,460.00 1,209,250.00 1,098,830.00 283,168,240.00 554,379,445.00 275,620.00 11,550.00 3,223,184.00 21,246.00 904,920.00 67,200.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

7.070 0.76 11.26 1.950 0.580 39.650 2.36 4.3 5.35 0.415 0.91 0.910 0.218 0.385 7.900 19.2 0.520 0.103 1.40 1.05 2.51 4.41 0.570 0.3950 0.430 29.10

611,100 2,224,000 14,200 40,000 5,856,000 28,426,100 4,672,000 204,000 800 4,140,000 5,000 11,000 4,600,000 150,000 1,245,700 864,000 792,000 470,000 9,385,000 12,327,000 81,616,000 17,925,000 99,970,000 2,300,000 620,000 500

PROPERTY 4,293,619.00 1,698,280.00 159,908.00 77,790.00 3,455,700.00 1,104,888,020.00 11,164,630.00 882,540.00 4,199.00 1,704,450.00 4,550.00 9,910.00 972,780.00 56,450.00 9,882,433.00 16,647,396.00 406,090.00 49,050.00 13,311,890.00 13,225,000.00 219,806,900.00 78,732,450.00 58,309,670.00 921,450.00 259,700.00 14,550.00

OCTOBER 22-26, 2018 Close Volume Value 59 116.00 81.00 2.33 1.33 28

104,460 7,350,420 6,310,880 77,000 27,000 511,300

6,171,128.50 875,769,109.00 520,207,248.00 178,100.00 36,890.00 14,349,535.00

15.78 11.32 3.9 1.57 825.00 0.445 64.5 0.92 40.70 71.3 104.1 188 28.5 139.6 1830.00 65.80

625,700 2,454,300 197,000 65,000 270 2,230,000 12,528,700 424,000 90,600 3,600 1,520 9,860 60,000 4,263,370 95 68,180

9,520,804.00 28,315,782.00 774,840.00 100,470.00 221,150.00 1,039,850.00 838,588,904.50 381,150.00 3,720,020.00 273,924.00 157,069.00 1,858,333.00 1,697,515.00 620,132,508.00 173,400.00 4,498,039.50

32.5 18 0.94 1.26 25.3 0.210 16.22 2.1 13.2 36

10,735,600 3,850,800 26,029,000 1,166,000 182,900 2,010,000 30,000 41,079,000 3,256,300 2,063,000

368,535,835.00 69,397,294.00 25,088,450.00 1,470,740.00 4,710,960.00 423,210.00 522,446.00 92,059,400.00 43,300,282.00 74,670,565.00

37 1.57 4.69 7 10.840 14.7 9.02 7.00 7.50 16.12 64 24.50 6.45 10.9 1.670 270.00 50.00 4.81 25 11.6 17.58 0.173 360.40 6.10 1.67 4.07 8.20 4.69 9.00 0.95 10.70 48.35 5.35 4.79 2.18 2.84 1.55 10.64 85.5 5.2 0.125 0.93 130 1.5 2.57

305,100 1,290,000 110,000 27,400 10,868,400 466,100 24,046,900 1,044,800 268,700 7,629,200 666,610 49,300 130,500 5,563,900 2,204,000 3,017,770 1,320 305,000 1,403,100 444,400 27,428,800 710,320 770,940 5,500 3,524,400 318,000 4,711,700 493,000 443,500 2,104,000 506,500 2,251,880 514,300 3,843,000 1,833,000 23,000 738,000 774,100 10,168,160 489,700 140,000 892,000 6,481,370 26,755,000 220,900,000

11,592,720.00 2,056,770.00 493,340.00 189,229.00 117,094,734.00 7,033,780.00 208,040,490.00 7,294,395.00 2,018,460.00 122,899,550.00 42,672,042.50 1,209,740.00 828,979.00 62,366,456.00 3,646,350.00 802,385,138.00 63,910.00 1,467,500.00 35,294,455.00 5,003,268.00 477,621,316.00 181,310.00 272,018,382.00 33,758.00 6,027,090.00 1,330,610.00 38,713,555.00 2,268,020.00 3,992,198.00 2,042,060.00 5,369,236.00 111,643,491.00 2,815,248.00 18,423,640.00 4,209,000.00 65,780.00 1,152,670.00 8,582,590.00 851,435,003.50 2,546,552.00 17,440.00 828,900.00 874,718,888.00 41,763,290.00 600,547,300.00

0.460 45.15 11.50 0.79 6.20 1.210 1.230 920 7.1 11.98 7.23

257,519,000 3,758,900 20,160,600 152,000 414,800 57,359,000 13,764,000 859,380 22,121,800 8,399,900 109,000

121,835,155.00 177,535,820.00 237,518,674.00 113,440.00 2,570,950.00 70,762,740.00 17,015,550.00 782,984,120.00 152,942,458.00 101,609,764.00 788,222.00

785 5.95 47.50

577,470 4,500 6,628,700

452,354,640.00 26,931.00 318,499,700.00

0.52 4.44 14.64 0.570 4.77 0.0370 1.150 2.270

1,490,000 1,431,000 30,054,700 23,427,000 88,981,000 23,900,000 729,000 2,070,000

784,520.00 6,266,770.00 424,284,798.00 13,711,330.00 430,711,461.00 894,300.00 842,300.00 4,784,960.00

164.50 859.00 1.40

2,039,140 899,800 262,000

322,767,681.00 790,433,260.00 365,950.00

277.000 301.00 0.2210 0.216

11,320 360 7,320,000 2,220,000

3,151,194.00 113,868.00 1,713,020.00 466,380.00

7.000 0.76 11.28 1.940 0.650 38.750 2.39 4.39 5.34 0.415 0.91 0.890 0.215 0.375 7.800 19.3 0.520 0.105 1.43 1.05 2.85 4.41 0.560 0.4150 0.410 29.05

531,500 3,408,000 43,900 195,000 2,531,300 49,835,900 5,916,000 1,095,000 84,400 9,918,000 36,000 241,000 7,710,000 860,000 4,213,200 6,154,000 766,000 10,000 13,954,000 2,819,000 157,343,000 56,723,000 206,314,000 1,840,000 2,730,000 1,300

3,714,754.00 2,631,080.00 503,544.00 381,450.00 1,816,970.00 1,963,204,465.00 14,342,870.00 4,798,010.00 441,623.00 4,699,000.00 32,650.00 214,070.00 1,671,190.00 336,850.00 33,270,873.00 122,270,707.00 398,810.00 1,050.00 19,999,960.00 2,997,930.00 424,580,290.00 247,587,420.00 119,292,580.00 761,550.00 1,105,400.00 38,160.00

STOCKS

OCTOBER 29-31, 2018 Close Volume

OCTOBER 22-26, 2018 Close Volume Value

Value

Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

3.45 20.95 1.92 3.17 33.80 1.14 6.35 0.700 5.280

2,197,000 8,200,000 1,038,000 153,000 37,813,600 578,000 1,470,600 207,000 13,017,000

7,442,200.00 166,413,385.00 2,023,400.00 482,090.00 1,282,872,605.00 648,610.00 9,543,007.00 145,760.00 67,913,175.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MetroAlliance A NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

10.94 21.5 1.31 0.435 0.041 13.4 1.69 8.40 64 7.8 6.26 7.42 2.1 9.43 890 2090 5.10 319.40 2.84 90.5 2.02 11.24 7.80 0.105 3.2000 3.24 14.4 3.40 0.80 17.20 0.400 5.4 7.15 2.22 1.23 4.350 10.9 8.40 3.25 105.00 3.50 1390.00 0.345 0.740 40.55 75.80 7.00 2.70 0.680 0.51 5.2 0.580 11.300

35,900 47,000 5,000 2,640,000 13,100,000 5,200 3,426,000 41,983,800 255,080 25,300 7,042,400 1,100 3,000 459,000 270 120,670 158,900 10,480 3,223,000 10,185,240 4,000 8,600 32,500 1,400,000 29,001,000 68,000 2,400 752,000 778,000 2,300,800 220,000 164,300 16,539,600 1,453,000 63,000 7,307,000 16,500 2,100 18,000 51,120 1,389,000 225,510 1,000,000 7,028,000 1,172,900 2,662,850 11,900 50,320,000 32,060,000 45,857,000 10,902,300 4,714,000 5,567,300

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Manila Mining `A’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0023 1.82 2.90 14.00 1.92 7.19 1.820 0.211 0.107 0.007 1.2 2.54 1.03 0.6000 0.9600 0.0130 3.48 17.84 0.0120 4.1000 27.95 0.0061

MINING & OIL 128,000,000 294,200.00 46,572,000 83,657,470.00 9,000 25,180.00 143,500 2,054,286.00 1,994,000 3,792,370.00 8,000 57,707.00 1,852,000 3,359,340.00 1,370,000 283,710.00 490,000 52,490.00 33,000,000 222,300.00 421,000 514,700.00 16,787,000 43,614,430.00 79,000 78,790.00 173,000 102,200.00 1,298,000 1,232,080.00 57,700,000 748,000.00 6,816,400 29,011,500.00 23,271,000 413,891,140.00 104,700,000 1,256,400.00 332,000 1,368,920.00 1,086,400 29,998,230.00 6,000,000 36,000.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

21.45 100 465 492 96 102 460 949 944 98 1.02 101.9 1000 100 105 1000 75.05 76.05 74.35 74.9 75 75 74.9 74.9

500 17,000 760 590 43,340 134,340 3,280 30 10 690 14,000 10,610 305 500 1,560 5,815 21,860 15,740 520,930 15,040 679,660 60,750 130,950 54,520

LR Warrant

2.280

353,000

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3 4.45 1.54

2,000 486,000 68,404,000

First Metro ETF

107.5

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 24,810 2,635,117.00

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10 1.01

8,490 4,920

SERVICES 384,812.00 1,007,305.00 6,580.00 1,178,200.00 523,400.00 69,522.00 5,717,940.00 344,207,403.00 16,897,721.50 197,665.00 43,981,394.00 8,159.00 6,340.00 4,577,357.00 240,700.00 249,023,210.00 810,558.00 3,306,442.00 9,179,910.00 916,224,430.50 7,940.00 96,268.00 250,675.00 147,680.00 95,074,880.00 211,670.00 34,318.00 2,549,530.00 612,500.00 39,873,344.00 89,600.00 875,688.00 117,385,310.00 3,232,670.00 78,560.00 32,749,260.00 179,366.00 16,920.00 56,310.00 5,266,276.00 4,825,470.00 310,767,155.00 345,850.00 5,004,600.00 47,662,115.00 207,378,077.00 82,990.00 134,730,870.00 22,354,470.00 23,293,470.00 56,434,833.00 2,671,960.00 63,205,152.00

PREFERRED 10,650.00 1,700,000.00 350,550.00 288,660.00 4,155,066.00 13,702,680.00 1,531,600.00 27,890.00 9,440.00 67,016.50 14,260.00 1,061,209.00 305,000.00 50,000.00 163,766.00 5,800,830.00 1,641,675.00 1,197,646.00 38,725,131.50 1,126,496.00 50,950,965.00 4,520,800.00 9,677,481.00 4,059,360.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 815,180.00 SME 6,000.00 2,200,100.00 107,591,440.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 84,900.00 4,969.20

3.32 20.95 1.92 3.18 34.50 1.14 6.5 0.720 5.290

3,717,000 5,478,800 444,000 66,000 41,662,000 2,142,000 20,481,000 60,000 48,580,300

11,859,730.00 112,571,250.00 856,920.00 207,420.00 1,431,220,615.00 2,394,640.00 157,957,074.00 44,550.00 271,822,080.00

10.7 21.5 1.31 0.430 0.039 13.4 1.63 8.11 66.4 8 6.06 7.65 2.12 10.76 900 2050 5.10 317.00 2.79 90 1.95 12.38 7.70 0.106 3.4500 3.16 13.7 3.46 0.81 17.22 0.410 5.4 7.06 2.23 1.31 4.690 10.62 8.49 3.09 106.00 3.42 1381.00 0.345 0.750 42.00 78.00 7.20 2.52 0.750 0.51 5.19 0.570 11.380

153,800 112,800 19,000 4,700,000 7,500,000 200 9,707,000 49,473,000 351,920 15,300 17,762,800 613,100 59,000 1,254,700 110 240,330 650,000 71,300 15,924,000 8,630,990 32,000 1,800 16,700 5,180,000 77,026,000 65,000 4,200 2,698,000 1,079,000 2,942,100 332,000 89,700 31,171,600 3,700,000 276,000 115,691,400 22,400 34,700 202,000 1,911,560 2,864,000 224,210 4,000,000 24,202,000 1,701,000 3,213,010 58,800 47,307,000 18,254,000 125,282,000 3,097,800 8,427,000 7,317,000

1,714,700.00 2,422,365.00 26,790.00 2,032,800.00 302,000.00 2,680.00 16,395,180.00 413,291,990.00 23,057,127.50 122,380.00 104,813,317.00 4,727,664.00 127,490.00 14,928,220.00 99,000.00 485,446,695.00 3,333,230.00 22,996,676.00 45,007,010.00 782,766,702.00 61,260.00 20,286.00 129,090.00 557,090.00 277,401,320.00 201,260.00 60,024.00 9,333,060.00 887,850.00 52,222,786.00 143,500.00 481,599.00 220,490,236.00 8,284,870.00 363,610.00 136,826,613.00 245,410.00 288,856.00 604,790.00 210,702,350.00 9,750,440.00 311,846,450.00 1,400,200.00 19,097,710.00 70,414,235.00 251,532,196.50 403,920.00 122,122,330.00 13,885,720.00 67,085,440.00 16,057,343.00 5,017,580.00 83,023,534.00

0.0022 1.78 2.67 15.00 1.9 7.28 1.830 0.210 0.111 0.007 1.3 2.64 1 0.6100 0.9300 0.0130 3.53 18.10 0.0120 4.1700 26.60 0.0064

922,800,000 71,301,000 920,700 263,100 3,597,000 16,300 14,500,000 5,820,000 2,430,000 99,200,000 995,000 3,116,000 173,000 668,000 5,904,000 67,200,000 26,517,000 24,431,000 116,800,000 813,000 3,667,700 50,500,000

2,197,400.00 123,261,320.00 2,753,370.00 3,426,350.00 6,844,180.00 119,063.00 26,645,170.00 1,296,500.00 267,500.00 782,600.00 2,357,140.00 8,329,820.00 175,680.00 392,860.00 5,775,280.00 853,200.00 92,619,170.00 424,195,482.00 1,379,100.00 3,281,410.00 102,705,685.00 402,000.00

21.45 99 465 489 95 102.5 470 920 895.5 96.8 1.01 99.8 1000

35,300 34,000 11,300 5,750 657,680 78,260 840 200 1,390 5,650 868,000 10,560 215

756,305.00 3,379,000.00 5,299,434.00 2,813,580.00 63,734,749.50 7,879,817.00 402,944.00 184,000.00 1,266,380.00 547,786.00 881,510.00 1,055,025.00 215,950.00

105 1000 75.05 76.95 74.4 74.9 75 74.5 74 74.45

320 13,370 42,350 79,940 37,800 300 30,100 75,820 53,830 138,260

33,264.00 13,288,460.00 3,181,185.00 6,104,533.00 2,786,865.00 22,470.00 2,245,370.00 5,627,421.00 3,967,107.00 10,285,258.00

2.370

1,176,000

2,761,260.00

3 4.51 1.4

3,000 2,513,000 45,647,000

9,000.00 11,840,770.00 73,043,500.00

105.8

69,860

7,417,741.00

10

18,690

186,900.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Philodrill Corp. `A’ MRC Allied Ind. Interport `A’ Xurpas Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Oriental Pet. `A’ SSI Group Vulcan Ind’l.

Abacus Cons. `A’

VOLUME 128,000,000 104,700,000 99,970,000 81,616,000 68,404,000 66,205,000 57,700,000 50,320,000 47,652,000 46,620,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ I.C.T.S.I. Jollibee Foods Corp.

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Metrobank PhilexPetroleum Bank of PI

VALUE 1,282,872,605.00 1,104,888,020.00 916,224,430.50 715,142,790.00 684,430,303.00 632,038,805.00 554,379,445.00 465,317,687.50 413,891,140.00 403,265,036.00

Villar Group drops bid to participate in telco bidding STREAMTECH Systems Technologies Inc. of the Villar Group will no longer participate in the bidding for the country’s third major telecommunications player.

Prime Asset Ventures Inc. chairman Manuel Paolo Villar did not the say the reason for dropping the plan to participate in the bidding, adding the company had instead decided to focus attention on its own expansion plans “After extensive discussions by management, Streamtech has decided not to proceed with the current bidding for third telco and focus on our internal expansion programs and strategies,” Villar said.

Streamtech is the wholly-owned telecommunication unit of Prime Asset.

Streamtech, which recently obtained a franchise to operate and maintain a telecommunications company for 25 years, was one of the prospective bidders for the third telco.

Other interested bidders were Converge ICT Solution Inc., Udenna Corp., of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, Philippine Telegraph and Telephone, Davao-based TierOne Communications with the Luis Chavit Singson Group of Companies, Norway’s Telenor Group, Now Telecom of businessman Mel Velarde, China Telecommunications Corp. Ltd. and Austria’s Mobiltel Holding GMBH. Villar’s Streamtech, which applied for a telecom franchise in 2017, earlier said it was interested venturing into telecommunication business initially through fixed broadband services Villar said the group had a ready market for the planned venture. It had planned to initially offer the fixed broadband service to homebuyers of communities being developed by the family’s Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier set the submission and opening of bid documents on Nov. 7.

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

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

PAL may close deal with strategic investor next year

By Darwin G Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines said its expects to close a deal with a strategic investor by the first quarter of next year.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said over the weekend talks with the potential strategic investor were in advanced stages.

“Hopefully (the deal will be closed by) first quarter of 2019,” Bautista said.

The investor is expected to acquire up to 40 percent of the flag carrier.

PAL tapped Morgan Stanley as financial advisor of the transaction.

PAL Holdings Inc., the airline’s parent company, earlier reported a total comprehensive loss of P444.78 million in the first six months, up 59 percent from P279.79 million in the same period last year.

The company booked a comprehensive loss of P243.11 million in the second quarter of the year from a profit of P254.28 million year-on-year.

The country’s flag carrier registered total revenues of P75.13 billion in the first half of the year, up 13 percent from P66.31 billion on year.

“The P8.82-billion growth in revenues was primarily due to the increase in passengers and cargoes carried as a result of increase in number of flights operated as well as improvement in yields,” PAL Holdings said.

PAL Holdings’ total expenses climbed 15.2 percent to P75.57 billion from the previous year’s P65.61 billion, mainly due to the increase in mounted flights.

PAL’s fuel expenses increased 27 percent as a result of the escalation in the average price per barrel of aviation fuel from $74.99 in 2017 to $91.08 in 2018.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Business/World

B3

Leaders descend on France for WW I commemorations P

GALA.

Eva Dolezalova attends the 2018 LACMA Art + Film Gala honoring Catherine Opie and Guillermo del Toro presented

by Gucci at LACMA on November 3, 2018, in Los Angeles, California.

AFP

ARIS―France kicks off a week of World War I commemorations from Sunday, with some 80 leaders from around the globe preparing to fly in for a ceremony marking a century since the guns fell silent.

French President Emmanuel Macron is gearing up for a busy week of diplomacy that will see him play host to leaders including US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

He will also be criss-crossing northern France, visiting the battlefields where hundreds of thousands of men lost their lives in the trenches.

Macron will notably use the international spotlight to issue a rallying cry against populism―in the presence of “America First” Trump and other nationalist leaders.

The commemorations will culminate in a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on November 11 attended by dozens of leaders including Trump, Putin and Germa-

ny’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, 100 years to the day since the armistice.

The ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the Champs-Elysees avenue will be held under tight security following a string of deadly jihadist attacks in France over the past three years.

Remembrance events begin on Sunday, November 3 with a concert celebrating friendship between former wartime enemies France and Germany in the border city of Strasbourg, attended by Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Macron will then spend the week visiting the Western Front battlefields, from Verdun to the Somme.

On Tuesday, in honor of the “black army” of former colonial troops who fought alongside the French, he and Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will visit Reims, a city defended by the African soldiers.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May will join Macron on the Somme on Friday, while on Saturday he heads to the village of Rethondes, where the armistice was signed, with Merkel.

War commemorations aside, Macron is set to use his tour of northern France to visit areas hit hard by industrial decline, where

far-right leader Marine Le Pen performed strongly in last year’s presidential election.

“After paying homage to those who died for their country it will be back to dealing with social and economic problems,” said Bruno Cautres of political think-tank CEVIPOF. Macron―who has struggled to shake off an image as a “president of the rich”―will zip through 17 towns, holding Wednesday’s weekly cabinet meeting in the Ardennes, an area which was battered by the war and today suffers high unemployment.

The 40-year-old president, whose approval rating is languishing at a dismal 21 percent according to a YouGov poll released Thursday, has dismissed rumors that he is suffering from burn-out.

He sparked rampant speculation by taking a few days off ahead of the tour, which aides have insisted were to gather his energy before an intense week of diplomacy.

This week is an opportunity for the centrist to “reflect a strong presidential image” both at home and abroad, Cautres said.

Macron is set to use his speeches to hammer home warnings of the dangers of nationalism at a time when populists are on the march around Europe and beyond. AFP

French PM dodges human rights questions in Vietnam New Caledonia votes on independence from France HO CHI MINH CITY―France does not “sweep anything under a rug” when it comes to the issue of human rights in Vietnam, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted on Sunday, after sidestepping questions over the Asian country’s dismal record on dissent.

His comments came on the final day of a state visit to Vietnam, that was largely aimed at drumming up business deals with one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies as both sides signed contracts worth a total of nearly $12 billion.

But the French premier would not be drawn on the Communist government’s handling of dissent, which includes jailing people for posting their opinions about hot-button issues on Facebook.

More than 50 activists, rights campaigners and bloggers have been put behind bars in 2018, one of the harshest crackdowns in recent years.

When questioned by reporters in Ho Chi Minh City, Philippe insisted, “we do not sweep anything under the rug, but we have discussions with

the Vietnamese authorities that do not go through the press”.

“We do it in forums that are going well, the way we have always done,” Philippe said after inaugurating a French medical center in the city.

A source familiar with the meetings between the two governments told AFP human rights was brought up during talks on Friday, the day of Philippe’s arrival.

“The human rights issue was addressed in the talks. The Vietnamese authorities’ attention has been drawn to a list of individual cases,” said the source.

The French premier’s visit coincides with the recent release of a draft cybersecurity decree, which outlines how the draconian bill would be implemented.

It is expected to come into effect in January, and observers say that it mimics China’s repressive web control tools.

It would require tech companies to store data in the country, remove “toxic content” from websites, and hand over user information if requested by the government. AFP

BENIGNO LINGAD

GREEN LIGHT THERE are approximately 20 million millennials in the Philippine workforce today.

Some studies say that by 2020, the global workforce will be half occupied by the millennials. This being the case, it would make sense to know how to understand and motivate them, not only in the workplace, but outside of it as well.

There have been a lot written about this batch of now young professionals, mostly unflattering however. The topics usually revolve around them being selfish, easily getting distracted, cannot stay put in one company, or having a feeling of entitlement.

While this may be evident in some, I dare not generalize this as a matter of fact for an entire age group.

Who are the millennials? There are varying age cut-offs that can be used. According to Ms. Pauline Gatera-Fermin, their age range is from 20-35 as of 2017. How can you spot them in the workplace? One clue is that they are the ones probably wearing headphones while at their work stations.

They have an uncanny ability to concentrate better while there is music blasting out from their Beats, Skull Candy or Bose earphones.

Another indicator is that they are the ones playing app games on their mobile phones during break time [hopefully only during break time]. They are the more free-spirited individuals, probably brought about by their youth and curiosity.

In my experience, our millennial employees are efficient but can be prone to mistakes. There is a propensity for just doing things. If unsure, they will still do it and deal with the consequences later. They seem to be shy in asking help from their superiors, and would rather just wing it.

They have a lot of potential and energy, which can be an asset for any organization. Finishing a task as fast as possible is something they like to do. If they can do

NOUMEA, France―The French Pacific islands of New Caledonia were voting Sunday on whether to become an independent nation, in a closely-watched test of support for France in one of its many territories scattered around the globe.

Some 18,000 kilometers from the French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world’s known supplies of nickel―a vital electronics component―and is a strategic foothold for France in the Pacific.

Voting in New Caledonia’s 284 polling stations opened at 8:00 am Sunday (2100 GMT Saturday) and was to end at 6.00 pm, with the results expected the same evening.

The participation rate was 73.68 percent at 5:00 pm, much higher than at the same time during local elections in 2014.

Some 175,000 people are eligible to vote in the remote islands fringed by spectacular beaches, with the opinion polls predicting a large majority in favor of staying French.

But there are fears the referendum could inflame the tensions between the indigenous Kanak

people, who tend to favor independence, and the white population, which boiled over into deadly violence in the 1980s.

The quasi-civil war claimed more than 70 lives. It led to the 1998 Noumea Accord which paved the way for the steady devolution of powers as well as Sunday’s referendum.

Separatists have urged Kanak voters to choose self-determination for Kanaky, their name for New Caledonia, and throw off the shackles of “colonial” authorities in Paris.

“It’s a great day for us. My father, my grandfather fought for this country and today is the second fight in the ballot box,” said pro-independence supporter Patrick Watrone on Sunday, dressed in the colors of Kanak flag.

“Today, us young Kanaks, we have no jobs. If we are the ones who manage the country, we will have more opportunities,” said Fabrice Ude, 28.

But indigenous people make up less than 50 percent of the electorate and some Kanaks back staying part of France, not least due to the 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) the French state

Understanding millennials something themselves instead of asking somebody for help, they will do it.

For some, this can be taken as having a lack of respect for authority or as utter recklessness. However, conventional wisdom reveals that they mean well and want to be as effective and productive as their other colleagues. It’s just that the millennials have a different way of attacking a specific task. For the manager, there should be a conscious effort to understand this so that they can properly coach and guide their employees. Gen X and Baby Boomers are probably just not used to how the millennials work. It’s a matter of having a different style. Understanding it and harnessing that energy will be beneficial to the organization. This is where flexibility and an open mind comes in. We can’t rely on the methods that we used when we deal with Gen-X and Baby Boomers. The transactional dynamics are considerably different.

For starters, these active people want the go-go life. They want to be constantly on the move. They can easily get bored and want variations. They are an experiential generation. This is why they want to travel, try new food, new gadgets and new sports.

They are at the peak of their physical capabilities. They are full of energy. Our millennial employees can go on a road-trip to Ilocos on Friday night and come back in time for Monday morning work.

The active lifestyle of millennials has even caught the eye of some insurance companies who recognize the increasing population of these employees in the workplace. There are now group insurance plans that include coverage for engaging in extreme sports such as bungee jumping, wake boarding, rock climbing, off-road biking and alike. They recognize that allowing the millennials to do what they like to do outside of the workplace will also enhance

their performance at work because they will feel satisfied and fulfilled.

Another aspect that I noticed is they work better if their superiors are not too stiff with them. They have a tendency to be more relaxed with their demeanor towards people without being disrespectful. Stiffness stresses them out and makes them nervous and affects their performance. Giving them ample space to work and operate works for them.

One of the most common issues with the millennials now is their loyalty to a company. The unofficial average time a millennial will stay in a new job is three years.

After this, they will have the three-year itch and look for new opportunities and experiences that will take them away from their boredom. However, there are many cases where they will stay in the same company, as long as they are able to feel productive and empowered in their work.

Our millennials are here to stay and will continue to increase. Pretty soon, they will be replacing the Gen-X batch. Knowing what makes them tick will be key to a harmonious and productive workplace environment. This is a good way to start on the road to less stress. Life is too short. Enjoy the view!

Benigno R. Lingad is a Master of Business Administration student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He graduated with a degree in AB Psychology at De La Salle University. He is currently the executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Assistco Energy & Industrial Corporation, located in Taguig City. He can be reached at benigno_lingad@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

hands to the islands every year.

Going it alone, “I’m not sure we have all the assets we’d need to succeed,” said Marc Gnipate, a 62-year-old pensioner.

Michaele Mikena, 61, also “voted no. I’m not afraid of independence, but I am attached to France, I owe it a lot”.

Polls suggest 63 to 75 percent of voters will opt against breaking away from France, which claimed the islands in 1853 and once used

them as a penal colony.

Under the 1998 deal, in the event of a “no” vote two further referendums on independence can still be held before 2022.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is due to give a televised address after the results, has largely stayed clear of the campaign but during a visit to Noumea in May he declared “France would be less beautiful without New Caledonia”. AFP

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1515 of UNIVERSAL MOTORS CORPORATION issued in the name of Mr. Wilson T. Lee for Eight Hundred Seven (807) common shares of stock has been reported lost and the holder of the said shares have applied to the Company to issue duplicate share certificates.

Any person who has a claim in respect of said shares should lodge the claims or inform the Company at its registered address within one (1) year from the last publication of this notice. If no claims/ objections are received during this period, the Company shall be free to issue duplicate share certificate.

(MS-OCT. 29, 2018)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1516 of UNIVERSAL MOTORS CORPORATION issued in the name of Ms. Jane T. Lee for Eight Hundred Six (806) common shares of stock has been reported lost and the holder of the said shares have applied to the Company to issue duplicate share certificates.

Any person who has a claim in respect of said shares should lodge the claims or inform the Company at its registered address within one (1) year from the last publication of this notice. If no claims/ objections are received during this period, the Company shall be free to issue duplicate share certificate.

(MS-OCT. 29, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur Municipality of Narvacan BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract: Name of Contract

: Improvement/Concreting of Farm to Market Roads and Bridges : Brgys Camarao, Casilagan, Dasay, Dinalaoan, Lungog/ Kakaldingan, Marozo,Parparia, San Pablo, Sarmingan, Sta. Lucia Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Brief Description : Removal of Obstructions, Roadway Excavation, Subgrade Preparation, Aggregate Sub-Base Course, PCCP, Provision of Cross Drains, and Slope/Embankment Protection Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): P 98,981,000.00 Contract Duration : 500 Calendar Days Source of Fund : RA 7171 (FY 2014) Location

Prospective bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, at least Medium A, Category B and have completed a similar contract with a value of at least above Fifteen Million Pesos (P 15,000,000.00), and have key personnel and equipments (listed in the eligibility forms) available for the prosecution of the contract.

The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification on the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / Schedule 1. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-bid Conference

- November 05-28, 2018 - November 14, 2018 – 2:30 PM, BAC Office

3. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) 4. Bid Evaluation 5. Post Qualification 6. Approval of BAC Resolution/ Issuance of Notice of Award 7. Contract Preparation and Signing 8. Issuance of Notice to Proceed

- November 28, 2018 2:30 PM, BAC Office - November 29, 2018 - December 03-04, 2018 - December 05-06, 2018 - December 07, 2018 - December 10, 2018

The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P50,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The Local Government Unit of Narvacan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of Bidding, or not to award the contract and assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

November 05, 2018 (SGD) ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman NOTED: (SGD) ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor (MS-NOV. 5, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

monday, november 5, 2018

LocaL government units

P175-B South Railway project to start Q2 2019 LeGAZPI CITY—Construction of the P175-billion Philippine national railways south railways project, a 639-kilometer standard gauge railway line from Manila to Matnog, sorsogon, and a component of the Pnr Luzon system program, will finally push through next year.

Albay rep. Joey sarte salceda said the Pnr Luzon system is among bigticket infrastructure projects to be funded under an official Development Assistance (oDA) agreement to be signed

by President rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is set to visit Manila this month.

“Finally, the Pnr south railways project which we have tediously designed as a key that will unlock the economic potentials of the vast southern Tagalog and Bicol areas, is now finally coming to realization, said salceda, the project’s original proponent.

The Pnr south railway segment cuts Manila-Legazpi travel down to less than five hours. It runs from Manila to Matnog in sorsogon with nine major stations—Manila, Los Baños, Batangas City, Lucena, Gumaca, naga City, Legazpi City, sorsogon City, and Matnog. salceda said the modern railways project will be a major backbone of economic development in southern Tagalog and Bicol with spillover benefits to other regions of the country. Its construction is set to start in the second quarter of 2019 and will be partially operational by the second quarter of 2022. originally proposed years ago by salceda, the Pnr south railways project now forms part of the massive “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of the Duterte administration. relocation of affected families for ‘right of way,’ and procurement of project management consultant services which cost about P14.8 billion, are presently on-going.

When finished, salceda said, the project will enhance the connectivity of major airports and seaports in southern Tagalog and Bicol regions, and provide a fast and reliable alternative transport system for untapped areas along its route.

The Pnr Luzon system includes the following component sections: Pnr north 1 (Manila - Malolos) worth P10. 3 billion; Pnr north 2 (Malolos-Clark), P211.4 billion; Pnr south railway Commuter (ManilaLos Baños), P124 billion; and the Pnr south railways Long-haul (Manilasorsogon), P175 billion.

The national economic Development Authority said the oDA contract will be signed during President Xi’s november visit. High-level economic talks on the project between Chinese and Philippine economic and infrastructure managers were held in Beijing earlier this year. salceda said the Pnr Luzon system’s south railways is now “a priority investment project of the government” and is a vitally urgent infrastructure for southern Luzon. It was approved and strongly recommended by the Bicol regional Development Council in 2015, during salceda’s term as chairman.

Barangay Landahan Captain Edwin Baugbog receives from Carmen Copper Corp. president and CEO Roy O. Deveraturda the ceremonial key to a brand new ambulance that would improve the health and emergency care systems in the village. An agreement was signed by Carmen Copper and the Barangay Council to formalize the donation with a promise from the village to take care of the vehicle and use it for its intended purpose.

CDC, SBMA sign pact to boost Chinese skills

By Romeo Dizon

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LArK FreePorT, Pampanga—Two free ports in Central Luzon had signed a memorandum of understanding with Confucius Institute to sharpen their Chinese communication and cultural skills in attracting more investors and tourists from China. noel Manankil, president and Ceo of Clark Development Corp., said the government firm entered into an Mou with the Confucius Institute - university of the Philippines Diliman (CI-uPD) over the weekend.

Lawyer Wilma eisma, administrator of the subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo also signed with the program.

Manankil said the three-year agreement stipulated that the officers and front line staff of the CDC will receive free basic training in Mandarin courses and culture.

The modern Chinese doing business is based Confucius value respect in education, authority, age. and the tradition practice of Guangxi, an autonomous region in south Central China, bordering Vietnam, for a networking deal mutually beneficial to all both parties.

The basic training is part of the CDC human development program of the employees and building capacity to improve and develop their communication skills and their knowledge of modern Chinese culture of doing business, Manankil said.

“The Mou is needed by the employees to learn Mandarin because the massive development of the former us Air Force base is attracting more tourism and investor coming from People republic China and republic of China or Taiwan.

In september alone, about 4,000 Chinese tourists visited Clark after port called in subic on board cruise ship under their tourism integrated program of Central Luzon.

BAMBAnG, nueva Vizcaya—Lupo Alava, a veteran and bemedaled cyclist of the then Marlboro Tour in the 90s is bidding for a seat in the municipal board of his hometown in Bagabag.

He filed his candidacy for municipal councilor last month before the

Commission on elections as an independent candidate.

“Thank you Lord for the many blessings. This is now the time and opportunity to share my blessings and success to our constituents,” he said during his attendance to an occasion in this town.

Alava, 60 also a multi-awarded fish farmer said one of his major advocacies

HEROES RECOGNIZED. Quezon Gov. David C. Suarez (center) stands with

soldiers who hail from the province and served in the liberation of Marawi City during the 177th death anniversary of Hermano Pule on Sunday at the local hero’s shrine in Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City. The event was hosted by Mayor Erneda Reynoso, provincial administrator Romel Edaño, and the governor’s chief of staff Bong Diaz. Benjie A. Antioquia

in aiming for a councilor position is the promotion of backyard organic farming among villagers.

As an agriculturist, he said farmers will be saving money once they practice backyard organic farming.

“I am doing this agricultural practice that is why I seldom buy for commercial crops.

We have more than what we need, and I

share my veggies to our villagers,” he said.

Alava also vowed to work in the municipal in order to provide free rice, corn and vegetable seeds to farmers in Bagabag, among others.

He also pledged to advocate the scouting principles of leadership, friendship and service to promote peace, progress and development in his hometown.

Magsaysay awardee in UPOU gab

1 PACMAN’S GOAL. Another set of students show the skills that helped them finish the ‘Iskolar Kami ni Cong. Mikee Romero’ scholarship program of 1 Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero (inset) recently. They mastered the Animation NC 2 course that will give them better opportunities for jobs in the country or abroad. ‘Help. Help. Help. This is our promise to our fellow countrymen, and we will keep it. Make it happen. Give them a better living,’ the solon said.

To ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of all at all ages is Goal number 3 of the united nations sustainable Development Goals.

In support of the sDG, Carmen Copper Corporation, a mining company based in Toledo City, continues to improve the health and emergency care systems in the communities surrounding its area of operations.

Two of its neighboring barangays, Pangamihan and Landahan in Toledo City, were the latest recipients of brand new ambulances that are intended to improve their emergency response, especially when transporting the sick and injured.

To date, Carmen Copper has donated 15 ambulances to its host and neighboring barangays, to the Toledo City Government and other recipients in the province of Cebu.

The use of the ambulance has become a very convenient means to transport high-risk patients, especially women in labor.

In Barangay Pangamihan, a mountain barangay more than 30 kilometers from Toledo City, residents would most of the time bring their patients to Cebu City or Balamban town where the nearest hospitals are located. Travel time to the nearest hospital takes more or less an hour.

Motorcycles for hire or habal-habal is the only means of public transport.

To hire one for emergency purposes costs a hefty price.

The ambulance is seen to solve the emergency transport problem of the barangay and provide residents easier access to health care and healthcare facilities.

It shall also complement the other healthcare programs that Carmen Copper implements in the communities under its social Development and Management Program (sDMP), among which is the Doktor to the Barangay Project.

The Doktor to the Barangay Project sends a hired physician and nurses to the 17 host and neighboring communities every week to provide medical consultations and free medicines. Patients who need laboratory examinations, x-ray and further treatment are referred to the Carmen Copper Corporation Hospital to be attended.

In public schools, Carmen Copper also implements school-based feeding program to improve the health and nutrition of the school children.

Miner Spartan foots bill for river dredging

Tour of Luzon veteran cyclist Alava now running for councilor of Bagabag

By Ben Moses Ebreo

Carmen Copper gives ambulances to Toledo villages

Dr. roMuLo DAVIDe, the the DeVC 263 Class (scientific multi-awarded national scienand Technical Communication) tist and the 2012 ramon Magof Dr. Joane serrano. saysay Awardee, will be the “We are honored to have Dr. guest speaker in a scientific Davide in this scientific conferconference to be held on noence where he will talk about the vember 23 at the university Farmer-scientist Training Proof the Philippines open unigram or FsTP, an initiative that versity headquarters in Los SMC davide he carried out since 1994 to help Baños, Laguna. farmers gain productive and sussponsored by san Miguel Corp., tainable yield,” said Alnard Pagulayan, the scientific conference dubbed as DeVC 263 class coordinator.

“Couldn’t AGrI More: Harvesting s & Dr. Davide will talk about the FarmT Knowledge” will run from 9 a.m. to er-scientist Training Program or FsTP, 12 at Audio-Visual room of uPou. It an initiative that he carried out since is organized by the Master of Develop- 1994 to help farmers gain productive ment Communication students under and sustainable yield.

one of three great rivers at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo, rendered impassable and long dead for two decades, and posing great risks to Zambales residents, will be rehabilitated by a mining company at no cost to the government.

The Maloma river traversing the Municipality of san Felipe in Zambales presently overflowing with lahar and floods during rainy days since the epic Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 will be rehabilitated by spartan Mining and Development Corp. socrates G. Babia, Chairman and Chief executive officer of spartan, announced that company will foot the-60 hectare dredging project, including the construction of a spillway and slope protection.

“The construction of a spillway and slope protection on both sides of the whole stretch of Maloma river to ensure that there will be no more flooding and that the river will be transformed to its former depth and water quality. These construction activities were approved by the DPWH and will be undertaken by spartan as additional freebie,” Babia said.

“The project was rendered compliant with all the regulations and requirements of the environmental Impact Assessment review Committee of the Department of environment and natural resources,” Babia disclosed.

“We would like to thank Denr secretary rey Cimatu and his staff for this good news that will signal to all that worthy projects such as ours are given the much needed push by government under President rodrigo Duterte,” Babia said.

“We are optimistic that not only will the eCC on the Maloma river and other two bigger rivers in Zambales namely Bucao river and sto. Tomas river, which spartan also applied for, five years ago. will be approved soon in line with President Duterte’s economic recovery Program,” he added. spartan will dredge and rehabilitate the two rivers at no cost to the government following similar Denr measures on river dredging and rehabilitation, Babia said.

Life

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

food

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RAvelINg across the globe with a spatula as your passport seems to be a little ambitious and yet a fulfilling job many would kill to have. But for the few who are lucky enough to live the dream, the burden now lies on their shoulders to master that culture, preserve, and hopefully introduce infusions to elevate it.

Chef Tony of le Charme Hotel in Subic is one of those fortunate enough to embark on a journey solely dedicated to food. with 20 years of experience, this man has been through a lot of plates and in different continents.

At 19 years old, he started learning about food in Japan at a university.

There he was able to master the art of sushi-making, learn the language, and understand the Japanese cuisine as well as their lifestyle.

Japanese are known for their immense discipline, and for him, countries should follow their example to be able to succeed.

After Japan, he flew to South Africa where he worked with more Asian cuisine focused on Japanese flavors. And then after three years, he moved to england, lived there for 10 years before going to greece to work for two years. He now lives in Taiwan.

He has only been in the country for two months but the authenticity of Filipino food already crawled into his heart.

He mentioned pork sisig, chicken adobo, and the classic sinigang as his favorites.

Being in the business for that long where you worked with several cuisines, the chef did have some insights about the food here. Filipinos, according to him, cook very salty food and use too much condiments. we serve heaping rice, a surprise to him as he said they don’t normally eat too much carbohydrates.

Funny thing is, the 42-year-old chef serves meals bespoke to people with active lifestyle.

In fact, when Manila Standard visited the approachable 6-footer chef, he offered our team samples of his food that were both healthy and delicious.

For him, cooking is a hobby. That is why he is trying to incorporate health to the dishes he’s cooking. Food should be a lifestyle; it should be clean and sustainable. It is a balance between trying to improve something while retaining its core qualities.

“But we still serve of course the typical American breakfasts and the likes.

This is still a family-oriented restaurant,” he said of le Charme’s house restaurant, Mi Tapas which serves up a Spanish storm with its european-inspired dishes and ambiance.

monday, november 5, 2018

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Whipping up

delicious food without the guilt

THE CHEF. Chef Tony of Le Charme Hotel brings his 20 years of experience to the kitchen of the Subic hotel as he whips up tasty yet healthy dishes.

Eggs Benedict

“I mix and match some food, but I try not to experiment too much. People still have a preferred taste.”

According to Chef Tony, the Philippines welcomes fusion food half-heart-

Tunisian Egg

edly, noting that for our cuisine to open up to the world, there should be an open arm for new palates.

“People should be more open to new tastes,” he said. “The Filipino people should

be more open about trying new dishes.”

“You should want to eat it yourBut at the end of the day, Chef self f irst, because if you won’t, no Tony stands by this idea of his that one would.” he should always try the food before Text and photos by Peter Paul Duran serving it to people.

Tapping your way to the wet market

A partner-stall selling seafood

A Few years ago, it would have been unthinkable to do your wet market shopping remotely.

The consummate homemaker would have cringed—how on earth could he or she ensure getting the freshest seafood and the best produce with just a few taps on a smartphone.

But businesses are going through a technological transformation, and thanks to online concierge service honestbee, even wet markets are now part of the digital economy.

“The wet market category is one of our strongest categories in honestbee. As transportation becomes increasingly difficult with the worsening traffic, more and more people are using honestbee for their wet market orders,” said Cat Avelino, honestbee brand and communications director. honestbee has partnered with leading fresh markets such as Farmers Market in Cubao, Alabang

wet Market, and Pasig City Mega Market, as well as the Carbon Public Market and Taboan Public Market in Cebu. “we are targeting more saturation in terms of geographic coverage and plan to bring on board more merchants. This way, we can serve more areas,” said Avelino.

Customers are assured of getting only the freshest produce delivered to their doorsteps as shopper bees undergo thorough training and examinations before they are hired.

For 52-year-old Ruby Naval, a homemaker with two kids, being a shopper bee entailed learning and re-learning how to pick the freshest produce, recommend the most suitable substitutes in case an item is not available, and package produce properly.

“I am a mother, so I know the basics as I do the market for our family. But I learned a lot from Turn to C2

honestbee has partnered with several merchants at Farmers Market to ensure clients get only the freshest produce every time they order.

The vegetable stall Helen’s has enjoyed a significant increase in sales since partnering with honestbee.

Life

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monday, november 5, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

RECIPE FILES

4 dishes to pair with your favorite beer

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OME people like their beer on its own, others prefer enjoying a bottle with a side of tasty dish. Electrolux’s newly launched Life App shares these four recipes that pair well with different types of beer.

Now, on to the couch with a cold pint!

Seafood Spaghetti (pairs with lager) Lagers are famous for their crisp and refreshing taste accompanied with a smooth finish. They typically go well with shellfish and other light seafood dishes.

Cooking time: 25 mins. | Serves 2 Ingredients: 170g 85g 85g 7 pcs.

5 pcs.

1 handful 17g 1 handful 4 pcs.

129g 44ml 15ml

spaghetti fresh squid salmon clams large shrimps, peeled broccoli florets black olives cherry tomatoes dried chili pepper Campbell’s Borsch Condensed Soup Campbell’s Chicken Stock white wine olive oil

Procedure: 1. Boil the spaghetti according to the package’s instructions. During this time, cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Set aside and toss with a bit of olive oil to keep the noodles from sticking.

2. Poach the large shrimps and clams in a pan with simmering water. Cook until the clams open. Once open, remove and set both aside.

3. Add olive oil to a wok or large pan over medium high

Beringer Vineyards launches Winederlust Dinners, a series of dinner events that encourage people to embrace holiday planning to maximize every vacation.

Dinner series inspires better holiday planning heat. Add fresh squid, salmon, dried chili pepper, and broccoli florets and stir fry for 2 minutes.

4. Add borsch condensed soup, chicken stock, and white wine to the pan and cook for a minute.

5. Stir in cooked spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, black olives, shrimps, and clams. Toss everything together and cook for an additional minute.

6. Plate and serve.

Hot Wings with Blue Cheese (pair with pilsner) Dry, crisp, and bitter are the usual characteristics of any pilsner, along with a distinct hop taste. They are identified easily with their golden color, and are a staple amongst many beer drinkers. A favorite dish to go along with pilsners are wings, be it Asian inspired or plain buffalo.

Cooking time: 1 hr. | Serves 2

Ingredients: 46g 34g 1 dollop 1 dash 7g 15ml 2g 2 cloves 10 pcs.

1 pc.

250ml

tomato sauce sweet chili sauce Worcestershire sauce Tabasco Pepper Sauce honey dark soy sauce fresh cayenne pepper peeled garlic, crushed free range chicken wings Stilton Blue Cheese fresh cream lime chopped chives

Procedure: 1. Heat oven to 200-degree Celsius. Combine tomato sauce, sweet chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco Pepper Sauce, honey, dark soy sauce, fresh cayenne pepper, crushed garlic, and lime, and coat chicken wings thoroughly in it. Leave to marinate for about 30 minutes.

2. Arrange the wings on a lined baking sheet (you may need two of them) and bake directly under the grill for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once or twice and basting liberally with any leftover marinade.

3. In a saucepan over low heat, gently melt the blue cheese in the fresh cream. Allow to reduce until thickened and serve with freshly chopped chives.

4. Serve the hot wings with the creamy blue cheese sauce.

The Perfect Burger (pairs with ale) Ales are some of the more robust and complex beers with their distinct fruitfulness, acidity, and bitterness. Due to their variety, they go well with a large range of food, but a favorite pairing has to be a burger.

Cooking time: 30 mins. | Serves 6 Ingredients: 454g

lean ground beef onion powder vegetable oil salt and freshly ground pepper

Procedure: 1. Put lean ground beef in a big mixing bowl. Carefully use your fingers to mix in salt, ground pepper, and onion powder. Don’t knead, mangle, or squeeze. Keep the meat fluffy and pebbly.

2. Form beef into loosely packed patties. Gently pat each handful into a ball and make a dent in the middle of each burger patty. Flip burger a couple of times.

3. Grill on a well-oiled grill or pan. Don’t press on burg4. Add cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, ers to prevent losing the juiciness of the burger to the pan. and anything you prefer.

Chocolate Espresso Truffles (pair with stout) Stouts are typically dark and have a coffee-like charac177ml heavy cream ter. They feature a roasted type of flavor. Desserts are a unsweetened cocoa powder favorite to go along with a pint of stout. Some chocolate essprinkles presso truffles, for example, would perfectly complement Procedure: the roasted flavor of a stout.

1. Pour the bittersweet chocolate chips into the upper pan Cooking time: 25 mins. | Serves 4 of a double boiler. Heat the double boiler over medium high heat to melt the chocolate.

Ingredients: 2. Occasionally stir the chocolate with a whisk to. Once 340g bittersweet chocolate chips the chocolate is completely melted, remove the upper pan 3g instant espresso from the double boiler and set it on the counter.

3. Mix the instant espresso with the heavy cream. Pour this mixture over the chocolate and whisk together until you have created a chocolate ganache. The cream and chocolate will become smooth and uniform in color. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

4. When the ganache is firm, you are ready to roll truffles. In a shallow bowl, add a couple of heaping teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder. Powder your clean, dry hands with a little of the cocoa. Using a teaspoon, scoop up almost a teaspoonful of the ganache. Place the truffle on a clean, flat surface. Repeat with the remaining ganache.

Refrigerate for an hour or so before serving.

5. Before serving, roll the Chocolate Espresso Truffles in your favorite sprinkles.

ACCORDING to the results of a regional survey commissioned by Beringer Vineyards in 2017, 60 percent of Filipinos surveyed believe that they could have maximized their annual leave if they were better at travel planning.

Inspired by this piece of information, the California-based winery started the Winederlust Dinners, a series of dinner events encouraging more to embrace holiday planning and maximize every vacation.

Lifestyle blogger David Guison led the first Winederlust Dinner in Manila.

At the full-house event held at Glasshouse by Harlan and Holden, Guison, a frequent traveler, shared his top travel planning tips from his recent trip to India with media, guests, and fans.

“Planning a holiday entails a good mix of logistics and creativity, and can often end up being very tense and stressful, especially if everyone in the group has strong opinions,” said Guison.

To resolve this, he shared, “I usually disguise my travel planning sessions as a get-together with friends over a cheeky glass of wine. This keep everyone relaxed and in a good mood.”

Beringer Founders Estate’s Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon

GrabFood official launch to showcase 10 restos

AFTER months of rigorous tech and operations testing, Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading online-to-offline of mobile platform, will officially launch its ondemand food delivery service via a four-day food event To officially launch the service, GrabFood is hosting a unique digital dining experience on Nov. 7-10 at the Globe Amphitheater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Dubbed as Crave City, GrabFood will showcase delectable food from around the world with its unique partner-merchants Mom and Tina’s, El Chupacabra, Señor Pollo, Bawai Vietnamese Chicken, Charlie’s Grind and Grill, Ersao, Gong Cha, Manila Creamery, Aysee, and Sunrise Buckets.

“We invite everyone to join us in a four-day celebration filled with good food and entertainment. We are also excited to announce up-

coming GrabFood promos and activities to watch out for,” said Cindy Toh, mar Grab Philippines country marketing head.

Followers of GrabFood online can also join the Mukbang Challenge. To join, participants need to order from GrabFood, take a video of themselves munching on their food, and talk about why they chose that restaurant. Participants should #GrabFood use the hashtag #GrabFoodCraveCity, and tag @ GrabFoodPH and their chosen influencer. Winners will be announced on Nov. 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Two winners will be chosen to win P15,000 worth of GrabFood items, while one winner will win a date with an online influencer of their choice.

Go to Grab Food PH on Facebook to know more.

Tapping...

enues “significantly.”

“People prefer the convenience of getting the freshest produce without leaving the comforts of their homes,” said Zapanta. “The partnership with honestbee was a big help for us—our income increased significantly.”

For Avelino, the honestbee system is convenient and effective given their expert shopper bees and efficient riders. It is a great model of how both offline and online businesses complement each other.

“We want people to feel confident that our shopper bees will pick the best produce for them. All you have to do now is think about the next meal you’ll be preparing and #justhonestbee,” she said.

From C1

honestbee, especially when I was assigned here at Farmers Market where there are different kinds of fish, seafood, meat cuts, and even vegetables and fruits that I am not familiar with,” Naval said in Filipino.

Naval said on the average, she serves at least 10 to 15 clients daily, and the number goes up to as high as 20 orders on weekends. honestbee has partner-stalls at Farmers Market, which, according to Avelino, are required to issue receipts.

Carmela Zapanta, whose mother owns the eponymous vegetable stand Helen’s at Farmers Market, said the partnership has increased their rev-

On-demand food delivery service GrabFood will officially launch on Nov. 7-10 at the Globe Amphitheater in BGC.

I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

Entertainment Simply...

From C4

It’s no secret that Pia is an unabashedly determined woman who has hurdled several obstacles, including joining Binibini Pilipinas three times, before eventually winning the title of Miss Universe. As only the third Filipina to do so in the prestigious pageant’s almost 70-year history, the drive and grit that she showed as she pursued her goal endeared her in the hearts of many, especially her countrymen, who, aside from relating to her struggles, were given another reason to be proud to be Filipino.

Scarred but not scared The Hope for Lupus Foundation held a photographic exhibition.“Scarred but not Scared” featuring the photographs of multi-awarded photographers Jose Antonio T. Aliling, Bien S. Bautista, Josefino Mario De Guzman, and Maria Victoria Manotok Arroyo. The exhibit hoped to bring closer to ordinary Filipinos the faces of those who triumphed in their fight to overcome the autoimmune disease called Lupus.

The exhibit also served as a tribute to all friends, relatives, and patients that had fought bravely and has since passed on.

The Founder of the Hope for Lupus Foundation, Department of Justice Undersecretary, and former DIWA Party-list Representative, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar expressed high hopes that with continuous education and awareness on lupus, the foundation could create interventions in whatever form it may be. The undersecretary believes that initiatives like the exhibit could bring out a strong voice that supports the advocacy, and eventually, a society that rallies towards a world without lupus—a vision that the foundation carries.

Lupus, a systematic disease that affects multiple parts of the body, leads to scarring, destruction, joint pains, and deterioration of vital functions, among other known symptoms. If you have the disease, your immune system attacks its own tissues and organs, damaging various body systems like joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.

Aglipay-Villar was diagnosed with Lupus in 2007. It took several months and numerous tests before AglipayVillar confirmed that she was suffering from lupus.

“For those who seek to understand better, may this be the start of your journey for more enlightenment. And for those who carry the same cross, we hope for this to serve as a beacon of hope that amidst all the uncertainty and pain, there is always a smile that shines from within.” Said Aglipay-Villar.

Hope for Lupus aims to promote the early detection and proper treatment of lupus by increasing awareness about this mysterious condition.

“I think through this exhibit, people will get to understand Lupus more because the photos are very relatable.

They will see the scars, they will see the vulnerable side of every (Lupus) warrior,” she explained.

Apart from the exhibit, she wrote two books, Living Better With Lupus and Lupus Kayang-Kaya Ko ’To, a comprehensive guide for patients and their families.

Scarred but not Scared was at Greenbelt 5, at the second-floor exhibit hall from Oct. 13 to 20 and will tour various venues across the archipelago.

The celebrities who support the cause are doing all they can, yet AglipayVillar knows that increasing Lupus awareness needs all the help it can get.

She is the wife of Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar. *** More stories of these kinds at www. isah.red. Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred and Instagran (@isahvred. ΙŘ

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HE national TV ratings of Los Bastardos continues to rise as viewers nationwide awaited the introduction of Isagani (Jake Cuenca), Joaquin (Diego Loyzaga), and Lucas (Albie Casiño) as the grown up sons of Don Roman Cardinal (Ronaldo Valdez).

gains nationwide viewers’ approval

Its episode on Oct. 22, which is also the first time Don Roman meets Isagani as an adult, achieved an alltime high rating of 17.2 percent beating its rival My Special Tatay (10.7 percent), according to data from Kantar Media.

The episode’s hashtag #LBCocoBrandy was also a trending topic on Twitter.

The succeeding episodes introduced the other sons of Don Roman, Matteo (Marco Gumabao) and Connor (Joshua Colet).

Watch out for the upcoming episodes to find out if Isagani and Joaquin can fulfill Don Roman’s wish for them to work together in growing Coco Brandy. How will Joaquin’s growing jealousy of Isagani affect their relationship?

Los Bastardos airs every afternoon on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold, right after Kadenang Ginto. It is also available to stream on iWant.

'Los Bastardos' lead cast Albie Casiño, Diego Loyzaga, Jake Cuenca, Marco Gumabao and Joshua Colet

DIGITAL MEDIA

Enhancing linear viewing experience NAMIC Senior Manager Susan Waldman, GMA First VP and Head of International Operations Joseph Francia, and GMA International Consultant Grace Labaguis

GMA Network wins anew at the 2018 NAMIC EMMA Awards GMA Network, through its flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, brought home two more awards in the 2018 National Association for MultiEthnicity in Communications (NAMIC) Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards (EMMA) on top of its induction to the first-ever EMMA Top 5 Wall of Distinction.

In the awarding held on Oct. 16 in New York, GMA Pinoy TV was the lone Philippine network to be recognized in the Wall of Distinction for proving its “commitment to excellence in multicultural marketing for winning the most EMMAs year-after-year since 2013” joining an elite group of some of the biggest media companies such as HBO, Univision Communications, Comcast NBCUniversal, and BET Networks.

GMA Pinoy TV also bagged first place for “Becoming Pinoy: Amanda Bernardo” under the Marketing Tactics: Content Marketing category.

The GMA Pinoy TV-produced interstitial ‘Becoming Pinoy’ is a series that profiles Filipinos born and raised in different cultures, and those of mixed ancestry.

The winning episode, which was posted online, featured the story of Immigration lawyer Atty. Amanda Bernardo who defends people with deportation issues.

“We are pleased to be honored this year with this award from EMMA. The citation for Becoming Pinoy is especially meaningful as it came just as we are celebrating the 30th Filipino-

Monday, November 5, 2018

27 Tenets 28 Identify 29 Eggplant color 31 Poor grades 33 Off one’s rocker 35 Yoko’s son 36 Goose-down garment 37 Zebras, to lions 40 Garden annual 41 Is misty-eyed 44 Most submisDOWN sive 1 In that case 47 Ceremonies (2 wds.)

49 — Dawn Chong 2 Clay pot 3 Borrowed with- 50 Arid region out permission 4 Clap hands together in approval 5 Biscuitlike quick bread 6 Bamboo muncher 7 Hirt and Pacino 8 Lots and lots 9 Bullfighters 10 More amusing 11 Open-air lobbies 12 Full of holes 13 Castaways’ refuges 21 Storage place 23 Gray-clad soldier 25 Baton wielder 62 A single time 63 Ease of manner 65 Cold — — icicle 66 Sappho’s verse 67 Make a remark 68 Allow to use 69 Attention getter 70 Cook 71 Grows weary

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘LOS BASTARDOS’

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Wee bit 5 Charley horse 10 “Soft Watches” artist 14 Turkey 15 Type of lily 16 Hwys.

17 Splash out 18 Day one 19 Thermometer type 20 California city 22 Ferocious 24 Elite squad (hyph.)

26 Postpones 27 Enters data 30 Taos dwelling 32 Riyadh resident 33 Ogle 34 Party-thrower’s plea 38 XXI times C 39 Nearest 42 Always, to Keats 43 Appear to be 45 Parts of a play 46 Computer command 48 Foul-up 50 Exquisite 51 Lightning flash 54 Not secret 56 Feeblest 58 Relieve

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

51 Plunge 52 Watches over 53 Goes fast 55 Nosegay holders 57 Oz canine 59 Offshore 60 Posse’s quarry 61 Plays the last note 64 Give — — whirl

American Heritage Month. We share this honor with the members of the Filipino-American community who have been fighting for the diversity and inclusion,” said GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia.

On the other hand, #SikatKaKapuso won second place in the Marketing Tactics: Social Media category. The GMA Pinoy TVproduced event “Sikat Ka, Kapuso”, which took place in New Jersey and Toronto in April 2018, was headlined by top GMA stars Dennis Trillo, Jennylyn Mercado, Lovi Poe, Alden Richards, Betong Sumaya, and Dingdong Dantes. The show aimed to bring Filipinos abroad quality Filipino entertainment. With the artists having substantial social media following, online promotions played a huge part in the success of the event.

“This award is a tremendous boost to our digital marketing efforts as we endeavor to engage with our various target audiences through multiple touch points,”Francia added.

Since its launch in 2005, GMA Pinoy TV has been consistently recognized by NAMIC for its noteworthy marketing tactics using various media outlets that have resulted in better engagement with the channel’s carriers and subscribers.

To see GMA International’s complete list of awards, visit http://bit.do/ GMAPinoyTVNAMICAwards.

TURNER is set to roll out “Gumball VIP” in 10 Asia Pacific and Europe markets in the next six months. The app is an innovative and unique experience that combines the linear TV viewing of Cartoon Network’s global hit series The Amazing World of Gumball with interactive, second-screen activity.

Fans are encouraged to download the free “Gumball VIP” app from the App Store or Google Play and will receive a push notification before linear transmission of the episodes. It then uses a robust audio watermarking technology (which connects to the episodes by listening for audio triggers) to pose fun quiz questions about what is happening on screen. Correct answers win stars and unlock codes, which can be redeemed on the Cartoon Network websites for prizes. The technology is licensed by Austrian start-up Tonio.

Patricia Hidalgo, Chief Content Officer, Turner EMEA & International Kids Strategy said: “Linear TV remains a key medium for kids, but what we need to do is ensure that it remains relevant in today’s world where there is a big shift in how our fans watch and engage with our content. Using this innovative technology allows us to do just that, by digitising the linear TV

viewing experience and adding that all-important element of interactivity.”

In Asia Pacific, “Gumball VIP” will roll out in the Philippines and Singapore in late 2018, and in Australia and New Zealand in January 2019.

She continued: “At Turner we proudly create environments that our fans can move through seamlessly.

We are in a world without limits and by creating fun, engaging and rewarding second screen experiences which complement our incredible original content on TV, we are giving our fans across the world something that is truly unique.”

In a 2017 trial, the app usage demonstrated an appetite for dual-screen activity, with average TVR increasing from previous comparable periods by up to 44 percent. Additionally, the second screen experience showed an uplift in older kids coming to the channel – proving that appointment-to-view moments can win linear audiences.

Daily reach amongst older kids (10-15) was up against all benchmarks during the trial, with a +22 percent increase year on year and a +108 percent increase versus February half term stats in 2017. In addition, “Gumball VIP” featured in the App Store top-10 during the trial period.

A screenshot of Turner's Gumball VIP app

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018

ISAH V. RED

Pia Wurtzbach

graces GSM 2019 calendar

London's Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Celebrating soulful music with

LEA SALONGA

WATCH “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” come to life as Kim Soon-Ah returns to GMA Network via the riveting Korean drama Woman of Dignity, which premieres today.

Kim Soon-Ah, known for her bubbly character as Kim Sam Soon, will do a 180-degree turn with her portrayal as Joanna, a cold-blooded and ambitious woman who will seduce her way into a rich family’s fortunes.

Erin (Kim Sun Hee), on the other hand, is a loving housewife who gets cheated on by her chaebol (rich heir) husband. Her kind nature usually gets taken advantage of, making her vulnerable to the betrayal of the people she loves the most.

Joanna is tasked to take care of Erin’s father-in-law, and delivers well in her job. However, her goal is not to become merely an impressive caretaker, so she devices a plan to marry into the rich household—at the expense of her friendship with Erin.

Will Erin’s broken trust weaken her good heart, or will she finally vindicate herself and avenge all her heartbreaks?

Follow their story on Woman of Dignity every Monday to Friday before Eat Bulaga on GMA.

Celebrated harpsichordist Steven Devine

T

OYOTA Motor Philippines is bringing back one of the most-awaited celebrations of beautiful music and talent in the Toyota Classics 2018.

Now on its 19th edition, enjoy a delightful performance by the internationally-renowned Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) from London under the baton of conductor and a celebrated harpsichordist, Steven Devine together with the globally renowned singer, Lea Salonga on Nov. 7. at the Theater of Solaire Resort & Casino.

A few of the famous compositions to be performed by the Orchestra are Handel’s “Water Music,” Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor” and Mozart’s “Symphony No. 25” amongst other exquisite compositions.

The Toyota Classics this year shall focus on bringing the joy of music with the theme, “Music that Moves Lives.” Aligned with Toyota’s global vision of providing mobility for all, the said concert supports the ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign, aiming to inspire people to strive for their dreams and make their impossible happen.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will delight the audience with baroque music, a style composed between the years 1600 to 1750, that has changed the view of composers and performers in the music industry.

Baroque music expanded the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance, mobilizing music into a space that was viewed before as ‘not’ possible.

More than a celebration of remarkable music and performance since 1990, the Toyota Classics is one of Toyota’s biggest ventures to uphold the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility. This concert has raised close to $9.50 million for beneficiaries of local charities across the Asia Pacific Region for the past 29 years.

Moreover, the concert has also helped promote sustainable development and of course, the beauty of classical music in several countries across Asia.

For this year, Toyota’s beneficiary is para-swimmer gold medalist, Ernie Gawilan and the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC).

Formed by the Philippine Sport for the Differently-Abled (Philspada), the PPC now serves as the counterpart of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) led by its president Mike Barredo, a former Philippine Sports commissioner who also heads Philspada.

Apart from the Philippines, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will also be performing in other Asian countries – Brunei, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Interested patrons who wish to enjoy this concert can purchase tickets through Ticket World. To find out more about the Toyota Classics 2018, visit www.

ToyotaClassics.asia for more details.

Kim Sam Soon returns as ‘Woman of Dignity’

'Women of Dignity,' which is airing today is one of the biggest Korean drama of 2017 Renowned and multi-awarded singer Lea Salonga headlines this years Toyota Classics

Celebs find formula to combat dengue

From left: Derek Ramsay, Dr. Fracois Martin, Priscilla Meirelles Estrada and John Estrada

B BEAUTY queen turned model/actress Priscilla Meirelles Estrada graced the RED anniversary and grand launch recently at the Solaire Grand Ballroom.

Together with her husband, John Estrada, actor Derek Ramsay, and Estrada Dr. Fracois Martin, they represented Kyzox Corp. as brand ambassadors and business partners.

Kyzox Corp., the maker of the new-generation, all-natural anti-

mosquito & anti-insect additives, conceived KYZOX Foundation which created the livelihood program, in partnership with different Rotary Clubs nationwide in donating antimosquito paints for schools, hospitals and orphanages.

The Foundation also opens the opportunity for Senior Citizens and persons with disability (PWD) to sell devices and re-fills of their products in

their respective barangays to make it accessible and available for everyone’s use.

Dengue and other deadly mosquito-borne diseases have been plaguing the country for many years now.

That’s why it is of greatest importance that these products will be distributed and used in our communities.

Kyzox Foundation aims “to protect every Filipino for free by integrating Anti-Mosquito derivatives in what they already use and afford to buy such as laundry detergent, paints, among others.” This is the philosophy of Kyzox’s founder, Dr. Francois Martin, a French Entomologist.

In cooperation with Miss Earth Foundation, its goal is to create awareness to communities in far-flung places around the country about the existing products which can completely eradicate mosquitos and the deadly diseases they carry and transmit.

GINEBRA San Miguel (GSM) is celebrating its 185th anniversary next year. And to marke the milestone, it is coming out with a 2019 calendar (as is usual) with probably another iconic Filipino having made the Philippines proud when she brought home the elusive Miss Universe title and crown in 2015.

Yes, Pia Wurtzback agreed to be the face and body of the GSM 2019 calendar. And when she was presented to members of the mass media last week, the hall was recharged as she sashayed up to a podium built especially for the occasion.

“I’m proud to be a part of the Ginebra San Miguel family,” Pia said during the Q&A later. “I’m even prouder to represent an iconic Filipino brand that’s trusted and recognized all over the world.

We both have the never-say-die spirit— we’re not going to give up until we’ve made all of our dreams come true.”

We are proud to have Ms. Pia Wurtzbach as our Ginebra San Miguel 2019 Calendar Girl,” said GSMI Marketing Manager Ron Molina. “Pia is the perfect person to represent the brand, an epitome of what the brand stands for.”

“It’s an honor for me, especially since the 2019 calendar also commemorates Ginebra’s 185th anniversary,” Pia said.

“This is an experience I won’t forget since this is also the first time I’ve done a swimsuit photo shoot since competing at the Miss Universe pageant.”

As the 2019 Ginebra Calendar Girl, Pia appears in three classic portrait-styled calendars featuring the brands Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, GSM Blue Flavors and Vino Kulafu. She will also be in two designs of panoramic-styled 2019 calendars featuring all the Ginebra blands including Primera Light Brandy, Antonov Vodka, Anejo Gold medium Rum and Don Enrique Mix-kila.

From Ginebra San Miguel’s humble beginnings in a small distillery in Quiapo, Manila in 1834, the alcoholic beverage has been a part of the Filipino story and tradition—in every Filipino celebration, no matter how big or small.

Through the ups and downs of the country’s history, Ginebra San Miguel has been there, cheering on the victors and consoling those who have suffered losses.

And as the brand became a part of everyday life, it came to understand the deep complexities of Filipinos—our spirit that never gives up, our passion and courage to stand up for what is right, and our resilience and the desire to serve others, to carry on for the sake of our loved ones. Dahil Pilipino ako.

Matapang ako. Ginebra ako.

As the world’s no.1 selling gin, Ginebra San Miguel has been reaping international awards since 1883.

Winning the silver medal at the 1883 Amsterdam World Exposition, the brand has also been recognized with numerous quality excellence awards, including the Grand Prize in 1889 Exposicion Paris and the Silver Medal in 1902 Exposicion Hanoi. And since 1990, Ginebra San Miguel has been consistently recognized by the Monde Selection International Institute for Quality Selections for its high quality and taste.

Continued on C3

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is conquering 2019 as the calendar girl for Ginebra San Miguel.