Manila Standard - 2018 December 19 - Wednesday

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Hardworking Gray takes part in Manila mission today

By Nickie Wang NEWLY-CROWNED Miss Universe Catriona Gray is arriving today via a private chartered plane with Miss Universe 2018 judge Richelle Singson-Michael.

Catriona, who won the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe

crown in Bangkok on Monday, is going to participate in a charity mission with previous winners Pia Wurtzbach, Demi Leigh-Peters and Iris Mittenaere.

Gray’s boyfriend Clint Bondad says that nobody else deserves the crown more than the beauty queen Next page

LOVE FOR GRAY.

Some paid tribute to the 24-year-old model and singer Catriona Gray’s (left with Fil-German boyfriend Clint Bondad) ‘beauty, intelligence and strong advocacy for the protection of children’s rights’ to earn the coveted Miss Universe 2018 crown. The team (above) that tirelessly worked behind her successful bid for the crown was handpicked by Gray herself.

VOL. XXXII • NO. 307 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

House asserts oversight role Even as Palace tells Budget chief to stay away from pork probe

By Maricel V. Cruz and Nat Mariano

Rody ready to abolish Road Board

T

By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon RamosAraneta and Nat Mariano THE Palace on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte will sign a bill abolishing the Road Board of the Department of Public Works and Highways but House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the move was aimed at enabling officials to illegally park funds in infrastructure projects for later use.

Suarez, former vice chairman of the Road Board, said officials informed him that the proposal being pushed by former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Next page

SHARP-CUT CRAFTMANSHIP. A well-defined giant lantern draws passersby in front of the Heroes Hall in San Fernando City in Pampanga during the Giant Lantern Festival 2018 on Saturday. PNA

Reds attack police outposts, kill four ahead of 50 year th

By: Francisco Tuyay NEW People’s Army rebels on Monday and Tuesday launched separate attacks on security forces in Luzon and the Visayas leaving four policemen and a civilian wounded ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 26.

The attacks took place in the provinces

of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Capiz Monday night targeting police outposts and a civilian auxiliary detachment.

Supt. Alejandro Monge II, public information officer, said the Magallanes Municipal Police Station was harassed by 16 NPA rebels at 7:30 p.m.

Sr. Insp. Jose Arnel Geronga, Magallanes Chief of Police said the rebels positioned themselves at the front and back

Blue Ribbon accuses 19 of importing shabu

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Senate Blue Ribbon committee has recommended the filing of charges against 19 people tagged in the multibillion-peso shabu shipments that slipped through the Bureau of Customs.

“So far, this report has reached and implicated public officers up to the Deputy Director General in PDEA and Deputy Commissioner in the Bureau of Customs. This is not to say that those involved cannot go any higher,” the committee said in a report.

“We dread to think that it might… and thus, we need to investigate more in order to determine with certainty all

the people responsible for these abhorrent acts.”

The committee filed the report on Dec. 13 but released to reporters only late on Monday afternoon Recommended to be charged were dismissed PNP colonel Eduardo Acierto, who is accused of importing illegal drugs, graft, bribery and obstruction of justice; sacked PDEA deputy chief Ismael Fajardo, who is accused of importing illegal drugs, graft, violation of the code of conduct of public officials, bribery and obstruction of justice; resigned Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, who is accused of Next page

Philconsa files 2nd petition to nullify Bangsamoro law

By Rey E. Requejo

portion of the police station, but failed to enter the station as policemen engaged them in a gunfight.

The exchange of fire also wounded a civilian bystander who was taken to the Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital where he is now in stable condition.

Geronga identified wounded policemen as Police Officers 1 Rolan Geul, Sonny Son Estera and Melvin Bartolata.

Next page

THE Philippine Constitutional Association has asked the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional the recently enacted Republic Act 11054 otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law. In a petition filed Dec. 11, Philconsa through its chairman Manuel M. Lazaro urged the Court to declare the law as unconstitutional even as it accused Congress of committing grave abuse of disNext page cretion in passing it.

Poacher penalty: Repeat viewings of Bambi

Political hatred sparks violence against newsmen

A JUDGE in the US state of Missouri has sentenced a prolific poacher to repeat screenings of “Bambi,” the Walt Disney

Next page

HE Palace on Tuesday said the President ordered Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to stay away from a congressional hearing on alleged budget anomalies to avoid the “unparliamentary behavior” of lawmakers but House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya said Congress must exercise its oversight function over the disbursement of government funds.

Andaya, chairman of the House committee on rules, said the House will pursue its probe beginning Jan. 3 to ferret out the truth.

“Definitely, we will task the DBM [the Department of Budget and Management] for these questionable allocations. We will not stop in our investigation, whether Cabinet members appear or not in our hearings,” Andaya said in a statement Tuesday.

Andaya earlier disclosed a former Cabinet official seeking an elective post allegedly parked at least P300 million in infrastructure projects in the national budget.

The parking scheme allegedly facilitated by the Budget department could explain the huge increase allocated to flood mitigation projects from 2017 to 2018, Andaya said.

The budget stood at P79 billion in 2017 but ballooned to P133 billion in Next page 2018, he said.

By Fiachra GIBBONS HATRED whipped up by “unscrupulous politicians” has contributed to the shocking rise in the number of journalists murdered in 2018, a media watchdog said Tuesday.

Eighty journalists have been killed worldwide so far this year—most notably the Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi—with 348 in jail and 60 more held hostage, according to figures from Reporters Without Borders.

“Violence against journalists has reached

Next page

PACMAN AT 40: STRONGER, FASTER SPORTS A8

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Rody open to talks with Sayyaf

By Nat Mariano

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte repeated late Monday he was open to a possible reconciliation talks with the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

He made the statement even as Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Tuesday there will be no declaration of a holiday truce between the government and the communist rebels.

“The recommendation of the Defense Secretary still stands, [and that is] not to

Bishop's homily no allusion to Rody, says Palace PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte does not feel alluded to by Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle’s remarks that power should not be used for bullying people, the Palace said on Tuesday.

“No. He [Duterte] doesn’t bully people. He expresses his sentiment on a particular matter, situation. He expresses dislike and he explains it. He threatens criminals, yes, to make them feel threatened and stop doing their criminal acts,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Tuesday.

He made the remark after Tagle, in his homily during the first Misa de Gallo, said that a person in high office does not have the right to trample others and called bullies fearful and insecure.

Panelo said that he agrees with the Catholic official’s remark in a general context.

“Whom does he refer to? Because those in power would also apply to those in the Church. If you use the pulpit for bullying people, then it’s the same,” he said.

“If the message is in the generic or general term, then I agree,” he added.

Tagle’s message during the midnight Mass service in Manila Cathedral on Sunday came after the President justified his remark that bishops are better off dead.

In his speech last week, Duterte continued his verbal attacks against the Catholic Church.

The president said that a bishop had prayed for his death before, so he has the right to do the same.

“If you priests, bishops, if you can say that to me, wish me the—to die in a Mass, why will I not talk? You should, too. Anyway, who will believe that you will go to heaven?” he said.

“You’re dreaming. All of us, we’ll see each other in hell,” he added, insisting that most of the clergymen are gay and into homosexual acts.

The Palace, however, downplayed the President’s remarks as mere expressions of hyperbole. Nat Mariano

Reds...

From A1

In Bula, Camarines Sur, an undetermined number of rebels attacked the detachment of the 501st Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 5 in Brgy. Panoypoyan, wounding P01 Francis Santiago in the left foot.

In Bato town, another group of NPA rebels attacked an army civilian volunteer group situated near the Maharlika Highway at 8 p.m. No casualties were reported.

In Capiz, rebels fired at army detachments in two villages in Tapaz town at about 1 a.m. sparking fighting with no casualties reported on both sides.

Newly installed Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal belittled the NPA attacks, saying they were staged for propaganda purposes to show they are still a force to be reconed with.

But the latest NPA attacks prompted PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde to raise the alert level among policemen particularly those posted in remote villages.

Poacher...

From A1 classic weepy about a fawn whose mother is slain by a hunter.

David Berry Jr will be forced to see the animated movie at least once a month during his year-long jail term, the result of what law enforcement officials described as one of their “largest-ever poaching investigations.”

Berry and two family members were arrested on charges of killing hundreds of deer over three years, according to the Missouri Conservation Authority, which announced the sentence in a December 13 statement.

“The deer were trophy bucks taken illegally, mostly at night, for their heads, leaving the bodies of the deer to waste,” said prosecutor Don Trotter of Lawrence County, Missouri.

Berry had already seen his hunting privileges revoked for past wildlife infractions and was on probation.

The Walt Disney Company bewitched generations of children with its pioneering animated film, released in August 1942, about a wide-eyed young deer and his doting mom. AFP

declare a truce,” Panelo told reporters.

Speaking during the activation of the 11th Infantry Division in Sulu, Duterte appealed to the terrorists to end the violence in the south.

“If they stop [their attacks], I’m willing to go there, wherever that is, we will talk,” Duterte said.

“I, as the commander-in-chief, cannot allow my soldiers to be killed and be ambushed, and this has been going on for the last so many years... The lives are wasted, the bullets are wasted, too when I could use the money to build houses.”

Duterte said he was also willing to meet Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari in the negotiating

table and reach a possible agreement to achieve peace in Mindanao.

“We can talk anytime and let me know what are his plans,” Duterte said.

“The government will be willing to compromise or even reach an agreement that could give him the dignity and integrity of the Tausug, Yakan and all tribes here on this island.”

Duterte said the lack of education of the Moro people was hindering the establishment of peace in the region, and that it was one of the reasons why conflict was persisting in the south.

“What is really lacking is the education of the Moro. For unless and until the Moro is educated in the proper way, to

live in a world that we live in, and to come to terms and the reality of our lives today, then maybe, maybe with the mercy of Allah, we can achieve peace,” Duterte said.

Asked if Duterte had changed his mind about declaring a unilateral ceasefire with the terrorist groups following his remarks, Panelo said no.

“No, no word from him,” Panelo said.

Two weeks ago, the Communist Party of the Philippines declared a holiday truce from Dec. 24 to 26, 2018 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2019.

But Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana said the government forces would not allow themselves to be fooled by the CPP’s declaration, stressing they would not suspend the military operations against the rebels.

House...

spilling the beans on anomalous budget practices within the Budget department.

“Now, insiders within the department are providing us with information related to questionable budget allocations in the Bicol region. These DBM insiders intimated to me that under the leadership of Secretary Diokno, billions of [pesos in] projects in Sorsogon for 2018 started to be bid out as early November 2017. The bidding took place even as Congress was still deliberating on the 2018 budget submitted by the DBM,” Andaya added.

In the Palace, Presidential Spokes-

man Salvador Panelo said it was the President who prevented Diokno from attending the Jan. 3 hearing in the House.

“He was not allowed [to attend],” Panelo said of Diokno. “There is only one who [can] make him [not] go there.

It’s the President. So presumably it’s coming from the President.”

He reiterated a call to Congress to reciprocate the same courtesy that the Executive Department bestows on members of Congress.

“As a courtesy, we will always respond to any invitations. All we ask is, please give us the courtesy as we give the same to you,” he said.

would sign the bill—even as the House and Senate disagreed over the fate of the measure.

“That’s what’s needed,” Panelo said of the move to abolish the Road Board. “We want the funds to be returned to the Treasury and let Congress appropriate [them] again for a specific purpose.”

Panelo said the P45-billion road user’s tax should be reverted to the National Treasury and said the President would sign the bill abolishing the Road Board as soon as it is given to him.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, said he will send the bill abolishing the Road Board to Malacañang, letting President Duterte decide on the matter.

The Senate had adopted the House version of the bill in full, but cannot transmit the bill to the President for his signature because Arroyo has yet to sign it.

“It emanated from the House, so they have to transmit it,” Sotto said.

Both the Senate and the House approved the bill abolishing the Road Board, with the Senate adopting the House version in September, but Andaya said the House rescinded the approval of the measure.

But Sotto said as far as the Senate is concerned, the abolition of the Road Board was a done deal.

“We adopted the House version, it’s as good as a bill that is supposed to be transmitted to the President already,” he said.

Last week, the Senate also adopted a resolution against the release of road tax collections.

Collected from motorists, the MVUC is supposed to be managed by the Road Board and to be used exclusively for road maintenance and improvement of road drainage, installation of traffic lights and road safety devices, and air pollution control.

The fund, however, has been tainted by corruption in the past years, prompting calls for its abolition.

Sotto said that if the House insists that the Road Board remains, someone should bring the matter to the court.

The Senate leader said a bill abolishing the Road Board can be filed again in the next Congress as the term of those opposing it will have already ended.

Senator Francis Escudero said a case of mandamus could be filed to compel the House to sign the enrolled bill.

Senator JV Ejercito agreed and noted that the road tax was for years a source of corruption.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said he would insist on what was already agreed upon.

The Senate on Sept. 12, 2018 adopted the House version to dispense with the bicameral conference. Later that day, the House rescinded its approval on third reading of its own version.

In 2017, the President called on Congress to abolish the Road Board and transfer its functions to the appropriate department. Both houses have responded by immediately passing their own versions of the bill.

From A1

“We will zero in on flood-mitigation projects,” Andaya said in a mix of English and Filipino. “It looks like this is where the parked funds go. That’s why the DBM allowed funding for flood mitigation projects to balloon by almost P54 billion from 2017 to 2018.”

“For the proposed 2019 national budget, out of the P544.5-billion budget allocated to the [Department of Public Works and Highways], P114.4 billion is for flood control projects, or an increase to almost 24 percent,” Andaya said.

Andaya said not only mayors are

Rody...

From A1

Norte to abolish the office was seen as a source of funding.

Without naming names, Suarez said “some former congressional leaders” had asked for “sizable amounts of money from the Road Board and threatened to abolish it if it refused to do so.

“Members of the Road Board told me they were being asked by some congressional leaders to dedicate an amount of money for ‘parking projects.’

They wanted to park these projects in various places and said if they were refused, they would abolish to board,” Suarez said in Filipino at a news conference Tuesday.

Alvarez and his allies earlier authored a bill in the House proposing the abolition of the Road Board.

Parking refers to listing funding under the budget of a congressional district for use later for a different project and in a different congressional district.

Suarez dismissed the allegation of Alvarez that Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who opposed the abolition of the Road Board, wanted to control the road tax known as the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUS).

House Majority Leader Rep. Rolando Andaya, meanwhile, said the President could not simply sign the bill because the plenary has withdrawn support for it.

At the Palace, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President

Philconsa...

From A1 The suit of Philconsa, an organization of law experts created to defend and protect the 1987 Constitution, is the second petition seeking to strike down Republic Act 11054.

The first petition was filed by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II in October. The Court has ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to answer the petition.

The lawyers’ group argued that the law violates Sections 18 and 19 of Article X of the 1987 Constitution, which provide for the enactment of only one Organic Act to establish the autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

They argued that establishing a parliamentary form of government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao violates the Constitution, which specifically recognized only the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

Political hatred...

From A1

unprecedented levels this year, and the situation is now critical,” said the organisation’s head, Christophe Deloire.

“The hatred of journalists sometimes very openly proclaimed by unscrupulous politicians, religious leaders and businessmen... has been reflected in this disturbing increase,” he said.

RSF did not directly point the finger at US President Donald Trump, who regularly rails against journalists and has branded some “enemies of the people”.

But Deloire said “expressions of hatred legitimise violence, thereby undermining journalism and democracy itself.”

- US joins blacklist The US also became the fifth deadliest country in the world for reporters in 2018 after the shooting of five people at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Maryland in June.

Afghanistan was the most dangerous country for journalists, with 15 killed including AFP’s Shah Marai, followed by Syria with 11 deaths and Mexico with nine.

“It is indubitable the ARMM and the Cordilleras were created by the Constitution.

They are the only autonomous regions recognized by the Constitution. The BARMM was created by Congress in violation of the Constitution... Any exercise of power of the legislative and the executive departments or any of their respective functionaries beyond what is circumscribed by the Constitution and law is unconstitutional, and a nullity,” the petition stated.

Philconsa also appealed to the Court to immediately issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the executive branch from “implementing RA 11054 and for receiving and disbursing any funds arising from, connected with or related to the unconstitutional and unlawful law.”

The petition named as respondents Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, headed by Senator Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, respectively.

Deloire said the hate stirred up against journalists is “amplified by social networks, which bear heavy responsibility in this regard.”

“Murders, imprisonment, hostage-taking and enforced disappearances have all increased,” he said, with the death toll of professional journalists up 15 percent after three years of a falling casualty rate.

“Journalists have never before been subjected to as much violence and abusive treatment as in 2018,” Deloire said.

The murders of Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul and the young Slovak data journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend “highlighted the lengths to which press freedom’s enemies are prepared to go,” he said.

Khashoggi’s murder in October caused an international outcry and showed the extremes to which “some people will go to silence ‘troublesome’ journalists”, RSF said.

More than half of the journalists killed were deliberately targeted, the other 31 were caught in violence.

The RSF report said the number of nonprofessionals killed almost doubled from seven in 2017 to 13 this year. AFP

Blue Ribbon...

From A1

importing illegal drugs, conspiracy to commit graft and corruption, violation of the code of conduct of government officials, bribery and obstruction of justice.

The Senate panel said Acierto, a veteran anti-drug cop, was the “linchpin” of the shabu shipments, as most of the resource persons pointed to him as the boss handing down the commands for the shipments and their cover-ups.

Despite the findings on Guban, the Senate panel said he was not the “most guilty” and should continuously be granted immunity from the charges as a state witness under the Department of Justice’s witness protection program.

All three were named in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug matrix.

Also recommended to be slapped with charges were SMYD Trading owner Marina Signapan, who is accused of importing illegal drugs, graft and violation of Customs registration rules; broker Katrina Grace Cuasay, who is accused of importing illegal drugs and conspiracy to commit graft; Joseph Dimayuga, who is accused of importing illegal drugs and bribery; and Gorgonio Necessario, who is accused of importating illegal drugs and obstruction of justice.

The alleged real owner of SMYD Trading, Meg Santos, is accused of importing illegal drugs, graft and.

Three Customs employees were recommended to be charged with drug importation, receiving bribes and violating the code of conduct of government employees.

They are X-ray examiner Noli Martinez, Customs appraiser Girlie Umali and Examiner Jenaline Garcia.

However, the committee did not recommend any charges against X-ray chief Zsae de Guzman, who was earlier recommended sacked. De Guzman is already facing complaints from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The committee also cleared former Customs chief Isidro Lapeña as earlier announced.

AFP digs deeper into Valenzuela gunrunning deal THE Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday it was now conducting its own investigation on how weapons and ammunition intended for the military landed in the hands of a couple in Valenzuela City.

The couple are said to have links to rogue politicians and the Maute Group in Mindanao.

“Yes, the Army is already on it,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

He said the investigation will start from the initial probe of the Philippine National Police, which took custody of those caught in possession of the weapons and ammunition.

“In light of the recent PNP apprehension of the gunrunners and the recovery of the firearms with ammunition stamped with AFP markings, the AFP is conducting an immediate investigation to verify the source of these firearms and ammunition,” Detoyato said.

“While we can already confirm that the captured firearms are not in our inventory, only a thorough inventory of our ammunition stocks will confirm whether there are losses that could have fallen to the hands of these gunrunners.”

Detoyato said the markings on the ammunition boxes would also play a key role in the investigation.

“The AFP will further enhance our strict control measures and will treat this case as a valuable lead to weed out corrupt personnel in our ranks,” Detoyato said.

“This case is a welcome development to once and for all institute an airtight system that will prevent pilferages in our system.

On Sunday, operatives from the National Capital Region Police Office arrested Edgardo and Rosemarie Medel in an entrapment operation in Valenzuela City.

Seized during the operation were two assault rifles, a handgun and 12,893 rounds of ammunition for an M-60 light machine gun and an M-16 automatic rifle. PNA

Hardworking...

From A1

herself. Bondad, who has been dating Gray for the past five years, admits: Of course they will say that [all candidates] worked hard for it, but I’ll just shout on the top of my lungs and say, ‘She worked the hardest.’

Bondad took to social media to wax sentimental. ‘Since the very day I met you in Baguio in that tiny elevator when we merely were just kids, I knew that you are different. You felt untouchable. Like I met someone specific but couldn’t figure out who it was.’

‘Never met a more intelligent woman in my life. You seem to capture the stars and are simply a creator by heart. You are a specialist made to move the world. A rocket breaking through the atmosphere bringing back a piece of heaven. Words will never be enough to capture who you are... I know this is a huge day but this will literally just be the beginning.’

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Tuesday hailed Gray for bagging the Miss Universe crown with her beauty, intelligence and strong advocacy for the protection of children’s rights.

“Keri lang maging iba sa lahat! Among silver gowns and silver linings, panalo ang pula! Standout ka talaga, Cat! Congratulations!” Marcos said.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, principal author of the bill legalizing marijuana for medical use, on Tuesday welcomed Gray’s stand on his proposal.

“She may not have directly endorsed the measure, but Miss Gray made many patients suffering from pain and other medical conditions happy, there are thousands of them,” Albano said.

Gray, the 24-year-old model and singer, made headlines with her win. Even the Australian media ran the story and congratulated Catriona for not just carrying the Philippine flag but also for being proud of her Aussie roots.

One of the articles published by the Australian press says the Australians also have reason to celebrate, calling the five-foot-ten beauty an “Australian who won Miss Universe but she’s not Miss Australia.”

Before moving to Manila in 2011, Catriona lived with her Australian-Scottish father Ian Gray and Filipino mother Normita Magnayon in the North Queensland town of Cairns. After graduating from the local Trinity Anglican School, Catriona bought herself a ticket from Cairns to Manila to begin her modeling career.

Catriona’s fans and supporters were kept updated on her Miss Universe journey, including the people who helped her design her national costume, the gowns she wore during the preliminaries and finals, the creative people who worked on her videos, and the person who trained her to achieve the now iconic slow-mo twirl during the swimsuit competition.

In a photo posted by Jonas Gaffud, Catriona’s mentor when she joined the Miss World 2016 contest and the same trainer that helped Pia Wurtzbach prepare for the Miss Universe pageant in 2015, the beauty queen maker introduced the team that tirelessly worked behind the successful bid for the crown.

The team, whose members were handpicked by Catriona herself, include designers Mak Tumang and Jojo Bragais, mentor Carlos Buendia Jr., casting director Harley Tan and stylists Ton Lao and Brent Sales.

With Maricel V. Cruz

News

wedNesday, december 19, 2018

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace to wait for final version of federalism

By Nat Mariano Malacañang on Tuesday said it is too early to make a final judgment on the House of Representatives’ draft federal charter even after the Palacebacked committee already regarded the House draft as “disaster to democracy.”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said it would be better to wait for the final revision of the draft approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before making any conclusions. “as I said, it’s still premature to make a final judgment on the draft of congress because there is no draft to speak of at this time. It’s still premature,” Panelo told anc.

“It is premature in the sense that the senators are not yet participating... It’s still a draft,” added Panelo, believing that congress will soon listen to the sentiments of the people.

Meanwhile, former chief justice Reynato Puno, chairman of the consultative committee, said that the committee members agreed not to endorse the House resolution, calling it a disaster to the country’s democracy.

He said members of the House of Representatives have created a “bogus federalism” as lawmakers changed a number of provisions including the removal of ban on political dynasties, lifting of term limits for lawmakers, and adding “lawless violence” as a ground for the declaration of martial law apart from actual rebellion and public safety.

These omissions raised the eyebrows of the Puno-led consultative committee members as they agreed not to endorse the House version, vowing to inform the public about its “defects and deficiencies.”

The Palace official already warned the congress that the public might end up rejecting the House of Representatives’ draft charter, saying that scenario would be a waste of people’s money. asked about President Rodrigo Duterte’s take on these two drafts, the Palace official said Duterte would want the people to decide.

“Perhaps what is the better procedure is if you have two drafts, then let the people decide,” Panelo said.

“There is no prohibition on that. Why not? It can be done, if they so desire.”

Enrile to bring back debates in PH Senate

SNAPPY SALUTE.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sings the Philippine National Anthem together with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine Army Commander Lieutenant General Macairog Alberto during the activation of the 11th Infantry Division at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters in Jolo, Sulu on Dec. 17, 2018.

Presidential Photo

DOJ approves indictment of Okada for embezzlement

By Rey E. Requejo

T

He Department of Justice has approved the criminal indictment of Japanese gaming mogul Kazuo okada for embezzling more than $3 million in funds of okada Manila.

In a resolution dated Dec. 7, assistant State Prosecutor alejandro Daguiso found okada liable to face trial on three counts of estafa arising from a complaint filed by Tiger Resort leisure & entertainment Inc., owner of the hotel resort in Paranaque.

Daguiso’s resolution reversed a ruling of the Paranaque Prosecutor’s office dismissing the estafa cases on ground that it constituted intra corporate dispute.

TRleI accused okada of illegal disbursement of company funds amounting to $3.145 million supposedly for his consultancy fees and salaries during his tenure as ceo through his accomplice Takahiro Usui, then TRleI president.

Said disbursement was not authorized by the TRleI board.

okada is facing a separate case for estafa involving the payment of $7-million for the supply and installation of light emitting diode fixtures to the resort casino by okada’s personal company, aruze Philippines Manufacturing Inc, in conspiracy with his close associate, Kengo Takeda, who was the former chief Technology officer of TRleI. In his resolution, Daguiso found okada’s arguments unconvincing. “[okada’s] defenses are now appropriately matters of evidence to be proven in a full-blown trial,” he said in the resolution.

Daguiso also indicted Usui for conspiracy in the commission of the offense.

CHRISTMAS PARCELS.

Joel Deligero, VP for Cross Border, Lazada Philippines and Juan Pavez (leftmost), CEO for Logistics / Operations, Lazada Philippines oversee the unloading of tons of parcels in a chartered flights to deliver and delight Filipino shoppers this holiday season for their overseas purchase largely from shopping festival at NAIA Terminal 1.

Norman Cruz

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FoRMeR Senate President Juan Ponce enrile vows to bring back the glorious days of fiery debates in the Philippine Senate as he noted an increasing practice of doing “coffee table” discussions of legislative measures instead of bringing it out for argumentation in the Senate floor. “out there in the Senate, where I stayed for 24 years, when I was there, nothing is passed without any debate.

Unlike today, they go into a coffee table and they discuss it among themselves and that’s it. That’s not a Senate. That’s not a deliberative assembly of the people’s representatives. a democracy must be open where issues are subject to intellectual dissection,” said enrile who is running for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

In fomenting open and public discussion of bills and resolutions filed in the Senate, enrile said he always wants to make these issues of national interest transparent to the general populace. “nothing is hidden to make the people understand because the people are the ones that will suffer if the representatives make mistakes in their understanding and decisions of any matter that affects them. That, in essence, is the history of my involvement in politics today,” enrile said. according to the senator who is known for his show-stopping debates with colleagues to include the late Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Raul Roco, the desire to bring back open debates on issues that affect the nation is one of the reasons why he decided to run at the last minute.

“I’m not after power. I’ve had it,” said enrile who, aside from his stint as Senate president, also served as Minister of national Defense, Secretary of Justice, and customs commissioner in various administrations.

Reacting to the DoJ decision, TRleI director antonio “TonyBoy“ cojuangco said: “The decision brings us one step closer to disentangling the shareholder disputes in the okada group, hence allowing the company to run its business with utmost efficiency. needless to say, despite the legal embroilments, the current management of the okada group is focused on achieving its financial targets, contributing to the economic growth of the country, as well as helping improve the lives and conditions of the disadvantaged.”

TRleI earlier protested the resolutions issued in May by Paranaque city Prosecutor amerhassan c. Paudac which it said had been leaked.

“The premature leakage, followed by the apparent ‘rush to release’ the assailed resolutions, coupled with the wrongful dispositions and resolution of these cases, are indicative of Paudac’s feared undue interest in the instant cases and which not only violate due process… but are grave administrative offenses,” TRleI said.

China needs English teachers from PH; guidelines set

By Vito Barcelo THe Department of labor and employment has issued implementing guidelines for the recruitment and deployment of more than 100,000 Filipino teachers to teach english in china. labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that many chinese nationals can barely understand, much less speak

english, and tapped the Philippines because it is known for its excellent english education program.

The guidelines spell out the memorandum of understanding on the employment of Filipino teachers of the english language that the Philippines and chinese governments forged in china last april, Bello said.

In the joint guidelines, the quali-

fications of applicant were set, the roles and responsibilities of both governments defined, and the system of deployment and acceptance were laid down.

Interested Filipino teachers must be employed in private higher education institutions in the Philippines or those not currently employed in public institutions in the country.

Jinggoy got ok to travel in HK for the holidays

By Maricel V. Cruz THe Sandiganbayan has allowed former Senator Jose estrada to travel to Hong Kong where he will spend the Holiday season with his family.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division approved estrada’s motion for leave of court to travel to Hong Kong with his family on Dec. 26, 2018 and will stay there until Dec. 31, 2018.

“For the reason stated therein and considering that the right to travel is a constitutional right which cannot be impaired except in cases provided by law, and that accused-movant estrada has been previously granted travel abroad, the instant motion is granted,” the Sandiganbayan said. ombudsman prosecutors earlier opposed estrada’s motion, saying “he can better spend and enjoy the holidays... [that] celebrating the holidays in the Philippines is more fun than anywhere else considering the lovely colorful practices handed down through generations that are alive and well in this wonderful country.”

In his travel motion, estrada stressed that he is not a flight risk; and that the purpose of the travel is a “much-needed” family bonding. estrada is facing a P183-million plunder charge and multiple counts of graft on allegations of conspiracy with his former staff Pauline labayen, businesswoman Janet lim napoles, and several other individuals who was allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam. estrada was allowed to post bail by the anti-graft court even if plunder is a capital offense; since the prosecution has failed to provide evidence that the former senator is the main plunderer or the principal beneficiary in the questioned transactions.

The travel permit was signed by associate Justices Rafael R. lagos, Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-arcega, and Maryann e. corpus-Mañalac.

In Hong Kong, estrada just might bump into Davao del norte Rep. antonio Floirendo Jr., who had asked the Sandiganbayan that he will be allowed to travel to the same place to spend the holidays with his family.

In a motion for leave filed on Dec. 12, Floirendo informed the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division that he will fly out of the country from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2, 2019.

PH improved to 8th place as most gender equal country—WEF THe Philippines, which has been among the top 10 most gender equal countries since the World economic Forum report was launched in 2006, only got better this year, as it improved two notches at eighth place.

The country, which placed 10th overall in 2017, made the considerable leap due to its “strong efforts to close the gender gap in political empowerment.”

In a report which was released De-

cember, the WeF ranked 149 countries based on 4 categories: labor force participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

The WeF report noted the country has managed to close about 80 percent of the total gender gap, which it said was the “highest value ever recorded” for the Philippines.

It added that the Philippines remained

in the top 10 “on the back of strong scores on closing the Political empowerment gender gap, in particular.”

But at the same time, the WeF said the Philippines still needs to extend more efforts on health and survival category, where there remained a gap for the second consecutive year.

In measuring the health and survival indicator, the WeF studied the differences between women’s and men’s

health based on life expectancy. It also studied the phenomenon of “missing women” in countries, including the Philippines, where families prefer to have sons over daughters.

The Philippines actually slid considerably in the health and survival category, when it ranked first 12 years ago in the first year of the report among 115 countries, and now at 42nd out of 149 countries.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Unconstitutional CATRIONA Gray has been named Miss Universe 2018. Her mother is Filipino and her father is Australian, which leads many to ask—is she truly a Filipino?

This may well be asked of the others who brought home the crown: Pia Wurtzbach, who has a German father, and Margie Moran and Gloria Diaz, who both had Spanish origins.

But being Filipino is to have mixed

There are only two autonomous regions recognized by the Charter.

origins, because we had so many colonizers. Catriona is a true Filipina. *** I have doubts on the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. In fact, the Philippine Constitution Association or Philconsa filed a petition before the Supreme Court on Dec. 11, challenging its constitutionality.

The Philconsa assailed Republic Act 11054 creating the BOL to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as a result of the peace deal between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government.

My doubts stem from the fact that Article X, Sections 18 and 19 of our Constitution recognizes only two autonomous regions—the ARMM and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

The replacement of this requires an amendment of the 1987 Constitution.

Philconsa pointed out the basic fact that only the Constitution will allow the creation of an autonomous region.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Political participation through the ARMM was part of the 1996 final peace agreement between the government and the MILF, a group that broke away from the Moro National Liberation Front of Nur Misuari.

The Philconsa petition was direct to the point saying that an exercise of power by the legislature and the executive departments or any of their respective functionaries beyond that as circumscribed by the Constitution and law is unconstitutional and a nullity.

The Philconsa also cited the deliberation of the constitutional commission that drafted the 1987 Charter, which it said was crystal clear that the ARMM and the CAR were the only autonomous regions recognized by the Constitution.

It is therefore logical that when Congress created an autonomous region like the BAR, it countered the provisions of the Constitution. I rest my case. *** Santa Banana, there must be something wrong about the opposition. In all the poll surveys, only one senatorial candidate is being mentioned as a possible winner— former Transportation secretary and presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II. Not even reelectionist Bam Aquino is in the Magic 12, my gulay. This seems to me a clear indication that the people have grown tired of the opposition.

This is unfortunate because we need oppositionists in the Senate in addition to Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan and Lilia de Lima.

It may be argued that it’s still early to make an assessment of the 2019 polls. This may be so, but it seems the majority in the Magic 12 are proadministration.

This finding indicates 2 things: First, there is no viable opposition candidate who resonates with the people. Second, the people do not like the return of the Yellows.

I say it is unfortunate because the Senate is ideally an independent

M

Romanticize this

INUTES after Catriona Gray won the Miss Universe 2018 crown for the Philippines on Monday, armchair critics emerged from the woodwork to begin picking away at her victory.

As is often the case, they took to Twitter to share their two centavos’ worth about how they felt Gray romanticized poverty when she replied to the last query posed to her in the contest’s Q&A portion.

“What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life, and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?” she was asked.

Gray replied that she had worked a lot in the slums of Tondo, where she witnessed how life was difficult.

While she sympathized with Filipinos who lived in that condition, she said she would always look for beauty in it.

“I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it, to look for the beauty in the faces of the children, and to be grateful. I would bring

this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining, and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. If I could teach also people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their face. Thank you,” Catriona said.

Twitter user @jiatirol said people should stop romanticizing poverty as “resiliency and gratefulness” while @ rizadivinee said Gray should immerse herself among the masses when she returns to the Philippines.

“We shouldn’t romanticize poverty [and highlight] smiles in (sic) children’s faces despite their situation… How about children smiling because their lives are in order, and they can go to school, eat properly and live in decent housing?” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Another Twitter user, @ MilllennialOfMNL, said Gray should be taught that seeing the beauty in everything is not enough and that what the poor Filipinos need is empowerment to get out of poverty.

Sadly, it seems, some Filipinos simply cannot take a win for what it is and need to inject a dose of negativity

from their lofty positions behind a computer screen or mobile phone. The crab mentality is alive and well.

What these armchair critics don’t realize, perhaps, is that even before joining her first national pageant, Gray had already started her own charity project called Paraiso: The Bright Beginnings Project, which aims to raise funds for a preschool in Tondo, Manila. She also supports the Love Yourself PH project, which advocates HIV/AIDS awareness, and volunteers as a teacher’s assistant to the students of Young Focus NGO. How many of her critics who rushed to judge her can truly say they have done as much? Can they truly and fairly begrudge her positive outlook?

In this age of social media and instant opinions, it’s easy to get ahead of the facts. Traditional and online media can aggravate the situation by cherry picking and highlighting controversial opinions and passing them off as news.

But as Clint Eastwood, playing the cop Dirty Harry, dryly observed, opinions are like the orifices on posteriors. Everyone has one. That doesn’t make them particularly noteworthy or newsworthy.

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A standup guy I SELDOM endorse any political candidate but I’ll make an exception in the case of Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza. He is undoubtedly one of the few standup guys in the House who will oppose bad laws from being railroaded by the tyranny of the majority.

While other members of the House went along with the tide on the issue of federalism, Charter change and insertions in the national budget, Atienza stood his ground against these proposals that would benefit the congressmen. On federalism, Atienza decried the manner the move was passed in the Lower House at the exclusion of the people whom he said should have been consulted. Sans fanfare, the House members formed themselves into a Constituent Assembly on the pretext that it would save the government money if a constitutional convention is held.

“Save money?” Atienza asked, pointing out that the government is wasting more funds on less important things, so why not spend on a participatory and democratic issue as Con-Con? Hopefully, he expressed the view that federalism won’t pass in the Senate. He claimed that even most of the majority who approved it do not really understand the implication of federalism.

“Federalism is going to impact the lives of the people, not to mention the cost of carrying out the implementing rules and regulation or IRR,” Atienza pointed out. The citizenry is already under heavy burden from the cost of living brought about by the TRAIN law and the excise tax on fuel.

The nearly month-long protests on the street of Paris was triggered by the heavy tax on fuel, he pointed out as he

voiced concern the same thing could happen here.

Atienza is also against charter change which the House is pushing.

Again, he laments that charter change is being done at the exclusion of the people. Fortunately, changes in the Constitution will still have to be submitted to the people for approval in a plebiscite. Atienza said he will take to the streets with the people to protest charter change which shelved the abolition of political dynasties.

Political dynasties perpetuate a family’s grip on power, making the same

How about opposing the tyranny of the majority?

people stay in public office for the rest of their lives. Hence, we have the same last names of candidates on election ballots.

Atienza also voted against the extension of martial law in Mindanao as he pointed the manpower resources of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police should be enough to fight the communist New People’s Army and terrorists in Mindanao. That our law enforcers still needed another year of martial law in Mindanao attest to their underperformance.

Asked why he did not run for mayor in Manila where he served two terms, Atienza joked, “I’m under age, as if to stress that the two main mayoral rivals—Joseph Estrada and Fred Lim— are 80 plus and 90, respectively. “Don’t ask me who of them wear pampers,” he chuckled.

Atienza also differed with Miss Turn to A5

Miss Universe, Balangiga bells CATRIONIA Elisa Magnayon Gray will be the best ever Miss Universe in the pageant’s 66-year history.

Classy, elegant, truly talented, and with fast-clipped English, Gray rebrands and revitalizes the Miss Universe brand (after Donald Trump) and brings to the world stage the Philippines’ Albay province as a brand for being the home of climate change resilience, world-class beauty queens, infra modernization, volcano tourism, and first class human capital

where every home has a college graduate, thanks to its longtime governor, Congressman Joey Salceda.

On Dec. 17, 2018, Catriona Gray, 24, easily outclassed a record 93 other national beauty queens to walk away with the Miss Universe title and give her native Philippines arguably its best Christmas in 30 years.

She was chosen by an all-woman panel. Previously, Gray won the Miss Philippines 2018 title in March 2018 and the Miss World Philippines 2016 crown in October 2016. She was in the Top Five Miss World finalists 2016.

Gray is the fourth Filipina Miss Universe after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015).

Miss Gray has many shades. She draws

Miss Gray has many shades.

and paints, she models and acts, she sings and composes, she is a martial arts black belter, and she teaches 3Rs to the poor kids of Tondo slums.

She is half-Filipino (born in Cairns, Queensland to a Bicolana mother, Normita Raagas Magnayon from Oas, Albay) and half Irish-Australian (her

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

Move out

EVERYMAN

Moving forward in the aftermath of COP 24

By Imelda V. Abano KATOWICE, Poland—Over the weekend, in this brutally freezing cold, quiet coal-fired city of Poland, it was definitely tough for more than 190 countries to reach an agreement on a set of rules meant to help curb global warming.

Many countries which reinforce their ambitions to fight climate change admit that the action needed under the Paris Agreement which comes out into force in 2020 is good, but not good enough.

Despite all the criticism of climate activists and the scientific recommendations for immediate action, the highly technical 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change produced a 156-page ‘rulebook’ which is divided into themes—how countries will report and monitor their national pledges to curb greenhouse gas emissions and update their emissions. Some of the crucial sticking points, however, were left for future negotiations such as the rules for mitigating climate change and important issues tied with finance and pricing carbon.

“Katowice has shown once more the resilience of the Paris Agreement—our solid roadmap for climate action. The Approval of the Paris Agreement Work Programme is a basis for a transformative process which will require strengthened ambition from the international community,” said UN chief Antonio Guterres during the closing of the climate talks.

Climate Change Commission Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman, who led the Philippines delegation said world leaders to “demonstrate climate action and leadership.”

“Climate action and leadership resolve must be demonstrated by all. Now is the time for leadership, not cowardice.

There is no excuse for inaction among the world’s most powerful nations,” De Guzman said.

The Philippines is among countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels, prolonged droughts floods and changes in rainfall patterns.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama also called on all nations to “demonstrate the political will” needed to overcome the complexities of the challenge of addressing climate change. “ Together, we can overcome the greatest threat humanity has ever faced, with the entire global community eventually emerging more prosperous and more resilient.”

Climate Reality Project Philippines Country Manager Rodne Galicha said that while the ‘rulebook’ has been adopted after grueling hours of negotiations, climate activists said it is disappointing

Miss Universe,...

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father is Ian Gray).

She received a degree in Music Theory from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and has a certificate in Outdoor Recreation and a black belt in Choi Kwang-Do martial arts.

After finishing high school in Australia, Gray then moved to Manila where she worked as a commercial model. *** On another front, the Philippines has finally gotten back the three bells of Balangiga, after a lapse of 117 years. Previous presidents, Gloria Arroyo and Fidel V. Ramos, tried to recover the bells seized as war booty by the US army in 1901 to buttress their claim that they, not the Filipinos, won the Battle of Balangiga.

Credit goes to four people—President Duterte, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and US Defense Secretary James Mattis.

“Give us back those Balangiga bells,” President Duterte said in his second State of the Nation Address on July 24, 2017.

“They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage,” he declared. “Please return them. Their loss is painful to us,” the President pleaded in Filipino.

Duterte made the demand in the presence of US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, among the dignitaries who attended the SONA. The Balangiga bells were used as signal for the Filipino freedom fighters to kill 48 of 74 American soldiers who had occupied the town in 1901. It was the worst defeat by the US military in any

Unconstitutional From A4

institution, not composed of minions of the Executive. *** I would say that the admnistration’s push for federalism is dead in the water. I do not know when it will come up again, if ever, because of the fact that most Filipinos are not aware of

that it took huge crunches for other developed countries to accept the urgency of increasing ambitions based on scientific reports.

May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org said: “Hope now rests on the shoulders of many people who are rising to take action like the inspiring children who started an unprecedented wave of strikes in schools to support a fossil-fuel future; the thousands of institutions that committed to pull their money out of coal, oil and gas; the many communities worldwide who keep resisting fossil fuel development and calling for a fast and just transition to 100% renewable energy systems for all.”

What should world’s governments concentrate on in the run up to the COP25 in Chile, next year? Here are some key takeaways from this year’s climate talks.

1. Pathway toward climate justice and ‘loss and damage’. Climate justice has to become the leading principle guiding future negotiations. Climate activists and vulnerable countries believe that Katowice was a missed opportunity for radical action. For them, climate change is a matter of justice.

Financial means must be allocated in order for them to green their economies and cope with future climate impacts.

In 2015, wealthy countries agreed to provide US$100 billion of new and additional fund each year to developing countries by 2020. But they have long rejected the idea of being legally liable for climate change as claimed by poorer nations.

This thorny issue on finance, only requires in the set of rules that wealthy countries will continue to help them look for new money from 2025 onwards.

“Without a clear sense of what new grant finance is on the table, our governments are in impossible position where they are forced to choose between the urgent needs of our people and picking up the slack for rich country laziness,” said Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development. “Worse still, rich countries are even trying to turn developing countries into donors, completely shifting the responsibility to those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis.”

2. Political will and flexibility. Political agenda has always been the main barrier at the UN climate talks. With so many countries involved in highly technical and political negotiations about how to limit emissions, political will and flexibility must abound.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed puts it fiercely, “Set aside political differences, and come together with an open hand and an honest heart. We must work together to salvage what we can. All we seem to be doing is talking

and talking and talking. We are not winning the battle.”

That’s why the ‘Talanoa Dialogue’ put the issues on transparency and flexibility at the top of the agenda, emphasizing ‘talanoa’ (participatory, transparent dialogue) as the way to lay the groundwork needed to hammer-out disagreements and operationalize the Paris Agreement.

3. Acknowledge science. While COP 24 adopted a weak set of rules to implement the Paris Agreement, the recent UN scientific special report on 1.5 degrees Celsius was not. The report gave a stark warning that the world needs to take drastic measures to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avert catastrophic events in the coming decades.

But this report stirred a debate as it was blocked by some of the world’s largest oil-producing countries like United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait saying that the report must only be “noted” and not officially “welcome” it in the text.

The IPCC report must stress that limiting global temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius is not impossible but very challenging, said climate expert Rosa Perez who is also a lead author of the IPCC special report.

“It can go hand-in-hand with achieving other world goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Limiting global warming would also give people and the ecosystems more room to adapt and remain below relevant risk thresholds,” Perez explained.

4. Involve Business. At COP24, 48 countries and regional governments supporting a global coal alliance agreed to accelerate clean growth and achieve the phase-out of coal power. This was also supported by 28 organizations from the business sector.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance calls for more nations and businesses to join the alliance in phasing out unabated coal power as an important step in addressing climate change and meet countries’ commitment to keep global temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Before COP24 took place, business leaders were fully engaged in the Global Climate Action Summit to seize the opportunity for an exponential shift to a cleaner and more sustainable economy.

At least 29 businesses and philanthropists pledged US$ 4 billion over the next five years to combat climate change.

Agreein on a set of rules is just a one step in a long process. In Chile next year, there must be another opportunity to clarify sticky issues and agree on a more comprehensive, robust and transparent ‘rulebook’ to solve the global problem on climate change.

battle overseas. The battle was marked by deceit and ruthlessness by both sides.

In retaliation, the Americans created a “howling wilderness” resulting in the massacre of thousands of Filipinos, age 10 and above. Wikipedia places the toll at between 2,500 and 50,000 civilians.

The massacre was worse than the My Lai Massacre perpetrated by US troops in Vietnam in March 1968. The mastermind of Howling Wilderness, then Col. Jacob Smith, was court-martialed but got away with a little more than a slap on the wrist.

He simply was retired. Samar is a province of 600 sq miles.

Here is how Wikipedia describes the epic massacre: “A sustained and widespread massacre of Filipino civilians followed. Food and trade to Samar were cut off, intended to starve the revolutionaries into submission. Smith’s strategy on Samar involved widespread destruction to force the inhabitants to stop supporting the guerrillas and turn to the Americans from fear and starvation. He used his troops in sweeps of the interior in search for guerrilla bands and in attempts to capture Philippine General Vicente Lukbán, but he did nothing to prevent contact between the guerrillas and the townspeople. American columns marched across the island, destroying homes and shooting people and draft animals.”

“The exact number of Filipino civilians killed by US troops will never be known.

Littleton Waller, in a report, stated that over an 11-day period, his men burned 255 dwellings, shot 13 carabaos and killed 39 people An exhaustive research made by a British writer in the 1990s put the figure at about 2,500 dead; Filipino historians believe it to be around 50,000.”

On Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2018, Babe Romualdez joined US Ambassador Sung

Kim and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, together with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in welcoming the bells when they arrived at Villamor Air Base. The bells were flown home in a US Air Force C-130 plane named “Spirit of MacArthur” that came from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Southeast Asia Joseph Felter and INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Philip Davidson and Colonel Leo Leibrich of the Pentagon were also in attendance.

On Nov. 14, 2018, Secretary Mattis told the men in uniform in Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, it was time to move on from that dark chapter in 1901. “History teaches us that nations with allies thrive.

History also teaches us that all wars end.

In returning the bells of Balangiga to our ally and our friend, the Philippines, we’ve picked up our generation’s responsibility to keep the respect between our peoples,” he said.

In his PhilStar column, Ambassador Babe related: “It was certainly opportune that at this significant chapter in the shared history of the United States and the Philippines, the two men at the helm of the Defense portfolios in their respective governments happened to be James Mattis and Delfin Lorenzana. Undoubtedly, the return of the Balangiga bells marks a new era in the relationship between the two nations. As our friend Ambassador Kim said during the handover ceremony in Villamor Air Base, the return of the bells “underscores the enduring friendship between our countries, our shared values, and shared sacrifices.”

Secretary Lorenzana also said, it was a time for “new beginnings, renewed friendships, and a stronger brotherhood.”

what federalism is about.

People are indifferent to it, actually.

It would be in the interest of the administration to NOT make it an issue in the 2018 polls. The bottom line is, it is not yet time for the country to make a leap into the unknown.

People should be educated and informed about what federalism is about. As it is, there are now fears that federalism can lead to separatism. We are

biznewsasia@gmail.com an archipelago composed of people with different dialects, culture and traditions.

Aside from this, the Philippines has other basic problems to attend to: Poverty, joblessness and rising prices.

First things first, Santa Banana! *** I congratulate SM for being in business for 60 years. I also commend its founder Henry Sy Sr. and his children for making SM a by-word for

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BACK in the metropolis for the holidays, one is assailed by gridlock on the streets. Understandable because it’s the season for parties and shopping, but it always gets worse each year.

There are simply far too many vehicles and far too many people who have to commute from here and there. The woeful neglect of public transportation systems has taken its toll, and as hard as they try, transportation officials cannot do wonders within a few years.

I have always written in this space, and maintain the same view up to now, that government has to make hard decisions, and the first such decision is to build a national government center outside the Metro Manila area.

A massive project like that will take years to fulfill, but the decision to move out must be done now. And only a president like Rodrigo Roa Duterte, armed with an iron will, can do it.

With the former air force base of the Americans now being developed into a modern aerotropolis, Clark would be the most logical site for a new national government center. The basic infrastructure is already there, with proximity to the international airport being the top consideration. It would be similar to Washington D.C.’s National Airport in the city proper and the Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Whether we build a new airport for the commercial and financial center which is Metro Manila or maintain the current Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport would be the one most proximate to the seat of government.

In the vicinity of Clark is the SCTEX and NLEX which will soon be accessible directly to the southern Luzon corridor through the connector road to SLEX and the NAIA. Then there is proximity to a major seaport, Subic, which is less than an hour away from Clark.

A rail system is already programmed to connect Clark to NCR as well as to Subic. Linked to the subway that will soon be built connecting Quezon City to Taguig, that should be enough to make the national government center near enough to NCR which we can retain as commercial and financial center.

How many people, after all, transact with national government agencies directly? Very few. We have regional centers, provincial offices as well where there are courts of justice, license-granting offices such as the LTO, and respective LGUs which is where the average Filipino transacts with anyway.

Various countries separated their national government center from congested commercial capitals in the past, all with great success. Brasilia in the late fifties; Ankara in Turkey from Istanbul; Ottawa in Canada and Canberra in Australia; Islamabad instead of Karachi in Pakistan; even Putrajaya instead of Kuala Lumpur for Malaysia. Why even Myanmar, so many notches less developed than the Philippines, recently transferred the capital from Yangon to Naypyitaw, five hours by land away.

A standup...

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Philippines Catriona Gray who was recently crowned Miss Universe.

“While I’m happy for Catriona winning and making every Filipino proud, I do not agree with her view on the use of marijuana even in moderation. Its recreational use is only a step away from trying the more serious illegal drugs.” He said even for medical purposes, modern medicine has come up with new drugs to take instead of the addictive marijuana.

Why did Atienza opt to stay on as party-list representative instead of

most households. Imagine there are now 71 SM stores all over the Philippines and four SM outlets in China!

I happen to know how SM started.

Sy was a young man who sold export surpluses from Boston on Carriedo Street. The first SM was at the corner of Avenida Rizal and Plaza Goiti.

SM stood for the initials of Sy’s best friend, Senen Mendiola. Foreigners were not allowed to do retail.

The recent good news about how BCDA and CDA are transforming the former Clark Air Base into a modern metropolis with a Green City as centerpiece, and a privately-run and managed New International Airport within the term of President Duterte should give all of us confidence that transferring the seat of government there would be ideal and cost-effective.

NCR will prosper even without the seat of government here. New York did not wither when L’Enfant planned and the federal government built Washington D.C. Ditto for Sydney, or Toronto, Karachi or Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Kuala Lumpur thrives even if Mahathir presides in Putrajaya.

As for the fear that many government employees will be displaced, attrition should take care of that. Many of those who have houses in the NCR area are due for retirement anyway, and earlier retirement could be enhanced. It would also be cheaper to build homes in the Pampanga-Tarlac area where younger civil servants can still find real estate quite affordable.

Some people were asked to give up their seats for some ‘VIPs.’

*** That news item about some bishops and priests being barred by so-called Presidential Management staff from the Balangiga Plaza before the President arrived may or may not have happened.

An American who was there as part of the US-Philippine Friendship Society that helped in lobbying for the return of the bells said he did not notice anything like the papers said. The bishops were visible in the VIP section, he told this writer.

But then again, it is possible that the PMS staffer did not know his protocol properly. In the Villamor Air Force Base where the bells were unloaded from the US military plane that brought the bells back home, someone I know, along with others, were rudely “banished” from where they were already seated, because the section was reserved for VIPs. The VIPs happened to be congressmen, and some of those barred from the VIP section were former diplomats who worked tirelessly in the past to have the bells brought back to our country. One of them was the Philippine Ambassador to the US when the Philippine government first made an earnest effort to get the bells back, during the time of Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.

Ambassador Raul Ch. Rabe, who is our corporate secretary, had to cut short an official trip in Taiwan, boarded an early morning flight Tuesday the eleventh of December to get to Villamor on time for the arrival. He was personally asked by Pres. FVR to be his personal representative in the ceremonies, as the former president was indisposed.

He was bumped off from his seat to give way to Secretary Ben Diokno’s “friends,” our dearly beloved congressmen.

Oh well. making a return run as mayor of Manila? He replied that he could serve the country’s interest better if he is on a national level as member of the House considering the issues currently being pushed in the lower chamber. This is where it all starts; we have to head them off before these important issues reach the Senate or go into referendum whose results could still be manipulated by the powers-that-be.

A veteran of the parliament of the streets during the Marcos martial law years, Atienza vowed to take to streets again if only to be on the side of the people.

And that is why we the people need someone like Lito Atienza at the House of Representatives.

Sy is a good friend. When he opened SM Makati, I used to have coffee with him at Elysse Cafe´. He told me he wanted to have an SM in every nook of the country. And he did it!

He may be the richest Filipino but he certainly does not forget his friends.

Thank you Henry and Merry Christmas to the family. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

News

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lawmakers support Angkas riders

IT’S CHRISTMAS. Members of the Manila Police District Command distribute Christmas gifts to indigent children roaming the vicinity of bayside Luneta Park in Manila on Tuesday with only six days to Christmas Eve. Norman Cruz

New bonus awaits gov’t employees, says DBM

By Nat Mariano ANOTHER round of Christmas bonus awaits government employees as 1,207 government workers’ unions are qualified to negotiate and receive up to a P25,000 cash incentive for each member through the Collective Negotiation Agreement, the Department of Budget and Management said Tuesday.

The DBM clarified that unions from national government agencies, local government units, state universities, and colleges, and government-owned and -controlled companies and corporations, were qualified to the CNA. According to the DBM, both managerial and rank-and-file employees of agencies with approved and successfully implemented CNAs might receive the said incentive, adding that agencies, LGUs, SUCs, and GOCCs had until Jan. 31, 2019, to submit their report to the DBM. The department, however, clarified that it had yet to estimate the complete quantity of government agencies and employees that applied for the said CNA incentive.

Last month, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the incentive would be available to both management and rank-and-file employees provided that the agency met the qualifications under the DBM’s circular.

“A CNA incentive may be granted to both management and rank-and-file employees with approved and successfully implemented CNAs,” he said.

“The CNA is a recognition of the worker’s efforts in accomplishing performance targets at a lesser cost, and in attaining more efficient and viable operations through cost-cutting measures and systems improvements,” he added.

He stressed that the incentive amount government employees would get was not fixed, considering that the funds would depend on the amount of money saved from cost-cutting measures of the agency.

Budget Circular No. 2018-5 states that employees are entitled to the benefit from the CNA initiative as civilian personnel― regular, contractual, or casual―rendering services full-time or part-time in state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, local water districts, and local government units, whether covered by the Republic Act No. 6758 or the Salary Standardization Law or not.

Sandiganbayan convicts NV mayor of malversation

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Sandiganbayan has meted out up to 22 years of imprisonment on a mayor in Nueva Vizcaya for graft and malversation.

Mayor Jerry Pasigian of Alfonso Castañeda was found guilty of purchasing a vehicle in 2009 in an anomalous manner.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division sentenced Pasigian to six to 15 years of imprisonment for graft, and four to seven years for malversation.

Pasigian was likewise ordered to pay P453,214.19, the depreciated value of

the vehicle and disqualified from public office.

Associate Justice Maryann CorpusMañalac wrote the decision that was promulgated on Dec. 6. Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, the division chairman, and Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega concurred.

Court records show that Pasigian purchased a model 2003 Nissan Patrol sports utility vehicle for P1.269 million without public bidding.

The Court said it was “highly irregular” for Pasigian to sign the purchase documents, including the specifications of the SUV, to facilitate the direct contracting purchase from a certain Gilbert Arellano.

“Evident is accused’s partiality to-

2 Subic councilors wounded in an ambush Monday night

By Francisco Tuyay TWO incumbent municipal councilors of Subic, Zambales were wounded in an ambush by unidentified gunmen Monday night.

Chief Supt. Joel Coronel, Central Luzon Police director, identified the victims as Roberto Delgado and Elizalde Rocafor.

Coronel, in his report, said the ambush took place along the national highway in Purok 1, Sitio Samat, Barangay Siminublan, San Narciso town at about 6 p.m.

He said the two councilors were on board a Toyota Fortuner and, while traversing the road network, were fired upon.

Coronel, quoting witnesses, said the suspects on board a red vehicle without license plate were seen tailing the victim’s vehicle and, upon reaching the place, overtook them and fired at them.

Both councilors sustained gunshot wounds and were immediately brought to hospital where they were reported already in stable condition.

Coronel vowed to identify and locate the culprits.

“We are looking into all angles to establish possible motives and we will leave no stone unturned to get into the bottom of this case,” Coronel said.

He assured the public as well as the victim’s families “of our total commitment to ensure immediate resolution of the case.”

The latest ambush came barely two days after the failed ambushtry on Bacolod City councilor Ricardo Tan and his wife Anita last Saturday in Purok Tagaytay, Barangay Alangilan at about 5:40 p.m.

Last October, aspirant councilor Allan Joson, 42 of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija was gunned down by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

Joson was standing along the street few meters away from his residence when unidentified suspect on board an orange Yamaha Mio motorcycle shot the victim.

INDIGENOUS BAGS. An Antique resident inspects a native bag during the opening of the Philippine Harvest on Sunday in San Jose de Buenavista in Antique. Teddy Pelaez

DOLE suspends inspection this Yuletide

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment suspended the inspections on establishments in an effort to avoid “temptations” that may turn the gift-giving season into a venue for corruption.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III directed all the DOLE regional offices to suspend all labor inspection activities in their areas of jurisdiction from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15, 2019.

“It is our duty to ensure the continued effectiveness of DOLE’s enforcement of labor laws and standards and uphold the integrity of our labor in-

wards Gilbert Arellano, the owner of the vehicle purchased, since it was only him who could possibly supply the vehicle intended to be purchased to the exclusion of other prospective bidders who may have offered an equivalent item at terms more advantageous to the municipality,” the court said.

Pasigian claimed that direct contracting could be an alternative mode under the Procurement Law. But the court said records showed the purchase is “bereft of any showing that the purchase” falls under the conditions allowed by that law.

The Sandiganbayan also said Pasigian “showed bad faith” when he registered the government vehicle under his name and later attempted to sell it to a certain Be Polig.

spection activities, specially this season with heightened chances of bribery and suspicions,” Bello said.

The period of suspension will be utilized for the disposition of all pending Labor Standards cases and preparation of the department’s labor laws compliance monitoring program next year.

However, complaint inspections, technical safety inspections, and Occupational Safety and Health Standards investigations are not covered by the suspension, as well as the urgent inspections of establishments directed by the labor secretary.

Also, Bello assured of consolidated results of the labor inspections by the

end of the year as all the regional directors are expected to upload the results of their inspections activities in the Management Information System to further track and improve the labor laws compliance monitoring program for 2019.

As of September 2018, DOLE’s campaign against illegal forms of contractualization has so far netted 342,467 regularized workers of which 254,452 workers were voluntarily regularized by their employers while 88,015 workers were regularized through inspection.

DOLE has also inspected 134,263 establishments nationwide covering 8.306 million.

LAWMAKERS on Tuesday expressed support for ride-hailing app Angkas and its rider-partners after the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order allowing the LTFRB to apprehend Angkas riders who are caught ferrying customers.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, the chairman of the Congressional Committee on Metro Manila Development, said, “We hope that the Supreme Court will realize that the issuance of the TRO that effectively prevents Angkas to operate will greatly affect the Filipino commuters, especially considering that thousands of commuters direly need the service during the holiday season. “ Castelo earlier backed what he described as “efficient transport services” for Filipinos in Congress and has been in support of moves to regulate the ridehailing service considering the many mass transport issues in the country.

“Angkas provided an alternative to commuters, addressing a gap by the public transportation system. It has proven to be an affordable, reliable, and safe mode of transportation,” Castelo said.

Last June, after a congressional hearing that tackled local mass transportation issues, Castelo gave a directive to the LTFRB and the DOTr to include motorcycle taxis in their previous Department Order that allowed private four-wheeled vehicles to ferry passengers and operate under ride-hailing apps. The two agencies ignored the Congressional directive.

Manila Rep. Cristal Bagatsing, for her part, said the SC’s TRO deprived over 25,000 motorcycle riders of a decent livelihood and deprived thousands of commuters of what could possibly be the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation available in the busy city streets― one that is monitored, safe and provides liability insurance.

“The main issue here is that the current law does not allow for motorcycles to ferry passengers. Passed way back in 1964, that law is over half a century old, 54 years to be exact, and sorely needs to be repealed or amended,” Bagatsing, member for the majority bloc of the House committee on transportation, said. Maricel V. Cruz

PAO maintains Santillan tortured

By Rio N. Araja THE Public Attorney’s Office on Tuesday maintained Richard Santillan, the bodyguard of ex-Biliran Rep. Glen Chong, was tortured in a supposed shootout last Dec. 10 in Cainta, Rizal.

At a news conference, Dr. Erwin Erfe, a PAO forensic, said Santillan sustained 63 injuries due to 18 gunshots and stabbing.

“The autopsy on the body of Santillan was the longest examination we have ever done. We started at 4:38 p.m. last Monday and ended at almost 2 a.m. the following day,” he told reporters.

“Santillan was stabbed and tortured.

He was already dead when he was shot.

When autopsied, we observed no tissue reaction,” he said.

Chong, an election reform lawyer, slammed the Philippine National Police for allegedly hiding the documents of the Highway Patrol Group’s operation that led to the killing of Santillan and a companion.

In a Dec. 17 letter to PAO chief Persida Acosta, Santillan’s wife, Jeanette, requested a post-mortem examination of her husband’s cadaver “so that we will know the truth and seek justice in accordance with law.”

A blotter from the Cainta police station showed operatives of the HPGRizal were conducting a spot operation in Barangay San Andres, Cainta on Dec. 10 at around 1 a.m. when they spotted a Toyota Fortuner (NOF-845).

Police officers claimed the van’s passengers failed to present any registration paper, prompting them to order the passengers to get off, but the driver commandeered the vehicle and sped off toward Westbank Floodway to Taytay.

GSIS opens loan condonation program GSIS started accepting applications on Dec. 18 for its one-time condonation and restructuring program from members who are already out of government service to settle their outstanding loan balances in full or in part.

The program is dubbed GSIS Program for Restructuring and Repayment of Debts (GSIS-PRRD).

“GSIS wants to give its former members a relief in paying penalties, as well as a chance to restructure their loans and pay the remaining balance through installment,” GSIS president and general manager Jesus Clint Aranas said in a press statement.

Under the program, GSIS will condone all unpaid penalties on the member’s outstanding balance, with the remaining bal-

ance restructured at an interest rate of 10 percent per annum compounded annually.

The service loans covered by the GSIS-PRRD are Salary Loan, Restructured Salary Loan, Enhanced Salary Loan, Emergency Loan Assistance, Summer One-Month Salary Loan, Member’s Cash Advance/eCard Cash Advance/ eCard Plus Cash Advance, Conso-Loan, Emergency Loan, Home Emergency Loan Program (HELP); Study Now, Pay Later and Fly PAL, Pay Later loans (did not avail of the condonation program in 2014); Education Assistance Loan (did not avail of EAL II), Stock Purchase Loan (did not avail of the condonation program in 2013); Policy Loan; and the GSIS Financial Assistance Loan (for DepEd Personnel).

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Camaraderie through sports INTERNATIONAL Elevator and Equipment, Inc. continues to promote camaraderie in its network through the annual IEE-Mitsubishi Electric Invitational Basketball Tournament that was recently held at the Cuneta Astrodome.

IEE is the local affiliate of Mitsubishi Electric and has handled the design, sales, installation, and maintenance of the global industrial and commercial equipment leader’s elevators, escalators, air conditioning, ventilation, and cooling technologies in the Philippines since 1969.

This year’s tournament saw 23 teams composed of engineers, contractors, managers, installers, and architects and other employees of IEE and its business partners. The annual sporting event began in 2013 and has ever since strengthened camaraderie among IEE’s network and promoted a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Henry Bayonas, Assistant Vice President for Service Department at IEE’s Elevator and Escalator Division and Deputy Sports Director, explained that the tournament encouraged interaction among employees from different departments and organizations, thereby contributing to healthier relationships and work-

life balance.

Junrey Jovero, Mechanical Engineering Department Head of Century Properties, affirmed that the basketball league has become an event to look forward to as it served as a venue to meet and establish better communications with counterparts from other companies.

Besting it out in the championship league were the IEE team versus Century Properties, and RMDA Architects versus IGB Engineering. IEE and IGB Engineering emerged as overall champions in this year’s tournament.

IGB Engineeringtook home a trophy, P15,000 and 1 HP Wall Mounted Inverter Aircon.

The other teams that have played in the games come from Robinsons Land Corporation, Megaworld Corporation, RTM Mechanical Engineering & Services, Supercool Air Conditioning Center, Canriv Corporation, Casas & Architects, A.F. Navarrete & Partners, TCGI Engineers, Isagani M. Martinez Consulting Engineer, L.R. Punsalan & Associates, RJ Calpo & Company, Asya Design, ELS Consultancy & Management Inc., WSP Manila, Inc, W.V. Coscolluela & Associates.

IEE leaders graced the event namely Melecio B. Vicencio (left), IEE Vice President; Ramoncito A. Ocampo (second from left), IEE President; and Henry E. Bayonas (right), Assistant Vice President (EE Service) and Deputy Sports Director.

IM Bersamina boosts chess bid

Pascual, 2 others share golf honors

F

ILIPINO International Master Paulo Bersamina trounced countryman John Merill Jacutina to join Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and IM Ricky de Guzman inside the Top 20 after the eighth and penultimate round of the 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships (Second Manny Pacquiao Cup) Monday night.

THEODY Pascual played true to form and took the men’s crown while Bobby Café and Seon Yeob Bae bagged the seniors’ and ladies diadems in the Charity Chairman’s Cup at the Manila Southwoods’ Legends and Masters courses in Carmona, Cavite recently.

Pascual, the current club champion, shot 39 points equivalent to a net two-under 70 while Café assembled a 33 Seon turned in a 30 as they took the top honors in the annual event sponsored by Agrexplore/Briduen and Turf Co. (Platinum) and backed by Nutranta (gold) and Klio International (silver) and hole sponsors Mit Air Sales, J-Ten Sports and Club Golfcarts.ph.

Sharing the spotlight are grand raffle prize winners Jun Ventura, who drove home a Mirage G4 GLS CVT Matic Sedan from Mitsubishi Motors and Diamond Motors, and Jun Yupiton, who won a Greek cruise for seven nights with airfare for two from Royal Caribbean and Baron Travel.

Other winners were Jordan Mamaril (Men’s 1), Robert Banatin (Men’s 2), Ramon Sison (Men’s 3), Art Caronongan (Men’s 4), Niels Ole Jeppesen (Seniors 1), Poch Hernandez (Seniors 2), Cesar Igual (Seniors 3), Jojo Lee (Seniors 4), Yong Mi Kim (Ladies 1), Tess Staub (Ladies 2), Eda Yupitun (Ladies 3) and Raymond Bunquin (Sponsors/Guests).

Yang Seop Lee, Richie Santos, Richard Emerson Chua, Dan Reyes, Rene Samonte, Woong Jeon, Cezar Peralejo, Danny Paragas, Yun Haeng Cho, Arlette Dizon, Angela Yazaki and Arnel Paras were runners up in the event supported by BDO, Camp John Hay GC, Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose Law Office, Coffee Stains, Club Leisure, Escala Tagaytay, Federal Maintenance, Forest Hills,, G&W Club Shares, GGA Club Shares, Golden Oats, Golforce, Greens ‘n Turf, Le Chef, Southwoods Manor, Marriot Hotel, Minerva Sales, MRT DevCo, Okada, PMS, RCNA, Resorts World, Smart Probe, Solid Global Ventures, Toto Asia Oceana and Warbird Security.

The win sent the 20-year-old Bersamina, who has played in the World Chess Olympiad twice despite his age, into a 14-chesser logjam at 17th place with 4.5 points apiece, while breathing some life to his hope of finishing inside the Top 10.

Bersamina was tackling Iran’s

Grandmaster Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, who drew with the Philippines’ GM John Paul Gomez, in the final round at press time and another victory would give the former a chance to accomplish the feat in this tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, headed by

Cong. Butch Pichay and funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The 58-year-old de Guzman was part of that group with Pascua and Gomez after splitting the point with China’s IM Xu Yi. Gomez was battling former women’s world champion GM Tan Zhongyi of China, while De Guzman GM Abhimanyu Puranik of India.

In the women’s division, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda shocked 2018 Vietnam Individual Championship titlist WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram to move on the verge of a Top 10 finish.

Fronda, 24, has caught up with

Omiping stars as Responders whip Kamao Cocolife Tigers

Reynaldo Malaga of Senate fakes his Judiciary defender during their UNTV Cup game held recently at the Meralco gym in Pasig City. The Senate Defenders won, 64-63, to finish the elims with a 6-3 mark.

FORMER University of the East star Olan Omiping scored 17 of his 25 points in the payoff period as Philippine National Police scored an 81-73 come-from-behind win over Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission to boost its bid for an outright semis berth in the 7th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Meralco gym in Pasig City.

The PNP Responders started slow, trailing the Kamao in the first three quarters before the wily Omiping took matters into his own hands, outscoring the entire Kamao side with variety of shots in leading the team to its fifth straight win and seventh overall in 9 games.a All told, the Responders tallied 30 points in the fourth, while holding the Kamao to just 13 points to put themselves in a position of clinching one of two outright semis berths.

The Kamao slipped to 6-2, their own bid for an automatic semis

berth now depends in their game against league-leading Armed Forces of the Philippines next year.

The Cavaliers, backstopped by former Letran star Boyet Bautista and ABL veteran Harold Sta. Cruz, are sporting a 7-1 card in the event offering P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team.

Malacañang must beat AFP by 11 points or more to advance outright to the semis of the event organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon for public servants.

Meanwhile, defending champion Senate outlasted Judiciary, 64-63, thanks to the efforts of Harly Ng and Reynaldo Malaga Jr. Ng and Malaga scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, to help the Defenders finish the second round with a 6-3 mark. Garri Sevilla and former PBA player Jeff Sanders combined for 21 points for the Defenders of coach Mike Fermin.

The league takes a break starting this week and resumes on Jan. 6.

Chiang Kai Shek, San Beda, NU defeat rivals CHIANG Kai Shek College, San Beda University and National University beat their rivals in contrasting fashions and topped their respective group elims in the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship ‘Rain or Shine Cup’ on Monday at the SGS gym in Quezon City.

The Chiang Kai Shek Blue Dragons were merciless as they overpowered longtime rivals Xavier School Golden Stallions, 84-49, to top Group D elims, while the San Beda Red Cubs outlasted the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 74-66, in their encounter for Group B top seed.

Not to be outdone, the NU Bullpups, playing minus the 6’7” Carl Tamayo for the second straight day, outsteadied

WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, the country’s highest ranked woman chesser, in that 10-player pack with 4.5 points at No. 11 and could land a place inside the top 10 with a triumph in the last round.

Fronda was clashing with China’s IM Guo Qi while Frayna, who was forced to a standoff by WFM Dita Karenza of Indonesia, was playing WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam.

India’s IM Ruot Padmini drew with Vietnam’s IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen to cling to the lead with 6.5 points, or half a point atop closest pursuer WGM Gong Qianyun of Singapore, who defeated China’s WGM Wang Jue.

Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 73-63, to emerge Group A topnotcher.

Completing the quarterfinal cast in the event presented by Rain or Shine and backed by Poly Gloss, Freego, Dickies Underwear, Hapee Toothepaste, IronCon Builders, MEC Networks, Blackwater Sports, and Che’Lu Bar and Grill was University of Santo Tomas.

Drawing 30 points from point-guard Mark Nonoy, the Tiger Cubs demolished the Hope Christian HS dribblers, 77-63, in the event also backed Molten, by Masumax Food Supplement, Cherrylume, SUMO GI Sheets, Molten and Choi Garden .

Playing for the first time since their storied rivalry in the Tiong Lian league,

the Blue Dragons used their height and heft advantage to outplay the Golden Stallions, 24-6, in the second quarter to pull away for good.

John Michael Urmeneta and Jan Carl Luciano starred for the Blue Dragons as they finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Miguel Tan, who finished with 23 points and 20 boards in the team’s82-49 win over Mapua University, was held to one free throw—no thanks to CKSC’s pressure defense.

Batang Gilas veteran Gerry Abadiano played for a little over 13 minutes only but finished with a team-high 15 points while six other teammates added five points or more in another show of balanced attack.

Gerry Abadiano scored 15 points in just a little over 13 of action as National University beat Jose Rizal University,73-63, in the PSSBC ROS Cup on Monday at the SGS gym in Quezon City. (Courtesy of Hazel Siy)

Super Sonic, Lady Mischief score big wins THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE IT was an action-packed weekend of racing last Dec. 15 at 16 at the Philippine Racing Club, Inc.’s Santa Ana Park with the staging there of the 19th Philtobo Grand Championships.

The event, put on annually by the Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization, provides participants with opportunities to run elite runners in bigmoney races.

All 10 races on Saturday were ratingsbased handicapping system races and had added prizes with additional prize money

for winning Philtobo members. The 12 races on Sunday were a mix of trophy races with added prizes and stakes races with guaranteed prizes.

Sunday kicked off with the 3rd leg of the Philracom 3YO Open Challenge as the first race. Five runners competed over 2,000 meters, with the favorite Pride of Laguna bagging first place and a purse of P900,000.

The bay filly won by two lengths with a time of 2:04.8 Pride of Laguna is owned by Manny Santos, trained by RC Hipolito, and was ridden by jockey JD Juco. 2nd Viva Morena, 3rd ILove Jane, 4th Born in April.

In Race 4, the SC Stockfarm, Inc. 2YO Stakes Race, the John Alvin Guce-guided Royal Bell prevailed by half-a-length and clocked 1:19 over 1,300 meters. The bay colt earned P300,000 for owner Bell Racing Stable. Trainer is Donny Sordan. 2nd Toy for the Bigboy, 3rd Serafina, 4th Back to Original.

Race 6 was the Philracom Chairman’s Cup, with this year’s edition in honor of past chairman Benedicto K. Katigbak. Jesse Guce steered the favorite, Mayor Sandy Javier’s Supersonic, to a two-length win over Box Office in the 2,000 meter race. The 3YO bay colt stopped the clock at 2:04.8 and earned P1.2 million. Trainer is Ruben S. Tupas. 3rd Critical Moments, 4th Sheer.

Race 9 was the Philtobo-Philracom Juvenile Championships, won by the favorite Lady Mischief by a length over Full of Grace. The time for the mile race was 1:41.

3rd Mood Swing (coupled entry of Lady Mischief), 4th Cinderella. Lady Mischief, owned by SC Stockfarm, trained by CM Vicente, and ridden by Kelvin Abobo, earned P1.8 million for its effort.

Philtobo’s major sponsors were Philippine Racing Commission and PRCI. Other sponsors were PAGCOR, Bingson Tecson, SC

Stockfarm, lawyer Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II’s Dos Ranchos Jofero, racing goods supplier ACGS, JS Rabano Construction and Supply, and lawyer Narcisco Morales.

Congratulations to Philtobo’s officers and members for another successful championships event! *** The remaining big races for the year are the Philracom 5th leg 4YO and Older Stakes at Metro Turf on Dec. 23, and the Philracom Juvenile Championship on Dec. 31.

To all the readers of THW, racing fans, and sports enthusiasts, have yourself a happy Christmas, and may your holidays be merry and bright! *** Dr. Ortuoste has been a member of the racing community for over 20 years. FB: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @drhoarsewhsprr, @DrJennyO

overwhelm Bacoor Strikers DAVAO Cocolife Tigers’ slotman Mark Yee stayed consistent from start to finish to help his team to another sterling victory against home team Bacoor Strikers, 6950, in the elimination round of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup recently at Strike Gym in Bacoor City.

The former PBA veteran led all scorers with 17 points, while hauling 11 rebounds for another impressive double-double performance.

Journeyman Bonbon Custodio, returning from a back injury, Cebuano star Billy Robles, who has recovered from tendinitis and ex-pro Leo Najorda joined hands to carry the Tigers, owned

by Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental LGU and backed by Cocolife president Elmo Nobleza, FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan, to their 14th win in 17 outings.

The Strikers tried to narrow the gap in the second half, inspired by the presence of Sen. Bong Revilla as Randy Acidre, Chad Alonzo and Gab Banal had their moments, but their efforts were not enough to stop the Tigers’ fury in offense and defense that put the Mindanao team on top of south division in the league organized by Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

“Our defense won the game for us. Our bench players also made their presence felt, this is a team effort,” said Davao Cocolife team manager Ray Alao.

PFL to add new squads THE Philippine Football League is getting ready to accept new teams.

PFL commissioner Bernie Sumayao said this following the withdrawal of the Davao FC Aguilas last week.

“I have been informed about the withdrawal of the Davao Aguilas, and have received it with a heavy heart. When an important team departs the league, it is always a cause of concern. However, we have also been approached by a number of teams that have expressed strong interest in joining the PPL,” said Sumayao.

He said they are currently evaluating the merits of each applicant, and the Aguilas’ pullout has left them with five teams.

The league will also be rebranded into the Philippine Premier League during the 2019 season.

The league needs to take very good care and listen intently to the concerns of its stakeholders – the Federation, the owners of the teams, the players, and most importantly, the fans,” said Sumayao.

He said he believes that the fans are the fuel that drives the engine.

“Without the fans, even the most organized league will never survive,” Sumayao went on. Peter Atencio

Sports A8 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

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

Hotshots gun for title: Parks shipped to Meralco

By Jeric Lopez

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (center) attends the 40th birthday celebration of boxer Manny Pacquiao (3rd from left) in General Santos City on the southern island of Mindanao. Pacquiao said he is a “stronger and faster” fighter as he threw a lavish party on Monday to mark his 40th birthday ahead of his world title defense against Adrien Broner of the US. AFP

Pacman at 40: Stronger, faster G

ENERAL SANTOS—Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao said he is “stronger and faster” than ever ahead of his world title defense as he threw a lavish party with thousands of guests and a mass giveaway to mark his 40th birthday.

classes, has continued fighting after reversing a decision to retire in 2016.

The rags-to-riches Pacquiao, who quit school and hawked food in the streets and later took up boxing in his teens to support his mother and his younger siblings, is also an elected Philippine senator.

“Boxing is my passion and public service is my mission,” he said, wearing a dark suit and fedora hat.

The Filipino won his last title by stopping Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in July at Kuala Lumpur.

Speculation remains high that the Broner bout could be a warm-up for a sequel to 2015’s “Fight of the Century”, that Pacquiao lost to undefeated Floyd Mayweather on points.

A sedan and two pickup trucks as

well as dozens of smaller prizes, like refrigerators, were raffled off at the party, which included a section that was open to the general public.

Entertainers put on a shadow play recounting the rise of the “people’s champ” from abject poverty to becoming a multi-millionaire who doled out free housing to the poor and visited sick people in hospital.

Rock bands and gospel singers provided the music, children danced, and Pacquiao’s wife, Jinky, serenaded him with a ballad.

“We are so thankful. He never forgets to help us, his poor constituents,” said Sarah Bagas, a middle-aged street sweeper who lined up for her raffle ticket and food stub in mid-morning. AFP

CAN Magnolia finally end its title drought?

The Hotshots certainly hope so as they shoot for the championship when they look to take out Alaska in the resumption of their best-of-seven championship showdown in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Leading 3-2 and only a game away from the title, Magnolia looks to end it in Game 6, even as the Aces aim on forcing a rubber match in their 7 p.m. encounter at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City today.

The reason why the Hotshots have taken charge is Best Player of the Conference Paul Lee. In an intense Game 5 battle with the series lead on the line, Lee knocked down the game-winning jumper with under a second left to lift Magnolia to a pulsating 79-78 squeaker over the Aces.

Now, the Hotshots need only one more to win their first title since 2014.

“This moment is what the Finals are all about. We have the lead now and we’re expecting Game 6 to be as tough as the last one,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero. “It’s really all about heart now. I hope we can finish it.”

Despite being down, Alaska does not certainly feel that it is already out.

“Game 7? We’ll certainly try to do that,” said Aces coach Alex Compton.

Should Alaska win, Game 7 will be scheduled this Friday.

Meanwhile, Blackwater is sending Bobby Ray Parks, the overall no. 2 pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft, to Meralco in a three-team deal with TNT, with Baser Amer bound for the KaTropa, and Jericho Cruz and newly acquired TNT guard Brian Heruela heading to the Elite.

A car, pickup trucks and appliances were raffled off and President Rodrigo Duterte and celebrities were among the well-wishers at the all-night event, held at a sprawling shopping mall in his home city of General Santos.

“I feel stronger and faster, and by God’s grace I am wiser at 40, feeling 25,” Pacquiao said, making clear he’s looking forward to facing American Adrien Broner next month.

“I believe the best is yet to come. You have not yet seen the best of Manny Pacquiao,” he added.

The Filipino southpaw, 60-7 with two draws and 39 knockouts in a career that began in 1995, is to stake his World Boxing Association’s regular welterweight crown against Broner on January 19 in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, winner of an unprecedented eight world titles in as many weight

SEAG delegates get free airfare from PH Airlines

Super Sonic reigns supreme in Chairman’s Cup race

By Peter Atencio DELEGATES flying to the Philippines for the coming 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be getting free plane tickets when they come in and out of Manila.

Athletes, coaches and officials will be given a plane ride though Philippine Airlines, which is sponsoring $2-million worth of airfare.

Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who heads the Sports Department of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, said this was made possible after PAL came in as a gold sponsor for the games.

“They will come here through PAL and flights that have been sponsored and booked from where they came from in the region,” said Tolentino.

Aside from the gold package, organizers have offered three types of packages to sponsors, with $3 million for platinum and $500,000 for silver.

The games’ opening ceremony, which is expected to have a festive atmosphere, is set to be on Nov. 30 at the 60,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Organizers have now plunged into a series of meetings to tackle logistics, transportation, the equipment and the billeting at the Athletes’ Village at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac and other venues in Metro Manila and Bulacan.

The series of deliberations got started following last week’s technical delegation meeting.

So far, at least five events were removed from the calendar of events that will be played.

The removal of five events from three sports disciplines were done after the delegates spent a day doing some fine-tuning on the games’ calendar.

Among those taken out of the list were two events in kurash, one in underwater hockey and another in sambo.

The number of sports disciplines is still at 56, but the number of events is down to 521.

THE duo of multi-titled jockey Jesse B. Guce and Super Sonic reigned supreme in the long 2,000-meter distance as they mastered their elite counterparts in the 2018 Philippine Racing Commission Chairman’s Cup on a windy Sunday afternoon at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

With patience and familiarity on their side, JB Guce and Super Sonic played their cards right with a wellcalculated start, before going full speed in the stretch, leaving the opposition crumbling behind to secure the five-length win in the the P2-million stakes race.

“Noong nakapuwesto na ng maganda, kada po may nararamdaman ako na tatabi sa akin, para lang po hindi ako magipit, hiningan ko ang kabayo ko, kayang-kaya naman po. Pagdating po ng diretso, kinuha ko ang unahan, dinrive ko lang po,” said Guce. “Kilala ko naman po ang kabayo ko, marunong namang sumunod. Ang worry ko lang sa kanya, walang tuneup, at ngayon lang tumakbo dito at baka manibago.”

The win was worth P1,200,000 million for owner Sandy Javier, who also garnered the P70,000 prize as breeder of the winning horse in the race held in

Super Sonic delivers an emphatic win in the Philippine Racing Commission’s Chairman’s Cup at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

honor of the late Philracom Chairman Benedicto Kalaw Katigbak, the “Millenium Transition Chairman,” who was head of the commission from 1998 to 2001.

The former Philracom Chairman’s son Isabelo Katigbak and his wife Uling awarded the prizes and trophies to Super Sonic’s winning connections.

Katigbak also received a Plaque of

Appreciation from Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez honoring his father for his “outstanding leadership, vision and ability as Chairman of the Commission. He exemplified a spirit of professionalism and dedication to the development and growth of the horseracing industry. The inspiring legacy he left behind shall serve for many generations to come.”

Box Office, ridden by Jockey Kevin Abobo and owned by SC Stockfarm, placed runner-up and received P400,000, while Critical Moment (jockey JA Guce, owner Melaine Habla) finished third and got P250,000. The Narciso Morales-owned fourth-placer Sheer, with jockey Val R. Dilema on his reins, pocketed P100,000.

Earlier, jockey JD Juco steered Pride of Laguna with an easy victory to claim the third leg of the 2018 Philracom 3YO Open Challenge Race.

Pride of Laguna needed to play it safe from the start, going behind Viva Morena before taking the lead midway through the race and ran away at the last 110 meters en route to a masterful win.

Pride of Laguna bagged P900,000 for owner Emmanuel Santos, with trophies for its stable, while Viva Morena was worth P337,500 for the second place finish.

Third-placer I Love Jane took home P187,500 and Born In April got P75,000 at fourth spot.

Meanwhile, the racing season concludes with the 3rd leg of the 3YO Open Challenge Series on Dec. 31, also at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

Junior Volcanoes stun Chinese, bag 3rd place in Asia Rugby THE Philippine Junior Volcanoes fought their way to a 33-19 triumph over China for a third-place finish last Friday in the 2018 U19 Division 1 Asia Rugby Championships at the Bang-Bon Stadium in Bangkok.

The Filipinos shattered a 14-all halftime deadlock early following a brilliant set piece that saw Dean Beeton getting a perfectly passed long ball from Matthew Davie as he found the corner as the Philippines toook the lead for the first time after 40 minutes of play with his attack.

Beeton’s heroics gave them a sizeable 24-14 edge, which they tried to hold on till the end.

In the 47th-minute, the Junior Volcanoes struck again with a conversion by Owen Wakeham as the Philippines extended its lead to 26 to 14.

Philippine Rugby Football Union General Manager Jake Letts said it was their best result in the last five years.

“It was a spirited comeback in the first half,

they showed patience and composure. It’s never easy coming back from two tries down.

However, credit to the team, they held strong for the first 35 minutes,” said Jake Letts.

China took a 14-0 lead in the first 18 minutes of the first half.

After that, the Philippines rallied through the attacks of James Ryan and Wakeham, who scored twice to tie the count, 14-all, in the 29:54 mark.

As the Junior Volcanoes ended their international calendar with another successful campaign, they are looking towards another big 2019 season, according to Letts, who added that with the Rugby Sevens in the Southeast Asian Games, earning qualification into the World Series Qualifiers in Hong Kong in April and Olympic Qualifications in November is next.

“The Volcanoes look to set for another competitive calendar for 2019,” said Letts.

Peter Atencio

Mathew Imperial Davie and Marco Wijangco Tan defend for Team Philippines. Thailand Rugby Union

IN BRIEF

Consumers protest cement safeguard duty

LABAN Konsyumer Inc., a consumer protection group, decided to intervene in the moto propio petition filed by the Trade Department for a safeguard duty investigation on imported cement withou any application from local cement manufacturers.

Laban Konsyumer president Victorio Dimagiba said he was considering elevating the said action to the President and the Philippine Competition Commission.

The Bureau of Import Services received the letter of intervention on Sept.

27, 2018.

Dimagiba said cement importers could not commit to the demand of the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects and to private developers for long term supply contracts because of the pending petition for the imposition of safeguard duty.

The imposition of the safeguard duty is detrimental to the consumers and can create a shortage in the supply of cement that can derail private and infrastructure projects and increase retail prices, he said. Othel V. Campos

Business

Salceda: Farm bill to accelerate growth

LEGAZPI CITY―The Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act that President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign shortly is expected to “deliver a huge and immediate impact on the economy, on investments in the countryside and on inclusive growth” from the agriculture sector.

Principally authored by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda in the House, HB 8078 was merged with Senate Bill 1454 and hurdled the legislature’s bicameral conference committee recently. It will remove major restrictions provided under Commonwealth Act No. 141 governing the land patent program, easing up certain prohibitions in granting public farmlands to qualified beneficiaries.

Salceda said the new law would empower qualified farmland beneficiaries to legally manage and improve the land as a viable source of livelihood.

“For a country that has its roots on agriculture it is sad to note that agriculture only contributed 8.5 percent to the gross domestic product in 2017, “ Salceda said.

He and Sen. Richard Gordon, who authored the Senate version, agreed that the new law “is a game-changer.”

ABOITIZ-AGS PARTNERSHIP. Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization, taps AGS, a subsidiary of digital business solutions enabler ePLDT Inc. for the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 to power up its finance and operations.

Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) AGS sales and marketing group head Percival Flores, AGS chief operating officer Dave De Leon, AGS president and ePLDT Group chief operating officer Nerisse Ramos, RAFI president Dominica Chua, chief finance officer Reila Mae Guioguio and chief technology officer Edwin Marfil.

San Miguel poised to bag P23.95-b TPLEx extension

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Public Works Department granted the original proponent status to San Miguel Holdings Corp. for the P23.95-billion extension of Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway to San Juan, La Union.

“It’s original proponent status for the TPLEx extension,”Public Works Secretary Mark Villar told reporters.

As the original proponent, San Miguel Holdings will have the right to match any offer of competing bidder who will participate in the Swiss Challenge for the project.

San Miguel’s unsolicited project involves a 59.4-kilometer four-lane toll road from the exit of TPLEx in Rosario to San Juan. The Rosario section of the expressway is expected to be completed this year, while its Pozorrubio section opened in December 2017.

The extension project would be divided into three segments, with the first segment spanning 18 km from Rosario to Tubao. The second segment will stretch 23 km from Tubao to Naguilian and the last segment will run 18.4 km from Naguilian to San Juan.

San Miguel said the project aimed to promote the development of Northern Luzon and facilitate connectivity to Central Luzon and Metro Manila through a high-

HSBC sees inflation easing to 5.7% as food and fuel prices drop

By Julito G. Rada HONGKONG and Shanghai Banking Corp. expects inflation rate in the Philippines to ease to 5.7 percent in December from 6 percent in November, mirroring the downtrend in food and fuel prices.

“We expect inflation to have peaked at 6.7 percent year-on-year and to continue its gradual decline in December to 5.7 percent,” the bank said in a latest report.

“The deceleration has largely been supply-side driven, reacting to recent declines in food and fuel prices,” it said.

The bank said core prices remained elevated on both a yearly and sequential basis which suggested building demand-side pressures on inflation. It said near-term inflation risks remained tilted to the upside, given a scheduled

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

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Globe secures P5-b loan from China Bank for capital spending

Trina eyes 6 MW of solar rooftops

TRINA Solar, the global leader in total energy solutions, on Tuesday launched its Trinahome solutions in the Philippines with the goal of setting up five to six megawatts of solar rooftop projects next year.

“The launch of Trinahome in the Philippines is in line with the nation’s target of becoming energy self-sufficient and having a cheaper and more reliable source of energy,” said Trina Solar Philippines country manager Junrhey Castro.

Castro said Trinahome is the first ‘plug and play’ residential and commercial solution in the Philippines with warranties backed by an internationally bankable supplier.

“This solution is targeted towards residential and small to medium-sized commercial applications for distributed power generation. With Trinahome, we hope to give Filipinos an option to tap into a clean, sustainable and cheaper energy source,” Castro said.

Trinahome said it was in talks with “distributors” such as housing developers and other partners to install the target capacity by next year amid the anticipated increase in renewable energy demand.

Alena Mae S. Flores

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

increase in excise taxes on Jan. 1, 2019.

HSBC said the Bangko Sentral might increase by another 25 basis points the policy rate to 5 percent in the first quarter of 2019, “as additional excise taxes may add to inflationary pressures and higher inflation expectations.”

The Monetary Board, the policymaking body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, in its last meeting for the year on Dec. 13 decided to keep the policy interest rates steady at 4.75 percent after five successive hikes since May, taking into account the decelerating inflation rate.

The interest rates on the overnight lending and deposit facilities were also kept unchanged.

“There is a quite deceleration in inflation pressures between the Nov. 15 and Dec. 13 meetings,” BSP assistant governor Francisco Dakila said in a news

briefing following the board meeting.

“The board noted that the latest inflation forecasts show a lower path over the policy horizon, with inflation settling within the target band of 2 to 4 percent for 2019 to 2020,” Dakila said.

He said recent headline inflation readings indicated signs of receding price pressures as constraints on food supply continued to ease with the implementation of various non-monetary measures.

The BSP also reduced the inflation forecast for 2018 to 5.2 percent from 5.3 percent, 3.18 percent from 3.5 percent for 2019, and 3.04 percent from 3.3 percent for 2020.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the BSP might opt to cut interest rates by the second quarter next year if inflation continued to decelerate in the coming months.

speed and secured access.

San Miguel-led Private Infra Dev Corp. holds the concession for TPLEx, an 88.85-km, four-lane, high-speed toll road that connects Northern Luzon to Manila. It is designed to integrate with other major toll roads such as North Luzon Expressway and Subic-ClarkTarlac Expressway.

The construction of TPLEx began in 2010 in three phases. The first was completed in April 2014, running from Tarlac City to Carmen, Pangasinan.

The second stretching from Carmen to Urdaneta was completed in December 2014. The third section from Urdaneta to Rosario, La Union is expected to be completed in 2018.

TPLEx reduced travel time from Tarlac City to Gerona from 45 minutes to 10 minutes, benefitting 8,000 vehicles per day.

It also reduced travel time from Tarlac City to Paniqui, Tarlac from one hour to 15 minutes and the travel time from Tarlac to Rosales from two hours to 30 minutes.

It cut travel time from Tarlac to Urdaneta from two hours to 30 minutes and the travel time from Tarlac to Rosario from 3.5 hours to one hour.

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Tuesday it borrowed P5 billion from China Banking Corp. to partially finance its capital expenditures.

The telecom unit of Ayala Corp. said it signed a P5-billon term loan facility with China Bank to partially finance capex and general corporate requirements.

Globe earlier signed a $40-million loan facility with Bank of the Philippine Islands to fund expansion and refinance debts.

The company earlier raised its fullyear capital spending budget to $950 million this year from the original $850 million.

The company allocated P32.5 billion or $618 million for capital expenditures in the first nine months to support the growing subscriber base and address the rapidly changing and rising demand for data.

The massive investment accounted for nearly 32 percent of top line revenues, among the highest in the region, as the company continued to reinvest in its network to improve the quality and experience of its subscribers.

About 78 percent of the total expenditures in the period was for data-related services.

Globe said it was on course to fulfill its commitment to deploy LTE services to 95 percent of cities and municipalities nationwide by the end of 2018 and upgrade its network to support the pilot 5G deployment in 2019.

Globe has a total of 40,522 base stations, with close to 27,000 for 4G to support the service requirements of its customers.

Globe’s mobile subscriber base reached 65.4 million as of end-September 2018, up 10 percent from 59.3 million subscribers reported in the same period last year.

The increase led to mobile data traffic growing by 49 percent from 430 petabytes last year to 641 petabytes in the nine-month period.

Total home broadband subscriber base increased 23 percent to more than 1.5 million, of which around 48 percent were home wireless subscribers.

The company plans to roll out ultrafast internet service to two million homes by 2020.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Cavitex undertakes road widening to expand capacity by 25% in 2019 CAVITEX Infrastructure Corporation on Tuesday inaugurated a road work enhancement to ease traffic congestion south of Metro Manila.

“With vehicular traffic at Cavitex growing, we were determined to finish the flyover facility the soonest as well as advance the works of the Pacific Drive upgrading which was originally included in Phase 2. We saw the need to include the road works at the Pacific Drive since it complements the elevated south-bound lanes and left turn from Cavitex, targeting its completion now that the Holiday season has started,” CIC president Roberto Bontia said.

“We have expected and prepared for the increase of traffic and have desig-

nated traffic marshals and ground support to help manage the traffic especially during rush hours while motorists are still getting used to driving on this structure. Part of the traffic management is the strict implementation of traffic rules and apprehension of violators which also affects smooth passage,” he said.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the southbound flyover and left turn facility of Cavitex would greatly help ease the flow of 140,000 vehicles.

“We expect more room for our motorists when phase 2 is done in the fourth quarter of 2019. We all know that progress is aggressive in Cavite,” Villar said. Darwin G. Amojelar

MICC to hold second round of mining review THE interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council will conduct next year the second round of “objective, science-based, and fact-finding” review of mining operations in the country.

MICC said in a statement Tuesday the review would cover the remaining 15 mining companies which were part of the 41 mines initially reviewed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under former secretary Regina Lopez in 2016.

MICC plans to commission the same team of experts following their outputs on the review of the environmental, economic, social, legal and technical aspects of the first batch of 26 mining companies that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III described as “highly commendable.”

The 33rd meeting of the MICC on Dec. 12 was co-chaired by Dominguez and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu.

The MICC deferred a recommenda-

tion on the lifting of the moratorium on the issuance of new mineral agreements.

Executive Order No. 79 imposed a moratorium on new mineral agreements “until a legislation rationalizing existing revenue sharing schemes and mechanisms shall have taken effect”.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law or Republic Act No. 10963 increased the excise tax on mineral products from 2 percent to 4 percent.

The Environment Department asked whether the increase would be considered as having satisfied the condition of a legislation rationalizing the existing revenue sharing scheme.

The Finance Department clarified that the Train law only increased the excise taxes and did not cover the implementation of a new fiscal regime for mining.

The new fiscal regime proposed by the DOF covers other taxes and fees, such as royalty, windfall, profit and incentives. Julito G. Rada

CLICK AND BRICK. Entrego, a technology-driven end-to-end fulfillment and logistics solutions provider in the Philippines, and Ayala Malls sign a memorandum of understanding to kick-off its partnership to bring together ‘click and brick’. Shown during the signing ceremony are (from left) Ayala Malls assistant vice president Charmaine Bauzon, deputy head Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Entrego chief commercial officer Nona Torres and Entrego associate director for business intelligence Arnold Garcia.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market tumbles; Meralco, ICTSI up S TOCKS fell Tuesday, following a sharp retreat on Wall Street fuelled by increasing worries about the global economy, while investors await the Federal Reserve policy meeting this week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 100 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 7,420.40, as five of the six major sectors declined.

The broader all-share index dipped 39 points, or 0.9 percent, to settle at 4,470.22, on a value turnover of P8.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 124 to 73, while 38 issues were unchanged.

Three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by power retailer

Manila Electric Co. which gained 0.8 percent to P389 and port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. which rose 0.5 percent to P99.50.

Jollibee Foods Corp. picked up 0.4 percent to P301.20.

Meanwhile, most Asian stocks ended lower. A much-anticipated speech

by President Xi Jinping left investors crestfallen as they had been hoping for comments about stimulus or even clues about possible reforms to China’s economy and plans for the next year.

After a broadly upbeat start to the week, regional equities were brought back down to Earth with a bump Tuesday, with all three main indexes in New York tanking following the release of well-below-par economic data.

Dealers across the world have taken fright over a range of issues, including the China-US trade war, falling oil prices, Brexit, political uncertainty, China’s stuttering economy and geopolitical tensions.

Also weighing on confidence has been the Fed’s monetary tightening drive that has seen it lift interest rates through the year, making it more expensive for traders to borrow cash for investment.

The central bank concludes its latest policy meeting Wednesday and is widely expected to announce another hike, but comments afterwards by its boss Jerome Powell will be pored over, with many hoping he flags a slower pace of increases in 2019.

“There is panic in markets that the global economy is falling down a cliff and all growth-sensitive assets are in free-fall,” Bernd Berg, a strategist at Woodman Asset Management, said.

“All eyes are now on... Powell with pressure on the Fed mounting to provide a lifeline to stem the global market rout.”

Donald Trump on Monday once again hit out at the bank’s policy and called on it not to lift rates again.

Adding to nervousness on trading

floors is the prospect of a US government shutdown as the president and congressional leaders bicker over funding for his Mexican border wall. Several departments are expected to close if a deal is not agreed by the weekend, with both sides digging in their positions.

Shanghai ended down 0.8 percent and Tokyo dived 1.8 percent, while Hong Kong was 1.1 percent down in the afternoon.

Sydney dropped 1.2 percent and Singapore dived 1.8 percent while Seoul gave up 0.4 percent. Wellington and Taipei retreated 0.7 percent each, while Jakarta and Manila sank more than one percent.

“It’s an extremely bearish environment and while expectations are for a dovish hike from the Fed—and for the central bank to temporarily pause its rate hike cycle at the beginning of 2019—the markets aren’t taking any solace” in that, said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at Oanda. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 3,200 92.05 3,299,770 2.14 124,000 125.5 2,803,870 1.52 12,497,000 26.85 70,700 15.9 21,200 12 844,000 4.21 40,000 1.36 37,000 750 100 0.5 213,000 79.5 4,186,850 0.89 261,000 12.5 22,900 42.8 529,300 184 1,120 64.95 3,780 28.3 36,500 152.8 373,910 1,800 415 63.5 1,430 1.14 151,000

188,650 305,652,164 266,590 353,879,803 20,879,730 1,897,830 336,022 10,114,660 174,480 50,320 75,000 106,160 330,292,655.50 231,910 285,882 22,647,945 206,080 247,958 1,032,830 57,759,453 749,970 90,881 172,540

174,670 -30,168,783.50 10,700 -259,900,073 163,160 -1,482,204 -75,000 25,663,363.50 1,775,440 36,800 3,247.50 -925,390 -19,214,672 -362,000 -26,738.50 -

33.1 17.1 1.02 1.28 0.242 92 1.68 15.02 30.8 15.7 37 60.7 1.75 6.68 10.3 14.68 8.1 7.1 19.76 64.25 24.4 1.98 5.8 9.4 1.7 298.6 4.3 8.48 26.45 10.22 18.22 386.2 0.164 5.88 1.31 3.99 8.13 5.57 8.1 0.96 10.62 46.8 4.7 1.93 1.36 10.8 79.85 5.2 0.86 127 2.32 1.79 17 1.65

INDUSTRIAL 33.2 964,300 17.7 1,595,800 1.03 2,988,000 1.28 10,000 0.25 60,000 99.9 2,070 1.72 14,631,000 15.1 452,700 32 117,100 15.7 1,300 37.5 600 60.7 3,300 1.75 166,000 7.1 361,600 10.44 610,700 15.2 350,700 8.1 51,600 7.11 7,938,800 19.94 909,700 64.45 219,140 25 110,900 2.07 7,273,000 5.8 823,800 9.9 2,623,300 1.81 951,000 301.2 1,014,270 4.3 34,000 8.48 200 26.45 837,600 10.26 86,000 18.28 115,400 389 222,960 0.17 770,000 5.88 56,700 1.34 1,676,000 4 10,000 8.21 848,700 5.61 149,900 8.28 21,500 0.97 1,114,000 10.68 8,024,000 47 799,800 4.75 51,000 2 2,137,000 1.45 79,000 11 1,247,000 80 1,062,970 5.2 71,100 0.86 116,000 128.2 536,490 2.32 121,000 1.84 6,131,000 17 200 1.66 4,695,000

32,092,180 27,776,586 3,074,130 12,800 14,760 190,861 25,160,980 6,804,790 3,680,555 20,410 22,425 200,310 292,000 2,539,927 6,307,240 5,270,238 420,647 56,536,332 18,167,841 14,133,551 2,750,560 14,801,890 4,786,438 25,337,763 1,677,580 305,474,328 146,200 1,696 22,194,750 883,814 2,116,544 86,637,902 129,230 333,854 2,249,340 40,020 6,952,080 850,217 177,750 1,072,710 85,215,934 37,564,690 241,250 4,289,330 109,260 13,593,032 85,281,568 370,601 103,350 68,717,515 281,160 11,147,920 3,400 7,905,140

-17,292,165.00 729,488 -81,780 -5,440,580 1,554 3,700 272,750 1,053,604 100,622 -2,102,738 -264,187.00 -15,596,680 6,723,753 614,236 1,520,000 86,000.00 -1,729,238 8,089,597 -50,680 37,695,044 1,305,505 -169,430 886,560 47,421,084 41,600 -702,910 -3,553,656 -5,650 -130,920 -84,968,502 1,496,435 -38,000 0 -8,706,948 -27,986,801 7,140 -3,400 -139,460

0.59 51.65 12.16 26.1 1.33 1.33 916 6.96 11.98 10 0.206 910 5.91 50.55 5.56 0.57 4.01 16.68 0.61 4.52 2.56 0.036 1.21 2.33 2.45 147.1 910.5 1.3 460 262 0.247 0.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.61 4,056,000 51.65 1,081,480 12.26 6,348,100 27.3 179,100 1.34 5,711,000 1.36 265,000 918.5 257,640 6.99 1,749,800 12.08 2,028,600 11.6 6,073,200 0.206 500,000 943 36,780 5.95 1,800 51 1,531,260 5.95 117,700 0.57 192,000 4.03 556,000 16.72 9,311,400 0.62 428,000 4.56 22,620,000 2.56 8,000 0.037 500,000 1.25 102,000 2.35 192,000 2.45 384,000 150.1 998,700 920 279,950 1.31 11,000 460 10 262 203,060 0.248 910,000 0.22 1,510,000

2,410,970 56,441,256.50 77,993,172 4,870,990 7,669,650 356,080 236,719,795 12,328,542 24,452,834 65,379,084 118,980 34,243,630 10,698 78,319,181 687,784 109,460 2,235,620 155,632,290 265,960 103,941,610 21,810 18,500 126,960 448,920 969,710 149,750,196 257,229,370 14,380 4,600 54,810,828 226,520 305,580

80,150 -36,914,503.50 2,948,160 32,450 10,720 -75,827,480 -1,257,867 7,590,784 12,942,248 7,811,670 -12,121,581.50 -1,209,450 89,887,616 -10,993,330 -21,810 -3,600.00 -42,690,614 -144,174,760 -61,026 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.25 93.8 2.16 128.3 1.59 26.85 15.8 12 4.4 1.36 750 0.51 78.7 0.9 12.5 43.45 184 65.35 28 159.6 1,810 63.25 1.15

59 93.85 2.16 128.6 1.86 26.85 15.92 12 4.47 1.36 750 0.51 79.5 0.9 12.5 43.45 184 68.5 28.35 159.6 1,811 64 1.15

58.25 91 2.14 125.5 1.5 26.75 15.8 11.84 4.21 1.36 750 0.485 78.35 0.87 11.82 42.65 184 64.45 28 152.8 1,800 63.25 1.14

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

33.55 17.1 1.05 1.28 0.25 92 1.79 15.5 30.8 15.7 37 60.7 1.75 6.81 10.4 14.8 8.2 7.13 20.4 64.85 25 2.07 6 9.53 1.79 301 4.3 8.48 27 10.3 18.52 389 0.176 5.9 1.4 3.99 8.18 5.57 8.28 0.97 10.68 46.9 4.75 2.03 1.43 10.8 82 5.24 0.9 128.5 2.35 1.83 17 1.69

34 17.7 1.05 1.28 0.25 99.9 1.81 15.56 32 15.7 37.5 60.7 1.76 7.28 10.44 15.2 8.2 7.2 20.4 64.85 25.9 2.07 6.01 9.9 1.84 303 4.3 8.48 27 10.34 18.52 389 0.176 5.9 1.4 4.05 8.3 5.84 8.28 0.97 10.68 47.7 4.75 2.07 1.45 11 82 5.24 0.91 128.5 2.35 1.84 17 1.73

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

0.59 54.5 12.38 27 1.39 1.34 920 7.1 12.08 10.06 0.24 910 5.91 53.1 5.75 0.59 4.14 16.76 0.62 4.7 2.75 0.036 1.25 2.33 2.6 151.2 933 1.32 460 270.2 0.25 0.2

0.61 54.8 12.4 27.9 1.39 1.39 925 7.1 12.18 11.94 0.24 943 5.95 53.1 6.3 0.59 4.14 16.8 0.64 4.74 2.75 0.038 1.26 2.35 2.6 153 933 1.32 460 278.2 0.255 0.22

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV

7.73 0.82 12 1.75 0.8 41.9 2.33 3.96 0.42 0.86 0.88 0.247 0.385 7.99 18.6 0.495 1.44 1.05 4.83 0.42 0.46 2.35

7.75 0.82 12 1.79 0.81 42.5 2.33 4.01 0.425 0.87 0.88 0.255 0.41 7.99 18.6 0.495 1.44 1.06 4.83 0.425 0.46 2.36

7.73 0.79 11 1.67 0.72 41.55 2.26 3.89 0.41 0.86 0.86 0.247 0.385 7.82 18.02 0.475 1.41 1.04 4.7 0.41 0.455 2.25

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

0.415 3.59 41 20.65 1.98 3.08 34.75 1.26 5.8 5.2

0.42 3.59 41 20.9 2 3.1 34.95 1.26 6.2 5.2

0.4 3.51 41 20.55 1.98 3.05 34.4 1.24 5.78 5.16

0.42 3.57 41 20.85 1.98 3.1 34.9 1.24 5.98 5.2

870,000 979,000 200 703,000 228,000 550,000 21,691,600 114,000 2,345,700 2,216,700

363,500 3,455,810 8,200 14,563,165 451,580 1,679,630 749,821,840 142,050 14,092,670 11,509,920

-227,200 -3,215,835 199,690,610 18,263 -7,085,479

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

14.6 20 1.48 0.42 0.039 13.5 3.71 9.59 73 7.9 6.5 7.5 17.78 1,998 5.38 315.4 10.04 3.05 1.88 98 10.8 0.133 5.72 14.5 3.4 0.8 14.6 5.2 2.42 2.1 18.48 3.24 10.02 8.49 7.8 113.6 3.13 1,154 0.87 0.35 42.5 79 7.26 2.33 0.73 0.425 5.25 0.73 11.9

16.04 20 1.57 0.42 0.04 13.5 4.06 9.64 73.4 7.9 6.59 7.5 17.78 2,020 5.38 325 10.04 3.1 1.99 100.4 11 0.137 5.74 14.5 3.46 0.81 15.06 5.45 2.49 2.1 19 3.37 10.02 8.5 7.8 113.6 3.15 1,155 0.87 0.35 42.55 79.65 7.65 2.34 0.73 0.43 5.27 0.73 12.1

14.52 19.82 1.43 0.42 0.039 13.5 3.61 9.5 72.75 7.9 6.37 7.5 16 1,970 5.35 315.4 10.04 3 1.88 98 10.8 0.124 5.55 14.3 3.4 0.76 14.52 5.19 2.38 2.02 18.48 3.24 10.02 7.81 7.8 112 3.04 1,129 0.82 0.34 42.35 78 7.26 2.3 0.7 0.41 5.25 0.67 11.9

SERVICES 14.92 19.9 1.45 0.42 0.039 13.5 3.75 9.6 73 7.9 6.37 7.5 16.32 1,970 5.35 325 10.04 3.07 1.99 99.5 10.9 0.124 5.63 14.3 3.46 0.78 15 5.45 2.42 2.06 18.5 3.26 10.02 7.81 7.8 113.5 3.05 1,129 0.84 0.34 42.45 79.5 7.6 2.33 0.73 0.42 5.27 0.68 12

1,395,300 21,200 189,000 170,000 4,000,000 31,900 17,401,000 13,299,800 111,910 100 1,142,500 18,000 158,000 60,510 182,600 1,400 300 758,000 15,000 3,678,230 3,800 41,870,000 4,940,100 600 288,000 521,000 1,054,900 101,700 734,000 198,000 1,000 1,131,000 20,900 10,500 1,000 53,650 686,000 133,675 7,454,000 130,000 3,525,400 1,110,220 14,200 940,000 6,513,000 12,940,000 130,600 2,002,000 877,800

21,429,172 423,282 276,210 71,400 156,100 430,650 66,209,590 127,524,908 8,159,610.50 790 7,329,650 135,000 2,621,014 120,280,155 979,058 451,240 3,012 2,303,110 29,300 365,678,644.50 41,680 5,363,510 27,787,482 8,610 985,810 403,640 15,733,986 529,407 1,773,470 408,510 18,546 3,710,010 209,418 83,026 7,800 6,089,137 2,111,420 152,058,100 6,262,700 45,250 149,582,715 88,090,256.50 107,820 2,176,040 4,619,240 5,416,250 687,748 1,382,480 10,520,810

-199,470 49,180 422,550 243,900 26,579,160 -3,898,255 -266,684 15,000 9,102 29,621,500 -99,500 -193,365,829.50 -137,820 -4,158,501 5,720 17,000 3,647,494 228,260 -138,040 19,192 -514,600 -43,037,670 675,880 -56,089,840 2,966,607 863,040 1,297,790 400,100 -138,125 -547,300.00 403,722

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

0.0019 1.57 2.55 15.96 1.43 2 0.305 7.13 1.68 0.097 0.103 0.0065 0.0065 1.25 2.09 1.04 0.95 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.33 2.77 14.9 23.3 0.0061

0.002 1.59 2.56 15.96 1.43 2.01 0.305 7.47 1.7 0.1 0.11 0.0065 0.0065 1.25 2.14 1.08 0.98 0.014 0.013 0.013 3.33 2.77 14.92 23.55 0.0061

0.0019 1.57 2.51 15.7 1.3 1.99 0.3 7.06 1.66 0.097 0.103 0.0065 0.0065 1.2 2.06 1.04 0.95 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.1 2.59 14.74 23.3 0.0058

MINING & OIL 0.002 2,630,000,000 1.59 624,000 2.51 1,613,000 15.7 200 1.3 3,000 1.99 618,000 0.3 120,000 7.36 8,400 1.7 887,000 0.1 720,000 0.11 20,000 0.0065 5,000,000 0.0065 3,000,000 1.2 61,000 2.09 5,283,000 1.08 101,000 0.95 260,000 0.013 608,200,000 0.013 23,000,000 0.013 917,500,000 3.1 24,000 2.59 1,891,000 14.8 1,084,000 23.4 702,000 0.0058 5,000,000

5,119,800 988,440 4,054,940 3,166 4,030 1,234,770 36,150 59,983 1,496,570 70,530 2,130 32,500 19,500 75,150 10,970,470 105,080 247,330 7,905,200 299,000 11,820,600 75,390 4,957,260 16,046,766 16,438,010 29,300

38,000 1,580 -2,530 -226,990 -5,075,430 -234,000 261,300 124,790 -1,832,100 -2,144,485 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

19.2 451.2 492 98 102 480 5.12 935 96.9 1.02 980 99.05 73 71.55 72.5 71.5

19.5 451.2 492 98 102 480 5.25 935 96.9 1.04 980 99.05 73 73 73 73.2

18.7 451 490 95.4 102 475 5.12 920 96.9 1.02 980 99 73 70.3 72.5 70.05

PREFERRED 18.7 1,900 451 610 490 2,890 95.4 21,000 102 25,400 475 1,020 5.24 73,400 935 3,430 96.9 400 1.04 75,000 980 200 99 500 73 100 73 1,300 73 600 73.1 5,120

36,670 275,114 1,419,880 2,018,264 2,590,800 484,600 383,079 3,200,600 38,760 76,590 196,000 49,505 7,300 92,055 43,550 364,031

-9,400 65,446 -

LR WARRANT

1.95

1.95

1.92

WARRANTS 1.93 54,000

104,700

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.3 1.34

4.44 1.49

4.3 1.29

4.3 1.49

714,070 20,492,750

12,900 -2,972,500

FIRST METRO ETF

112

112

110.2

605,527

8,872

MS

PROPERTY 7.74 0.8 11.12 1.74 0.78 42.5 2.26 3.99 0.415 0.87 0.86 0.25 0.41 7.83 18.1 0.475 1.42 1.04 4.8 0.41 0.455 2.29

166,500 1,446,000 22,500 402,000 8,051,000 4,487,500 1,925,000 416,000 2,970,000 9,000 31,000 10,050,000 1,060,000 120,200 272,700 670,000 20,649,000 919,000 19,479,000 24,200,000 350,000 4,808,000

1,288,132 1,157,680 253,986 680,900 6,168,740 189,332,595 4,371,320 1,648,080 1,239,750 7,780 26,920 2,501,920 414,600 949,151 4,966,770 320,400 29,560,220 964,460 93,469,300 10,009,100 160,750 10,968,660

0 5,670 -108,760 20,553,695 -3,146,210 -967,330 291,600 2,091,600 -544,018 4,750 -11,069,830 2,100 -52,690,360 -65,000 742,170

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

26,675,154

INDUSTRIAL

348,765,983

HOLDING FIRMS

73,164,506

PROPERTY

132,280,092

SERVICES

130,312,784

MINING & OIL

4,207,177,395

GRAND TOTAL

4,933,000,462

SME

164,000 14,453,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.9 5,470

VALUE 1,736.64 (down) 36.52 1,199,220,310.25 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,972.06 (down) 6.79 3,470,443,367.14 HOLDING FIRMS 7,239.39 (down) 150.43 1,353,642,398.23 PROPERTY 3,658.16 (down) 2.96 SERVICES 1,435.32 (down) 11.37 1,158,686,456.79 MINING & OIL 8,020.37 (up) 14.99 1,211,888,004.085 PSEI 7,420.40 (down) 100.00 82,120,222.6252 All Shares Index 4,470.22 (down) 39.88 8,497,816,335.32 Gainers: 73; Losers: 124; Unchanged: 38; Total: 235

Century opens P1.6-b tower in Fort Bonifacio

By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Properties Group Inc. in partnership with Asian Carmakers Corp. on Tuesday opened the P1.6-billion Asian Century Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Century Properties chief operating officer Jose Marco Antonio said during the opening the 21-story green office building was 75-percent leased prior to its opening and was expected to be fully leased out before the end of the year.

Three of the four IT companies with confirmed leases are already holding office in the building, which has a net leasable area of 29,628 square meters.

Asian Carmakers of businessman Jose Alvarez plans to put up a showroom of Peugeot at the ground floor.

Antonio said the new office building was expected to generate P500 million in recurring revenues for the company based on the average lease rate of P1,200 per square meter.

It is also expected to generate 5,000 jobs.

Asian Century Center is accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and meets its strict requirements of 100-percent power backup, provision for high-speed internet and infrastructure, and a building management system.

The tower was pre-certified for the core and shell rating of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a globally recognized green building and sustainability certification system.

Pre-certification is awarded to projects with achievable sustainable targets that demonstrate the project’s commitment to Leed certification. Asian Century Center is working towards an Leed silver status.

Real estate brokerage services firm Leechiu Property Consultants was appointed as the exclusive leasing manager for Asian Century Center.

Antonio said the company was constructing two more office buildings to further boost the company’s leasing portfolio. These are the 40-story Century Diamond Tower in Makati City and Century Spire, a mixed-use residential and office development also in Makati.

Century Properties said it was set to triple its leasable space to 300,000 sqm. by 2020 from 133,000 sqm as of 2017, once all its office, retail and hotel developments were completed.

Antonio said he expected recurring income to account for 30 percent to 40 percent of the group’s total revenues.

MRC to install solar rooftop in two rice mills

By Alena Mae S. Flores MRC Allied Inc. will construct a 550-kilowatt-peak grid-tied solar rooftop project for two rice mills in Northern Luzon.

“We are breaking ground in an area which would encourage agriculture production as a result of lower energy prices available to user,” MRC president Augusto Cosio Jr. said.

MRC earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with Edward Marcs Philippines Inc. for the design, supply, delivery, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of the solar rooftop project of the two rice milling plants which they did not identify.

EMPI is expected to complete the design, supply, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of the agreed target capacity of solar rooftop system for the said project within 180 days.

“What we are setting up is a long term growth of cash flows in order to generate better shareholder value…When rice millers proportionally lower milling cost, they could lower the price of agricultural products,” Cosio said.

MRC will be the project developer and owner of the solar facility while the private entity which operats the two milling plants will be the power offtaker.

The P34-million solar rooftop project is expected to be completed by May 2019.

Cosio said MRC aimed to gain a foothold in the growing Philippine solar PV rooftop market by putting up 4 MW of solar rooftop capacity in two years.

MRC said it planned to develop at least 1,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2022.

MRC also signed a memorandum of agreement to put up a 1.1-MW solar rooftop in a mall in Mindanao.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard

TODAY

B3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

89 US priests accused of sex abuse named by authorities

C

HICAGO―Jesuit authorities for 20 US states on Monday released the names of 89 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse dating as far back as 1950.

SPECIAL SCREENING. Sandra Bullock, Vivien Blair and Susanne Bier attend the New York Special Screening Of The Netflix Film ‘BIRD BOX’ at the Alice Tully Hall on December 17, 2018, in New York City. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Netflix/AFP

Former FBI chief lashes out at Trump, Republicans WASHINGTON―Former FBI director James Comey lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday for telling “lies” and undermining the rule of law, and urged Republicans to stand up to the president.

“The FBI’s reputation has taken a big hit because the president of the United States, with his acolytes, has lied about it constantly.

In the face of those lies, a whole lot of good people... believe that nonsense,” Comey told reporters in the halls of the US Senate.

“People who know better, including Republican members of this body, have to have the courage to stand up and speak the truth.”

Comey spoke after a spurt of anti-FBI tweets from the president over the past week alleged that the investigative body abused its powers in probing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen and his former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Cohen and Flynn have both been convicted for various crimes and have both offered evidence potentially damaging to their former boss.

With Cohen, Trump tweeted on Sunday: “The FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE!” In fact the FBI had a court order to search Cohen’s office.

As for Flynn, Trump alleged that he had been tricked into lying in a January 2016 interview with the FBI that led to his arrest.

“So General Michael Flynn’s life can be totally destroyed while Shadey James Comey can Leak and Lie,” Trump tweeted earlier this month.

Comey said that politicians, and especially Republicans, have to stop remaining quiet when Trump makes false statements.

“Republicans used to understand that the actions of a president matter, the words of a president matter, the rule of law matters, and the truth matters. Where are those Republicans today?”

“At some point, someone has to stand up and in the face of fear of Fox News, fear of their

IN BRIEF

Foundation scraps Suu Kyi’s award SEOUL―One of South Korea’s largest human rights groups will strip Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of its 2004 prize because of her “indifference” to the atrocities against the Rohingya minority, organizers said Tuesday.

Suu Kyi was unable to receive the Gwangju human rights award at the time because she was under house arrest by the military junta.

Her party has since taken office in Myanmar and the Nobel Peace Prize winner holds the title of state counselor, but the one-time champion of democracy has been widely accused of apathy or complicity in the plight of the Rohingya.

The United Nations has warned that the Muslim minority continue to be targeted in an “ongoing genocide”.

“Her indifference to the atrocities against the Rohingya runs against the values the award stands for -- protecting and promoting human rights,” spokesman Cho Jin-tae of the May 18 Memorial Foundation told AFP. As a result the foundation’s board decided on Monday to withdraw her award, he added.

The foundation was set up in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 prodemocracy uprising in Gwangju, which ended in a bloodbath by martial law troops that left more than 200 people killed or wounded.

But the insurrection against then military dictator Chun Doo-hwan inspired the country’s pro-democracy protests which culminated in a restoration of democracy seven years later. AFP

NZ to hold referendum on legal pot WELLINGTON―New Zealand will hold a referendum on legalizing recreational marijuana when the South Pacific nation votes in its next general election in 2020, the government announced Tuesday.

The ballot was among the demands the Green Party made during the talks to join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s progressive coalition government after the 2017 election.

Justice Minister Andrew Little said the government had agreed to the timetable, and the result of the referendum would be binding.

“It will be held at the 2020 general election,” he told reporters, adding “there is a bit of detail still to work through.”

Ardern’s government has already moved to legalize medicinal cannabis, with legislation on the issue working its way through parliament.

An opinion poll last year found 65 percent of New Zealanders also supported legalizing the drug for recreational use.

Pro-reform campaign group New Zealand Drug Foundation welcomed the vote, with its chief Ross Bell saying the current approach to regulating marijuana was outdated and it was time for a change.

“Cannabis is New Zealand’s most common illegal drug, 50 percent of the country have tried it,” he said.

“We’re still trying to address the problem through a law enforcement approach. We’re still criminalizing people and not providing help to people who have a cannabis dependency.” AFP

base, fear of mean tweets, stand up for the values of this country, and not slink away into retirement, but stand up and speak the truth.”

Comey spoke after his second closed-door testimony in a week during which he was quizzed on his oversight of an investigation into the mishandling of sensitive emails by Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton during the election.

While the Justice Department has closed the issue after an internal review, Trump and Republicans seeking to protect him from the Russia collusion investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller want the Clinton probe reopened.

Trump fired Comey in May 2017 after Comey refused to swear his allegiance and roll back the nascent investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Mueller is now believed to be investigating whether that firing and other actions amount to obstruction of justice by the president. AFP

The disclosures by the Jesuit provinces of Maryland and USA Midwest are the latest chapter in the ongoing sexual abuse scandal roiling the Catholic Church and come after 153 Jesuits were publicly identified by two other provinces earlier this month.

Maryland released 24 names with allegations dating back to 1950 and USA Midwest released 65 names dating back to 1955. Many of the individuals are deceased, and some were previously publicly known to be accused of sexual assault.

“On behalf of the Midwest Jesuits, I apologize to victimsurvivors and their families for the harm and suffering you have endured. Many of you have suffered in silence for decades,” Brian Paulson, head of the USA Midwest province, said in an open letter.

Jesuits are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church, with some 16,000 members worldwide. They operate 30 colleges and 81 schools in the United States and Canada.

The names made public Monday included dozens of priests with multiple allegations of abuse who served in educational institutions.

The priest with the most recent allegations was Donald McGuire, who died in federal prison in 2017 while serving a 25-year sentence. His was among the names that had been

previously publicized.

Numerous men have accused McGuire of molesting them when they were boys. The first allegations dated to the 1950s, when he worked at a Jesuit private high school in Chicago, and went as late as 2005.

“Most of the Jesuits on our list entered religious life from the 1930’s through the early 1960’s.

In retrospect, our evaluation of candidates, as well as the training, formation, and supervision of Jesuits, was not adequate,” Paulson said.

He added that the organization had learned from its mistakes, and has improved training for Jesuits and was holding them accountable if abuse allegations are made.

The latest revelations came as religious orders are starting to face similar scrutiny to the rest of the Catholic Church and are embarking on efforts at transparency.

Earlier this month, provinces overseeing Jesuits in more than 20 western, southern and central US states released lists of 153 members accused of child sexual abuse.

The Maryland province’s leader, who is known as the provincial, said Monday’s release was meant to provide transparency and accountability, and that an external audit of the organization’s files would be conducted “to ensure that our previous reviews were both accurate and complete.” AFP

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the legal heirs of the late ANTONIO C. JAO (the “Decedent”), who died intestate on January 13, 2018 at San Juan City, have executed a DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS dated June 5, 2018. The legal heirs, being all of legal age, hereby adjudicate unto themselves the properties left by the Decedent. As per Doc No. 212; Page No. 44, Book No. 23; Series of 2018; under Notary Public of Atty.

Joel E. Paner.

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

(MS-DEC. 5,12 & 19, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines Philippine Rural Development Project

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF NAGA BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE

Invitation to Bid December 19, 2018

Invitation to Bid for the CONSTRUCTION OF 2-STOREY 8-CLASSROOM BUILDING AT ALMEDA HIGHWAY, BGY. CONCEPCION GRANDE, NAGA CITY The City Government of Naga, through the Buildings and Other Structures Account of City College of Naga (CCN) and Financial Assistance of Quezon City-Trust Fund, intends to apply the sum of TWENTY NINE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED (P 29,465,700.00) PESOS, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the Construction of 2-Storey 8-Classroom Building at Almeda Highway, Bgy. Concepcion Grande, Naga City, with Contract Reference Number: 006314-2018-03.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The City Government of Naga now invites bids for the Construction of 2-Storey 8-Classroom Building at Almeda Highway, Bgy. Concepcion Grande, Naga City, with Contract Reference Number: 006314-2018-03. Completion of the Works is required within 360 calendar days. Equipment Required: concrete mixer, compactor, vibratory road roller, welding machine and boom truck. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of Naga and inspect the Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Secretariat at the City Planning & Development Office, 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders starting on Wedneday, December 19, 2018 to January 14, 2019, from the Office of the BAC Secretariat at the City Planning & Development Office, 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City, and upon payment of the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND (P 25,000.00) PESOS, and an Annual Registration Fee of Three Thousand (P 3,000.00) Pesos if not yet registered with the Naga City BAC, and upon presentation of a Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS showing your company name.

1.

The Government of the Philippines (GoP) has received a Loan from the World Bank Loan No. 8816-PH towards the cost of Philippine Rural Development Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Loan to payments under the contracts for each the following projects:

Name of Project/Project Identification No. Rehabilitation of NRJRicarte Sur-Magsaysay Farm to Market Road PRDP-IB-R002-QUI-007000-000-2015-AF

Duration/ Completion of Works 295 CD

195 CD

Rehabilitation of LuzodSto. Niño Farm to Market Road PRDP-IB-R002-QUI-008000-000-2015-AF

3.

4.

5.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Naga City Government (www.naga.gov.ph), provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Official receipts should be presented during dropping of bids and enclosed in the bid documents (first envelope).

Pre-bid Conference

Bid Sub.& Opening

130,148,000.00

Dec.19, 2018Jan.21,2019

Jan. 3,2019 10a.m.

Jan. 21 ,201910a.m.

52,961,000.00

Dec.19, 2018Jan.21,2019

Jan. 3,2019 10a.m.

Jan. 21 ,201910a.m.

Special Projects Unit Conference Hall 2nd Floor Capitol Commercial Building Capitol Compound, Cabarroguis, Quirino

Venue of Procurement Activities

2.

Purchase of Bid Documents

EPC

The Provincial Government of Quirino, implementing partner of the Department of Agriculture, now invites bids for the following projects listed above. Completions of the Works are stated opposite each project. Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the World Bank. The contract for each project shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification. The Estimated Project Cost for the following projects is indicated above.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee of the Province of Quirino and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below and also at the PRDP Regional Project Support Office II with address at DA RFO II, Capitol Hills, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan and at the PRDP Project Support Office Luzon-A with address at Capitol Compound, Sto. Niño city of San Fernando, Pampanga from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Mondays to fridays from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays.

A complete set of Bidding Documents for each project may be purchased by interested Bidders at the dates specified above from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for each bidding documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the PRDP website (http://www.daprdp. net) provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

As part of the transparency measures being instituted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) the bidders can virtually visit the site of the above-described subproject at http://www.daprdp. net where geo-tagged base photographs on 50 meter interval and track are viewable. The DA, however, requires that all potential contractors who will be awarded contract under the project shall have undergone geotagging training provided by the PRDP Project Support Office.

The City Government of Naga will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Thursday, December 27, 2018, 3:00PM at the City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

6.

Bids must be duly received to the BAC Secretariat at the City Procurement Office, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, Naga City on or before 3:00 PM on Monday, January 14, 2019. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security, either in the form of: cash or cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a universal or commercial bank (2% of ABC), or, Bid Securing Declaration (BSD).

The Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference for the projects on the dates specified for each project above at 10:00AM at the Special Projects Unit, Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties.

7.

Bids must be deliv ered on or before t h e d a t e s s p e c i f i e d f o r e a c h p r o j e c t a b o v e a t 10:00AM at the Bids and Awards Committee Extension Office, Special Projects Unit, Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration.

Bid opening shall be on Monday, January 14, 2019, 3:00PM. at City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The City Government of Naga reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: MR. FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. Acting City Administrator, Office of the City Administrator 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue Concepcion Pequena, Naga City 4400 bac@naga.gov.ph/junmongoso@naga.gov.ph, www.naga.gov.ph

Bids will be opened on January 21, 2019 at 10:00 A. M. at the Special Projects Unit Conference Hall,2nd Floor, Capitol Commercial Bldg., Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The Provincial Government of Quirino 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.

9.

For further information, please refer to: The BAC Secretariat Bids and Awards Committee Office of the BAC, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino +639275007275 +639177756155 (SGD) DENCIO A. PAGBILAO BAC Chairman

(SGD) FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. BAC Chairperson (MS-DEC. 19, 2018)

(MS-DEC. 19, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

GRAND PARADE. A 20-character ‘Grand Christmas Parade’ prances through the hallways of SM City Masinag in Antipolo City on Sunday to provide a carnival feel and to spread cheer to shoppers and spectators of all ages. The parade included performers dressed as Santa Claus, a magician, a rabbit, a circus trainer, a polar bear and toy soldiers. Also joining the parade were flag bearers, a trapeze girl, stilt walkers, and jugglers. Manny Palmero

Federalism will bring Mindanao peace—Lantion PARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas secretary general Thompson Lantion on Tuesday stood firm on his ground that federalism will help achieve lasting peace in Mindanao and bolster economic growth in all regions not only in the National Capital Region.

“Federalism is the solution to the country’s problems,” he said.

He said the shift to a federal form of government is the key to liberate the people from poverty.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas is a national political party accredited by the Commission on Elections.

“We are hoping to introduce President Rodrigo Duterte as our new party chairpeson,” Lantion said.

Duterte is pushing for the shift from a unitary system to a federal form of government.

Lantion vowed to to continue the party’s campaign to heighten public awareness of the Filipino people on federalism.

“We will not stop to explain the salient features of federalism and its huge benefits,” he said.

“We are confident that the people will accept federalism once a massive information campaign is in full swing,” he added.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas is headed by Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, a lawyer and a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1994.

‘Cha-Ching’cited in BSP Financial Education Expo BRITISH life insurer Pru Life UK’s community investment arm, Prudence Foundation, was featured in the recent Financial Education Stakeholders Expo 2018 of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for its innovative financial literacy advocacy program, Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids.

The Expo, which gathered advocates of financial education from the public and private sectors, aims to provide a platform for the sharing of best practices and enhancement financial literacy among Filipinos, ultimately contributing to nation building.

Topics discussed during the two-day event, held from Nov. 27 to 28, included personal finance management, financial education through performing arts and board games, and financial education as corporate social responsibility.

Prudence Foundation executive director Marc Fancy presented Cha-Ching at the Innovations in Financial Education plenary session and discussed how the advocacy is carried across Asia through a multi-platform approach.

Herbert inks QC biz ‘return’ measure Q UEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista is one with consumers in battling the surge of fake products by signing an ordinance mandating business establishments to post their return and exchange policy.

City Ordinance 2710-2018, introduced by Councilor Anthony Peter Crisologo, aims to inform consumers of their rights as buyers and to protect them from unscrupulous retailers who sell defective, broken, and misleading items.

The ordinance is also in compliance with Article 2 of Republic Act 7384, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, which provides that it is the policy of the State “to protect the interests of the consumer, promote its general welfare, and to establish standards of conduct for business

and industry.”

“Purchased items must be of satisfactory quality, fit for the purpose bought and the same as described, so that consumers will get a full money’s worth of purchase,” reads the ordinance, which shall apply to registered business establishments engaged in retail sales within the jurisdiction of the city.

Meanwhile, Quezon City affirms its commitment in upholding women’s rights and fighting violence against women and children as it expressed its

support to the “Respeto Naman” campaign, a nationwide advocacy against gender-based violence led by Embassy of Sweden in Manila, Office of the Vice President, United Nations Women Safe Cities Metro Manila, SPARK Philippines, and Empower.

The campaign is a part of the 18-day activism versus violence against women and children (VAWC), alongside the launching of the “Don’t tell me how to dress” campaign by the UN Women Safe Cities Metro Manila.

The campaign aims to stop victim blaming among women who experience sexual harassment and abuse. Clothes worn by sexual harassment victims were shown in the exhibit, telling each of their stories.

‘Kadena Hub’rising in Davao for startup ventures TRAXION, a transaction management company that uses blockchain technology to tackle major concerns associated with financial services platforms in agriculture and micro-entrepreneurship, has launched “Kadena Hub,” a co-working space that will house, incubate, and accelerate upcoming startups in Davao City.

In its unveiling ceremony on Sunday, Traxion chiel executive officer Ann Lindayag and other company executives unveiled the plans for Kadena Hub, which will serve as the Philippines’ first blockchain incubation hub and center of excellence that will sit 120 people in a modern-industrial space.

It will rise at Mabini corner Araullo St., Barangay 9-A, Poblacion, Davao City.

By January 2019, the hub will start to train young developers in the field of blockchain and artificial intelligence.

“A lot of innovative projects focused on blockchain will be housed here to support our growing network from Mindanao. The hub will enable startups to have access to technology, digital asset, network, market, mentorship, and of course funding! We welcome startups this coming 15th of January to check us out and apply for incubation,” Lindayag said.

Kadena Hub is one of the projects of

Traxion under its “One Mindanao” program, which sees an opportunity to create an inclusive ecosystem that connects the smallest micro-entrepreneurs to the largest businesses in Mindanao to create one economic force in the region.

Traxion aims to provide access to indigenous people and farmers the services such as payments, healthcare, remittance services aligned to its goal in promoting blockchain for the common good.

TraXion would provide peer-to-peer lending, a channel to give to charities, paying utility bills, digital wallet, remittance, and access to government services.

Present at the Kadena Hub groundbreaking in Davao City on Sunday were (from left) Ernie Cruz (CFO), John Andrew Arce (Solutions Architect), Israel Brizuela (chief operating officer), Jec Santos (Resident Entrepreneur), Pastor Tom Arellano (officiating pastor), Ann Cuisia (chief executive officer, Bermil Espina (chief technology officer), and Jove Tapiador (head of Business Development).

Robles: Type 2 diabetes needs individual treatment

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Prudence Foundation executive director Marc Fancy presents ‘Cha-Ching’ at the first BSP Financial Education Expo.

DR. JEREMY Robles of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism advises diabetics in the Philippines to ask a doctor about what type of exercise is appropriate for them.

This would help slow down the projected rise in number of diabetics

in the country to 12 million by 2040, largely driven by more cases of type 2 diabetes due to the growing prevalence of obesity, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.

In general, most adults should exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week, Robles said. “If one has been inactive for a long time, the doctor may want to check the person’s

overall health before recommending the right balance of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise,” he said.

But first one has to be aware they already have diabetes or is one about to develop one (prediabetes or when one’s blood sugar level is higher than normal) but is not yet high enough to be considered diabetes.

(To be continued)

According to a UN study, three out of five women who were harassed were not wearing revealing clothes, and most of the women wore school uniforms or business attire.

“We’re saying that this (sexual harassment) is not the fault of women, and neither can it be blamed on their clothing,” said Charisse Jordan, national project officer of UN Safe Cities Metro Manila.

The UN Women Safe Cities also emphasizes the four R’s—Realize, Respond, Report, and Reform—in combating VAWC. In her speech, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte boasted of the city’s successful campaign against violence against women and children and the actions of the City in addressing these concerns.

Munti celebrates 101st anniversary with day-long fete MUNTINLUPA, the emerging business hub in the National Capital Region, celebrates its 101st founding anniversary with a day-long series of activities today (Dec. 19).

The celebration starts with a Thanksgiving Mass at the City Hall Quadrangle and concludes with a program at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Barangay Tunasan bannering the theme “Pagharap sa Bagong Kabanata, Muntinlupa Tungo sa Ikalawang Siglo” [Facing a New Chapter, Muntinlupa Toward a Second Century].

“Today marks the dawn of Muntinlupa’s second century, and we are in a better position to write a better story for our city, our home. I hope this momentous event will instill nationalism and inspire every Muntinlupa residents to look back and offer one self’s ‘Lakas, Talino, at Buhay’ to the country and Muntinlupa,” Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said in a message to Muntinlupeños.

The local government also recognizes individuals and organizations who contributed to the development of Muntinlupa over the years.

Awardees for this year’s celebration include National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañoza, former senator and congressman Rodolfo “Pong” Biazon, Victory Alabang, Inter Continental Development Corp., and Madrigal Properties.

The mayor will also inaugurate a two-story health center in Laguerta, Baranagy Tunasan, which is set to house the city’s HIV Testing Center.

The P24.8-m Laguerta Health Center is situated in a new community that was formerly a dumping ground. Today, it is home to a village, a child center, a secondary school facility, government offices, and other commercial establishments.

Muntinlupa was declared a separate town in 1917 through Executive Order 108 issued by Governor General Francis Burton Harrison. Today, Muntinlupa has transformed into one of the leading cities and investment hubs in Metro Manila, with nine equally progressive barangays and a population of 504,509.

Life

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

fashion and beauty

wEdnESday, dEcEMBEr 19, 2018

C1

Last-minute holiday gift ideas F

These are for the beauty junkie and fashionista people in your life

or those who are rushing to the malls to finish their Christmas shopping, we are here for you. Well, not to accompany you while you shop at boutiques and department stores, but to offer you ideas on what to get your family or friends whose taste in beauty and fashion you respect and adore.

The Body Shop’s Berry Bon Bon Collection (left) and Energizing Cleanser and Moisturizer Guarana & Coffee

For the skin-conscious tita/tito Give your uncle or auntie the gift of pampered skin with The Body Shop’s new Christmas Gift sets. Tita will smell fresh throughout the holidays with the new, limited edition Berry Bon Bon Collection, enriched with cranberry seed oil from the floodplains of North America. or get her the premium Balkan Juniper Body wash and Spa of the world ethiopian Green Coffee Firming Body Cream. energize tito’s grooming routine with the energizing Cleanser Guarana and Coffee and the energizing Moistur-

izer Guarana and Coffee skincare treat. This kit is enriched with guarana seeds from Brazil and caffeine-rich green coffee beans from ethiopia. every purchase from The Body Shop will help protect and re-wild over 10 million square meters of forest in england and Armenia, as part of its world Bio-Bridges Mission, which aims to help protect and regenerate (or re-wild) 75 million square meters of habitat and build 10 brio-bridges by 2029.

Get these at The Body Shop stores nationwide.

Citysafe CX Wristlet Wallet (left) and Citysafe CX Tote

For the on-the-go #girlboss She’s the loving yet firm boss who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to say it. Help her keep her stuff in order as she goes about her busy days with spacious yet stylish totes Citysafe CX Tote from Pacsafe. Throw in a Citysafe CX wristlet wallet for good measure.

Get these at Urbanize stores and department stores nationwide.

Australis’ MetallixEyeshadow in Green Daze (top) and Shimmer Pots in Glistening Gold

For the party girl Australis’s Illuminating Strobe Powder and Metallixeyeshadow will help your friend stand out at the club. The lluminating Strobe Powder is a highlighting powder that creates that luminous, glowing complexion when applied on top of cheekbones, forehead, chin, and cupids’ bow.

Metallixeyeshadows comes in nine shades, allowing one to create a range of looks—from romantic to edgy, for both day and night. Its formula is soft and smooth to apply, and gives a long lasting coverage while remaining light to wear and moisturizing to the skin.

Get these at Rustan’s department stores.

For the special men in your life A timepiece from TechnoMarine’s ocean Manta collection is perfect for adventure seekers. This range seamlessly articulates exceptional motion in design while maintaining its remarkable Swiss made prowess. It comes in a black tone case with a quartz movement.

Meanwhile, your boss or recently promoted friend will appreciate the UF6 collection, also from TechnoMarine.

This timepiece combines high-performance materials with compelling design. It comes in stainless steel case, a silicone strap, and a quartz movement.

Get the TechnoMarine Sea Manta Chronograph for the guy who’s always attending dressy occasions, or badly need a timepiece for those nights out on the town. This classic timepiece features sleek lines and modern vibe of the Sea Manta collection. It comes in stainless steel with black dial.

Take advantage of the 30 percent discount on TechnoMarine watches until Dec. 31. Get these at TechnoMarine stores nationwide.

GIRL ON FIRE. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray stands out in her fiery red, Mak Tumang-designed dress inspired by the Mayon Volcano. AFP

Catriona Gray’s

fiery ‘Mayon’ gown TechnoMarine timepieces for men

For the wanderlust friend Give your traveler friend the gift of safe travels with Pacsafe Vibe, a collection of lightweight bags perfect for city and outdoor exploration. Choose from fullgear backpacks (Vibe 20 or Vibe 25 or Vibe 28) or get the Vibe 200, the perfect mini compartment.

Get these at Pacsafe outlets and Urbanize stores nationwide.

Pacsafe’s Vibe 20 (left) and Vibe 28 lightweight backpacks

Newly crowned Miss Universe 2018 Catriona elisa Gray was definitely on fire during the coronation night Monday, what with her powerful walks and stunning outfits that paid tribute to the Filipino heritage— most notably was her vibrant red and orange evening gown.

The 24-year-old beauty queen paid homage to her home province, Albay, with her sparkling crimson gown designed to resemble the lava that flows down Mayon Volcano.

Mak Tumang, in his Facebook post, shared the floor-sweeping number was indeed inspired by the active volcano.

“The prominent and iconic Mayon Volcano is the penultimate inspiration for this creation. It is dubbed as the ‘perfect cone’ because of its symmetric conical form,” said Tumang.

He added, “Folk tales have it that it was named after the mythological heroine ‘Daragang Magayon’ (Beautiful lady). Despite its pulchritude is the fact that it is the most active volcano in the Philippines erupting numerous times in the past half a millennium.

“Catriona can be considered as the modern-day Daragang Magayon. She embodies the Filipina’s beauty, intelligence, and burning passion. This lady is definitely on fire! watch her erupt right before your very eyes and let the lava of grace, goodness, and hope flow.”

In an Instagram post she posted late Monday evening, Gray said she wore red because when she was 13, her mom said she had a dream that she would win Miss Universe in a red dress.

Life

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wednesday, december 19, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Warming up in style

G

o-to store for affordable clothing apparel Surplus makes sure everyone’s warm during the cold season with its stylish coats and jackets on offer.

Whether one’s headed to Baguio or to snow resorts in Northern Asia, there are classic coat styles, timeless trench and pea coats that never go out of fashion, as well as duffle coats—an age old nautical icon worn by Winston Churchill and countless generations of prep kids.

Puffer coats and jackets top the trend as these are practical and fun to wear. Choices include cropped, mid-length, belted, or hooded.

Surplus also carries a select well-loved jacket styles on the update: bomber jackets exude a collegiate cool vibe; a good windbreaker, as demonstrated by Hailey Baldwin, is a statement

piece perfect for when exploring new places; moto jackets are perfect for city street style; and shearling and trucker jackets are ideal to be worn on outdoor adventures.

When it comes to prints and details, heritage checks are key players and have never looked better, while a pop of color, as in yellow, red, and blue, celebrates the joys of the season.

Animal prints and chic faux fur complete the look.

Check out these classic or trendy pieces at Surplus Stores located at most SM Supermalls.

Stay warm during the cold holiday season in (from left) lightweight down jacket, brown hooded jacket, doublebreasted pea coat with silver buttons, and bright yellow puffer coat with fur trimmings—available at Suplus.

One-stop signature designer items shop Premier department store rustan’s, long been known for bringing luxury brands and premium items to the country, offers a new, easy way to shop for designer brands with its newest concept, dubbed iCoNiC. iCoNiC is rustan’s one-stop spot where all top brands are located. this means, it will now be more convenient for the most discerning shoppers to find Louboutin’s red sole heels, Chloé’s saddle bags, or Sergio rossi’s elaboratelydesigned pumps. rustan’s iCoNiC will include the most coveted fashion pieces from Aquazzura, Christian Louboutin, Fendi, Gianvito rossi, Sergio rossi, Chloé, and Anya Hindmarch, among others.

Get to know the labels

italian footwear brand Aquazzura marries the exquisite craftsmanship of italian shoemakers but with surprising comfort. it’s best known for its playful yet sophisticated designs, a definite

shoe-in for one of its more popular fans, the Duchess of Sussex.

Christian Louboutin’s footwear became renowned for its trademarked redlacquered soles. the soles were an unexpected design accident that occurred when Louboutin had the idea of elevating a plain pair of shoes by painting its black sole red. it has since been lauded an icon with immediate recognition.

Another italian luxury brand, Fendi was established by edoardo and Adele Fendi in rome in 1925. thanks to fictional Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw, Fendi bags became among the most coveted in the world. its most recognized styles include the Baguette and the double-F logo.

Gianvito rossi is known for standout styles such as PVC-trimmed heels and minimalist but seductive sandals. the italian shoe designer built his namesake brand on the value of high quality and timeless designs.

Sergio rossi was established in the

Designer items available at Rustan’s ICONIC include (clockwise) Fendi bag charms; Chloé Faye small shoulder bag; Fendi 2Jour Monster handbag; Chloé Mini Roy bucket bag; Christian Louboutin Panettone Wallet Loubisky; and Aquazzura Powder Puff flats

1960s, and has been deeply rooted in the creativity and expertise of its eponymous founder, who viewed shoemaking as a continuous reflection on shape, harmony, and elegance. this shoe brand has been praised excessively for its impressive craftsmanship and feminine designs.

Chloé was founded on Gaby Aghion’s vision to give women the freedom to dare to be themselves. it has since produced a number of ‘it’ bags, including the Saddle bag, the Drew Bijou, the Nile, and the roy bucket bag. established in the ‘80s, Anya Hindmarch has grown into a global brand, with over 30 stores in the world’s biggest cities as well as a presence in luxury department stores like Lane Crawford, Bergdorf Goodman and now, rustan’s.

Creativity, modern craftsmanship, and personalization sit at the heart of this British brand’s accessories. it has also become known for its quirky and fun designs.

Bayo’s new collection of bags made of upcycled fabric scraps.

Fashion brand promotes sustainability iN A bid to become an empowering leader and social game-changer in the fashion industry, homegrown brand Bayo initiates a movement of sustainability through its newest partnership with rags2riches.

Bayo expands its influence and takes on the new cause with a Gift with Purchase initiative, which aims to address waste management and promote sustainability, while still adhering to its value of uplifting Filipino communities through craftsmanship.

“We were inspired to take this next step because i see mountains of cut fabrics in our factories just waiting to be thrown in the dumpsites and this would take so many years before it would decompose,” begins Louie Lagon, managing director of Bayo Foundation.

As a conscious fashion producer, Lagon says, Bayo strives to lessen its environmental impact and ensures that their scraps do not end up in landfills. rags2riches participated in this initiative to upcycle fabric scraps from the company’s manufacturing sites to create bags, designed and handwoven by the artisans of the foundation.

Lagon continues, “Climate change has always been a daunting problem all over the world. through our responsible waste management efforts, Bayo is

making sustainability its thrust. Bayo aims to lead the industry in helping alleviate its environmental impact.” the partnership gives birth to an array of beautifully crafted bags that are chic and stylish, perfect for the modern woman. For ladies who like to keep it hands-free, there’s the nifty backpack that is fitted with straps so it can also be carried as a handbag. on the other hand, women on-the-go can opt for a roomier tote that comes in colors such as khaki, navy, red, and black.

Shoppers can avail these limited edition bags for free for a minimum purchase of P5,000 at any Bayo store.

For each bag made of upcycled scraps, shoppers will be helping conserve resources. in addition, they will be supporting a fair and ethical livelihood for the artisans of rags2riches.

“We hope to spark a transformation and empower Filipinos to make sustainable fashion a central part of their lives.

We believe that this project will create a big impact not only on our local industry, but the global environment. We encourage our consumers to join us in this movement and be more conscious about sustainability,” ends Lagon.

Visit www.bayo.com.ph for more information.

A local artisan of Rags2Riches working on a Bayo bag.

Entertainment anniversary of makeup line with opening of flagship store

nickie.standard@gmail.com

OR continuing its mission to inspire the youth through child-friendly programs, leading broadcast company GMA Network once again brought home the most number of honors from the prestigious Anak TV Awards, getting a total of 50 awards for its various shows and personalities during the ceremonies held last December 7.

IT’S hard to imagine that it’s only last year when the Unkabogable Vice Ganda’s makeup line Vice Cosmetics was launched. And yet, even before it celebrated its first anniversary, it has already made a big difference and broken a record when the brand was launched in Araneta Coliseum with over 10,000 people in attendance.

The #GandaForAll message that Vice Ganda and the brand advocate for resonated with people. No wonder, Vice Cosmetics’ retail presence now in undeniable.

Available in over 100 Watsons stores, 40 kiosks nationwide and 5 online channels, Vice Cosmetics is on a mission to reach more people across the country.

Celebrating its first anniversary with Ganda For All Music Fest and A Guinness World Record attempt, Vice Cosmetics firmly established its dominance in the lip category by breaking the Guinness World Record for most number of people applying lipstick at the same time.

Now coming from a very successful first year in the business, Vice Cosmetics is starting its second year with the grand launch of its experiential flagship store in Market! Market! in Taguig.

The store features Instagram worthy areas where visitors and customers can touch and feel the products sold.

Earning the covetedAnak TV Seals anew are GMA-7’s primetime newscasts 24 Oras and 24 Oras Weekend; multiawarded magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho; longest-running morning show Unang Hirit; and pioneering public service program Wish Ko Lang. Toprating infotainment show AHA!; wellness program Pinoy MD; travel and wildlife show Born To Be Wild; public affairs program Tunay na Buhay; and weekly infotainment show I-Bilib were also conferred an Anak TV Seal each.

Joining the roster of Anak TV Seal awardees for this year are hit family sitcom Pepito Manaloto; drama anthology Stories for the Soul; top-rating weekly fantasy anthology show Daig Kayo

The Event Cinema located at SM Mall of Asia.

Award-winning Kapuso public affairs host Drew Arellano is joined by his son Primo in receiving the Anak TV Seal award for ‘Biyahe ni Drew.’

Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Kara David was conferred the ‘Female Makabata Star’ award.

Ng Lola Ko; musical game show All Star Videoke; cooking talk show Sarap Diva; romantic comedy series Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw; and well-loved primetime series Sherlock Jr. Eleven GMA News TV programs received the Anak TV Seal as well, namely Ang Pinaka, Biyahe Ni Drew, Brigada, Day Off, Good News, Idol Sa Kusina, iJuander, Investigative Documentaries, News To Go, Poptalk, and Wagas.

Meanwhile, the Kapuso Network’s regional arm GMA Regional TV (GMA RTV) took home its biggest winning haul in recent years. Local newscasts Balitang Amianan in North and Central Luzon; Balitang Bisdak in Central and Eastern Visayas; and One Mindanao in North, Central, and Southern Mindanao;

‘Bag It or Drop It’game big winners went home all smiles

“Bag It or Drop It” game show host Sam YG

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 statue 25 Goalie’s wear 26 Puts in a lawn 27 JFK lander 28 Plumbing need 29 Unwritten test 30 Clamor 33 Martini extra 34 Ricks 35 Huge hairstyle 36 News article 38 Sci-fi franchise (2 wds.)

41 Lalique or Descartes 44 Go in haste

Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian RiveraDantes

as well as its festival specials ‘Kapuso sa Panagbenga: The Balitang Amianan Special Live Coverage’ and ‘Pit Senyor: The Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage’ all received the iconic Anak TV Seal. Byaheng Do30, which airs on GMA RTV stations in Mindanao, received an award for the first time. These programs were affirmed as “childfriendly” by adult jurors from various

A TOTAL of four people went home grinning from ear to ear after winning a whopping combined total of more than P700,000 worth of home appliances during the thrilling “Bag It or Drop It” game event held last Nov. 3 at the Robinsons Place Antipolo in Antipolo City.

The four winners—from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—bagged various appliance showcases awarded by Robinsons Appliances during the culminating event of the much-anticipated “Bag It or Drop It” game. The game was the culmination of the “Bag It or Drop It” raffle promo organized by Robinsons Appliances for its loyal Robinsons Rewards Card members.

The happy winners were Loida Lanzaga, who bagged P110,000 worth of Home Entertainment Showcase, Ria Palafox who bagged more than P200,000 worth of Home Appliance Showcase, Jeanette Gascon and her P160,000 worth of Home Appliance Showcase and, Catherine Sescon, who said “I was both nervous

CROSSWORD PUZZLE price 50 Condo buyer, maybe 53 Pierre’s lid 54 Shout for joy 55 Part of aka 56 Turkish potentate 59 Rake 62 Georgia city 64 Dot in the Seine 65 Deserves 66 Made inquiries 67 Sen. Kennedy 68 Elbow opposites 69 Smart-alecky DOWN 1 Sign 2 Climb the ladder 3 Sports 4 Ernesto Guevara 5 A Muppet 6 Vacuum attachments 7 Flamenco shouts 8 NBA official 9 Fem. saint 10 Lingering 11 Hindu Destroyer 12 Horse opera 13 Flash on and off 19 Fable 22 Piccadilly

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GMA still the most child-friendly TV station F

Vice marks

ACROSS 1 Teasing remark 6 — -case scenario 11 Cry loudly 14 Flexible 15 Comic strip queen 16 Sci-fi computer 17 Auditorium guide 18 Wife of Akhenaten 20 Sushi-bar selection 21 Docs prescribe them 23 Poe’s night visitor 24 Sultans’ cousins 26 Meadow bird 28 Kind of pancake 30 Prove false 31 Lens opening 32 Long-faced 34 Yes in Yokohama 37 Stuffs the suitcase 39 Aberdeen boy 40 Splice, in botany 42 Urban trains 43 Parched feeling 46 Bronte heroine Jane — 47 Wide-eyed 48 Redemption

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

45 Very, for Pierre 47 World’s longest river 49 Fragrances 50 Kindled anew 51 Drive out 52 Floated down the river 53 Sanctify 55 English queen 57 Departs 58 Gibb or Rooney 60 Buff 61 Eur. country 63 Clean — — whistle

sectors nationwide after a thorough assessment screening.

Hailed by the jury as Male Makabata Stars for this year were Primetime King Dingdong Dantes; Pambansang Bae Alden Richards; broadcast journalist Atom Araullo; award-winning public affairs host Drew Arellano; and comedy genius Michael V. The Female Makabata Stars, on the other hand, were Primetime Queen Marian Rivera-Dantes; Phenomenal Star Maine Mendoza; award-winning Kapuso actress Barbie Forteza; versatile Kapuso actress Bianca Umali; multi-awarded broadcast journalist Kara David; and veteran TV and movie actress Ms. Gloria Romero. These personalities were deemed by the national jury as the “most admired, child-sensitive TV personalities” worth emulating by the youth.

Various Kapuso entertainment and news and public affairs programs were also given the Household Favorite awards, including Pepito Manaloto, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, 24 Oras, Biyahe ni Drew, and longest-running noontime variety program Eat Bulaga.

Anak TV is an iconic seal on Philippine television bestowed by parents, teachers, NGOs and other sectors of society on television programs they regard as wholesome and child-safe.

and excited and I got confused as to what box I will bag or drop. I just left it all to God, and thank God I got lucky,” was easily the biggest and proudest winner with a massive P250,000 take home, also of a Home Appliance Showcase.

It was total excitement in the air as each of the four winners took turns in playing the “Bag It or Drop It” game, hosted by popular radio jock and TV personality, Sam YG. The game started with 25 identical bags, where each bag comes with an appliance as a prize. The players must select a numbered bag at random, and the goal was to grab the best offer or keep the bag and what’s the prize inside it.

Each player’s turn was indeed nerve-wracking for the throng of people who waited with bated breaths as to whether they will “Bag It” or “Drop It.” In the end, it was all heart-pounding excitement from the first to the last winner.

“The ‘Bag It or Drop It’ promo was part of

Lights, Camera, Party at SM Cinema’s Event Cinema HAVE you ever imagined having an exclusive event at the cinema with your movie of choice playing?

Look no further as SM Cinema brings you Event Cinema, a venue for special parties that make unforgettable moments come to life.

Event Cinema is located at SM Mall of Asia. It is equipped with a 4D theatre and holds a 45-seating capacity.

From kiddie parties to corporate junctions, there’s a special package for any private function here.

Have a particular theme in mind?

No worries, as Event Cinema allows customized packages to fit every party need. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the party as Event Cinema takes care of every need including food, invitations, loot bags and decors.

Book your events through www. smcinema.com/Home/eventcinema.

You may also buy tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com, or get the SM Cinema app to book your ticket and skip the line. Download the SM Cinema app now through the App store and Google Play. Stay tuned to /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for more information.

our customer engagement activities that involved customer participation. “We are doing these types of event to make our customers feel that they are involved in whatever activities we do,” explains Jovito Santos, Group General Manager of Robinsons Appliances Corp.

Santos added that their promotional activities will continue to 2019, and likewise announced that Robinsons Appliances will be having the second set of its “Race to a Minute” raffle promo this November.

The “Bag-it or Drop-it” game was held in partnership with Robinsons Appliances’ trusted partner brands. At present, Robinsons Appliances operates close to 100 branches in key locations nationwide.

For more details about Robinsons Appliances and its array of home appliances and other products, visitwww.robinsonsappliances.com.ph or follow them on their official Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ robinsonsappliances.ph

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

LEA SALONGA

adds more color to OPM with ‘Bahaghari’ VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

T ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez, Rep. Florida Robes, ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez III, mayor Arthur Robes, and ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak

This is where ‘Darna’ is going to be filmed ABS-CBN Corporation marked its 65th founding anniversary with the inauguration of its state-of-the-art and brand new sound stages in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan last week, Dec. 12.

The studios will host the productions of upcoming television series, The Faithful Wife and the much-anticipated Liza Soberano starrer Darna film in the second quarter of 2019.

ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak said the two sound stages were built to support the company’s efforts towards expanding its audience and content output beyond the Philippines and to foreign audiences.

“We want to bring ABS-CBN content to the international stage, and having a state-of-the-art facility and a world-class production team is a big step for us towards that direction and dream,” Katigbak said.

ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez added, “What I’m most proud of about this project is that we’re creating Hollywood-level sound stages which puts us at par with the rest of the world.”

This project was the brainchild of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, who saw that building the studios is the best way to keep in step with the world’s top entertainment companies, which shoot bigger percentages of their programs and films in sound stages and not in remote locations.

Moreover, the sound stages also enable the company to manage production costs more efficiently.

“Completing the sound stages represents a very major step for ABSCBN in terms of our ability to create much better production. Through this we can show the world the best of the Filipino,” said Lopez III. Present at the inauguration of the sound stages along with Lopez III, Lopez, and Katigbak were ABS-CBN board member and former President and COO Freddie Garcia, ABSCBN board adviser, former president and CEO, and current chief creative officer Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN COO of broadcast Cory Vidanes, and ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. managing director Olive Lamasan, together with Rep. Rida Robes, Mayor Art Robes, and some members of the ABS-CBN community.

The sound stages represent the

beginning of a plan to establish a production hub that include sound stages, backlots, production and post-production facilities and offices that will allow both ABS-CBN and Philippine-based productions to match production facilities found elsewhere in the world.

In parallel with the construction work, the production and support teams for both TV and Feature Films began a three-year training program for the stages both in Hollywood and in the Philippines designed by Manhattan Beach Studios together with ABS-CBN Studios Inc. and ABS-CBN University. Covering all aspects of production, the courses involved over 150 people and were designed to ensure that production processes mirror the best practices in the world.

Phase 1 of the production hub includes two 1,500 sq. m. (16,000 sq. ft.) sound stages with a floor to grid height of 30 feet, a breezeway with dressing rooms and various support rooms and the technical facilities in aid of production. Sitting on 7.7 hectares, the facility includes a visitor’s center, parking facilities and various support buildings. The sound stages also boast of solar panels that help support the energy requirements of the whole facility.

Inaugurated in time to celebrate not only its 65th anniversary but also Star Cinema’s 25th year anniversary, the stages will enhance the production output for both TV and film in the years to come.

Designed by California-based architecture firm Bastien and Associates together with Filipino firm AIDEA and consultants from Hollywood-based Manhattan Beach Studios, these represent a new wave of sound stage design customized for the Philippine climate.

Coincidentally, the sound stages are being inaugurated a few days shy of 50 years after the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in Quezon City was inaugurated.

Considered the most advanced facility in Asia at that time, the center opened on December 18, 1968.

Work on the sound stages started as early as 2010 with various members of the executive and production teams visiting facilities in South Korea, Mexico, North America, Europe and Asia to understand the nuances of sound stage work. The project proper started in Q1 of 2014 with construction commencing May 2017.

ABS-CBN marks its 65th founding anniversary with the inauguration of two new world-class sound stages in Bulacan.

ONY Awardwinning artist Lea Salonga has just released an album, a 15-track record with songs in six languages namely Tagalog, Kapampangan, Ilocano, Bicolano, Ilonggo, and Bisaya. The musical outing is a collaboration with newly-declared National Artist Ryan Cayabyab.

The album carries 15 tracks featuring six regional dialects.

Without listening to the CD, and just hearing that Salonga and Cayabyab are on board this project, it is safe to say that you are in for treat most especially if you learned about the process the two geniuses went through just to produce the album.

“Because the arrangements were all so different from one another, I needed to stylistically adapt my vocals to fit them while holding on to my own voice and how I sing,” Salonga said.

“The more playful stuff, like ‘Pobreng Alindahaw,’ was just so much fun to do in the studio, and some of the more dramatic music, like ‘Matud Nila,’ was straight from the heart. The melodies are just as informative as the lyrics, so I latched on to them,” she added.

It is with great pride for Curve Entertainment Inc. and GLP Music to trumpet the release of the album Bahaghari, Salonga’s latest music endeavor as she focuses on presenting the rich and colorful music of the Philippines to the world.

“This project felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce the languages of my country to a bigger world—a world that might not be aware of the intricacies and differences between these languages. Many of these tongues feel very foreign and strange, and since there’s always a danger that these languages won’t be spoken by future generations, there was a need on our part to preserve them in some way,” Salonga explained.

Produced by Cayabyab, whose deep knowledge of Filipino music proved key to the project, Bahaghari is aimed to reach the consciousness of the young Filipino generation to revive

our traditional music’s heritage and preserve the importance and beauty of this art.

“We are an archipelago and we’re all kind of insulated in our own bubbles. We don’t always know what’s going on in our own country just because of the nature of it. So, hopefully more people will get to hear this album, never mind my voice, that’s fine. But listen to the language, listen to what your neighbor in another province is trying to say or what kind of music is coming from there,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cayabyab was able to make the album musically interesting not only with the diverse selection of the songs’ languages, but also with the diverse line-up of arrangers that he has tapped for each song, which include Salonga’s brother, Gerard.

“The songs had to be varied in subject, in emotion and in tempo and rhythm,” Cayabyab noted.‘‘The collection could not all be slow songs or only celebratory songs. We had to have a good representation not only of language but of a variety of subjects and emotions. This would hopefully make for a lovely aural spread.”

The project was initiated when Lea was introduced to GLP Music founders Angela Jackson and Rex Niswander. The label produces music that would introduce children to world languages and world cultures.

“We were focused on world music, music in languages other than English, but we had not considered an album in the languages of the Philippines,” said Niswander. “That all changed when we met Lea Salonga. Thanks to her, we began to appreciate the significance of an album that would present the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Philippines.”

“There is a large Filipino diaspora around the world. They have very tight ties to their homeland yet many children in the diaspora don’t learn Tagalog or one of the other languages.

We hope this album can become a resource for families, to inspire interest in these languages and their wonderful songs,” explains Jackson.

Bahaghari is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer and all digital platforms worldwide. Physical CDs with a special booklet containing cultural notes written by award-winning writer and director Floy Quintos, and original lyrics with English translations became available in local record stores on Dec. 17.

'Bahaghari: Rainbow' is Lea Salonga's 10th studio album, with National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab as producer.

Apple to roll out new Snoopy, Peanuts cartoon series APPLE will produce a new animated series starring Snoopy The Canadian group will also create educational programs and the Peanuts gang, created by the late American cartoonist including the Peanuts gang, exclusively for Apple, around space Charles Schulz, for its video platform, a source close to the deal and the conquest of space. said Friday, confirming press The agreement between reports.The agreement was Apple and DHX Media is reached with Apple, “in a highly another example of the Apple competitive environment” brand’s ambition, given the and at the expense of other launch, announced by several candidates, with the Canadian media in 2019, of its own group DHX Media, which video-on-demand service holds 80 percent of the rights offering exclusive content. of Snoopy and Peanuts, said the Until now, the video content source. available on the iTunes DHX bought this stake, as platform was produced by well as rights to Peanuts gang third parties and accessible one member Peppermint Patty, for by one, not as a subscription. $345 million in 2017.

Schulz wrote and illustrated The commitment is for DHX the Peanuts cartoon strip to produce a new animated starting in 1950. The final series, specials and short strip ran in newspapers one programs around the Peanuts day after his death in February gang, a bunch of kids with the 2000, according to the Charles Snoopy gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. dog Snoopy.

M. Schulz Museum. AFP