Manila Standard - 2018 November 14 - Wednesday

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DEADLIEST

WILDFIRE

IN CALIFORNIA WORLD B3

VOL. XXXII • NO. 272 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

PARADISE LOST. A Halloween decoration remains seated at a burnt home after the Camp Fire tore through the region in Paradise, California on Nov. 12. Thousands of firefighters spent a fifth day digging battle lines to contain California’s worst ever wildfire as the wind-whipped flames cleaved a merciless path through the state’s northern hills, leaving death and devastation in their wake. AFP

Palace: Lapeña no sacred cow Hollywood loses ‘superhero’ LOS ANGELES—Marvel legend Stan Lee, who revolutionized pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk who now dominate the world’s movie screens, has died.

He was 95 years old.

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China wants sea rulebook done in 3 years SINGAPORE—A rulebook to settle disputes in the hotly contested South China Sea should be finished in three years, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday, insisting his nation does not seek “hegemony or expansion.”

Li’s comments appeared to be the first clear timeframe for finishing the code of conduct. Talks have dragged on for years,

with China accused of delaying progress as it prefers to deal with less powerful countries on a one-on-one basis.

Ownership of islands and waters in the South China Sea is disputed by several nations, including the Philippines.

China, which claims virtually all of the sea, has established military positions on disputed outcrops and intimidates fisher-

men and naval vessels from rival countries.

Tensions have soared with fellow claimants such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan, as well as the United States, which has traditionally been the dominant military power in the area.

Beijing and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations have for Next page

Balangiga bells World’s largest trade deal pushed soon to be home back; ministers at odds over terms

By Nat Mariano for Christmas

Mobile number for life cleared by joint panel

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE bill seeking to allow consumers to keep their cellphone numbers for life has been approved by the joint panel of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, an official said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said consumers could keep their numbers even if they changed their service providers or subscription plans.

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THE historic Balangiga bells, which were seized by American soldiers from a church in Samar at the height of the Filipino-American war, are finally returning to the Philippines.

US Embassy Spokesperson Molly Koscina said, “While no specific date has been identified for the return of the bells, the Department of Defense is committed to a timely resolution in accordance with U.S. laws and policy.”

According to historians, one of the bells is believed to have signaled the attack the Filipinos launched against American troops stationed in Balangiga town in Samar province on Sept.

28, 1901. The attack killed 48 American Next page

SINGAPORE—A China-backed bid to complete the world’s largest trade deal— without the United States—was pushed back to next year after Asia-Pacific trade ministers failed to agree key terms at a Singapore summit.

The Regional Comprehensive Eco-

nomic Partnership, covering half the world’s population, is billed as an antidote to President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, which has seen tariffs imposed on almost half of all Chinese imports to the US—and retaliatory levies by Beijing.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is Next page

Lifestyle audit on justices, judges OKd

By Rey E. Requejo AS PART of its reforms to cleanse the judiciary of corruption and maintain its integrity, the Supreme Court has created two permanent offices: the Judicial Integrity Board, which will act on complaints against erring justices, judges, and court personnel; and the Corruption Prevention

and Investigation Office, which will conduct lifestyle checks on them.

In an en banc resolution dated Oct. 2, the Court approved the recommendation of the Technical Working Group on Judicial Integrity to create the JIB and CPIO. The full court also amended salient provisions in Rule 140 of the Rules of Court to incorporate the JIB. Next page

Anti-graft drive spares no one— friend or foe alike

By Vito Barcelo

M

ALACAÑANG on Tuesday said there will be no sacred cows in the government’s fight against smuggling after former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña was charged with graft over the alleged illegal release of 105 containers filled with ceramic tiles in March.

“No one, friends or political foes alike, is spared in our fight against corruption,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“The National Bureau of Investigation [NBI] has a mandate to fulfill and its action is proof that the President shall not shield those upon whom a shadow of doubt has been cast,” he added.

The NBI has asked the Department of Justice to institute legal proceedings against Lapeña for the questionable release of 105 container vans despite an alert order from the Port of Manila.

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Cayetanos face disqualification A PETITIONER has posed a challenge to former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife Lani, who are both running in separate districts in Taguig in the 2019 midterm elections.

The petitioner, Leonides Buac Jr., also described the Cayetano family as a “super dynasty” in Taguig.

Buac Jr. is asking the Commission on Elections to reject the Cayetanos’ certificates of candidacy, arguing that “a married Next page

CONGRESSIONAL SPOUSES. Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, with congresswomen and members of the Congressional Spouses Foundation headed by Luli ArroyoBernas, lead Tuesday in the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the main lobby of the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The Foundation launched its fund-raising activity to give holiday gift packs to congressional staff for each district including some 1,000 non-organic personnel.

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News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CSC clears way for Faeldon to take Bucor post —Justice dept.

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday the Civil Service Commission had already signed a recommendation to appoint Nicanor Faeldon as director general of the Bureau of Corrections.

“Civil Service Chair Alicia dela RosaBala has informed me by phone this morning that she has signed a favorable recommendation for Nicanor Faeldon as Bureau of Corrections director general. Recommendation to be sent to the Palace,” Guevarra told reporters.

A clearance from the commission is required before Faeldon can assume his new position.

Guevarra made his statement even as Malacañang said Tuesday there was no official appointment letter yet for Faeldon to assume the position of director general of the Bureau of Corrections. Last week, the Justice department announced that President Rodrigo Duterte had chosen Faeldon to replace Ronald dela Rosa as head of BuCor. “It takes time processing the appointment papers. That should come out soon,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Earlier, Faeldon through his lawyer Jose Dino, rejected the reports he was a “noshow” at BuCor saying there was no appointment to speak of yet.

Faeldon said he could not assume a post to which he was not appointed to and that even though Guevarra had made an announcement on his supposed appointment, Malacañang had not confirmed the news about his appointment.

But the Palace had already announced that Faeldon’s appointment was forthcoming.

Guevarra said Justice Assistant Secretary Melvin Ramon Buenafe, BuCor’s deputy director general for security and operation, had been appointed as OIC of BuCor while waiting for Faeldon to assume the post.

Duterte said a month ago that he wanted Faeldon to replace Dela Rosa as the new BuCor chief. Dela Rosa resigned from his post after he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in the 2019 mid-term elections. With Vito Barcelo

Police won’t arrest Imelda sans court order THE National Police warded off on Tuesday criticism over its perceived apathetic move to arrest Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, convicted on Friday in seven graft cases in connection with her “financial interests in Switzerland” when she served as a Cabinet official during her late husband’s term.

In an interview on CNN Philippines beamed nationwide, PNP spokesperson Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana, replying to a question on an alleged “double standard” in the case of Marcos and other people convicted by the courts, said police could not arrest Marcos as yet since the anti-graft court had yet to issue an arrest warrant.

At the same time, Marcos, through her lawyer former Court of Appeals Justice Manuel Lazaro, had filed a leave of court on Monday—such motion to be heard by the Sandiganbayan on Friday.

OmbudsmanAssistant Special Prosecutor Ryan Quilala also said Marcos, who is running for governor of her home province of Ilocos Norte in the May 2019 mid-term elections, would not be automatically jailed since she could still appeal her conviction before the Supreme Court.

The PNP on Monday said they were taking into consideration the health of Marcos in complying with the arrest order— still to be issued by the court.

The PNP made the remarks amid allegations that they were favoring the Marcos matriarch as compared to what they have done in the case of Senator Antonio Trillanes.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde noted that in Trillanes’ case, they enforced preemptive measures pending the issuance of the arrest warrant but clarified that not all police officers deployed at the Senate were tasked to guard the senator. With Maricel V. Cruz

Mobile number...

From A1 Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on economic Affairs and author of the bill, said it would require service providers to provide nationwide mobile number portability to subscribers, and that would be timely with the entry of a third telecommunications company in the Philippines.

He said consumers wanting to transfer to a third telecoms company need not change their cellphone numbers.

If the third telecoms firm would lower its price and give better service, there would be no difficulty moving to another telecoms firm.

Tax amnesty bill gets House panel’s approval

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE House of Representatives’ ways and means committee has recommended for plenary approval a substitute bill granting amnesty to all unpaid internal revenue taxes for taxable year 2017 and prior years.

That happened after the committee, led

by Rep. Estrellita Suansing, approved the still unnumbered bill that aims to enhance revenue administration and tax collection by granting an amnesty to all unpaid internal revenue taxes.

The bill, principally authored by Rep. Michael Romero, is among the priority measures of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attended the hearing when the panel approved the measure.

The proposed measure says taxpayers who wish to apply for amnesty should pay 8 percent of their net worth covering taxable year 2017, or P10,000 to P10 million, depending on their taxpayer classification whichever is higher.

Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu welcomed the bill, calling it “a welcome development among Filipino taxpayers from all walks of life.”

“Whether one is an ordinary citizen having difficulty in finally settling the estate of his departed loved ones... or a businessman who has unsettled tax liabilities, this measure affords them the opportunity to come clean,” Abu said.

He said the estate tax amnesty “will be a big help in unclogging and updating real property records and titles.

“This will promote the interest of heirs in developing inherited real properties. This will also boost the financial position of local governments.”

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, one of the bill’s principal authors, said it could help the government boost its financial position.

“The proposed tax amnesty measure would surely boost the financial of the government,” Suarez said.

He said almost P6 billion worth of revenues from social services were generated by the government from the previous Tax Amnesty Law without giving an additional burden to ordinary people who are now battling high inflation due to the controversial Tax Reform of Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law. He said Congress must be able to find ways to address the alleged corruption in the Bureau of Internal Revenue which was resulting in revenue shortfalls.

Suarez was referring to the implementation of the tax amnesty under Republic Act 9480 dated Feb. 19, 2017 and covering the year 2005, which generated P5.902 billion and accounted for two percent of the total income taxes collected.

Palace:...

From A1 “Good governance is the hallmark of the Duterte administration and this latest development is a reaffirmation of the President’s commitment against all forms of corruption and illegality,” Panelo said.

However, Panelo emphasized that the former Customs chief is considered innocent until proven otherwise.

“We point out that Technical and Education Skills Authority Director General Lapeña has the constitutional right to be presumed innocent. Until and unless proven otherwise, he still enjoys the trust and confidence of the appointing authority who happens to be the President,” Panelo said.

The containers in question arrived in the country between January and March 2018 and were able to exit the port using fake documents.

According to the Asian Terminal Inc., it was Lapeña who also ordered the release of the 105 container vans, 85 of which have been recovered by Customs agents in warehouses in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

In an earlier statement, ATI said it “can only process containers for release from the port after the Bureau of Customs issues the release instruction through the OLRS [Online Release System].”

It added: “Issuance of the OLRS instruction means that all duties and taxes have been paid and that there are no holds or special stops on the container.

ATI does not have any control over BOC’s alert system.”

Balangiga bells...

From A1 soldiers and was reportedly in retaliation for oppressive treatment the Filipinos received from the American troops.

The American soldiers retaliated, destroying the town and killing thousands of Filipino soldiers and locals in what is now known as the Balangiga Massacre.

The American soldiers seized all three bells from the Balangiga Church, and a 1557 cannon as war booty.

In his second State of the Nation Address called on the US to return the Balangiga bells.

“Give us back those Balangiga bells.

They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage,” Duterte said in his speech.

Although some US officials opposed plans to return the bells, Koscina said the US Department of Defense notified Congress in August that it intends to repatriate the bells.

“The decision follows a year-long consultative process with associated veterans’ organizations and government officials to ensure appropriate steps are taken to preserve the history of the veterans associated with the bells,” she said.

Meanwhile, a Filipino military professor involved in the impending return of the bells, said a change in “approach” about the significance of the Balangiga bells was the key to the entire process.

Retired Consul General and Philippine Military Academy professor Sonny Busa told ANC’s Dateline Philippines that his group in the US had to clarify “misconceptions” that the return of the bells does not equate to “dishonoring the 44 Americans who died in the Battle of Balangiga.”

Gatchalian said if one had many cellphone numbers, there would be a big problem transferring to another telecoms firm.

Furthermore, Gatchalian said the measure aims to improve the competition in the telecommunications industry.

“This law was conceived because we want to improve the competition and we saw that even with the entry of a third telco, if there is no law, customers will have difficulty to get customers because the customers of Globe and Smart were already embedded,” he said.

He said the joint Senate and House panel decided to give the National Telecommunications Commission six months to come up with the implementing rules and regulations so that the law could be implemented immediately.

AT THE SUMMIT. Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (L), Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (C) and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony during the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Singapore on Nov. 13, 2018. AFP

China...

From A1 years sought to hammer out a code to govern disputes in the disputed waters, but the process has moved slowly.

Speaking in Singapore ahead of the opening of an ASEAN summit, Li said: “It is China’s hope that the [code of conduct] consultation will be finished in three years’ time so that it will contribute to enduring peace and stability in the South China Sea.” “We are not and we will not seek hegemony or expansion. That is something that we will never do,” he added.

“What we hope is to have a harmonious relationship with our neighbous.”

There have been small signs of progress in recent months.

World’s...

From A1 attending a Singapore summit to rally support for the deal, said he hoped RCEP would be signed and implemented next year.

“It [RCEP] is going to deliver real benefits to the people of our region,” he said in an address Tuesday.

China was now the standard bearer of global free trade, he added, with the RCEP— a sweeping 16-country deal that includes China, Japan, India and the 10 members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)—at the heart of its strategy.

“It’s going to send a message to the international community that we stand by free trade... with rising protectionism and strains on free trade we need to advance the RCEP negotiations,” Li said.

He conceded the Chinese economy was facing “challenges” in the wake of the trade war with the US, but insisted strong fundamentals meant radical intervention was not the remedy.

“Despite downward pressures we will not resort to massive stimulus,” Li said.

Trade diplomats said negotiations will run deep into 2019.

“We made significant progress,” New Zealand minister of state for trade and export growth Damien O’Connor told reporters after talks late Monday.

“But we are very happy with that and [it] is heading in the right direction.”

India’s concerns over opening its markets to competition, in particular from Chinese firms, has been a key sticking point in the several years of negotiations.

But New Delhi’s delegation welcomed the

Cayetanos...

From A1 couple can only maintain one legal residence at any given time.”

Cayetano is running in the first congressional district, while his wife Lani, the incumbent city mayor, is seeking a House seat for the second district.

“In claiming two different and separate domiciles, the Cayetano spouses absurdly represent that they habitually reside in two different

China and Southeast Asian nations announced in August that they had agreed on their initial bargaining positions as they work towards a code.

While both sides hailed it as a vital step, critics said that some of Beijing’s proposals in the agreement were clearly aimed at expanding its influence in the region at the expense of Washington.

Navies from China and Southeast Asia also staged their first joint drills last month in the South China Sea—which is criss-crossed by busy shipping lanes and home to abundant natural resources—in an effort to ease tensions.

Opposition has weakened in many parts of Southeast Asia to China’s aggressive behavior in the waters in recent years, with countries keen to attract investment from Beijing and worried about US commitment to the region under President Donald Trump. AFP incremental steps towards the establishing the trade agreement.

“The future lies in RCEP,” Indian trade minister Suresh Prabhu told reporters, but urged a patient approach to talks to ensure “every country will benefit from it.”

Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said RCEP discussions experienced “significant progress” this year, reaching the final stages of negotiation. “Everybody can expect its conclusion… next year,” he said.

Lopez added that the conclusion of the trade agreement will have a huge impact on the companies operating within the ASEAN region as it will allow greater access to the market in the participating countries.

Lopez said bilateral relations with China, meanwhile, continue to grow as Beijing opens up its market to Philippine goods.

“Our bilateral relations have improved to a great extent ever since President Duterte restrengthened the ties of the Philippines with China in 2016,” Lopez said.

“We have reached over $20 billion in bilateral trade. The good thing is that China [is seeking to] balance the trade between the Philippines and China because there is a deficit now, on the side of the Philippines . They want us to sell more to China and they are opening up the market,” Lopez said.

Several general elections scheduled early next year—including in India, Thailand and Indonesia—have complicated the timeframe of a deal that will open markets in countries covering nearly half the world’s gross domestic product.

A draft leaders’ statement on the RCEP s noted the urgency of reaching an agreement “given the current headwinds faced by the global economy.” With AFP localities,” the petitioner said.

“That despite their marriage, their animus manendi or intention to remain lie in two different places, which is contrary to settled jurisprudence and even the Family Code.”

The petition said the couple’s simultaneous congressional run was intended to “enable the Cayetano family to encroach on the neighboring district and to take control of all the legislative districts of Taguig.”

It also raised “serious legal infirmities as to their qualifications.”

Buac’s petition also hopes that the Come-

Arroyo upbeat about Xi’s visit SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says the scheduled visit of Chinese President Xi Jingping to the Philippines later this month will result in the further strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

She made the statement over the weekend even as she put to rest on Tuesday the rumors she would soon be appointed Finance secretary in the Duterte administration.

“It is so hypothetical,” Arroyo told reporters.

In her Keynote Speech at the Boao Forum for the Asia Youth Summit 2018 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Arroyo said Philippine-China relations had a deep foundation and that she expected Xi’s visit to further boost those relations given the “favorable” status under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I expect President Xi’s visit to further strengthen the relations between our two countries,” Arroyo said.

“Our evolving relationship is part of a history that dates back to the previous leaders of our two countries, so it has a deep foundation. Now, the current status continues to be favorable because President Rodrigo Duterte is a friend of China.”

She said keeping a good relationship with China was important to the Philippines because of its geographical location, trading partnership and proven capability in infrastructure development.

“The relationship between China and the Philippines is very important for my country. One major reason is geography: The Philippines and China are located within each other’s backyard, so to speak, so good relations between neighbors is always a priority. Second, China is increasingly involved not only in bilateral dealings, but also collectively, such as through the ASEAN of which the Philippines is an active member.”

The former president also said China was poised to become the largest economy in the world, so that it was essential that the Philippines be friends with China.

“Third, China’s economy remains the most dynamic and fast growing among the major nations, and will soon become the largest economy in the world, so of course, it is good to be friends with China,” Arroyo said. Maricel V. Cruz

Hollywood...

From A1 Lee, the face of comic book culture in the United States, died early Monday in Los Angeles after suffering a number of illnesses in recent years.

“With a heavy heart, we share our deepest condolences with his daughter and brother,” said Marvel Comics and its owner The Walt Disney Company in a statement.

“We honor and remember the creator, voice and champion of Marvel... Every time you open a Marvel comic, Stan will be there.”

The New Yorker, known for his distinctive tinted glasses and impish grin, ended up in the comics business by accident, thanks to an uncle who got him a job when he was a teenager filling artists’ inkwells and fetching coffee.

“I felt someday I’d write the ‘Great American Novel’ and I didn’t want to use my real name on these silly little comics,” Lee once said, explaining why he had forsaken his given name, Stanley Lieber. AFP

Lifestyle audit...

From A1 Rule 140 covers the Discipline of Judges of Regular and Special Courts, Justices of the Court of Appeals, The Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, Court Administrator, Deputy Court Administrator and Assistant Court Administrator.

Under the Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters, the TWG on Judicial Integrity was established by the SC. The CPIO is mandated to conduct investigation and intelligence, surveillance or entrapment operations or lifestyle checks to detect and identify justices of Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and judges and personnel of the lower courts, including the Shari’a courts, and the officials and employees of the Office of the Jurisconsult, Court Administrator, Deputy Court Administrator, Assistant Court Administrator and their personnel.

The Court said the proceedings for the discipline of the justices, judges, and court personnel “may be instituted, motu proprio, by the SC, in the JIB” and also by way of a verified complaint, supported by affidavits and other authentic documents, or upon anonymous complaint, supported by public records of indubitable integrity. lec would enforce the constitutional ban against political dynasty. He described the Cayetanos as a “perfect example of a political dynasty,” which the 1987 Constitution sought to prohibit.

But George Garcia, counsel for the Cayetano spouses brushed aside the petition for its supposed “weakness and shallowness.”

“We have the law and jurisprudence on our side, so how can we be afraid?” he told ABSCBN News.

He added that the Comelec should immediately dismiss the case.

News Go after guns-for-hire, senators urge police

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Tuesday said the Philippine National Police should go after all guns-for-hire and hit squads as part of their regular operations to promote law and order in the entire country.

“Gawin na yan ASAP! Disarm them and file cases with sufficient evidence,” said the former Senate president.

If evidence warrants, he said charges should be filed against all those with links to the syndicate.

He noted that those who employed guns-for-hire are actually principals in the crime. “Their liability is the same or as serious as the gunman,” he said.

But Senator Panfilo Lacson said he believes it is premature for the PNP to name names if they are not yet ready to file the necessary charges.

He said politicians using gunfor-hire elements to eliminate their opponents is happening as long as there were elections or since elections were first invented, especially at the local level.

For his part, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he doubts if PNP chief Oscar Albayalde plucked his report out of thin air.

“They must have uncovered plots or intelligent reports on guns-for-hire syndicates.

“The problem is proving these allegations in court to be able to file the necessary charges,” he said.

DENR acts to resolve issue on garbage from S. Korea

By Rio N. Araja ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Tuesday vowed to take swift action to deal with the tons of garbage shipped to the Philippines from South Korea.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources chief has wanted the matter “resolved as soon as possible,” Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Unit Concerns chief Benny Antiporda said.

“We cannot go on just like this,” Antiporda said.

The department’s attached agency, the Environmental Management Bureau, is now conducting a waste analysis and characterization study of the shipment “that was wrongfully declared as plastic synthetic flakes,” he said.

An appropriate action shall be taken once the results of the study are released “possibly within this week,” he added.

According to Antiporda, the DENR would recommend the return of the shipment to South Korea if its contents are found to be hazardous.

He warned that they would file administrative and criminal charges against those behind the shipment.

On Oct. 25, the Bureau of Customs-Region 10’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service issued an alert order that 5,100 tons of trash was wrongfully declared as “plastic synthetic flakes” that arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental from South Korea on board m/v Affluent Ocean last July 21.

The shipment was consigned to South Korean company Verde Soko II Industrial Corp., which operates a 4.5-hectare waste recycling facility within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan town.

The shipment contained used dextrose tubes, used diapers, batteries, bulbs and electronic equipment.

EMB said the shipment was not covered by any DENRissued importation clearance, and that Verde Soko was not even registered as an importer of recyclable materials.

Under the DENR policy, registered importers are required to secure the necessary import clearances from DENR at least 30 days before the actual importation.

There’s money for UHC law—Sotto WITH or without sin taxes, Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday guaranteed that there is enough budget for the implementation of the Universal Health Care which would entail a hefty amount of P257 billion on its first year of implementation.

Interviewed before the Senate hearing on the proposed P74.1-billion budget of the Department of Health for 2019, Sotto said there is a budget and there will be budgets allocated while recognizing that sin taxes would help and can boost the government’s UHC program.

The UHC listed the following as sources of appropriations for its implementation: Incremental sin tax collecrions: 50 percent national government share from PAGCOR, 40 percent from documentary stamp payments and mandatory contributions from PCSO, premium contributions from PhilHealth members and annual appropriations of the DOH from the General Appropriations Act. “As a matter of fact, the Department of Budget and Management slashed the DOH budget which were not used,” he said.

“Papanong sasabihin na kailangan pa iyon (sin taxes) kaagad? I am not saying na hindi kailangan, it can help as I said. It can boost,” said Sotto.

Pressed anew if UHC can be implemented even without sin taxes, Sotto replied, ‘‘I think so.”

But he said the passage of the increase in sin taxes is not their priority this time.

“Let us put it this way: Hindi imperative na siya ay mapasa para lang mapatupad ang Universal Health Care package ng gobyerno. Mapapatupad yung Universal Health Care even if we are not able to pass it in the 17th Congress.”

He added that the bicam on the proposed measure to increase the sin taxes and its signing by President Rodrigo Duterte might all be done either before December or January.

He said they will have to tackle it in the 18th Congress already. “I am speaking of all the bills pending in the committees right now, not only the sin taxes bill with the committee on ways and means and the committee on health.”

Meanwhile, in the same hearing presided by Senator JV Ejercito, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III refused to “promise the moon and stars” on UHC’s implementation.

Sotto III questioned Duque if the DOH is ready to implement the bill seeking to guarantee all Filipinos equal access to quality and affordable health goods and services.

“Yes, sir, we are ready to implement it but this is a low budget bullet, this is not a panacea. It is something that we cannot and we must not promise the moon and the stars,” Duque said.

“The first year of implementation will show some kinks but as they say we have to learn from the lessons the gaps will present when the first year of implementation is made,” he added.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PhilHealth moves to end ‘mafia’; fires erring execs S TATE social health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. said on Tuesday it has filed cases against some of its officials as part of its corporate-wide efforts to end a “mafia” within the agency, which surfaced during a congressional hearing early this year.

The “mafia” is said to include officers, some of whom are being investigated for various violations of civil service rules and other pertinent laws.

In a statement, PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo said the Board and its management have promptly acted on the matter, conducted several investigations and filed cases against erring officials.

In line with this, a regional vice president has been found guilty of grave misconduct, gross insubordination, and gross neglect of duty and was meted a 90-day preventive suspension.

PhilHealth also said investigations are still ongoing and several others are currently being investigated over various allegations.

Another regional vice president has been recently charged and is up for suspension because of gross neglect of duty owing to his consistent poor performance that spanned at least three years.

The official concerned is being investigated for his region’s inefficiency that left many hospitals complaining about delayed payments of their claims.

PhilHealth said the region has been the slowest

in paying claims at an average of 150 days or 90 days overdue. An earlier Board action to augment processors from neighboring regional offices has greatly improved their turn-around time to 99 days to the delight of their partner health care providers.

The agency’s Board has also affirmed the charges against an officer, who has allowed his personnel to receive salaries for several years without submitting daily time records.

Domingo said this is just the beginning since their current acting president and CEO Dr. Roy Ferrer has vowed to institute reforms and do everything in his power to quash the “mafia” that seem to shun reforms, and resist needed officer reassignments designed to improve performance and to avert too much familiarity that breeds corruption.

PhilHealth said the reforms that have been in place starting this year are bearing better outcomes.

Among them are the improvement in claims processing time across the country to just 33 days, the agency’s consistent positive financial standing for three quarters in a row that recently ended with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III testifies at the Senate hearing. Ey Acasio PHP9.8

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

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Duterte’s referendum

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

I have been a journalist for almost 70 years and I know that it is the gut issues that stay with the public. The question is, can President Duterte address these issues and make life better THE Baguio City Council’s ban on the for Filipinos? use of cuss words, profanities and othHe must listen to what the people er expletives raises interesting ques- are saying. The backlash could be in tions. the form of rejection of his favored For one thing, the ban violates free- candidate, Christopher Lawrence Go dom of expression and speech. who is running for the Senate.

I often go to Bagiuo to recharge my Until now, people don’t know who batteries and I can imagine people Bong Go is aside from always being who get stuck in the traffic gridlock the person behind President Duterte, uttering expletives. So should they be always taking selfies. But what are his arrested? qualifications? Why should we vote To me, profanities are part of the for him? The President says Go is a language. My gulay, those Hollywood multi-billionaire, but how did he get movies and shows are filled with cuss there? Does it have anything to do with words. My late father used to utter the report of the Philippine Center for “puta” and “puñeta.” The Spaniards, Investigative Journalism that says including friars, were often heard ex- Go’s family cornered contracts from claiming “hijo de puta” in an effort the Department of Public Works and to demean someHighways worth body. “Bullshit” P2.4 billion? is another word *** often used in exThe campaign asperation and period is comHe should focus on disgust. ing up. The Philgut issues more than To me, these ippine National anything else. words mean Police and the nothing.

When Armed Forces of President Duterte the Philippines curses, I am not should make adsurprised. Actudressing these ally he is not the first chief executive two things a priority: Prevalence of fond of cuss words. The late Manuel private armies and the proliferation of L. Quezon was also fond of using pro- loose firearms. fanities.

These problems have long existed in They are just words—nothing more. the Philippines and I know they come *** to play during the election period.

The 2019 elections will be a referen- They result in killings especially at dum on President Duterte with almost the local level.

10-million Filipinos (and rising) unThe police and military say there employed. There are also high infla- are some 57 private armies nationwide tion and low wages. and about a million loose firearms, While the administration may at- mostly in Mindanao. tempt to foist federalism as an issue, It is with this thought that President or drugs and corruption, the gut topics Duterte should make these the focus will determine the results of the elec- of his campaign during this sensitive tion. The poor can easily understand time. this. Santa Banana, even now, there *** are findings that people only eat once Will former First Lady Imelda Marcos or twice a day because that is all they be arrested? This is the topic in board can afford.

Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Certainty of being caught

W

E CAN understand how frustrated President Duterte must be about the corruption that seems endemic in the Bureau of Customs. Three years in office, and he is already on his third Customs commissioner. The previous two appointees—described by the President as honest men—left their posts in disgrace, their reputations tarnished by scandals involving the smuggling of illegal drugs. could be part of the problem.

After their failures, the previous “good men” who headed the bureau for Mr. Duterte were not punished, but rewarded with new government positions. Faeldon is poised to be appointed as the new chief of the Bureau of Corrections, while Lapeña has been “promoted” to head the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Even granting that the two men were completely innocent of the allegations of corruption, they still held command responsibility for the smuggling that occurred during their watch. Given their spectacular failures, neither deserved to be promoted or even given a new job in the government.

But in doing just that, the President seemed to guarantee a golden parachute to whoever he appoints as Customs chief. There’s no need to worry if they mess up—the President’s got their back.

Over the weekend, the President aired his frustrations and said corruption may not be eradicated at all.

“Whoever you place there, there’s always corruption,” he said, as he defended his controversial decision to have the military “take over” the bureau, an order he later dialed down, saying soldiers would only “keep the peace” because the agency was “in anarchy.”

The President’s latest Customs chief, Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, replaced Isidro Lapeña, a former police official who, ironically, ran the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency not too long ago.

His predecessor, Nicanor Faeldon, a former military man who once took up arms against the government, was also replaced following a drug smuggling scandal.

In his remarks, the President blames crooked personnel at the bureau for the entrenched corruption, but doesn’t seem to realize that he

This soft approach is aggravated by the government’s failure to successfully prosecute any corruption case against Customs officials and personnel.

The US National Institute of Justice, a research, development and evaluation agency of the US Justice Department, summarizes a large body of research related to deterrence in “Five Things About Deterrence.”

Foremost among its findings is that the certainty of being caught is a vastly more powerful deterrent than the punishment.

The institute’s research also shows that police deter crime when they do things to strengthen a criminal’s perception of the certainty of being caught.

Finally, laws and policies designed to deter crime by focusing mainly on increasing the severity of punishment are ineffective partly because criminals know little about the sanctions for specific crimes.

When the President says it is really difficult to stop corruption in the Bureau of Customs, he is really saying there is no certainty that the criminals there will be caught. And that is a recipe for failure.

The third telco milked by PLDT-Smart and Globe to the tune of at least $1.5 billion in profits a year, thanks to among the highest telephone rates in the world and among the slowest internet speeds, and of late, among the worst in service FINALLY, the Philippines will have quality. a third telephone company. It will be Being the third biggest in China’s tycoon Dennis Uy’s Mislatel Consor- mobile telephony, China Telecom is a tium in partnership with China Tel- smart and aggressive player. It is willecom. ing to cut or remove fees, if necessary, China Telecom is big. China Tel- and to lower rates, in favor of greater ecom is China’s biggest landline tel- market share. Also, it has internaephone company and the third largest tional plans. China Telecom wants to in mobile. It has revenues of $40 bil- enter Myanmar too. lion, EBITDA of $11.3 billion, and asChina Telecom should perhaps look sets of $93 billion. It has 294-million at the Globe formula. Long a second mobile subscribers of which 230.45 fiddle to PLDT Smart, Globe, under million (78.38 percent) use 4G. Ernest Cu (since 2009), went mass Last year, the Chinese government market, slashing prices to buy maroffered China Telecom to the Du- ket share (service quality also went terte administration to be the Philip- down). Hence, Globe now has 65-milpines’ third telco to fight the power- lion mobile subscribers while Smart ful duopoly of has just 58 milPLDT Smart of lion. With greater the Salim group scale, Globe is of Indonesia and Expect China Telecom now more profitGlobe Telecom, able than Smart. and Dennis Uy to offer of the Ayala famExpect China the most reasonably ily and SingTel. Telecom and DenIn effect, the priced telco service with nis Uy to offer Philippine mo- the highest quality. the most reasonbile and broadably priced telco band market will service with the be a proxy fight highest quality. among China, InDennis Uy’s Misdonesia and Singapore, each backed latel promises to spend $3 billion in by a powerful and resource-rich Phil- five years, internet speed of 27 to 55 ippine group or family—Dennis Uy of mbps (ten times current speeds), and Davao for China, Manuel V. Pangili- coverage of 84 percent of the country. nan and the PLDT Pension Fund for The key to China Telecom’s success Indonesia, and the Zobel-Ayala family in the Philippines is Dennis Uy, 42, a for Singapore.

BS Business Management graduate of Offhand, Smart and Globe have the La Salle (1993). first-mover advantage. They have beDennis has become the fastest tween them 100 percent of the market growing and most successful which of late has stagnated in growth. businessman under the Duterte Turn to A5 Still, the market is hugely profitable,

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Stigma or separation: The painful choice facing Myanmar’s single mothers

By Athens Zaw Zaw and Richard Sargent EIGHT months pregnant, shamed by her family and shunned by the father of her child, Aye Mar has accepted she will have to give up her baby to an orphanage in Myanmar, a country where single mothers are ostracized

and deemed a “disgrace.”

For now, she is taking refuge in a house in a leafy suburban Yangon street, away from the disparaging eyes of her neighbors and the chastisement of her aunts, her only family.

Her aunts were “furious” when the 19-year-old told them she had fallen in love with the water delivery boy

and become pregnant.

“They brought my boyfriend home and asked him to marry me. He said he would but then he ran off,” she told AFP. Her aunts ordered Aye Mar (not her real name) to give up the baby and brought her to the Myint Mo Myittar Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The war to end all wars

How about systems?

gether, by whatever means possible.

The visit of Archduke Ferdinand to Sarajevo was precisely meant to still the nationalist waters and keep what remained of its former self intact.

That was not meant to be. Instead, what happened was the break up of the empires which dominated Europe extending all the way to the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The war, unintended though it may be as insisted by some historians, initially pitted the Austro-Hungarian empire with a resurgent Germany at its back and the Kingdom of Serbia

But now that the DICT and NTC have bid out the license for a third telco to compete with the long-established Smart and Globe, everyone and his LITO mother is throwing brickbats at the declared winner. Simply because Dennis BANAYO Uy is from Davao, some charge that THREE commissioners in a span of Malacañang pulled strings. two and a half years is indicative of Simply because he partnered with something that needs to be done with China Telecoms, security issues are the Bureau of Customs other than brought up. Conveniently, the critics changing the head of agency. and carpers do not tell the public that Maybe it’s time to seriously consider one telco is controlled by an Indonebetter and more effective systems as sian conglomerate once connected to an antidote to all forms of smuggling. the Suharto regime which fell under Customs administration, after all is not the weight of legendary corruption. Or just about increasing revenues from that the other telco lording it over the imports, or apprehending smugglers country’s telecommunications business and confiscating contraband. It’s also has another foreign entity, SingTel, as about facilitating commerce and help- partner. ing the economy grow.

Just because the partner this time When vital raw materials and sup- is Chinese, we throw in so many red plies are held up at Customs, business flags. efficiency suffers. When manufactures Come on, do we want to break the are not delivered to their buyers on time duopoly or not? because supplies needed to complete Do we want faster Internet service or the manufacturing process are delayed, not? the economy loses much.

Do we want our connectivity to each During the last years of the Cory ad- other and the rest of the world to be ministration, BoC entered into a pre- quick or not, with no blind spots? inspection contract with Societe Gen*** erale de Surveillance, a Swiss firm.

We have had several visitors in the This was implemented effectively dur- past few weeks here in Taiwan. There ing the succeedwas Rep. Lito ing Ramos govAtienza and his ernment, but was wife Beng, along scuttled by the with members of Customs Erap administrahis congressional tion. Succeeding administration is also staff. My tukayo ad m i n ist rat ions about facilitating and I reminisced have not revived about the days commerce and helping pre-inspection. when I was a conIf shipments the economy grow. sultant in his ofimported into the fice as mayor of Philippines are the City of Manila.

There pre-inspected at origin, the chances of contraband slip- was former DTI and Finance Secretary ping into the country are minimized. Titoy Pardo and his family, who went to This would mean faster customs clear- Taipei to attend a conference with the ance and less opportunity for under- Seven-Eleven Group, their long-time the-table arrangements between ship- partners in the Philippine operations. pers and their brokers and corrupt Titoy and I were together in the cabinet customs personnel. of President Joseph Estrada.

If a reputable company like SGS did And last week, guess who blew into the pre-inspection of the shipments of town?

NFA rice from Vietnam or Thailand reFormer PNP director-general and cently, there would likely have been no former Bureau of Corrections chief “bukbok” infestation in the imported Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa and his wife, rice, because they would have strictly who were invited by his friends in the enforced the terms of reference in the Taiwan police force. import contracts regarding the “age” of Bato also met leaders of the Filipino the shipped rice, and the pre-fumiga- community in Taiwan and visited the tion requirements thereto.

Taoyuan factory of I-Mei Food ProdMaybe the new Customs commis- ucts, where he was serenaded by worksioner should look at more effective ers who sang “Pusong Bato.” The forsystems other than just changing of- mer PNP chief gamely joined them in ficials in the agency with a new set of singing his signature song. military men.

I have to commend Gen. De la Rosa’s Besides, the agency should have a list handlers for a very catchy slogan: of reputable importers who have been “Sagot ko kayo! Itaga niyo sa Bato!” clean through the years of their opera- which was emblazoned in a polo shirt tion. Thus, examiners could just zero which he gladly handed as a souvenir in on the more dubious and the less- to some of us in Meco and the Taiwan known importers and their brokers. police officials. The latter hosted Apart from pre-inspection services, in- a dinner for their visiting former telligence gathering and importer sur- counterpart who is now running for veillance should help. senator. *** *** For the longest time, we have been Once again, BOC was able to foil complaining about the duopoly in tel- the smuggling in of containers loaded cos and the lousy service it has been with trash, this time from South Korea. giving us. Thus, consumers are putting Years ago, someone imported several their hopes on a third telco that would containers filled with toxic hospital break the duopoly’s practices and im- waste from Canada. prove service considerably.

My unsolicited advice to the new We have to congratulate Acting BOC commissioner Guerrero: Have DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. for con- the PNP arrest the president of the ducting the process of selecting a third importing company, and ship him out telco with utmost transparency and a of the country inside the containers sense of urgency despite his not being loaded with trash, back to South designated as a permanent secretary.

Korea.

CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ THE “war to end all wars” was how World War 1 was framed by the Americans whose entry into the war restored the balance of power in Europe and stalled the possibility of German domination of Europe. That victory over a resurgent Germany and its allies on Nov. 11, 1918 (the 11th day of the 11th month) was later on commemorated annually as Armistice Day—the formal end of hostilities.

The 100th year anniversary of that event held in Paris last Sunday was doubly memorable as it served as a reminder of the dangers of divisive and disruptive tendencies among and between nations which were eerily similar to those which triggered that war in the first place.

One notes that World War 1 triggered the collapse of the three major empires of the day—Austro-Hungarian, Russia and Ottoman—whose influence in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa mirror those of the current “empires” or ‘world powers” all of which as in the pasty are out to secure their spheres of influence.

As historical accounts would have it, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire by the Bosnian ultra nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, in Sarajevo on July 28, 1914, triggered the first world war. Still smarting from the ongoing break up of its empire as a result of rising nationalist tendencies in the territories which were being annexed by a competing power, the Kingdom of Serbia, the dominant Austro-Hungarian empire tried to keep its remaining territories to-

Stigma...

From A4

Single Mothers’ Foundation, where she will give birth.

“I want to take care of my baby but it is impossible,” she said.

She is one of more than 100 girls and women to pass through the doors of the center, which provides a home for those in the last few months of their pregnancy and for 45 days after giving birth.

One expectant mother is a 12-year-old rape victim, now six months pregnant.

Radiologist Myat Sandar Thant set up the foundation two years ago, appalled by the suicide of a patient who could not face the shame of pregnancy.

Most women arrive intent on leaving their babies for her to hand over to the state-run orphanage system.

But the majority end up taking their children home, small victories in the battle against conservative values, which place the weight of responsibility for unwanted pregnancies on women.

“When they get here, they see other people in the same situation as them and they start feeling better about themselves,” she explains.

Those who do relinquish their babies are usually forced to do so by their parents or other family members.

Illegal abortions With only a handful of such organizations across Myanmar, many girls and women opt for illegal abortions.

In the country of some 50 million,

The third...

From A4

administration. To-date, he probably has a net worth of at least $350 million, making him the Philippines’ 20thrichest businessman. His holding company is Udenna Corp., established in 2002, with now 55 companies, financed by debts of P85 billion, more than triple in one year.

After Duterte became president in July 2016, Dennis Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum became the third largest player in the petroleum marketing industry, with a market share of 7 percent, after Petron’s 34 percent, and Shell’s 21 percent.

Barely 13 years old, Phoenix has 558 gas stations with 30 more in the pipeline. It is now the second biggest supplier of aviation fuel, with Cebu

in league with Russia. In its wake came the entry of the retreating Ottoman empire with Bulgaria pitted against Belgium and the French empire after the Germans annexed parts of the country. When Belgium was also attacked by the Germans, Great Britain and its allies like Canada, Australia and New Zealand joined the fray. Eventually, as the other empires or kingdoms (Italy, Portugal, Spain and even Romania) tried to hold on to their territories they got enmeshed in a war that eventually claimed millions of soldiers and civilians alike.

While the war raged mainly in Europe, the territories in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, controlled or claimed by the various empires such as in China (remember Tsing-

tao, Shanghai and even Hong Kong) where the foreign powers had their own spheres of influence eventually got sucked into the four-year conflagration. It was eventually when the United States and other initially neutral countries waded in to strike a balance on the warring fronts and spearheaded the turn around which culminated in the armistice declaration on the 11th hour of the 11th month of the year 1918 (Nov. 11, 1918).

Going by the historical notes, the questions, fears and hopes raised by the world leaders who gathered in in Paris last Sunday was as telling as those raised by the leaders of the nations who engaged in conflict in 1914.

Will we ever have lasting peace in the midst of the tensions and conflicts all over the world? Will the United Nations, the institution established after the Second World War meant to ensure international order and peace and which will in two years time celebrate its 75th year, go the way of its predecessor, the League of Nations, which had a very short life span, as WWII broke up just two decades after its founding? Or will it survive all challenges and serve as the stabilizer of world affairs. All those gathered in Paris and, of course, the whole world hope it will survive so that WWII would be remembered as the real “war that ends all wars.”

As French President Emmanuel Macron, the host of the commemorative rites, so correctly pointed out: “ In a Europe divided by fears, nationalist assertions and the consequences of the economic crisis, we see in an almost methodical manner the re-articulation of everything that dominated life in Europe from post post World War I to the 1929 crisis.” He might as well have framed the situation worldwide where isolationism and ultra nationalist tendencies are on the move.

women’s rights group IPAS estimates that 246,000 unsafe abortions are undertaken every year.

Myanmar has the second-highest maternal death rate in the region.

There are no official statistics on the number of unmarried mothers in a country where data records are patchy and delicate social issues are often swept under the carpet.

But 2014 census data suggests almost 50,000 15 to 19 year-olds give birth each year.

An unplanned pregnancy can be devastating for single women, who are often shunned by family and community, with little chance of support from the father.

“In most communities, pregnant adolescent girls are told to drop out of school,” says Yadanar, a youth program analyst at the UN Population Fund who goes by one name.

Family planning clinics are few —particularly in rural areas—or extremely limited in what they can offer.

“The services need to be more welcoming to the youth, without any judgement, without stigma, without discrimination, keeping their confidentiality,” Yadanar says.

Glimmers of hope One in six women do not have access to the contraception they want, according to UNFPA. Although sex education is on the school curriculum teachers often ignore it, while many parents avoid ‘The Talk’

either out of embarrassment or a hope that silence offers protection.

A group of tech entrepreneurs are hoping an app for young women, brimming with beauty tips, fashion —and information about reproductive health—might help educate and break down stigma in the country, where smartphone penetration was at 80 percent last year.

The prototype of “Pyo Pyo May,” meaning “young lady,” was well received during a trial last month in a Yangon park.

“I just get sex education from Facebook,” said 30-year-old Thazin Oo, too embarrassed to elaborate any further.

There are some signs that attitudes in Myanmar are slowly changing.

Pop star Athen Cho Swe chose to go public this year after secretly giving birth as a single mother in Bangkok.

She now posts updates for her fans, including a recent, self-filmed video of her playing with her baby girl.

“I thought people would criticize me,” she told local media in August.

“But people love my daughter.”

Prospects are less rosy for babies born into poorer households.

Doctor Myat Sandar Thant has the grim task of handing over unwanted babies born in her center to a governmentrun Yangon orphanage.

Myanmar’s strict adoption regulations mean most infants here will spend their whole childhood in state care.

“This is the best that is available in Myanmar,” she says. “But the children lose their sparkling eyes.” AFP

Pacific as its biggest client (which buys 6 percent of Phoenix’s total sales). In nine months to September 2018, Phoenix had total sales of P64.96 billion, double from a year ago; and profits of P1.317 billion, down slightly from P1.436 billion.

Uy’s Chelsea Logistics has become one of the largest in logistics, with the youngest boat fleet in the country (50 are brand new vessels). The IPO of Chelsea last year certified Dennis as a multi-billionaire. Chelsea Shipping Corp., the country’s largest tanker fleet, was acquired only in November 2017.

At the 10thanniversary of Phoenix as a listed company last year, no less than President Duterte showed up at the stock exchange.

Dennis has acquired 177 hectares of land in Clark as a logistics hub which is expected to cost $1 billion. Land sales are brisk.

He also has a resort hotel and casino complex in Mactan, Cebu. In July 2017, he bought Endurun Colleges which has 1,200 students on a sprawling 1.8-hectare campus in Taguig. He already has a maritime training school to support his shipping and logistics businesses.

In October 2017, Dennis bought FamilyMart which then had 67 stores.

It is now under the Phoenix Petroleum wing which means FamilyMart could have 500 outlets almost overnight.

As if those acquisitions were not enough, Dennis also bought Conti’s, a glamorized bakery.

Soon, Phoenix will offer clients not just gas, not just LPG, not just groceries, not just cakes and coffee, but free mobile phones. Anyone?

By the way, it is not advisable to use your cellular phone when gassing up.

Will we ever have lasting peace in the midst of the tensions and conflicts all over the world?

biznewsasia@gmail.com

SO I SEE

Duterte’s...

From A4

rooms and coffeeshops around town.

There are those who say that her conviction of graft and corruption should merit her arrest, but there are also those who point out that she is 89 years old and weak. Even Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde is not too sure if she should be arrested, There are some things that could prevent the arrest of Imelda. Her lawyers are exhausting every legal remedy so she would not be arrested, Considering the pace of justice here in the Philippines, she might be 90 before a final judgment is handed down.

I believe she should be given consideration for her age.

The Duterte administration may be accused of giving Imelda special treatment. But we all know she can

always be released after filing a bond.

Until she is convicted by the Supreme Court, she is considered innocent. *** Whether Malacañang likes it or not, the third telecommunications player being Mislatel, a consortium composed of President Duterte’s biggest campaign contributor, and China Telecoms will always be subject to speculation.

This may be unfair on the part of the President, but this is the talk of the town nonetheless.

There is no doubt about the qualifications of Mislatel. But Malacañang should explain the participation of China Telecoms in the bidding. It’s an issue of national security. Remember the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China on the West Philippine Sea. I cannot help but be suspicious when another country becomes a player in things affecting national security.

A6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PACC asks DPWH: Probe Cordillera engineer THE Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to investigate its Cordillera Administrative Region district engineer for allegedly asking for at least P20-million kickback from a contractor.

In a press conference at the Manila Yacht Club, the PACC played a video showing DPWH District Engineer Lorna Ricardo allegedly asking for an initial P10 million as ‘payment/reimbursement fee’ from one of the bidders of a special project worth P100 million.

Ricardo claimed the amount would be used to facilitate the release of the P100-million development fund from the Department of Budget and Management considering the Lagawe-CabaPonghal Road was not a regular but a “special project.”

PACC Commissioner and spokesperson Greco Belgica said Ricardo had also demanded 1 percent of the 10-percent mobilization fund as SOP (standard operation procedure) for DPWH Bids and Awards Committee Ifugao District and 5-percent SOP on every progress billing.

He said Ricardo had also asked P20,000 payment for processing fee for the issuance of statement of work accomplished (SWA); 1 percent of P100 million; and, P1 million for purported vehicle rental for the use of the DPWH project engineer.

“The total amount being negotiated is between P16 million to P20 million,” Belgica said.

Belgica clarified that no amount had been released but Ricardo still violated Section 9 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. He said RA 3019 prohibited public officials from “directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage or benefit, for himself or for any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the government and any other part.”

After watching the video which was taken between July and August this year, newly-appointed DPWH Director for Legal Services Rodil Millado said they would immediately investigate Ricardo “based on evidence,” including the video presented by PACC. “As you know we have due process but I’m sure our DPWH Secretary Mark Villar will not tolerate any act of corruption in his office,” Millado said. PNA

Mickey Mouse ear-design traffic lights up Metro Manila

By Joel E. Zurbano THE specialized Mickey Mouse eardesign traffic stoplights are lighting up streets of the National Capital Region in time for the Yuletide season.

This, after the Metro Manila Development Authority and Walt Disney Company Philippines, teamed up in a project decorating traffic signal lights in the metropolis.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said his agency forged an agreement with Disney Philippines for a special collaboration decorating 90 selected Metro Manila traffic signal lights with Mickey Mouse ears.

“The special project hopes to serve as a simple reminder of childhood nostalgia and joy Mickey has brought Filipinos for the past nine decades. This special project also serves as a celebratory prelude to the holiday season,” he said.

“This partnership will somehow provide a traffic relief especially in this time of the year where traffic is becoming heavier and heavier as everyone is on a rush preparing for Christmas,” added Lim. Lim said the project dubbed as “Mickey Lights Up Manila” aimed to share a smile to Filipinos in their daily commutes simply by dressing up stoplights with Mickey ears.

The special Mickey Mouse stoplights will be found across key cities in Metro Manila, such as Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Quezon City, and San Juan.

The MMDA also joined Disney Philippines in celebrating the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse by creating a festive atmosphere in Metro Manila to elicit a “smile” to road users.

IN BRIEF Problem with K-12 logistical—Recto

ROAD UPGRADE. Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Greco Belgica (left) shows to media a video asking DPWH Engineer Lorna Ricardo (in TV screen) 10 percent of the contractor to get the amount of P100-million special project for road improvement in Ifugao. According to Belgica, they filed corruption case with the Ombudsman against Ricardo.

Lino Santos

P34-m evac facility completed by DPWH

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Department of Public Works and Highways has completed the construction of the P34-million evacuation facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, which could accommodate more than 130 persons in case of calamity.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the new evacuation center housed a two-story accommodation building which could cater to 33 families or 132 persons displaced by calamities.

“In cooperation with the National Risk Reduction and Management Council [NDRRMC], the local government, and other concerned agencies, we were able to build this evacuation center in a safe site here in Barangay Tagapo. This will be vital in keeping the

people of Sta. Rosa protected in times of disasters,” Villar said.

The site where the evacuation facility was built was certified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as less vulnerable to predetermined hazards like landslides and floods.

The center has facilities such as areas for dining, food preparation and dishwashing, rooms for prayer, breastfeeding and communication, a storage area, lobby and toilets.

Villar said the building would serve as an infirmary, pharmacy, porch and waiting area, as well as offices of Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Office of Civil Defense.

The facility includes two separate single-story toilet and bath buildings for male and female, a laundry, drying and water tank building, single-story disposal building, pump room, and generator room, three septic vaults, 200kVA generator set, two water pumps, and two 3,000-gallon capacity water tanks.

“These facilities were built to ensure that evacuees will have everything they need in order to remain safe and resilient and promptly recover from any calamity without casualty,” Villar added.

SC upholds indictment of Zamboanga mayor

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has affirmed the indictment of Mayor Angeles Carloto II of Tampilisan town in Zamboanga del Norte and his police escorts and supporters for allegedly violating the gun ban during the 2016 elections.

During an en banc session Tuesday, the SC sustained resolutions of the Commission on Elections finding probable cause in the case for violations of Section 261 (e) and Section 32 of the Omnibus Election Code and republic Act No. 7166 (Synchronized National and Local Elections Law) against Carloto and 18 others.

The said provision penalizes carrying of firearms during election period as an election offense.

It dismissed the petition of Carloto seeking reversal of the assailed Comelec resolutions dated Nov. 21, 2017 and June 26, 2018 that found basis in the

complaint filed by the mayor’s rival in the mayoralty race, Also Chan.

“The Court resolved dismiss the instant petition for certiorari with prayer for the issuance of temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction for failure to show that the Comelec gravely abused its discretion amounting of lack or in excess of jurisdiction in issuing the (assailed resolutions),” the SC through SC spokesperson Atty. Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra said, in a media briefing.

“The Court held that records show that the Comelec did not commit grave abuse of discretion in finding that petitioners may probably be guilty of the charges,” the high court said.

The high court also ruled that the assertions made by Carloto and other petitioners “are matters of defense which can be properly threshed out in a full-blown trial.”

Apart from Carloto, also indicted

Alcala nephew shot dead in Quezon; police look into victim’s drug links POLICE authorities have launched an inquiry into the killing of a 25-year-old member of the prominent Alcala political clan in Quezon, shot while sleeping at home, according to sources.

They said Cer Olliriz Alcala, nephew of former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and 2nd District Vicente Alcala, was shot inside his residence by still unidentified suspects in a subdivision in Tayabas City on Monday.

The victim, who was arrested in Sariaya, Quezon two years ago for peddling drugs, was the son of Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, who has been charged several times due to his involvement in illegal drugs trade, police sources said.

Authorities recovered a bullet slug at the crime scene investigators believed had come from a .45 calibre pistol of the suspect.

The victim’s name is included in the drugs watchlist of Tayabas police.

by the poll body were Police Chief Inspector Roldan Molate, Police Senior Inspector Alexis Bahunsua and Police Officers Jeffrey Natividad, Jimmy Panganiban, Lenz Jasser Fabillar, Ryan Quilaton, Eliaquim Taman and Katherine Benedicto; and Generico Jauculan, Victory Gegrimosa, Marlous Buenafe, Richard Halupay, Marlon Andes, Pablo Benavides Jr., Rolando Parami, Federico Rapal Jr., Sally Rejan and Bernandita Gulagula.

The case stemmed from an incident on May 4, 2016 where Carloto’s armed men fired shots at Chan’s campaign headquarters. The armed men arrested the complainant and detained him in the police provincial office, which prevented him from campaigning during the crucial period of the election.

A policeman identified as Police Senior Inspector Mirdan Usama was killed during the incident and is subject of another criminal case.

SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Tuesday stressed the problem of K to 12 program was not legal but logistical as he called for an end to backlog in facilities.

He called on the government to address the backlogs in the delivery of school facilities upon which the success of the said education reform hinged.

He issued the statement following the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which expanded to 13 years the length of basic education in the country.

The K to 12 program, Recto said, has not been hindered by legal challenges but by delays in the delivery of classrooms, equipment and the hiring of teachers whose numbers have to be increased commensurate to the addition of two years of senior high school in the education curriculum.

However, the Senate leader commended the current DepEd leadership, led by Leonor Magtolis Briones, “for reducing the huge backlog they had inherited. They have had to do a lot of catching up and are successful in this.”

He said K to 12’s premise was that classrooms, teachers and equipment would already be in place to receive enrollees in the additional grade levels.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Gabriela welcomes anti-sex harassment THE Gabriela Women’s Party on Tuesday said the House approval of a bill addressing what it described as ‘weaknesses’ of the 23-year-old law on anti-sexual harassment as more women report new forms of sexual harassment, especially on social media.

Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela was referring to House Bill 8244, which they authored, that was approved on third and final reading Monday.

The bill expands the definition of sexual harassment to cover online harassment and peer-to-peer offenses, as well as imposes stiffer penalties for violations.

“The overhaul of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law or RA 7877 is long overdue as the current law lags behind the evolving forms of sexual harassment and with current penalties weak enough to act as deterrent. With a new anti-sexual harassment law, we hope to address the current loopholes,” said de Jesus.

“Unwanted sexual advances in social media will now be sanctioned under the measure, as well sexual abuses outside of the place of employment, training or schools. This is a huge gap under RA 7877 which we really need to address,” she added. Maricel Cruz

UPCFA exhibit on ‘Forgotten Objects’ THE UP College of Fine Arts presents the works of the 2nd year industrial design students at the Gallery II of the Arts and Design building on Nov. 16 at 6 pm. The exhibit is titled Banyuhay-The Metamorphosis of Forgotten Objects.

When one’s creativity and vision prevail, even trash can be transformed into treasure.

The 2nd year Industrial Design students proved this in their D 25 Industrial Design Workshop class. Under the mentorship of professor Ninel Constantino and the support of former UFS OIC/Director, Prof. Mitzi Marie Aguilar-Reyes, the students created functional items using the discarded equipment of the University Food Service.

With the wide selection of items ranging from old chairs and pans, to broken keyboards and electric fans, the possibilities were endless.

Banyuhay offers a glance at these possibilities.

The aspiring designers transformed the old, dull, and obsolete into pieces that embody fresh perspectives, ingenious designs, and cohesive styles.

WALL OF HONOR.

National Bureau of Investigation employees offer flowers at the NBI Wall of Honor where several NBI agents had sacrificed their lives while doing their tasks during the 82nd Founding Anniversary of NBI on Tuesday.

Lino Santos

Sports

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Contrasting victories for Risers, Kuyas ANGELES CITY—Bataan and Bulacan carved out contrasting victories on Monday night to bolster their respective chances in the MPBL Datu Cup The Risers of Bataan continued their sizzling performance in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao, with PBA legend and former league MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Their latest win—a 108-77 dumping of the Basilan Steel—extended their winning streak to 12 games and the Zetapro-backed squad improved their win-loss record to 12-1, the best in the 26-team cast.

But for head coach Jojo Lastimosa, their latest win gave his squad a glimpse of what they can do when playing their A-game. The team posted a franchise best in points, while also dealing the Steel their worst beating since joining in the league.

Basilan absorbed its fourth straight beating and fell to a 4-9 card.

Four players finished in double figures for the Zetapro-backed Risers, led by Byron Villarias with 23 points.

Fellow ex-pro Pamboy Raymundo added 15, while former PBA scoring champion Gary David chipped in 14 and Vince Tolentino contributed 10 in a display of balanced firepower by Bataan.

Bulacan, on the other hand, had to grind it out before arresting an alarming skid and winning over host team Pampanga, 67-65.

The Mighty Sports-backed Kuyas turned to JR Taganas and Jorey Napoles, who delivered the crucial baskets that ensured the team’s ninth win in 14 games and snapped back-to-back setbacks.

Taganas, the tournament’s leading rebounder, picked up a loose ball and made a basket with less than a minute to go and shoved the Kuyas ahead, 65-61.

After Levi Hernandez put the Lanterns within striking distance with a short stab, Napoles beat his man to the basket and scored for a 67-63 lead with 37 seconds left.

NGAP holds 2-day Rules School today IN ITS continuing effort to improve the Rules knowledge among club players of all abilities, the National Golf Association of the Philippines will conduct a Workshop and Seminar on the Rules of Golf today (Wednesday) and tomorrow at the Alabang Country Club.

The country’s governing golf body has invited representatives of the various golf clubs to the two-day session to be facilitated by Jin-Woo Kim, Cc Boo, Eddy Putra, Henry Arabelo and Francis Montaliana with KP Ling of Singapore as observer.

The seminar, which starts at 9:15 a.m., will delve on various rules from the tee shot to playing the ball, the putting green, lifting and returning the ball to play to the free relief and relief with penalty and disputes and doubtful points before participants take on an R&A Level I examination.

Day 2 of the R&A Rules School will feature practical on-course demonstrations and running a competition starting at 9 a.m.

All the Rule Changes for 2019 will also be taken up, according to NGAP, headed by president Martin Lorenzo and sec-gen Bones Floro with Caloy Coscolluela and Pepot Iñigo as cochairmen of the Rules Committee.

Among those participating are member clubs Anvaya Cove, Apo, Ayala Greenfield, Bacolod, Beverly Place, Britannika, Calatagan, Caliraya, Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Evangelista, Camp John Hay, Canlubang, Club Filipino de Cebu, Club Intramuros, Eagle Ridge, Eastridge, Fernando Air Base, Forest Hills, Haciendas De Naga Sports Club, Inc., Illana Bay, Iloilo; Isabela, KC Filipinas, Luisita, Manila Golf Club, Mimosa, Mt. Malarayat, Negros Occidental, Paraiso, Navy, Pueblo De Oro, Rancho Palos Verdes, Sherwood, Summit Point, Tagaytay Highlands, Midlands, The Cliffs, Manila Southwoods, Orchard, Riviera, Royal Northwoods, Valley, Veterans, Victories, Villamor and Wack Wack and host Alabang Country Club.

Also in the roster are associate members Federation of Phl Seniors Golfers, GolfPH, Junior Golf Foundation, Nomads Golf Club, Shell Kabibi, Southlinks and Zamboanga along with nonmembers Splendido, South Pacific, Pradera Verde and Sahara Golf ClubKuwait.

Australian legend to grace Sun Life Cycle

LA Clippers guard Lou Williams shoots the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

LouWill stars as Clippers upset Dubs in overtime

L

OS ANGELES—Lou Williams scored 25 points from the bench as the Los Angeles Clippers upset the league-leading Golden State Warriors 121-116 in a wild overtime thriller at the Staples Center on Monday.

Williams reeled off 10 of his points in overtime to secure victory after the Clippers squandered a 14-point fourth quarter lead before digging in for the win.

The 32-year-old veteran was supported by 23 points from the bench by Montrezl Harrell as the Clippers improved to 8-5 in the Western Conference standings.

The Warriors remain on top of the West after suffering only their third loss of the season. The NBA champions are 11-3 following the defeat.

Kevin Durant led the scoring with 33 points while Klay Thompson had 31, including five three-pointers.

The Warriors had trailed for much of the game, and appeared to be sliding toward a loss before a determined fourth quarter rally transformed the contest.

A Williams three-pointer had put the Clippers ahead by 101-87 with 6min 36 remaining before the Warriors came roaring back.

Thompson tied the game at 106-106 with 1:27 left on the clock but neither side

were able to take a decisive advantage, sending the game into overtime.

Williams then took over with 10 points as the Clippers completed a moraleboosting victory.

Earlier Monday, the Warriors’ loss was mirrored by a defeat for their Eastern Conference counterparts, the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors suffered only their second defeat of the season in a 126-110 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in Toronto.

Anthony Davis had 25 points and 20 rebounds to lead a superb all-round offensive performance from the Pelicans, who saw four starters crack double digits.

New Orleans improved to 7-6 with the win, which was another sign the Pelicans are back on track after a sixgame losing streak which jolted their early season progress.

Sending a message The Pelicans have now won three straight to move up in the Western Conference standings.

Davis said New Orleans had been de-

termined to send a message after their sixgame slump.

“We just had to get back to it,” Davis said. “We lost five in a row on the road and we’re a better road team than that.

“We just have to be dominant on the road again and this was our next road game, so we had it in our mind.

“It was a good test for us; best team in the East and we’re on the road, so we just made a conscious effort to get this one.”

Davis was given support from across the Pelicans line-up on Monday, with E’Twaun Moore, Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle all making significant scoring contributions.

Moore led the scoring with 30 points while Holiday poured on 29 points with 14 assists to hush the Raptors’ home crowd at the Scotiabank Arena.

The Pelicans defense successfully kept Toronto’s dangermen in check, with Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam restricted to 20 and 22 points, respectively.

Point guard Kyle Lowry was held to just four points from 33 minutes on court as the Raptors fell to 12-2.

Elsewhere Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers celebrated the capture of Jimmy Butler with a 124-114 win over the Miami Heat. AFP

THREE-TIME Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen sets out for another fun ride with beginners and bike enthusiasts as he leads the Sun Life Cycle PH at the 30th Ave. at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Saturday.

The Aussie cycling legend has graced the non-competitive event aimed at promoting awareness on keeping a healthy lifestyle the last five years, getting quite impressed on the improvements on the local cycling scene after riding alongside a former junior national cycling team member and a number of celebrities in the long ride (40km) last year.

“Looking at them at times riding along at 40-km an hour and they look completely comfortable, it’s obvious to me that the level of Filipino riders over the last few years has really improved. I can see them more at ease with the bike and riding faster, looking stronger,” said McEwen.

He is again expected to inspire the young riders from among the thousands of participants set see action in three categories—the Kids Ride, Short Ride (20K) and Long Ride (40K) around Taguig, Makati, Manila and Pasay.

The event, also aimed at promoting family bonding and encouraging people to live healthier lives, will be launched Friday simultaneous with the Expo Open and press conference and the ride kit claiming at SEDA BGC Hotel.

Six hundred three riders have so far registered for the 40km ride of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. while the 20km and kids categories have lured 392 and 100 participants, respectively.

Online listup is ongoing. For details, log on to www.sunlife. cycleph.com.

The event, backed by Sun Life, BGC, Taguig, F2P, 2GO, Alcoplus, Cetaphil, Sanicare, Shopee, Trek, Storck, Skippy’s and Regent and supported by media partners Cignal and The Philippine Star, also serves as part of the SunPIOLOgy Tr10, which will go regional to highlight its milestone 10th year.

POC holds Athletes’ Commission symposium at Highlands venue THE Athletes’ Commission under the Philippine Olympic Committee organized a well-attended symposium last weekend for national athletes at the Highlands Steakhouse in Pasig City.

The symposium, entitled “IOC Athletes Career Programs” was held under the aegis of the International Olympic Committee Olympic solidarity Program.

It aimed to empower national athletes in managing their lives and careers during and after their stint in the national team.

Some 36 national athletes from different national sports associations attended the whole-day confab.

Speakers endorsed by the IOC were both from Singapore.

Former Olympian sailor Jovina Choo is the Asian representative to the World Olympians Association while Ren

Cai Yip, is also a former Singaporean Olympian for water polo.

The Philippine Athletes Commission is chaired by Niko Huelgas (triathlon) with members Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), James de los Santos (karate) and Cheska Altomonte (softball).

POC Deputy Secretary General Karen T. Caballero assisted the athletes in putting the event together.

POC Secretary General Patrick Gregorio dropped by to give a pep talk to the participants as did Philippine Olympians president and former Olympic swimmer Akiko Thomson-Guevara.

Huelgas lauded the POC for actively pursuing such programs for the national athletes.

“It means so much to us athletes that the POC shows their concern for our welfare. It makes us feel more worthy as national athletes. Thank you for the

Members of the Athletes’ Commission are shown during the POC symposium.

added motivation of your presence here,” said Huelgas.

For his part, Gregorio said “The POC is conscious of such basic responsibilities as helping and motivating our ath-

letes. POC Pres. Vargas is also making sure we will have more of these activities to help our athletes, coaches, trainers and everyone else involved in our national teams.”.

Taguig keeps NBL hopes alive

Taguig Generals

TAGUIG defeated Parañaque, 80-69, over the weekend to keep its hopes alive of a quarterfinal berth in the National Basketball League at the Ugnayang La Salle Gymnasium in Dasmariñas City.

Richmond Gilbero led the Taguig Generals with 19 points and 13 rebounds to improve their record to 4-5, tying Nueva Ecija for sixth place in the team standings.

The top two teams at the end of the elimination round will advance to the semifinals outright while the third to sixth-placed teams will play a knockout quarterfinal berth. Ties will be broken using winner-over-the-other

rule or quotient.

Dasmariñas, meanwhile, edged Nueva Ecija, 81-76, to climb to fourth place with a 5-3 record.

The Dasmariñas Ballers are still in contention for the top two with the Laguna Pistons and CamSur Express tied at first place with a 6-2 card and the Bulacan Makabayan in a tie for third place with a 5-2 slate.

John Cantimbuhan had 28 points, while JP Rabe had a near triple-double when he finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine blocks for the Ballers in the league also televised on Basketball TV, NET 25, and Solar Sports.

Sports

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

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Lifesavers notch 1st PSL win

Abby Marano of F2 Logistics scores against Fiola Ceballos of Generika in a Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference game won by the Lifesavers, 19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 28-26.

Boxing’s Olympic future hangs in balance LAUSSANE—The International Boxing Association is counting on a crucial report being submitted to the International Olympic Committee on Monday to lift the threat over its inclusion at Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

Boxing risks ejection from the Games after controversial Uzbek businessman Gafur Rakhimov was elected AIBA president this month.

Whether the IOC delivers a KO on its Tokyo presence will be decided at an executive commission meeting in the 2020 host city next month.

Rakhimov’s election has caused consternation at the Olympic movement with the 67-year-old linked to organised crime by the US Treasury Department.

Rakhimov vehemently denies the allegations, telling AFP his appearance on the US Treasury’s list was “a mistake”.

IOC president Thomas Bach has said he was “extremely worried about the governance of AIBA”.

The IOC, which has frozen relations with the AIBA, was already losing patience with one of the blue riband Olympic sports since a judging scandal at the 2016 Rio Games.

The substance of Monday’s report is being kept under wraps but it concerns “governance, finance, ethics, sport integrity, democracy, assessment, and WADA,” AIBA’s general director Tom Virgets told AFP. “The IOC has requested we not release our reports until a decision has been rendered,” the American said.

It follows an earlier review on internal reforms handed over in April.

Bach says Rakhimov is not boxing’s only issue.

“The problem with the AIBA is not just the election of someone as its president,” he commented last week.

“For more than a year we have expressed our deep concern over its general governance and finances.

“It’s all this that has pushed us to take such a rigid stance.

“We’ve given them the opportunity in November to submit a report outlining their point of view.

“Once we’ve got it we’ll study it in Tokyo at the start of December.” AFP

Magnolia five seeks to dethrone Ginebra

By Jeric Lopez

M

AGNOLIA has its eyes set on the first finals berth as it looks to dethrone defending champion Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-five semifinals series in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Comfortably ahead 2-0 in the showdown, the Hotshots can close out the Gin Kings as they go for a sweep in Game 3 at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Should Magnolia be successful, it will reach its second finals this season after finishing as a runner-up in the Philippine Cup. However, the Hotshots would first need to finish the job against the top-seeded Gin Kings, who now find themselves fighting for their lives all of a sudden.

“We know Ginebra will fight back, that’s for sure,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero. “It’s good to be in this position and we look to make the finals as soon as we can. We all know Ginebra is a dangerous team even when it is down.”

Magnolia surprisingly took the first

two games as it delivered on both ends constantly.

The Hotshots put themselves in this position after a 101-97 victory in Game 2 last Monday night.

Now in a position to dig deep to be able to defend their crown, the Gin Kings are now facing a must-win situation.

Ginebra actually lost its coach, Tim Cone, with over nine minutes remaining in Game 2 after he got ejected for two technical fouls.

To survive, the Gin Kings are now looking to regroup and show why they are the two-time defending champions.

Meanwhile, Meralco third-year guard Baser Amer’s leadership and clutch shooting didn’t go unnoticed after being named the Cignal-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of Nov. 5-11 in the 2018 Governors’ Cup. After serving as an understudy of for-

mer PBA Most Valuable Player Jimmy Alapag in 2016, Amer has spread his wings this season, sparking Meralco to the semifinals after a woeful start in the season-ending conference.

The 26-year-old former San Beda Red Lion averaged 18 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals in the Bolts’ last three games on the way to capturing the weekly citation.

Given up for dead after Meralco’s 1-6 record, Amer played a key role in his team resurgence.

Meralco won five straight games to close the elims en route to making the playoffs as the seventh seed.

From there, Amer showed his readiness for battle in the playoffs, firing 14 points, grabbing four rebounds, issuing six assists and adding two steals as the Bolts shocked the no. 2 seed Phoenix, 90-74 to force the winner-take-all match in their quarterfinal duel.

The six-foot Amer took his game a notch higher in the knockout match, banging in 26 points, including backto-back triples in the extra period that broke the backs of the Fuel Masters en route to a 108-103 win to advance to the semifinals.

A setback may jeopardize Archers’ chances FOR the University of the Philippine Fighting Maroons, a scenario that is favorable to them is unfolding in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

And there will be four scenarios that can be played out when the La Salle Green Archers clash with the Fighting Maroons at 4 p.m. today in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Green Archers now have an 8-5 slate after taking a 62-72 loss to the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday.

First, a loss to the Fighting Maroons will complicate matters for the Green Archers, as they will be put in a threeway tie for third with the UP and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

For the Fighting Maroons, a victory

will mean that they will have the chance to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1997 as the no. 3 seed team with La Salle’s loss.

“We need that one win on Wednesday.

We have to put this win behind us. We cannot overthink this because there is a much more crucial game on Wednesday,” said UP coach Bo Perasol.

La Salle, which is the leading rebounding team in the league at 48.3 per game, is expected to hold its ground against UP. And the Fighting Maroons are in an upbeat mood after their 83-69 win over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers In the second of scenario of four scenarios, if UP wins over La Salle, and FEU prevails over Adamson, the Maroons will remain third, while La Salle and FEU will playoff for the no. 4 seeding.

If La Salle prevails over UP, while Ad-

Games Wednesday (MOA Arena) 2 p.m. Ateneo vs UST 4 p.m. UP vs La Salle

amson takes down FEU, La Salle will be no. 3, while UP and FEU will have a playoff for fourth.

In the fourth scenario, if La Salle wins over UP, and FEU gets past Adamson, La Salle is third while FEU is fourth.

Earlier, the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles will be a complete squad in their 2 p.m. clash with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

The Growling Tigers will be without CJ Cansino, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in UST’s loss to UP over the weekend.

Cansino averages 13 points per outing, along with 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his rookie year. Peter Atencio

Cavaliers, Kamao top UNTV divisions ARMED Forces of the PhilipOnly the top four teams from pines and Malacañang-Philippine the two six-team groups will adGames Today (JCSGO gym, Cubao) 2 p.m. – PITC vs Judiciary Sports Commission bested their vance to the second round, where 3:30p.m. – PNP vs DA rivals to top their respective diviGroup A teams battle the teams 5p.m. – AFP vs NHA sions in the 7th UNTV Cup held from Group B in a single-round recently tournament at the JCaffair of the annual event for SGO gym in Cubao. public servants and organized by UNTV president Already proud winners of two titles, the AFP and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon.

Cavaliers completed a five-game sweep of Group A Aside from AFP and Senate, also advancing from with a 76-70 win over the defending champions Sen- Group A are Philippine National Police and PITC, ate Defenders, while the Malacañang-PSC Kamao while joining Malacañang-PSC, NHA and DA from rallied to beat the Department of Agriculture Food Group B is two-time champion Judiciary.

Masters, 75-63.

Darwin Cordero scattered 20 points to lead four The Kamao actually finished tied with the Nation- players in double digits for AFP which controlled the al Housing Authority Builders at 4-1, but it was the match right from the start. former who took the top seeding due to the winner Coming off a thrilling 63-62 win over the NHA over the other rule.

Builders, the Kamao rallied from a 12-point The Builders capped their first-round campaign deficit early in the fourth quarter behind the hotwith a massive 94-57 win over the Ombudsman shooting of Erick dela Cuesta to pull off another Graft Busters. impressive win.

Darwin Cordero helped AFP beat defending champion Senate, 76-70, by firing 20 points.

GENERIKA-AYALA scored a major upset when it defeated F2 Logistics, 19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 28-26, to notch its first win in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipi no Conference yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Patty Orendain spearheaded the attack for the Lifesavers, who bravely turned a 21-24 disadvantage in the fourth set into a shocking win over a fluid and very disciplined Cargo Movers squad.

Orendain tallied 18 points and 10 receptions while skipper Angeli Araneta added 15 markers to hand Generika-Ayala its first win in four matches.

“Our hard work really paid off,” said Generika-Ayala head coach Sherwin Meneses, who drew impressive performance from Mika Lopez, Fiola Ceballos and Marivic Meneses. “After three losses, we still kept going. I told the team to just be patient and continue working hard.”

He said he kept on telling his wards that they are capable of making a strong run if they will keep on working hard.

“We know that we will have our time so we didn’t give up,” he said, adding that their strong services threw the Cargo Movers off their comfort zone. “We’re happy that we stuck to our game plan.”

Michelle Morente delivered 14 points, while Cha Cruz-Behag had 11 markers and Aby Marano, Ara Galang and Majoy Baron each had 10 markers for the Cargo Movers, who suffered a rare back-to-back setback.

F2 Logistics also surrendered to reigning champion Petron in a thrilling four-set encounter over the weekend to fall to a 3-2 win-loss card.

Adjustments key to Lions’ title conquest

By Peter Atencio GETTING to know the game of the Lyceum Pirates and putting them out of sync was the objective of the San Beda Red Lions when they won Game 2 with a 71-56 swamping last Monday.

Watching closely how the Pirates play and how coach Topex Robinson adjusts his plays allowed coach Boyet Fernandez to prepare well and help the Red Lions bag their third straight National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball crown “I watched the games live every game. I want to see how coach Topex adjusts, how CJ (Perez) plays, how the Marcelino twins play and how Nzesseu plays. It’s the adjustments,” said Fernandez a few minutes after the game ended at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The return of last year’s Most Valuable Player Perez in Game 2 to the Pirates’ roster gave the Red Lions a chance to show how well they play as a defensive team.

The Red Lions, according to Fernandez, managed to disrupt the Pirates’ game when they kept shifting from a man-to-man defense to a semi-man to man game and to a zone defense.

With Clint Doliguez and Donald Tankoua firing 14 and 13 points, respectively, the Lions never gave the lead after they took a 23-15 edge in the first period.

Things fell into place after Javee Mocon led with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Red Lions won their fourth threepeat championship since 2002. Already the league’s winningest squad, they added more separation from the secondrunning Letran (17 titles) with their 22nd senior basketball crown and their fourth under Fernandez. It was also San Beda’s 11th crown in the last 13 years after they got titles under coaches Frankie Lim, Coy Banal, Jamike Jarin and Ronnie Magsanoc in previous years.

Fernandez said the search for a championship for the Red Lions is not over yet.

“Tomorrow, I’ll wake up again looking for another championship,” said Fernandez.

In the four times that San Beda won a crown under Fernandez, the Red Lions now have a 74-12 win-loss record under his name.

Their three-peat did five senior cagers proud, namely Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, Jeramer Cabanag, Joe Presbitero, and Radge Tongco.

Mocon, who experienced two title conquests in the junior division, and four with the senior team, was named the Finals Most Valuable Player.

He averaged 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.0 assists in the series.

IN BRIEF

DMCI Holdings posts P11.5-b profit CONGLOMERATE DMCI Holdings Inc. said it booked a consolidated net income of P11.5 billion in the first nine months, down two percent from P11.7 billion a year ago, on lower contributions from its coal energy business.

The holding company of the Consunji family said minus the P715-million one-time gain on sale of an undeveloped lot by DMCI Homes and P66-million refinancing and other one-time costs of Maynilad, core net income in January to September weakened 8 percent to P10.8 billion from P11.8 billion.

Nine-month revenues rose 2 percent to P60 billion from P58 billion a year ago.

DMCI said net income declined 44 percent in the third quarter to P2.3 billion from P4.1 billion.

“Aside from Semirara, our construction, real estate and nickel mining businesses also slowed down in the third quarter. But we still expect single-digit growth in our full-year results,” said DMCI Holdings chairman and president Isidro Consunji. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

BSP seen to keep interest rates steady THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely keep the benchmark interest rates steady during the penultimate policy meeting for the year on Thursday, amid the current stable level of the peso and on expectation that inflation will return to the target range in the coming months, economists said Tuesday.

“By many measures, policy settings in the Philippines is still too loose. However, we are leaning towards the possibility [just barely] that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would stand pat on Thursday after a cumulative 150 bps hike thus far this year,” strategists Eugene Leow and Neel Gopalakrishnan of the DBS Group Research said in a report.

They said after multiple quarters of strong GDP growth, overheating signs were now apparent in elevated inflation numbers and a deteriorating current account balance. They said after multiple rate hikes, the real policy rate was still negative [-2.2 percent] and against a challenging global backdrop, tighter policy might be more prudent. Julito G. Rada

DBP extends P1.3-b loan to Nueva Ecija STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, said it approved a P1.3-billion omnibus loan to the Nueva Ecija provincial government to boost trade and facilitate the efficient movement of goods and people among its towns.

DBP president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo said in a statement the bulk of the amount, or about P1.2-billion, was earmarked for the construction of a two-lane road that would connect the towns of Peñaranda, San Isidro, and Cabiao and the city of Gapan in the southern part of the province.

“This major infrastructure project will provide an alternative route to motorists who are coming from nearby areas such as Bulacan and Metro Manila, thereby reducing travel time and facilitating faster movement of goods and commodities,” Borromeo said.

She said the remaining balance of the loan would be used for other development projects of the provincial government including the purchase of medical equipment. Julito G. Rada

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Tuesday it posted a recurring net income of P52.4 billion in the first nine months, up 20 percent from P43.7 billion it earned in the same period last year.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net consolidated sales climbed 28 percent in January to September to P761.1 billion from P596.9 billion recorded a year ago, as major businesses―food and beverage, packaging, fuels and petrochemicals, power generation, and infrastructure―posted strong sales.

Income from operations also went

BCT HITS MILESTONE. The Batangas Container Terminal, managed by listed Asian Terminals Inc., has continuously stepped up its role as international trade facilitator in Calabarzon and helped decongest metro roads. Early in November, BCT achieved a new operations milestone as it broke through the 200,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) cargo volume mark for the first time in a single year since its start in 2010. Shown are ATI officers led by executive vice president William Khoury (fourth from right), presenting commemorative plaques to Sealand (a Maersk company) managing director Klaus Nielsen (fifth from left) and Customs Batangas district collector Edward Ibera (third from right) to mark BCT’s milestone achievement.

NTC dismisses appeals of 2 disqualified bidders

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE National Telecommunications Commission on Tuesday denied the separate appeals of two disqualified bidders for the selection of a new major player in the telecom sector.

The agency’s selection committee thumbed down the respective motions for reconsideration filed by Sear Telecommunications Inc. and Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. for submitting “incomplete” and “non-compliant” bids.

It said PT&T failed to submit a certification of technical capability from the NTC, while Sear Telecom of former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson was disqualified for not submitting the “participation security” of P700 million.

The committee said PT&T and Sear could still file an appeal to NTC en banc until Thursday for P10 million.

up 18 percent to P98 billion.

Net income of newly consolidated San Miguel Food and Beverages Inc. reached P22.9 billion, up 17 percent year-on-year.

The weak performance of the group’s food business was offset by positive results from its liquor and beer units.

SMFB’s food unit reported 7-percent decline in net income to P4.3 billion, while beer unit delivered a 23-percent growth in net income to P17.7 billion. Liquor unit reported an 81-percent increase in net income to P789 million.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said

SEC issues order vs Medical City investors A GROUP of shareholders of the Medical City recently lauded the resolution and show-cause order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying these will pave the way to “a just and fair resolution” of the conflict currently hounding the medical institution.

A special hearing panel of the SEC formally charged several entities identified with the Singaporean investor firm Clermont with violations of several provisions of the Securities Regulation Code.

These include Viva Holdings, Fountel, FAI and Professional Services Inc. According to the SEC resolution, the said entities “misrepresented their independence from each other to effectively subscribe to substantial shares in PSI and eventually acquired majority shares in the target company to the prejudice of the unsuspecting stockholders whose share value and voting power have declined”.

The SEC said the group “entered into a funding scheme” where foreign funds were channeled from the Singaporean firm Viva

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

B1

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PT&T said it received Monday night the decision of the selection committee of NTC rejecting its motion for reconsideration.

“The PT&T management and its legal team are currently reviewing the selection committee’s denial of the Motion for Reconsideration to determine the next course of action that the company will take,” the company said.

“We will be advising the stakeholders on the next steps that the company will take as soon as the same is decided by the management,” it said.

Sear said in a separate statement that Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. Inc., the only group that passed the bidding requirements, “violated” the NTC-SC’s rules when it partnered with Udenna/Chelsea Logistics/China Telecom and participated in the bidding, without disclosing the subsistence of a valid contract and legally binding undertakings that prevents it from doing so.

“Unfortunately, the NTC-SC, in a rushed resolution, denied our motion, washed its hands and simplistically regarded our grounds as a private dis-

San Miguel’s recurring net income jumps 20% to P52.4b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

AC Energy buys into Singapore renewable firm

WTO asks Thailand to honor cigarette ruling THE World Trade Organization concluded in a recent panel report that Thailand failed to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Board pertaining to the cigarette dispute case filed by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. against Thailand.

A 300-page compliance panel report published by the WTO Tuesday showed that the board came to a supporting conclusion that Thailand’s value added tax notification requirement “accords less favorable treatment to imported cigarettes as compared to like domestic cigarettes by exposing cigarette importers to legal risks and additional administrative burdens and costs, which the domestic producer of cigarettes does not have to face.”

The WTO also called on Thailand to conform with the measures cited by the group under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Customs Valuation Agreement. Othel V. Campos

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

Holdings to several Philippine-registered companies identified with erstwhile Medical City treasurer Jose Xavier Gonzales.

The SEC charged Gonzales’ group with violating provisions of the SRC which prohibit “fraudulent, manipulative and deceptive act or practice in connection with any tender offer”.

It also charged the group with violating SRC provisions which make mandatory for “groups of persons acting in concert who intend to acquire 35 percent or more of equity shares in a public company to disclose such intention and contemporaneously make a tender offer for the percent sought to all shareholders”.

The SEC slapped the group with a show-cause order, giving them 15 days to explain why they should not be held liable to the formal charges.

Medical City shareholders led by former president Dr. Alfredo Bengzon said the SEC order would ensure that the “scheme used by the the Clermont-backed group will be thoroughly probed and exposed”.

Monday SMFB was expected to post a double-digit growth in profit and volume this year despite the rising inflation rate.

San Miguel also reported that its packaging unit posted net sales of P27.1 billion, up 21 percent from a year ago while power unit SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. increased its sales by 43 percent to P89.1 billion.

The conglomerate’s infrastructure group booked revenues of P18.1 billion, higher by 10 percent than P16.5 billion a year earlier, while Petron Corp. chalked up a net income of P12 billion, up 3 percent from P11.7 billion.

pute – one that it had no jurisdiction to resolve. This ruling unmasks the NTCSC’s insensitivity and total lack of appreciation of the level of diligence required in meticulously choosing a new NMP,” Sear said.

“The NTC-SC failed to appreciate that, although the agreement is only between Mislatel and DigiPhil, such is relevant in determining the former’s legal capacity to enter into a consortium with Udenna, Chelsea Logistics and China Telecom,” it said.

Sear said the NTC-SC completely missed the very point and purpose of the selection process – which is to choose a new major player that is fully qualified, undoubtedly eligible and one that had no hindrance or limitation in its ability to participate in the bidding.

“Here, NTC-SC must at the very least take a keen interest to determine for itself whether its chosen NMP in fact truthfully represented itself to be qualified to participate. Udenna and Chelsea, especially China Telecom, a state-owned corporation, would surely not want to be a part of any fraud,” Sear said.

AYALA Corp. said unit AC Energy International Holdings Pte. Ltd. acquired a 25-percent ownership of Singaporebased The Blue Circle Pte. Ltd. which has wind projects in Southeast Asia.

Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that AC Energy International, a subsidiary of power generation arm AC Energy Inc., and TBC agreed to jointly develop, construct, own and operate a pipeline of around 1,500 megawatts of wind projects across Southeast Asia, including 700 MW in Vietnam.

Singapore-based TBC developed and constructed one of the first wind farms in Vietnam. TBC focuses on developing and investing in utility scale wind projects in Southeast Asia with pipeline in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. It was founded in 2013 and has a management team with 79 years of combined renewable energy experience.

“We are excited to partner with The Blue Circle as we expand rapidly across the region. Our strategic partnership builds on our combined expertise, strong financing capabilities and robust development pipeline,” said AC Energy chief executive officer Eric Francia.

“We’re gonna begin this relationship by focusing first on Vietnam because that’s where a lot of the action is obviously. We have a limited window, a defined window, unlike before there was no deadline. Now there is a deadline for the wind feed-in tariff. November 2021 is the deadline for wind,” Francia said.

AC Energy’s renewable energy pipeline continues to grow as the joint venture expects to start construction of around 200 MW of wind farms in Vietnam in 2019.

AC Energy earmarked $100 million as equity in the initial 200-MW wind projects with TBC, the leading developer of wind energy projects in Southeast Asia with offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

TBC looks to bridge the gap in project development in the region by bringing international project development experience, financial expertise and capabilities together with local market understanding.

Automotive sales slumped 13.3% to 294,207 units in first 10 months

By Othel V. Campos AUTOMOTIVE sales dropped 9.2 percent in October to 33,150 vehicles from 36,511 units a year ago, two industry groups said Tuesday.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report that on a month-onmonth basis, sales improved 6.5 percent from 31,116 vehicles delivered in September.

Total sales in the first 10 months of the year was still down 13.3 percent to 294,207 units from 339,380 units in the same period last year.

Both industry groups said despite the year-on-year decline, sales figures

started to improve in terms of monthon-month performance.

Campi president Rommel Gutierrez said the positive month-on-month growth was largely due to aggressive marketing promotions and availability of new model units in line with the recently concluded 7th Philippine International Motor Show.

“We remain optimistic that sales growth will be sustained in November, as we expect more sales from PIMS will be delivered this month,” he said.

Passenger car segment sales posted a minimal 0.03 percent increase to 9,444 units in October from 9,441 units in September, while commercial vehicle sales jumped 9.4 percent to 23,706 units from 21,675 units.

ABOITIZ-PBSP PARTNERSHIP. The

Aboitiz Group business units Aboitiz & Co., Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., Pilmico Foods Corp., Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corp., Cotabato Light and Power Co., Cebu Private Power Corp. and East Asia Utilities Corp. renew their partnership with business-led nongovernment organization Philippine Business for Social Progress. The group turns over a check worth P1.66 million to PBSP in a ceremony held in Taguig City recently. Shown are (from left) PBSP executive director Reynaldo Antonio Laguda, PBSP president Bro. Armin Altamirano Luistro, Aboitiz Foundation president Susan Valdez and first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market extends losses; ISM up S TOCKS fell for a third day, dragging down the benchmark index to a near two-year low, as investors fret over a number of issues from the ChinaUS trade war and Brexit to rising US interest rates and slowing economic growth.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 82 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 6,843.83 Tuesday, its lowest since it settled at 6,840.64 on Dec. 29, 2016. The bellwether was down 20 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also tumbled 41 points, or 1 per-

cent, to finish at 4,211.13, on a value turnover of P8.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 155 to 55, while 36 issues were unchanged.

Three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by ISM Communications Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy which climbed another 8 percent to P8.10 and Globe Telecom Inc. which recovered 4.3 percent to P1,830. International Container Terminal Services Inc. of businessman Enrique Razon gained 1 percent to P92.90.

Meanwhile, technology firms fell in Asia Tuesday, tracking a deep sell-off in New York where Apple was hammered by worries about demand for its iPhones, while energy firms also fell with oil prices.

The latest retreat comes after a key parts supplier said a client—widely taken to be Apple—had slashed orders, stoking speculation the US titan’s popular handset was not selling as well as in

the past.

Apple was already under pressure after posting disappointing earnings earlier this month and announcing it would no longer report iPhone sale numbers.

The firm sank five percent Monday and is almost 17 percent down from its record high touched at the start of October.

The retreat in New York’s tech firms was repeated in Asia, with Apple suppliers and other firms in the sector taking a severe hit.

In Tokyo, Japan Display collapsed 9.5 percent to its lowest since listing in 2014, Alps Electronics sank more than four percent, and Sony was off almost 2.7 percent. Taiwan Semiconductor dived 1.7 percent in Taipei.

Samsung shed 1.6 percent in Seoul and AAC Technologies retreated one percent in Hong Kong.

However, there were some recoveries thanks to bargain-buying, with Tencent up 0.4 percent in the afternoon in Hong

Kong, while Foxconn closed up 1.6 percent in Taipei.

Broader markets, while mostly down, also pared initial losses. Tokyo dropped two percent and Hong Kong slipped 0.3 percent, while Shanghai finished up, adding 0.9 percent.

Sydney was 1.8 percent lower, while Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Wellington were all in negative territory. Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta were higher.

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at Oanda, remained downbeat about the outlook.

“While regional equity markets are bouncing off the session lows, the toxic mix of negative inputs will continue to weigh on sentiment,” he said in a note.

“With global equities continuing to trend lower it paints a much less compelling picture for those looking to bargain hunt and pick up some arguably undervalued pockets in the Asia equity basket.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 6,220 79.8 1,262,210 2.56 71,000 113.9 1,713,640 1.58 2,247,000 27.85 124,200 7.59 200 10.3 447,200 3.97 12,000 0.42 90,000 64.8 3,022,470 0.76 338,000 39.15 70,800 176 1,210 104.2 60 72.05 20 27.95 60,900 138 541,330 65.85 25,530 1.14 301,000

366,948 100,628,137.50 174,800 196,342,146 3,392,470 3,470,480 1,518 4,620,770 46,840 38,100 195,074,860 259,650 2,772,170 213,590 6,252 1,441 1,705,480 74,893,832 1,683,071 343,140

362,260 3,541,966 -117,141,695 458,360 653,240 -1,182,158 -86,287,568 1,146,755 36,992 156,765 -18,795,344 -305,660 -

31.2 17.02 0.94 1.23 0.203 1.98 13 36.35 14.5 33.75 60.8 1.5 6.8 10.5 14.7 8.05 6.89 1.46 16.3 64 23.6 1.57 6.25 8.61 1.47 265.2 4.7 3.3 6.75 24.95 10.58 17.42 374.6 0.162 5.7 1.53 3.6 8.02 4.18 8.98 0.99 10.52 48.3 5.38 4.7 1.94 2.61 1.32 9.8 84.85 5.18 0.83 121.2 2.33 1.35 1.5

INDUSTRIAL 31.2 24,499,000 17.7 792,900 1 5,279,000 1.29 957,000 0.208 930,000 2 3,884,000 13 3,290,400 36.75 490,500 15.88 3,800 35 6,300 60.8 140 1.5 243,000 7 20,000 10.88 1,125,800 15.34 292,400 8.6 966,000 6.92 874,300 1.46 4,000 16.4 1,611,700 64.3 60,700 24 21,800 1.6 21,082,000 6.25 50,600 8.85 5,510,000 1.5 513,000 272.8 899,670 4.71 54,000 3.3 1,000 12.48 82,400 25 1,701,400 10.58 104,400 17.5 5,071,100 378.6 173,590 0.163 2,920,000 5.7 5,900 1.56 31,000 3.6 104,000 8.14 929,200 4.4 183,000 8.98 100 1 427,000 10.88 50,500 48.5 307,500 5.38 4,000 4.75 31,000 2.03 92,000 2.61 8,000 1.38 2,044,000 9.84 2,040,800 84.95 4,544,740 5.2 336,400 0.88 323,000 121.8 1,133,000 2.33 20,000 1.39 7,798,000 1.53 19,043,000

771,577,720 13,687,476 5,170,220 1,189,690 189,960 7,759,150 42,775,200 17,880,690 58,128 215,935 8,512 366,380 140,147 12,072,382 4,418,468 8,298,714 6,041,761 5,840 26,440,348 3,894,017.50 514,720 33,595,660 316,250 49,048,537 767,190 243,707,040 253,850 3,300 561,251 42,634,140 1,119,930 88,882,806 65,557,266 473,060 34,113 47,810 379,740 7,513,273 802,590 898 426,690 539,608 14,906,880 21,520 145,950 183,410 20,930 2,718,820 20,032,726 386,058,925 1,750,339 268,660 137,994,821 46,600 10,928,070 29,426,680

-220,095,050 -2,615,298 -26,510 585,070.00 26,657,800 160,380 37,250 23,400 7,584,548 -1,666,242 -4,360 -2,107,087 1,352,028.00 220,242 2,032,470 -1,555,885 -30,000 -113,237,376 17,668,870 -251,478 -25,170,560.00 19,208,676 -16,960 -1,250,513 -8,980 -4,507,200 -5,380 -4,700 4,080 -18,573,068 60,236,275.50 520,000 -54,010,121 427,870 797,210

0.405 44 10.36 0.78 6.2 22.5 1.36 1.38 893.5 6.96 12.18 7.35 5.45 0.229 695 41.3 3.51 0.5 3.82 15 0.5 4.33 0.033 1.12 2.51 2.59 170 870 0.71 1.29 290 262 0.198 0.194

HOLDING FIRMS 0.42 17,250,000 45.35 1,930,500 10.5 7,897,100 0.78 20,000 6.2 3,100 22.65 85,800 1.37 13,240,000 1.39 2,808,000 895 415,680 7 600,000 12.24 2,670,100 7.39 13,000 5.45 300 0.23 350,000 715 34,330 41.9 2,564,000 3.51 1,000 0.5 90,000 3.86 2,319,000 15.3 5,090,300 0.51 1,279,000 4.33 53,154,000 0.033 4,400,000 1.19 105,000 2.51 2,455,000 2.59 3,000 172.5 205,350 878 431,720 0.71 5,000 1.39 1,040,000 290 160 279 7,480 0.208 4,060,000 0.195 310,000

7,140,900 85,734,365 82,331,012 15,610 19,220 1,961,205 18,380,690 3,957,130 372,919,365 4,199,323 32,748,030 95,673 1,689 80,370 24,297,710 109,046,330 3,510 45,900 8,956,470 76,964,694 647,770 232,365,920 148,600 122,590 6,216,520 7,770 35,397,263 380,908,900 3,550 1,382,460 46,412 2,046,924 817,440 60,440

-200,650 -55,548,275 -17,740,052 -190,625 695,000 -69,346,155 1,331,990 -4,471,726 -213,585 -21,288,720 -1,276,660 19,690,226 196,850 -124,129,820 -50,800 3,772,030 -124,176,815 145,400 -745,040 52,000 -

2,889,424 1,247,730 348,016 57,920 531,670 347,263,015 4,585,630 6,216,170 111,519 2,032,250 50,890 766,960 3,850 5,414,223 11,000,628 14,500 74,880 10,150,780 1,023,080 39,413,550 82,460,710 20,934,850 390,450 137,150 4,692,910 58,772,420 372,680

-32,260 10,800 -21,702,725 -677,340 39,210 78,000 16,480 -2,160,680 -178,778.00 -7,526,230 -95,760 21,218,080 420,450 307,850 1,094,872 131,160

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK VANTAGE

59 79.95 2.52 116 1.45 28 7.59 10.5 3.87 0.43 65.35 0.78 39.15 177 104.2 72.05 28.2 142 65.95 1.14

59 80 2.56 116.5 1.6 28.05 7.59 10.5 3.97 0.43 65.4 0.78 39.2 188.5 104.2 72.05 28.2 142 65.95 1.14

58.6 79.05 2.4 113.9 1.45 27.8 7.59 10.28 3.87 0.42 64 0.76 39.15 176 104.2 72.05 27.9 135.6 65.85 1.14

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

32 17.6 0.98 1.26 0.203 2.04 13 36.95 14.5 35 60.8 1.57 7.07 10.6 14.78 8.05 6.9 1.46 16.6 64.2 23.6 1.59 6.25 9.3 1.51 273.2 4.7 3.3 6.75 25 10.78 17.82 378 0.162 5.86 1.53 3.98 8.14 4.18 8.98 1.01 10.7 48.6 5.38 4.75 2 2.62 1.36 10.2 84.95 5.2 0.84 123 2.33 1.44 1.59

32.45 17.7 1.01 1.29 0.213 2.04 13 36.95 15.88 35 60.8 1.57 7.08 10.88 15.34 8.68 6.92 1.46 16.62 64.3 24 1.62 6.25 9.43 1.52 274.4 4.71 3.3 12.48 25.4 10.86 17.82 380 0.163 5.86 1.57 3.98 8.14 4.54 8.98 1.03 10.88 48.95 5.38 4.75 2.03 2.62 1.4 10.2 85 5.24 0.88 124 2.33 1.46 1.6

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

0.415 45 10.6 0.78 6.2 23.25 1.4 1.43 900 7.01 12.44 7.39 5.99 0.229 718 44.7 3.51 0.53 4.05 15.08 0.51 4.54 0.034 1.12 2.54 2.59 174.6 889 0.71 1.35 290.2 270 0.201 0.195

0.425 45.35 10.62 0.79 6.2 24.05 1.44 1.45 909 7.02 12.5 7.4 5.99 0.23 721.5 44.8 3.51 0.53 4.05 15.3 0.52 4.54 0.034 1.19 2.57 2.59 174.6 890 0.71 1.39 290.2 279 0.208 0.195

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

7.08 0.7 11.02 1.81 0.55 38.55 2.25 4.26 5.64 0.395 0.88 0.211 0.385 7.76 18 0.5 0.104 1.4 1.03 2.26 4.44 0.34 0.415 0.375 3.65 20 1.95

7.32 0.71 11.02 1.81 0.56 38.95 2.26 4.37 5.99 0.4 0.88 0.211 0.385 7.76 18 0.5 0.104 1.42 1.03 2.38 4.52 0.34 0.43 0.375 3.65 20 2

7 0.63 10.8 1.81 0.54 38.05 2.19 4.15 5.64 0.39 0.86 0.205 0.385 7.7 17.48 0.5 0.104 1.4 1 2.2 4.4 0.32 0.415 0.365 3.58 19.48 1.9

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

3.17 32.45 1.15 4.19 0.7 5.18

3.18 32.45 1.15 4.19 0.7 5.2

3.12 31.45 1.12 3.91 0.7 5.12

3.12 31.8 1.14 4.09 0.7 5.2

117,000 12,893,200 163,000 423,000 1,000 2,789,900

367,650 410,915,050 183,330 1,698,960 700 14,414,648

-34,640 -217,505,675 80,000 -321,908

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

9.88 20.5 1.3 0.34 0.037 1.45 7.8 63.05 7.8 8.4 7.52 2.27 6.5 1,754 5.27 313 3.55 91 11.04 7.55 0.095 7.84 3.36 14.38 2.85 0.71 16.14 5.36 7.12 1.96 1.01 1.06 16 3.19 10.52 7.63 3.38 105 3.24 1,200 0.66 0.315 42 75 6.78 2.8 0.59 0.335 5.13 0.48 11.7

9.88 20.5 1.31 0.345 0.037 1.63 7.85 63.1 7.99 8.5 7.97 2.4 6.5 1,840 5.29 318 3.61 92.9 11.04 7.55 0.095 8.26 3.59 14.4 2.85 0.72 16.14 5.65 7.13 2 1.1 1.38 17 3.19 10.52 7.63 3.38 109 3.25 1,221 0.66 0.32 42.35 76.8 7 2.8 0.6 0.34 5.14 0.48 11.8

9.52 20 1.3 0.34 0.037 1.44 7.53 61.25 7.8 7.55 7.51 2.27 5.1 1,754 5.25 307.4 3.33 91 11.02 7.05 0.093 7.58 3.3 14.38 2.49 0.71 14.16 5.35 7.12 1.95 0.97 1.05 15.1 2.86 10.5 7.63 3.3 105 3.1 1,178 0.63 0.31 41.8 74.5 6.78 2.66 0.55 0.32 5.09 0.455 11.56

SERVICES 9.7 20.3 1.31 0.345 0.037 1.61 7.65 61.4 7.99 7.82 7.9 2.36 5.83 1,830 5.25 318 3.39 92.9 11.02 7.05 0.093 8.1 3.54 14.4 2.49 0.71 14.7 5.4 7.12 1.96 1.1 1.38 16 2.94 10.5 7.63 3.3 108 3.17 1,180 0.64 0.32 42 76.5 7 2.66 0.57 0.34 5.14 0.46 11.74

159,500 46,300 606,000 98,950,000 8,800,000 4,378,000 8,797,700 1,318,050 20,100 14,004,500 26,100 13,000 650,300 78,510 381,000 8,950 3,963,000 1,072,300 42,200 36,800 3,160,000 152,236,600 124,000 2,200 2,269,000 132,000 3,515,800 51,600 4,437,800 746,000 202,000 47,000 7,700 10,001,000 12,200 3,200 17,000 4,600 339,000 86,345 3,153,000 1,820,000 804,400 540,330 5,500 8,983,000 5,925,000 34,930,000 32,546,800 1,620,000 1,919,200

1,528,343 931,805 793,800 33,644,300 325,600 6,765,740 67,794,596 81,627,461 156,799 112,496,745 197,343 30,270 3,788,005 142,465,025 2,001,577 2,828,806 13,698,630 98,612,679 465,144 268,007 297,110 1,219,178,620 426,770 31,650 5,842,090 93,780 52,681,882 276,435 31,597,918 1,461,880 207,850 52,060 124,594 29,612,580 128,296 24,416 57,020 496,030 1,071,180 102,888,395 2,027,980 567,000 33,779,915 40,587,725.50 37,603 24,219,830 3,356,530 11,515,500 166,463,577 750,450 22,445,508

4,790 -61,200 -37,580 -8,520,863 8,498,239 65,390 -54,697 49,083,495 -199,830 21,164,020.50 -7,520 -13,538,465 253,470 -28,400 -16,020,806 932,720 -21,600 -38,100 -507,890 21,800 -30,101,760 143,740 -7,063,560 -2,326,969 1,694,040 -747,050 239,400 -98,082,494 -4,650 5,206,410

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

0.0021 1.76 2.46 12.52 1.04 1.09 1.93 0.285 7.1 1.71 0.197 0.098 0.1 0.0066 0.0061 1.2 2.36 1.03 0.52 0.84 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.75 3.18 18.5 26.15 0.006

0.0022 1.76 2.5 13.46 1.12 1.09 1.93 0.285 7.19 1.74 0.201 0.104 0.108 0.0067 0.0067 1.2 2.4 1.03 0.52 0.85 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.9 3.18 18.7 26.6 0.006

0.0021 1.71 2.4 12.5 1.04 1.09 1.91 0.285 6.9 1.7 0.197 0.096 0.098 0.0066 0.0061 1.08 2.31 0.97 0.52 0.82 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.75 3.03 18.12 26.05 0.006

MINING & OIL 0.0021 332,000,000 1.72 5,946,000 2.4 4,410,000 13.26 5,800 1.12 2,082,000 1.09 64,000 1.92 120,000 0.285 630,000 7.07 1,900 1.74 418,000 0.201 41,800,000 0.103 510,810,000 0.1 17,050,000 0.0067 944,000,000 0.0067 37,000,000 1.09 233,000 2.37 22,516,000 1.01 8,000 0.52 92,000 0.85 1,043,000 0.012 1,000,000 0.013 126,200,000 0.011 41,700,000 3.85 60,000 3.08 5,884,000 18.4 3,049,900 26.05 841,500 0.006 1,000,000

697,300 10,270,060 10,754,840 75,972 2,167,830 69,760 231,210 179,550 13,359 719,240 8,234,890 50,064,570 1,703,840 6,244,900 228,100 254,090 53,173,830 7,930 47,840 860,750 12,600 1,640,600 487,100 229,350 18,207,160 55,818,616 22,011,315 6,000

1,400,000 -358,920 -42,980 -12,060 -270,000 -1,640,600 -1,694,290 4,982,968 -1,854,950 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

20.15 488.2 95.6 97.7 5.18 96 1.02 99 1,006 103.1 970.5 75.1 76 73 75 74.5 72.4 73

20.15 488.2 95.6 97.7 5.18 96 1.02 99 1,006 103.1 970.5 75.2 76 73 75.05 74.5 73.8 73.5

19.2 488.2 95.5 95.5 5.18 96 1.02 99 1,005 103.1 970 75.1 76 71.5 75 74.5 72.4 72.65

PREFERRED 19.2 16,500 488.2 830 95.5 9,400 96.8 10,240 5.18 8,500 96 660 1.02 11,000 99 200 1,005 200 103.1 100 970 980 75.2 3,260 76 2,000 72.8 525,900 75.05 65,950 74.5 33,000 73.8 5,090 73.5 400,620

331,268 405,206 897,809 983,209 44,030 63,360 11,220 19,800 201,050 10,310 950,700 245,052 152,000 38,385,650 4,947,297.50 2,458,500 374,706 29,245,489

-290,968.00 -

LR WARRANT

1.74

1.74

1.53

WARRANTS 1.54 1,366,000

2,180,070

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

3.78 1.35

3.78 1.35

3.5 1.2

3.51 1.2

2,101,520 6,872,200

-18,720 -632,380

FIRST METRO ETF

104.6

104.6

103

4,180,615

14,524

20,040 28,282.20

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.2 0.69 11 1.81 0.54 38.5 2.19 4.3 5.99 0.395 0.87 0.21 0.385 7.71 17.48 0.5 0.104 1.42 1 2.38 4.5 0.33 0.425 0.375 3.58 19.5 1.93

405,300 1,874,000 32,000 32,000 971,000 9,065,100 2,073,000 1,462,000 19,700 5,200,000 58,000 3,730,000 10,000 701,600 622,900 29,000 720,000 7,226,000 1,023,000 17,338,000 18,389,000 64,310,000 920,000 370,000 1,298,000 3,003,900 191,000

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.02 1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

10.02 1.01

SHARES

10,348,109

INDUSTRIAL

130,245,126

HOLDING FIRMS

128,432,045

PROPERTY

157,874,085

SERVICES

418,273,612

MINING & OIL

2,101,268,571

GRAND TOTAL

2,952,630,791

10.02 1

SME

585,000 5,555,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 103.2 40,340 DDS 10.02 1.01

2,000 28,260

VALUE 1,544.88 (down) 18.63 586,059,520.34 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,397.67 (down) 66.25 2,225,001,566.319 HOLDING FIRMS 6,737.03 (down) 111.34 1,597,162,773.934 PROPERTY 3,356.96 (down) 41.62 SERVICES 1,371.55 (down) 5.38 1,030,734,527.48 MINING & OIL 9,073.08 (down) 89.89 2,475,163,432.44 PSEI 6,843.83 (down) 82.37 244,454,157.173 All Shares Index 4,211.13 (down) 41.84 8,171,757,307.26 Gainers: 55; Losers: 155; Unchanged: 36; Total: 246

Filinvest Land posted P4.22-b net income in first 9 months

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST Land Inc., the property unit of the Gotianun family, booked a net income of P4.22 billion in the first nine months, up 14 percent from P3.7 billion it declared in the same period last year, on the back a double-digit increase in rental income.

Filinvest Land said in a financial report filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange that consolidated revenues increased 10 percent in January to September from a year ago.

Rental income jumped 28 percent to P4.04 billion from P3.15 billion, on higher revenues from newly completed office and retail developments.

The company said its continued focus on the expansion of its rental office and retail property portfolio resulted in recurring income now contributing 48 percent to the company’s net income.

Residential sales were flat at P10.3 billion.

The property firm said it would continue to launch new projects to address the needs of affordable and middle income markets. The new projects this year are in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Zamboanga City and Davao City.

Filinvest Land currently operates 27 office and retail developments covering 595,000 square meters of gross leasable area.

It said that by the end of 2018, about 200,000 square meters of additional GLA would be added to its portfolio.

It also has a pipeline of 30 recurring income developments with 370,000 square meters of additional GLA under construction.

Its office developments can be found mainly in Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest City, other Metro Manila locations, Cebu City and Clark.

“We are confident of significant growth in our office rental business as we start operating new office buildings and achieve full occupancy in our new major land banks of Cebu, Clark and Metro Manila add to our bedrock Northgate Cyberzone in Filinvest City Alabang,” Filinvest Land president and chief executive Josephine GotianunYap said.

“Residential demand has also been on the rise and we expect this to continue as we expand both geographically and product wise,” she said.

The property firm’s landbank reached 2,165.82 hectares of raw land for development.

MRC Allied eyes 4 MW of solar rooftop projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores LISTED MRC Allied Inc. said it aims to develop at least four megawatts of photovoltaic rooftop projects after initially securing contracts to energize two rice mills in Northern Luzon.

“We would like to inform the exchange that MRC Allied executed a memorandum of agreement for the development, design, construction, installation, of at least 550-kilowattpeak solar photovoltaic rooftop system for two rice milling plants located in Northern Luzon area,” the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday.

Under the agreement, MRC will be the project developer and owner of the solar facility while a private entity, owning and operating two milling plants, will be the power off-taker.

“The signing of above MOA is a significant milestone for the company, and will kick off the pilot project of the company in its current solar PV project pipeline. The company aims to develop at least 4 MW of solar PV projects within the pilot project area,” MRC president and chief executive Augusto Cosio Jr. said.

Cosio said construction of the P34million 550 kWp solar PV rooftop project would begin in December while completion was expected by May 2019.

The company targets to complete the entire 4 MW solar PV rooftop projects in the next two years.

Cosio said MRC Allied aimed to gain a foothold in the growing Philippine solar PV rooftop market. The company plans to develop more renewable energy projects.

MRC previously announced its target to develop at least 1,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2022.

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Democracy trio will go on trial in HK next week H ONG KONG―Three leading Hong Kong democracy campaigners go on trial next week over their involvement in massive rallies calling for political reform, as the room for the opposition in the semi-autonomous city shrinks under an assertive China.

IN BRIEF Magritte painting fetches $26.8m NEW YORK―A painting by Rene Magritte sold for $26.8 million Monday at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, setting a record for a work by the Belgian surrealist.

The painting entitled “Le principe du plaisir” topped the price fetched by “La corde sensible”, which was sold in February 2017 in London for $17.9 million.

Sotheby’s had estimated the painting sold Monday as being worth 15 to 20 million dollars. It said seven collectors― an unusually high number―bid for it.

Other paintings on offer on the second night of the autumn art auctions in New York also surpassed their estimated value.

“Improvisation on Mahogany” by Russian-born Wassily Kandinsky fetched $24.2 million, compared to its pre-sale estimate of 15-20 million dollars.

A painting that was supposed to be one of the main attractions of the auction failed to lure a buyer.

It was Marsden Hartley’s “Pre-War Pageant”, considered to be one of the first totally abstract works in the history of American art.

It was estimated at $30 million, nearly five times the record for that US painter. AFP

Pink diamond tipped to smash the record GENEVA―An exceptionally rare 19-carat pink diamond goes under the hammer in Geneva Tuesday, when it could fetch $50 million (44 million euros), setting a new record for a stone of its kind.

The Pink Legacy used to belong to the Oppenheimer family, which for decades ran the De Beers diamond mining company, but auction house Christie’s refused to say who the current owner was.

Christie’s international head of jewelry, Rahul Kadakia, described The Pink Legacy as “one of the world’s greatest diamonds”.

The rectangular-cut diamond has been graded “fancy vivid”―the highest possible grade of color intensity.

Christie’s has noted that in the salesroom, fancy vivid pink diamonds over 10 carats are “virtually unheard of” and that only four vivid pink diamonds or over 10 carats have ever been offered at auction.

One of them, the nearly 15-carat Pink Promise, was sold last November at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong for $32.5 million. That amounts to $2.176 million per carat, which remains the world auction record price per carat for any pink diamond.

Eddie LeVian, CEO of jewelers Le Vian, said that record could fall at Tuesday’s auction, which is being held at the ultra-luxurious Four Seasons des Bergues hotel on the banks of Lake Geneva.

“We’ve recently witnessed a meteoric rise in the number of the world’s ultrahigh net worth individuals who view rare, natural fancy color diamonds as investments,” Le Vian said in a statement. AFP

PUNY EFFORT. A helicopter drops water on a hot spot from the Woolsey Fire on

November 10, 2018, along the 101 freeway in Calabasas, California. The freeway is closed to traffic to facilitate fire-fighting efforts. Firefighters in California on Saturday battled raging blazes at both ends of the state that have left at least nine people dead and thousands of homes destroyed. AFP

Deadliest fire in California’s history has killed 42 people PARADISE―The death toll from destructive fires hitting California rose to 23 Saturday as rescue workers recovered more bodies of people killed by the late-season infernos.

Firefighters battled raging fires at both ends of the state -- in Butte County, a scenic area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Sacramento, and in the Los Angeles area, where two deaths possibly related to a fire were reported.

There is little hope of containing the flames anytime soon, as the National Weather Service said strong winds and dry conditions were expected through the weekend.

“Today, 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a late Saturday news conference as he discussed a blaze known as the “Camp Fire.”

Acrid smoke from the fire covered the sky for miles, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars caught in the flames were reduced to metal carcasses, while power lines were gnawed by the flames.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for more than 52,000 people in the area.

In the town of Paradise more than 6,700 buildings―including a hospital, a gas station, and several restaurants―

have been consumed by the fire.

Rescuers removed human remains over several hours in Paradise and placed them in a black hearse. Charred body parts were transported by bucket, while intact remains were carried in body bags.

At the Holly Hills Mobile Estate the mobile homes had been reduced to smoldering piles of debris. Yellow police tape marked spots that were tagged “Doe C” and “Doe D,” suggesting that bodies were found there.

Locals fled the danger, but police told AFP some farmers returned to check on their cattle.

Fanned by strong winds, the blaze has so far scorched 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and is 20 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. So far, three of the more than 3,200 firefighters deployed have been injured.

They estimate they will need three weeks to fully contain the blaze.

Local power authorities told state officials that an outage occurred near the spot where the fire erupted, The Sacramento Bee reported, but there is no official cause of the Camp Fire blaze.

President Donald Trump, traveling in France for World War I commemorations, drew criticism for his unsympathetic reaction to the devastation. AFP

The justice department has prosecuted leading activists from the 2014 protests, with some also barred from standing for office and others thrown out of the legislature.

Most of those prosecuted so far have been young campaigners, but now it is the turn of the older generation whose original idea of taking to the streets to demand a fairer system was a precursor to the rallies.

Sociology professor Chan Kin-man, 59, law professor Benny Tai, 54, and baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming, 74, founded the “Occupy Central” movement in 2013, calling for the occupation of Hong Kong’s business district if the public was not given a fair vote for the city’s leader, who is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee.

The campaign was overtaken by a student movement that exploded in September 2014 when police fired tear gas on gathering crowds.

The Occupy trio urged people to join what became known as the Umbrella Movement as protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas and pepper spray.

The three men are among nine prodemocracy defendants facing “public nuisance” charges for their participation in the protests, which ultimately failed to win political reform, despite bringing parts of the city to a standstill for over two months.

Chan says he has become a marathon runner to prepare for the physical and mental challenges of a possible jail sentence -- the maximum term for public nuisance is seven years.

He says he is “hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst” ahead of his trial, which starts on November 19, but adds he does not feel afraid.

“I’ve seen many of my friends suppressed by the Chinese government and I already feel privileged to have been able to fight against that in Hong Kong,” he told AFP. He has chosen to testify in court to set

the record straight.

“We’d like to take the witness stand and tell our story, tell people why this happened and the idea behind it,” says Chan.

“We need to restore history.”

Chan and Tai argue the charges against them are nonsensical and amount to a political prosecution.

The trio each face three charges based on a colonial-era law: conspiracy to cause public nuisance, inciting others to cause public nuisance, and inciting people to incite others to cause public nuisance.

Tai describes “inciting to incite” as a “far-fetched charge” and accuses authorities of redefining the meaning of rule of law to suit their own agenda.

“Order is the most important, national security is important, other basic rights are irrelevant. This is their way now,” he said.

However, despite the growing concerns that Hong Kong’s cherished freedoms are disappearing, Tai believes there is still an independent judiciary and the court will be fair.

Analyst Suzanne Pepper, an honorary fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the political reason for the trial was to discredit the democracy movement.

The charges reflect the aim of the Hong Kong government to seek guilty verdicts through “long-unused legal excuses to pursue what is essentially Beijing’s political agenda”, she said.

The explicitly non-violent principles of the campaign could pose a challenge for prosecutors, Pepper added.

She believes that although the younger generation ultimately spearheaded the Umbrella Movement, the rallies would not have happened without the trio’s Occupy Central campaign.

Both Tai and Chan say they do not regret their involvement.

Chan believes Hong Kongers still want to fight for democracy, but it is becoming more difficult under China’s tightening grip. AFP

BALLOON MAN. An Indonesian vendor transports balloons on a motorcycle in Banda Aceh on November 13. AFP

US researchers: N. Korea hiding missile bases WASHINGTON―North Korea is operating at least 13 undeclared bases to hide mobile, nuclear-capable missiles, a new study asserted Monday, as progress stalls on US President Donald Trump’s signature foreign policy initiative.

Trump has hailed his June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as having opened the way to the North’s denuclearization, defusing tensions that less than a year ago brought the two countries to the brink of conflict.

Since the summit in Singapore, North Korea has forgone nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a missile test site and promised to also break up the country’s main nuclear complex if the US makes concessions.

But researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said they had located 13 missile operating bases that had not been declared by the government, and that there may be as many as 20.

“It’s not like these bases have been frozen,” Victor Cha, who leads CSIS’s North Korea program, told The New York

Times, which first reported on the study and headlined its findings as suggesting a “great deception” by Pyongyang.

“Work is continuing,” said Cha, who was once in line to be the US ambassador to Seoul. “What everybody is worried about is that Trump is going to accept a bad deal―they give us a single test site and dismantle a few other things, and in return they get a peace agreement.”

But the South Korean government and analysts played down the report, saying that the facilities had been known about for years and Pyongyang had never offered to give them up.

The bases are scattered across the country in underground facilities tunneled in narrow mountain valleys, according to the CSIS researchers, and designed for mobile missile launchers to quickly exit and move to previously prepared launch sites.

Bases for strategic weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles―whose development is the subject of sanctions―are located deep inside the country. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Belmonte bats for automated transactions at city hall offices

By Rio N. Araja IF elected as the next mayor, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday bared a plan to automate city hall transactions using technology.

“We do not just plan to bolster the internal management program. I would like a fully automated city hall linked up to our traffic management system, our barangays, our planning office and other offices,” she said.

Belmonte said there is a need for an automation to be able to create a comprehensive plan based on data gathered from automated programs.

“Data from all these transactions is the most important tool we can use to plan future projects and services. This is where we’ll find out what the people really need and where we need to improve,” she added.

Technology could help reduce corruption in government transactions since “automation would also minimize face-to-face interaction that can help eliminate corruption, so we have to use technology to its utmost potential in our city,” the vice mayor added.

Meanwhile, Mayor Herbert Bautista spearheaded the inauguration of the new seven-story Commission on Elections building in District 1’s Santo Cristo, Bago Bantay.

He said there is a need to provide Comelec with its own new structure because he has not seen any improvement on its old office inside the city hall since he began his political career in 1985.

’YOLANDA’ KIDS. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos leads a feeding program for child-evacuees at the Tacloban Evacuation Center on Nov. 8 during the commemoration of the

anniversary of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and as an early celebration for her birthday on Nov. 12. Marcos narrated the lessons learned from the super typhoon, as she called on the people to go all out for disaster preparedness.

49k Makati students get rain gear

By Joel E. Zurbano

A

TOTAL of 49,379 students, including 443 learners under the Special Education (SpEd) curriculum in 25 public elementary schools in Makati City, will be given raincoats and pair of rain boots in line with the city government’s advocacy for children’s well-being and safety.

“As promised, we have begun distributing new raincoats and a pair of rain boots to our young students from preschool to Grade 6, as well as SpEd learners, in our public schools this month.

We want to make sure that they have adequate protection when they go to school especially during the rainy season,” Mayor Abigail Binay said.

Binay has initiated the inclusion of new rain gear for young school children in this

year’s budget allocation for Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education).

“We are continuously looking for ways to make our schoolchildren as safe and comfortable as possible. We saw the need to provide them with rain gear to protect them from the common cold and more serious water-borne diseases, and so we acted on it with dispatch,” she said.

The city chief executive also re-

Salceda pushes ‘Albay 2.0’ plan for prosperity

Navotas inks pact with fisherfolk family scholars

By Jun David MAYOR John Rey Tiangco has signed an agreement with the beneficiaries of the NavotaAs Ulirang Pamilyang Mangingisda Scholarship Program.

Five relatives, up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, of the 2018 Top Ten Outstanding Fisherfolk are now eligible to receive educational assistance from the city government.

The first batch of Ulirang Pamilyang Mangingisda scholars included Rhea Garnodo and Lenz Edrick Sabino of Brgy. Tanza 1; April Rose Santiago and Apple Udarbe of Brgy. Tangos South; and Nathaniel Mongolian of Brgy. Sipac-Almacen.

“We want to give the children and other family members of our registered fisherfolk a fair chance to realize their goals and achieve their dreams through quality education without the burden of financial instability,” Tiangco said.

Under the agreement, Navotas will provide the scholars with P16,500 transportation and food allowance as well as P1,500 book stipend per academic year.

Scholars, on the other hand, are expected to maintain good grades and conduct; maintain good health and physical fitness, and provide services to the city government, if necessary.

vealed that in the coming school year, the city government will be providing free school socks to the students in addition to the many benefits they are receiving through Project FREE. “For as long as we can afford it, we are willing to provide our schoolchildren’s essential needs to ease the burden on their parents. They can instead spend more for their food and shelter needs,” said Binay.

CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL. Performers in various colorful costumes greet young girls who also dress up as SM City Masinag entered the jolliest season of the year with a grand Christmas Carnival Funfair, guaranteed to make ‘#aweSM’ moments for the kids and kids-at-heart in the Antipolo City area. Manny Palmero

SMX Clark to open 2020; Park Inn adds more rooms THE hospitality, leisure, meetings and conventions business group of SM Investments Corporation, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., will launch two major projects in Clark, Pampanga.

In a statement, the firm said Northern Luzon clients will be delighted to know that Park Inn by Radisson Clark will open 100 additional rooms and SMX Convention Center will launch another conventions and meetings facility, the SMX Convention Center

Clark, both by Q1 2020.

Park Inn by Radisson Clark’s breakdown of additional room types are 43 King Rooms (26.46-27.58 sq. m. gross area per room), 50 Twin Rooms (26.46-30.21 sq. m.), 2 person-withdisability Rooms (26.46 sq. m.) and 5 Corner 1-Bedroom Suite (49.04 sq. m.) bringing the total number of guest rooms to 254.

The increase in the hotel’s guest rooms will address the demand for accommodations especially during peak

season in the country, the company said.

Furthermore, the improvements being made at Clark International Airport will drive the growth in number of domestic travelers and international visitors doing business or visiting the country for leisure, it added.

Walid Wafik, SMX Convention Center VP-General Manager, said: “The new addition of SMX Clark in Pampanga makes us look forward to establishing the SMX Convention Center brand in the Northern Luzon area.”

KAKAO KONEK 2018.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar (center) opens a big chocolate bar presented at the Kakao Konek 2018 (Philippine Cacao and Chocolate Festival) on Monday at the Davao Convention and Trade Center. The celebration with the theme ‘Celebrating the Gains of Cacao Farming’ was staged by the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao with the Philippine Cacao Industry Council.

Lino Santos

LEGAZPI CITY—Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has pledged to push his higher level “Albay 2.0” development that seeks “an expanded, well-educated middle class, poverty reduction, and elimination of involuntary hunger and malnutrition.”

Running unopposed for reelection in the 2019 polls, Salceda said his programs involve “promotion of catalytic institutions, and higher investments in human capital and infrastructure development that would increase private investments in a more competitive business sector and a more sustainable environment.”

Addressing his province mates here, he explained: “The real candidate here is the “Albay 2.0” plan for a strong economy and broad benefits for all, especially those who are always left behind. I only represent the plan.”

“The goal is greater prosperity for the greater majority through expansion of a well-educated middle class, reduction of poverty, elimination of involuntary hunger, and lower malnutrition and stunting rates,” he added.

Salceda said he is pursuing at least ten major programs which will benefit his district, the entire Albay and the Bicol Region.

Among them are the further upgrade of the Bicol Training and Teaching Hospital, that has already received its P592 million release for 2018, to complete its 600-bed capacity; and for another P1.9 billion budget, it will open the Bicol Cancer Institute, with Liner Accelerator and Magnetic Resonance Imaging facilities.

Nissan Bataan gains DTI’s ‘Bagwis Gold’ BALANGA CITY, Bataan—Owing to its superb customer relation services, Nissan Bataan was awarded Bagwis Gold, the Department of Trade and Industry’s highest award for upholding the rights of consumers.

DTI Bataan Provincial Director Nelin Cabahug awarded the Bagwis Gold plaque to Nissan Bataan Service Head Alfredo A. Ellamil Jr. in a ceremony held recently at Crown Royal Hotel, this city.

“We would like to thank DTI and other agencies involved for the Bagwis Gold Award. This kind of award gives inspiration to all businesses being recognized. We thank you for giving us inspiration to further elevate our brand of service for our customers,” Ellamil said.

“Nissan Bataan is very much honored for receiving the DTI Bagwis Gold Award. We will continue doing best to fully serve our customers,” he added.

The DTI provincial director commended all awardees for complying with trade laws.

Nissan Bataan is located along Roman Highway, Barangay Culis, Hermosa, Bataan. Butch Gunio

Life

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

fashion and beauty

e

VeRy piece of jewelry by designer Tim Tam Ong is a tribute to exceptional Filipino craftsmanship.

More than building a name for her brand, she supports local artists, advocacies, and professionals, clearly appreciative of the work put into services and creations. Tim Tam Ong products are 100 percent locally made.

Tim Tam makes sure that she does what she can to help her employees in terms of value formation and improved quality of life. In relation to her love of traveling the world, she also loves to visit different places in the Philippines, drawing inspiration from the things she sees and learns.

Inspired by a mother’s love for instilling appreciation for tradition, culture, and authenticity to her children, the heirloom collection is designer Tim Tam Ong’s tribute to her two sons.

A celebrated fusion of classic and contemporary design aesthetics, she pays homage to the Filipino culture and arts from the conceptualization to the execution of each item in the heirloom collection.

Nature’s artworks in the form of local raw materials, such as carabao horn, mother of pearl, and pearls, exclusively found in the Philippines became the catalyst for Tim Tam Ong’s design inspirations.

“As a designer, I feel that part of my legacy is to share the wondrous culture and arts of the Philippines to the whole world by making them accessible through jewelry,” says the jewelry designer.

She continues, “And as a mother, I feel I owe it to my sons to help them recognize and acknowledge their roots and their culture. Our culture is our fingerprint, it is what defines us and we should have more of it in our everyday lives. We need to preserve it and take inspiration from it to keep it alive.”

Meticulous, handcrafted designs are a testament to Tim Tam’s dedication to finding beauty in the ordinary and the obscure. Whereas most jewelries are quickly manufactured in the conveyor belt-run factories, hers are painstakingly crafted by passionate

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A tribute to Filipino heritage

Jewelry designer Tim Tam Ong has made it her advocacy to support local artists and share the culture and arts of the Philippines through her pieces.

artisan hands. These are seen in the intricate jewelry designs. Not only are the pieces from the collection revolutionary, Tim Tam has put emphasis in making the jewelry flexible enough to be statement pieces for both casual and formal outfits. “each piece is exceptional but cohesive to the theme of the entire collection,” she explains. She further elaborates she oftentimes has to dwell upon the perfected design for days, months, even years until she feels she has created the ideal piece.

her creative process in jewelry design is no exception—stones and their settings should form stories that tease the mind and taunt the senses.

“I love making women feel beautiful in what they wear, and these items can effortlessly be taken from daytime to nighttime. In terms of how I came up with the designs, I love to sketch, and most of the time, the best designs come from what I call ‘happy accidents’ from unexpected elements. I never repeat a design I’ve done in the past. I may make variations of a certain design, but nev-

er an exact replica. I believe in giving each wearer that distinct ownership of that particular design—because we are all unique and I think it’s marvelous to showcase that uniqueness we all have.”

Tim Tam also notes the growing appreciation of locally crafted products and services. “It is an opportunity for local artists and professionals to strive even better and show people what they are capable of creating. every day is an opportunity to be better.”

She reiterates her mission, that apart from being an artist, she is foremost a

mother and a Filipina. “I choose to work with talented Philippine artisans to allow them an opportunity to improve their lives. My mission is to create while also reviving and even preserving ancient traditions of the Philippines that are in danger of becoming lost.”

The heirloom collection is exclusively available at Tim Tam Ong’s boutique at R2 Level Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center.

For more information, go to www. timtamong.com, email ongtimtam@yahoo.com.ph, or visit timtamongpage on Facebook or Instagram.

MADE BY HANDS. Tim Tam Ong’s jewelry pieces feature intricate designs, painstakingly crafted by passionate artisan hands. Pieces from the Heirloom collection are flexible enough to be statement pieces for both casual and formal outfits.

Put your most festive feet forward The holiday season is the perfect time to inject glamour to even an everyday ensemble. In Parisian’s Shoes and Bags’ holiday collection, classic styles are given an update to make them high style and fun.

Take a bow

Who What Wear UK says that Magda Butrym’s bow-fronted satin mules were the most Instagrammed shoes of the press appointments for autumn/winter 2018. Parisian presents its own versions of the pointed toe mules with a feminine touch of bow. These shoes are perfect when paired with classic square bags.

Mostly gloss

Jayme bag with studs

The spring ‘18 runway was full of PVC goodies, and Parisian incorporated similar pieces in their collections. The label’s PVC sandals instantly add a modern touch to any holiday look. They match best with artsy woven bags.

Call of the wild

Leopard print is a popular sight on autumn/winter ‘18 runways. Animals patterns extended to zebra prints at Tom Ford and Balenciaga, while faux stamped crocodile was seen in many creations. Parisian Shoes’ “wild things” come in the form of animal printed boots with zipper details.

Kitten comeback

The love-them-hate-them kitten heels are back, and Parisian’s version of this playful style is practical for fancy events and workplace.

Back to square one

While pointed pumps are still very fashionable, Who What Wear UK reports that the hippest out there are opting for square toes. This trend began last summer, but with Loewe, Alexander McQueen, and Victoria Beckham leading the way, the micro trend is set to go macro at Parisian with its square-toe flats.

Slingback throwback

A popular ‘80s style, slingback shoes, is also on a comeback trail this season, with modern touches, like pastel shades and kitten heels. This style matches well with Parisian’s other assortment of arm candies—from quilted to studded bags and round crossbody to evening clutches.

Parisian Shoes and Bags’ Holiday collection is available at all SM Stores branches nationwide.

Parisian’s Shoes and Bags’ Holiday collection adds glamour to everyday ensemble.

Life

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wednesday, november 14, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Travel in style like

Justin Timberlake has collaborated with American fashion label Levi’s for a collection suitable for traveling.

Justin Timberlake

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uSiC star Justin Timberlake expresses his love of music and traveling in his collaboration with a fashion label known for its classic american style and effortless cool.

The 20-piece levi’s x Justin Timberlake “Fresh es—from jackets to hoodies to button-down shirts. it’s leaves” collection, launched in the Philippines re- made for fashionable jetsetters who look for outfits that cently, features a modern take on iconic levi’s piec- strike the perfect balance between style and comfort.

Versatile layer options

The collection offers a complete set of pieces that can be mixed and matched for some playful layer combinations during sweater weather season.

The Fresh leaves collection includes a variety of tops such as long sleeve crew neck shirts and graphic tees, among others.

Sherpa trucker jacket (top) and Reversible plaid nylon shirt jacket (bottom)

Cozy classic

The collaboration between the iconic fashion brand and music superstar has given birth to the newest member of the levi’s 501 family—the 501 Slim Taper—inspired by how Justin wears his 501 jeans: with optimal comfort in mind.

The Levi’s x Justin Timberlake Fresh Leaves collection is now available at Levi’s stores in Greenbelt 5, Trinoma, Robinsons Ermita, SM Mall of Asia, SM The Block, SM Megamall, Uptown BGC, SM Aura, and Ayala Cebu.

JTLevi’s 501 Slim Taper

Long sleeve graphic mighty tee (top) and Long sleeve worker shirt (bottom)

Jackets in time for the cold

outerwear pieces that provide that warm and fuzzy feeling are essential when traveling to a cold destination.

The collaboration comes decked with a variety of jackets, from sherpa trucker jacket to nylon shirt jacket.

A beautiful, glowing partnership

sale alert Up to 50 percent off Maybelline products ChriSTMaS comes early to makeup junkies as Maybelline new York brings back its biggest makeup sale on nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

Favorite items from the brand will be offered at up to 50 percent off;

some products go as low as P125. in addition, surprise flash sales and freebies from Maybelline will roll out during the holiday promotion. here are some Maybelline products on discount during the Crazy Sale:

Superstay Liquid Foundation

Fit Me Powder Foundation (on selected weekends)

Color Sensational Powder Mattes Lipsticks

Superstay Matte Inks (on selected weekends)

Lash Sensational Mascara

Tattoo Brow Ink Pen Total Temptation Mascara

Kris Aquino and Ever Bilena chief executive officer Dioceldo Sy

KriS aquino’s collaboration with homegrown cosmetics brand Ever Bilena has been so far a success.

The partnership of the two giant names in local beauty industry has produced five Kris Matte liquid lipstick (P225) shades, all named by the Queen of all Media after her life experiences: lucky, loyal, laugh, love, and life. lucky is a universal mauve pink that suits any skin tone, loyal, on the other hand, is its darker alternative for a bolder look. laugh and life complement fairer skin tones, while the classic red love flatters all skin tones.

Ever Bilena and aquino designed the shades to suit Filipino skin tones. The liquid lipsticks are infused with antioxidants that moisturize despite its matte formula.

They are also paraben- and cruelty-free. aside from the lipsticks, other quality make-up are yet to come from the Kris and Ever Bilena collaboration.

The Kris Matte lipsticks are proof of Ever Bilena’s commitment, under its chief executive officer Dioceldo Sy, to expand continuously while offering its quality beauty products at fair and affordable prices. The leading local cosmetics company continues its evolution into a full cosmetics brand with over 200 beauty consultants nationwide.

Be the Boss in this store

Following the huge reopening event of the new BoSS flagship at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, the brand brings its new store concept to Manila at its greenbelt 5 boutique.

The new store concept conveys a homey feel; welcoming customers to the world of this german luxury fashion house. warm and residential materials for wooden cabinets, generous and comfortable seating areas, new key elements like integrated skylights, as well as granite flooring enhance the inviting atmosphere in the greenbelt 5 store.

The overall effect is elegant yet light, the interplay of color contrasts in combination with clear lines lends the store a modern and refined look.

The latest brand-related campaign videos and fashion shows are prominently displayed on a digital lED screen.

BOSS’ Greenbelt 5 branch reopens with a new store concept.

The new BoSS store carries the latest fall/winter 2018 BoSS Mens- meter retail space.

Shangri-La East Wing, Rustan’s Shanwear collection, including shoes Aside from its Greenbelt 5 branch, gri-la, Rustan’s Cebu, and 158 Designand accessories, in its 110-square- BOSS is located at City of Dreams, er’s Blvd. Newport Mall.

Entertainment

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AMILY is at the core of Filipino culture, and is a great source of hope and strength. Even in the toughest of times, Filipinos rise up amidst adversity and come out stronger, thanks to the love and support of family.

As the Christmas season approaches, ABS-CBN celebrates love found in all kinds of families through its 2018 Christmas Station ID with the theme “Family is Love” that will premiere on Nov. 18 on ASAP. Over 400 Kapamilya Stars from ABSCBN’s entertainment and news programs on its various media platforms will be part of the video, headlined by the likes of Vice Ganda, Sarah Geronimo, Gary Valenciano, Sharon Cuneta, Piolo Pascual, new Kapamilya Regine Velasquez, and love teams Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, and Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto.

They will be joined by other ABSCBN world-class talents Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Billy Crawford, Iñigo Pascual, KZ Tandingan, Moira Dela Torre, Darren Espanto, Erik Santos, Janine Berdin, and Yeng Constantino and It’s Showtime hosts Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Amy Perez, Mariel Rodriguez, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang, and Karylle, and the TNT Boys Mackie Empuerto, Kiefer Sanchez, and Francis Concepcion in singing this year’s theme, which lyrics were written by ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management division head Robert Labayen and Lloyd Oliver “Tiny” Corpuz, and with music by Marcus Davis and Amber Davis.

Also lending their voices in the Christmas Station ID are Coco Martin and the cast of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (FPJAP), the UST Singers, AFP choir, Ramon Magsaysay High School (Manila) choir, and Koro Bangkal Magbikin choir.

Leading up to the much-anticipated premiere of the “Family is Love” station ID, Kapamilyas can watch five stories of inspiring Filipino families on various Kapamilya shows.

FPJAP featured the story of the Garcia brothers—three military men from different military services who fought side by side during the Marawi siege on Monday (Nov. 12). On Tuesday (Nov. 13), It’s Showtime featured the story of Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal and her family, who worked together to support the skateboarder in reaching her dreams.

Meanwhile, Magandang Buhay features the story of superwoman and mom Lorlie “Keribels” Noblezada today (Nov. 14). Despite juggling jobs as a security guard, traffic enforcer, masahista, and “crying lady” to support her big family, Lorlie also managed to fulfill her goal of getting a college degree.

Tomorrow (Nov. 15) after TV Patrol, viewers will be inspired of the bayanihan among communities in Benguet as they rise from the ravage of typhoon Ompong.

Finally, on Saturday (Nov.17), MMK will feature the story of Dr. Viktorija Cirvinskaite, a 30 year-old missionary doctor from Lithuania who left her country and everything she owned to help the residents of Talim Island and become its only resident doctor.

Amber Davis also provided vocals for the music used for these wonderful stories.

The ABS-CBN Christmas Station IDs has become a tradition among Filipinos.

The videos, which garner millions of views on Youtube like last year’s “Just Love Ngayong Pasko,” bring joy and inspiration to Filipino families with their positive messages and catchy melodies.

For updates on this year’s ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID, follow the official hashtag #FamilyIsLove.

Phenomenal love team Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber

Over 400 Kapamilya stars gather for family-themed Christmas Station ID

DOWN 1 In a tizzy 2 Karate cousin 3 Type of rug 4 Busy time (2 wds.)

5 Ms. Winfrey 6 Tiny sphere 7 Bradley and Sneed 8 Barks shrilly 9 More crafty 10 Comstock Lode state 11 Depart 12 Lhasa — 13 Bleachers sound 21 Snack 23 First P.M. of India 26 Up in the air 27 Barge’s place 28 Davis of “The

nickie.standard@gmail.com

THIS November, IMAX at SM Cinema transports cinemagoers to the Internet world as Wreck-ItRalph and Vanellope von Schweetz return for more adventure in Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Set six years after Ralph and Vanellope saved the arcade from Turbo’s vengeance, the Sugar Rush game was unplugged as the steering wheel controller breaks. During the shutdown, the residents of Sugar Rush were evacuated to other games while Ralph and Vanellope then discover a newly-installed Wi-Fi router in Mr. Litwak’s arcade.

Due to curiosity on what the WiFi router has to offer and in hope of looking for a steering wheel replacement, the two were instantly transported in the world of Internet.

Will Ralph and Vanellope find success

in the Internet and save Sugar Rush?

Join them as the two encounter new cultures, worlds, and iconic characters from Disney, The Muppets, Star Wars, Marvel Comics and Pixar.

Get ready for a wrecking cinematic adventure as Ralph Breaks the Internet has been digitally remastered for The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. With topnotch equipment and high-quality audiovisuals, watching Ralph Breaks the Internet at IMAX theatres is a must.

Catch Ralph Breaks the Internet starting Nov. 21 at any SM Cinema branch near you. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema. com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow / SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_ Cinema on Instagram for updates.

'Ralph Breaks the Internet' is the critics approved sequel to Disney's 'Wreck-It Ralph.'

Simply...

From C4

Regine Velasquez with Sarah Geronimo

Kapamilya love teams add zest to this year's ABS-CBN Christmas station ID.

My friend Ester Dipasupil who once edited the Lifestyle section of Manila Standard before moving to the Philippine Daily Inquirer is now a book writer and editor.

Last Monday, Nov. 12, she launched A Banaue Story: Restoring a World Heritage Treasure Treasure,” a coffee table book on the restoration of the world-famous rice terraces of Ifugao province, at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

The 265-page book is a testimony to the efforts of local farming communities in the province and the dedication of advocates in the preservation of the ageold architectural wonder often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World, but which now faces alarming problems of degradation, neglect, and abandonment.

Apart from contributions from prominent personalities in the academe, the book, edited by the former Philippine

Daily Inquirer editor, is replete with spectacular photographs of the terraces -- declared a world heritage site by UNESCO-- taken from all angles by renowned photographers like Eduardo Masferre, John Chua, and George Tapan, among others.

It also includes documentation and onsite step-by-step procedures on the current restoration efforts being undertaken by volunteers from the villages as well as soldiers of the Philippine Army, with the support of businesswoman and cultural heritage stalwart Dr. Milagros O. How, president and CEO of Universal Harvester, Inc. The book ends with an appeal not only to stakeholders but Filipinos from all over as well to help save the terraces in ways they know best, before this beloved cultural icon vanishes completely from the landscape. *** More stories of these kinds at www. isah.red. Follow me on Facebook (@ isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred and Instagran (@isahvred. ΙŘ

Kristine Hermosa, son Vin tapped as brand ambassadors ACTRESS Kristine Hermosa and son Vin are introduced as the newest ambassadors of KOOLFEVER’s best-selling fever relief pads. Following the launch of their commercial, the actress graced an exclusive event and talked about the challenges of caring for children when they are unwell.

Speaking from personal experience, the young mom relayed how the product’s gentle cooling gel sheets help alleviate her worries by providing her kids, especially one-year-old Vin, with quick and effective relief from fevers.

“Vin can’t sleep when he has a fever.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 61 Solemn promise 62 Zealous 64 Trickle 65 Comics pooch 66 Riled up 67 Supermodel — Macpherson 68 Thomas Hardy heroine 69 Bygone anesthetic 70 Tinted

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Ralph breaks the Internet anew

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Slightly open 5 Complies 10 Close at hand 14 Hindu teacher 15 Piano part 16 Montreal athlete 17 Ovid works 18 Hoarse 19 Customs request 20 Proceed (2 wds.)

22 Lawmaker 24 Villain’s cry 25 Primary color 26 Tech talk 29 U.K. fliers 32 Door in a plane 36 In — of 37 Fuzzier 39 Exultant cry 40 Gives too much emphasis to 43 Marsh 44 — Vaccaro of films 45 Home port 46 Exchange 48 Urban rds.

49 Really shakes up 50 Give — — try 52 — de cologne 53 Didn’t just brush 57 Small fish

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Fly” 29 Runs rapidly 30 Spy 31 Bankrolls 33 Entire 34 Bureau 35 Garden shed items 37 TV adjunct 38 JFK posting 41 Helps with a heist 42 Swarmed with 47 Food servers 49 Snowy mo.

51 Falcon’s home

52 Comforter stuffing 53 Animal’s paw 54 Put cargo aboard 55 Elevator maker 56 Move quickly 57 Tiny amount 58 Air France destination 59 Trickery 60 Zoomed 63 Ebenezer’s outburst

It’s hard to see him restless and uncomfortable, that’s why I’m grateful for KOOLFEVER. It’s easy to use and it helps bring down his temperature so he can feel better in no time,” Kristine says. “I’ve always trusted the brand to help relieve my kids of their fever. It is a must have for me in my first aid kit.”

Each KOOLFEVER pad has a soft, bouncy gel made of 80 percent moisture that absorbs and disperses heat from the body. It’s formulated to sustain the cooling effect for up to four hours, and its texture ensures it stays in place even

if your baby moves around while he sleeps. It is an effective alternative to a sponge bath, which helps provide relief from fever discomfort. Moreover, the gel has no coloring or fragrance, so it’s guaranteed to be gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin.

Made by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in Japan, KOOLFEVER comes in two variants designed for infants up to 2 years old and for children between two and 12 years old and two other variants made for adults. All variants are available in leading supermarkets and Mercury Drugstore outlets nationwide.

Kristine Hermosa and Baby Vin

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018

A jamming session of pure ‘90s anthems

By Nickie Wang

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ROM the creative team that gave you Kita Kita, the highest-grossing local movie of 2017, comes another thought-provoking story about the interesting journey of two people who are in a romantic relationship for a long time.

Entitled Through Night and Day, the film stars Paolo Contis and Alessandra de Rossi. They have been friends for a long time and have worked in various TV shows and projects but this is the first time that they are teaming up for a titular role on the big screen. Their natural chemistry is incredible, they have fun and tease each other constantly while making the film.

Now a producer, Alessandra is known for her quirky, off beat roles.

From Kita Kita to 12, Alessandra proves to be an acting force with any story or any acting partner.

“She’s fun to be with. And it helps that we’ve known each other for a very long time so we didn’t have to make any adjustments. We only teased each other while we’re on the set,” Paolo told Manila Standard in an interview.

In the movie, Paolo and Alessandra play Ben and Jen. Before getting married, the two embark on a trip of a lifetime to Jen’s lifelong dream destination—Iceland.

Their relationship is put to the test as all sorts of misfortunes happen to them on this trip, mostly caused by Jen’s blunders. What they hope to be a trip that would make their relationship stronger ends up tearing them apart.

“They’ve been in a relationship for a long time, but because of their busy schedule, they didn’t really have that alone moment. It was their first time to be together from morning till evening. So, while on vacation, instead of enjoying each other’s company and enjoying the trip the way they envisioned it, the trip gradually turned into a nightmare that brought out their worst sides,” says Paolo of the premise of the film.

The comedian, who takes the lead for the first time is elated to be part of the project. He didn’t mind whether or not he was the first choice to play the character.

“It doesn’t really matter. The only important thing is I’m the final person to really play the character,” he said.

This is the first movie he has done after a long time. Mainly known for comedy and drama, this is also the first time Paolo plays a leading man in a love story.

Through Night and Day is the first Filipino film shot in Iceland which is Alessandra’s dream destination. She feels like it is her second home because she identifies so much with her idol Bjork—Iceland’s very own international pop star.

Produced by Viva Films, Through Night and Day is helmed

by Ronnie Velasco, the director of Tuhog and My Dear Other Self.” It unspools in cinemas nationwide today.

'Through Night and Day' starring Paolo Contis and Alessandra de Rossi shows that travel is the best test of true love.

Paolo and Alessandra in thought-provoking

romance drama

A scenes from the film shot partly in the Nordic island nation

The film is a love story between Ben (Contis) and Jen (De Rossi), a couple who travels to Iceland before getting married.

Jessica Sanchez returns to her mother’s roots FILIPINO-MEXICANAMERICAN Jessica Sanchez is in town. The only American Idol contestant with Filipino roots that reached the top 2 in the search’s season 11 hopes to top and explore her mother’s roots.

Last Saturday she was the featured star in a concert at The Theatre at Solaire with Filipino-American singer Martin Nievera.

At Studio 28 in Taguig City’s Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Jessica met a motley group of members of the mass media and explained why she is back in the Philippines.

Though this isn’t her first time in the country—she’s been here several times as guest of a TV network— this time Jessica seems bent on carving a niche in the Philippines’ colorful and flourishing music market. She signed with Stages for management of her career not only in the Philippines but in the booming digital music market in Southeast Asia.

Jessica Sanchez, with the help of Stages, said Carlo Orosa who was there to represent the management company, will do a number of projects in the country in the coming months, Another STAGES star, Christian Bautista, was also there, and they performed the Christmas tune that they recorded in LA, ”Another Silent Christmas Song,” now available for download from digital music websties.

Jessica said she would love to learn Filipino (Tagalog), then she would sing more OPM songs.

“While I don’t understand Filipino well, it’s a beautiful language to sing in. I want to learn, dive in and be part of the culture. I want to be able to talk and sing in Tagalog to show that side of me,” said the 23-year-old ISAH V. RED singer, who was raised in the United States by a Mexican-American father and a Filipino mother from Bataan.

She likewise feels that speaking the language better can double as her way of thanking all the Filipino fans that have been supportive of her career over the years. “I just love the people and how they backed me up throughout my ‘Idol’ journey, and I’m excited to show everyone how I have grown up,” said Jessica.

Jessica , in her Nov. 10 show at The Theatre at Solaire sang the ballad “Ikaw,” which she has done a couple of times in previous visits to the country. She learned a couple more and performed them with Martin Nievera Jessica is also slated to do shows in Cebu and Davao in December.

The upcoming shows will be “a mix of fun stuff”—a throwback to her ‘Idol’ days, a smattering of her original material, and songs that have become part of her musical journey.

“I’m excited to sing different types of songs that will cater to everyone in the crowd. It won’t be limited to ballads and pop songs. I want to touch everyone with my music,” she said.

“Filipinos can really sing—they’re like vocal monsters, belting and doing all these crazy stuff! I’d love to work with talented artists, not only onstage, but also on record,” she said.

Jessica is recording a new album, which she hopes to finish and release next year. The sound will be R&B-leaning, which is more in line with who she is as an artist.

“I just feel that my voice sits in a beautiful pocket when I sing R&B music. I think my tone suits that genre, and I’m super excited to continue in that direction,” said Jessica, who looks up to the likes of Mariah Carey, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. “Over the years, I have let people dictate who I am as an artist. But now, I just want to do music that feels right to me.” Continued on C3

SWEET, rock and a whole lot of bold, the ‘90s was an era of statement making music that shook the core and revitalized Philippine music. Hear the pulse raising hits in 90s Overload happening on Nov. 17 at The Theatre at Solaire.

“90s Overload reminisces the era when Original Pilipino Music (OPM) found its footing on the rock scene.

The grungy, attitude-filled acoustics merged with the soulful lyrics that are normally the signature of our ballads were what made it appealing and relatable. The ‘90s music were statement makers which made them click with a wide audience then, and even with today’s younger generation,” says Solaire Resort & Casino’s Director for Entertainment Audie Gemora.

The concert will bring together the ‘90s most iconic band voices to sweep its audience onto its currents.

Jek Manuel of IAXE Band, Cooky Chua of Color It Red, Lei Bautista of Prettier than Pink, Paco Arespacochaga of Introvoys, Perf De Castro of Rivermaya, Glenn Jacinto of Teeth, Wency Cornejo of After Image, Myra Ruaro of Put3ska, Naldy Padilla of Orient Pearl, Dodong Cruz of The Youth, Stephen Lu of Rizal Underground and Noel Palomo of Siakol will sing their most prolific songs to bring in the nostalgia tide after tide.

Myra Ruaro of Put3ska shares that the ‘90s music scene was a time when ingenuity was abundant, “The Pinoy ‘90s music scene was the time of great musical opportunities for artists and bands with truly creative and unique original compositions. There was so much talent coming from the rock scene and the musicians’ diverse musical personas made the vibe truly exciting and progressive.”

The diversity in sound, interpretation and style created a culture where each is a mentor to the other, “Everyone knew everyone and supported each other’s music. Though we had our own unique sound and identity, we were all part of one community, one family, one barkada,” says Prettier than Pink’s Lei Bautista.

The era’s richness in musical material that spoke to one in a personal level made it difficult for most to pick which they would consider as their ‘90s anthem. But for some, there are songs that are more long-lasting than others.

Cooky Chua of Color It Red cites “Nanaman” from their band’s first album, “Ito yung pinaka unang kantang nasulat ng banda namin for Ateneo Fair”, while for Rizal Underground’s Stephen Lu, “It would be ‘Alapaap’.

The lyric brings us to a different level of high. The music has its rock feel but with pop sensibilities”.

Asked what they’re looking forward to in their upcoming concert, the four artists gave the same answers.

“We want to bring back the audience to the 90s and recreate the same energy and atmosphere while we get to hang out with old and new artist friends,” says Lei. Cooky adds, “Sabi ko nga kay Wency (Cornejo), I do this for the friendship and bonding. It feels good to hang out with the artists na kasama dito, hindi trabaho.”

Concert goers will witness a big jamming session of their favorite ‘90s anthems that will make them unconsciously bob their heads, sing along, and jump up from their seats.

For tickets to 90s Overload, call TicketWorld at 891-9999.

'90s OPM icons join together in a onenight only spectacle on Nov. 17 at The Theatre at Solaire.