Manila Standard - 2018 November 19 - Monday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 277 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Duterte skips gala dinner for ‘power nap’ PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte passed on a gala dinner at a regional summit in Papua New Guinea, days after skipping key meetings in another gathering of world leaders for a “power nap.”

Duterte, who has a well-known disdain for stiff diplomatic gatherings, was a no-show Saturday night, sending his trade minister instead to pose with heads of state donning bright yellow and red Papua New Guinean shirts.

His office had initially announced that the mercurial leader was cutting short his trip to Port Moresby even before the main meetings began but on Sunday he did show up at the convention center.

“This after I loudly and naggingly insisted he stay just one day. ONE DAY, I stressed,” Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin tweeted on Sunday.

The absence of the 73-year-old Duterte at diplomatic gatherings has sparked criticism and speculation of ill health, which his spokesman denied, saying the president merely lacked sleep.

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INFORMAL DIALOG. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (third from left) poses for a photo with other leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation membercountries prior to the start of the Informal Dialogue with the International Monetary Fund at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Nov. 18, 2018.

Presidential Photo

APEC leaders divided after US-China spat P

ORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea— Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations failed Sunday to bridge gaping divisions at a summit overshadowed by a war of words between the US and China as they vie for influence in the region.

For the first time in the history of the APEC grouping, leaders were unable to agree on a formal written declaration amid sharp differences over trade policy.

“The leaders agreed that instead of a traditional leaders’ declaration, they would leave it to the hands of PNG as the chair to issue a chair statement on behalf of all the members,” said Zhang Xiaolong, a spokesman from the Chinese foreign ministry.

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Poe’s pa-in-law crashes car from mall’s 3rd floor SENATOR Grace Poe’s father-in-law was taken to hospital after his car fell from the third level of an elevated parking space at the Promenade shopping mall in Greenhills, San Juan City on Sunday.

The police report identified the victim as Teodoro Paraiso Llamanzares, 83, a resident of Greenhills, San Juan City.

Security guards and parking attendants who witnessed the incident said Llamanzares, driving a black Toyota Innova, accelerated toward the barrier of the parking structure and fell to the ground at 9:45 am.

Llamanzares was the sole passenger of the vehicle.

Members of the San Juan Police Community Precinct and management of the mall quickly responded to the accident and Llamanzares was taken to Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

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Anti-riot cops brace for China leader’s visit

CRASHLANDED. A black Toyota Innova vehicle driven by Senator Grace Poe’s father-in-law, Teodoro Paraiso Llamanzares, turned belly up after it fell from the third floor parking space at the Promenade shopping mall in Greenhills, San Juan City at 9:45 am, Sunday.

Llamanzares, 83, and sole passenger, was rushed to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center for medical treatment. PNA

compassion from the city government.

Providing an additional P10,000 cash benefit yearly for our elderly...would help defray their daily subsistence and other needs,” the mayor said.

Binay said she hoped the City Council would support her proposed program so that it can be put into effect early next year for the benefit of the city’s nonagenarians.

Under this program, a senior citizen who has been a Blu Card holder for at least five years will receive P10,000

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WEATHER

Binay plays Santa to Makati elderly, okays P10,000 gift MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay on Saturday announced a plan to grant a P10,000 cash gift per year to some 1,968 Makati senior citizens aged 90 to 99 who have been Blu Card holders for at least five years.

The mayor made the announcement before residents of Barangay Olympia during the Ugnayan sa Barangay, a weekly dialog held on Saturdays in a designated barangay.

“We want to add new ways of helping our senior citizens who deserve care and

SOME 5,500 police officers will be deployed for the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Nov. 20-21, including anti-riot cops in case protests break out over Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea, a top police official said Sunday.

Most of the police will come from Metro Manila, but at least 200 will come from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) unit of the CALABARZON regional police office, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar.

when he or she reaches the age of 90, and P10,000 every year thereafter until age 99. Those already in their 90s at the time of the program’s effectivity will receive P10,000 yearly for the remainder of the period before they turn 100.

Makati centenarians are already entitled to a P100,000 cash gift from the city government.

“Makati’s senior citizens are by far the most pampered among their peers in our country today. But this will not stop us Next page

‘Samuel’ enters PAR, may hit land

By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL depression “Samuel” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday morning, and at 3 pm its center was estimated 875 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. The tropical depression was moving west-southwest at 25 kph. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 55

kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Samuel is forecast to make landfall either in Northern Mindanao or Eastern Visayas on Tuesday, and the weather bureau said it could strengthen into a tropical storm.

Caraga, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley must brace for moderate to Next page heavy rainfall.

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Govt panel sets meeting with two NDF leaders

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo has ordered his top officials to talk with National Democratic Front of the Philippines leaders Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni next week, Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Jesus Dureza said Sunday.

“President Duterte has tasked Secretary Salvador Panelo and me to meet with them in an informal chat,” Dureza said in a statement.

“The planned meeting with NDFP leaders Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni may take place next week in Manila.”

Dureza said the meeting will likely take place when he returns next week as he is heading to the United Nations.

“I am now on my way to head the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, so the planned meeting may take place upon my return next week,” Dureza said.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed to the Manila Standard that he will be present in the meeting.

“Yes,” Panelo said when asked if he had been tasked by the President to represent the Duterte administration in a bid to push through the talks with the representatives of the communist rebels.

But the Palace has yet to issue a statement on what topics the government will bring to the table.

Agcaoili serves as the NDFP’s chairman and Jalandoni serves as its senior adviser.

The meeting will take place after the two negotiators announced they will return to the Philippines for possible talks with the President following the arrest of NDFP consultant Vic Ladlad.

An earlier statement said Agcaoili’s trip here would be in connection with their work in the Joint Monitoring Committee under an agreement with the government that seeks to preserve human rights during armed conflict.

He said his group, which includes NDFP panelist Coni Ledesma, had also been “invited to meet with the new Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines.”

“In this regard, we welcome the opportunity to meet with the President unless he does not want to or his military is against it,” Agcaoili said.

Last week, Duterte said he was open to meeting with the NDFP negotiators.

He said he had already called for a cluster meeting to facilitate the talks with the NDFP negotiators.

“When I go back after Papua New Guinea and Singapore, I will make the announcement. We will talk again,” Duterte said.

Duterte is out of the country attending the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea.

He ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to head the Executive department in his stead.

Dureza had earlier assured the NDFP’s high-ranking officials that they would not be arrested on their return this month.

“Last time I checked, there was no pending warrant of arrest for Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni, so they will not be arrested―not unless they will break some laws in our country,” Dureza said.

Poe’s...

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A statement released by Poe’s office said Llamanzares suffered a few fractured ribs and bruises and was expected to make speedy recovery.

“It’s a good thing he was wearing his seatbelt,” the statement said. “We want to thank everyone for their prayers and concern. We’re just thankful he was kept safe and no one else was injured.” PNA

Binay...

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Shortlist for CJ in the works

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Judicial and Bar Council is this week expected to come up with a shortlist for the post of chief justice, which was left vacant by the retirement of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro on Oct. 10.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the JBC’s ex-officio member, said the council will meet on Nov. 23 to deliberate on the list.

“We will deliberate on the CJ post this

Friday and have the voting for the shortlist,” Guevarra said.

The JBC is the seven-member body tasked to screen the nominees for judicial posts. It has received five nominations for

the post of chief justice.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Estela Perlas-Bernabe accepted their automatic nominations for the post of chief justice as senior justices of the Supreme Court.

The fifth nominee, Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., also accepted his nomination for the post.

Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, the only senior high court magistrate who declined his automatic nomination, will sit as acting chairman of the JBC for the deliberations on the post of chief justice as

More oil players join bandwagon, cut pump prices

By Alena Mae S. Flores

WOOLSEY FIRE. US President Donald Trump (C) surveys the damage from the Woolsey fire in Malibu on Nov. 17, 2018. Scores have died in the wildfire that razed parts of southern and northern California while a thousand of residents were missing. AFP

APEC...

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Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted there were “different visions on particular elements with regard to trade that prevented full consensus on a communique document.”

The annual gathering, held for the first time in Papua New Guinea, was overshadowed by speeches from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership.

Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China’s massive Belt-andRoad infrastructure program, in which Beijing offers money to poorer countries for construction and development projects.

The “opaque” loans come with strings attached and build up “staggering debt,” Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a “constricting belt” and a “one-way road.”

He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesn’t “drown our partners in a sea of debt” or “coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence.”

In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a “trap” and there was no “hidden agenda” – amid criticism that it amounts to “checkbook diplomacy” in the region.

Xi also lashed out at “America First” trade protectionism, saying it was a “short-sighted approach” that was “doomed to failure.”

The barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month.

But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island hosts, did hold talks on Saturday night at the leaders’ gala dinner.

Pence told reporters on Sunday: “I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation.”

He told him that the US is interested in a better relationship with China “but there has to be change” in Beijing’s trade policies.

With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region.

“Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying ‘how has this happened’?” said Denis O’Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel.

“It’s a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years,” O’Brien said.

Trump—and Russian President Vladimir Putin—both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinesefunded school and road in Papua New Guinea’s dirt-poor capital Port Moresby.

Xi has been the star of the show, front and center at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby—shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia.

As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea.

The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 percent to 70 percent.

And as the US and China vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that “support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region.”

With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale.

The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital.

Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms.

The police were called when Chinese officials attempted to “barge” into the office of Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister, it emerged Sunday, as APEC summit tensions boiled over.

The Chinese delegates “tried to barge in” to Rimbink Pato’s Port Moresby office Saturday, in an eleventh-hour bid to influence a summit draft communique, but were denied entry, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

“Police were posted outside the minister’s office after they tried to barge in,” one source privy to summit negotiations said.

The diplomatic incident came with tensions already high at a summit of AsianPacific leaders that has been overshadowed by a spat between the United States and China.

Pato had refused to meet with the delegates, according to a source, who said: “It’s not appropriate for the minister to negotiate solo with the Chinese. The Chinese negotiating officials know this.”

The minister himself sought to downplay the incident.

“There wasn’t an issue,” he said.

The Chinese delegation has yet to comment publicly on the incident but was set to hold a news conference later Sunday.

APEC nations usually agree a joint statement but officials are struggling to bridge deep divides on trade policy and admit that a formal communique may not be issued.

This is not the first time Chinese officials have been involved in a tense incident at a regional meeting.

At the Pacific Islands Forum in September, Nauru’s president demanded China apologize after its delegation walked out of a meeting when the host refused to let an envoy speak until island leaders had finished.

“They’re not our friends. They just need us for their own purposes,” President Baron Waqa said at the time. AFP

we have CDM contingents,” he added.

Eleazar said they are in constant coordination with the Chinese embassy in the Philippines in connection with security preparations.

“Coordination in security efforts has always been part of our preparations in summits and international events like APEC, and the ASEAN which has been a template on how to secure our guests and heads of states, including VIPs and dignitaries,” Eleazar said in Filipino.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo earlier said Duterte and Xi will exchange views on areas of mutual concern and chart the course for the future of Philippines-China bilateral relations.

Ties with Beijing, which turned sour during the previous administration, have been improving since Duterte embarked

on his first state visit to China in October 2016.

Xi described Duterte’s first visit to Beijing as a “milestone” that mended the two countries’ ties derailed by the Philippines’ filing of arbitration case against China in 2013.

In May 2017, Duterte returned to Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

For the third time, Duterte went to China in April this year to attend the Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan, a southern island province of China.

Xi’s first trip to the Philippines will take place a year after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Manila that led to the signing of 14 deals on infrastructures, climate change, defense cooperation, drug rehabilitation centers and Marawi rehabilitation. PNA

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from exploring more opportunities to make them happy, for it is always a pleasure to show them how grateful we are for their contributions to society during their heyday,” Binay said.

At present, senior citizens under the Blu Card program receive an annual cash gift given in two equal installments every June and December.

‘Samuel’...

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The residents of those areas should stay alert for possible flash floods and landslides, weathermen said.

If the storm maintains its speed, it is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday.

provided under the rules.

The JBC earlier extended the Oct. 15 deadline for the nominations for the post of chief justice to Oct. 26.

A vacancy in the high court should be filled within 90 days, and this means President Rodrigo Duterte has until Jan. 8 to name De Castro’s successor.

The Constitution requires the chief justice to be a natural-born citizen and to be at least 40 years old. He or she should have an experience as a judge or in private law practice for at least 15 years, and must be one with proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.

Anti-riot cops...

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Xi’s upcoming visit is his first to the Philippines, upon the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Eleazar said among those who would be deployed are anti-riot police in anticipation of possible protests in connection with the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea. “There are possibilities of lightning rallies based on our monitoring, and we expect that every time there are visits from dignitaries from China and even the United States,” Eleazar said in a radio interview.

“But we have no problem with that because we always encounter lightning rallies almost every day. We are ready, and

MORE distributors cut pump prices starting 6 am on Monday, and by P1.25 to P1.30 per liter of gasoline, P1.10 per liter of diesel and P0.80 per liter of kerosene.

Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian said Sunday he supports the suspension of the second round of increase in the fuel excise tax under the TRAIN Law. “I am glad that the President has already approved this,” he said.

Senator Benigno Aquino said he hoped the government’s move was an indication of its willingness to eventually remove all of the excise taxes on fuel under its tax reform program, which could lead to lower commodity prices.

The suspension of additional taxes this January is very important, but it is also equally important to remove the taxes that are currently being imposed.

Pilipinas Shell, Seaoil Philippines, Unioil Philippines and PetroGazz announced their respective price cuts effective Nov. 19.

“Seaoil will adjust its pump prices as follows: gasoline: P1:30 per liter; diesel: P1.10, per liter; kerosene: P0.80 per liter. This is to reflect the movements in the international petroleum market,” the oil firm said.

Chevron Philippines, which markets the Caltex brand in the country, implemented a slightly lower rollback of P1.25 per liter of gasoline.

The price cut followed the earlier announcement of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines of implementing a P1.30 rollback per liter of gasoline and P1.10 per liter of diesel effective at 12 noon on Saturday, the sixth consecutive weekly rollback to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

The latest price rollbacks come even as the government has decided to suspend the implementation of the second phase of the excise tax by January 2019 as part of it ongoing tax reform program.

Gasoline in Metro Manila now sells from P45.70 to P59.30 per liter while diesel sells from P41.50 to P50.29 per liter.

World oil prices have been going down amid ample supply but a weak

Duterte...

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Duterte has said previously that he suffers from daily migraines and ailments including Buerger’s disease, an illness that affects the veins and the arteries of the limbs, and is usually due to smoking.

On Wednesday, the Philippine leader missed four of the 11 meetings he was slated to attend and a gala dinner in Singapore, which hosted a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders.

Observers have compared him unfavorably with Malaysia’s 93-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has consistently attended summit meetings saying it was his “duty” to do so.

Commenting on his absence, Duterte said on Thursday: “What’s wrong with my nap?”

Asked about the Papua New Guinea dinner, a Philippine official told AFP Duterte “feels constrained by formalities and finds them unproductive and a slight waste of time”.

After hosting a regional meeting in the Philippines last year, an exhausted Duterte joked about cancelling another Manila summit saying, “It’s true. It’s all the same. Nothing changes.”

In Port Moresby, Duterte met with Filipinos on Friday night where he sought to explain his absence from summit meetings.

He cited an invitation from Australia to have an “informal breakfast” in Singapore.

“I told my soldiers why would I attend when first of all, I do not eat breakfast.

Second, it was informal,” Duterte said.

“What will they feed us there, kangaroo?”

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Okada upbeat on PH casino prospects JAPANESE casino mogul Kazuo Okada said he was determined to retire in the Philippines, which he could only do so as a holder of an investors/retirees visa, despite legal issues involving Okada Manila, an integrated hotel, resort and casino in Parañaque City.

Several years ago, Okada recalled that he had an opportunity to become the next big thing in the United States casino business, but he opted to invest in the Philippines, saying it has a huge potential for development.

Okada co-founded Wynn Resorts with Steve Wynn, initially investing around $260 million for a 50-percent stake in the company.

The Japanese casino magnate had a chance to take over Wynn Resorts as Wynn was in the middle of a divorce.

However, Okada did not grab that opportunity saying that he was focused on his initial plan to put up a casino property in the Philippines.

“I hadn’t really had ambitions of doing so. Going back in time, back to 2008, I was thinking about moving forward and developing something with local partners in the Philippines in 2010,” Okada said in an interview with Inside Asian Gaming.

Okada said he even enticed Wynn to join his business venture in the Philippines.

“I had explained to Steve Wynn that I found some local partners in the Philippines and invested into a property where a casino can be established,” added Okada, who said that back in 2010, the Philippines was ripe for development, with an economic growth of around 7 percent.

Okada was impressed with the country’s labor force, calling it hardworking, highly skilled, and proficient in the English language. Thus, he decided to invest in the Philippines, even if the trend back then was for investors to gravitate to China.

Okada then made his dream come true with the multi-billion peso Okada Manila.

But he suffered several setbacks as he was removed as a director of Okada Holdings Ltd, which controls 68 percent of Universal Entertainment Corp.

Universal owns 99.99 percent of Tiger Asia.

Okada’s removal as director of Okada Holdings Ltd. resulted in his ouster from Tiger Resorts Leisure and Entertainment, Inc in June 2017. TRLEI is the operator of Okada Manila.

Okada recently regained control of Okada Holdings Ltd. and is currently in the process of regaining his place in TRLEI through an intra-corporate lawsuit that he filed before the Paranaque Regional Trial Court.

In his complaint, Okada prayed for his immediate reinstatement, saying that his ouster as shareholder, director, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TRLEI is null and void ab initio, for being without authority and in violation of laws.

Acting SC chief backs PH-Japan accord on SCS ACTING Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Sunday backed the joint declaration forged by President Rodrigo Duterte with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe supporting freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. Carpio, a staunch advocate of Philippine sovereign claim over disputed waters and territories in the South China Sea, particularly the West Philippines Sea, said the agreement signed by the two leaders is consistent with the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that the Philippines has a full 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. “The statement of President Duterte upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea should be the main thrust of our foreign policy in the South China Sea,” Carpio stressed.

“When states exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, they assert that there are high seas in the center of the South China Sea, and exclusive economic zones around such high seas. The resources in the exclusive economic zone belong exclusively to the adjacent coastal state,” he said.

With the joint accord between Philippines and Japan, Carpio said it is now clear that the Duterte administration has finally asserted its rights over West Philippine Sea.

GOVT INACTION. Militant groups marching along Agham road in QuezonCity on Sunday, Nov. 18 assail the Duterte administration’s inaction toward surging prices of food, fuel and basic goods. Ey Acasio

Water firms back Kaliwa Dam House sets T HE two concessionaires of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System namely Maynilad and Manila Water have thrown their full support to the New Centennial Water Supply Project — Kaliwa Dam that will supply additional 600 million liters daily by 2023 to Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s water security and Build, Build, Build programs.

“Manila Water strongly supports the Water Security advocacy of MWSS and the recent creation of a Technical Working Group to develop the Water Supply Masterplan for both East and West Zones to sustain national development,” says Manila Water President and CEO Ferdinand M. dela Cruz.

“Given the 96-percent dependency of Metro Manila on Angat Dam, we underscore the urgency of building new water sources including the already approved Kaliwa Dam project. We will continue to work with MWSS and other related agencies in updating the much needed masterplan to address the future demand of the metropolis,” said Dela

Cruz.

For his part, Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said: “The Kaliwa dam project is in line with government efforts to ensure water supply sustainability and reliability for Metro Manila residents. It is an additional raw water source that will augment the supply from Angat dam, which is currently the only major source being tapped.”

According to Fernandez, the construction of the new dam is essential to meeting the water needs of an evergrowing population for the long term as it will also alleviate Metro Manila’s reliance on a single raw water source.

“Maynilad affirms the need for

developing this new water source, and is committed to support the MWSS in implementing the project,” Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, MWSS thanked the two presidents of Manila Water and Maynilad for their unequivocal statements of support to the Kaliwa Dam project as this is part of the overall water security program of the Duterte administration.

Stressing that the MWSS is on a catch-up mode to avert water crisis in the coming years, Velasco credited the Duterte administration for having the political will and resolve to help solve the possible water shortage in the coming years in Metro Manila and its environs since no new surface water source was developed after Angat Dam. The P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam project will be funded by P10.2-billion China ODA and a counterpart fund of P2billion from the Philippine government.

The formal signing of the contract between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jing Pin will be done on November 20, 2018 and the construction will be undertaken by China Energy Engineering Corp. and it is expected to be completed in 2023 or earlier.

Power rates in Iloilo highest among urban centers ILOILO has highest electricity rate among PH urban centers. Iloilo City residents pay the highest electricity rate among urban dwellers in the Philippines, including Metro Manila, as shown by a comparison of electricity rates charged residential customers by local distribution utilities, according to Ted Aldwin Ong, chairman of the Freedom from Debt Coalition-Iloilo.

A study of residential electricity rates in the cities of Davao, General Santos, Tacloban, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Manila showed that Iloilo City’s predicament did not change eight years after FDC-Iloilo found in a similar study that Iloilo suffered from the highest residential electricity bills not only in the Philippines but in the entire world.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises took note of the study done by the FDC-Iloilo in 2010 and the existing rates when it started public hearings on the franchise application of More Electric Power Corp.

In his 2010 study, Ong said Iloilo City

QUAKE DRILL.

The Makilala National High School Disaster Risk Reduction Management conducts an earthquake drill to determine the readiness and preparations adopted by students, teachers, and other personnel who participated in the event. Even the construction workers of buildings inside the campus joined the drill, according to DRRM Coordinator Allan Garcia.

The drill was evaluated by the Makilala Disaster Risk Reduction Management head Phil Jamero and his team.

Geonarri Solmerano

electricity rates were the highest not only in the entire Philippines but among70 other countries whose rates since 2008 were reviewed.

Ong said that in failing to resolve it status as the utility that charges the highest electricity rates in the world, PECO “… is committing a great injustice to the Ilonggo citizens for it has repeatedly failed to justify why its rates are skyrocketing yet its quality of service is way below par.”

The Iloilo City Council had passed a resolution asking Congress to remedy the situation by denying the existing franchise holder, Panay Electric Co., a new franchise and allow other new players to improve electricity service in Iloilo City.

City Council members also submitted to the House and the Senate a petition signed by 29,000 verified Iloilo City residents seeking the denial of PECO’s application for a new franchise when its existing franchise expires on January 18, 2019.

More Power president and CEO Roel

Castro said his company will lower Iloilo City electricity rates by modernizing the existing transmission system and network, which will raise distribution efficiency and lower operating costs.

Based on the latest review of the power rates in the same cities as of August 2018, or eight years after FDC-Iloilo came out with its study, it was found that residents of Iloilo City paid P12.0917 per kilowatthour of electricity distributed by the utility firm PECO, still the highest in the Philippines.

In comparison, residents of Davao City paid P10.1228 per kwh to Davao Light & Power Co., while residents of Manila and the rest of the National Capital Region paid Manila Electric Co. P10.219 per kwh.

Those who live in Tacloban City paid a low rate of P8.9388 per kwh to the Leyte Electric Cooperative II, while those from General Santos City pay P10.2140 per kwh to the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II.

ultimatum on 2019 budget

By Rio Araja THE House of Representatives is expected to pass the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 on third and final reading on Nov. 28.

Compostela Valley Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, main plenary sponsor of the national budget and a senior vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, said the small committee tasked to resolve the amendments to House Bill No. 8169 or the national budget has yet to put the finishing touches on the National Expenditure Program.

“We’re at the final stages of reconciling differences and amendments to the budget. And after that, we need to get the budget printed. Our target for third reading [approval] is on Nov. 28,” Zamora said.

“Unfortunately, we’re still quite in the thick of the amendments. Due to the volume of the amendments requested and agreed upon during the debates over HB No. 8169 alone, combined with the different agencies’ concerns, we’re still going through items,” she added.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave the assurance that there would be no more reenacted budget in 2019.

“The small committee has been working with the secretariat day in and out. But it’s really a consuming process.

Rest assured that we will pass the national budget in time for next year,” Zamora said.

House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. also said Rolando Andaya Jr. that Congress is already finalizing the national budget.

“We would like to convey our assurance to the Senate that the 2019 national budget bill will be transmitted as soon as we are done with our rigorous doublechecking and verification of the thousands of line items in a spending measure that will cost taxpayers almost P3.8 trillion,” he said.

“We believe that we all have sufficient time in our legislative calendar to pass the budget and send it to President [Rodrigo] Duterte before the end of the year. We are reiterating our strong position against a reenacted budget because such will be hard to implement, will constrict spending, and will give wide latitude and discretion to the executive on what projects to implement,” he cited.

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Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

The excellent Alpha Suites strong commitment to human resources and a propensity to spur innovation and new product development. This was coupled with a demonstrated longterm approach to business endeavors and a commitment from the top that permeated throughout the company to provide quality products and services.

ONE of my favorite business books The book has been used in graduate is In Search of Excellence, written by and undergraduate courses and in Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman, management seminars all over the Jr. world. It sparked numerous followThe book is an outgrowth of research up articles in business periodicals and conducted at McKinsey & Company, a one-hour program aired on the US a top management consulting firm. Public Broadcasting Service. Clearly The book became a highly successful written and well-researched, the book best-seller. It depicts the quintessence is a significant study of what makes of business enterprise and features excellent businesses and productivity.

62 companies in all areas of business, Alphaland, a Philippine real estate which have continually demonstrated company, is, in my study and opinion, outstanding qualities that separate an example of a company that follows them from all others. The excellent the characteristics corporations were of an excellent identified through business that a 25-year review has continually of company demonstrated Follows the profiles, successful outstanding business results, characteristics of an qualities that and interviews. separate it from excellent business E i g h t all others. characteristics that has continually The latest were identified result of demonstrated as common traits its creative outstanding qualities among the superior innovation and companies. These that separate it from new product included: 1) a development all others. drive for action, is The Alpha decision-making, Suites, which are and getting the luxury serviced job done; 2) an residences in emphasis on Makati. The suites are definitely serving the customer and providing unbeatable in value, amenities, location, quality and reliability; 3) providing an convenience, space and comfort, and atmosphere to foster creative thinking perks. and product innovation; 4) respecting The Alpha Suites is located on and treating every employee as an prestigious Ayala Avenue in Makati’s important contributor; 5) maintaining Central Business District and a stone’s the basic philosophy of the company; throw away from top corporate offices, 6) operating businesses with which Makati Medical Center, restaurants, management is familiar; 7) keeping shopping, and schools. top-level staffs very simple; and 8) The Alpha Suites has 250 suites decentralizing and centralizing certain ranging from one bedroom to functions.

The overriding characteristics were a Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

I

A police state of mind NTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año is a busy man these days.

His latest crusade, however, is not against illegal drugs, terrorists, murderers, rapists or crooked cops. No, the good secretary is going after a TV show, which he says is demoralizing the ranks of the Philippine National Police by portraying a corrupt police force and government.

In a statement issued Friday, one of his subordinates warned that the department would “seriously consider filing legal action and imposing sanctions” against the show Ang Probinsiyano, which airs on ABS-CBN, if it continues with its “grossly unfair and inaccurate portrayal” of the police force.

Several aspects of this crusade give us pause.

First, it suggests that the secretary and the PNP chief working under him are having difficulty distinguishing between fact and fiction. This is disconcerting because most folk can tell that a TV show, as realistic as it might be, is still a work of fiction. And, while the “corrupt police and rotten system” trope is a staple of

many crime movies and police procedurals, this is the first time we have heard of a Cabinet member or the top police official demanding that a TV show change its plot to suit them.

Could it be that they have grown so accustomed to high officials peddling fiction that they can no longer distinguish it from fact?

Second, the secretary’s suggestion that a mere TV drama could demoralize an entire police force does not speak well for the men and women in uniform, or the leadership he is showing. If the police are so easily distressed, we are truly in trouble.

Third, the brouhaha over Ang Probinsyano gives us a clear idea of just how little the Interior secretary and his police chief regard the constitutionally guaranteed right of free expression. In their view, it seems, you are free to say what you wish, as long as it does not offend them.

Finally, the secretary’s focus on a TV show suggests there are no more worthy

targets—let’s call them criminals—to which the DILG and PNP can turn their attention. We can put off arresting those who massacred nine farmers in Negros Occidental last month, or the gunmen who killed a human rights lawyer working for their association this month. Who cares about the criminals who smuggled in P11 billion worth of shabu? The authorities clearly have better things to do with their time.

Certainly, this was the same impression we came away with, when the PNP saved us from 15 security guards at a Makati mall, who had the temerity to wear costumes that made them look like the guards of Buckingham Palace for Christmas. Never mind that it was most likely the mall owners that dressed them in such a manner, or that a security guard doesn’t earn very much.

For their offense, each of the 15 guards was fined P10,000 for failing to wear the proper uniform. Mall owners that insist on the use of costumes, on the other hand, will not be fined because the PNP has no jurisdiction over them.

This sense of “justice” is enough to make us weep.

Corridors of power in feudal concentrations of power. For even with democratic façade, as in our benighted land, power is still generally concentrated in the executives elected by the people, whether in townships or cities, provinces or the country itself.

Such is the political lay of the land.

We talk of tripartism, of separation MANY call Malacañang a “snake pit.” of powers, but in truth, the presidency In previous articles here and in other publications, I used to refer to the is the be-all and end-all of power in this Presidential Palace as the palace beside country. Not only is he the elect of the the stinking river. Which as we know is people, he is likewise the commanderin-chief of all our armed forces. factual.

Sure there is Congress, and in the The Pasig has become putrid due to United States it has broad oversight decades of absorbing the detritus of the many cities along which it traverses on powers that make the un-elected its way to “la boca de Manila” on its officials tremble at the prospects of its investigations. In parliamentary Great west.

No less than presidents have Britain, its members roast and regularly complained about the seasonal stench do, the prime minister, the head of government inside that assails their its session hall. nose each time But the they cross the P h i l i p p i n e short stretch Constitution They are perpetual between the practically makes official palace abodes of intrigue. our president a grounds and king for six years. the presidential While theoretically residence and congressmen and golf course that senators elect their stretches to Otis St. in the west and Nagtahan Bridge to speaker and president, in real practice, a presidential nod is needed to “close the the north.

Which is why the Chinese say that deal.” Justices and judges in all levels Malacañang is “malas.” Bad feng shui. are appointed by the president, even if The central seat of power, they say, there is a vetting council known as the must be built with mountains or hills JBC. Colonels become generals, and protecting its back, facing south or stars on epaulets are increased at the southeast or east, the north or west to pleasure of the president.

In this kind of political praxis, its back. proximity to power is always a coveted It’s entrance must have an unimpeded view of vast grounds, and commodity, its holder or holders able to everything around the seat of power proclaim the same as a badge, not just must be kept spotless, with its trees an honorific, but a badge to influence carefully trimmed, its gardens properly the rest of the less-endowed in the bureaucracy. maintained.

Businessmen seek the proximate If there are rivers or lakes, even artificial lagoons beside or around it, like ants lining up before the food these must always be clean and cared source. Thus are the corridors of power an environment where the overly for, geomancers agree.

Now visit Malacañans Palace, ambitious stab each other in the back at originally inhabited by the governors- every opportunity available, where the general of conquistadores, and assess prescriptions of Sun Tzu and Niccolo how it passes the Oriental feng shui Machiavelli are like biblical edicts.

Of late for instance, rumors abound, standards. Smell the Pasig beside it, and even elevated to newsprint at and weep as you cover your nose.

When reporters covering the seat that, of a tectonic shift of power in the of the presidency since the days of Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte.

To be sure, cabinet rigodons and Quezon described it as a “snake pit,” shake-ups are par for the course in all they were not referring to bad feng shui, though. They were, and are, referring administrations. The president has the to the Byzantine intrigues that infest the power to appoint, and with that the power to disappoint as well. corridors of power.

Some presidents have in the past Because power corrupts, proximity to Turn to A5 power is such a desideratum especially

Vision of a global leader

INDEFATIGABLE diplomat, superb administrator, tenacious political warrior, most valuable of all—a visionary. But President Donald Trump saw another facet of President Xi Jinping that most fail to note: “I think China’s President Xi is a world-class poker player.”

After six months of spewing trade war harangue against China, President Trump answered reporters’ question about promised additional tariffs on China exports. “We may not have to do that.”

President Xi’s smiling mien throughout the six months of vitriol against China from the White House has never even once changed, while

President Xi’s workaholic personality is really characteristic of the Chinese people, a nation that has seen many ups and down over a 5,000-year history.

Donald Trump has used every trick in his Twitter diatribes to ruffle the Chinese leader’s affable projection while leaving the jousting to his deputies.

Here is a review of President Xi’s life, history and performance, from his youth to his present-day status as the leader of one of the World’s leading nations.

As a teenager, following the purging of his revolutionary veteran father Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping during the Cultural Revolution was sent to a distant village where lived in a cave while organizing communal laborers.

He went on to study at the Tsinghua University, one of China’s two top universities (the other being Peking University), as a “worker-peasant-soldier student”, and rose through the ranks of the Communist Party of China and the government. To this day, as governor of Fujian province he is remembered fondly while landmarks he left behind continue to be cited as among the achievements of the nation.

Today, President Xi Jinping also serves as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He is described as the “core leader” of the nation. Xi is the first general secretary born after the Second World War and the Turn to A5

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

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PPI

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Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion See you at Galli GALLI is the new go-to Spanish restaurant across the street from the Sacred Heart Church in Makati. A number of friends have suggested that we go try the place as it was comparable if not better than the more famous ones like Alba’s and Casa Armas.

I finally had a chance to do so when our Ateneo College Class ‘72 president, Goody Hernandez, a banker and finance person whose six-year stint as the Philippine Representative to the Asian Development Bank during the last administration made available funding for a number of advocacy projects in the Philippines, invited us for the bienvenida party of another classmate, Eli Remolona and his wife, Marie.

Eli who just retired as the Regional Director for Asia-Pacific of the Bernheadquartered Bank of International Settlements—the central bank of all central banks (please be advised, Conrad de Q., in case you do not know), will now call Manila (specifically Imus) his home after years of stay in Hong Kong. Before BIS, Eli worked at the US Federal Reserve serving as assistant to then Chairman Alan Greenspan.

He has been asked to teach at the University of the Philippines (UP) where he took his Masters Degree in Economics before proceeding to Stanford University for his doctorate.

So, to those students (or even instructors) who are interested in knowing and understanding the inner workings of the global banking and financial system given the increasing complexity of the global economy, here is your chance to get it from one of the experts in the field. Better get to enroll now as I am told Eli has also been asked by Williams College in Massachusetts to be one of their prestigious line up of visiting professors.

Now, back to Galli. I did not even know it was owned by another classmate, Jess Villongco, who was some sort of a “kilabot-ng-kolehiyala” type in college until that lunch. Jess has retained his gait as he regaled us with his offerings of paella, salpicado, gambas and pumpkin soup during that bienvenida party. I was told there was cuchinillo as well but my wife and I only got to taste some left overs as we came in quite late and the buffet table was already half full.

In any event, as happens during

The excellent....

From A4

three bedrooms and offers perfect accommodation for everything from short visits to extended stays, and more amenities than most hotels in the same area and price range.

Each suite has full sized kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances, electric window shades and TV lifts, a wine chiller and bedroom minibar in the two bedroom Deluxe and three bedroom suites, a dishwasher in every kitchen, a washer and dryer in every suite, Philippe Starckdesigned Duravit bathroom fixtures, complimentary high-speed internet, and a pocket Wi-Fi. The residences are spacious and well-designed, with ample closet and storage space. It’s

Vision...

From A4

establishment of the People’s Republic of China, hence truly representing the new generation of leaders of China.

A surprising development arose in last March’s National People’s Congress which passed a historic constitutional amendment with 2,958 votes in favor and only two against, and three abstentions, to remove the two-term limit for the presidency of China. It was a resounding affirmation of trust in President Xi and a recognition of the need for a strong leader as China enters a most crucial period in history.

It is very clear that President Xi Jinping’s term has been extended indefinitely, not for him to simply enjoy the perks of power as long as he can. He imposes on himself a punishing work schedule in pursuit of the vision he has been tasked to accomplish: the China Dream of achieving middle-income status for all of China and the global development mission of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Corridors....

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announced their disappointment in public, with the disappointed not knowing what hit him. Some do it in private, allowing the official the grace to resign or retire instead, the real reason for decapitation not made public.

Thus the spectacle of trying always to impress, trying always to be on the good side, and even doing so at the expense of their confreres in the camarilla of power, has been likened to a “snake pit,” where

CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ such a gathering of friends (with the wives of course) the same can only be complete with kantiyawan, jokes and stories of days gone by. The what would or should have beens. the good things about our Class ‘72 batch at the Ateneo. We have been seeing each other every so often during all these years and sometimes only during homecomings in December. But thanks to Goody and our permanent “invitation committee,” we have been meeting more frequently these days. Probably because almost all in that committee have retired and are

We hope for a progressive, stable and hopeful future for us and the generations yet to come.

simply savoring life after 60.

Sabagay, puro kasi successful guys.

Like Lito Bauza who just oversees his communications and printing business, here and in Canada, aside from taking issue with how we have somehow lost our way in promoting arts and culture and i preserving our heritage sites and activities.

Or, Mike Molina who has made it big in construction and now merely stays around promoting certain issues, as usual, against the manner by which Big Business has been running roughshod over the poor and the marginalized including taking over businesses and even titled and, worse, public lands with impunity. Lito and Mike usually take coffee somewhere in Makati with another “invitation” member, Dado Capellan who with wife, Techie, is heavily involved in energy and environmental concerns. I am told they have the usual Tuesday sojourn with

another classmate, Minow Nivera, who was a top officer of a telecoms company and now manages Canlubang Country Club, originally established by the family of another classmate, Joey Yulo.

Of course, Minow who was to celebrate his birthday the day after was able to finally convince another classmate and his boss early, TonyBoy Cojuangco, to join us in welcoming back Eli. As his usual self, TonyBoy let the others do the storytelling and just injects some thoughts (and kantiyaw) every now and then. Silent water talaga. Kaya nga he had straight As in college and graduated as one of only three summa cum laudes in our batch.

Another classmate, Art Lopez, who was also a kind of sleeper cum laude had stories to tell about his pioneering agribusiness ventures in Mindanao.

Indeed, get togethers like that which happened two Sundays ago will always have moments of introspection. As we recall the years, we have never lost our yearning for a better life and a better future not only for our families but for the country as well.

Not that we have a monopoly of such but that we noticed the fire has not only been burning it has in fact even grown as we reached what we call the fourth quarter of our lives. After all, we are and have always been filled with such yearnings since we got involved and made our marks in the midst of the famous First Quarter Storm in the ‘70s which in effect ushered new ways and initiatives for a better life for all. We have come a long way indeed. And even as we decry the toxicity of politics and relations in the country, since we continue to wish that before we finally close out in this Fourth Quarter of our lives the country shall have done away with the battles of the past and moved on united to confront the challenges and embrace the opportunities for a more progressive, stable and hopeful future for us and the generations yet to come.

And if Galli can provide such an environment for settling concerns and agreeing on what can and should be done then I will suggest to the “invite” committee to have more lunches as the one we had two Sundays ago. This time with a wider circle of friends and associates. I am sure Jess will welcome that as we look forward to more hearty lunches just across the Sacred Heart Church. See you at Galli.

like staying in a home, away from home, and better than a typical and smaller hotel room.

In addition, there are nine-world class restaurants serving Filipino, French, Spanish, Thai, Greek, Italian, Chinese and Japanese food, a steakhouse, and a TWG tea salon, which are all just an elevator ride away at the adjoining City Club, plus even more dining options in the same building. You’ll have no problem finding something to suit your fancy. Guests are given a special discount at the Aegle Wellness Center, a state-ofthe-art integrative health and wellness center with unique programs, and special discount at the country’s most exciting new nightspot and lounge—the Top of the Alpha by Louie Y. What a deal!

There’s also personalized airport pickup and drop-off service, and a high-end grocery and other services (pharmacy, banks, gourmet market,

coffee shops, laundry and dry cleaners) in the same building. It is the only building in Makati with 1,000 parking spaces.

Guests of The Alpha Suites may also book a stay in the exclusive membersonly Balesin Island Club and the Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges, and enjoy special charter rates for Alphaland Aviation aircraft (helicopters, Cessna Grand Caravans, etc.).

The bottom line is that excellent companies like Alphaland, which have a drive for action, decision-making, and getting the job done, an emphasis on serving the customer and providing quality and reliability, and provide an atmosphere to foster creative thinking and product innovation, will clearly be ahead of the pack and provide us with superior products and services that benefit our lives and the nation.

In one media report dated August 2017, President Xi’s diplomatic schedules to meet other world leaders in their home countries was described: “Five years, 28 tours, 193 days, 570,000 kilometers. These figures are a sketch of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s foreign tours.” And this does not include the latest three-nation blitz to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Brunei, and then Argentina at the end of this month.

But President Xi’s workaholic personality is really characteristic of the Chinese people, a nation that has seen many ups and down over a 5,000-year history. Many times, the population has been challenged with famine and civil strife, making them persevering and inventive. I often marvel at this inventiveness when savoring “chicken feet”—a culinary delight that came about because the Chinese people often had to make do with what other cultures just throw away.

President Rodrigo Duterte has bet the country’s future on the “independent foreign policy” that really is investing in its diversification of relations outside of the Philippines’ traditional ally the United States

of American. Who wouldn’t? America is turning isolationist and leaving itself behind as is evident in the rising trade bloc RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) backed by China and Asean, and which India is finally joining. The bloc represents 40 percent of the world’s GDP. President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Philippines brings not only the fruition of the many agreed-upon project such as the P170-billion, 600-kilometer Manilato-Matnog revival of the legendary Bicol Express and more infrastructure projects that was seen only during Marcos’ Pan Philippine Highway construction, but more importantly the giant industrial parks that will be set up with China here in the country that harbingers the industrialization of this country.

Over and above all these projects between China and the Philippines is President Xi Jinping’s expression of the global vision, the “Community of Common Destiny” of which the Philippines is a partner. The Davao port is projected to become the “easternmost hub” of the global Belt and Road Initiative, reviving the Galleon Trade route all the way eventually back to South America.

slithering denizens are always ready to strike.

The current snake pit ululations build upon speculations arising from the vacancies created by those who this time around want elected offices rather than their appointments.

But despite replacements having been announced, the ululations continue, and they hiss around those perceived to be the most proximate to presidential power.

They hiss about the speaker whose three terms as congresswoman are officially up by the middle of next year, yet in reality a lame duck as

eric.jurado@gmail.com

the campaign season unfolds. Her courtiers, afraid that with the speaker’s dais gone, their own days in heady power are numbered, now hiss about her being asked to become the next chancellor of the exchequer, holder of the nation’s purse.

Despite her own dismissal of the speculations, the rumors abound, fanned by the hisses of those who know that proximity to power is in itself power.

The finance secretary, arguably the most powerful in the cabinet of a president who disdains economic stuff, is himself nonchalant about all the

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

A5

Make the mining industry more competitive reasonable share of mining profits. “The complicated and varying tax regimes currently in place is one of the rationales behind the reform. A single fiscal regime applicable to all mines is sought as it promotes fairness, regardless of the nature of the agreement or the size of the WHILE the impact of the government’s mining contractor.”

But will simplifying and disregarding banner tax reform program on inflation has rightly been emphasized, there is the global industry actually work here? relatively less attention given to its But “investors are finite,” said Calixto other deleterious effects on the broader Chikiamco, President of Foundation economy. For instance, while the Tax for Economic Freedom. It is misguided Reform for Inclusion and Acceleration to assume that the local mining sector Law doubled the excise tax on the mining can determine its direction without industry, the House of Representatives considering the industry worldwide recently passed on third reading House because the industry is not booming, he Bill 8400 which further increases the said.

“We compete with others in terms of mining taxes.

To be sure, the income-generating attracting investments. Our competitors aspect of the proposed measure, are weaponizing incentives, while we, ostensibly to further support the Duterte on the other hand, are imposing a lot of administration’s critical and long-overdue uncertainty in the sector,” he said.

ADRi Non-Resident Fellow Nonoy infrastructure agenda is laudable. But from the macro-economic perspective Oplas agreed, arguing that the Philippines of industry and economic experts, a continues to squander the potential of thorough understanding of the dynamics mining investments to help narrow the and complexities of the mining industry trade deficit because of the lack of a such as the strategic repercussions to our sensible tax regime. “ M i n i n g competitiveness investments is needed to avoid have decreased costly policy throughout the blunders. years and the This was This is a step in the $5.9-billion confirmed during a Tampakan project is recent roundtable right direction. still not operational. discussion on Metallic and nonthis proposed metallic exports mining fiscal were also low when regime organized world prices are jointly by independent think tank Stratbase ADR high. Tax collection from both local and Institute Institute, Philippine Business national governments are high, while the for Environmental Stewardship the approved and registered agreements and Department of Environment and permits have declined over the years,” he Natural Resources, and the Mines and said.

For UP School of Economics Geosciences Bureau.

Stratbase ADRI president, Dindo professor Ramon Clarete, high taxes will Manhit said, “There is something not amount to anything if the mining tax counterproductive if a law that seeks to base remains stagnant. “The state owns line the country’s coffers with additional the minerals, but if I am the Secretary of tax revenues actually ends up losing Finance, I need to have a good base of that billions’ worth of potential income as particular tax. the only way I can have a good base is to encourage investors to well as jobs and other benefits.”

“A more balanced policy in close find it for me. You can’t do that if you consultation with stakeholders and have an onerous taxation.

While the original version imposed backed by scientific data must be crafted that carefully considers competitiveness a royalty of 5 percent across the board not just in the volatile global market of and top-up of government share to 50 metallic ores but also in attracting large percent of income whenever government foreign investments needed in legitimate share is below 50 percent, the final version (HB 8400) imposed a range of mining operations” Manhit said.

Ronald Recidoro of the Chamber of royalties applied to income from mining Mines of the Philippines compared the operations. They range from one to five domestic mining industry with the “large, percent, depending on operation margins. prominent” players with “fairly mature, It also added a Windfall Profits Tax to robust mining fiscal regimes,” including income from mining operations. The Chile, Peru, Canada, South Africa, and tax ranges from one to ten percent, also the state of Queensland in Australia. To depending on the operation margins. It start, these countries, Residoro said, all also introduced thin capitalization and have a mining tax based on the income ring-fencing.

To sum up. The final version of the rather than revenue as implemented in the bill still imposes higher taxes than other Philippines.

The mining tax in Chile, South Africa, countries. It is higher than the current Australia, and Canada depends on the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement operating margin of companies, and and lower than the Financial or Technical while the last two also charge royalties Assistance Agreement.

If the proposed bill becomes law before based on revenue, the figure isn’t fixed, which means it will not debilitate the the end of this Congress, the mining operation during rough periods. “The industry and the government will have commodity’s price is made to act as a to live with this “unhappy compromise”.

As a citizen observer, my tendency is to proxy for income,” he said.

It is only the Philippines that imposes always look at developmental solutions. a static excise tax regime on minerals, I agree that policy should be skewed including the 4-percent excise tax, 1.7 towards boosting competitiveness. This percent business tax, 1 percent royalties is critical, not just for mining, but for all to indigenous peoples, and 5 percent industries.

It is useless to talk of our huge mineral royalties if the operation is within a mineral reserve. All these, Recidoro said, potential if they remain underground. renders the Philippine mining sector “not We need to first, attract exploration very enticing,” in addition to the notorious investments to know where these mineral policy uncertainties and the moratorium.” riches are, then attract billions of dollars The additional royalties imposed by the in quality investments that will bring in proposed tax law will make things even the best technologies to harness these resources responsibly. If the government worse.

“Why are we thinking of adding more just implemented the existing mining law taxes to the mix? If we’re hoping to see and maintained stable and supportive more revenues because of these taxes, we policies, mining would now be a major think the result will be otherwise,” he said. pillar of our economy and perhaps we For their part, the Department would not need all of these new taxes for of Finance acknowledged that Build Build Build.

There are numerous other countries competitiveness will be an issue for the industry but has a different take on the with more sensible fiscal regimes for the matter. “We thought otherwise because mining sector, and it is no coincidence we own the resources,” said Elsa Agustin, that they are in countries with successful DOF’s Domestic Finance Director. “We mining industries that had paved the know that investors will come in because way for the industrialization of their of the strategic natural resource, so in economies, which is ironically also one of our presentation of numbers, we do not the goals of the so-called Dutertenomics.

Simplification and raising mining taxes, compare it to other countries.”

Agustin said the pending bill is geared won’t work. Focusing on policies that toward simplification and efficiency, and will make the mining industry globally making sure that the government gets its competitive is the right direction. jeremiads of the hissers. He did not seek the position; he was asked to preside over it because the appointing power trusted him. They share a childhood together, including a common abuse by a man of the cloth once upon a boyhood time.

But the hissers persist, this time to pounce upon a mild-mannered person whose father was close to the president’s father, and who himself served the legal needs of the then mayor of Davao.

Again, they hiss about the soon to be termed-over speaker taking over the de jure primus inter pares in the cabinet, and throw in the bone that the replaced

would be appointed to the highest magistracy of the land, a habitat once graced by his father.

All this time, the snakes in the pit jostle amongst themselves what proximate sconces they will occupy if their ululations become reality.

But the objects of their slime merely shrug off the speculations, secure about their own proximity and their knowledge that they have served their friend well.

Will the ululations end? Don’t bet on it. In the palace beside the stinking river, the corridors of power are perpetual abodes of intrigue.

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News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

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DOJ defends P108-m tax evasion raps vs Rappler

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice on Sunday defended its resolution recommending the indictment of Rappler Holdings Corp. and its top executives for alleged evasion of taxes worth P108.4 million.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra debunked the allegation of RHC that the tax evasion case filed before the Court of Tax Appeals last week was “a clear form of continuing intimidation and harassment” against the holding firm’s online news outfit, Rappler, because of its critical reports on the Duterte administration.

Guevarra said the filing of charges against Rappler was not “an attempt to silence journalists” because the complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue was resolved based on records, evidence and answers submitted by the respondents.

“No one, and absolutely no one, much less from Malacañang, has interfered with state prosecutors in the resolution of the Rappler tax evasion case,” Guevarra said in a statement.

“The duty of state prosecutors is to determine the existence of probable cause only, and they have found the evidence and arguments of the BIR sufficient and cogent enough to establish a probable violation of our tax laws,” he added.

Guevarra said the administration does not resort to harassment of media outfits that are

critical of President Rodrigo Duterte because it respects the freedom of the press.

“The government has always respected press freedom and tolerated all unfounded criticisms against it, including cries of alleged harassment, even when there is none,” he said.

The DOJ chief said Rappler should just answer the case, which is now with the CTA, adding that the holding firm still “has all the legal remedies at its disposal.”

Rappler earlier claimed the tax evasion case did not come as a surprise “considering how the Duterte administration has been treating Rappler for its independent and fearless reporting.”

Rappler’s lawyer Francis Lim likewise said the media outfit’s denial of the tax evasion charges.

COA junks claim for P806-m lease payment

By Rio N. Araja

THE COMMISSION on Audit has junked a petition filed by a private individual seeking payment from the local government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao of P806.31 million for the lease of a property in Panglima Estino town, Sulu in 1976.

COA’s Commission Proper rejected the claim filed by Jaafar Saidil Jalalia for lack of basis.

Based on court records, there was a one “Jalalia” who was declared owner of Lot no. 205 in Panamao, Sulu with an area of 173,954 square meters by the Court of First Instance, Sulu. Panamao was later renamed Panglima Estino.

On Sept. 28, 1995, a woman named Saragiya Saidil filed a petition for the reconstitution of the property title before Branch 3 of the Jolo Regional Trial Court, claiming to be the niece and only surviving heir of Mora Jalalia.

The original certificate of title over Lot No. 205 was not, however, found with the registry of deeds as Saidil claimed losing her own copy during an armed conflict between rebels and government forces in Jolo.

On Aug. 18, 1997, the lower court junked the petition and on Nov. 28, 2011, it also rejected Saidil’s appeal, saying her right to the property was not sufficiently established.

Despite the court decisions, the petitioner still executed a special power of attorney in favor of her son, Jalalia, on Aug. 18, 2010.

More than 7k nurses take US licensure exam—Aguilar

SOME 7,119 Filipino nurses hoping to practice their profession in America took the US licensure examination for the first time from January to September this year, the party-list group ACTS-OFW said Sunday.

“The number is up 26.5 percent versus the 5,624 Philippine-educated nurses who took America’s eligibility test, or the NCLEX, for the first time in the same nine-month period in 2017,” said ACTS-OFW spokesman Francisco Aguilar Jr. A total of 812 Indians, 715 Puerto Ricans, 563 South Koreans and 412 Nigerians also took the NCLEX for the first time from January to September, he said.

The NCLEX refers to the licensure examination either for registered nurse or for practical nurse administered by the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. .

Because the NCLEX is usually the final step in the US nurse licensure process, the number of foreigners taking the test for the first time is considered a good indicator as to how many of them are trying to enter the profession in America.

Citing newly-released NCSBN statistics, Aguilar said Jamaicans, Canadians and Cubans also compete with Filipinos in America’s nursing labor market.

“Many young Filipino nurses still wish to practice in America mainly due to the superior hourly pay there,” Aguilar said.

“Admittedly, many Filipino nurses also find the Western culture far more attractive, thus their preference to live and work in America compared to other foreign countries,” Aguilar added.

An aggregate of 183,920 Filipino nurses have taken the NCLEX for the first time, without counting repeaters, since 1995, Aguilar said.

The median pay of registered nurses in America was $70,000 per annum, or $33.65 per hour in 2017, data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed.

HOME OF THE GIANTS. At least 150 colorful ‘higantes’ went on parade for the Higantes Festival 2018 in Angono, Rizal. Lino Santos

SM Foundation scholars top board exams ALLEN Brandly Mataya, Jimson Ornido and Joana Reyes, all SM scholars, successfully passed the licensure examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission.

They are also among the SM scholar alumni who belong to roster of board exam topnotchers.

Mataya, who matriculated at the National University, is now a Registered Electrical Engineer and a Registered Master Electrician. He placed

ALLEN MATAYA

9th in the Registered Master Electrician exams.

Top 6 in the ECE board examination is Ornido, another National University alumnus.

“Thank you for believing in me and trusting me with the scholarship. It is really an honor to be a part of SM Foundation. Thank you for the gift of education,” Ormido said.

Her dream of becoming a Certified Public Accountant is now a reality,

JIMSON ORNIDO

said Reyes, who graduated from Holy Angel University.

“SM Foundation helped me achieve my dream to be a CPA. Thank you to the Sy family who has made countless dreams come true, including mine,” she said.

The three SM scholar graduates are among the thousands of deserving public high school graduates who benefited from SM’s College Scholarship Program since it was launched in 1993.

JOANA REYES

Political killings alarm La Union residents CONCERNED residents of La Union have expressed alarm over the unresolved high-profile political killings in the province and the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of the crimes.

This followed the assassination of Balaoan Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion on Nov. 14; Sudipen Mayor Alexander Buquing on Oct. 1; and former Second District Rep. Franny Eriguel on May 12.

The residents called on the national government to look into the peace and order situation in La Union.

Eriguel, who was also a former medical doctor and mayor, was gunned down by unidentified armed men during a miting de avance in Barangay Capas, Agoo.

Buquing received multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body in Bangar town on his way home to Sudipen.

The latest victim of political violence in the province was Concepcion and his security escort who were killed in Barangay Cabuaan. Concepcion’s daughter, Balaoan Mayor Aleli Concepcion, was also wounded by gunmen but survived the gruesome incident.

No less than Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, asked the police to focus on the political situation in La Union following the series of assassinations.

“Killings happened consecutively in La Union. The PNP should exert extra effort and focus on the situation in La Union. A pattern seems to be emerging,” Lacson said in a Senate forum.

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK Manila Manila

Standard Standard

TODAY TODAY

Sports A7

MONDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Karate PH earns nod of world body T

HE World Karate Federation has installed a new national federation for the sport in the Philippines.

No less than WKF president Antonio Espinos informed Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Inc. president Richard Lim of the world body’s recognition of the KPSF during the WKF Congress on Nov. 5 in Madrid, Spain.

Espinos personally handed Lim the letter of approval, saying that the WKF Executive Committee gave its blessings on the affiliation of the KPSFI as the ``new WKF national federation’’ in the Philippines. ``We are looking ahead to a very fruitful cooperation in the future with your national federation representing the WKF and its interests in the Philippines, according to our WKF Statutes and Regulations,’’ Espinos told Lim, a two-time kata Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and bronze medalist during the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. ``I’m giving this letter to you and present it to your na-

tional Olympic committee, so the case of the WKF in the Philippines will be finished,’’ added Espinos.

With the WKF’s seal of approval, the KPSFI is now the legitimate body mandated to run the affairs of karatedo in the country, replacing the Philippine Karatedo Federation-NSA. Given a fresh mandate, Lim said he would religiously follow the statutes and regulations of the WKF and vowed to participate in the tournaments sanctioned by the world body including the annual world championships where Filipino karatekas have not seen action for a long time. ``Our federation will also work on increasing the number of licensed referees, judges and coaches, something that has not been done for the past 17 years,’’ said Lim, a blackbelter and the only licensed WKF international referee in Manila

Sportswriter Coros’ mother succumbs ANASTACIA Coros, mother of veteran sportswriter and the Philippine Basketball Association Media Bureau’s Dave Coros, died Friday due to a lingering illness. She was 86.

She is survived by children Dave, Jojo, and Rosario, daughter-in-laws Tess and Lalay, and grandchildren.

Her remains lie at Funeraria Sumilang at Nicolas Zamora st (formerly Sande St.) corner Moriones St. Tondo, Manila.

Interment will be announced later.

Notice of Publication Standard

TODAY

Notice is hereby given that an “Affidavit of Self-Adjudication” has been executed

by Myrna G. Estrada as sole heir of the late Frank E. Estrada under Doc. No. 69; Page No.15; Book No. IX; Series of 2018, executed before Atty.

Rogelio J. Bolivar, Notary for Quezon City.

(MS- NOV. 19,26 & DEC. 3, 2018)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ESTATE OF THE LATE VIRGINIA M A G S A R I L I AGUIRRE WAS EXTRAJUDICIALLY SETTLED BY HEIRS AS PER DOC. NO. 220; PAGE 44; BOOK NO. 84; SERIES OF 2017 BEFORE NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. JOHN DOMINGO A. PONCE, JR. OF MAKATI CITY. (MS-NOV.12, 19 & 26, 2018)

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Office VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER BIDS AND AWARD COMMITTEE

InvItatIon to BId Procurement of varIous drugs and medIcInes cy 2019 (1st semester) PuBLIc BIddIng no. vmc-2019-007 The Valenzuela Medical Center (VMC), through the General Appropriations Act/ Income CY 2019, intends to apply the sum of Philippine Currency: THIRTY FIVE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY FOUR THOUSAND TWENTY ONE PESOS AND 30/100 ONLY, (PhP35,844,021.30)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments for the Procurement of Various Drugs and Medicines CY 2019 (1st Semester) under PB No. VMC-2019-007. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The VMC now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the above-captioned package. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, entitled “Instructions to Bidders”.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act” and is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act No. 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

1. Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process.

Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2. Dropping of bid envelopes inside the designated bid box will be on the date of auction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow.

3. Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis.

Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retailunit being purchased.

4. Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts a bidder’s deposit for each property in an amount provided below. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5. Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution.

6. A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data:

Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625 Email addressvmc_bac@yahoo.com

1.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Only Bids from Bidders who passed the eligibility check will be opened. The process for the eligibility check is described in Section II of the Bidding Documents entitled, “ITB”. The Bidder with the Lowest Calculated Bid (LCB) shall advance to the postqualification stage in order to finally determine the responsiveness of the bid submission to the technical and financial requirements of the project. The contract shall then be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during the post-qualification procedure.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the VMC and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00am-11:00am and 2:00pm4:00pm starting November 17, 2018.

6.

The VMC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference for this bidding activity on November 26, 2019, 10:00 am at the Valenzuela Medical Center, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. Only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the Pre-Bid Conference. Those who have not purchased the bidding documents may act as observers and submit written queries, subject to the guidelines as stated in the IRR of RA 9184.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only (Php25,000.00).The method of payment will be in cash, manager’s check, bank guarantee or surety bond. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective bidder or his authorized representative. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity; Provided, that Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

8.

Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before December 10, 2018, 2:30pm, at the VMC BAC Secretariats’ Office.

9.

Bid Opening and Eligibility Check will be on December 10, 2018at 2:30pm. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late submission of bids will not be entertained. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the prescribed form, amount and validity period.

10.

The Valenzuela Medical Center reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariats’ Office Valenzuela Medical Center, Annex Building, 2nd Floor, Padrigal St., Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-4625

a. b. c. d. e.

Name and complete address of the bidder Exact address of property you are interested to bid Transfer Certificate of Title No. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) 10 % Bidder’s Deposit equivalent to 10% of the total amount of bid offer f. Signature of the bidder/representative 7. Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Bid Price of the property published in the newspaper or posted in the GSIS website. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8. Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System 9. The following shall be inserted on the sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished downloadable bid form b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance c. System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer d. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative e. pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable f. proofs of occupancy (see No. 12.c.1 and c.2) 10. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope) (Address of Property you want to bid) Block No. ______ Lot. No. ______ Phase No.____ Name of Subdivision Address of Subdivision TCT NO. _______ Mode: __________ Cash __________ thru External Financing Institution Name of Bidder: Mailing Address: 11. Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks

(SGD)JOSEPH T. NOCOM, MD, FPOA Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (MS-NOV. 19, 2018)

stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized CYAN M representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1

Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property

c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13.If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS).

The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14.The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/ partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/ partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15.A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding.

16.In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17.In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

18.Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

19.Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

20.In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 21.GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

22.For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

(MS-NOV. 17,18 & 19, 2018)

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

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

A8

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Sports

Wide-open race in BVR Dumaguete DUMAGUETE CITY—A wideopen race for the women’s and men’s crowns looms in the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour Monday at the Rizal Boulevard sand court here.

Newly minted UAAP champion Babylove Barbon and Genesa Eslapor of University of Santo Tomas and El Nido leg winners Charo Soriano and Bea Tan of Perlas are tipped as favorites, but they will be facing a stiff challenge from eight other international and local women’s pairs.

Barbon and Eslapor are returning to the site of their triumphant 23rd Philippine University Games stint late last month, which they hope to replicate in the ninth leg of the tour.

Also, former UAAP champions KR Guzman and Krung Arbasto of the Tigers will go up against an equally tough men’s cast, which features two pairs from host Dumaguete -- Reynald Catipay and Buensuceso Sayson, and Jestorni Tubosa and Jayron Eltanal.

Matches will start at 7 a.m., while the opening ceremonies are set at 2 p.m. with Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo in attendance.

It will be the first time that BVR will stage a leg in Dumaguete, which is celebrating its 70th charter anniversary and fiesta, further strengthening the city’s reputation as a sports tourism destination.

Among the visiting players competing in the two-day spikefest are Samaa Miyagawa of Japan and Tin Lai of Hong Kong in women’s, as well as Mitabashi Masato and Takashi Tsuchiya of Japan in men’s.

Jimmy Butler of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP

Butler spoils Kemba’s 60 points L

OS ANGELES —Kemba Walker’s 60 points weren’t enough for the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday as Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler drilled a game-winning three-pointer as time expired in overtime to lift the 76ers to a 122-119 NBA victory.

Walker became the first player in Hornets’ history to score 60 points in a game.

He connected on 21 of 34 shots from the field and made all 12 of his free throw attempts on the way to a career-high in points -- and the most in an NBA game this season.

Walker also pulled down seven rebounds, handed out four assists and came up with four steals.

Jeremy Lamb with 20 points and Cody Zeller with 10 were the only other Hornets players to score in double figures.

Philadelphia had 33 points from Joel

Embiid and 23 apiece from Ben Simmons and JJ Reddick.

Butler, who arrived via a trade from Minnesota earlier this week, scored 15 but stole the show.

He blocked a driving Walker’s shot to keep it tied at 119-119 with 15.7 seconds left in overtime then drained a 27-foot jump shot with three-tenths of a second remaining to secure the win.

Another nail-biter saw the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors drop a 112-109 decision to the Mavericks in Dallas.

Slovenian rookie Luka Doncic scored

PH Azkals bank on new goalkeeper

three in the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson added 22 for Golden State, but the Warriors had multiple shots in the final minute to tie or take the lead and came up empty.

Far from pushing the panic button, coach Steve Kerr said he was pleased to see the Warriors play well enough to win -- even if they came up short.

“What we did tonight was fantastic,” he said. “The effort was great. We got incredible energy from the bench. Our guys competed the whole way through. It’s a first step to kind of getting our groove back.”

Tamaraws force playoff for last seat in semifinals Games Wednesday (Playoffs at the Araneta Coliseum) 9 a.m. La Salle vs UST (women) 11 a.m. FEU vs Adamson (women) 3:30 p.m. La Salle vs FEU (men)

By Peter Atencio A NEW goalkeeper played for the Philippine Azkals in their second game.

And Fil-Danish newbie Michael Falkesgaard proved his worth when the Azkals held off a late attack from Timor-Leste for a 3-2 win Saturday evening at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson put in Falkesgaard in place of Neil Etheridge to give him exposure.

One of Falkesgaard’s saves took place in the 83rd minute when he got in the way of an attempt by Henrique Wilson Da Cruz Martin’s left-footed shot from outside the box.

This handed the Azkals their second win in two matches in their ongoing ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup 2018 campaign.

Etheridge was sidelined because of a minor thigh problem and is expected to be back with the Cardiff City FC in the English Premier League for the meantime.

With Etheridge gone, Falkesgaard could see himself starting for the Azkals in future games.

“The first half was good, I enjoyed it,” said Falkesgaard of their performance.

“In the second half we were not good enough, but in this tournament, the three points is all that matters,” added Falkesgaarde, whose mother is from Capiz.

The Azkals took control midway in the first half and seized the lead in the 27th minute when Phil Younghusband struck with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner from an assist by Stephan Schröck.

In the 33rd minute, Martin Steuble added a second goal for the Azkals, with his left-footed shot from outside the box hitting the bottom left corner off a pass from Kevin Ingreso.

On the 68th minute, Carlos de Murga knocked in a third goal for the Philippines, with his header from close range to the bottom left corner after another cross from Ingreso.

24 points, including the jump shot that put Dallas ahead for good with 1:10 remaining.

The Warriors, missing injured starters Stephen Curry and Draymond Green -- and still smarting from the dust-up between Green and teammate Kevin Durant earlier this week -- led by eight in the second half before Dallas rallied to beat the Warriors for just the second time in their last 19 meetings.

The champions have now lost four of their last six, and have lost two in a row for the first time this season.

Durant scored 32 points, but only

FLAWLESS. Novak Djokovic (above) produced a masterclass on Saturday to crush Kevin Anderson and set up a title decider at the ATP Finals against Alexander Zverev, who ousted Roger Federer after a bizarre incident involving a ball boy. World number one Djokovic comfortably saw off the fourth seed 6-2, 6-2, never looking remotely troubled as he targets a record-equalling sixth end-of-season title at London’s O2 Arena. AFP

Cabahug carries Cebu past Laguna LAPU-LAPU—Patrick Cabahug towed the Cebu Sharks to a 77-75 double overtime win over the Laguna Heroes-Krah in the MPBL Datu Cup here Saturday.

Cabahug started cold, scoring only two points in the first half, but exploded for 18 in the second half.

He had eight points in the second overtime period, including a coldblooded triple in the last eight seconds of the match and provided a fitting ending to the delight of the Cebuano fans that packed the Hoops Dome.

On hand to witness Cabahug’s exploits was Dondon Hontiveros, the Cebuano Hotshot and considered one of the best players ever produced by this province. Hontiveros played for the Cebu Gems in the MBA for two seasons, where he became a resident star.

On Saturday, Hontiveros was a guest panelist for the MPBL Datu Cup’s double header.

“Sobrang laking inspiration ang ibinigay niya not only for me but also for my teammates,” said Cabahug.

WENDELL Comboy topscored with 11 points for the Far Eastern University Tamaraws as they swamped an undermanned Adamson Falcons, 8256, to forge a playoff for the last seat in the Final Four with La Salle in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tams, with Ken Tuffin and Arvin Tolentino scoring 10 points, finished tied at third, fourth and fifth places with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the La Salle Green Archers, on similar 8-6 win-loss slate.

The Fighting Maroons, by virtue of a better quotient, got the no. 3 seeding and will clash with the Adamson Falcons in the Final Four on Saturday.

On the other hand, the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles will meet the winner between the FEU-La Salle playoff for the no. 4 seeding on Wednesday.

“We’re finally getting the breaks in the second round. Malaking bagay itong game na ito,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela.

Falcons’ main men Jerrick Ahanmisi and Sean Manganti were rested

because of minor injuries and got 11 team-high points from Jeron Lastimosa as they ended the second round at no. 2 with their 10-4 card.

The Tams, getting 10 points from Tolentino in the first half, held the Falcons to just 10 points in the first 10 minutes, and coasted a 21-8 lead and into a 46-22 halftime spread.

Meanwhile, Troy Rike unloaded 17 points and had 13 rebounds for the National University Bulldogs as they closed out the season with a 79-71 beating of the University of the East Warriors.

The 6’7” Fil-American Rike, who initially played for Wake Forest University in North Carolina and was allowed to play for NU early this year, came off the bench in the second period, hitting 10 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-point halftime lead, 44-32.

The Bulldogs went on to post their first win after four straight losses and end the season with a 4-10 win-loss record.

Issa Gaye added 12 points for Bulldogs, who finished below their 5-9 win-loss performance last season.

“It was great to end the season with a win. The team and myself wish we had a better season than we did,” said the 22-year-old Rike on his final game with the Bulldogs.

Rike, after finishing his Masters Degree, is returning to the United States to be with his family in San Francisco, California. Peter Atencio

Easy wins for Ateneo, NU juniors DEFENDING champion Ateneo and National University posted comfortable wins to gain the share of the early lead Sunday in the UAAP Season 81 juniors’ basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym. Kai Sotto had 27 points and 20 rebounds as the Blue Eaglets routed Adamson University, 75-59, while the Bullpups drew 13 points from Cyril Gonzales in a 91-49 dismantling of DeLa Salle-Zobel.

Ateneo and NU are now 2-0 in the

young season.

Bismarck Lina and Mark Nonoy teamed up for 38 points as University of Santo Tomas downed UP Integrated School, 75-63, while RJ Abarrientos fired 20 points to power Far-Eastern University-Diliman to an easy 81-54 win over University of the East.

The Tiger Cubs and the Baby Tamaraws tied the Baby Falcons and the Junior Archers at 1-1, while the Junior Warriors and the Junior Maroons fell at 0-2.

IN BRIEF Economy to sustain strong growth—BSP

STRONG macroeconomic fundamentals will enable the Philippine economy to remain resilient amid the domestic and external headwinds that are threatening to stifle growth, key government officials said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno cited the strengths of the domestic economy in a briefing titled “The Outlook 2018” held at Makati Shangri-La Hotel on Nov. 15.

“The Philippine economy is set to sustain its lead and beat the heat... Accelerated infrastructure development would increase absorptive capacity and growth potential,” Guinigundo said in a presentation.

The government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program aims to construct more roads, bridges, airports, seaports, railways, and water and irrigation projects to spur economic growth.

Guinigundo said the robust monetary, financial, and external sectors would continue to lend support to economic growth over the near and medium term .

“The BSP continues to support the country’s growth trajectory through effective conduct of its mandates of maintaining price and financial stability, providing resilience to shocks and fostering a macro-environment conducive to sustained economic growth,” Guinigundo said. Julito G. Rada

Govt to bid out new oil exploration deals

THE Department of Energy said it will launch the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program on Thursday to develop the petroleum exploration industry for global competitiveness.

“The DoE is aggressively pursuing the implementation of the PCECP so the country could establish a strong ‘Explore, Explore, Explore’ program. We have been grossly trailing behind our neighbors in terms of petroleum exploration and development activities.

It is high time that we step up,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

The PCECP, which will offer 14 pre-determined oil and gas area for exploration and development, will be held at the Shangri-La at the Fort Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“We need to attain energy security and sustainability to minimize our vulnerability to global oil price shocks. Harnessing our indigenous energy resources would also go far in helping us meet the country’s increasing energy demand as we continue to usher in economic progress,” Cusi said.

The 14 pre-determined areas identified by the DoE include one in Cagayan, three in East Palawan, three in Sulu Sea, two in AgusanDavao, one in Cotabato and four in West Luzon. Alena Mae S. Flores

PLDT sees wireless business picking up

PLDT Inc. said it expects its wireless consumer business to complete the turnaround this year, after posting a fourth consecutive quarter of growth.

The wireless consumer business of PLDT posted P45.5 billion in revenues in the first nine months, up by 4 percent from a year ago, on the back of strong mobile internet revenues and mobile data traffic growth driven by mobile video.

“The consumer wireless business will complete its turnaround this year, as revenues accelerate from a modest single-digit growth of 2 percent in first quarter and second quarter, to high single-digit growth of 8 percent for the third quarter, which now stands at P15.6 billion in revenues, the highest in the last eight quarters,” PLDT and Smart senior vice president for consumer market development Oscar Reyes Jr., senior said.

“Coming from the first three quarters of last year, when the business declined by P7.1 billion, this year’s performance shows an P8.8-billion positive swing in our wireless consumer business,” Reyes said.

Wireless consumer data revenue grew to P9.5 billion in the third quarter, pushing data revenue contribution to a new high of 61 percent. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

C ENERGY Inc., the power unit of Ayala Corp., said it expects to close the sale of its 49-percent voting stake and 60-percent economic interest in AA Thermal Inc. to Aboitiz Power Corp. by early next year.

Aboitiz Power and Arlington Mariveles Netherlands Holding B.V., an affiliate of AC Energy, signed a share purchase agreement worth $579.2 million (P31.4 billion) on Sept. 26.

“We expect that to reach financial close early 2019.

We’re just waiting for PCC [Philippine Competition Commission] and some other [approvals],” AC Energy president Eric Francia said.

The AA Thermal platform acquired by Aboitiz Pow-

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

B

er consists of AC Energy’s limited partnership interests in GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co., the owner and operator of a 632-megawatt coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan; and in GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co., the developer and operator of a 1,336-MW coal-fired plant project in Dinginin, Bataan, which is currently under construction.

Once completed, the acquisition will increase Aboitiz Power’s ownership in the Mariveles coal plant to 78.325 percent and in the Dinginin coal plant project to 70 percent.

The Mariveles coal plant has been operating since 2013, while the first unit of the Dinginin coal plant project is scheduled to go online in 2019.

Francia said AC Energy was in active discussion with interested parties for the sale of part of its interest in the 552-megawatt GN Power Kauswagan coal plant.

“Some of the investors expressed interest to partner with us at a platform level, but some investors expressed interest to have a path to control, ultimately buy out everything,” he said.

“We’re not in a great hurry. If there’s anything that will happen for the balance of our platform, there’s no great rush. This will have to depend on various counter parties,” the executive said.

He said there was a strong interest in the Kauswagan coal project because of its size and location.

“There’s quite a bit of interest in Kausawagan because it’s sizable plant. It’s the most competitive in Mindanao. It’s strategically located because it will be the major substation that will ultimately be connected to Cebu because the Mindanao -Visayas interconnection typically need two major substations to balance the frequency,” he said.

He said the priority of AC Energy and its partners was to finish the Kauswagan project by 2019.

Manila Electric Co. and San Miguel Corp. are reportedly studying bidding for AC Energy’s Kausawagan coal project.

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

PT&T files appeal with Supreme Court after denial of telecom bid

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Telegraph and Telephone Corp. asked the Supreme Court to overturn a decision of the selection committee of the National Telecommunications Commission to disqualify the company from the selection of a new major telecom player.

PT&T filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court assailing the acts of the NTC and the committee in the selection of the third telco that will challenge the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.

PT&T said the committee gravely erred when it interpreted the term “regional operations” under the rules and regulations on the selection process under Memorandum Circular No. 09-09-2018 as applicable only to foreign companies. This effectively prevented any domestic corporation from participating in the bidding, it said.

The company alleged that the NTC “gravely abused its discretion” when it refused to certify that PT&T has the required technical capability to participate in the bidding despite the various arguments and evidence showing that it has experience

Fund managers withdraw more hot money from PH FOREIGN fund managers withdrew more investments from the domestic financial markets in October as inflation rate hovered at a nine-year high of 6.7 percent and the trade war between the United States and China intensified.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas over the weekend showed that registered foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net outflow of $68 million in November.

The figure, however, was lower than the $440-million net outflow in September 2018 and $563-million net outflow in October 2017.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Ayala set to complete coal sale

AVIATION SAFETY FORUM. Senator Grace Poe (fourth from left), chair of the Senate committee on public services, speaks at the first Aviation Safety Day that the Asian Business Aviation Association organized. Poe called for better public-private sector partnerships to move the country forward in terms of air transport facilities. With Poe are (from left) International Business Aviation Council director general Kurt Edwards, AsBAA vice chairmen Gary Moran and Phil Balmer, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines deputy director general Donaldo Mendoza and AsBAA Philippines Chapter chairman and INAEC Aviation Corp. president Benjamin Lopez. Aviation Safety Day on Nov. 13 and Pilots’ Day on Nov. 14 were made possible by ACTSI, Embraer, Hawker Pacific (now a Jet Aviation company), the Malampaya Consortium Partners, AON, MedAire, Aerolink, Universal Weather and Aviation, Ascent Urban Air Mobility Inc. and Inaec Aviation.

By Julito G. Rada

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

“The deficit may be attributed to investors’ reaction to the country’s September inflation data coupled with the continuing trade tensions between the US and China,” the Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

Inflation in September accelerated to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent from 6.4 percent in August, triggered by faster increases in the prices of food and oil. It stayed at 6.7 percent in October.

About 68.8 percent of investments registered during the month were in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities, mainly holding firms, food, beverage and tobacco firms, banks, property companies, and telecommunication companies.

in the provisioning, delivery and operations of telecommunications services for the last ten years on a national scale.

“Moreover, PT&T argued that the NMP selection committee acted capriciously and with evident bias when it prematurely disqualified PT&T from the third telco bidding on the sole ground that it failed to submit a certification of technical capability instead of deferring said submission until the document verification phase of the third telco bidding, as what the NMP selection committee did in favor of the

Mislatel Consortium with respect to the latter’s lack of a subsisting Congressional franchise,” PT&T said.

“PT&T’s grievances lie solely with the NTC and NMP selection committee.

However, PT&T impleaded the Mislatel Consortium as respondents in its petition because the corporations constituting said consortium are real parties in interest as defined under the rules of court,” the company said.

PT&T said it was hopeful that its petition would be acted upon favorably.

“We hope that the Supreme Court will

act swiftly on the petition in view of the transcendental importance of the selection of the new major player in the Philippine telecommunications market,” PT&T said.

PT&T was disqualified from the bidding for a new major player for not submitting the required certification of technical capability from the NTC. Another bidder, Sear Telecom of former Ilocos Governor Chavit Singson, was also disqualified from the bidding for failure to submit a participation security of P700 million.

B2

Business

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Investors eye market catalysts S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week as investors look for catalysts that could push the index forward.

“As the earnings season unwinds, investors’ search for a positive impetus have narrowed to expectations of a Santa Claus rally—which nevertheless takes place over the period bridging the current and the new year,” Philstocks Financials Inc. research head Justino Calaycay said.

“Major economic data will come out by next year, except for the monthly inflation report, thus scrimping yet another possible source of catalyst over the near term,” he added.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said local investor sentiment improved due to the decline in world oil prices and the improvement in emerging market currencies driven by the slight weakening of the greenback.

“This further strengthens the view that inflation

could have peaked, thus causing investors to rush back into the market,” Ravelas said.

“Chartwise, the week’s close at 7,083.34 (shows) strong support exists at the 6,800/6,900 levels. Look for an attempt towards the 7,300 levels in the nearterm,” he added.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week rose 1.6 percent to close at 7,083.34, while the broader All Shares Index climbed 1 percent to 4,310.52 after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised interest rates to temper inflation rate.

Most sectoral indices were up last week, except for mining and oil which dropped and 1.9 percent and services which fell 0.2 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P2.87 billon, while the average daily value traded stood at P7.6 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Globe Telecom Inc., which rose 11.4 percent to P1,925; Bank of the Philippine Islands, which advanced 11.1 percent to P88.90; and GT Capital Holdings Inc., which advanced 10.8 percent to P807.

Weekly top price losers were Philex Mining Corp., which declined 13.7 percent to P2.76; MacroAsia

Corp., which dropped 12.3 percent to P14.38; and Nickel Asia Corp., which lost 11.2 percent to P2.30.

Meanwhile, Wall Street eked out a split finish on Friday, reversing some earlier losses following hopeful comments on trade from US President Donald Trump.

Trump gave the major stock indices a bump in early afternoon, announcing that Beijing had made clear overtures toward resolving the US-China trade war so he might not need to impose yet more tariffs.

Stocks forged higher, wiping away losses from earlier in the day when Facebook and the semiconductors firms weighed on the market.

But due to a string of finishes in the red in prior sessions, the major indices finished the week substantially lower.

The benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.5 percent, rising to 25,413.22, but finishing the week 2.2 percent lower after a string of sell-offs earlier in the week.

The broader S&P 500 added 0.2 percent to 2,736.27 but finished the week 1.6 percent lower.

But the Nasdaq, weighed down by losses in the tech sector, fell 0.2 percent, closing at 7,247.87, 2.1 percent lower for the week. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

NOVEMBER 12-16, 2018 Close Volume Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

59.5 124.00 88.90 2.35 1.55 27.7 7.59 15.2 10.66 3.96 0.54 1.45 835.00 0.475 70.3 0.8 11.1 40.00 71.5 105.2 184 28.1 140 1888.00 65.90 1.14

115,150 7,064,570 14,567,770 597,000 6,412,000 542,800 200 90,442 1,167,500 173,000 1,000 451,000 300 6,360,000 34,964,030 1,535,000 30,600 453,000 1,730 180 9,090 448,900 3,527,130 1,140 41,230 702,000

FINANCIAL 6,785,282.50 836,794,403.00 1,228,379,857.00 1,464,270.00 9,018,250.00 15,100,940.00 1,518.00 79,520.00 12,172,804.00 667,840.00 540.00 641,160.00 250,500.00 2,915,850.00 2,380,857,209.00 1,182,830.00 335,616.00 17,754,875.00 124,583.00 18,838.00 1,606,965.00 12,596,785.00 493,729,458.00 2,064,425.00 2,717,812.00 801,270.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

31.65 17.36 1.07 1.25 0.226 110 16.00 1.99 14 171.8 36.9 60.75 35.2 1.39 5.2 7 10.800 15.4 8.84 6.92 1.46 17.38 64.35 22.80 1.6200 6.21 8.66 1.480 282.00 50.00 4.65 3.33 9.80 25.7 10.5 17.6 0.165 376.60 6.00 1.49 4.05 7.84 4.55 8.50 0.93 11.06 48.5 5.2 4.66 2.01 3 1.24 10 83.95 5.27 0.121 0.88 131 2.33 1.43 18.50 1.48

32,987,000 3,591,000 75,858,000 1,676,000 13,690,000 1,100 12,100 25,399,000 6,923,400 50 883,400 1,630 3,171,400 1,349,000 71,000 54,800 3,675,000 1,389,300 2,195,600 3,252,500 4,000 12,063,600 452,780 149,300 77,909,000 868,400 31,203,800 1,477,000 2,800,520 340 189,000 44,000 91,700 3,204,600 883,900 29,166,100 3,830,000 1,156,840 14,400 1,169,000 938,000 6,760,700 773,000 15,300 4,662,000 322,300 5,648,270 176,700 96,000 493,000 85,000 4,729,000 2,383,200 19,277,470 6,160,000 40,000 433,000 3,277,630 230,000 26,400,000 2,000 57,831,000

INDUSTRIAL 1,039,194,625.00 62,486,016.00 80,648,830.00 2,078,170.00 2,903,710.00 120,974.00 185,738.00 50,560,540.00 91,188,532.00 8,590.00 32,377,370.00 99,029.50 111,689,395.00 1,942,890.00 379,360.00 381,406.00 39,621,280.00 21,186,722.00 19,120,742.00 22,503,628.00 5,840.00 204,309,528.00 29,058,851.50 3,503,095.00 126,352,640.00 5,229,309.00 269,008,947.00 2,221,050.00 772,386,712.00 17,000.00 887,800.00 144,380.00 648,000.00 80,612,815.00 9,377,992.00 515,383,438.00 623,090.00 439,767,782.00 83,283.00 1,765,980.00 3,712,640.00 54,255,907.00 3,427,760.00 126,854.00 4,311,930.00 3,495,046.00 281,464,730.50 917,982.00 447,240.00 964,670.00 248,530.00 6,160,580.00 23,466,932.00 1,628,439,529.00 32,181,233.00 4,890.00 361,070.00 410,251,042.00 535,890.00 37,205,660.00 37,000.00 90,038,240.00

0.475 46.30 10.70 0.78 6.20 22 1.470 1.470 905 1507.00 7.03 12.70 5.45 7.37 0.230 807 5.95 45.00 4.32 3.51 4.51 0.51 3.75 16 0.520 4.5 0.0330 1.160 2.440 2.69 168.50 890.00 1.28 0.71 279.000 570.00 0.2130 0.194

HOLDING FIRMS 73,430,000 32,099,550.00 5,992,800 271,923,280.00 53,523,800 565,595,646.00 23,000 18,080.00 296,000 1,840,195.00 2,349,600 52,391,940.00 107,114,000 154,051,240.00 23,048,000 33,280,060.00 1,711,540 1,540,308,395.00 65 97,165.00 7,581,000 53,180,708.00 13,644,300 171,438,166.00 300 1,689.00 731,200 5,383,773.00 650,000 148,310.00 569,130 432,189,420.00 9,400 55,630.00 9,198,000 406,419,670.00 5,000 21,620.00 1,000 3,510.00 2,000 9,020.00 605,000 302,350.00 7,064,000 26,865,020.00 18,735,600 289,008,766.00 4,743,000 2,451,790.00 165,069,000 736,446,560.00 28,600,000 937,800.00 696,000 821,910.00 9,015,000 22,238,530.00 16,000 41,930.00 1,283,280 219,488,893.00 1,351,730 1,199,313,640.00 1,565,000 2,064,020.00 124,000 93,400.00 20,030 5,472,478.00 11,560 6,532,971.00 22,310,000 4,823,570.00 430,000 83,650.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings 8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

7.300 0.77 0.52 1.780 0.540 39.350 2.23 3.8 5.72 0.415 0.85 0.880 0.220 0.340 7.600 18.1 0.500 0.104 1.47 0.99 2.44 4.35 0.350 0.4400 0.360 3.6

734,800 8,873,000 2,011,000 258,000 4,224,000 69,213,600 7,267,000 13,811,000 54,900 23,480,000 446,000 1,438,000 20,530,000 390,000 2,653,000 3,407,700 700,000 920,000 19,646,000 8,708,000 70,243,000 54,656,000 248,050,000 10,500,000 2,090,000 4,509,000

PROPERTY 5,265,467.00 6,373,270.00 1,377,126.00 470,180.00 2,320,030.00 2,670,409,835.00 16,126,960.00 53,030,270.00 311,585.00 9,493,850.00 349,620.00 1,219,770.00 4,299,880.00 134,150.00 20,283,361.00 60,278,674.00 356,770.00 95,680.00 28,098,700.00 8,727,650.00 164,856,450.00 245,786,770.00 84,501,400.00 4,615,100.00 763,350.00 16,343,230.00

NOVEMBER 5-9, 2018 Close Volume Value 58.1 118.00 80.00 2.53 1.42 27.85 7.6 15.68 10.56 4 0.6 1.5 830.00 0.450 65.05 0.8 10.8 39.30 75 104.9 180 28 145 1830.00 66.00 1.15

70,500 13,575,480 8,220,660 206,000 373,000 671,200 400 3,100 4,308,500 255,000 1,000 108,000 1,150 2,780,000 14,346,690 2,517,000 41,700 490,900 1,510 3,290 14,500 358,000 2,470,960 150 21,300 1,340,000

4,161,249.50 1,657,240,814.00 675,853,017.00 496,870.00 503,000.00 18,784,235.00 2,712.00 48,396.00 47,437,308.00 994,990.00 600.00 161,810.00 952,850.00 1,269,950.00 945,038,121.00 2,070,290.00 453,404.00 19,385,835.00 109,937.50 348,097.00 2,633,112.00 10,008,115.00 355,446,097.00 274,500.00 1,409,385.50 1,550,790.00

32.5 17.5 0.98 1.26 0.215 93 15.80 2.04 13.3 171.6 36 60.75 33.45 1.57 5.4 7 10.960 14.78 8.33 6.97

7,292,000 3,236,400 47,616,000 2,271,000 11,000,000 930 63,300 54,788,000 2,963,900 500 2,001,400 5,030 952,700 1,528,000 51,300 69,700 8,497,100 177,300 7,220,900 1,881,500

244,542,905.00 57,597,612.00 46,973,890.00 2,823,840.00 2,293,050.00 84,894.50 991,572.00 51,550,490.00 39,091,750.00 87,232.00 74,619,150.00 306,791.50 35,740,135.00 2,330,400.00 225,398.00 468,375.00 93,313,750.00 2,627,440.00 63,602,762.00 13,095,154.00

16.4 63.85 24.50 1.6000 6.26 9 1.600 278.00 52.00 4.7 3.3 13.00 25.5 10.42 18.3 0.173 380.80 6.00 1.57 4.00 8.12 4.34 9.00 1.00 10.98 49.45 5.59 4.80 2.12 2.8 1.44 10.2 84.95 5.2 0.126 0.89 125 2.34 1.41

5,422,300 220,260 58,000 300,085,000 204,100 12,408,400 4,601,000 4,053,990 12,160 390,000 22,000 1,000 1,678,200 996,700 24,500,900 5,510,000 965,710 8,100 1,638,000 300,000 6,643,100 831,000 21,900 4,913,000 400,700 2,306,400 11,100 137,000 1,577,000 164,000 1,459,000 5,705,900 4,217,900 2,530,300 2,450,000 927,000 4,041,540 81,000 30,529,000

88,004,042.00 14,109,702.00 1,402,035.00 456,891,040.00 1,266,906.00 121,503,793.00 7,181,470.00 1,128,275,466.00 610,368.00 1,850,380.00 71,840.00 12,994.00 43,001,230.00 10,448,364.00 445,831,232.00 921,870.00 356,725,096.00 48,502.00 2,642,070.00 1,186,630.00 54,051,012.00 3,544,050.00 197,469.00 4,898,470.00 4,322,918.00 113,741,810.00 59,831.00 654,360.00 3,287,690.00 491,660.00 2,102,730.00 57,903,598.00 352,785,933.50 13,175,398.00 297,660.00 814,940.00 534,111,624.00 190,300.00 45,526,460.00

1.61

363,439,000

610,678,320.00

0.425 47.00 11.12 0.87 6.20 24.95 1.360 1.360 902 1005.00 7.05 12.50 5.59 7.32 0.217 728 5.75 46.45

136,740,000 9,429,900 33,761,500 10,000 729,100 298,800 123,213,000 23,441,000 1,234,500 45 10,640,500 32,399,000 3,600 540,200 1,155,000 630,560 34,500 8,433,200

59,722,250.00 177,052,890.00 388,895,652.00 8,580.00 4,521,568.00 7,077,275.00 160,631,390.00 30,510,090.00 1,142,407,450.00 45,125.00 74,658,669.00 413,220,840.00 20,295.00 3,934,378.00 275,510.00 466,700,920.00 200,499.00 405,399,415.00

3.46

9,900

34,284.00

0.51 4.1 15.1 0.540 4.75 0.0350 1.120 2.260 2.56 171.50 888.00 1.43 0.76 279.600 290.20 0.2100 0.217

1,085,000 2,915,000 52,211,000 11,600,000 112,769,000 62,200,000 681,000 3,186,000 13,000 1,953,070 1,331,450 629,000 122,000 20,910 50 21,400,000 200,000

535,050.00 12,141,190.00 785,014,558.00 6,001,930.00 544,556,870.00 2,158,600.00 774,540.00 7,238,230.00 33,550.00 331,617,417.00 1,198,079,915.00 874,960.00 92,840.00 5,840,580.00 14,470.00 4,688,400.00 43,580.00

7.340 0.74 11.00 1.820 0.570 38.000 2.28 4.38 6.06 0.405 0.90 0.880 0.207 0.385 7.790 18.52 0.510 0.104 1.42 1.01 2.35 4.5 0.360 0.4100 0.370 3.73

2,253,400 9,116,000 19,100 580,000 5,528,000 66,538,500 8,240,000 2,728,000 658,300 45,640,000 215,000 394,000 30,600,000 1,780,000 1,111,600 1,256,800 651,000 900,000 14,739,000 10,184,000 146,679,000 52,164,000 1,163,371,000 9,430,000 7,500,000 6,452,000

16,388,024.00 6,645,200.00 214,980.00 1,094,300.00 3,180,120.00 2,575,570,935.00 19,334,990.00 11,771,200.00 3,827,476.00 18,071,250.00 195,490.00 345,080.00 6,385,350.00 658,000.00 8,723,455.00 23,563,632.00 331,110.00 93,600.00 21,206,290.00 10,273,600.00 342,248,660.00 231,513,090.00 474,622,110.00 3,984,200.00 2,740,700.00 23,269,530.00

STOCKS

NOVEMBER 12-16, 2018 Close Volume Value

NOVEMBER 5-9, 2018 Close Volume Value

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

20.40 1.93 3.15 32.65 1.14 4.15 0.710 5.200

19,818,900 461,000 148,000 72,513,800 2,162,000 1,446,000 18,000 12,236,200

396,691,750.00 892,920.00 465,840.00 1,960,071,145.00 2,444,210.00 5,906,400.00 12,780.00 63,381,701.00

20.35 1.94 3.16 32.70 1.14 4.22 0.680 5.200

11,648,600 711,000 178,000 60,953,900 2,203,000 8,266,500 748,000 43,262,500

243,854,530.00 1,357,190.00 559,810.00 2,024,230,360.00 2,457,280.00 38,341,296.00 413,680.00 224,121,149.00

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

9.65 19.86 1.26 0.360 0.039 13.06 1.67 7.33 65.25 7.8 7.64 7.65 2.43 5.29 950 1925 5.27 320.00 11.00 3.29 94 1.87 10.5 7.15 0.097 7.8100 3.45 14.36 2.78 0.70 14.38 16.44 0.360 5.5 7.13 1.98 1.21 1.38 3.100 10.24 8.00 3.4 8 109.50 3.14 1165.00 0.320 0.640 42.00 77.00 6.79 2.72 0.580 0.36 5.14 0.470 12.360

299,900 328,200 618,000 107,090,000 14,200,000 100 11,154,000 54,077,500 3,423,690 44,600 42,398,900 436,000 20,000 1,785,900 1,520 426,960 1,024,500 23,630 100 18,110,000 6,078,090 2,000 84,400 54,300 12,080,000 511,745,000 180,000 13,100 4,969,000 1,279,000 7,440,900 20,600 580,000 191,400 14,883,000 6,960,000 510,000 48,000 45,544,000 43,000 58,500 84,000 30,400 98,280 2,077,000 420,920 4,100,000 14,202,000 4,854,100 2,152,940 216,200 38,739,000 20,391,000 240,900,000 50,621,600 10,120,000 26,435,700

SERVICES 2,892,666.00 6,498,612.00 810,710.00 36,483,400.00 530,000.00 1,306.00 17,403,810.00 418,107,469.00 215,963,463.00 347,899.00 335,220,706.00 3,307,347.00 46,240.00 10,783,962.00 1,404,360.00 781,362,850.00 5,362,680.00 7,485,792.00 1,100.00 62,623,760.00 561,077,227.00 3,840.00 907,700.00 393,121.00 1,123,710.00 4,011,445,048.00 612,850.00 185,974.00 13,121,880.00 907,550.00 109,625,390.00 309,898.00 212,900.00 1,030,181.00 106,057,555.00 13,618,320.00 421,940.00 53,490.00 140,957,130.00 445,966.00 457,730.00 282,490.00 243,126.00 10,488,628.00 6,546,720.00 503,386,250.00 1,300,300.00 9,120,630.00 204,794,610.00 163,681,878.00 1,497,979.00 105,694,390.00 11,855,470.00 82,155,850.00 258,956,141.00 4,737,900.00 323,283,168.00

10 20.8 1.3 0.360 0.038 13.06 1.43 8.12 65.65 7.8 7.8 7.98 2.26 5.68 902 1728 5.20 319.00 9.02 3.35 92.15 1.80 11.04 7.80 0.093 6.8000 3.4 13.74 2.96 0.71 16.40 9.11 0.400 5.7 7.12 2.06 1.10 1.38 3.050 10.96 8.00 3.5 8 101.30 3.36 1220.00 0.335 0.650 43.00 76.80 6.83 2.84 0.590 0.355 5.15 0.490 11.620

330,000 243,500 226,000 32,410,000 44,600,000 5,300 12,959,000 37,481,500 890,520 14,600 139,163,800 99,600 140,000 2,392,800 1,230 556,970 706,300 44,380 2,400 28,055,000 11,246,210 248,000 42,600 30,000 20,480,000 693,360,900 329,000 3,100 4,459,000 1,336,000 4,374,200 2,500 420,000 424,000 68,757,000 6,120,000 1,180,000 124,000 125,042,000 59,600 34,000 69,000 26,800 125,020 4,069,000 640,080 9,860,000 22,532,000 8,811,800 1,460,630 437,200 62,482,000 48,384,000 342,895,000 6,892,000 18,492,000 8,740,900

3,326,831.00 5,194,630.00 285,520.00 12,654,350.00 1,718,800.00 70,360.00 19,576,390.00 305,002,816.00 60,198,946.50 113,882.00 1,162,857,684.00 727,426.00 303,000.00 14,069,888.00 1,107,520.00 1,045,246,660.00 3,694,479.00 13,937,024.00 20,637.00 87,139,340.00 1,042,266,010.00 451,440.00 478,002.00 232,125.00 1,934,190.00 3,985,408,057.00 1,006,730.00 43,078.00 14,023,470.00 989,790.00 72,648,588.00 36,243.00 167,900.00 2,262,613.00 488,931,711.00 13,156,860.00 1,329,570.00 174,760.00 348,659,180.00 647,252.00 264,856.00 235,010.00 216,928.00 13,273,077.00 13,481,570.00 846,610,075.00 3,177,100.00 15,844,770.00 373,858,260.00 110,997,632.00 2,989,826.00 172,787,800.00 30,661,330.00 135,046,535.00 35,516,471.00 9,439,465.00 99,784,684.00

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

United Paragon

0.0021 1.80 2.35 15.78 1.2500 1.0900 1.92 0.295 7.01 1.740 0.205 0.100 0.109 0.007 0.0067 1.12 2.3 1.01 0.5200 0.9000 0.0130 0.0120 2.76 18.06 0.0110 4.0800 26.00 0.0059

670,000,000 27,470,000 5,419,000 58,700 2,087,000 64,000 1,821,000 1,100,000 328,000 3,294,000 42,740,000 519,130,000 18,020,000 961,700,000 37,000,000 263,000 36,409,000 67,000 147,000 3,605,000 32,100,000 267,100,000 17,608,000 16,982,900 113,000,000 990,000 6,250,700 11,000,000

MINING & OIL 1,397,000.00 48,595,640.00 13,221,410.00 837,624.00 2,174,080.00 69,760.00 3,500,340.00 315,900.00 2,298,334.00 5,694,850.00 8,423,250.00 50,879,320.00 1,803,450.00 6,407,100.00 228,100.00 287,580.00 86,284,060.00 66,290.00 76,440.00 3,134,030.00 405,900.00 3,472,000.00 52,719,450.00 309,869,442.00 1,336,900.00 4,034,390.00 162,841,010.00 65,500.00

0.0023 1.78 2.55 12.62 1.2900 1.2900 1.9 0.290 7.10 1.760 0.200 0.100 0.103 0.004 0.0068 1.12 2.59 1.02 0.5200 0.8800 0.0130 0.0130 3.20 18.30 0.0120 3.9000 25.50 0.0060

822,000,000 54,815,000 252,000 110,700 2,000 126,000 4,296,000 2,710,000 34,600 7,792,000 2,210,000 10,220,000 3,190,000 46,000,000 16,000,000 519,000 10,498,000 561,000 1,463,000 8,556,000 216,600,000 245,700,000 14,723,000 33,442,300 46,900,000 848,000 9,845,900 51,000,000

1,816,000.00 96,885,910.00 664,240.00 1,513,300.00 2,590.00 154,050.00 8,178,160.00 808,150.00 240,335.00 13,634,100.00 442,820.00 1,037,770.00 328,760.00 302,400.00 108,800.00 592,330.00 27,262,360.00 552,230.00 798,730.00 7,355,860.00 2,777,900.00 3,191,600.00 48,479,600.00 610,642,268.00 563,300.00 3,321,300.00 269,864,670.00 302,900.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

19.1 95.45 465 487 97 100.5 480 450 5.25 915 920 96 1.03 101 1001 102 108.8 970 75.3 76 73 74.95 75 74.8 73.8 73.5

158,500 28,900 9,610 3,040 39,020 10,640 320 29,620 24,900 5,740 30 1,960 332,000 10,390 260 1,000 9,160 1,490 13,790 26,060 564,570 400,000 643,360 110,740 36,030 572,530

PREFERRED 3,059,079.00 2,759,705.00 4,421,250.00 1,483,690.00 3,773,698.00 1,066,720.00 153,600.00 13,321,200.00 129,813.00 5,232,400.00 27,600.00 189,246.00 337,780.00 1,035,276.00 261,150.00 102,000.00 944,598.00 1,459,150.00 1,037,623.00 1,982,443.00 41,121,450.00 29,980,000.00 48,304,310.00 8,252,756.00 2,639,600.00 41,869,282.00

20.6 100 465 491 96.5 102 480 485 5.42 948.5 944 97 1.03 101 1006 102.5 103.1 998.5 76.1 76.6 74.4 75 75 75 74 74

532,300 55,000 850 330 143,870 76,900 100 90 219,700 3,090 8,500 5,530 82,000 11,610 1,625 30 1,450 3,280 32,290 162,430 55,450 39,410 8,690 41,100 64,400 12,130

11,380,815.00 5,505,000.00 394,310.00 161,640.00 13,808,228.00 7,844,150.00 48,000.00 43,650.00 1,189,707.00 2,595,295.00 7,593,265.00 538,528.00 83,570.00 1,170,027.00 1,635,100.00 3,076.00 151,390.00 3,220,050.00 2,422,800.50 12,376,793.00 4,119,443.00 2,885,966.00 651,190.00 3,082,684.00 4,735,757.00 899,830.50

LR Warrant

1.720

WARRANTS & BONDS 3,660,000 6,060,870.00

1.890

3,614,000

7,208,200.00

3 3.58 1.28

15,000 6,599,000 37,790,000

41,800.00 24,665,440.00 54,237,840.00

SME 858,970.00 16,351,720.00 21,226,880.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

2.86 4.29 1.2

319,000 4,140,000 17,411,000

First Metro ETF

106.5

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 93,230 9,722,523.00

105.5

75,990

8,097,777.00

10.7 10.2 1.03

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 15,980 162,789.60 15,110 152,084.00 140,260 142,101.60

10.16 10 1

3,970 8,000 10,620

40,335.20 80,000.00 10,620.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Manila Mining `A’ Abra Mining Lepanto `A’ ISM Communications Oriental Pet. `B’ MRC Allied Ind. Transpacific Broadcast Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Philodrill Corp. `A’ ATN Holdings A

VOLUME 961,700,000 670,000,000 519,130,000 511,745,000 267,100,000 248,050,000 240,900,000 165,069,000 113,000,000 107,114,000

STOCKS ISM Communications Ayala Land `B’ Metrobank SM Prime Holdings SMC Food and Beverage Ayala Corp `A’ Bank of PI SM Investments Inc. Aboitiz Power Corp.

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc.

VALUE 4,011,445,048.00 2,670,409,835.00 2,380,857,209.00 1,960,071,145.00 1,628,439,529.00 1,540,308,395.00 1,228,379,857.00 1,199,313,640.00 1,039,194,625.00 836,794,403.00

LBC Express posted profit of P1.26b in nine months LBC Express Holdings Inc. of the Araneta group said net income in the third quarter of the year dropped 71 percent to P85 million from P291 million year-on-year due to a significant increase in operating expenses and cost of services.

LBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange over the weekend revenues in the third quarter of the year jumped 34 percent to P3.3 billion after retail and corporate logistics sales climbed 42 percent and 32 percent, respectively.

Revenues from the logistics segment rose 38 percent P3.1 billion in the third quarter, helped by the 33-percent increase in volume, the net addition of 58 branches in the country and the introduction of new products and services.

The cost of services, however, grew at faster pace of 36 percent to P2.24 billion in the third quarter of the year as the higher volume in logistics resulted in the increase in cost of delivery and remittances by 49 percent.

Operating expenses also surged 42 percent to P787 million.

LBC’s net income in the nine-month period surged 73 percent to P1.26 billion from P740.8 million on year on higher gross profit following an increase in volume Services revenues grew 23 percent to P9.1 billion, with the logistics business climbing 27 percent to P8.4 billion on the back of a seven-percent growth in volume.

Newly-acquired businesses also contributed to P494 million to total logistics revenues, constituting six percent of the total.

LBC in March acquired four affiliate cargo and remittance companies operating in California, New Jersey, Saipan and Hawaii for a combined $8.55 million. Jenniffer B. Austria

Premiere unit listing P545.4m worth of shares PREMIERE Georesources and Development Inc., the infrastructure unit of Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp., plans to list its shares with the Philippine Stock Exchange through listing by way of introduction.

Listing by way of introduction allows a company to join the Philippine Stock Exchange without having to sell shares to the public immediately.

PHA said in a recent disclosure PGDI filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange to register and list by way of introduction P545.4 million worth of common shares.

PGDI opted for the listing by way of introduction after parent company PHA in March declared a property dividend of 268 million PGDI shares to PHA shareholders.

PGDI, formerly called Redstone Construction and Development Corp., is engaged in the business of construction works and earthworks for mining, real estate development, environmental protection and remediation, and reclamation, as well as quarrying, hauling, earthmoving and heavy equipment rentals.

The company is now being repositioned as an infrastructure company to capitalize on the booming construction industry and the government’s Build Build Build program.

PGDI currently has a public float of 23.5 percent after recently completing a private placement involving 523 million shares owned by PHA. PGDI is the second company to apply for listing by way of introduction this year.

HatchAsia, the gaming services partner of listed DFNN Inc., in August filed an application with the SEC and PSE to list 276.16 million common shares under the main board of the PSE with an initial listing price of P5.28 per share, or approximately P1.45 billion Founded in 2000 by DFNN, HatchAsia was originally created to be an incubation business for fledgling start up and dot com companies. But DFNN and Visayan Gaming Inc. in 2014 signed an investment agreement to jointly engage in gaming-related business process management and outsourcing operations as well as game and software development. Jenniffer B. Austria

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business/World

B3

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

China censorship targets Twitter B EIJING―Despite being blocked in China, Twitter and other overseas social media sites have long been used freely by activists and government critics to address subjects that are censored on domestic forums―until now.

As Beijing presses a campaign to throttle any remaining voices that stray from the Communist Party narrative, it is extending its reach to foreign sites outside of its “Great Firewall” of internet censorship.

People in China can use virtual private network (VPN) software to circumvent Beijing’s controls and access blocked foreign sites.

But fearful that the platforms could be used to coordinate political activity, the authorities have launched a stealth crackdown over the past year.

Chinese activists and other Twitter users say they

have been pressured by police to delete sensitive tweets.

It’s a “silent slaughter”, said Yaxue Cao, founder of human rights site China Change.

In some cases, Chinese authorities may be getting access to and deleting accounts themselves.

Last Friday, Cao reported that the Twitter account of Wu Gan, a Chinese activist sentenced last December to eight years in prison for subversion, had been suddenly deleted -- erasing more than 30,000 posts representing years of political critique and commentary.

A Chinese Twitter user who requested anonymity told AFP that he was taken in by police over tweets critical of the Communist Party.

After being held at a police station overnight, the user was made to hand over login information and watch police delete the tweets.

“You don’t know what kind of crime they’ll sentence you with. There’s no due process, so you feel scared,” said the Twitter user, who was forced to write a letter of repentance and warned against further tweeting.

“Once they threaten you, you’ll do what they say.”

Twitter declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Under President Xi Jinping, China has increased scrutiny of social media platforms and sought to restrict access to VPN software.

Authorities have not launched a full crackdown on VPNs, however, because both Chinese and foreign companies need them to do business.

On Monday, the Cyberspace Administration of China said it had “cleaned up” 9,800 accounts on Chinese social media platforms like messaging app WeChat and the Twitter-like Weibo that it accused of spreading “politically harmful” information and rumours.

The internet regulator also chastised the sites for negligence and “irresponsibility”.

Chinese Twitter users have been targeted before -one was arrested in 2012 for joking about a building collapsing on a political meeting.

But the recent police activity indicates a more concerted clampdown, triggered by an exodus of users from censored platforms that has resulted in a stronger Chinese Twitter presence, said writer and activist Li Xuewen. AFP

Plundering Albania’s sunken relics VLORA, Albania―Albania’s long underexplored coastal waters have become a hot spot for treasure hunters scooping up ancient pottery, sunken ship parts and other shell-encrusted relics that have lain on the seabed for centuries.

The 450-kilometer coastline, which is lapped by the Adriatic and Ionian seas, was off-limits under the communist regime that ruled the Balkan state until 1990, with orders to shoot anyone caught diving without authorization.

But today its waters are open, luring archaeologists but also looters eager to plumb the new territory and sell their finds on the art and metals markets.

“Much of this wealth resting at the depth of 66-99 feet is easily accessible without any special equipment and has almost completely disappeared without a trace,” said Albanian archaeologist and art historian Neritan Ceka, among those calling for urgent measures to protect the underwater heritage.

While diving at the beginning of the 1980s -- under communism, archaeologists and soldiers were permitted -- he was one of the first to see for himself the seabed treasures, he said.

“I saw extraordinary richness, amphoras [terra-cotta jugs], pottery, archaeological objects which are no longer there today,” he added.

Teams of European and Albanian divers “have started to loot in a barbaric way”, he lamented.

Expeditions carried out since 2006 by the US-based RPM Nautical Foundation have found some 40 shipwrecks along Albania’s coastline, including vessels dating back to the 7th century BC and naval ships from World War I and II. Hundreds of Roman-era amphoras—used to store wine, olive oil and other goods on trade vessels—are also clustered on the sea floor, covered in marine plants. AFP

IN BRIEF Sub found one year after disappearance MAR DEL PLATA―The crushed wreck of an Argentine submarine has been located one year after it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with 44 crew members, in the country’s worst naval disaster in decades.

Experts say raising the ARA San Juan submarine would be an enormous undertaking costing a billion dollars or more.

Defense Minister Oscar Aguad said Argentina had “no means” to do so.

The navy located at the submarine at a depth of more than 2,600 feet, the navy tweeted, confirming the vessel had imploded.

Relatives of the dead sailors were seen hugging each other, holding their heads in despair and crying inconsolably.

The Seabed Constructor, a ship owned

by US search firm Ocean Infinity, made the discovery Friday, one day after the first anniversary of the disappearance.

The ship had set out in September in the latest attempt to find the San Juan, whose disappearance cost the navy’s top officer his job.

The navy lost contact with the submarine on November 15, 2017, about 450 kilometers from the coast while it was traveling northward from Ushuaia, at Argentina’s southern tip. AFP

Stingray kills one, sharks maul two

LAUNCHING. Actor William DeMeo arrives at the official Fragrance Launch Of Wise Guy Wear & Wise Girl Wear on November 17, 2018, in Brooklyn, New York. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Wise Guy & Wise Girl Wear. AFP

‘Panic’ targets Indonesia’s LGBT community JAKARTA―Indonesian Budi Ahmad used to live openly as a gay man without fear of becoming a target for violence in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation. Not any more.

The country of 260 million is in the grip of a moral panic, with critics saying the vulnerable LGBT minority is being used as a political punching bag in the run-up to 2019 elections.

Hardline rhetoric and a string of arrests have raised fears among the community.

“There could be more persecution and we’re scared that the public might become vigilantes,” said Ahmad, who agreed to speak to AFP using a pseudonym.

The 29-year-old, from a small town in the province of West Sumatra, said family and friends in the tight-knit area had long

MARIE ANNETTE G. DACUL

GREEN LIGHT EXERCISE is a mixed-up matter for me. It is said to be the cheapest and effective way to combat cardio-vascular disease, the number one cause of Filipino deaths. But, the more I need it, the less I want to undertake it. According to a cardiologist, the treatment for heart disease or any disease, for that matter, relies on a three-pronged approach of nutrition, medication and exercise. The fi rst two are easy, and were never an issue to me. But exercise is not at all a favorite pastime. The Harvard Medical School named five best exercises for nonserious exercisers—swimming, walking, tai chi, strength training and kegel exercises. Our Business Ethics Professor assigned us to do something that may constitute a “stretch” for us and to provide a feedback, by way of a reflection, on how it impacts our decision-making and judgment of others’ ethics and decision-making. Of the five, swimming is the exercise that I took on as part of my paper. This is because I have turned down endless invitations to go swimming. And if I usually accept the invite, I would just watch and do other things.

I reluctantly invited my family one weekend to comply with my academic requirement. It was a weekend far from our usual but as it is said, “change is the law of life.” The trip, though, was full of anticipation for my family. While we were on the way, part of me was already thinking what time we will be able to reach home, so I could do other responsibilities. After spending over an hour paddling, my biases intersected reality. It was undeniably exhausting but rejuvenating. It was not bad at all. I actually enjoyed the activity with my family, which I initially thought would benefit

been aware of his sexual orientation.

But he said the public mood was turning increasingly ugly and he was now confronted with deepening hostility.

“People look at me wherever I go these days. Some avoid me,” said Ahmad of his non-traditional masculine image.

“Now when I go to withdraw money from the ATM, for example, there are people staring at me. It never used to be this bad.”

Indonesia’s LGBT community has always been vilified as immoral.

But the recent police crackdown -including authorities hosing down a group of transgender women in what they called a “mandatory bath” -- comes against the backdrop of a recent lurch toward religious conservatism.

The shift, led by increasingly power-

ful hardliners, has dented Indonesia’s reputation for moderate Islam.

Last week, thousands of anti-LGBT demonstrators marched outside the capital Jakarta, as some local politicians called for carte blanche to detain and “rehabilitate” members of the minority.

Several mosques in West Java were recently urged by the local government to conduct sermons on the dangers of homosexuality.

And Indonesia’s biggest Muslim organization -- the 80-million-member Nahdlatul Ulama -- has called for a clampdown on same-sex relations.

Concerns have been aggravated by president Joko Widodo selecting a conservative cleric, known for his disparaging views of the gay community and other minorities, as his running mate for next year’s elections. AFP

Out of comfort zone experience them more than me. Actually, the concerns I had with swimming at the outset were far less than the benefits it gave. As indicated in research, it can indeed improve your mental state and put you in a better mood. Besides, I was still able to do the things I needed to do when we arrived home. I felt like I have been doing the futile exercise of fi nding excuses to replace things the way I want.

As part of my reflection, I partly attribute my perception to a past accident I had in one of my swimming classes. I allowed myself to be dominated by the fear. It is said that to conquer fear is to repetitively expose oneself to it until one has learned to overcome it. However, one cannot deny that there are some things that people are not just confident of doing for one reason or another. Unless the person has the courage to change or experience it, this preconception remains intact. And apparently as one holds on to these prejudices, it tends to cloud ones’ perspectives, thus seeing only a portion of the big picture.

Our decisions, which are likely to be influenced by our choice to go for what is delightful, defi ne the after-effects. The context of one’s decision-making or behavior is typically anchored on certain norms.

And even though the decision can be disrupted, it is said that it is essential that when one has decided, it is executed and carried out appropriately.

Individual choices seem to run parallel with how humanity—and specifically business organizations— deal with challenges that confront them. The issue of moral ethos has been the object of discourse over the time. Socrates, for instance, opines that wrongdoing damages the soul. Aristotle, on the other hand, argues that money is not a final end but merely a means to an

SYDNEY―A swimmer died after a rare suspected stingray attack off an Australian beach while another two people were mauled in separate shark encounters this weekend.

The 42-year-old’s death came more than a decade after world-renowned “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin was killed when a stingray barb punctured his chest while he was filming on the famed Great Barrier Reef.

The man was in waters off Lauderdale Beach some 23 kilometers from Hobart in the southern island state of Tasmania Saturday when he “sustained a puncture wound to his lower abdomen... possibly inflicted by a marine animal”, police said.

He was brought onto the beach by friends but suffered a heart attack and was unable to be resuscitated, police added.

“It’s consistent with (a stingray injury) but further investigation and examination of the deceased may be able to give a bit more of a concrete fact on that,” Tasmania Police Senior Constable Brett Bowering told the Sunday Tasmanian.

“It’s a pretty traumatic incident to see.”

Commonly found in tropical waters, stingrays rarely attack humans but their barbs, at the end of their tails, are coated in toxic venom that they use to defend themselves when threatened. AFP

Zimbabwe yearns for upswing HARARE―Zimbabwean businessman Munya Chihota’s face lights up when he recalls taking part in a march last year with tens of thousands of people calling for then-president Robert Mugabe to step down.

The march came after the military had briefly taken over, and days before Mugabe was forced from power on November 21 in what the veteran leader described as a coup d’etat.

“There was so much joy,” 41-yearold Chihota told AFP, describing the outpouring of excitement as Zimbabweans waved flags and placards and sang songs urging an end to the nonagenarian strongman’s 37-year hold on power.

“We were all there. Young, old, black, white. There was a collective sense of hope that, after the hardships we had endured as a nation, things were going to change,” he said.

“The general feeling was that the system had to go.”

But Chihota now looks back on those euphoric times with mixed emotions.

“Unfortunately, only an individual and a few of his hangers-on were removed, and the system remained in place.”

Mugabe, who held power since independence from British colonial rule in 1980, presided over Zimbabwe’s decline from a regional power with huge potential to a ruined country from which millions fled. AFP

end. Adam Smith, in turn, talked about the “general rules of conduct” that are founded on “a sense of duty.” Indeed, morality has a crucial role to play in improving moral standards of business organizations.

It is when humanity fails to uphold its moral standards and is overpowered by disordered appetites for earthy goods that the challenges commence.

Personal and business Manila beliefs are normally anchored on principles Standard PUBLIC NOTICE TODAY that guide the way people from in a business organization behave. Experiences are AB CAPITAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION part of an individual’s learning process. It is and crucial that people are open to go outside their zones AB CAPITAL SECURITIES, INC. of comfort, as this may be the only way to bring back Notice is hereby given that the above company is better decision-making.

changing its Registered Office

Ms. Dacul is a Doctor of Business Administration student at De La Salle University. She is a Senior Agribusiness Specialist at the University of Asia and the Pacific. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

Address effective November 26, 2018: FROM

TO

Unit 1008 and Units 1401-1403, Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Units 1210-1212 and Units 1911-1912, PSE Tower, 5th Avenue corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, 1630,Taguig City, Philippines.

(MS-NOV. 19, 2018)

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (left) and a city health office staffer help a student as they give free HPV vaccinations under the school-based immunization program of the Department of Health in Taguig City.

Taguig targets 6k school girls for HPV vaccine S

CHOOLCHILDREN spend most of their time within the bounds of the school than any other place. For young girls of Taguig City, their schools will also be the venue of having their first line of defense against Human Papillomavirus infection.

KsK batch 180 in Tiaong ends farm training TIAONG, Quezon—Batch 180 of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan recently held their Harvest Festival in Brgy. Ayusan 1 here.

The KSK trainees proudly presented their harvests to Tiaong Mayor Ramon Preza, who graced the occasion and encouraged them to share what the learned to the other farmers.

Preza said: “Sana ang inyong natutunan ay hindi lamang maging sa inyo lamang. Sana ay inyong ipaalam din doon sa ibang magsasaka, mga kababayan natin. Sapagkat yon ang kailangan ng ating bayan, ang tayo’y maging matagumpay sa ating hanapbuhay.”

The sentiment was shared by SM City San Pablo Assistant Mall Manager Daniel Felix Belen who attended the harvest festival with officials from SaveMore Tiaong, and SM Supermarket San Pablo.

Department of Agriculture Chief of Staff Ms. Zenaida Amargo, MSWDO Head Ms. Rosette, DSWD SLP Ms. Mary Grace Escala, Harbest Agribusiness, Brgy Captain of Ayusan 1, David Ramos and Brgy Council were also around to give their support.

The Department of Health recently launched its strengthened approach to protect young children from HPV infection through school-based immunization program for school girls aged 9 to 14 years old. This year, the National Capital Region inaugural vaccination was held at the Lakeshore Hall, C6, Lower Bicutan in Taguig City where fifteen Grade 4 girls received quadrivalent HPV vaccination.

The inaugural vaccination was participated by school girls from Upper Bicutan Elementary School, Silangan Elementary School, and Bagong Tanyag Elementary

School. HPV SBIP, an initiative of DOH in collaboration with the Department of Education and Department of Interior and Local Government, targets to reach at least 6,000 children in 23 schools of Taguig City, which will commence in December.

HPV SBIP has gained the support of the children’s parents after a series of orientations where conducted to provide basic information on HPV, its related diseases, and the importance of preventive strategies against it, including vaccination.

Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano em-

phasized the city’s commitment to protect their constituents from unnecessary sufferings brought by diseases such as HPV infection and the different types of cancer among others.

“In every occasion, I always emphasize how we value the quality of health for every Taguigeño. These hundreds of young school girls are our future teachers, doctors, lawyers and leaders that will bring us to a more progressive city. Their presence here and our sincerest intent to shield them from HPV infection and other diseases that it may trigger, marks the journey to a better future for all Taguigeños,” Mayor Cayetano said.

She added, “The turnout for the first dose back in November 2017 was only 300 school girls. But because we showed that these children who received this innovative vaccine, are okay and healthy, it may have served as an encouragement to the thousands of other young girls in Taguig to now get their own and to complete their shots.”

Agri teachers trained on rice production

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga---The country’s agriculture teachers underwent training for sustainable rice production through modern technology and to attract more farmers to return to farming.

The five-day training lasted from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16 at the Phil Rice Central Experiment in the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

About 90 teachers diagnosed rice based on morphology and growth stages, palay check system, nutrient,

pest, water and harvest farm machineries operation and hands on practicum.

Rice together with fish is the official menu of the Filipino people that became the objective of the past and present administrations.

Baguio suspends ‘coding’ for events BAGUIO CITY—The city government has suspended the number coding scheme for private vehicles starting Nov. 19 until Dec. 14 to give way to the celebration of the 65th Mine Safety and Environment Week, and the holding of the 69th edition of the Fil-Am invitational amateur golf tournament.

“We need to suspend the implementation of the number coding scheme for all private vehicles only in order to provide convenience to members of the mining industry and other stakeholders and our golfers, visitors and their families a stress-free journey around the city,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan said on Saturday.

Domogan on Friday issued Administrative Order No. 195-2018, suspending the implementation of Ordinance No. 01, series of 2003 as amended by Ordinance No. 107, series of 2008, or the Baguio City Number Coding Ordinance.

Baguio City will host the 65th Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference spearheaded by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association from November 20 to 23, with some 500 mining industry stakeholders converging in the city to discuss pertinent issues and concerns affecting the country’s mining industry.

It is an annual event hosted by the city since it was started 65 years ago.

The theme of this year’s PMSEA gathering is “65 Years of Responsible Mining: Industry and Regulator Together in Advocating and Promoting Responsible Mining.” PNA

Join recycling tack, SBMA asks neighbors

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has enjoined communities around the Subic Bay Freeport to participate in its recyclable collection project to minimize the release of wastes into the environment and help raise funds for resource conservation.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ramon Agregado said during the 5th Recyclables Collection Event here on Thursday that gathering recyclable wastes is the flipside of SBMA efforts to clean up the coastline and waters of Subic Bay, which is acknowledged as the lifeblood of both tourism and trade in the greater Subic Bay area.

“We should not only endeavor to make this

Recyclable Collection Event a periodic institutional activity, but we should strive to make it something bigger that will also encompass the neighboring localities of Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan,” Agregado said.

“This war on waste should not be an exclusive mandate for the SBMA; it should, instead, be a communal effort on the part of various stakeholders in the Subic area so that we can produce more significant results,” he added.

Agregado admitted that since attending the RCE last year, he began to collect recyclable plastics in preparation for this year’s event. “If this activity affected me and encouraged me to collect recyclable trash, I hope others would also realize that we need to help save the environment in our own small way,” he added.

AID FOR B’LAAN. Monsanto Philippines, a company recently acquired by Bayer, recently turned over a multi-purpose hall to the faculty and students of Lozano High School at Sitio Cabuay, Brgy. Sinawal. General Santos City. Present as pictured during the turnover ceremony were members of the Research and Development Team from Legacy Monsanto Philippines along with Charina Ocampo, Legacy Monsanto Corporate Engagement Lead, and Barangay Chairman Rodolfo Lozano. Legacy Monsanto Philippines built the hall in partnership with Outsource Asia and FP Canizares Construction to benefit more than 200 students, 80 percent of which are from the B’laan tribe.

8 cops promoted for repelling NPA attack in MisOr

Graduates of Batch 180 of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program from Tiaong in Quezon Province pose with their certificates after their Harvest Festival at SM City San Pablo.

TEIGHT members of the Binuangan Municipal Police Station in Misamis Oriental were promoted for defending their post against the attack of members of the New People’s Army, the National Police Commission said in a statement. Promoted to the next higher rank are Senior Insp. Dante H. Hallazgo, SPO 4 Lorimer Z. Cabil, SPO1 Ramonito M. Zambas, PO3 Alberto A. Bernadas, PO3 Crispin H. Dalugdug, PO2 Necil O. Japuz, PO1 Josua G. Satur and PO1 Laila S. Gumahin. Napolcom vice-

chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio T. Casurao announced their special promotion after the Commission en banc chaired

by Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año approved Resolution No. 2018-569 dated Oct. 22, 2018.

The police officers were promoted for their exceptional bravery and steadfast dedication to duty in standing their ground and defending their post against the attack of more than 200 NPA rebels who tried to lay siege and burn their station on Dec. 3, 2017.

Life

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

food

L

oBSTER fans, claws up as American seafood chain giant Red Lobster is now in Manila.

The Florida-based casual dining restaurant has opened its first Philippine branch on Nov. 16 at S Maison, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Red Lobster brings to Manila its seafood expertise and global appeal, and of course, its widely popular Maine lobsters.

According to the restaurant’s director for Asia operations Catherine Souders, they are working with a local supplier that ships live lobsters from North America to the Philippines. Diners get to pick their lobster of choice at the Live Lobster station, a tank that displays the live lobsters.

Its most recommended dish is the Seafood Feast, a huge entrée composed of Maine lobster tail, steamed wild-caught North American snow crab legs, and garlic shrimp scampi— all smothered with mouth-watering butter sauce—then served with wild rice and fries.

Aside from lobsters, the restaurant also brings to the Philippines the cultfavorite Cheddar Bay Biscuits and other bestsellers. Red Lobster said almost one million of these freshly-baked garlicky cheesy biscuits are served daily at its restaurants. other dishes that will excite the appetite are the Seaside Nachos, Signature Shrimp & Cocktail, and Bleu Cheese Salad for starters; there’s also the Shrimp & Kani Pizza that can be shared with friends.

The Bar Harbor Seafood Bake (baked spaghetti, garlic butter cream, mussels, scallops, squid, and shrimp) is a musttry, as it mixes up mussels and other goodies from the sea with al dente pasta for a filling meal. The Cod New orleans (blackened cod, shrimp, Cajun butter sauce, pico de gallo, and mashed potatoes) offers a taste of Mardi Gras with its select spices for a Cajun touch, and the Barramundi (blackened barramundi, roasted potatoes, snow peas, and beurre blanc) is cooked just right to reveal its tender, buttery goodness.

Seaside Nachos

monday, november 19, 2018

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From Maine to Manila Red Lobster opens first branch in PH

FRESH FROM THE SEA. Red Lobster brings its bestsellers to the Philippines, including Seafood Feast, a huge serving of Maine lobster tail, steamed wild-caught North American snow crab legs, and garlic shrimp scampi.

For a more indulgent cheesy exWith more than 745 restaurants across 11 market share of all seafood specialist restau- after years of negotiation. perience, there’s the Truffle Mac N countries, Red Lobster is the world’s largest rants in America at 47 percent.

“The time was eventually right for Cheese dish that is redolent with truf- seafood restaurant company and largest seaRestaurant operator The Bistro Group Red Lobster to enter the Philippines,” fled goodness. food purchaser in the world with the highest has brought Red Lobster to the country said Souders.

Bar Harbor Seafood Bake

Bleu Cheese Salad

Cod New Orleans

Shrimp and Kani Pizza

Barramundi

Truffle Mac N Cheese

By Diana B. Noche IN THE cool peaceable ordinariness of Guinyangan, Quezon lies a pastoral dream, a fusion of man’s practical ability and nature’s givingness. The place isn’t bright lights, big town commonwealth but it has genuine warmth—the people are cheerful and smile quickly.

Guinyangan is pleasingly walkable even under the sun, not quite ridden roughshod over by traffic and plastic commercial developments. The skyline is pretty level and massive infrastructure is desirably non-subsistent. All you see is unmediated Guinyangan. And an awful lot of pitaya.

Dragon fruit. You didn’t know that, did you?

It is also called pitahaya, dragon pearl fruit, and cactus fruit. A pitaya is the fruit of several cactus species endemic to the Americas, South Florida, Caribbean, and Hawaii. It is also grown in Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The fruits grow out of white, ornate flowers resembling an explosion of flames, with a sweet fragrance and bloom for just one night—which is why the flowers are called moonflower and lady of the night.

Pitayas are pollinated by bees and moths, and in better climate conditions may yield up to six fruit-producing cycles every year.

They are commonly of brilliant pink, almost fuchsia, outer layer. Some have

A pitaya story

The fruit commonly has brilliant pink outer layer and white or deep pink flesh embedded with edible tiny black seeds.

Pitaya or dragon fruit, is the fruit of several cactus species endemic to the Americas, South Florida, Caribbean, Hawaii, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

red or yellow skin which can be mistaken for mini pineapples with spiky cover.

The fruit has overlapping leaves reminiscent of an artichoke. Inside is a white or deep pink flesh embedded with hundreds of tiny black edible seeds. The flesh is detectably sweet (some fruit has a mildly sour taste like that of a kiwi’s) and extravagantly juicy, with a delicacy that ideally balances acids and saccharinity. It is best eaten crunchy after some chilling time in the refrigerator.

Eating a pitaya can be compared to having a compact pharmacy in the body. Pitayas are well-stocked with anti-oxidants; they contain 10 percent

dose of the body’s daily requirement of vitamin C averting respiratory problems, polyunsaturated (the good) fatty acids and several B vitamins for carbohydrate metabolism, carotene, calcium, and protein. It also strengthens the immune system and makes the healing of bruises and wounds faster.

Pitayas have no complex carbohydrates so that food can easily be broken down in the digestive tract and help relax difficult BM moments. The seeds are rich in omega 3 and omega 6 that may lower the risk of cardiovascular disorders. The pyrochemical captin Turn to C2

The fruit boasts antioxidants and vitamins.

Pitaya wine is a pleasant drink with distinct flowery scent.

Life

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monday, november 19, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A merry spread for Thanksgiving

RECIPE FILES

Healthy dishes that kids will love

Beko shares delicious, healthy, and easy to make meals that kids and kids-at-heart will enjoy.

L

RemInISce the countless reasons to and enjoy the view of the dazzling mabe grateful this year while partaking nila Bay skyline, while raising a glass of a sumptuous spread with family and to good life, with Thanksgiving side dishes to share. friends. make a reservation and use the code Diamond Hotel’s corniche serves a grand array of luscious and sumptu- THAnKSBAR27 to get a free pica ous dishes at the buffet for only P2,880 pica code per table only. pica.

One nett per person from nov. 22 to 25.

Also, Dia DiaStarring this holiday is the wellmond Hotel loved roast turkey with would like to cranberry sauce served express their ap apwith the best trimpreciation for the eight mings.

Diners f r uitf ul y e a r s can find of good t h e i r food and w a y continued t h r ou g h patronage t h e at corhearty niche. The s t u f fing and restaurant thick buttery is giving an mashed potatoes, exclusive online then toast to anoffer on the lunch other abundant sea- Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce and dinner buffet, which can be availed son made twice as for only P888nett per special with a Buy 1 Take 1 offer on a glass or bottle of person on nov. 19-21, 2018. Vouchers wine. Don’t forget to save room for a can only be purchased via onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com. wide selection of delectable desserts.

For restaurant reservations, call After a hearty meal, diners can unwind at the cozy ambiance of Bar27 (02) 528-3000 ext 1121.

OOKInG for something new to serve to young picky eaters? Here are three Fc Barcelona nutritionists-approved recipes that are easy to make, healthy, and delicious courtesy of Turkish appliance brand Beko.

Broccoli Pesto Pasta Ingredients: 300g 20g 30g 100g 20g 1 clove 3g

broccoli, florets removed and blanched fresh basil leaves extra virgin olive oil freshly grated Parmesan pine nuts garlic, minced lemon juice salt

Procedure: In the bowl of a food processor, combine broccoli, basil, and oil and pulse until combined. Add parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, and salt and blend until combined. cook the pasta and mix it with the pesto sauce.

Margarita Forés

Luis Chikiamco

Woo Wai Leong

Vicky Cheng

Broccoli Pesto Pasta (photo from toriavey.com)

Spaghetti Meatball Cups Ingredients: 350g 3 pcs.

180g cups 60g 300g 500g 50g cup 1 clove 15g

Spaghetti Meatball Cups

spaghetti large eggs shredded mozzarella grated parmesan, divided, plus for garnish marinara ground beef bread crumbs garlic, minced freshly chopped parsley, plus for garnish salt and pepper extra virgin olive oil

Procedure: Preheat oven to 200° 200°c. cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.

In a large bowl, toss cooled spaghetti with 2 beaten eggs, shred shredded mozzarella, ½ cup of grated parmesan.

Grease a muffin tin and nest spaghetti inside. Using the bottom of a small glass, firmly press down to create a well. Bake until set.

While the spaghetti cups bake, make meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, garlic, remaining egg, parmeparme san, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Roll into balls.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Brown the meatballs, then drain fat. Pour over marinara and let simmer for 5 minutes.

Spoon the meatball onto the spaghetti nest. Garnish with parmesan and parsley.

Potato Cake with Tuna Bolognese Ingredients: 800g 400g 1 pc.

800g 4 tbsp.

potato puree fresh or canned tuna large onion mature tomato olive oil salt and pepper oregano

Procedure: Fry the finely chopped onion in a pan with hot oil until well done. Add the grated mature tomatoes and leave to cook until the tomato sauce is formed. Season as desired.

Add the tuna flakes. If using fresh tuna, grill before flaking. Season with oregano as desired.

In a suitable mold, make the cake with a layer of puree, then add a layer of tuna Bolognese and repeat. Finish with a layer of puree, sprinkling the grated cheese over the top.

a Pitaya...

From C1

in the fruit helps medicate heart problems while the lycopene found in the red color of the fruit may lower the risk of colon cancer. Other benefits include improved eyesight, anti-aging components, and sugar stabilization which is beneficial to those with diabetes.

Aside from its many health goodness, a pitaya can deliver wake-up lifts, al-

most ooh-la-la feelings, at times when the spirit lags. It can be made into a pleasant and quaffable wine! At the first sip, one can reassuringly feel, taste, and see the perfume of the plant. The flowery scent hooks the nostrils and slips sizzle into a cold morning to help start the day right.

In the beginning, Lydia Aranas, who laughs easily and wears her 73 years lightly, had a hard time trying to figure out how to shoehorn the many ideas she had in mind after retiring from teaching

Potato Cake and Tuna Bolognese

high school. caressing for the first time the spiky pitaya, sampling its unique texture, and learning it could help her get rid of a stubborn cold ended the problem of choice. chest thumps! eureka!

A fenceless country space stretching out to forever developed into a field of flowers rearing their bright heads that hold the cores that will become the pitaya fruit, and turned Guinyangan fuchsia.

Aranas, always a take-charge person,

Asia’s top chefs

in a collaborative dinner at Flame DIScOVeRy Primea’s Flame Restaurant, in partnership with Asian culinary exchange 2018, will host a once-in-alifetime collaborative dinner featuring some of the best chefs in Asia.

On nov. 27, Vicky cheng of michellin-starred Vea Restaurant and Lounge in Hong Kong, Woo Wai Leong of masterchef Asia fame and Restaurant Ibid in Singapore, Asia’s Best Female chef margarita Fores and Discovery Primea’s esteemed executive chef Luis chikiamco will team up to serve a gastronomical feast.

A formidable team-up, chef Vicky cheng has trained and refined his culinary techniques at highly-regarded restaurants like Auberge du Pommier canoe in canada and michelin-starred Daniel in new york. He came back to his birthplace Hong Kong in 2011 where he established VeA Restaurant and Lounge. In 2014, he was named chef of the year at Foodie Forks and in 2016 his restaurant was awarded with a michelin star. It was also named as one of the hottest restaurants in Asia in the Diners club 50 Best Discovery Series. chef Woo Wai Leong got his big break after winning master chef Asia. He then cooked at pop-ups,

didn’t skimp on anything. She went first class and insisted on a stubborn adherence to the quality of her product. might as well have the best, she says, starting from Jose Arthur Olarte, frequent winner of many wine concocting competitions.

Her farm not only employs several hands on the field but also injects other kinds of related jobs into the area. And that, as a consequence, can give a lift to the community.

Her pitaya wine is easy to take in— lingerie-smooth with a slightly spirit-

always offering diners something different. encouraged by the camaraderie and support he received from local chefs, he took the plunge by opening Restaurant Ibid.

Rounding up the collaboration are their Filipino counterparts, chef margarita Forés, who is not only best known for specializing in Italian cuisine but was also named Asia’s Best chef in 2016. She is the owner of Lusso, Grace Park, Alta, and restaurant and catering chain cibo; and chef Luis chikiamco, who has become the famed executive chef of Discovery Primea’s food and beverage outlets including Flame and Tapenade.

Organized by bestselling cookbook author and food writer Angelo comsti, Ace is a two-day event where top foreign and local chefs will participate in a forum and do a collaborative dinner at particular bars and restaurants all over the metro.

The eight-course dinner, with wine and drinks, Flame is priced at P5,500 nett per person.

Guests can reserve or inquire via email dpmarcomm@discovery.com. ph or call Flame at (02) 955-8888 local 71610.

stirring edge, without the raucous, wake-the-neighbors-‘til-the-barangaytanods-come-knocking overexcited kick of its cousin lambanog.

It is still a long, herky-jerky ride from the fields of Guinyangan to the top shelf of 5-star bars, but being there can’t be a fanciful thought.

When the dragon in the pitaya roars, get yourself in the center of the fruit’s personality and bouquet. cheers!

Photos by Diana B. Noche and L Maligalig

Entertainment Simply...

A throwback shindig G

Premiere vocal group The Company with theater performer Jon Santos.

ROOVE back to the decades of golden music of the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s in a concert driven by nostalgia and one that will tickle the funny bones.

See the Philippines’ premier vocal ensemble on stage with a class act comedian in Throwback with The Company and Jon Santos on Dec. 1 at The Theatre at Solaire.

Starting out as an out-of-college regroup, The Company has evolved in their three decades in the music industry.

From singing the traditional genres, they decided to move to acapella and vocal jazz as a new challenge to themselves and for the novelty of the pieces.

Living to its namesake, The Company reinvented its identity while maintaining the bond that the members have developed in the years prior their success.

The release of their singles “Everlasting

THE Exground Film Festival is featuring the Philippines as its “Country of Focus” this year as part of the celebration of its One Hundred Years this month.

Exground Filmfest is among Europe’s most important film festivals for international independent productions. It is an important meeting place for journalists, specialized visitors, and guests from the film business. With focus on this year on Philippine Cinema, the Film Development Council of the Philippines through its International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP) is in partnership with Exground to support the Philippine delegation and conduct activities.

“We are grateful for the spotlight given by Exground to Philippine Cinema this year so we may showcase the best of our independent films that reflect the complex and diverse culture of our country especially to our European audience. Taking the Festival’s vision further of providing a unique platform for arthouse and independent films, the Festival features this year’s slate from Philippine Cinema that is made up of eleven full feature and ten short films,” said FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño.

“These films are one form or another, encourage socio-political discourse in order to widen one’s perspective of the country’s past and current cultural and political climate. They are grounded on the context of not just raising awareness but inspiring action for positive change,” she added.

Mikhail Red’s NeoManila is the opening film under the program “Focus Philippines,” which will also feature a wide range of films that present different stories on socio-political discourse. The program brings together works by internationally celebrated filmmakers such as Lav Diaz, Khavn De La Cruz and Jet Leyco with lesser-known gems from up-and-coming directorial talents, all conveniently shown with English and German subtitles.

The classics to the most recent films will be featured including Himala by Ishmael Bernal, Matangtubig (Town in a Lake) by Jet Leyco, Balangiga: The Howling Wilderness by Khavn dela Cruz, Madilim ang Gabi (Dark is the Night) by Adolfo Alix Jr. Ang Paglalakbay ng Mag Bituin Sa Gabing Madilim (The Jr., Journey of Stars Into the Dark Night) by Arnel Mardoquio, Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (Season of the Devil) by Lav Diaz, Himpapawid (Manila Skies) by Raymond Red, Yield by

Monday, November 19, 2018

61 Kind of trail 63 Highland lakes 64 Hourly pay 66 Estate recipient 67 WWII craft (hyph.)

68 Timetable info 69 Mr. Stravinsky 70 Polite bloke 71 Cotillion honorees 72 Big name in electronics DOWN 1 Brand name 2 Express one’s views 3 Turns sharply 4 — St. Vincent Millay 5 Pact 6 Pass near Pikes Peak 7 Sundance Kid’s wife 8 Cabinet parts 9 Pepsi or RC 10 Comparable 11 Repair 12 Co. honcho 15 Yak 20 Festivity 22 Swarm around 25 Performer on stage 27 Leading edge 28 Flat-topped

Love”, “Muntik na Kitang Minahal” and the popular love song “Now That I Have You” which is often used as movie theme songs, or in wedding halls, have seemingly immortalized their names.

The original members apart from Moy Ortiz, have moved on to pursue the next chapters of their lives but not without passing on the torch to their successors whom have kept their legacy alive and very much felt today.

A stark contrast to the steady melody of songs comes Jon Santos, a powerhouse comedian famous for his impersonations that imprint themselves into the mind.

His satirical impressions of the country’s most prominent political personas are complemented by his quick wit, allowing such a seemingly hilarious number to become the controversial stirrer of important conversations.

Jon has transformed himself to the likes of Former President Joseph Estrada, the late Sen. Miriam Santiago , and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos who he admits, is his favorite. Although he became known for his comedic prowess, Jon was able to establish his credibility as a theatre

performer who can add more spunk to any character he portrays. He has performed as lead in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and more recently, Rak of Aegis.

The Theatre at Solaire’s advocacy of bringing Original Pilipino Music (OPM) under the limelight means offering acts that the audience demands, but also presents ingenious collaborations.

“This unexpected tandem will highlight another layer of OPM that goes beyond the tunes, lyrics and voices. The Company and Jon Santos together on one stage merges what the Filipinos love most – good music and witty comedy. You will witness a new wave of theatrics that’s as exciting but with more spontaneity and humorous reality jabs.” says Audie Gemora, Solaire’s Director for Entertainment.

With The Company’s vocals injected with Jon’s brand of comedy, expect a night filled with throwbacks with the best “retro” beats that will make you dance, laugh and remember the heydays of the past, For tickets to “Throwback with The Company and Jon Santos”, you can call TicketWorld at 891-9999.

German Int’l Film Fest celebrates PH cinema centennial

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Romance 5 Fed a line 9 Scout destination 13 Imitated 14 Sarge’s pooch 15 Playing card 16 Good, for Pedro 17 Nullify 18 Dress style (hyph.)

19 Rile up 21 MPs’ wear 23 Guitarist — Paul 24 Wheel buy (2 wds.)

26 Weep loudly 27 Publicity 29 Looked good on 34 Justified 38 Recover 39 A big fan of 40 November stone 42 Turn white 43 Office worker 45 Competitions 47 Mortar go-with 49 Six-Day War site 50 Popular shift 52 Tool man — Allen 53 Fussy dresser 56 Store sticker (2 wds.)

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Working student wins big cash in Kapuso Milyonation KrisMasaya

From C4

One of Marianne’s dreams is to travel the world before reaching 40, and she did.

Together with her family, every chance they get they travel the world, from Asia to Africa to North America and South America to Europe and Australia.

Establishing Nouvelle was not easy for Marianne. Just like any other businesses, it was more difficult for her during its early stage for she kept it from her husband and her family and due to perseverance and passion Nouvelle Haute Couture came to be known as the fashion house to the politicians, models and celebrities like Kim Chu, Toni Gonzaga, Alex Gonzaga and Ruffa Mae Quinto to name a few.

At the recent Fashion Forte (Series Three) at Holiday Inn Manila Galleria’s FAB Restaurant. Ianne showed off a collection that had the guests applauding the gowns in pastel colors with eyecatching embellishments that make them perfect for formal occasions, parties and events. The clothes say this is Ianne’s year in fashion.

2018 is the year of unveiling the pride of Nouvelle, the head designer, Marianne Martin. She may have reservations in the beginning as she has the typical “behind the scene” type of personality, but she is now ready to take her position as the design leader of Nouvelle Haute Couture, managing her time well for family and business.

For the next few years, Marianne Martin will focus on Nouvelle Haute Couture’s transition to Marianne Martin Fashion House.

The future Nouvelle Haute Couture is setting the trend of the future in fashion. *** Wilson Lee Flores wins CMMA Hall of Fame Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle recently conferred the Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) Hall of Fame Award for “Best Opinion Column” to writer, realty entrepreneur, teacher and Kamuning Bakery Café owner Wilson Lee Flores on Nov. 14 at Star Theater, Star City, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

Apart from winning three Palanca literary awards, this is Wilson Lee Flores’ record 15th CMMA Award.

His two previous CMMA Hall of Fame Awards included “Best Business Column.”

Last month, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte conferred on him the city’s highest honor, the “Manuel L. Quezon Gawad Parangal Award.”

Wilson Lee Flores was cited for his writings, for saving the city’s pioneer and iconic, 79-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café and his various charities like the non-partisan and issues-focused “Pandesal Forum” for newsmakers to have a dialogue with media, the annual “World Pandesal Day” that gives away 70,000 free breads and other foods to the indigent, and holding medical, dental and optical mission for the urban poor. He has also donated four public school buildings to poor rural regions, the first of which was to the historic seaside town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar.

Last Oct. 14, Wilson Lee Flores was invited to deliver a speech at the international conference on the “Belt & Road Initiative” hosted by Fudan University in Shanghai City in China. On Oct. 20, he was also invited as plenary speaker at the annual convention of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Wilson says, “I am humbled and grateful for this recognition. Thanks to God who is the source of all blessings. I dedicate this to my late mother who encouraged me to love writing and to my editor who has given me guidance. I believe that doing what we love is its own best reward.” ** * More stories of these kinds at www.isah. red. Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred and Instagran (@ isahvred. ΙŘ

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

caps 30 — pants 31 Asian mountains 32 French miss (abbr.)

33 Potato buds 34 Trace of smoke 35 Part of A.M. 36 Tpks.

37 Boat crane 41 Wackiness 44 Most grizzled 46 The Dalai — 48 Have a snack 51 Went tempo-

rarily off course 53 Tierra del — 54 Easy-to-find constellation 55 Mason of whodunits 56 Stopper 57 Night attire 58 Click-on item 59 Make small talk 60 Box office 62 The one here 65 Schmooze

'Madilim ang Gabi' tackles timely issues as it penetrates the rage, fear and frustrations of the main characters.

Toshihiko Uriu and Victor Tagaro and the recent hit, Buybust

by Erik Matti.

Competing under the International Short Film Competition is Manong ng Pa-aling (Man of Pa-aling) by E del Mundo.

A number of short films will be featured under the Philippine Short Film Program. This includes Ang Magpakailanman (Eternity) by Raymond Red, Babylon by Keith Deligero, Gikan sa Ngitngit nga Kinailadman (From the Dark Depths) by Kiri Dalena, Manila Death Squad by Dean Colin Marcial and Maria by JP Habac.

The Shorts in Front of Features will showcase Anino (Shadows) by Raymond Red, Palugid (Margins) by Paolo Villaluna and Juan Tamad Goes to the Moon (1898) by Khavn dela Cruz.

To further introduce the Filipino filmmaking and how these stories were cultivated over a hundred years, FDCP in cooperation with the organizers of the Exground Film Festival will have the following events that will feature Filipino movers and filmmakers: History Panel: 100 Years of Philippine Cinema with speakers Ed Lejano, Edward Cabagnot, and Raymond Red on Nov. 20; Human Rights Panel with speakers Raffy Lerma, Kiri Dalena, and Rosa Castillo on Nov. 24; and Philippine Cinema Night on Nov. 21.

The ongoing Exground Film Festival runs until Nov. 25 at Wiesbaden, Germany.

DENNIS Olavere, 23, an Alternative Learning System student and a local mall exhaust cleaner, had luck on his side after winning GMA Kapuso Milyonation KrisMasaya’s P350,000 surprise cash prize.

Olavere, one of six siblings, helps to support his retired mother.

Both of them are avid Kapuso Milyonaryo participants and collected large amounts of proofof-purchase entries. They were lucky enough to win twice – first as a weekly cash winner and then as a surprise winner.

“Magpadala lang kayo nang magpadala ng entries, malay niyo kayo na ang susunod na manalo,” Olavere, who plans to save his winnings for the time being, advised other participants.

Meanwhile, Olavere’s Sari-Sari Store partner, JSB Store, also got lucky and won P5,000 worth of gift packs care of the Kapuso Milyonation KrisMasaya’s participating sponsors.

Now on its 13th season, Kapuso Milyonation KrisMasaya will be giving away almost P12 Million worth of prizes. On top of the surprise winner, there will be over 1,600 lucky winners of cash prizes and appliances nationwide including six winners of P1 Million, and one winner of a brand new house and lot from Lumina Homes, all tax-free.

Joining is easy. Participants must simply enclose a proof-of-purchase in a plain white envelope from any of the participating brands of Kapuso Milyonation KrisMasaya, namely TANG, BEAR BRAND® Fortified Powdered Milk Drink, NESCAFÉ Creamy White, UFC Tamis-Anghang Banana Catsup, AJINOMOTO GINISA® Flavor Seasoning Mix, and EDEN Cheese. On the entry, participants must write their complete name, age, address, contact number, and handwritten signature. At the back of the envelope, participants must write “Kapuso Milyonation”, brand attached, and region of residence.

Participants can also win additional prizes if they include the name of their partner sarisari store. To qualify for these additional prizes, simply include on the entry the name of the valid sari-sari store where the proof-ofpurchase entry was bought, the store’s complete address, and the contact number of the sari-sari store owner. The sari-sari store owners will get the chance to receive special prizes along with the winning participants.

Submission of entries is until Dec. 28 to over 700 drop boxes nationwide including GMA Network Center, GMA Regional TV and Radio Stations, selected Mercury Drug branches, and selected Cebuana Lhuillier outlets.

For updates and promo details, visit the official Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ GMAPromos. Official Promo Hotlines: Metro Manila 922-7372 or Outside Metro Manila 1800-10922-7372. (Per DOH-FDA-CFRR Permit No. 1108 Series of 2018).

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Lighting up the tallest Christmas tree at MoA complex THE Christmas tree is one of the most powerful symbols of the season. When decorated and lighted, the Christmas tree is majestic and evokes memories of childhood and warm fuzzy feelings.

Firefly LED, the leader in energy-efficient LED bulbs has been lighting up Metro Manila for 11 years now. It lights up the Christmas trees in SM by the BAY in Mall of Asia, SM City North Edsa, Ayala Cebu, and other Christmas Installations in Tiendesitas (Ortigas East) , Bradco Ave., Aseana City and Ayala Circuit Makati.

The lighting company is once again illuminating the giant Christmas tree at SM by the BAY for the holidays. The tree is an attraction that brings joy to families for whom it represents the good tidings and blessings of the season.

With its human-size ornaments and glittering lights, the 71-foot Christmas tree is decorated by over 40,000 Firefly LED Bright Christmas Lights and Firefly LED bulbs. It is a favorite of Filipino families as it mirrors our own traits such as resiliency and unity and values such as filial piety and generosity. The Christmas tree stands tall, proud and well-lit amidst different weather conditions because as they say, no one can stop Christmas especially for Filipinos who look forward to the season all year round.

So what makes Firefly LED’s Bright Christmas Lights and bulbs so different from the others?

The company’s Firefly Bright Christmas lights is the only branded Christmas lights in the market today. It is safe, of excellent quality and affordable. Firefly only uses high-grade materials & the products are also approved by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Christmas lights are available in Warm White, White, RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color variety. Prices range from P439 for the string lights up to P2, 499 for the curtain lights with 400 LED bulbs and with night sky blinking effect.

Aside from Christmas lights, Firefly is known for its LED bulbs, which are proven to last up

Dingdong Dantes and Dennis Trillo play brothers in 'Cain at Abel,' a big budget family drama premiering tonight on primetime.

SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS. The 71-foot Christmas tree is decorated by over 40,000 led bulbs that illuminate its human-size ornaments. to two times longer than other LED bulbs. The LED bulbs are energy efficient, ensuring greater savings. Compared to traditional CFL bulbs, Firefly LED bulbs shine brighter by as much as 50 percent.

Firefly LED Bulbs are tested and certified by TÜV SÜD, a world-renowned testing and certification institute. Firefly LED is the first local lighting brand in the Philippines to have the certification mark, assuring consumers of its excellent quality and safety. Firefly’s LED bulbs are also tested energy efficient under the Meralco Orange Tag program, the actual electrical consumption of a 9-watt bulb is only at P0.09 cents/KWH based on actual Meralco Power Lab Test.

Firefly LED Bright Christmas Lights and LED bulbs are available in leading hardware and doit-yourself stores, supermarkets and bookstores nationwide.

Firefly LED is owned and distributed by Firefly Electric and Lighting Corporation (FELCO), a lighting and electric solutions company established in 2001 that aims to provide Filipinos with high quality and affordable products. For more information, visit www.fireflyelectric.com

D

Dingdong Dantes, Dennis Trillo in a classic tale of sibling rivalry in ‘CAIN AT ABEL’

ANIEL and Miguel are long lost brothers. One day, without knowing that they are consanguine, they cross paths and it triggers an intense rage and feud between them.

Daniel is Dingdong Dantes and Miguel is Dennis Trillo. The story is an action-family drama about two brothers, who grew up in two very different worlds. As children, they were separated by fate. Daniel was raised comfortably in the city by his father. Miguel, on the other hand, was taken by his mother who later changed his name to Elias. They relocated to a poor fishing village where they struggled to make ends meet.

Years later, Daniel and Miguel/Elias were drawn together by their mutual affections: the father who brought them apart, the mother they yearn for, and the woman they both love.

“It’s one of the biggest offering of GMA for a very long time. That in itself is already enticing. The series is not based on the Bible. Kaya naging takeoff ang Cain at Abel because it’s about sibling rivalry. They started out as the closest and best of friends when they’re young until fate separated them. They grow up in two different worlds only to meet again as adults,” Don Michael Perez, one of the directors of the series, Perez told Manila Standard.

Perez further said that although sibling rivalry is a classic tale, what separates Cain at Abel from all other stories that tackle the same plot is the way it is presented.

“This kind of story only becomes different on the way you present it and the magnitude of the project, how intense the scenes are, and how committed the actors are to the scenes, and the plot twists and turns. There have been stories like this before but not realized on this

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG scale,” he related.

In speaking of the actors, Perez only had good words to say about the series’ lead cast. He commended Dingdong and Dennis for their work ethics and professionalism.

“It’s not every day that you’d get to work with big stars like them. Surprising, it’s not difficult to work with two big stars in one show. They are involved in the creative process which makes this whole project a collaborative effort.

Dingdong for instance is also a director so you can expect him giving some inputs which greatly help to improve the show. Life is easier with them around,” the director shared.

Expounding on the plot of the series, Perez revealed that although Cain at Abel hypes the tale of sibling rivalry, the entire series is still all about family and coming together.

“One of them will sacrifice to save the other but I will not elaborate on that because when the story gets to that, it’s going to set the wheels in motion. That’s what people should look forward to— the circumstance they will encounter that will force a brother to make a selfless sacrifice to save his sibling,” he said.

From the trailer alone, Perez warned the audience that the series is going to be very bloody, but wanted to make it clear that Cain at Abel is not an action series; rather, it’s a drama series with lots of action.

On the competition that the series is going to face on primetime, Perez humbly said that he’s aware of the dynamic landscape of primetime, but the series chooses to focus on delivering an interesting and relatable drama that people would be excited to see it every night.

“I wouldn’t be overconfident. It’s better that we are aware of the competition.

There’s always this goal that we have to

improve our material and give our audience a quality story because there’s a stiff competition,” Perez said.

Playing vital roles in the lives Daniel and Miguel are Solenn Heussaff as Abigail, the bold, sophisticated, and adventurous lover of Daniel; and Sanya Lopez as Margaret, the principled, responsible, and inspiring girlfriend of Miguel/Elias.

Also part of the powerhouse ensemble are Eddie Gutierrez, Chanda Romero, and Dina Bonnevie. Joining them are Ronnie Henares, Tommy Abuel, Bing Pimentel, Renz Fernandez, Ervic Vijandre, Marc Abaya, Carlo Gonzales, Boy 2 Quizon, Pauline Mendoza, Vince Vandorpe, Shyr Valdez, Leandro Baldemor, and Euwenn Aleta.

Featuring in special guest roles are the following: Yasmien Kurdi as young Belen; Diana Zubiri as young Precy; Gio Alvarez as young Gener; Rafael Rosell as young Antonio; David Remo as young Daniel; Seth dela Cruz as young Miguel/Elias; and Ashley Cabrera as young Abigail.

The creative team of the TV series is composed of headwriter John Roque with writers Anna Aleta A. Nadela, John Paul J. Bedia, and Brylle Tabora; and brainstormers Rhoda SulitMarino and Patrick Louie Lim Ilagan.

Leading the team are creative director Roy Iglesias, senior creative consultant Suzette Doctolero, and creative head Dode Cruz.

Created by the GMA Drama group, this original series is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl ChingSy, Senior Program Manager Cathy Ochoa Perez, and Executive ProducerMichelle Borja.

Under the helm of esteemed directors Perez and Mark Reyes, the compelling tale of love and brotherhood bound by selfless sacrifices in Cain at Abel, beginning tonight after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.

The force behind Nouvelle Haute Couture IANNE Martin (neé Marianne Martin on Dec. 23, 1975, in Manila) is the youngest child and only daughter of a businessman Eddie Martin and wife Jeng.

In her early years, Marianne created bows and bags and sold them to her classmates and teachers.

A popular personality in school she excelled in academics, defying what many might have thought that she’s no more than a pretty face.

Marianne’s creativity was honed by her grandmother. She was taught how to create things out of spare fabrics, ribbons, laces and beads. She was trained how to perfect her craft in her early years. She continued creating and selling her crafts in high school and later when she was in college, representing the Youth Foundation and became the Ambassadress of beauty and intelligence in her university.

She also pursued modeling when she was 14.

She believes that a person should not stop learning. True to her words, she mastered her craft and became extremely productive. Due to her perseverance, one of her goals is to earn her first million by the age of 20. She opened a business while studying, and RTW store with merchandise she brought in Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea.

With her family and friends’ support, she earned her first million exactly how

ISAH V. RED she envisioned it - at the age of 20.

Marianne is friendly and has a soft spot for victims of bullying. Marianne describes her childhood and life in school as “The Fundamentals of Learning”.

Marianne is a Tourism major. The influx of china-made clothes did not augur well for her RTW business, so she shifted to travel, giving birth to M Travel Agency. Her lack of work experience did not stop her in becoming an entrepreneur. Passion for travel and fashion are the only weapons she had in her hands to jump-start her business

Ianne Martin

once again. In her every travel, she is hell bent in discovering latest trends in fashion and entrepreneurship. During these times, she met a good friend from Indonesia and they ventured on additional product—furniture. She did not have any idea on furniture making, but her keen sense of style and design lead her to be successful in the furniture business.

She met the man of her dreams at the height of her career, but that became one massive hindrance to her building a family. She had difficulty in her pregnancy and little by little withdrew herself from the career she loves, at her husband’s request. She went to the United States for her pregnancy to be well monitored, and all she had were small figurines of Sto. Nino and St. Pio. Miraculously, Marianne gave birth to Joshua, her only child. Ever since, she became the domesticated one and always with her son most especially during his formative years.

As the saying goes, “once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur”.

Up until her son’s sixth birthday, she started to get back to working again, but this time she went against her husband’s preference. She went back to school and formalized her interest in fashion by studying at Philippine Fashion Institute that would later result to Nouvelle Haute Couture. Continued on C3