Manila Standard - 2018 December 24 - Monday

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TSUNAMI BATTERS INDONESIA: 222 DEAD CARITA, Indonesia—A tsunami following a volcanic eruption killed at least 222 people when it slammed without warning into popular beaches around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on Saturday night, cutting a swathe of destruction and triggering mass panic as it swept inland.

Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the wave, which hit the coast of southern Sumatra and the western tip of Java about 9:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) following the eruption of a

volcano known as the “child” of the legendary Krakatoa, national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Search and rescue teams were scouring rubble for survivors, with 222 confirmed dead, 843 people injured and 28 reported missing across three regions, he said.

Dramatic video posted on social media showed a wall of water suddenly crashing into Next page

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. Vehicles and buildings are damaged along Carita beach on December 23, 2018, after the area was hit by a tsunami on December 22 following an eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano. At least 222 were killed and hundreds more injured as the tusnami slammed without warning into tourist beaches and coastal areas around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, sending panicked holidaymakers and residents fleeing. AFP

3 more bodies found day after solon’s murder THREE bodies were found in Daraga, Albay, on Sunday, one day after Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police bodyguard were murdered in the same town.

Chief Inspector Maria Calubaguib confirmed that a third body was found Sunday, a few meters from two others that had been found earlier, but could not say as yet if these deaths were related to Batocabe’s assassination.

All three bodies found in Barangay San Vicente Grande, in Daraga, Albay,

Mystery killing: 3 males shot dead in Mindoro barrio

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 312 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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SUNDAY SHOCKER . Policemen carry one of the bodies of three men who were shot dead in a grassy lot not far from the area where AkoBicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his escort were ambushed in Daraga, Albay. Right photo shows the three murder victims gunned down in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Photos by PRO 5 and Occidental Mindoro Police

POLICE on Saturday found three bodies with gunshot wounds in the head near Buswangan Bridge in Burgos village, municipality of Sablayan, in Occidental Mindoro.

They were all male, were blindfolded and their arms and feet tied with packaging tape and used plastic bags.

They remain unidentified.

Police from the Sablayan Municipal Station discovered the bodies following a call from village captain Sileny Epitito.

They said one of the victims had a light complexion, was of medium build

Bounty on Batocabe’s killers

Probe pattern of violence vs party-list group

By Maricel V. Cruz THE police are looking into the pattern of violence committed against members of a party-list group after one of its nominees in the House of Representatives was killed and the house of another nominee was robbed the day after the killing.

On Saturday, Rep. Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol Party-list group was killed in the town of Daraga in Albay.

On Sunday, a burglar entered the house of Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., also a memer of the Ako Bicol Party-list group, in Legazpi City, and took away cash and other belongings.

Police said they were trying to determine the motive for the two crimes and to see if they were related.

A robber, police said, forcibly entered the house of Garbin at Winsor St. Ridge View Subdivision, barangay Buragwis, Legazpi City early Sunday morning.

Initial investigation indicated that the burglar entered through the awning-type window of the victims’ toilet on the second floor.

Police said the robber took the personal bag of Garbin containing cash and checks worth P500,000 and several signature wristwatches.

However, investigators said that since the burglar only took Garbin’s bag while

Ako Bicol rep kicks in P15m in reward for info; Albay gov, P2m

By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

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AWMAKERS are planning to raise up to P30 million to offer as a bounty for information leading to the arrest of the killers of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, a member of his party-list group said Sunday.

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin on Sunday pledged P15 million as a reward, and said other members of Congress have raised another P5 million. Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara also pledged P2 million that would go to the bounty pool.

Batocabe and his police bodyguard, SPO1 Orlando Diaz, were shot dead Saturday afternoon as they were leaving a

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gift-giving event in Barangay Burgos in Daraga town, Albay.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, head of the Visayan bloc in the House, initiated the bounty drive and said the final figure could reach P30 million.

“That’s really possible because at least 168 congressmen have committed to give at least P30,000 to put up reward money Next page

Congress to work for abolition of Road Board

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Countdown to Christmas

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PARADE OF STARS. Movie fans and actors brave the rain during the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival Parade of Stars along the busy stretch of Parañaque City’s Sucat highway on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. Ey Acasio

Ateneo kicks out student, digs deep into bullying case

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday decided to dismiss the junior high school student who was caught in a video bullying a schoolmate.

University president Jose Ramon Villarin said they reached the decision “after a thorough investigation that included listening to all parties involved.”

“This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo. I have spoken

to the parents of both students about this decision and we have offered the families continued support to help them overcome this difficult time,” Villarin said in a university memorandum released Sunday.

“We are continuing the investigation as there are other matters involved in the incident.”

Villarin made his statement even as Senator Grace Poe cited the need to revisit the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to fill in some gaps as to the role of the schools in dealing with bullies.

“Anyone who has seen the video of the violent bullying incident would understand that bullying is a despicable act that insults our humanity,” Poe said.

“There is an Anti-Bullying law in place. However, we believe it should be strengthened to require concrete and timely action from schools,” said Poe, vice-chairperson of the Senate committee on public order.”

Villarin said Ateneo remained “very clear” on its stand against bullying.

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THE leaders of the House of Representatives will respond to the call of a senator for both chambers of Congress to meet “to hammer out a better Road Board abolition bill,” House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said Sunday.

“On the part of the House, we will designate the members of our contingent to the bicameral conference committee on our first session day on January 14,” Andaya said.

He said the proposal of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri “is the way forward for both houses to jointly cure the bill of its defects, instead of carelessly sending to the President a flawed and faulty one which does not offer reforms but more of the same bad practices.

“We will heed the President’s guidance by crafting a version that will truly abolish the board and move the spending of the MVUC [Motor Vehicle Users’ Charge] collection from darkness into light,” Andaya said.

He said the House was all for the dismantling of the Road Board.

“We do not want its powers to be merely transferred to three secretaries who will in effect be Three Road Kings who can spend the MVUC at will,” Andaya said.

“We will ensure that all proceeds from the MVUC form part of the General Fund.

We want to strip MVUC collections of its status as a hidden off-budget item that will be spent by one person in an untransparent way.

“We want itemized spending the people can see.

We will ensure that the law will provide that every centavo taken from the motorists will be spent for their relief. Non-road-use activities like garbage collection would have to be stricken off the spending menu.”

Maricel V. Cruz

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“There are already policies and processes codified in the Student Handbook, all in accord with existing legislation,” he said.

But he said the university still needed to ensure that those policies and processes and the values they promoted were being internalized by the members of their community.

Villarin said the university administration had created a task force that would zero in on the implementation of Ateneo’s anti-bullying policies and processes.

[The Task Force will] “ensure an independent audit of our present measures and systems, and promptly recommend to administration how we can create a safer and bully-free environment,” Villarin said.

He also called on the public not to “add fuel to the fire” by taking part in the cycle of bullying.

He encouraged the public to help the children and heal one another instead in time for the Yuletide season as the videos of the bullying incident went viral and netizens had threatened and made fun of the bully and his family.

Meanwhile, Malacañang commended the Ateneo’s “swift action” on the matter.

“The Palace commends the school administration’s swift action on the case of this student. We note, however, that the investigation has yet to be concluded as regards the rest of those involved,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement Sunday.

“While we respect ADMU’s academic freedom, we hope that it could finish the ongoing investigation the soonest and with regard to due process in line with the applicable jurisprudence on schools.”

On Thursday, a video of the incident showing a student challenging his schoolmate to a fight inside a washroom at the Ateneo went viral, sparking a national conversation in which the public and even local officials weighed in.

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other valuable items like cell phones and pieces of jewelry were near the bag, it may be the documents in that bag that were the target of the burglary.

The incident happened the day after Batocabe and his bodyguard, SPO 1 Orlando Diaz were shot dead while they were leaving a gift-giving event in in barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay.

At the time of the robbery, Garbin was with House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. at the Legazpi Airport to fetch Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who paid her last respects to Batocabe at the Arcilla Hall of the Bicol University campus in Daraga, Albay.

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Court junks UCCP suits vs Arroyo sion of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, Branch 226, in Sept. 2016 that granted Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence and dismissed the civil complaint for damages.

“All told, this Court finds that the evidence adduced is wholly insufficient to support the ultimate facts asserted in the complaint,” the court said in its decision writtend by Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles.

Associate Justices Mario Lopez and Ronaldo Roberto Martin concurred with

the ruling.

The appellate court sided with the RTC’s finding that the complainants lacked personal knowledge of the deaths and tortures and failed to show that military personnel committed the acts.

The evidence only included death certificates and the military’s tagging of the UCCP as an alleged ally of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the book Trinity of War, Book III. “This Court concurs with the court that the witnesses lacked personal knowledge with respect to the alleged deaths and tortures suffered by their respective deceased family members. Worse, there is even no showing that the dastardly acts were perpetrated by military people,” the appellate court said.

“As all of these individuals admitted that they did not witness the killings, their imputation to the military of participation in or authorship of the crimes are within the realm of speculation.”

The appellate court also said that the UCCP itself was not entitled to damages since it was a corporation and not a natural person.

It likewise cited the failure of the group to show evidence and establish the injury it supposedly sustained from its damaged reputation.

The UCCP filed the damage suit over the alleged extra-judicial killings of five of its members and the kidnapping of another priest from 2003 to 2006.

The group alleged that Arroyo was liable for damages as she failed to fulfill her duties as President and commanderin-chief of the armed forces.

Under the Oplan Bantay Laya―the anti-communist insurgency operation of the Armed Forces during Arroyo administration-UCCP was among the society and church organizations identified as front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and thus targets for neutralization by the military.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel probe into the killing and to assist the police investigating the case.

“Initial investigation by NBI agents suggests that the attack was likely politically motivated. A thorough inspection of the crime scene will be conducted soon in coordination with the PNP,” Guevarra said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said his panel would also investigate the assassination.

“At the rate murder is being committed with impunity, it’s time for the PNP to impose stricter gun control measures,” Lacson said, including the suspension of permits to carry firearms outside of residences.

For a start, he said, the PNP should suspend all permits, and anyone in civilian clothes carrying firearms must be assumed to have criminal intent and arrested on the spot.

He said such a policy should include PNP officers who are not in uniform.

Lacson said his panel’s investigation would include the killing of: • General Tinio (Nueva Ecija) Mayor Ferdinand Bote, who was shot dead inside his vehicle in an ambush (July 3) • Radio anchorman Joey Llana, gunned down by men with automatic firearms in Daraga, Albay, while on his way to work (July 20) • Lawyer Rafael Atotubo, 62, gunned down in Bacolod City by motorcycle-

riding assailants (Aug. 24) • Former barangay councilor Pepe Baccay, gunned down in Tumauini town in Isabela province (Aug. 25) • Ricardo Aparicio, husband of Clarin (Bohol) Vice Mayor Velden Aparicio (Sept. 2) • Ronda (Cebu) Mayor Mariano Blanco III, killed gangland-style by armed men who barged into his office while he was sleeping there (Sept. 5) • Sudipen, La Union Mayor Alexander Buquing, gunned down in Bangar town by assailants riding a pickup truck (Oct. 1) • Human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos Jr., 56, a founding member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, shot dead in front of a convenience store in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental (Nov. 6) • Balaoan (La Union) vice mayor Alfred Concepcion, who died along with aide Michael Ulep, in an ambush (Nov. 14).

• Former Bayambang, Pangasinan Councilor Levin Uy, who was shot dead while jogging (Nov. 16).

• Businessman Dominic Sytin, gunned down outside a hotel in Subic Bay Freeport (Nov. 28) • Richard Santillan, former aide of former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong, who was gunned down in an alleged shootout (Dec. 10). Police said he was killed in a shootout in Cainta but the Public Attorney’s Office said he was tortured before being killed.

• Senior Inspector Porferio Gabuya Jr., gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental (Dec. 19). Gabuya was deputy chief of police for operations of the Guihulngan City police.

“When persons in authority are now being killed in a brazen manner—in broad daylight and in full public view-that is cause for concern. If these personalities who have security details are not safe, what more the ordinary Filipino?”

Lacson said.

Batocabe was on his last term in Congress and was running for mayor in Daraga, Albay.

Earlier, he had warned that rivals in the mayoral race were using armed groups to influence the votes.

The remains of Batocabe, a lawyer and president of the 46-strong Party List Coalition (PLC), were brought to Arcilla Hall, Bicol University in Daraga. He will be buried on Dec. 31, 2018, also in Daraga.

A memorial service for Batocabe will be held at the House of Representatives on Jan. 14, 2018.

Batocabe, a full-fledged Iskolar ng Bayan, finished his Economics and Bachelor of Laws degrees at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, both with honors.

Batocabe, a vice chairman of the House committees on dangerous drugs, on good government and public accountability, and on natural resources, also took his Master’s in Public Administration at UP.

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE Court of Appeals has dismissed the P5.4-million damage suit filed by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines against former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over the alleged extrajudicial killings during her regime that victimized their pastors and members.

The court’s Special 14th Division denied the petition filed by the UCCP, through general secretary Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza and the families of six victims of the so-called Oplan Bantay Laya during the Arroyo administration.

The petition had sought compensation for moral damages for the group’s allegedly besmirched reputation and for the deaths of some of its members and their relatives.

The court instead upheld the deci-

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for the speedy capture of the perpetrators.

We are still counting,” Benitez said.

Benitez said they hope that people would start cooperating with the police who are conducting the investigation.

“We will be vigilant and will make sure that the investigation [is] impartial. We will not take this sitting down. It is an assault on our institution,” Benitez said.

Ako Bikol has called on the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to immediately disarm the armed groups of rival politicans in Daraga. It has also called for the immediate removal of Psupt. Dodson Penalosa, for her “incompetence and negligence.”

Souces close to Batocabe said Penalosa pulled his police escort days before his assassination.

Bicol police said Sunday that the police chief of Albay town, Supt. Benito Dipad Jr., has been relieved while the murder is being investigated.

Chief Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the task force on the Batocabe murder, said the driver of the congressman’s vehicle said there could have been up to six suspects in the killing, noting that there were three motorcycles waiting just before the attack.

In an interview with radio dzBB, Calubaquib said Batocabe suffered four gunshot wounds from the back, not eight.

Mystery killing...

Residents inspect damaged buidlings in Carita on December 23, 2018, after the area was hit by a tsunami on December 22 following an eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano. At least 222 people were killed and hundreds more injured as the tsunami slammed without warning into tourist beaches and coastal areas around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on the night of December 22, sending panicked holidaymakers and residents fleeing.

AFP

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and was wearing a white shirt, denim shorts and blue slippers.

Another had a fair complexion, was of medium build and was wearing a red shirt and denim shorts.

The third had a fair skin, was of medium build and was wearing a gray T-shirt and denim shorts.

The police and health officials are investigating the incident.

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had gunshot wounds. No IDs were found on the bodies.

Villagers who found the bodies said they looked unfamiliar.

Police said they were looking at possible links between the killings and Batocabe’s assassination after a gift-giving event for Christmas in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, on Saturday.

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an open-air concert by pop group “Seventeen”—hurling band members off the stage and then flooding into the audience.

In a tearful Instagram post, frontman Riefian Fajarsyah said the band’s bassist and road manager had been killed.

Images of the aftermath of the tsunami in coastal areas show a trail of uprooted trees and debris strewn across beaches. A tangled mess of corrugated steel roofing, timber and rubble was dragged inland at Carita beach, a popular day-tripping spot on the west coast of Java.

Muhammad Bintang, who was at Carita beach when the wave hit, described a sudden surge of water that plunged the tourist spot into darkness.

“We arrived at 9 p.m. for our holiday and suddenly the water came—it went dark, the electricity is off,” the 15-yearold said.

“It’s messy outside and we still cannot access the road.”

In Lampung province, on the other side of the strait, Lutfi Al Rasyid said he fled the beach in Kalianda city in fear for his life.

“I could not start my motorbike so I left it and I ran... I just prayed and ran as far as I could,” the 23-year-old said.

Authorities say the tsunami may have been triggered by an abnormal tidal surge due to a new moon and an underwater landslide following the eruption of Anak Krakatoa, which forms a small island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

“The combination caused a sudden tsunami that hit the coast,” Nugroho said, but added that Indonesia’s geological agency was working to ascertain exactly how it happened.

He added that the death toll would likely increase.

Video footage posted to social media

by Nugroho showed panicked residents clutching flashlights and fleeing for higher ground.

Indonesian authorities initially claimed the wave was not a tsunami, but instead a tidal surge and urged the public not to panic.

Nugroho later apologized for the mistake on Twitter, saying because there was no earthquake it had been difficult to ascertain the cause of the incident early on.

“If there is an initial error we’re sorry,” he wrote.

The wave swamped parts of the coast around the Sunda Strait, but was most damaging in Pandeglang district, on Java’s western tip, where at least 33 people died and 491 people were injured.

Three people died further north in Serang, while seven were killed in South Lampung, on Sumatra island.

Heavy equipment was being transported to badly-hit areas to help search for victims, Nugroho said, adding evacuation posts and public kitchens were being set up for evacuees.

Abu Salim, a member of the Tagana disaster volunteer group, said he helped evacuate victims in Banten province.

“We evacuated the victims who died and were injured, we took them to health clinics ... Most of them suffered from broken bones,” he said, adding he feared more were missing.

The Philippines offered prayers and condolences to Indonesia.

“We offer our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the people of Indonesia who were hit by a tsunami around the Sunda Strait,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Sunday.

“We particularly condole with the families of those who perished in this tragedy.”

Panelo noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Philippine embassy in Jakarta, has been monitoring the situation in Indonesia and checking if any Filipinos were affected by the tsunami.

Although relatively rare, submarine volcanic eruptions can cause tsunamis due to the sudden displacement of water or slope failure, according to the International Tsunami Information Center.

Anak Krakatoa is a small volcanic island that emerged from the ocean half a century after Krakatoa’s deadly 1883 eruption which killed more than 36,000 people.

According to Indonesia’s geological agency, Anak Krakatoa had been show-

ing signs of heightened activity for days, spewing plumes of ash thousands of metres into the air.

The volcano erupted again just after 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, the agency said.

An eruption just before 4:00 p.m. on Saturday lasted around 13 minutes and sent plumes of ash soaring hundreds of metres into the sky.

Indonesia, one of the most disasterprone nations on earth, straddles the socalled Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where tectonic plates collide and a large portion of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

Most recently in the city of Palu on Sulawesi island a quake and tsunami in September killed thousands of people.

On Dec. 26, 2004 a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

Anak Krakatoa is one of 127 active volcanoes which run the length of the archipelago. AFP with Nat Mariano

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Faeldon son freed; drug case dismissed THE son of Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon, who was arrested last week during a raid in a suspected drug den in Naga City, has been freed, police said on Sunday.

The young Faeldon was released last Friday after the court dismissed the “visitor of a drug den” case police filed against him.

Naga Police Chief Senior Supt. Felix Servita Jr. said the court found no sufficient evidence to prove that the raided house was indeed a drug den.

Faeldon’s companions Manuel Nebres and Allan Valdez were also released on Friday.

Faeldon Jr. tested negative for drugs.

The father of Faeldon’s girlfriend, Russel Lanuzo, will still face charges for illegal possession of illegal drugs.

SOLDIERS’ SIDEARMS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte distributes pistols to the personnel of the 10th Infantry Division during his visit to Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab, Compostela Valley Province on Dec. 22, 2018. In a speech, Duterte ordered troops to destroy the Communist movement, rejecting a five-day ceasefire the Reds declared on their own. Presidential Photo

Andaya to prove Diokno insertions T

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE House leadership is ready to provide President Rodrigo Duterte with the evidence during the congressional investigation in Naga City on Jan. 3, 2019 to bolster accusations against Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on alleged irregularities in the budget process, House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya said on Sunday.

Andaya, chairman of the House committee on rules, said President Duterte did not even call for a ceasefire if indeed he supported Diokno as what Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo had been trying to portray in the media.

“I have not heard any rumor that President Duterte is protecting Sec-

retary Diokno. But if the President is uncomfortable with the issue, he can always tell me to let go of it, Andaya said.

Andaya maintained that the House will still pursue its congressional inquiry on Diokno’s alleged P75-billion insertions under the P3.757-trillion national budget.

He said President Duterte might have been just observing and waiting for all the evidence to come out being a lawyer and a former prosecutor before making action on the budget issues against Diokno.

“I know that whatever we claim in the media should be proven by documents presented and testimonies at the right venue. This will happen on January 3,” Andaya said.

“So we expect to start from ground going up. We shall find out the person involved We will determine where the irregularities started,” Andaya said.

Andaya said the media should ask Panelo and Diokno if indeed they were able to talk to President Duterte about the budget controversies.

“Maybe you should ask them if they actually talked to the President,” Andaya said.

This developed as the left-leaning

Makabayan Bloc joined the call to fire Diokno in light of alleged irregularities in the national budget.

“We call for a thorough investigation into the alleged [budget irregularities], including the involvement of other members of the Duterte Cabinet in the insertion of pet projects in the national budget, “parking” of funds in legislative districts, and awarding of these projects to favored contractors,” the Makabayan Bloc led by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

“As for the issue of the abolition of the Road Board and the Motor Vehicle Users Charge we in Makabayan bloc agree that it is a massive source of corruption and should be abolished but it should not be used to muddle or divert the issues against Secretary Diokno,” the Bloc said.

‘Reds, allied fronts face destruction’ PRESIDENT Duterte’s order to ‘destroy’ the communist movement could engulf the Reds’ legal fronts, political parties and allied NGOs, an administration official said, prompting CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison to denounce what he called state-sponsored terrorism.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was referring to the functions of the task force the President has created against the communist movement with the sole purpose of decimating the rebels’ ranks.

Andanar said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB that the insincerity of communist groups in the conduct of peace talks had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to order security forces to “destroy” them.

Moreover, Andanar pointed out that nothing good has come out of the 50-year-old communist rebellion in the country but only killings.

On Saturday, President Duterte ordered government troops to destroy the CPP after the communist group declared a ceasefire in observance of the holiday season.

“We do not subscribe to their ceasefire. We are ready for anything and I said change your paradigm. Do not fight them. Destroy them. Destroy them. Kill them.

Basta destroy,” Duterte said.

In rejecting the truce, President Duterte is “out of his mind,” Sison said, labelling Duterte an abominable violator of human rights and mastermind of state terrorism.

“He exposes himself as an abominable violator of human rights. Relatedly, he has roused his armed minions to show no respect for human rights and human rights organizations,” Sison said in a statement Sunday. Nat Mariano

XMAS RUSH. National Capital Region Police Office Chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar conducts an inspection at the Provincial Bus terminal in Cubao Quezon City to help ensure an orderly exodus of passengers bound for the provinces in time for Christmas. Manny Palmero

Law and order democracy’s backbone—Bato A FREE and democratic society can only be possible if its laws are strictly enforced, its citizens adhere to them, and the common good prevails over the interests of the few.

This was the observation of former PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa, who said popular observance of the law was a cornerstone of some of the world’s most recognized democracies like Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, and Australia.

“The Philippines is currently in a position to even more strengthen its democracy by simply implementing what’s stipulated in the law,” he said in a statement.

He said criminality can engulf a community if law enforcers shirk from their responsibilities, or “obviously when its residents flout the law with abandon.”

This has been happening in cities across the country with respect to drug abuse and its concomitant repercussions in public safety, family relations, and mental health, he added.

Dela Rosa cited the recent killing of party-list representative Rodel Batocabe in Albay, who was repeatedly shot during a gift-giving function. His bodyguard was likewise gunned down. A last-term congressman, Batocabe was slated to run for mayor of Daraga, Albay in next year’s midterm elections.

“Whatever may have been the motive of the murder,” Dela Rosa said, “the incident betrays a practice of impunity among some people pretending to be powerful. Whether the victim is a politician or a humble citizen, the guilty must be hunted down and made to pay. The majesty of the law must prevail at all times, otherwise we as a nation will go to the dogs.”

Dela Rosa continued that even in Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia’s longest-running democracies, “crime doesn’t pay,” recalling that newly elected Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced a top-to-bottom review of alleged crimes that transpired in the previous administration.

He also said that Timor-Leste, another Asian democracy, has named law and order as a top priority, beefing up its police capabilities and better engaging its civilian populace for mutual cooperation and long-term security.

“When we work together, we keep the criminals at bay. And, thus, we are freer,” Dela Rosa said.

Campaign against illegal fishing earns citation for Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar was recognized by the Department of Agriculture for her role in the enactment of the law against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

During the First Command Conference of the Philippine Committee against IUUF at the Philippine International Convention Center last Monday, Villar was recognized “for her pivotal role in the enactment of Republic Act 10654, which is the country’s legal backbone in the fight against IUUF.” Villar as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, principally sponsored the bill which also resulted in the lifting of the yellow tag on Philippine fish imports. If not immediately addressed, the yellow tag would have caused a ban on the Philippines to export fish products to Europe, one of the country’s largest markets.

It also would have caused the inclusion of the country in the European Commission’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus and allowed duty-free entry of over 6,000 Philippine products to Europe.

“With the enactment of this law, we were able to address two important things: One is to ensure the sustainability of our oceans and two, ensure the livelihood of our fishermen. It also helped the Philippines diversify trade, increase exports and attract foreign direct investments,” Villar said.

The law which was signed into law February 27, 2015, amended the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. The law sanctions IUUF and modified penalties for a more deterrent effect.

The law also provides for the creation of the Fisheries Management Fund from the fines and penalties collected.

The fund will provide livelihood and scholarship programs, among others, to fisher folks and their family.

Under the law, 35 percent of the fund will be allocated to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for fishery law enforcement and 65 percent will be allotted to provide assistance to poor fisher folk: A. 10 percent for the purchase, upgrade and maintenance of vessels, communication and other equipment used for the monitoring, control and surveillance, of Philippine waters and distant water fishing; B. 5 percent for the payment of litigation expenses, cost of conveyance of witnesses and other costs due to cases filed by or against the Republic of the Philippines in international courts arising from the implementation of this act or where apprehending party or parties become respondents or defendants in any tribunal or court of law; C. 15 percent for the operating costs of the IFARMC and MFARMC and payment for the cost of rehabilitation, medical expenses for injury, or indem-

nity for death of law enforcement officers, including deputized volunteers; D. 20 percent for payment for rewards to informers and those who assisted in fishery law enforcement; E. 5 percent for the continued upgrading of laboratory facilities and equipment; F. 5 percent for the capability development of BFAR personnel, deputized law enforcement agencies and volunteers, and stakeholders; G. 10 percent for scholarship grants for children of fisher folks and fish workers in fish catch, aquaculture, fishing and fish processing; H. 15 percent for livelihood programs for production enhancement and poverty alleviation; and I. 15 percent for assistance to fishermen in the form of shared facilities.

With the enactment of the law, Villar said the country was able to fulfill its commitment to the international community to protect marine life and resources.

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

Bullying: How to stop it • and, in the case of girls, their looks.

Children who receive their parents’ and other adults’ compliments in these areas are delighted; everyone loves compliments. But what about the child who doesn’t excel at academics, who isn’t a gifted athlete or dancer? Or the girl who IN THREE separate videos that began is not particularly pretty?

About what will their parents praise to spread on the Internet last week, a teenage taekwondo gold medalist from them? The most flattering remark such the Ateneo Junior High School is seen a child is likely to hear their parents tell kicking and punching a fellow student others will be something like, “But he inside the school toilet, beating a second or she is a really good kid.” From which student in a fight, and forcing a third to it can generally be inferred that being a kneel in submission and touch one of his good kid is not a big deal—that, from the parents’ perspective, the child is probably shoes.

The teen’s aggressive actions triggered not very good at anything worth talking about. nationwide Some parents, disputes over how to whom this to handle such proposal has behavior. been made, have A lot of the The best thing we said that it’s things that are can teach children unnecessary; wrong with the they’re certain world, we can’t is to value goodness that they’ve fix by ourselves. above all else— successfully As much as we’d communicated like to see an above even success, to their children end to bullying, intelligence, beauty, that being a good peace brought person is what to troubled and happiness. really matters most areas, corrupt to them. governments By and large, reformed, cancers these parents are cured, there’s a limited amount that any of us as deluding themselves and there is a way for parents to find out if this is so. individuals can do about such things.

For many years, leading psychologists However, there is one thing that nearly all of us can do that will immediately have suggested that parents ask their and exponentially increase goodness and children: What do you think that I, your mother, or I, your father, want you to be: happiness on earth.

Parents—and all other adults—should Successful, smart, good, or happy?

Many parents who have conducted reserve their highest praise of children for when their children do kind acts. This is this experiment have been quite surprised not the case at present. As a rule, children to learn that their children did not think receive their highest compliments for one that being good was what mattered most to their parents. Try it yourself. Ask your of four things: • their intellectual and academic child of any age that question: What do achievements. “My son, Alex is brilliant! you think I most want you to be?

I want to make clear that I am His teacher says he is the best student she not suggesting that parents stop has had in years.” complimenting their children for their • their athletic abilities, • their artistic attainments, Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

C

Language of violence

ONGRESSMAN Rodel Batocabe was gunned down at a Christmas celebration on Saturday, the latest example that tragically, violence is still the language most often used in the pursuit of political power.

Batocabe had just finished handing out presents in the central town of Daraga, Albay, when he and his police bodyguard were shot dead by six gunmen.

The motive was not immediately clear, but authorities said they were looking into whether the killing could be politically motivated.

Batocabe, from the Ako-Bicol Party-list, had announced plans to run for mayor in Daraga in midterm elections in May 2019.

Elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, Batocabe had recently voiced concerns that rivals in the mayoral race were using armed groups to influence the votes. Now it seems those fears were well founded.

As one of the oldest democracies in Asia, the Philippines ought to have reached a level of political maturity where differences are settled by

reasoned and civilized debate and free and honest elections. Yet, our elections continue to be plagued by intimidation, violence and poll fraud.

Over the years, several members of Congress have been attacked or murdered by suspected rivals.

Rep. Wahab Akbar of Basilan was killed along with two aides when a bomb exploded outside the House of Representatives building in November 2007. A year earlier, Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr. was shot dead outside a church in broad daylight in Quezon City.

On Nov. 23, 2009, 58 people —including 32 journalists—were massacred in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao, in the worst electionrelated violence in the country’s history. Killed in the carnage were the wife and sister of Esmael Mangudadatu, who had the temerity

to challenge the powerful Ampatuan clan in the gubernatorial race.

Over the last decade, hundreds of people seeking local elective positions have been killed every year, In October, the Philippine National Police said it was monitoring 77 active private armed groups with 2,060 members with 1,574 firearms.

There were also 226 inactive armed groups with 2,028 mebers with more than 1,000 firearms.

The prospects for a peaceful election in 2019 are grim indeed.

In denouncing Batocabe’s murder, Senator Grace Poe said “this sorry history in our nation of political violence must stop.”

That is a sentiment most of us share, but we realize, too, that reaching that goal will take more than words. Police efforts to seize loose firearms and to dismantle private armed groups are only part of the solution to a problem rooted in a culture that tolerates political patronage and violence. Only true political reforms—consistently enforced by strong leadership—can break this cycle.

Back to basics for Christmas as how we felt when we received it.

I’d like to see a veering away from purchased to handmade presents. We have the entire year to create things —crocheted scarves, a watercolor painting, a plant you potted and grew yourself.

Next month, make a list of people WHEN I lived in the US, one of the things we Filipinos there all agreed you want to give gifts to, think of on was wishing we could go home for what you can make for them, and start Christmas; my sister who worked in creating. Your handmade items will be all the more meaningful, filled as they Dubai for 16 years said the same.

Our country is one that takes are with your chi (energy), and the time Christmas seriously, going all out with and effort you’ve spent to craft one-ofdecorations and celebrations to make a-kind pieces that are unique and not the season truly festive and something available in stores.

You will reap benefits as well. to come home to. Not only because our friends and family are here, but because Studies have shown that crafting helps our culture has traditions and practices people relax and destress better than that place this holiday above most of many other activities, including sports.

Sewing, crocheting, and the like are the others in significance.

Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo still soothing and calming, and crafts and takes place in many communities around arts exercise your imagination and creativity. the country. In Also, consider our barangay, the giving books. It’s bell of our little been said that chapel rings at five the Philippines o’clock to call the Tonight, Christmas does not have a faithful. The rite reading culture. is a series of nine Eve, and tomorrow, It may not be as dawn Masses, Christmas Day, are all widespread as it prompting wags should be, but to ask if they get a about love. there are many planner at the end people who of it. enjoy a good Noche Buena is read, as evinced the midnight feast by the chain on Christmas Eve. Traditional menus will feature meat, and second-hand bookstores that have seafood or fish, noodles or pasta, and flourished and thrived over decades.

And ‘books’ doesn’t always mean a dessert—the major food groups. Each family has their own treasured dishes, novel or literary tome. Someone who from recipes passed on for generations loves the culinary arts will appreciate a or new favorites. At this time and no cookbook, children always enjoy picture other during the year do groceries books and coloring books. Inspirational sell out of dried pasta, tomato sauce, volumes like ‘Daily Bread’ are sought condensed milk, and canned mixed after this time of year. If someone you know ‘doesn’t like reading,’ give them fruits.

Many will remark on how a graphic novel or magazine in their commercialized the holiday has become, area of interest.

Commercialization has dulled the but isn’t that true for everything?

Businessmen, by their job description, wide-eyed appreciation of Christmas will try to turn a profit on most anything that we used to have as children. and marketing people will help them We can celebrate in a better way by by creating hype to pump up interest appreciating what makes the holiday in a phenomenon or item no one even special and significant—family and friends. In short, people. Not things. noticed before.

As consumers, it’s up to us whether Simbang Gabi, Noche Buena? They to subscribe to the hype or stay aloof are not ends in themselves but the from the materialism and capitalism means by which we gather our loved that punctuates Christmas. We have a ones together, from near and far, choice to take the minimalist route and from next door to ten thousand miles spend less money on gifts and more away.

Take this Christmas as a chance to time with loved ones. As time passes we Turn to A5 don’t remember the gift itself so much

India’s no-frills hotel giant eyes European markets

By Vishal Manve AN INDIAN startup is turning its attention towards usurping the West’s largest hotel chains after establishing itself as India’s biggest player and shaking up the Chinese market.

Oyo Rooms, which specializes in nofrills accommodation, was only formed in 2013 but is already worth an estimated $5 billion after receiving funding from international venture capitalists.

The app-based company has quickly become India’s largest hotel firm by number of rooms and one of the biggest in China as it pursues an aggressive expansion abroad.

Oyo, as it is commonly called, entered the British market in September and is eyeing other European countries, fueled by money from Japanese group SoftBank and America’s Sequoia Capital.

“We are seeing great results in all our global markets and are growing aggressively in London,” Oyo’s founder,

25-year-old Ritesh Agarwal, told AFP. “We will definitely consider expanding into the broader European region,” he added in the telephone interview.

Oyo teams up with owners of budget hotels to help connect them with tourists looking for cheap but clean accommodation that meets certain hygiene standards.

Oyo staff carry out inspections of hotels. If they are deemed to be up to scratch then they are made available for booking on Oyo’s website and mobile app.

Many offer hot water, free Wi-Fi and regular laundry services for as little as 1,800 rupees ($25) a night, well below what mid and high-range hotels charge.

The startup takes a commission for facilitating bookings while the hotels— often small, independent ventures—are re-branded as an “Oyo hotel.”

The company’s distinctive red and white logo has been put up outside thousands of Indian hotels across the vast

Asian country over the past five years.

Those signs could soon become omnipresent across Europe’s main cities, unsettling major hotel chains like Marriott International if Agarwal has his way.

“We want to bring quality affordable spaces for travelers and help neighborhood hotels beat the big hotel chains,” he said.

“Small asset owners are finding it hard to survive while the big hotel companies are continuing to win in every neighborhood.

“We want to lead and empower those small franchise owners and make sure that they thrive,” Agarwal added.

Growth The entrepreneur, now one of India’s youngest billionaires, founded Oyo when he was just 19 years old.

He had seen enough dingy hotels promising services that they didn’t offer to know that there was a gap in the market for a company that would give accommodation a stamp of approval.

Turn to A5

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

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Hope amid murder and mayhem WE JOIN the nation in condemning the murder of Ako-Bicol Party-List Rep. Rodel Batocabe. A three-term lawmaker, Batocabe was the president of the 52-member party list coalition entitling him to senior leadership positions in various major committees in the House of Representatives including the powerful House Electoral Tribunal. He was a jolly and engaging fellow, I had a chance to talk with Rodel before the December break.

He was full of ideas about how he can be an instrument in the transformation in his hometown, Daraga, into another city to rival Legazpi, Albay’s capital and the regional center. Or, at the very least, a major component of an expanded, planned metropolitan area like Metro Manila.

This senseless killing now puts his dream on hold unless his townmates rally around Rodel’s banner and move on to make his dream come true. At this point, grief will have to be fully expressed with the outrage which accompanies cold-blooded murders such as this.

There is simply no justification for this act and the police must ensure that no stone is left unturned to get the perpetrators and the mastermind to justice. Let Rodel not become just another statistic in the unsolved section of the police’s blotter. Then and only then, after the pain and heartache shall have at least eased up, his widow and his followers may get going to bring Rodel’s dream to fruition however that takes. We extend our prayers and condolences to the family and his loved ones and hope that somehow they will rise from this tragedy with renewed enthusiasm and vigor to lift Daraga to greater heights and Rodel’s bring many other advocacies to life.

Rodel’s murder which in all likelihood is politically motivated is the latest in a continuing series of senseless political killings in the run up to the May 2019 elections.

CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ If these murders do not stop, the May 2019 elections may turn out to be the bloodiest in recent memory.

Coming as it did amid President Duterte’s vow to wipe out all traces of “murderous extortion activities of the New People’s Army as well as the continuing killings associated with the war on drugs, it will definitely take a toll in the perception of our people and even the outside world

Business-as-usual solutions will no longer suffice.

about the peace and order situation in the country. Murders may translate into mayhem which can negatively affect our efforts to get the economy and even the elections on a positive plane. If the perception of safety and well being gets shaken by unabated killings then things can spiral into worse developments beyond control.

We should not let that happen at all.

Speaking of mayhem, the recent decision of President Donald Trump to withdraw US troops from Syria and half its level of deployment in Afghanistan without consulting with the military establishment has sent the situation in two of the world’s most turbulent and violent areas into higher gear. The mayhem expected as a result of this development has already sent analysts and military strategists into

a tizzy. This shooting-from-the-hip initiative coupled with the regisnation of US Defense Secretary Mattis has definitely put the US and its allies in the war zones of Syria and Afghanistan on the defensive. Nobody knows what Trump is thinking of next. What is definite is that this has scrambled the entire situation on the ground without anybody knowing how things will turn out both in the near term and the long term.

As things stand, the wait-and-see situation has become so unnerving there is every reason to believe that the Middle East and Afghanistan may be nearing expanded conflagration which can engulf the region and the world in a global frenzy which can suck life out of any efforts for peace and stability not just in the war zones but beyond.

There are talks, for example, that even an already decimated Islamic State may rise from its stupor and gain grounds in pursuit of its murderous intiatives. There are also reports that with theese withdrawals the United States has signaled to its people and to the world that it is well on its way to an isolationist posture leaving the peace and stability of the world order as we know it in tatters.

But there is hope. Like with Rodel’s murder, the US withdrawal may just push people and, in the case of the US move, countries to come around together and decide to reengage and ignite a movement towards resolving the many conflicts and concerns which have heretofore been shelved and thrown to the sidelines. As they say in our part of the neighborhood, magpakatotoo— for all of us, world leaders included to be truthful to ourselves and to our people and recognize that businessas-usual solutions may no longer suffice.

And so, amid the turbulence and frenzy, we remain hopeful that things will turn out well as we wish one and all a Merry and Prayerful Christmas.

Germany’s board games guru says happy to lose

By Michelle Fitzpatrick WITH a treasure trove of over 20,000 board games, including a discontinued Trump property game, Germany’s Tom Werneck has turned a lifelong passion for rolling the dice and passing go into one of the world’s biggest collections.

And if the 79-year-old has learned anything along the way, it’s that winning comes second—and sometimes it’s ok to bend the rules.

Walking past endless rows of games stacked up to the ceiling in a Bavarian basement, Werneck chuckles as he pulls out “Trump: The Game” and points to the gold-lettered tagline on the box, picked up in Trump Tower in the late 1980s.

“It’s not whether you win or lose, but whether you win!,” it reads, above a picture of the future US president.

To Werneck, nothing could be further from the truth.

“Playing is about connecting with people. I want to play with you, look you in the eyes. You’re the real aim of the game. I couldn’t care less whether I win or lose,” he tells AFP. It’s a sentiment that increasingly resonates in today’s digital world, where a desire to turn off our screens and have real-life interactions has fuelled a global board games boom.

The market for table-top games, which includes puzzles and card games, grew six percent globally in 2017, according to the NPD research group, and the trend shows no sign of abating.

The German industry alone generates some 500 million euros ($568 million) in annual revenues, the DVSI toy federation said, accounting for a sizeable chunk of the country’s threebillion-euro toy market.

Nazi game Wanting to preserve his vast collection for future generations, former Siemens employee Werneck turned his trove into a non-profit association almost two decades ago, called the

India’s...

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It started with a tie-up in New Delhi and now vouches for 164,000 hotel rooms in India and 180,000 in China.

Oyo claims it has broken into China’s top 10 hotel chains since entering in October 2017 and announced last month that it was investing $600 million there to bolster operations further.

Oyo received $1 billion in funding from a consortium of investors led by SoftBank in September this year, increasing its valuation five-fold and making it one of India’s wealthiest startups.

Oyo also operates in Nepal,

Bavarian Games Archive Haar.

Among the oldest treasures in his Aladdin’s cave is a green and white card game from the 1870s featuring famous composers.

More controversially, he also has a Nazi-era board game based on Hitler’s troops conquering England, which Werneck describes as pure propaganda.

“It’s terrible, it was designed to make children excited about war.”

The archive is housed in a building provided by the local municipality in Haar, on the outskirts of Munich, where Werneck and his team of some 15 volunteers carefully catalogue and store each title—with new additions arriving almost daily.

Fast and silly To tap into growing demand for table-top games among young adults and children, toymakers are scrambling to marry the new with the analogue.

The success of viral videos showing players enjoying simple games like “Pie Face”, where a person gets hit with whipped cream, has sparked a surge in silly, easy-to-grasp games, said Frederique Tutt, NPD Group’s global toy industry expert.

Toy firms have also turned to online “influencers” like YouTube stars to promote games, while rulebooks are going unread in favour of online explainers.

Long-established classics are getting in on the act with reboots such as Monopoly’s Fortnite edition, based on a blockbuster video game, or sped-up versions of existing games.

Among adults, Tutt said so-called “kidult” games that are intentionally childish or irreverent are having a moment, often played at parties or retro game nights.

The popularity of these games comes as no surprise to Werneck, who believes that board games “mirror what is happening in society”.

And although there have been attempts at integrating smartphone apps into board games, Werneck gives short shrift to tech gimmicks that

don’t add value.

“If I have to focus my attention on some stupid device instead of my fellow players, then something’s wrong.”

Tweaking the rules While Werneck enjoys trying out the latest offerings with his grandchildren, the affable septuagenarian never played board games himself growing up, recalling an outdoorsy childhood in the Bavarian Alps.

He was an adult when he bought his first board game from an expensive catalogue, only to be disappointed.

Ever the optimist, Werneck tweaked the rules until it worked better and promptly developed an insatiable appetite for board games—until his wife told him his hobby was getting too expensive.

He then started to frequent the Nuremberg toy fair, posing as a critic to snag free board games.

The ploy worked, but a guilty conscience led Werneck to actually start writing board games reviews for German newspapers, which he does to this day.

He has invented a few games of his own but among his proudest achievements is the Game of the Year (Spiel des Jahres) award, which he cocreated with fellow critic Bernward Thole in 1979.

The honor has grown into the industry’s most coveted prize, exerting a huge influence on sales.

Whereas most board games in Germany start with a modest launch of 3,500-5,000 boxes, the winner can expect to shift 300,000 to 500,000 copies, Werneck says.

This year’s award went to the colourful tile-laying game Azul, now a bestseller.

But Werneck says the goal is not to pick the next mainstream hit but reward games “that break boundaries”.

After half a century of devouring board games, Werneck insists he still doesn’t have a favorite.

“There are always too many new games to discover,” he smiles. AFP

Malaysia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates and could feasibly stake a claim to be the world’s fastestgrowing hotel chain.

The company has been on a hiring spree and recently appointed the former chief of budget Indian airline IndiGo Aditya Ghosh as its new CEO to lead its forays into new markets.

It is also tying up with more upmarket properties through its Oyo Townhouse project.

Analysts warn that Oyo could be in danger of overstretching itself if it continues to grow at the same pace. “[Their] key challenge is to ensure level of services and maintaining quality over a period of time, especially

during the fast growth stage with a lean team,” Bhairav Dalal, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, told AFP. Their expansion hasn’t been welcomed by everyone in India.

Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India, claimed to AFP that Oyo was involved in “predatory pricing” while plenty of users have left negative comments about some of the hotels online.

Agarwal insists he always welcomes criticism and feedback.

“We have had many good and bad days and in time we have been able to learn and improve and not just improve incrementally but become a market leader,” he said. AFP

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

A5

Indigenous LNG is best grid.

“This latest phase in Malampaya is a continuation of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project’s positive legacy to the Philippines by providing the country a safe, reliable, and cleaner energy resources,” said SPEC Managing FEW things signal Christmas season in the Director Sebastian Quiniones.

Construction of the platform took Philippines more joyously as twinkling, multi-colored lights. On Christmas Eve, about two years and a team of more than one can expect every house and street 1,400 Filipino workers at the Keppel across the country to be ablaze with Shipyard in Subic, Zambales. This their own versions of Christmas lights. means the project generated more than A tradition that dates back to when a thousand direct jobs in addition to the Christmas trees were decorated with additional business for local companies candles, they symbolize the light that the as well as elevated competencies and birth of Jesus brought into the Christian technical know-how for the workers. Its world. Over the decades, advances in safety record—11.8-million safe man technology such as LED made Christmas hours—was another impressive aspect of lights more wondrous and fun, without the project.

All in all, the endeavor put the the fire hazard that candles brought.

Even so, Christmas lights are still Philippines on the global map of oil and plugged into electric sockets and therefore gas platform fabrication, an example of consume electricity. If anything, the the potential of the Filipino workforce Christmas season only highlights the need to excel in terms of technical skill.

More critically, for the country to going forward, make its energy the cumulative supply abundant technical knowand affordable. how that was At the recent It’s as good a time passed on First Asia Pacific as any to reflect on the translates to a LNG Investment competitive edge Summit, a step impact of sound policy for the Philippines toward this on the lives of ordinary when it comes direction was people. to future oil and proposed: Make gas projects in the Philippines the the region and Southeast Asian worldwide. hub for liquefied This is natural gas by important considering that the Philippines building an LNG receiving terminal.

The country, according to the is currently lagging behind its neighbors organizers, is “poised to have a thriving when it comes to exploration based on LNG industry within a few years with the number of oil and gas rigs. In 2017, a projected capacity of 7 million metric Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia tons annually by 2020, the earliest had 34, 14, and seven oil and gas rigs, estimate when indigenous fuel from the respectively, while the Philippines had two. This is despite the presence of Malampaya gas field would run out.”

But there seems to be something reserves and the technical know-how, problematic about a proposal that a trend that the proposed LNG terminal prioritizes importing LNG from other will no doubt exacerbate.

Worse, the terminal will discourage countries when a more viable option presents itself: developing our very own further exploration and therefore indigenous reserves by encouraging compromise what could be a productive investments in the exploration and reliance on indigenous sources of natural gas. By depending on foreign-sourced development of more “Malampayas.”

For instance, a pending bill being LNG under the proposal, the country drafted by the Senate energy committee, becomes exposed to higher power prices considers the construction of an due to exchange rate risks and the overall integrated LNG receiving terminal as volatility of global fuel prices, as well well as making sure that such imported as possible problems in supply owing to shipments have buyers. But for starters potential geopolitical risks in sourcing the Malampaya reserves, which supplies and transporting fuel.

All in all, then, exploration represents up to half of the power requirements of Luzon, is expected to last beyond 2029, a better and more sustainable solution for when it is supposed to have been fully the country’s power situation. By utilizing indigenous sources, the Philippines not consumed.

“Exploring in the indigenous gas only limits its exposure to factors beyond is now the forefront of the Philippine its control, the infrastructure build-up will energy industry,” said Shell Philippines also lead to job creation, skills training, Exploration B.V. Managing Director and a multiplier effect in terms of the Don Paulino, who cited the example of businesses in local host communities.

This doesn’t even include the potential the North Sea oil in Europe that had gone royalties that will be remitted to the beyond the initial 50-year estimate.

“This is a reservoir. We believe it will country’s coffers. For perspective, the stay beyond 2029. There will still be Malampaya operation generated some plenty of resources that Malampaya can $3.53 billion, or P161 billion, in royalties give,” he said. “If reserves will be fully from 2001 to 2017. In contrast, only consumed, I believe it will be replaced. foreign investors will benefit from the What it is something we do not know yet, proposed LNG terminal and importation.

As Filipinos celebrate amid bright and we haven’t found.”

In fact, in 2015, a new offshore Christmas lights, the holiday season is as platform—the first to be designed and good a time as any to reflect on the impact built in the country—guaranteed that the of sound policy on the lives of ordinary Malampaya natural gas field would be people—in this case, the effects of a able to fulfill its commitments and, more sensible direction for the power sector importantly, ensure the steady supply of and resplendent lights in households big natural gas to power the Luzon electricity and small.

Bullying:...

From A4

to an older person; • Treating one’s siblings decently; • Not cheating on tests; And much more.

Note, however, that I didn’t list among my examples packing canned goods for typhoon victims or signing up on a school program to feed the poor. Those are, of course, very worthwhile things for a young person to do, but they’re not really what I’m talking about. I’m talking about individual one-to-one acts of goodness and integrity.

Why will parents’ reserving their highest praise for their child’s goodness and integrity have so powerful an impact?

Because children will then ultimately identify feeling good about themselves with being a good person, and they will most like themselves when they act nobly. Or, to put it in another way, their self-esteem will come more from their goodness than from anything else.

The best thing we can teach children is to value goodness above all else—above even success, intelligence, beauty, and happiness.

What a world that would be! And the best news about this proposal is that you can start doing it immediately. And I don’t mean tomorrow. I mean now.

Merry Christmas!

accomplishments in other areas. All children want to know that their parents appreciate their accomplishments. And girls, even more than boys, also need to feel that they’re physically attractive.

But—and this is an important but— what I am suggesting is this: The traits that we most often emphasize and praise are all important only if being a good person is placed at the top of the list.

But then you might say, “don’t these traits have a value in and of themselves independent of goodness?” The answer is no. They don’t. Germany did not start World War II and carry out the Holocaust because it lacked intelligence or cultured people, but because it lacked enough good people.

Now, what do I mean when I speak about young people being good? Let me cite a few examples: • Speaking out against and confronting a school bully; • Befriending a new kid at school who isn’t popular; • Finding a wallet or cell phone and making every effort to locate the owner, instead of keeping it; • Offering one’s seat on a bus or train eric.jurado@gmail.com

Back...

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reconcile with estranged loved ones and heal past hurts; to hold reunions with folks you haven’t seen or spent time with in a while; to show your those closest to you how much you care.

It’s not just about feasts and religious observances or obligations.

Tonight, Christmas Eve, and tomorrow, Christmas Day, are all about love. *** Dr. Ortuoste wishes you and your family a happy and peaceful Christmas.

FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ban on Angkas anti-poor—Imee

By Rey E. Requejo

I

LOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Sunday bewailed the ban on Angkas, a motorcycle ride-hailing application, saying “it robs working class Filipinos of a cheap way to get through horrendous traffic and prevents the creation of decent and quality jobs for Filipinos struggling to make a living.”

“Traffic is a major constraint to development especially for the poor since taxis and Transport Network Vehicle Services are too costly for them. Angkas is a cheap and viable transport solution to millions of low-income Filipinos especially in dense urban areas since it provides cheap and fast pointto-point transportation,” explained Marcos, the only local executive running for senator in next year’s midterm elections.

She also pointed out that the ride-

hailing app compels taxis and TNVs to offer more competitive rates and enhance their services to justify their higher fares, adding that Angkas is the Grab-choice of millennials and is the fastest way to get to Christmas parties and reunions.

Marcos said Angkas and other similar motorcycle TNVs have a markedly lower investment requirement in terms of skill and capital, making it much easier to start an Angkas business than a taxi or Grabtype operation.

Angkas and similar TNVs, she said, also increase the mobility of workers as it shortens travel time at much cheaper prices than taxis and car TNVs thereby allowing them access to more job opportunities.

“An employee from Quezon City would not take a job in Pasay with a three-hour commute, but he could tolerate a much lesser travel time through Angkas,” she added.

Instead of banning Angkas, Marcos pushed for the development of motorcycle-based TNVs with a reg-

ulatory framework different from car-based TNVs, which “together with lower taxes, should work to create a new market instead of preventing its growth, to the prejudice of low income commuters.”

“In place of traditional enforcement practices, regulation of motorcycle based TNVs can be appbased and crowd-sourced where the riders provide regulators with real-time feedback on their Angkas operators, thereby ensuring better services,” Marcos said.

Police officer shot dead in Tacloban

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Two days before Christmas, a police officer was killed on Sunday in Tacloban City in yet another shooting incident involving policemen in Eastern Visayas.

Authorities identified the victim as PO2 Lawrence Tabungar, assigned to the Mobile Patrol Unit in Tacloban City Police Office.

The shooting incident happened around 9:15 a.m. in front of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Brgy. 93, Bagacay.

Initial investigation showed Tabungar was on board his vehicle on his way home when unidentified suspects on board a red-colored pickup truck fired at him.

“The Tacloban City Police is being directed to conduct an immediate investigation on the incident by no less than Police Regional Director Dionardo Carlos,” regional police spokeswoman Supt. Ma. Bella Rentuaya told Manila Standard.

The officer sustained several gunshots wounds on his head and body.

DOH: Four new cases of fireworks related injuries

BIG IN HEART. A 2-centimeter sized belen is held by a personnel at the Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels where a collection of more than 220 Belen from different countries are on exhibit this Christmas. The collection is owned by Fr. Genaro Diwa, who started acquiring the pieces in 1992 when he was still studying in Rome. Norman Cruz

Group hits mercury-laden whitening make-up A TOXICS watch group has deplored the over-the-counter sale of banned mercury-laden skin whitening cosmetics by some retail outlets in Cubao, Quezon City.

The EcoWaste Coalition chanced upon the illegal sale in Cubao of dangerous Jiaoli and S’Zitang skin whitening products from China, an act that is forbidden under Quezon City Ordinance No. 2767.

Photos taken by the group showed Jiaoli and S’Zitang products on display in at least three stores operating inside Shopwise-Cubao. The unnamed stores sell beauty and herbal products.

Jiaoli and S’Zitang are among the skin whitening products banned by the Food and Drug Administration due to their mercury content, which “pose imminent danger or injury to the consuming public,” according to the agency.

The continuing sale of banned mercury-laden skin whitening cosmetics in Cubao should prompt the city government into conducting effective public information and law enforcement activities starting January 2019 to meet the objectives of City Ordinance 2767, the EcoWaste Coalition pointed o Mercury is a highly toxic chemical with no known level of exposure that is considered safe.

EcoWaste said fetuses, babies, children, and pregnant women are most vulnerable to the health effects of mercury.

According to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment, “mercury use in cosmetic products can have adverse effects including skin rashes, discoloring and scarring, reduce skin’s resistance to bacterial and mycotic disorders, and cause damage to the brain, nervous system and kidneys.”

THE Department of Health on Sunday reported four more fireworks related injuries in the National Capital Region, Western Visayas and Zamboanga.

The injuries were recorded by sentinel hospitals between 6 a.m. on Saturday until 5:59 a.m. on Sunday.

They involved six to 12-year-old boys who played with boga, kwitis and camara at home.

Three of them suffered burns while one had an eye injury and underwent flushing of cornea for treatment.

The Health department said the recorded number of injuries since Friday was 44 percent lower compared to the cases during the same period last year.

The Health department began its fireworks-related injuries surveillance on Friday.

Under Executive Order 28, the use of firecrackers shall be confined to community fireworks display to minimize the risk of injuries and casualties.

The DOH surveillance on fireworksrelated injuries will run until Jan. 5, 2019. About 50 sentinel hospitals nationwide submit their reports daily.

In 2017, the surveillance recorded a total of 463 cases. Majority of these victims belonged to the 10 to 14-years-old age group.

“We are reiterating our advice to parents and caregivers not to allow children to use any kind of firecrackers, especially piccolo, which is the most common cause of injuries among children aged between 10 and 14 years old,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

PH-Korea group aims to boost economic ties

By Ben Cal

A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES. A giant Christmas tree is on display at the Perez Park in Lucena City. Diana Noche

THE strong diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Korea will get a boost following the soft launch of the Philippines-Korea Society last week.

“The Philippines-Korea Society will definitely provide a great venue to discuss and exchange information on Korean culture, languages and business relations,” Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man said.

About a hundred guests, including those from the business sector, the academe and media attended the launching.

Han said it “will be a stepping stone in strengthening the cooperation between our nations on cross-sectoral fields.”

He also expressed hope “that this cooperation will lead to the promotion of the two

countries’ economic development, and to expanding our communication channels.”

“The establishment of the PhilippinesKorea Society aims to maximize collaboration among members from multiple sectors, such as education, media, and business,” the Korean ambassador adding that next year will be the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

It may be recalled that during the Korean War, the Philippines sent the Philippine Expedition Force to Korea to help South Korea stave off a communist invasion.

Incidentally, one of the PEFTOK troopers who fought the Korean War was then Major Fidel V. Ramos, who was later elected as the 12th President of the Philippines. PNA

Sports

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Ravens stun Chargers; Titans rip Redskins to boost hopes LOS ANGELES—Baltimore’s NFLbest defensive unit sparked an upset of the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday but the Tennessee Titans stayed level with the Ravens in the playoff chase by beating Washington.

Baltimore’s Tavon Young returned a fumble 62 yards for a clinching touchdown to spark the Ravens over the host Chargers 22-10 while Tennessee’s Blaine Gabbert, replacing injured starter Marcus Mariota, threw a touchdown pass to power the host Titans over the Washington Redskins 25-16.

Baltimore and Tennessee each improved to 9-6, the Ravens clinging to the last American Conference playoff spot thanks to a tie-breaker edge.

“We had to get this win. It’s a huge win to keep our playoff hopes alive,” said Ravens safety Eric Weddle, who likes Baltimore’s chances as a Super Bowl threat.

“Why not? If we get in the tournament we have as good a shot as anybody. I know nobody wants to see us.”

Justin Tucker’s third field goal, a 56-yarder, boosted Baltimore’s lead to 16-10 but the Chargers were driving for a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter only to be undone by Baltimore’s defenders, who have allowed the fewest yards and points in the NFL this season.

Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor knocked the ball from the grasp of Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and Baltimore cornerback Young grabbed the loose ball and returned it to create the final victory margin.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, whose 27-game streak with a touchdown pass ended, threw a final interception to end LA’s last hope.

At 11-4, the Chargers have already clinched a playoff spot but with the LA loss, Kansas City needs only a win Sunday at Seattle to claim the AFC West division crown.

Tucker field goals from 24 and 35 yards against a 38-yarder by LA’s Mike Badgley gave the Ravens a 6-3 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the Chargers scored on Melvin Gordon’s 1-yard touchdown run but Baltimore reclaimed the lead 13-10 on Lamar Jackson’s 68-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews.

- Titans outlast Redskins At Nashville, the Titans forced two Washington turnovers in the closing minutes, the last a 56-yard interception return by Malcolm Butler on the game’s final play.

Washington fell to 7-8 and must beat reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia next week to have any playoff hopes.

The Titans lost Mariota to a right shoulder injury after he was sacked in the closing seconds of the first half, the dynamic mobile run-pass threat sidelined after being slammed to the turf, forcing Gabbert to take charge.

Gabbert completed 7-of-11 passes for 101 yards and a 2-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt in the fourth quarter that put Tennessee ahead to stay.

“It was a lot of fun just getting back on the field with the guys,” Gabbert said.

“Everybody just worked their tails off and we were able to get the win. It was a must-win game. We’re still alive.”

Tennessee’s Ryan Succop kicked a 42yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter to lift the Titans within 10-9 at halftime.

Washington’s Dustin Hopkins added a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, Succop answered for the Titans from 33 yards early in the fourth quarter and Hopkins followed with a 46-yard field goal for a 16-12 Redskins lead.

That’s when Gabbert moved Tennessee 75 yards in seven plays, a march capped by his touchdown toss that with a Succop conversion lifted the Titans ahead 19-16 with 4:30 to play.

Washington’s Adrian Peterson ran 26 times for 119 yards and became, at 33, the oldest 1,000-yard rusher in an NFL season since Washington’s John Riggins in 1984. It was his eighth career 1,000-yard season, and first since 2015 and it moved him to eighth on the all-time NFL run yardage list. AFP

Harrison tops Charlo in WBC super welterweight shocker

CHAIRMAN’S CUP. Philipppine Racing Commission Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez (left) hands a Plaque of Appreciation to Isabelo

Katigbak in honor of his father, former Philiracom Chairman Benedicto Katigbak 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,” during the awards rites of the Philracom Chairman’s Cup at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite. They are joined by Mr. Isabelo Katigbak’s wife Uling (second from left); Philippine Racing Club Inc.’s Racing Manager Oyet Alcasid (right); Philracom Commissioner Bienvenido Niles Jr. (second from right) jockey Jesse B. Guce (third from left) of winning horse Super Sonic; Richard Tupas (fourth from right), representing his father winning trainer Ruben Tupas and representatives of owner Sandy Javier, who also took the winning Breeder’s Purse.

WADA integrity requires ban on Russia must stay NEW YORK—The attorney for Russian doping scandal whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov said Saturday that restoring Russia to World Anti-Doping Agency compliance after being denied key lab data would destroy WADA’s integrity.

The move came a day after the Canada-based sport doping watchdogs announced a five-member panel would return from Moscow empty-handed after not being allowed to retrieve data from a suspended Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) laboratory. The data had been required to complete Russia’s controversial September reinstatement to sports by WADA after revelations of a state-backed doping program. “(WADA president) Craig Reedie is Nero, playing his fiddle while Russia burns clean sports to the ground,” attorney Jim Walden said. “The time for half measures and appeasement must finally come to an end. If RUSADA is not now

banned, the last measure of WADA’s integrity will vanish.”

Rodchenkov, whose testimony unveiled the elaborate Russian doping scheme for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, is in hiding in the United States in the wake of death threats after the Russians were punished, including a ban from this year’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

WADA gave the Russians a conditional release from the ban in September but one of the requirements was full access to data at the Moscow lab and that did not happen this week as a WADA team had expected because, in the words of a WADA statement, “an is-

sue raised by the Russian authorities that the team’s equipment to be used for the data extraction was required to be certified under Russian law.”

The data could exonerate Russia or incriminate the Moscow lab and Russian doping program as well as corroborating Rodchenkov’s testimony.

WADA officials have said they want to review the data and Russians retest any samples WADA wishes by June 30 2019 as part of the reinstatement deal.

Walden also commented on a new bill introduced Friday by US lawmakers that would criminalize international sports doping conspiracies that impact major international competitions.

The bill was named for Rodchenkov, the former Moscow lab director.

Penalties will include fines of up to $1 million or imprisonment of up to 10 years, depending on the violation.

It also provides for restitution to victims of such conspiracies and for protection of whistleblowers from retaliation. AFP

James: I would love to play with great players LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James scoffed at the notion he was violating NBA rules when he told reporters it would be “amazing” to play alongside New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis.

Davis has been the subject of trade rumors recently, and Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters on Friday morning that he believed James’s comments should count as “tampering” -- defined by the NBA as attempting to entice a player under contract to negotiate with another team regarding his services.

“I thought if you talk about a player under contract, it was tampering. But that’s just me,” Gentry said. “I’ve only been in the league 31 years. What do I know?”

The coach seemed to walk back that opinion later Friday, as the Pelicans prepared to take on the Lakers at Staples Center, acknowledging that if James was asked the question by reporters, it would be hard for him not to respond.

“I think it puts him in a bad situation,” Gentry said.

After the Lakers’ 112-104 victory over the Pelicans, James made it clear just how silly he thought any tampering accusation was.

“Ask me, ‘Would I like to play with Kevin Durant?’ Ask me right now,” James told a reporter in the locker room.

She didn’t have time to get the whole question out before James said: “Absolutely! Ask me if I’d like to play with Jimmy Butler. Say it right now.

“Ask me about Kyrie Irving. Giannis (Antetok-

ounmpo). Ask me about (Joel) Embiid.

Ben Simmons. Go ahead, all of them.

Luka Doncic. Ask me right now.

“Come on guys, it’s not rocket science,” James added. “I would love to play with a lot of great players. That’s just who I am... And I play by the rules.”

Despite the rumors, and regardless of any blandishments Davis might hear from players on other teams, Gentry was adamant that the Pelicans wouldn’t part with their star.

“We’re not trading him,” Gentry said.

LeBron James

Boxer Stevenson out of coma, says girlfriend MONTREAL—Former light-heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson has come out of a coma three weeks after a knockout loss to Oleksandr Gvozdyk, the fighter’s girlfriend said Saturday.

Simone “Sisi” God, issued a statement via social media saying the fighter was awake.

“Despite recent reports being leaked to media, I wanted to clarify that Adonis is awake,” God said. “He is healing from

NEW YORK—Tony Harrison dethroned World Boxing Council super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo with a controversial unanimous decision Saturday that brought jeers from the Barclays Center crowd in Brooklyn.

Previously unbeaten Charlo was the aggressor throughout, but neither fighter landed any devastating blows and the judges gave the allAmerican showdown to Harrison by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.

“You know they took that fight from me,” said Charlo, who fell to 31-1 with 15 knockouts. “I was there, pushing the action the whole time. He was moving around just going to the jab, one or two punches. He didn’t win that fight.”

But the new champion, who improved to 28-2 with 21 wins inside the distance, insisted there should be no doubt about the outcome.

“I grinded. I grinded, I grinded and I grinded,” he said. “I showed championship composure. I didn’t have to do much. I used my jab. I used my ring generalship. I kept him at bay.”

Harrison was offering a rematch when the disbelieving Charlo muscled into his ring interview.

“He knows I won that fight,” Charlo said.

The fight was the first of a twin bill that featured Charlo’s twin brother, Jermall Charlo, who retained his WBC interim middlweight title with a unanimous decision over late substitute Matt Korobov.

Jermall Charlo won by scores of 119-108, 116-112 and 116-112, coming on strong on the later rounds and pummelling Korobov in a decisive 12th to improve to 28-0 with 21 wins inside the distance.

Korobov, who stepped up from the undercard after intended opponent Willie Monroe Jr. failed a drugs test, fell to 28-2.

his injury in the private company of his family and his dedicated medical team.”

Boxing promoter Yvon Michel said on Thursday that Stevenson was still in a medically induced coma and on life support.

“He still needs mechanical assistance to breathe, and he has not regained consciousness,” Michel said. “When we visit him, we cannot stay with him for long, and the doctors do not venture an opinion on what lies ahead.”

God’s statement gave no indication of when Stevenson emerged from a coma. A spokesman for University Hospital of Quebec, contacted by AFP, said he was unable to confirm Stevenson’s condition.

Michel posted on Twitter Saturday saying “Great News” adding that he had spoken with God and “things have evolved enormously”.Stevenson, a 41-year-old Canadian fighter of Haitian descent, was helped to the dress-

ing room after losing the World Boxing Council crown in his 10th title defense over five years.

After unbeaten 31-year-old Gvozdyk finished him off with a crushing right hand that left Stevenson leaning awkwardly against the ropes, Stevenson was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Doctors aid he suffered “severe traumatic brain injury” that required neurosurgery. AFP

Tony Harrison

Nets’ coach Atkinson fined $25k NEW YORK—Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for verbal abuse of referees and not promptly leaving the court after an ejection, the league announced.

Atkinson received a technical foul and was ejected with 69 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Brooklyn’s 114-106 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday.

Atkinson unleashed a profanityfilled rant at referee Tony Brothers, unhappy at a non-call of what he felt was a foul on Indiana’s Myles Turner as well as a Nets foul on Latvian forward Rodions Kurucs.

The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for the Nets, who at 15-19 rank 10th in the Eastern Conference.

Atkinson, 51, played in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands as a guard from 19902004. After assistant coach stints with New York and Atlanta, he was named coach of the Nets in 2016 and guided Brooklyn to records of 20-62 and 28-54 in his first two campaigns as an NBA coach. AFP

Lim crowned 10-under PSC netfest champion

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

By Peter Atencio

Sports Jonas Jerebko of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the Dallas Mavericks at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Jerebko stars as Warriors win L

OS ANGELES—Jonas Jerebko was an unlikely catalyst as the two-time defending NBA champions Golden State held off the Dallas Mavericks 120-116 in Oakland, California, on Saturday.

We never stopped.”

Serbian forward Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 19 points before he was tossed in the third quarter when he received two quick technicals for arguing a foul call.

Jamal Murray added 18 points and Monte Morris chipped in 15 for the Nuggets, who hadn’t lost by more than 10 points this season.

It came down to the wire in Salt Lake City, where Paul George scored 43 points to lead the Thunder in a 107-106 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Bradley Beal’s first career tripledouble and an historic night for center Thomas Bryant propelled the Washington Wizards to a 149-146 victory over the Phoenix Suns in a triple-overtime thriller.

Beal’s 40 points included 10 in the third overtime. He added 15 assists and 11 rebounds for his first triple-double -reaching double digits in three key statistical categories.

Bryant connected on all 14 of his shots from the field and three of three from the free throw line on the way to a career-

high 31 points.

It was just the seventh game in NBA history in which a player made at least 14 baskets without a miss and the first since Gary Payton did it almost 24 years ago.

“He was the MVP of the game,” Beal said of Bryant. “Everybody wants to talk about my triple-double... TB was by far the MVP tonight.”

Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers wore down injury-depleted Toronto, beating the league-leading Raptors 126-101.

The Raptors arrived in Philadelphia minus three of their top players in allstar Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas, and the Sixers took full advantage.

Joel Embiid scored 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Ben Simmons added 26 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Jimmy Butler contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

The Houston Rockets held off the San Antonio Spurs 108-101 with the help of 39 points from reigning NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden. AFP

On a team that features the superstar quartet of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, it was Sweden’s Jerebko receiving a massive ovation as he departed in the fourth quarter having scored 23 points in 21 minutes with three assists and six rebounds.

Durant led the Warriors with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but Jerebko’s relentless energy was crucial to the Warriors victory.

“He shot the ball really well, but he got a lot of offensive boards, too,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He had several plays that got the crowd into it with his hustle. He gave us a huge lift.”

Jerebko scored nine points in the fourth quarter -- contributing a tip-in, a dunk and a three-pointer as the Warriors powered to a 111-96 lead.

He was back on the bench as Golden State saw their lead cut to one point.

Dallas forward Harrison Barnes’ threepointer with 33.5 seconds left bounced off the rim and Durant drained a three-pointer to seal the win.

The victory saw the Warriors, who have struggled to find the same dominance they displayed in their past two championship seasons, improve to 22-11, just a shade off the Western Conference lead shared at 2110 by the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Denver had a one-game lead heading into the day, but suffered their biggest defeat of the season in a 132-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris scored 21 points apiece for the Clippers, who snapped the Nuggets’ four-game winning streak.

“I just thought our tempo set the tone,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Our pace tonight, maybe as good as I’ve seen.

Kiefer, Alyssa win volleyball tiff for a cause

Tanauan keeps U-16 softball title

PLAYING together for the first time, phenoms Kiefer Ravena and Alyssa Valdez looked like they are long-time partners in the sand court.

“One for the books! So proud of you @ kieferravena!,” said Valdez on her Twitter account after the two bested Charo Soriano and John Vic de Guzman, 23-21, in the celebrity match which was a part of the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour December Open 2018: A Christmas Rally festivities recently at the Sands SM By The Bay. It was tight up to the very end, as Ravena and Valdez scored the match’s last three points after Soriano nailed back-to-back aces for her team to lead for the last time at 21-20.

For Soriano, who is one of the BVR founders, the celebrity match is one way of sharing this Christmas, as the proceeds will go to Mindanao State University-Marawi College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Academy.

“It’s been an honor being able to play the game that we love and at the same time being able to help our young brothers and sisters in Marawi,” said Soriano, who won two BVR legs this year with Bea Tan. “With the help of all those who supported, the CSPEAR Sports Academy of MSUMarawi will be able to teach more and more kids so that these children’s lives will be filled with laughter instead of anger, love instead of hate, and hope instead of fear. That, for me, is the true value of sports,” she added.

The celebrity game was one way the BVR showed its gratitude and appreciation to its followers for a successful year, which included first time visits to scenic El Nido and Dumaguete City, as well as return sojourns to Santa Ana, Cagayan and Lianga, Surigao del Sur. BVR has grown to be a staple outdoor lifestyle brand known for its beach volleyball tournaments and nationwide tours.

Through its programs, BVR aims that every aspiring beach volleyball athlete shall be given the opportunity to showcase and improve their talents through competitive games.

Follow BVR’s social media accounts for updates on future events.

Members of Tanauan City are shown after winning their second straight championship in the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Junior Women’s (18-under) Softball Championship Saturday at the Sto. Niño Field in Marikina City.

PLAYING minus its ace pitcher, Tanauan City saved its best game for last to rule the 2018 Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Junior Women’s (18-under) Softball Championship Saturday afternoon at the Sto. Niño Field in Marikina City.

The team from Batangas pulled the rug from under early favorite Rizal in the championship match, 6-3, to claim its second straight title behind the steady pitching of Royeve “Diday” Palma, sister of last year’s Most Valuable Player Royevel Palma, who was not allowed to join this tournament due to her standing in the national team and her masterful performance in the 2018 Senior League Softball World Series Championship in Waco, Texas, where she collected 14 strikeouts in leading Tanauan to the world title.

Tanauan had to hurdle past Bulacan teams San Miguel and Sta. Maria in the page system format final round to earn the right to face Rizal for the crown.

Rizal dominated the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed tournament going into the

final round and even scored an 8-4 victory over Tanauan in the semis, but succumbed to pressure in the payoff match as Palma, replacing Diane Pasco as lead pitcher, went steady on the mound for Tanauan in the final game.

“I commend and congratulate Tanauan City for its back-to-back championship in the U-16 women’s junior softball. ASAPHIL needs cities and LGUs like Tanauan and others, who also supported their local teams to join the tournament for us to maintain our developmental program in women’s softball,” said ASAPHIL President and long-time sports patron Jean Henri Lhuillier.

“Maganda ‘yung pitching ni Diday at nag-click ‘yung defense namin,” said Tanauan coach Lito Villanueva, who also led the team to two Palarong Pambansa crowns. “Although nakaapekto sa amin ‘yung pagkawala ni Royevel Palma, naging maganda naman ang laban.”

Rizal committed a couple of fielding errors at the bottom of the second inning that gave Tanauan its

first two runs.

Tanauan added four more runs in the fourth as Rizal committed three more errors to give the defending champs a 6-0 advantage.

Rizal tried to rally in the seventh and final inning as pitcher Alexandra Romero-Salas hit a homerun that also sent Roma Jane Cruz home.

Sathia Nicole Romero-Salas, then scored a base hit that also sent Mariel Grace Sumanting home but that was all Rizal could muster in the game.

Rizal, however, walked away with the top individual awards as Sumanting was named MVP, Best Pitcher (22 innings piched, zero earned run) and Best Slugger (35 total bases, 30 at bats, 1.26 average).

Alexandra Romero-Salas was named Best Hitter (19 hits, 27 at bats, .703 average) and had the most number of RBIs (24) and Homeruns (6).

Sta. Maria’s Mary Rose Letegio, meanwhile, had the most number of stolen bases (5) even as Tanauan’s Diday Palma was chosen as MVP for the series (finals).

NINE-YEAR-OLD Kriz Lim weathered the tough stand put by female rival Jayden Ballado and pulled off a 2-4, 4-0, 4-2 win yesterday to claim the crown in the 10-under unisex finals of the 2018 Philippine Sports CommissionPhilippine Tennis Association Age Group tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Lim, one of the promising newcomers this year, held steady with his baseline game in finishing off Ballado.

“Maganda po ang laro ko. Nahabol ko ang lahat ng bola niya,” said the fifth grader of Lyceum-North Luzon in Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

It was Lim’s best finish this year since he started playing competitive tennis last year.

Coached by his father Alvin Lim, the young Kriz bounced back from a first-set loss by shutting out Ballado in the second set.

In the third set, Lim took the lead and held it after breaking serve in the fourth set, 3-1.

In other matches, Lucas Sebastian Co prevailed over Sergius Canque, 4-1, 4-0, in another raceto-4 encounter in the 8-under unisex finals.

Michael Dylan Jimenez toppled Joshua Diva, 6-3, 0-6, 6-4, in the 12-under boys’ finals.

The tournament comes on a week that the Philta is taking strides in the advancement of the development of age-group tennis in the country.

The Philta recently held a fiveday national training camp that was held in cooperation with the International Tennis Federation.

The camp, which ran from Dec. 14 to 18 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila, was led by Jonathan Stubbs, the newly appointed ITF Development Officer for South, Southeast and East Asia.

Stubbs, who started on his new role in January 11 months ago, is supervising coaches in teaching the top four players boys and girls in 12 to 16 years old levels from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila.

Zamboanga nips Bulacan in Datu Cup ZAMBOANGA displayed its new, deadly form late Saturday night by edging host team Bulacan, 75-72, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium.

New recruit Robin Roño provided the instant firepower the Family’s Brand Sardines-backed squad needed, while several pick ups like Harold Arboleda and Allan Santos instilled toughness up front, allowing Zamboanga to show a lot of promise ahead of the playoffs.

Roño finished with 24 points to lead Zamboanga.

Von Lanete, one of the few holdovers of the retooled squad that unloaded 11 players prior to the massive acquisitions, added 14 markers.

With its latest win, Zamboanga was able to snap a three-game losing skid. It improved its win-loss record to 7-10.

Arboleda, one of the few acquired players from Parañaque, pulled down nine rebounds on top of eight points, while Santos, released by Laguna, but was picked up by Zamboanga just recently, also added eight markers, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots.

These two frontliners proved they are a welcome addition to the team.

In the first game, Caloocan turned to ex-pros Almond Vosotros and Paul Sanga in outlasting Valenzuela, 90-87.

Vosotros came away with 33 points, but it was the additional firepower provided by Sanga that gave the Supremos the much-needed lift in pulling off their sixth win in 18 games.

Sanga, who played briefly for Kia in the PBA, added 21 points highlighted by five three-point shots.

The Longrich-supported Supremos, however, have a lot of catching up to do as they are still in 12th place in the northern division.

IN BRIEF

Business

Payment system law key to stability—BSP THE enactment of the National Payment System Act is critical to the country’s payment systems development agenda and to the stability and efficiency of the monetary and financial system, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said.

Espenilla said it would foster a level playing field for all participants as they would now be governed by a single overarching legal and regulatory framework.

“This will bring about more competition, greater efficiency, and foster digital innovations for both banking and payments products and services,” Espenilla said.

Republic Act 11127, or the National Payment Systems Act, provides a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework which supports the twin objectives of maintaining a payment system that is necessary to control systemic risk and providing an environment conducive to the sustainable growth of the economy.

A payment system provides the channels through which funds are transferred among banks and other institutions to discharge payment obligations arising from economic and financial transactions across the entire economy. Julito G. Rada

Investment pledges hit record P907.2b in 2018 T

By Othel V. Campos

HE Board of Investments registered record investment pledges of P907.2 billion in 2018, up 47 percent from the previous all-time high of P616.8 billion in 2017.

US share buybacks at record level in Q3

“We hit another record-breaking investment in BoI’s 51-year history, beating the P617 billion in 2017 by a wide margin,” said Trade Secretary and BoI chairman Ramon Lopez over the weekend.

“Equally significant is the positive effect of these projects in addressing the problem of widening trade deficit.

As the country continues to grow, demand for industrial products increases.

Currently, for certain key categories, demands are mainly met through imports,” he added.

The agency said the best trade strategy was a robust industrial development pol-

NEW YORK—US corporate share repurchases keep setting new records, a trend some experts expect to persist despite bipartisan unease on Capitol Hill and a weaker economic outlook that could crimp profits.

Fueled with windfalls from the 2017 tax cut and cheap debt, companies in the S&P 500 spent $203.8 billion buying back their own stock in the third quarter, the third consecutive new record, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Stock buybacks boost share prices and make profits look bigger by increasing earnings per share, a key Wall Street benchmark.

Boeing shares rose nearly four percent on Tuesday after it announced it was boosting its share repurchase plan to $20 billion from $18 billion and increasing its dividend.

But those share repurchases are financed by funds that might otherwise go to hire workers or invest in new projects, which could create more jobs.

Critics include Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who plans to introduce tax legislation to discourage buybacks in favor of business investment that restores “the dignity of work.” AFP

icy. The BoI also approved projects critical to addressing social issues, including housing and the availability of health services.

The agency said special attention was also given to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural commodities, through the granting of incentives to Triple A slaughterhouses and modern cold-chain facilities.

The investment surge was led by the manufacturing sector, where commitments rose more than four-fold to P409.3 billion from P96 billion in 2017.

Other strong performers include the transportation and storage where invest-

ments surged 626 percent to P129.6 billion from just P17.8 billion in 2017; water and sewerage sector with a 1,494 percent increase to P14.3 billion from P894.4 million a year ago; the retailing sector with P8.1 billion from P2.7 billion; and the accommodation sector with P39.9 billion from P11.3 billion.

“Given the epic surge in investments for 2018, it is but inevitable to aim for another historic milestone—the trillion mark next year. We are confident of hitting yet another growth in investment registrations next year with the impending entry of big-ticket projects as concrete fruits of the administration’s investment roadshows,” said Trade Undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo.

Rodolfo said the approved projects would boost the dispersal of capital to the regions, citing most projects were outside Metro Manila with total regional investments accounting for 86 percent of the total figure.

Smart receives award, cited for LTE network For advocating and implementing programs that uplift the lives of Filipinos, PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. garnered accolades in 2018, both here and abroad.

Top of the list is the Telecoms Transformation Award at the Global Telecoms Awards in London for Smart’s network transformation program.

Smart had accelerated the deployment of Long Term Evolution, LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation technology across the Philippines to meet the growing mobile data demands of Filipinos.

Both PLDT and Smart committed historic levels of resources to support network transformation, with capital expenditures reaching $1.1 billion in 2018 alone. As a result, PLDT-Smart fulfilled its commitment of making mobile data service available in 90 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities.

CHEAPER RICE PROGRAM. The Department of Trade and Industry’s Presyong Risonable Dapat Program is launched at SM Makati on December 21 to give the public more access to cheaper rice. Consumers can now buy imported well-milled rice at P35 per kilo in 230 SM Supermarket, Hypermarket and Savemore branches in the Greater Manila Area and North Luzon. SM now joins Robinsons Supermarket and Puregold in launching the PRD program this month. Leading the launch are DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (fourth from left) and SM Supermarket president Joey Mendoza (third from left). With them are DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo (leftmost), Assistant Director Lilian Salonga (second from left), NFA director Rex Estoperez (rightmost), Savemore Market president Jojo Tagbo (second from right) and SM Hypermarket senior vice president for operations Arnold Daluz (third from right).

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

B1

PT&T reduces liabilities, exits rehab program

By Darwin G Amojelar PHILIPPINE Telegraph & Telephone Corp. is no longer in a court-assisted corporate rehabilitation after substantially complying with the conditions set by Makati Regional Trial Court on August 6.

“This is indeed welcome news and a perfect Christmas gift. We have been waiting for this and it is in line with our growth aspirations and vision of turning PT&T into a digital services provider,” PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez said over the weekend.

PT&T held a stockholders’ meeting on September 20 and secured the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31 to increase its capital stock and conduct a debt-toequity conversion.

PT&T’s payment of statutory obligations as listed in the rehabilitation plan are also ongoing.

Under a court-approved 14-year rehabilitation plan, the P8.8-billion debt from creditors would be paid in redeemable serial preferred shares of PT&T. The company’s rehabilitation plan was approved in 2011.

Leaving corporate rehabilitation allows PT&T to further expand its operations and unlock the true potential of PT&T as a fixed and wireless broadband player from its roots in the telecommunications industries since 1962. PT&T’s Congressional franchise was renewed in July 2016.

“We want to assure the public and the government that we had the financial capability to support our bid to become the new major player and our existing operations,” Velasquez said.

“We were able to cut our liabilities significantly and we posted a profit this fiscal year. What is also relevant to point out is that PT&T met all the financial qualification requirements for the New Major Player bid. The new management promises to sustain our growth trajectory,” Velasquez said.

PT&T’s total liabilities dropped significantly to P1.5 billion as of October this year from P10 billion with majority of the debt converted to preferred shares.

The company’s paid-up capital was also raised to P10.9 billion from P2 billion. Assets reached P837.60 million as of October this year, higher than P759.46 million in 2017.

Stop oil smuggling, Dominguez orders Customs

US government shutdown enters 2nd day, to last through Christmas

By Julito G. Rada

WASHINGTON—A partial US government shutdown that entered its second day on Sunday was set to stretch through Christmas, after Congress adjourned for the weekend with no deal in sight to end an impasse over funding for President Donald Trump’s wall on the US-Mexico border.

Due to the shutdown—in which several key US agencies ceased operations at 12:01 am (0501 GMT) Saturday—Trump said he would remain in Washington over Christmas instead of going to Florida.

“I am in the White House, working hard,” the Republican president tweeted.

“We are negotiating with the Democrats on desperately needed Border Security (Gangs, Drugs, Human Trafficking & more) but it could be a long stay.”

Trump has dug in on his demand for $5 billion for construction of the border wall, a signature campaign promise and part of his effort to reduce illegal immigration. Demo-

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III expects the early implementation of the fuel marking program, aimed at checking oil smuggling that is costing the government an estimated P27 billion to P44 billion in annual revenue losses.

Dominguez in the latest executive committee meeting directed Finance officials involved in the implementation of the project to bring newly-appointed Bureau of Customs chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero up to speed on the fuel marking program.

A master plan was submitted by the government’s newly-chosen provider―the joint venture of Switzerland-based SICPA SA and SGS Philippines―to set the fuel marking program in motion, Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven said in a report to Dominguez.

Joven said that SICPA SA and SGS Philippines must submit the master plan

crats are staunchly opposed, and the absence of a deal meant federal funds for dozens of agencies lapsed at midnight Friday.

The House of Representatives and the Senate held sessions on Saturday, but both chambers adjourned without agreement, and no votes were expected until Thursday.

Visitors to the capital’s park-like National Mall, home to attractions including war memorials and the towering Washington Monument, criticized the shutdown which added to an air of chaos in a capital still reeling from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’s resignation last week over Trump policies.

The uncertainty also helped pushed Wall Street into another rout on Friday, ending its worst week in a decade.

“Oh I think it’s ridiculous. It’s unnecessary,” Philip Gibbs, a retired business professor from South Virginia, said of the shutdown.

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

in 30 days from the signing of the fuel marking contract on Oct. 30.

To ensure that fuel marking program would not be delayed, the BoC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue have drafted the implementing rules and regulations and would match this with the master plan drawn up by the chosen fuel marking provider, Joven said.

The BoC is the lead agency that will implement the fuel marking program, which is mandated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. “I expect that the commissioner is fully briefed on that,” Dominguez said during the Execom meeting, the first attended by Guerrero in his new job as Customs commissioner.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said at the Execom meeting the master plan would lay out the implementation schedule for the fuel marking program, which is targeted for “early next year.”

“We’re not yet precise on the date. But

early next year is the target. They have a marker already that they have prepared,” Chua said.

As the fuel marking provider, SICPA SA and SGS Philippines are expected to provide a unique chemical marker capable of being embedded at a molecular level to petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

Their contract also covers services and equipment necessary to administer and inject the marker to the fuel and the administration of confirmatory tests, both in the field and in laboratories.

The DoF has estimated revenue losses (value-added tax and excise taxes) from smuggled or misdeclared fuel at P26.87 billion (approximately $565.68 million) in 2016 alone.

However, the Asian Development Bank has pegged it at a higher figure of P37.5 billion in losses annually, while a study commissioned by the local oil industry estimated the foregone revenues at a much higher of P43.8 billion a year.

PCCI bullish on economy, cites infra spending THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry expects the economy to surge in 2019.

“Our country continues to enjoy strong macroeconomic fundamentals, enabling us to weather external headwinds. Our economic outlook for 2019 is still strong backed by robust consumer spending and stronger government expenditures,” PCCI president Alegria Limjoco said.

“We agree with the projections of the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank that see a growth rate of 6.7 percent for 2019 despite rising global uncertainty. Indeed, we continue to be recognized as one of the more resilient economies in Asia,” she added.

The PCCI cited that the acceleration of infrastructure projects and

related spending preparatory to the country’s hosting of Southeast Asian Games in November 2019 and the holding of national elections were among the drivers for growth.

“What excites us most is the growth of public construction that grew 22.1 percent in the first half of 2018, up from the 9.3 percent growth in the first half of 2017. We expect a more robust government spending for priority programs and projects, particularly Build Build Build,” Limjoco said.

Another growth driver is Another is the surge in foreign direct investments. While figures for 2017 showed a historic high of $10 billion, there were indications 2018 would exceed this record, the PCCI

said.

Data as of June showed FDI surpassed the 2017 record of the same period by 9.2 percent, increasing to $831 million from $761 million in June last year.

Infrastructure build-up has been credited for the strong investors’ interest in the country. Sustaining these projects will help encourage more FDIs,” Limjoco said.

Similar with the growth in FDI, tourist arrivals in 2018 were also expected to surpass the 2017 record of 6.6. million. Tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2018 hit 3.7 million and may reach 7.4 million by the end of the year.

Tourism now accounts for 12 percent of the gross domestic product.

BPI SINAG AWARDEES. BPI Sinag social enterprises Virtualahan of Davao, a social enterprise that trains and employs victims of employment discrimination, and Coffee for Peace of Cotabato, which provides quality coffee to help improve the lives of communities connected to the Peace and Reconciliation ministry, receive recognition as Outstanding Social Entrepreneurs at the 7th Mindanao Business Leaders and Entrepreneur Awards ceremony. Ryan Gersava of Virtualahan (second from right) and Jude Rojo of Coffee for Peace of Cotabato (center) receive their plaques and certificates of recognition from BPI head of Corporate Affairs and Communications office Owen Cammayo (second from left), Rotary Cagayan De Oro past president Ferdie Bellasor (leftmost) and BMW president and CEO Dante Sudaria (rightmost) during the awarding ceremony at the Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City on October 24.

B2

Business

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Flat trading expected this week S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to move sideways on thin volume during the last trading week of the year as investors will likely stay on the sidelines due to uncertainties in the global market.

Analysts said investors will likely preserve their gains given the series of global uncertainties, such as threats of a US government shutdown, the trade war between the US and China and rising global interest rates led by the US. BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas, however, believes the market’s recent rally still had some steam to carry the index toward the 7,800 levels in the near-term.

But if the index dips below the 7,300, Ravelas said this would favor the bears to play the 6,900/7,000 levels.

The financial markets will be closed on Monday and Tuesday in observance of the Christmas season.

“With a long weekend coming up, expect the PSEi to respond to the moves of the US market when our market opens once again on Wednesday. Barring any jarring event abroad, we might see a resumption of the light trading this week especially with the shortened trading schedule and another long weekend next next week,” Papa Securities trader Gabriel Jose Perez said.

Perez expects the trading range to

be between the recent lows and highs of 7,350 and 7,700.

The the bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange last week declined 0.6 percent to close a little below the 7,500-point level, while the broader All Shares Index slipped 0.1 percent to 4,501.

Most counters ended in the red led by mining and oil (-3.11 percent), financials (-1.6 percent), holding firms (-0.8 percent) and property (-0.6 percent.) The services index, meanwhile, climbed 1.4 percent while the industrial index rose 0.4 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P2.5 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P6.6 billion, down from the previous week’s average of P8.8 billion.

Weekly top gainers were Filinvest Development Corp., which surged 19.3 percent to P11.92; Macroasia Corp., which advanced 13.5 percent to P16.46; and PAL Holdings which climbed 9.5 percent to P8.30.

Weekly top price losers were Semirara Mining and Power Corp., which declined 6.2 percent to P22.50; Globe Telecom, which fell 5.8 percent to P1,900; and Petron Corp., which lost 5 percent to P7.77.

Wall Street, meanwhile, ended its worst week in a decade with more bruising losses Friday, and with the tech-rich Nasdaq entering a bear market amid worries about trade wars and a possible US government shutdown.

The Nasdaq and Dow suffered their worst weeks since the start of the global financial crisis as the US-China trade dispute returning to the forefront, and amid continued concerns about the Federal Reserve’s plans for interest rate increases.

“It has been a remarkably terrible trading week for financial markets amid concerns over rising US interest rates, decelerating global growth, Brexit uncertainty and chaos in Washington,” said Lukman Otunuga, a research analyst at FXTM. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

DECEMBER 17-21, 2018 Close Volume

Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

59 129.00 90.70 2.19 1.49 27.45 15.9 11.7 5.1 0.67 1.4 780.00 0.485 81.1 0.91 12.2 18.00 42.30 63.85 122.8 179 28.5 154.5 1800.00 63.70 1.13

75,720 13,284,140 10,650,590 314,000 19,061,000 423,400 22,900 5,217,100 6,628,000 100,000 116,000 200 14,960,000 18,677,090 2,388,000 191,800 600 1,373,700 32,720 2,050 5,040 294,700 2,122,380 510 94,700 438,000

FINANCIAL 4,450,917.50 1,705,855,722.00 984,706,476.50 680,370.00 30,785,680.00 11,435,670.00 363,034.00 63,445,418.00 32,893,540.00 67,000.00 162,010.00 153,000.00 7,469,005.00 1,500,141,509.50 2,126,500.00 2,394,524.00 10,800.00 58,963,240.00 2,110,572.00 249,260.00 910,491.00 8,294,565.00 333,926,686.00 921,705.00 6,082,506.50 497,140.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation PH Resorts Group Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

35 17.28 1.03 1.26 0.235 93.5 16.80 1.73 14.6 170 32 59.1 37.2 1.71 6.99 6.6 10.520 15.3 8.19 7.00 19.54 64.35 25.05 1.9900 5.80 10.52 1.850 302.40 45.00 4.39 9.89 26.5 10.34 18 0.178 390.00 5.80 1.4 3.90 7.77 5.39 5.7 9.02 1.19 10.64 46.7 5.75 4.75 1.96 2.68 1.44 11.46 81.7 5.4 0.128 0.86 128.5 2.32 1.88 16.88 1.68

9,847,700 4,060,700 15,755,000 689,000 3,280,000 3,780 31,300 72,681,000 7,933,100 3,740 2,925,400 3,820 208,600 776,000 4,215,100 67,100 14,794,600 1,319,800 1,868,300 36,784,600 10,306,500 1,363,870 259,500 40,974,000 2,043,800 14,875,400 3,654,000 5,440,470 4,300 436,000 5,200 5,013,700 1,132,100 18,861,000 1,100,000 1,080,250 66,700 13,204,000 162,000 10,753,200 245,400 951,700 112,500 184,613,000 8,394,500 1,846,300 202,200 750,000 6,337,000 176,000 495,000 4,240,700 2,463,690 1,461,200 360,000 1,756,000 5,120,100 152,000 68,315,000 1,200 24,455,000

INDUSTRIAL 333,511,955.00 70,655,902.00 16,095,270.00 852,350.00 784,200.00 351,327.50 507,192.00 126,495,950.00 121,588,968.00 643,564.00 93,706,520.00 231,431.50 7,759,070.00 1,365,160.00 31,069,092.00 440,373.00 153,151,250.00 19,949,560.00 14,996,279.00 261,375,108.00 207,058,725.00 88,197,251.00 6,467,455.00 83,265,490.00 11,866,651.00 150,320,811.00 6,724,120.00 1,644,347,866.00 180,545.00 1,875,670.00 49,756.00 133,602,310.00 11,696,758.00 346,343,850.00 187,890.00 339,967,592.00 392,296.00 18,305,880.00 643,760.00 86,460,154.00 1,327,566.00 5,477,371.00 963,042.00 209,481,880.00 89,165,210.00 86,642,310.00 1,161,310.00 3,564,100.00 12,954,010.00 470,580.00 693,730.00 48,211,780.00 198,759,932.50 7,722,331.00 45,740.00 1,530,360.00 657,523,396.00 353,080.00 130,212,640.00 20,196.00 41,025,900.00

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

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

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

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

0.590 56.00 12.30 0.90 6.50 26 1.370 1.390 914 6.65 12.70 11.92 0.204 991.5 5.83 56.10 5.88 4.61 6.57 0.57 4.08 16.6 0.620 4.62 2.56 0.0360 1.250 2.500 2.60 145.00 2.58 910.00 1.31 250.200 480.00 0.2470 0.206

72,715,000 6,150,400 31,093,500 240,000 119,000 866,500 21,631,000 2,855,000 1,906,890 6,882,200 20,939,000 13,898,100 520,000 461,840 4,700 10,028,820 164,000 17,000 179,600 272,000 18,118,000 19,706,600 2,340,000 91,671,000 8,000 30,000,000 264,000 4,631,000 639,000 4,188,510 98,453,580 1,439,290 166,000 360,530 930 10,450,000 1,670,000

HOLDING FIRMS 44,807,150.00 336,903,837.00 382,958,342.00 200,730.00 772,534.00 23,423,825.00 29,332,110.00 3,911,740.00 1,748,794,925.00 47,435,150.00 261,782,534.00 160,539,144.00 123,060.00 446,550,060.00 27,831.00 535,458,061.50 951,187.00 79,070.00 1,155,222.00 155,380.00 74,075,960.00 329,607,864.00 1,433,920.00 424,648,890.00 21,810.00 1,108,400.00 321,520.00 11,387,440.00 1,612,310.00 521,123,537.00 12,900.00 1,327,595,960.00 219,820.00 97,399,198.00 467,120.00 2,608,780.00 338,790.00

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

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

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp.

8.010 0.83 11.24 1.700 0.830 41.300 2.19 3.99 6.47 0.425 0.88 0.880 0.249 0.395 7.900 18.02 0.490 0.124 1.43 1.06 3.88 4.8 0.430 2.2800 0.4700

9,704,900 12,972,000 82,000 830,000 102,679,000 44,697,400 20,560,000 1,628,000 159,400 40,320,000 20,000 120,000 31,100,000 3,430,000 1,042,700 2,183,000 1,280,000 70,000 44,792,000 5,654,000 21,000 110,530,000 154,060,000 36,266,000 1,000,000

PROPERTY 75,714,845.00 10,845,640.00 974,460.00 1,416,610.00 87,655,680.00 1,880,972,475.00 46,076,760.00 6,428,180.00 1,004,472.00 17,181,050.00 17,350.00 104,980.00 7,766,410.00 1,354,800.00 8,259,321.00 40,100,990.00 614,000.00 8,740.00 64,020,640.00 6,000,490.00 89,330.00 531,144,060.00 65,571,900.00 81,959,970.00 459,950.00

DECEMBER 10-14, 2018 Close Volume Value 59.1 129.70 94.95 2.20 1.58 27.35 15.9 11.92 4.11 0.67 1.4

62,920 8,953,030 10,239,300 219,000 477,000 574,000 525,800 1,390,000 307,000 7,550,000 14,000

3,710,890.00 1,158,282,797.00 964,047,831.00 476,180.00 726,540.00 15,720,150.00 8,236,196.00 16,550,402.00 1,239,000.00 5,057,400.00 19,600.00

0.470 81 0.9 11.72 20.00 42.50 74 119 181 28 160.2 1830.00 64.60 1.21

1,940,000 21,253,330 3,036,000 213,400 500 920,100 29,790 2,350 3,470 1,562,700 1,508,160 615 347,720 1,000

880,600.00 1,699,395,446.00 2,767,150.00 2,461,152.00 10,000.00 38,983,910.00 2,153,070.00 282,275.00 622,047.00 44,202,340.00 243,116,603.00 1,113,375.00 22,678,811.00 1,210.00

33.1 17.28 1.03 1.29 0.250 100 16.88 1.82 15.56 200 30.8 63.05 37 1.76 6.9 6.6 10.260 14.76 8.08 7.26 19.5 64.5 25.10 2.0500 6.10 9.07 1.790 298.00 42.50 4.3 8.48 27.85 10.6 18.16 0.175 389.80 5.98 1.4 4.00 8.18

4,099,100 3,224,600 25,715,000 2,147,000 15,520,000 790 5,800 100,101,000 3,348,500 60 706,100 250 14,100 461,000 1,805,000 53,900 14,625,400 598,800 1,613,500 23,766,900 13,884,700 1,151,160 2,149,400 105,855,000 221,400 6,315,700 2,149,000 4,433,010 2,550 302,000 3,900 2,437,400 3,072,200 28,961,300 210,000 1,394,330 37,500 12,266,000 4,915,000 9,385,600

101,806,705.00 55,452,094.00 26,775,650.00 2,668,710.00 3,897,270.00 82,351.00 96,604.00 183,903,600.00 51,211,954.00 11,550.00 21,929,530.00 15,174.50 521,710.00 796,390.00 12,427,000.00 351,757.00 149,738,772.00 8,801,716.00 13,386,331.00 167,599,432.00 268,801,056.00 74,164,431.50 52,849,515.00 234,200,530.00 1,354,042.00 56,406,111.00 3,793,500.00 1,306,375,834.00 117,172.50 1,298,520.00 33,159.00 66,243,900.00 31,540,750.00 532,132,240.00 36,490.00 526,582,290.00 223,570.00 16,704,440.00 19,554,930.00 77,219,734.00

5.8 8.30 0.99 11.00 46.7 5.6 4.75 1.88 2.67 1.41 10.4 82.5 5.25 0.123 0.85 128.5 2.32 1.84 17.00 1.73

5,097,800 35,500 55,317,000 408,100 802,800 141,900 301,000 4,758,000 10,000 438,000 2,033,800 6,184,570 1,439,700 100,000 139,000 5,208,030 323,000 48,733,000 1,500 59,699,000

30,028,291.00 293,403.00 53,893,880.00 4,479,052.00 38,185,575.00 756,466.00 1,412,750.00 9,030,520.00 26,700.00 603,350.00 21,158,986.00 515,809,463.00 7,490,256.00 12,270.00 117,400.00 669,267,918.00 805,460.00 85,424,940.00 25,400.00 108,153,880.00

0.590 56.00 12.24 0.82 6.53 26.25 1.390 1.380 914 7.26 12.40 9.99 0.205 952.5 6.00 53.20 5.5

143,462,000 3,186,070 53,075,500 112,000 168,300 16,279,500 35,679,000 7,331,000 1,123,700 7,052,000 23,020,500 29,119,400 430,000 396,320 30,600 5,925,790 1,000

86,809,640.00 169,979,598.00 637,947,782.00 92,180.00 1,093,234.00 431,566,040.00 49,265,050.00 10,129,430.00 1,036,661,320.00 50,042,771.00 291,988,878.00 288,609,834.00 89,070.00 367,105,010.00 183,600.00 304,051,235.50 5,500.00

0.56 4.04 16.78 0.620 4.77

522,000 3,838,000 16,029,600 6,739,000 100,261,000

292,800.00 15,666,280.00 270,113,962.00 4,226,370.00 476,942,760.00

0.0380 1.250 2.380 2.60 142.00

68,800,000 1,279,000 3,537,000 466,000 6,816,320

2,519,100.00 1,534,010.00 8,390,990.00 1,181,600.00 1,022,403,188.00

952.50 1.33 271.200 450.00 0.2600 0.195

1,195,350 107,000 468,130 330 24,100,000 140,000

1,108,343,695.00 138,920.00 130,596,224.00 149,296.00 6,062,480.00 30,840.00

7.740 0.85 10.58 1.870 0.710 42.300 2.25 4 6.4 0.415 0.86 0.860 0.255 0.405 7.980 18.18 0.480 0.115 1.46 1.06

2,888,300 14,616,000 16,800 212,000 85,017,000 48,020,900 12,350,000 1,600,000 554,100 13,480,000 127,000 424,000 56,570,000 18,590,000 510,100 1,630,600 1,800,000 60,000 43,356,000 12,724,000

22,332,084.00 11,804,840.00 172,658.00 385,540.00 62,675,650.00 1,999,953,250.00 29,320,040.00 6,395,370.00 3,396,651.00 5,512,100.00 108,020.00 369,890.00 14,008,630.00 6,717,650.00 4,085,001.00 29,216,714.00 866,000.00 6,400.00 62,656,540.00 13,384,740.00

4.8 0.420 2.3000 0.4750

63,617,000 142,990,000 99,954,000 1,460,000

304,758,580.00 58,272,650.00 243,398,040.00 688,150.00

STOCKS

DECEMBER 17-21, 2018 Close Volume

DECEMBER 10-14, 2018 Close Volume Value

Value

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

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

0.440 40.00 3.57 20.55 2 3.08 35.00 1.25 5.87 0.700 5.250

13,250,000 4,400 2,631,000 12,337,800 401,000 595,000 70,090,300 1,544,000 3,936,500 47,000 13,533,400

5,812,100.00 157,375.00 9,311,130.00 257,490,375.00 796,330.00 1,819,110.00 2,453,652,215.00 1,921,870.00 23,324,941.00 32,900.00 70,664,031.00

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

13.7 20 1.36 0.420 0.041 13.5 3.9 9.78 72 7.8 6.46 7.67 2.31 15.90 890 1900 5.50 325.00 10.04 3.07 103 1.90 11.2 7.20 0.123 6.0200 14.5 3.50 0.80 16.46 17.40 0.340 5.45 2.48 2.06 2.27 3.380 10 8.30 3.11 7.8 112.00 3.05 1149.00 0.320 0.840 42.20 80.00 7.54 2.39 0.730 0.46 5.29 0.690 12.380

3,843,500 385,800 4,670,000 2,270,000 60,100,000 32,900 55,772,000 70,184,400 1,140,490 1,100 5,604,700 178,800 7,000 845,000 790 226,450 1,103,200 4,370 300 3,682,000 11,090,670 103,000 21,600 7,100 345,980,000 32,589,600 4,700 131,305,000 1,216,000 5,744,700 3,100 260,000 135,200 7,454,000 1,370,000 5,000 7,194,000 32,800 31,000 314,000 1,000 273,350 5,522,000 632,540 2,520,000 33,821,000 13,483,500 2,520,550 1,030,600 13,125,000 46,172,000 228,920,000 1,950,700 10,658,000 5,794,300

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

0.0020 0.0056 0.0063 0.007 0.0120 0.0130 0.0130 0.110 0.112 0.209 0.295 0.6000 0.9500 1.07 1.31 1.3500 1.4500 1.65 1.680 2.04 2.2 2.51 2.70 3.3900 7.27 14.54 15.76 22.50

MINING & OIL 3,044,000,000 5,948,600.00 105,000,000 605,900.00 14,000,000 89,900.00 38,000,000 248,000.00 1,202,900,000 15,553,000.00 763,500,000 9,902,400.00 191,800,000 2,481,500.00 19,840,000 2,101,440.00 3,640,000 400,020.00 280,000 58,210.00 510,000 152,300.00 228,000 136,970.00 1,572,000 1,521,020.00 470,000 485,110.00 11,964,000 16,899,860.00 80,000 105,280.00 117,000 160,650.00 5,990,000 9,646,050.00 4,182,000 7,030,900.00 4,984,000 9,993,240.00 31,473,000 67,087,290.00 1,719,000 4,343,090.00 8,593,000 22,735,560.00 314,000 1,045,400.00 81,600 585,209.00 5,936,500 87,556,048.00 4,900 72,990.00 11,908,000 278,312,495.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

18.8 101 456 499 98.9 103 480 5.3 928 97 1.02 101.3 1007 980 99 105 990 75.2 76.15 74 72.5 74.8 72.5 73.25 73.5

945,100 9,410 2,200 3,130 26,870 87,800 2,130 317,900 8,100 800 95,000 300 220 200 500 5,100 400 2,110 59,970 10,200 11,070 91,240 7,120 107,540 61,890

LR Warrant

2.050

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,857,000 3,804,290.00

SERVICES 56,599,874.00 7,674,068.00 7,262,490.00 945,200.00 2,415,600.00 444,150.00 212,016,850.00 677,849,604.00 82,659,869.50 8,590.00 36,212,900.00 1,352,715.00 15,540.00 13,661,892.00 715,070.00 444,695,710.00 5,980,002.00 1,412,292.00 3,012.00 11,298,440.00 1,112,919,114.00 196,940.00 228,832.00 51,120.00 46,109,190.00 191,294,228.00 68,040.00 450,212,770.00 940,350.00 90,358,188.00 55,086.00 92,300.00 704,085.00 18,265,290.00 2,791,350.00 11,350.00 24,018,740.00 332,607.00 246,965.00 1,079,390.00 7,800.00 30,545,866.00 16,967,560.00 728,584,585.00 825,050.00 28,617,050.00 573,608,840.00 200,112,323.50 7,854,559.00 31,485,200.00 34,113,580.00 100,270,800.00 10,276,820.00 7,378,830.00 70,321,252.00

PREFERRED 17,899,508.00 922,278.50 994,074.00 1,538,100.00 2,595,999.00 8,901,910.00 1,012,400.00 1,675,138.00 7,525,910.00 77,360.00 96,990.00 30,390.00 217,990.00 196,000.00 49,505.00 521,800.00 397,500.00 160,154.50 4,583,003.50 754,800.00 806,985.00 6,810,057.00 516,348.00 7,881,682.00 4,533,028.00

0.415 20.95 3.57 21.00 1.98 3.12 34.60 1.22 5.46 0.720 5.150

3,130,000 5,763,900 5,401,000 8,738,500 358,000 127,000 83,629,600 8,373,000 1,459,200 520,000 25,480,100

1,242,850.00 121,086,550.00 19,320,760.00 182,843,470.00 704,460.00 393,710.00 2,955,036,120.00 10,363,110.00 7,967,857.00 376,780.00 131,552,272.00

14.8 19.7 1.59 0.425 0.040 13.5 3.46 9.39 73.4 7.9 6.58 7.92 2.4 16.92 890 2018 5.32 325.00

11,547,500 708,600 15,333,000 7,820,000 52,000,000 220,400 52,862,000 53,380,900 921,270 137,000 10,644,000 4,000 15,000 3,748,500 470 230,845 215,800 9,930

197,026,794.00 13,910,403.00 22,430,970.00 3,250,450.00 2,014,600.00 2,983,624.00 163,467,590.00 456,988,418.00 67,262,104.00 1,042,454.00 70,441,368.00 28,911.00 36,000.00 74,727,980.00 418,640.00 465,889,400.00 1,138,833.00 3,212,610.00

3.12 98 2.07 12 7.20 0.113 5.8000 14.5 3.40 0.80 14.50 17.78 0.350 5.45 2.46 2.09 2.34 3.380 10 7.58 3.47

13,560,000 19,082,290 150,000 6,000 57,000 17,780,000 91,843,900 19,500 2,893,000 4,870,000 3,561,000 900 390,000 319,400 14,452,000 4,852,000 32,000 17,577,000 12,400 7,200 97,000

41,989,160.00 1,832,034,345.00 302,030.00 65,684.00 410,400.00 1,964,430.00 545,621,592.00 279,622.00 9,072,220.00 4,165,080.00 51,250,686.00 15,840.00 130,500.00 1,714,834.00 33,385,150.00 10,314,010.00 72,570.00 59,713,640.00 123,848.00 59,064.00 327,150.00

114.00 3.12 1140.00 0.335 0.840 42.50 76.25 7.65 2.33 0.740 0.41 5.25 0.690 12.100

589,590 4,473,000 389,835 5,880,000 83,691,000 10,983,100 3,472,170 988,500 20,346,000 113,198,000 130,180,000 1,659,000 18,760,000 3,791,200

66,316,723.00 13,735,050.00 446,928,445.00 1,974,900.00 69,720,250.00 467,491,590.00 254,812,552.00 7,099,382.00 47,804,860.00 76,514,890.00 52,680,550.00 8,720,146.00 12,590,860.00 45,399,864.00

0.0020 0.0062 0.0065 0.006 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.100 0.110 0.215 0.290 0.6100 0.9800 1.07 1.25 1.1300 1.2000 1.59 1.690 2 2.16 2.70 2.64 3.0200 7.63 15.20 15.04 24.00

2,549,000,000 65,000,000 12,000,000 182,000,000 39,900,000 487,800,000 83,300,000 12,160,000 300,000 1,800,000 10,000 291,000 4,483,000 572,000 1,343,000 3,000 46,000 9,985,000 6,340,000 10,333,000 21,830,000 297,000 6,229,000 230,000 34,600 5,378,100 52,400 10,820,200

4,998,000.00 391,900.00 78,000.00 1,141,000.00 498,800.00 5,874,200.00 999,600.00 1,201,220.00 31,780.00 374,220.00 2,900.00 173,550.00 4,356,930.00 607,560.00 1,719,160.00 3,390.00 54,240.00 15,910,830.00 10,616,620.00 20,773,940.00 47,114,280.00 748,240.00 16,726,680.00 720,540.00 259,149.00 83,484,870.00 815,912.00 263,549,895.00

18.7

311,900

5,824,960.00

450 490 99 102 480 5.22 900 95 1.02 101 990

10,000 12,460 7,490 125,550 5,590 166,900 1,610 1,620 43,000 83,580 70

4,540,710.00 6,036,200.00 741,452.00 12,803,360.00 2,605,404.00 871,204.00 1,449,110.00 155,545.00 43,510.00 8,250,555.00 66,400.00

101.9 102.2 995 75.15 76.55 74 73 74.8 75 74 74.6

10 150 2,200 4,040 216,960 9,030 334,730 42,750 11,500 8,510 4,110

1,019.00 15,370.00 2,133,925.00 305,976.50 16,536,245.00 667,570.00 24,157,003.50 3,201,521.00 856,805.00 629,672.50 305,208.00

1.980

1,145,000

2,241,940.00

SME 5,143,470.00 94,542,470.00

4.4 1.27

1,451,000 25,175,000

6,448,530.00 32,119,680.00 2,697,290.00

Italpinas Xurpas

4.5 1.59

1,163,000 62,961,000

First Metro ETF

111.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 29,530 3,290,324.00

112

24,290

USD DMPL A2

10.1

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 15,000 150,500.00

10

4,930

49,300.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Philodrill Corp. `A’ Oriental Pet. `A’ Island Info Transpacific Broadcast Oriental Pet. `B’ Phinma Energy MRC Allied Ind. Leisure & Resorts Megaworld

VOLUME 3,044,000,000 1,202,900,000 763,500,000 345,980,000 228,920,000 191,800,000 184,613,000 154,060,000 131,305,000 110,530,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Jollibee Foods Corp.

Metrobank SM Investments Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Bank of PI PLDT Common

VALUE 2,453,652,215.00 1,880,972,475.00 1,748,794,925.00 1,705,855,722.00 1,644,347,866.00 1,500,141,509.50 1,327,595,960.00 1,112,919,114.00 984,706,476.50 728,584,585.00

PSE chief eyes revival of Reit to lift stock market THE Philippine Stock Exchange is seeking the revival of the Real Estate Investment Trust framework in a bid to boost the Philippine equities market.

PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon said over the weekend the exchange was working with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the issuance of the new rules of REIT that will reduce the the minimum public offering to 33 percent from 67 percent.

“The market needs trading volume to sustain or to increase its level. But that volume is not going to come from local investors. It is going to come from foreign investors. So we need to address economic issues. Also we should have some new products,” Monzon said.

He said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominquez was amenable to lowering the minimum public ownership of REIT firms as long as the funds to be raised from the REIT listing would be kept in the Philippines.

“Initially there was still resistance from the finance secretary. But he will agree to lower the minimum public ownership if we can address the concern that funds raised from REIT offering will stay in the country and not invested outside. So we will make that a requirement,” Monzon said.

The minimum public ownership and the tax on property transfers were major issues that prompted big property developers to shun the REIT law, which could potentially raise as much as $3 billion worth of capital raising activities at the PSE. Monzon said while the tax issue on property transfers had been resolved under the Package 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, the minimum public ownership remained a stumbling block.

The REIT law allows real estate companies to sell through an initial public offering shares of real-estate trusts that hold assets, like shopping malls and office buildings. Since these assets generate a steady stream of income, they will pay regular dividends to shareholders.

When the REIT Act became a law at the end of 2009, several property firms, including SM Prime Holdings, Ayala Land Inc., Megaworld Corp. and Robinsons Land Corp., have expressed interest in conducting a REIT offering.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PXP Energy asks DoE to lift moratorium in Recto Bank

By Alena Mae S. Flores PXP Energy Corp. through Forum Energy Ltd. has asked the Department of Energy to lift the force majeure imposed on service contract 72, or more popularly known as the Recto Bank.

PXP sent a letter of request to the DoE on Friday seeking the lifting of the force majeure following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Philippines and China over cooperation in the West Philippine Sea. “We see the lifting of the force majeure as a positive development for our SC 72 block and for the country in general,” Forum Energy country representative Daniel Stephen Carlos said.

Forum Energy, in which PXP holds a direct and indirect interest of 78.98 percent, has a 70 percent participating interest in SC 72 located in Northwest Palawan. PXP has a total economic interest of 53.1 percent in SC 72.

PXP is an upstream oil and gas company incorporated in the Philippines whose shares are listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. The company directly and indirectly owns oil and gas exploration and production assets in the Philippines, and indirectly holds an exploration asset in offshore Peru.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier urged PXP Energy Corp. to apply for the lifting of the moratorium of its service contracts in the West Philippine Sea amid the recent breakthrough between the Philippines and China over the disputed West Philippine Sea.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Business/World

Standard

TODAY

B3

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Zimbabwe’s economic crisis wipes out Christmas cheer CHINAMHORA, Zimbabwe―At Solomon Chakauya’s grocery store in Zimbabwe’s Chinamhora district outside Harare, there’s no sign of the seasonal Christmas rush that he needs to keep his business afloat.

Even in the country’s toughest times, sales rocketed in the days before Christmas, but this year few people are able to buy anything.

It is a far cry from the revived economy that President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised more than a year ago when he took over from the ousted Robert Mugabe.

Instead, shortages of bread, cooking oil and fuel have worsened in recent months, banknotes become even scarcer and shop shelves have often been left bare.

“In previous years, people would stream in to buy things like rice, oil, biscuits, sweets, soup powder and drinks. It was so busy I would be on my feet all day,” Chakauya, 29, told AFP. “Things are tough and most people have no money.”

But over this holiday season, Chakauya has sometimes had only four customers a day, leaving him to kill time sitting in the shade in front of his store.

Local villager Emilda Chingarambe said that for the first time in many years she could not buy her two daughters new clothes for Christmas day. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Standard Manila

WAITING FOR THE EMPEROR. Well-wishers holding Japan flags wait for Japan's Emperor Akihito's birthday public appearance at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on December 23, 2018. In a rare emotional address ahead of his abdication next year, Japanese Emperor Akihito said he took "deep comfort" that his long reign had been one of peace as he remembered the "countless lives" lost in World War II. AFP

US envoy quits following Trump’s decision on Syria W

ASHINGTON―Brett McGurk, the US special envoy to the antiIslamic State group coalition, has resigned, a State Department official said Saturday, capping a chaotic week that saw the departure of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Donald Trump’s stunning decision to pull troops from Syria.

McGurk’s resignation, effective December 31, comes on the heels of Mattis’s decision to quit the Trump administration over key disagreements with the US president, notably the Syria withdrawal.

Just last week McGurk, a Barack Obama appointee whom Trump kept on, said “nobody is declaring a mission accomplished” in the battle against IS -- just days before the president blindsided politicians and allies with his announcement of victory against the jihadist movement.

Trump on Saturday said that the jihadist group “is largely defeated.”

“When I became President, ISIS was going wild,” the president tweeted. “Now ISIS is largely defeated and other local countries, including Turkey, should be able to easily take care of whatever remains. We’re coming home!”

Trump later took aim at McGurk on Twitter, referring to him as a “grandstander” who was quitting just before his time was up.

McGurk, 45, was set to leave his position in February, but reportedly felt he could no longer continue in the job after Trump’s declaration and on Friday evening informed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of his intention to wrap up at year’s end.

His conclusion mirrored that of Mattis, who was seen as a voice of moderation in the mercurial Trump White House and quit after telling the president he could not go along with the Syria decision.

McGurk has served as the US envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, an acronym for the jihadist group, since 2015.

He also served as the deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran, and worked

This is me ALVIN NEIL A. GUTIERREZ

GREEN LIGHT MUSICALS shown in the big screen have become a hit these days. From La La Land to Bohemian Rhapsody, there had been a frenzy of social media posts—memes, quotes, and music—by netizens on their timelines. It is not a surprise that a song in one of these musicals will hit the airwaves and become a favorite by all.

One of my favorites is a song from The Greatest Showman: “This is Me.” Allow me to borrow the title of the song, which does not only refer to a biopic of PT Barnum and his traveling circus; but also speaks volumes about how “freaks,” strange humans and people afflicted with abnormalities were seen in the 1800s. Luckily, today, nations all over the world are united to ensure that people like them are given dignity, and that they are given a day in the calendar to celebrate their condition.

Last December 3, 2018, the whole celebrated the International Day for People with Disabilities, which carried the theme “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.” This supports the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Goal 10, which is to reduce inequality. However, despite efforts of the United Nations crafting a 30 article Universal Declaration of Human Rights and having a dedicated International Day celebration for the People with Disabilities (PWDs), I was surprised that PWDs are still marginalized when it comes to achieving gainful employment.

Managing Diversity in the Workplace is a research discipline that has been around for the past 40 years and yet, it focuses mainly on equal opportunity for women, gender preferences, race and religion. Not much research on PWDs is as robust as those mentioned.

I am currently involved in a study dealing with the inclusion of persons with intellectual disability (PWIDs). I have also looked into the different HR practices that create a climate of inclusion in the workplace. I discovered that simply hiring one is not enough for a company’s Human Resources Department to say that it is managing diversity, one that leads to inclusion. There’s a distinction between the two. Inclusion is the by-product of managing diversity.

It is claimed that HR practices of firms with PWDs are usually bound by four stakeholders, namely the employer, the HR manager, the coworker and the PWDs. Studies show that a lot of employers do not hire PWDs in the first place because of the cost of accommodation involved, and because of the risks this entails. Other employers do not hire PWDs because of their lack of knowledge about the disability and because of their ignorance as to what other skills and competencies they can bring to the workplace despite being “dis-abled.”

Studies that involve HR Managers have produced a lot of problematic areas. Studies involving

HR managers, for example, show that leadership intention is a vital factor in the creation of HR practices for the firm to achieve inclusion for the PWDs. If the leader is not fully sold in hiring PWDs, efforts to create an inclusive climate through their HR practices will not be sustained.

Co-workers are an important stakeholder in the hiring of the PWDs. Their perceptions and opinions matter in the shaping of the different HR practices that a firm wishes to create for the PWDs. For some co-workers, the company is not “playing fair” if accommodations on working conditions are made, and if certain benefits and privileges are granted to the PWDs. Lastly, I would like to cite a study made on PWDs in their application to French companies.

Using surveys and statistical analysis, the study presented a very sad truth: PWDs will convey that they are more warm than competent and wish to be hired on their people skills rather than what they can actually do. The same study was given to non-disabled workers with the assumption that they are PWDs, and showed the same result. Thus, it can be concluded that the PWDs will look down on themselves as candidates lacking the competencies to fulfill the job and this is where stronger HR practices such as Training and Development and Performance and Rewards must be customized to fit their kind of mindset.

Going back to The Greatest Showman, PT Barnum’s traveling circus was a gathering of different people with disabilities and conditions, from a woman that grows a beard, to midgets and cannibals, just to name a few. He made a fortune out of these people. It must sound sordid, but because of their condition and PT Barnum’s circus, it was the only way for them to make a living at that time. Because of their uniqueness and appearance, no 8 to 5 jobs were offered to them. But again, this was more than a century ago. We’re now living in the new millennium. And thanks to science, we now understand certain diseases and conditions that make one a PWD. Our colleagues in the natural sciences are infusing technology to treat them making sure that these people will live normal lives.

On the other hand, people in the social sciences must also do the same. We must continuously look at the dynamics of the firm and on how to make inclusion a reality. The government, the private sector, the academe and NGOs must work hand in hand so that PWDs are given dignity, something that people like them a century ago had never experienced.

Alvin Neil Gutierrez is a Doctor of Business Administration student of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University (DLSU). He took up his Masters in Human Resource Management as an AUSAID scholar from the University of Sydney Business School. He is also an Assistant Professor at the DLSU Management and Organization Department, where he teaches Strategic Human Resources Management.

He may be contact at alvin.gutierrez@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

under Republican George W. Bush as a senior official on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Discussing the US role in Syria this month, he had told journalists that “it would be reckless if we were just to say, ‘Well, the physical caliphate is defeated, so we can just leave now.’”

“I think anyone who’s looked at a conflict like this would agree with that.”

McGurk called Trump’s move to leave Syria “a shock” and “a complete reversal of policy that was articulated to us,” in an email announcing his decision to colleagues that was obtained by The New York Times.

“It left our coalition partners confused and our fighting partners bewildered,” he said, according to the newspaper.

“I worked this week to help manage some of the fallout but—as many of you heard in my meetings and phone calls—I ultimately concluded that I could not carry out these new instructions and maintain my integrity.”

Just after announcing his Syria decision, Trump again confounded international partners with plans to slash troop numbers in Afghanistan. AFP Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 5-FC, Mandaluyong City IN RE: PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF SOFIA PATRICIA SARMIENTO, Spec. Proc. No. R-MND-18-01625-SP SPOUSES ALBERT AND DOLORES REYES, Petitioners. x------------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a petition for adoption filed by the petitioners, Spouses Albert C. Reyes (“Albert”) and Dolores Chua L. Taw-Reyes (“Dolores”), praying that this Court issue in their favor a decree of adoption over Sofia Patricia Sarmiento (“Sofia Patricia”), a Certificate of Live Birth be issued identifying them as the parents of Sofia Patricia, and that the name of Sofia Patricia be legally changed to Audrey Daphne Taw Reyes in her Certificate of Live Birth.

As can be culled from the Amended Petition and its attachments, Albert and Dolores are both of legal age, Filipinos and residents of Unit 407, 32 Florante St., Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City. They have no legitimate or illegitimate children. On the other hand, Sofia Patricia was born on March 9, 2017 at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, has no middle name and, based on her Certificate of Live Birth with Registry No. 2017-14595, is the child of Sweetzelyn Inventado Sarmiento.

Albert and Dolores coursed their application for adoption through Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-accredited child placement agency at the Heart Mary Villa, which, in turn, is an accredited child-caring agency. The DSWD has declared Sofia Patricia legally available for adoption, approved her placement with the petitioners and, through its Regional Director for the National Capital Region (NCR), Vincent Andrew T. Leyson, consented to the adoption of Sofia Patricia by the petitioners-spouses.

Petitioners-spouses further allege that they: (1) are in possession of their full civil capacity and legal rights; (2) are of good moral character; (3) have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; (4) are emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children; (5) are at least sixteen (16) years older than the adoptee; (6) are in the position to support and care for the adoptee; and (7) have undergone pre-adoption services as required under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8552.

WHEREFORE, finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let the same be set for hearing on March 26, 2019 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning, in the courtroom of the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City, Branch 277, 3rd Floor, New Hall of Justice, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, at which date, time and place, the petitioners-spouses, the adoptee, and all interested persons who may be affected thereby, specially Sweetzelyn Inventado Sarmiento and her relatives, are DIRECTED to APPEAR and show cause why the petition should or should not be granted.

Pursuant to Section 13 of Administrative Matter No. 02-6-02SC on the Rule on Adoption, in relation to Section 11, Article IV of Republic Act No. 8552, otherwise known as the “Domestic Adoption Act of 1998,” the Court of Social Worker is DIRECTED to PREPARE a Child Study Report and a Home Study Report, with a recommendation on the adoptee and the petitionersspouses. The Court Social Worker shall SUBMIT the Child and Home Study Reports directly and only to the Court at least ONE (1) WEEK before the hearing on March 26, 2019, and BE PRESENT during said hearing. The Child and Home Study Reports shall include, but not limited to, the following: 1) A verification with the Civil Registry of the real identity and registered name of the adoptee; 2) The establishment that the child is legally available for adoption and the documents in support thereof are valid and authentic; 3) A determination of the veracity of the allegations of the petitioners-spouses with respect to the biological mother of the adoptee; 4) A determination of the earnest intention of the petitionersspouses and whether the adoption will inure to the best interest of the child; and 5) A determination of whether there is/are ground/s to deny the petition.

Pursuant to Section 12 of A.M. No. 02-6-02-SC, the Court Social Worker is further DIRECTED to CONDUCT counseling sessions with the biological mother of the adoptee, should the latter’s whereabouts be known, on the matter of the adoption of the adoptee and SUBMIT his/her report thereon at least ONE (1) WEEK before the hearing on March 26, 2019.

Let a copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioners-spouses in a newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila and nearby provinces selected by raffle, ONCE a week for THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. Further, let a copy of this Order together with the Amended Petition and its annexes be served upon the Office of the Solicitor General, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Court Social Worker.

SO ORDERED. October 12, 2018, Mandaluyong City.

(Sgd.) JOANNE G. HERNANDEZ-LAZO Presiding Judge

(MStandard-Dec. 10, 17 & 24, 2018)

without having been deposited by the plaintiff; REPUBLIC OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES without having been deposited by the plaintiff; REPUBLIC OF 6. When the loan became due, the Plaintiff NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION 6.

When the loan became due, TODAY the Plaintiff NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION demanded payment from Defendant or for him demanded payment from Defendant or for him METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT COURT METROPOLITAN TRIAL to execute the dacion en pago as he verbally to execute the dacion en pago as he verbally BRANCH 97, MANDALUYONG CITY committed to the plaintiff; BRANCH 97, MANDALUYONG CITY FE D. VALDEZ, FE D. VALDEZ, Plaintiff/s, Plaintiff/s, -versus-versus-

M-MND-17-04217-CV M-MND-17-04217-CV For: Sum of Money For: Sum of Money

RENATO BARCELONA, RENATO BARCELONA, Defendant/s.

Defendant/s. x---------------------------------------------------x x---------------------------------------------------x

ORDER ORDER

Before this Court is an Ex-Parte Motion Before this Court is an Ex-Parte Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication filed by the plaintiff through counsel, Publication filed by the plaintiff through counsel, Atty. Xerxes E. Cortel on 17 September 2018.

Atty. Xerxes E. Cortel on 17 September 2018.

Finding merit in the reasons cited therein, the Finding merit in the reasons cites therein, the same is hereby GRANTED. same is hereby GRANTED. Accordingly, let an Alias Summon issue Accordingly, let an Alias Summons issue and let such Alias Summons and a copy of the and let such Alias Summons and a copy of the Complaint be published once every week for Complaint be published once every week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation chosen after a raffle of general circulation chosen after a raffle conducted by the Executive Branch of the conducted by the Executive Branch of the Regional Trial Court pursuant to Section 10 of Regional Trial Court pursuant to Section 10 of A.M. No. 01-1-07-SC. A.M. No. 01-1-07-SC. Furnish the plaintiff, its counsel and the Clerk Furnish the plaintiff, its counsel and the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court a copy of of Court of the Regional Trial Court a copy of this Order. this Order.

SO ORDERED. SO ORDERED. 18 September 2018, Mandaluyong City, 18 September 2018, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Philippines.

(Sgd.) DOLLY DOLLY ROSE ROSE R. R.BOLANTE-PRADO BOLANTE-PRADO (Sgd.) Presiding Judge Judge Presiding

REPUBLIC OF OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES REPUBLIC NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL JUDICIAL REGION REGION NATIONAL CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT COURT METROPOLITAN TRIAL BRANCH CITY BRANCH 97, 97, MANDALUYONG MANDALUYONG CITY FE D. VALDEZ, FE D. VALDEZ, Plaintiff/s, Plaintiff/s, -versus-versus-

M-MND-18-04217-CV M-MND-18-04217-CV For: Sum of Money For: Sum of Money

RENATO BARCELONA, RENATO BARCELONA, Defendant/s.

Defendant/s. x---------------------------------------------------x x---------------------------------------------------x

ALIAS SUMMONS SUMMONS ALIAS TO: RENATO BARCELONA TO: RENATO BARCELONA Naga St., St., Napocor Napocor Village, Village, Naga Tandang Sora, Sora, Quezon Quezon City City Tandang

GREETINGS: GREETINGS: You are are hereby hereby required, required, within within fifteen fifteen (15) (15) You days after after service service of of this this summons summons upon upon you, you, days to file with this Court and serve on the plaintiff to file with this Court and serve on the plaintiff your answer answer to to the the complaint, complaint, copy copy of of which which your is attached, attached, together together with with the the annexes annexes and and is Civil Case Case Information InformationStatement.

Statement. If you If you Civil failfail to to answer within fixed, the plaintiff will answer within the the timetime fixed, the plaintiff will take take judgment by default and may be granted judgment by default and may be granted the the relief applied in complaint. the complaint. relief applied for inforthe

Moreover, pursuant pursuant to to the the IBP-OCA IBP-OCA Moreover, Memorandum on March Memorandum on Policy Policyguidelines, guideline, dated date March 12, 2002, you are expected not to file Motion 12, 2002, you are expected not to file aa Motion to Dismiss Dismiss but but instead, instead, you you are are requested requested to to to allege the the grounds grounds of of such such motion motion as as defenses defenses allege in your expected to in your answer. answer. Likewise, Likewise,you youare are expected utilize the deposition-discovery measures under to utilize the deposition-discovery-discovery Rules 23, 25, 26, 27 & 28 of the 1998 Rules of measures under Rules 23, 25, 26, 27 & 28 of Civil1998 Procedure. to resort to deposition the Rules ofFailure Civil Procedure.

Failure to by written interrogatories under Rule 25 and the resort to deposition by written interrogatories request for 25 admission of factsfor under Rule 27 under Rule and the request admission of may be prejudicial to may your be interest. facts under Rule 27 prejudicial to your WITNESS THE HONORABLE DOLLY interest.

ROSE BOLANTE-PRADO, Presiding Judge of WITNESS THE HONORABLE DOLLY this Court, this 18th day of September, 2018 of at ROSE BOLANTE-PRADO, Presiding Judge Mandaluyong this Court, thisCity, 18thMetro day ofManila.

September, 2018 at Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) T. MISTICA MISTICA (Sgd.) CHRISTINE CHRISTINE T. Branch Clerk Clerk of of Court Court Branch

REPUBLIC OF OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES REPUBLIC NATIONAL CAPITALJUDICIAL JUDICIALREGION REGION NATIONAL CAPITAL METROPOLITANTRIAL TRIALCOURT COURT METROPOLITAN Mandaluyong City, City, Branch Branch97 97 Mandaluyong FE D. D. VALDEZ, VALDEZ, FE Plaintiff/s, Plaintiff/s, -versus-versus-

M-MND-18-04217-CV M-MND-18-04217-CV For: Sum of Money RENATO BARCELONA, Defendant/s.

RENATO BARCELONA, x---------------------------------------------------x Defendant/s. x---------------------------------------------------x COMPLAINT

COMPLAINT

PLAINTIFF, through through counsel, counsel, respectfully respectfully alleges alleges PLAINTIFF, THAT: THAT: 1. Plaintiff Plaintiff is is of of legal legal age, age, Filipino Filipino citizen citizen and and with with 1. residence at at 494 494 Barangka Barangka Drive, Drive, Barangay Barangay residence Malamig, Mandaluyong City while Defendant is Malamig, Mandaluyong City while Defendant is of legal legal age, age, Filipino Filipino citizen citizen and and with with residence residence of at No. No. Naga Naga St., St., Napocor at Napocor Village, Village, Tandang Tandang Sora, Quezon Quezon City, City, where where they they may may be be served served Sora, with summons and other processes of the the with summons and other processes of Honorable Court; Honorable Court; 2. Sometime Sometime in in February February 12, 12, 2002, 2012, Defendant Defendant 2. borrowed from from the the Plaintiff Plaintiff cash cash in in the the amount amount borrowed of THREE THREE HUNDRED HUNDRED FIFTY FIFTY THOUSAND THOUSAND of PESOS (Php350,000.00) payable on or before PESOS (Php350,000.00) payable on or before May 2012.

2012. As As security security for for the the said said loan, loan, May Defendant gave gave the the Plaintiff Transfer Certificate Certificate Defendant Plaintiff Transfer of Title Title No. No. 072-2011004382 072-2011004382 covering covering aa parcel parcel of of land City with an of land located locatedatatBrgy.

Brgy.Latag, Latag,Lipa Lipa City with area of ONE HUNDRED FORTY ONE (141) an area of ONE HUNDRED FORTY ONE (141) SQUARE METERS. Copy of the said Transfer SQUARE METERS. Copy of the said Transfer Certificate of of Title Title No. No. 072-2011004382 072-2011004382 is is Certificate hereto attached attached and and made made integral integral part part thereof thereof hereto as Annex Annex “A”; “A”; as 3. Defendant Defendant undertook undertook to to sell sell the the subject subject 3. property to the plaintiff plaintiff by by way way of of dacion dacion en en property to the pago in in the the event event he he fails fails to to pay pay his his obligation. pago obligation.

However, defendant defendant did did not not execute execute any any However, document to to express express this this undertaking undertaking and and document merely assured the plaintiff thereof verbally merely assured the plaintiff thereof verbally and by by delivering delivering the the owner’s owner’s duplicate duplicate of of title title and to her; her; to 4. As As additional additional security security thereof, thereof, Defendant Defendant 4. issued Chinabank Chinabank Check Check No. TRI A1019402 A1019402 issued No. TRI in the amount of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY in the amount of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php 350,000.00) in THOUSAND PESOS (Php 350,000.00) in favor of of the the Plaintiff.

Plaintiff. Copy Copy of of the the said said check check is is favor hereto attached attached and and made made integral integral part part thereof thereof hereto as Annex Annex “B”; “B”; as 5. The The defendant defendant requested requested the the plaintiff plaintiff to to just just 5. hold on to the check check and and not not deposit deposit the the same same hold on to the as he he will will pay pay the the plaintiff plaintiff when when his his obligation obligation as becomes due. due. Hence, Hence, the the check check became became stale stale becomes

committed to the plaintiff; 7. Notwithstanding several demands made by 7. Notwithstanding several demands made by the the plaintiff, the defendant unjustifiably refused plaintiff, the defendant unjustifiably refused and and failed and continues to refuse and fail to failed and continues to refuse and fail to pay pay his obligation to the Plaintiff or comply with his obligation to the Plaintiff or comply with his his verbal undertaking. Copy of the demand verbal undertaking. Copy of the demand letter letter sent by the plaintiff by Plaintiff’s counsel sent by the plaintiff by Plaintiff’s counsel is is hereto attached as Annex “C”. hereto attached as Annex “C”.

8. Due to the default in the payment by the 8. Due to the default in the payment by the defendants, the plaintiff was constrained to defendants, the plaintiff was constrained to hire the services of the undersigned counsel in hire the services of the undersigned counsel in the amount of P20,000.00 as acceptance fee the amount of P20,000.00 as acceptance fee plus 25% contingent fee upon collection and plus 25% contingent fee upon collection and P3,000.00 per appearance; P3,000.00 per appearance;

PRAYER PRAYER

WHEREFORE, it is prayed that this Honorable WHEREFORE, it is prayed that this Honorable Court.

Court.

1. After trial on the merits, render judgment 1. After trial on the merits, render judgment in favor of the plaintiff and ordering the in favor of the plaintiff and ordering the defendant, to pay the plaintiff the sum of: defendant, to pay the plaintiff the sum of: a. Php350,000.00 representing the unpaid a. Php350,000.00 representing the unpaid obligation by the Defendant to the Plaintiff obligation by the Defendant to the Plaintiff plus legal interest; or plus legal interest; or b. In the alternative, Plaintiff be ordered to b. In the alternative, Plaintiff be ordered to cause the execution of Dacion en Pago or cause the execution of Dacion en Pago or such document transferring ownership of such document transferring ownership of the property covered by Transfer Certificate the property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 072-2011004382 in favor of the of Title No. 072-2011004382 in favor of the Plaintiff as payment for the outstanding loan.

Plaintiff as payment for the outstanding loan.

2. In either case, the defendant be ordered to 2. In either case, the defendant be ordered to pay: pay: a. 25% of the sum due by way of attorney’s a. 25% of the sum due by way of attorney’s fees; and fees; and b. The cost of suit. b. The cost of suit.

Plaintiff prays for other relief just and Plaintiff prays for other relief just and equitable equitable in the premises. in the premises.

Makati City for Mandaluyong City, July 10, Makati City for Mandaluyong City, July 10, 2018.

2018.

CORTEL LAW OFFICE CORTEL LAW OFFICE

Counsel for Plaintiff Counsel for Plaintiff Suite 1015, 10F Cityland Condominium 10 Tower 1, Suite 1015, 10F Cityland Condominium 10 Tower 1, Ayala Ave., corner H.V. dela Costa Street, Makati City Ayala Ave., corner H.V. dela Costa Street, Makati City Telephone: 813-0103/813-9092 Telephone: 813-0103/813-9092 Email: cortellawoffice.recovery@gmail.com Email: cortellawoffice.recovery@gmail.com

By: By: XERXES E. CORTEL XERXES E. CORTEL

Roll No. 40927 Roll No. 40927 PTR No. 6615532; 01-03-18; Makati City PTR No. 6615532; 01-03-18; Makati City IBP No. 019713; 01-03-18; Nueva Ecija IBP No. 019713; 01-03-18; Nueva Ecija MCLE Compliance No. V-0010755 MCLE Compliance No. V-0010755 Valid Until 04-14-19 Valid Until 04-14-19

(Sgd.) MAGNOLIA M. MASANGCAY (Sgd.) MAGNOLIA M. MASANGCAY

Roll No. 69481 Roll No. 69481 PTR No. 6744512; 03-05-18; Makati City PTR No. 6744512; 03-05-18; Makati City IBP No. 1065697; 01-05-18; Batangas Chapter IBP No. 1065697; 01-05-18; Batangas Chapter MCLE VI Complaint – Waiting for Certification/ MCLE VI Complaint – Waiting for Certification/ Compliance No. Compliance No.

REPUBLIC OF OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES }} REPUBLIC MAKATI CITY CITY S.S. MAKATI }} S.S.

AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT MERIT AND AND CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATION AFFIDAVIT OF FE D. D. VALDEZ, VALDEZ, Filipino, Filipino, of of legal legal age age and and I.I. FE with office office address address at at 494 494 Barangka Barangka Drive, Drive, with Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong City, after Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong City, after being sworn sworn in in accordance accordance with with the the law, law, hereby hereby being depose and and state state that: that: depose 1. II am am aa plaintiff plaintiff in in the the above-stated above-stated case; case; 1.

2. II caused caused the the preparation preparation of of the the foregoing foregoing 2. complaint; complaint; 3. II have have read read the the contents contents thereof thereof and and the the 3. facts stated stated therein therein are are true true and and correct correct of of facts my personal knowledge and/or on the basis my personal knowledge and/or on the basis of copies of documents and records in my of copies of documents and records in my possession; possession; 4. II have have not not commenced commenced any any other other action action or or 4. proceeding involving involving the the same same issues issues in in the the proceeding Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal tribunal or or agency; agency; other 5. To To the the best best of of my my knowledge knowledge and and belief, belief, no no 5. such action action or or proceeding proceeding is is pending pending in in the the such Supreme Court, Court, the the Court Court of of Appeals, Appeals, or or any any Supreme other tribunal tribunal or or agency; agency; other 6.

If I should thereafter learn that a similar action 6. If I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding proceedinghas has been or is pending or been filedfiled or is pending before before the Supreme Court, theofCourt of Appeals, the Supreme Court, the Court Appeals, or any or anytribunal other tribunal or agency, I undertake to other or agency, I undertake to report report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to that fact within five (5) days therefrom to this this Honorable Court.

Honorable Court.

(Sgd.) VALDEZ (Sgd.) FE FE D. D. VALDEZ Affiant Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND AND SWORN SWORN to to before before me me on on SUBSCRIBED the date date and and place place above-stated, above-stated, affiant affiant exhibiting exhibiting the to me her Social Security System (SSS) No. 05to me her Social Security System (SSS) No. 050294176-4.

0294176-4.

Doc. No. No.47 47 Doc. Page No. No. IIII Page Book No. 42 Book No. 42 Series of of 2018.

2018.

Series

ANNEX “A” ANNEX “A”

ANNEX “A-2” ANNEX “A-2”

ANNEX “A-1” “A-1” ANNEX

ANNEX “B” ANNEX “B”

ANNEX “C” ANNEX “C”

(MStandard-Dec. 17,24 & 31, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

Women solons launch book on Filipiniana THE smashing success of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, whose contemporary take on Filipiniana wear and accessories were eye turners, has raised hopes that it translates to a welldeserved and sustained support of the local weaving, embroidery and jewelry industries and Pinoy global designers.

“Kasuotan: Filipiniana Redefined,” a coffee table book by the women legislators of the 17th Congress, highlights such outstanding contribution of the local industries and talents as well as the accomplished legislators that champion them.

Deputy Speaker Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, President of the Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc., said that in their latest fundraiser, “Children patients of the National Center for Mental Health will thank you.”

Proceeds of the book sale shall help build the Paaralan at Palaruan ng Kabataan at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City.

It marks another opportunity for a relevant contribution by the women legislators, who broke ground as they called attention to the human rights and care for mental health patients through the passage in November 2017 of Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law. Antipolo City 1st District Rep. Maria Cristina Roa-Puno, chairperson for the book project, coordinated with the Department of Health for the facilities needed. Her co-chair, Mandaluyong City Rep. Alexandria P. Gonzales, shall oversee the construction of the facilities to be located within her congressional District.

An enjoyable bird’s eye view of the unforgettable legacy of the 86-strong women of the House of Representatives can spread the cheer even beyond the season, as the book costs only P2,500 each. Discounts for bulk orders are follows: 10%, 30-50 books; 15%, 51-100 books; 25%, 101 books and above. Call “Lilo” for orders at 931-5001 local 7278 or 0920-9620602.

Mayor Sara eyes measure halting use of drones DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte has asked the City Council to come up with an ordinance that will set restrictions on the use of drones in the city.

Duterte said there is a need to restrict the use of drones following reports that these are being used as weapons in other localities.

The mayor, however, was quick to clarify there were no reported incidents of drones being used as weapons in Davao.

“There are areas outside Davao City that drones were being used as a weapon. We don’t want this to happen in our city that is why we want to craft an ordinance for this,” she said in an interview.

While a law is still being eyed on the use of drones, those wishing to fly drones even for event coverages need to secure permission from the Davao City Police Office and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

“Right now, drone flying is under the supervision of CAAP especially in areas near the routes of the airplanes,” she said.

The mayor did not give details on how drones are being used as weapons. She said she already referred her proposal to the Committee on Public Safety and Security chaired by Councilor Ma. Belen Acosta. PNA

OFW TRIBUTE. Buhay OFW

TV, produced and hosted by Marissa del Mar (third from left), in cooperation with Buhay OFW Foundation recently organized the ‘Pamaskong Handog 2018’ at Ayala Malls South Park for more than 1,000 overseas Filipino workers’ families, as they were pampered with gifts, sumptuous meals, live entertainment, and cash prizes for sing and dance contests in partnership with San Miguel Corp., Philippine Airlines, and iRemit, among others. Others pictured are segment host Princess Adriano (fourth from left) and senatorial candidate Raffy Alunan (fifth from left).

Women lawmakers surround House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the launch of ‘Kasuotan: Filipiniana Redefined,’ a fundraising coffee table book for the benefit of child patients of the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City. Pictured are (standing from left) Representatives Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Marisol Panotes, Josy Limkaichong, Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Deputy Speaker Evie Escudero, Rep. Sol Aragones, Deputy Speaker Baby Arenas, Rep. Bebs Mellana and Deputy Speaker Linabelle Villarica. Seated (from left) are Representatives Trisha Velasco-Catera, Deputy Speaker Mercedes Alvarez, and Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin.

Inset shows designer Beatriz ‘Patis’ Tesoro showing local fabrics to Villarica, Representatives Maitet Collantes and Lianda Bolilia during the book launch.

ARMM LGUs gain DILG challenge fund

C

OTABATO CITY—As an incentive for upholding good governance, 23 local government units in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were given a total of P79.3million by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, a local official said.

Dubbed as Performance Challenge Fund, the allotment was given to LGUs that received the Seal of Good Local Governance award this year, according to DILG-ARMM Secretary Noor Hafizullah Abdullah.

“The allocation may be used by the local government units to fund its local projects that will have good impact in terms of local governance,” Abdullah told newsmen here in an interview.

Basilan province received about P7

million as provincial awardee of SGLG in ARMM, while P3.2 million each were apportioned for the towns of Talipao, Sulu; Maluso and Sumisip in Basilan, Simunol and Sibuto in Tawi-Tawi; Wao, Taraka, Kapatagan, Buadipuso Buntong and Piagapo in Lanao del Sur; and Barira, Buldon, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Guindulungan, Shariff Aguak, Datu Paglas, North Upi and South Upi in Maguindanao.

With this, Abdullah urged other local government executives to work hard and improve the delivery of services to their constituents and earn SGLG awards.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front expressed support for the concept of “inclusive business model” during the launch of the Business Sustainability Framework in the Bangsamoro here.

In his message read by Edward Guerra, co-chair of the Government and MILF joint normalization committee, MILF chief Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said: “The inclusive business model is the one best suited for the region where poverty incidence is 48 percent, the highest in the country.” PNA

PARAÑAQUECARSON SISTERHOOD.

Delegates from Carson, California arrived in Parañaque City Thursday as part of the sisterhood pact and economic trade mission between the two cities. Carson City Mayor Alfredo Robles and City Councilor Elito Santarina, head of the delegation, were welcomed by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, his wife Janet, Councilor Marvin Santos, PIO chief Mar Jimenez and other city officials.

After a short program, Robles and Olivarez exchanged flags of both cities and proceeded to the formal opening of a commemorative marker.

Firmo, Leyte top 2018 education regional awards

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al K. Firmo and his division personnel and teachers have topped in this year’s education awards given by the Department of Education regional office in Eastern Visayas.

Firmo received the “Most Outstanding Schools Division Superintendent” award among 13 divisions in the division banner project implementation during the recently-concluded “Region 8 is Great: A Golden Voyage” recognition ceremony at the Summit Hotel in Tacloban City.

The DepEd regional office through Regional Director Ramir Uytico lauded Firmo for his “commendable contributions, achievements, and services in sustaining the summit of excellence through his unwavering zeal of attaining the goals of Project LEAD (Lead, Empower, and Achieve through DataDriven Decision, thereby empowering school leaders in his division.”

Firmo attributed his award to Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Marilyn Siao, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Edgar Tenasas, the School Governance Operations Division headed by Dr. Rhodelia Orbino, the Curriculum Implementation Division chief Felicidad Espinosa, and to entire Leyte division staff.

Uytico launched the Project LEAD in 2016 in response to Republic Act No. 9155 or the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001.

The project aims to encourage the 13 divisions in the Eastern Visayas to come up with their respective project highlighting the role of the school leaders in the delivery of basic education policies, principles, and services that address the needs of their community

DepEd, Iloilo foundation cement partnership for Dinagyang festival ILOILO CITY—The Department of Education, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., and the Iloilo city government have inked a memorandum of agreement on Friday afternoon, institutionalizing their partnership for the annual Dinagyang Festival.

“We are sharing the skills, the talents of our officials, students and even

alumni coming from different schools.

They are a rich source of our talents and skills in Iloilo City,” said Clarissa G. Zamora, assistant schools’ division superintendent and officer-in-charge at the office of the DepEd Iloilo City schools’ division superintendent.

She lauded the formalization of the partnership through the MOA where

the responsibilities of the parties are detailed.

Under the agreement, the practice hours for students who are part of the tribes competing for the Dinagyang Ati Tribe competition will be held during dismissal time and off hours so as not to disrupt classes.

DepEd will also observe the “regular-

ity of fees for trainers and artistic teams.”

“This will really promote the educational, as well as the cultural advancement of our schools,” she said.

IDFI president Ramon Cua Locsin added that one of the important points of the agreement is for the foundation to release in four tranches the subsidy to participating schools. PNA

Dinalupihan holds sectoral gab

By Butch Gunio

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan—The annual sectoral assembly in this town is being expanded and institutionalized by Mayor Gila Garcia.

“More sectors are now involved in the assembly,” the lady mayor told local women members of Kalipi in the jampacked Dinalupihan Civic Center on Tuesday.

“Thank you for all your support.

Rest assured, we will continue empowering all the sectors in our town,” she said.

“Thank you also to all elected offi-

cials of Dinalupihan. We all work together,” Garcia added.

“The preparation for the sectoral assembly entails hard work especially for our MSWD. Thank you MSWD,” she said.

Kalipi members in villages of this town got Christmas food packs from the municipal government. There were also raffle draws.

The two-week long assembly included sectors senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Kalipi, indigenous people, veterans, barangay officials, and teachers, among others.

Butch Gunio

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

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Noche Buena

preparation with Chef Lau I

N MANY Filipino households, Noche Buena is considered the most important meal. Family members gather at the table to partake of the most sumptuous dishes.

Christmas Eve dinner is a major production number in many homes, so much so that many begin planning for it days or weeks in advance—like the Laudicos.

Every year, Chef Roland Laudico hosts Christmas Eve dinner for his family at his home, and that means a minimum of four courses for at least a dozen people, which translates into a ton of cooking. Pulling it off is no mean feat, even for this seasoned restaurateur and caterer.

Aside from relying on his ever-dependable La Germania range, he draws from his years of experience cooking for large groups of people to be able to create masterpiece meals year after year.

His secret? It’s all in the preparation.

The power of prep

“I spend the entire day cooking for Christmas dinner,” shares Chef Lau. “But you don’t have to do everything on the day itself.” In fact, he says, a lot of preparation success rests on doing the exact opposite.

Planning ahead and preparing your tools and ingredients beforehand often spells the difference between a disastrous dinner and a well-executed Noche Buena.

Chef Lau always includes his diners’ likes and dislikes when he prepares meals. For the holidays, he even includes them in the planning, which can be done even a couple of weeks in advance.

“Before I make the menu, I ask my family and guests if there’s anything in particular they would like. They always have special requests, and every year it’s something different. From those requests, you can begin to shape the menu.”

Then comes the fun part—shopping.

“The secret to any good dish is to start with the very best ingredients that you can find. If you start with good ingredients, there’s a good chance that the dish will come out good. If you start with bad ingredients, there’s nothing you can do to them. No amount of cooking will make them good,” the chef explains.

He adds, “So you have to know where to get your ingredients, and you can shop for them well ahead of time. For fresh greens and seafood, it’s always best to buy them on the day you’re cooking them, but the other things, like meat, you can probably get it a couple of days before, well-frozen.”

Frozen meat requires a prep step of its own—defrosting. Chef Lau stresses that this is an essential step in holiday mealmaking. “It’s important that you defrost your meat properly. Cold, partially frozen meat will take longer to cook and may be undercooked on the inside, or it could be dry and tasteless.”

Plan for the time it will take for the meat to slowly thaw out in the refrigerator. For big roasts, that might take as much as 48 hours. For smaller items like whole chickens, 24 hours should be more than enough.

Choosing your tools

A reliable cooking range or oven that will withstand the rigors of everyday cooking as well as the occasional increased demand of preparing large amounts of food for celebrations is of utmost importance.

Chef Lau recommends choosing the kind of energy you want to cook with— gas or electricity—and pick a range based on that.

He opts for an electric oven for home

PREP WITH THE CHEF. Seasoned caterer and restaurateur Chef Roland Laudico shares tips for pulling off a successful Noche Buena for a dozen people.

use. “It’s so responsive,” he says, “the temperature is so easy to control and maintain throughout the cooking process.”

Some cooking processes are reliant

Bacolod-style lechon on the holiday table

Sabroso Lechoon brings Bacolod-style lechon to many tables in Manila.

A BIG Filipino salu-salo would not be complete without the famous roasted pig dish. And no Christmas rush can stop those who want to serve lechon at tonight’s Noche Buena.

Fortunately, Sabroso Lechon, which serves Bacolod-style lechon famous for its delightful blend of herbs and just the right amount of saltiness, is now available in Metro Manila through the recent acquisition of Fruitas Holdings Inc. “We’re very excited to bring this Bacolod-style lechon to the dining tables of Manileño households this holiday season,” said Fruitas Holdings Inc. chief executive officer Lester Yu. Those who are craving this Filipino favorite, Sabroso Lechon prides itself on bringing the first one-kilo minimum order lechon delivery to Metro Manila. The brand aims to make this Filipino staple treat more accessible to lechon lovers.

A kilo is priced at P1,175, while a whole lechon costs P6,500.

Launched in 2008, Sabroso Lechon currently has 14 branches nationwide, with two more stores opening soon.

To order, dial (02) 725-0711, 961-9934, 656-2005, or 9619782, or mobile number 0920-1239999.

A kilo of Sabroso Lechon is priced at P1,175 and is available for delivery.

on being able to maintain a low, even temperature, or a searing hot one. Chef Lau’s range of choice offers a magnificent temperature range, reaching tem-

peratures high enough for broiling his favorite holiday roasts and low enough to serve as a dehydrator to make dried fruit leathers.

Life

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

RECIPE FILES

Merry holiday dishes ‘T

IS the season to forget about diet and indulge in delectable dishes. To help make the holidays a whole lot merrier and tastier, Manila Standard Life has compiled these recipes from Maya Kitchen, Electrolux Life App, and Jolly Mushroom which can be served for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day lunch, and beyond.

3. Prepare the béchamel sauce: In another saucepan over medium heat, lightly toast flour before adding the butter. After the butter is well incorporated with the flour, pour in the milk, cream, and cheese. Season to taste. Continue cooking while stirring constantly. Don’t bring mixture to a rough boil. Cook until mixture lightly thickens and cheese is melted. Cover and set aside.

4. To assemble: In a glass serving dish, spread at the bottom of the dish a little amount of both tomato basil and béchamel sauce, then neatly arrange the cooked lasagna noodles on top of it. Pour and spread at least ¾ cup of red sauce on top of noodles then top with roasted vegetables. Smother the top of the roasted vegetables with béchamel and grated parmesan cheese. Repeat the same procedure with the rest of the ingredients until four layers of lasagna. Bake in a preheated oven (350-degree Fahrenheit or 177-degree Celsius) until cheese on top melts and turns golden brown.

Honey Baked Ham Serves: 8

Ingredients: 1.8kg 118ml 118ml 110g 170g 6g

Basil Prosciutto and Cherry Tomato Mini Pizzas

Holiday Basil Prosciutto and Cherry Tomato Mini Pizzas Serves: 3-4

Ingredients: 10-12 slices ½-1 cup 10-12 pieces

whole wheat dinner rolls prepared marinara sauce roasted cherry tomatoes prosciutto, cooked fresh basil leaves mozzarella cheese or any melting cheese olive oil or butter

cooked spiral sliced smoked ham apple juice orange juice brown sugar honey crushed whole cloves

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the cooked spiral sliced smoked ham in a large baking pan.

2. Mix the apple juice with the orange juice in a bowl. Pour the mixture over the ham and bake for 1 hour, basting frequently Honey Baked Ham with the juice blend.

3. Remove from oven. Pour out remaining juice.

4. Mix brown sugar, whole cloves, and honey together in a small bowl and warm in a saucepan until smooth.

5. Brush mixture over ham and bake for another hour or until internal temperature reads 140-degree Fahrenheit. Serve.

Lemon Roasted Chicken Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 piece 2 pieces 57g 6 sprigs 4 pieces 10 cloves

whole chicken lemon butter fresh thyme carrot garlic, peeled salt and pepper

Procedure: 1. Preheat a panini pan/machine, slather dinner rolls with olive oil or butter, then toast in the panini maker/machine until crisp and golden brown.

2. Let the bread cool slightly until manageable, spread marinara sauce and top with prosciutto, roasted cherry tomatoes, and mozzaProcedure: rella cheese. Broil in the oven or toast using a kitchen torch to melt 1. Preheat oven to 450-degrees the cheese. Put fresh basil leaves before serving.

Fahrenheit or 230-degree Celsius.

2. Pat whole chicken with paper towels 3. Scrape off lemon zest, then cut lemon in half. Place lemon halves in chicken cavity.

Serves: 8-10 4. Place lemon zest in a small bowl with the butter. Microwave Ingredients: until completely melted, approxi3 pieces large onions, diced mately 1 minute.

500g zucchini, diced 5. Pour melted butter all over chick- Lemon Roasted Chicken 500g aubergine, diced en, use fingers to spread butter evenly.

1-2 tbsp garlic, minced 6. Sprinkle salt and pepper liberally all over the chicken. Place 1 tsp (each) dried basil, thyme, and oregano chicken breast-side down on cast iron skillet.

9-12 pieces cooked lasagna noodles 7. Slice the other lemon into thin slices. Place lemon slices around the parsley, finely chopped chicken, then place carrot, garlic, and fresh thyme around the chicken. parmesan cheese, grated 8. Lower the oven temperature to 400-degrees Fahrenheit or salt and pepper 204-degree Celsius, then place skillet in the oven. Leave the chicken oil to coat the veggies untouched for at least 50 minutes.

9. Roast until internal temperature on the thickest part of chicken For the red tomato basil sauce thigh reaches 165-degree Fahrenheit or 73-degree Celsius. ¼ cup olive oil 10. Let the chicken rest for about 15 minutes before carving. Serve. ¼ cup butter 2 pieces medium-sized onions, finely chopped 2 tbsp garlic, minced 1 can (800g) crushed tomatoes 1 piece bay leaf a handful of basil leaves, cut chiffonade-style Serves: 6-7 salt and pepper to taste Ingredients: For the béchamel sauce 1 can (400g) Jolly Whole Mushrooms, drained 1/3 cup MAYA All-Purpose Flour 500g pork belly, adobo cut ¾ cup butter 2-3 tbsp canola oil 3-3 ½ cups milk 1 piece red onion, chopped ½ cup heavy cream 1 head garlic, minced ½ cup grated parmesan cheese ½ cup soy sauce pinch of nutmeg ¼ cup vinegar salt and pepper 1 cup water 1 tsp peppercorns Procedure: 2 pieces bay leaf 1. In a clean bowl, mix together onions, zucchini, aubergine, garlic, dried herbs, Procedure: and seasonings until well blended. Driz1. Heat oil in a pan. Pan-fry pork for zle enough olive oil to coat the rest of the 10-15 minutes or until light brown on mixture. Pan roast or place in an oven tray all sides. Remove excess oil. and roast in a preheated oven (375-degree 2. Add onion and garlic, sauté unFahrenheit or 191-degree Celsius). til fragrant.

2. Prepare the tomato basil sauce: In a 3. Add soy sauce, vinegar, and saucepan, heat up oil and butter, and pan water; let it simmer without the pan sauté the onions and garlic until aromatic cover for 30-45 minutes. Add water and translucent. Add the rest of the inif it becomes too dry. gredients and bring to a boil then put in 4. Add peppercorns, bay leaf, and Pork Adobo with Jolly Mushroom a simmering stage until lightly reduced. Roasted Zucchini and Jolly Mushrooms. Continue simmerSet aside.

Aubergine Lasagna ing until pork is tender and sauce is reduced. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Roasted Zucchini and Aubergine Lasagna

Jolly Pork Adobo with Mushroom

Jolly Chicken Afritada with Mushroom Serves: 7-8

Ingredients: 1 can (400g) 500g 1 tbsp 2-3 pieces 4-5 gloves 1 piece 1 cup 1 cup 1 tsp 1 tsp 2 tsp 1 piece 1 piece

Jolly Whole Mushrooms, drained chicken, cut to 8-10 pieces canola oil bay leaf garlic, minced onion, chopped tomato sauce water ground pepper fish sauce Jolly Tomato Paste green bell pepper, sliced into strips carrots, cut into cubes

Procedure: 1. Heat oil in a pan. Pan-fry chicken for 10-15 minutes or until brown. Remove excess oil.

2. Add the bay leaves, garlic, and onion. Sauté until fragrant.

3. Add tomato sauce, water, pepper, fish sauce, tomato paste, Jolly Whole Mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots. Stir well.

4. Let it simmer with the pan covered for about 15-20 minutes or until chicken is tender. Add water if sauce be- Chicken Afritada with Mushroom comes too thick.

Red Velvet Banana Bread Serves: 12

Ingredients: 2 packs 6 pieces 158ml 6 pieces 340g 125g 227g

red velvet cake mix eggs vegetable oil overripe banana, mashed semi-sweet chocolate chips chopped walnuts white candy melts sprinkles

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 350-degree Fahrenheit or 175-degree Celsius. Line five (8x3¾x2 ½) loaf pans with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

3. Mash the bananas 4. Place red velvet cake mix, egg, vegetable oil, and mashed bananas in a large bowl. With an electric mixer, beat on low for 20 seconds, then turn up speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes. Stir in semisweet chocolate chips and walnuts.

5. Pour batter into loaf pans. Then bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted Red Velvet Banana Bread in the middle comes out clean. Let cool.

6. Place white candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until completely melted. Stir until smooth.

7. Pour into a clear plastic pastry bag. Cut the tip off and drizzle melted candy over the cooled bread.

8. Add sprinkles and let the candy melt set, about 20-30 minutes.

Strawberry Cake Petit Fours Serves: 25

Ingredients: 1 ½ cup ½ tsp ¼ tsp ½ cup 1 cup 4 pieces 1 tsp ½ cup ¼ cup ¼ cup ½-1 tsp

MAYA Cake Flour baking powder fine iodized salt unsalted butter, softened white granulated sugar eggs vanilla extract frozen or fresh strawberry puree strawberry jam all-purpose cream red liquid food coloring

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 350-degree Fahrenheit or 177-degree Celsius. Grease a small petit four pan with indented bottom with nonstick cooking spray and dust lightly with MAYA All-Purpose Flour. Make sure to tap off excess flour.

Set aside.

2. Sift together cake Strawberry Cake Petit Fours flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. In a mixer bowl, cream together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time. Mix well until all eggs are combined.

4. In another bowl, stir together strawberry puree, strawberry jam, all-purpose cream, and vanilla extract.

5. Add in dry ingredients and wet ingredients alternately in two batches. Add food coloring to desired shade.

6. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool. Trim the bottom part if needed.

7. Place ample amount of strawberry jam to fill the hole. Serve.

Entertainment

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘Goin’Bulilit’alum Kiray Celis now a KAPUSO A

FTER 18 years of being a Star magic talent, Kiray Celis is now looking forward to starting a new journey as a Kapuso after she inked a management contract with GMA Artist Center on Thursday, Dec. 20.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer and Senior Talent Manager Tracy Garcia.

Kiray is filled with high spirits and is grateful for the Network’s immense support in her showbiz career.

“I am very happy kasi sobrang warm ng pagwelcome sa akin ng GMA. I am thankful for the opportunity na ito na ibinigay sa akin nang buong-buo at naniniwala silang marami pa akong kayang ipakita. Super excited ako to work with everyone dahil napakabait at maalaga ang mga tao dito,” says the former Kapamilya.

Ferrer, in turn, is delighted that Kiray is now

part of GMA Artist Center’s roster of talents.

He claims that the Network has already been gearing up more quality projects for Kiray.

“We’re very happy.She’s a very talented actress so madami siyang pwedeng gawin.

We all know na she’s very good with comedy but our plan is to really expose her in the different genres in GMA. Gusto namin ipakita ‘yung versatility ni Kiray.”

The newest GMAAC talent is happy to announce that she is part of the upcoming television series of Gabby Concepcion andJennylyn Mercado. She is also doing a movie with fellow Kapuso stars under GMA Films as well as several guestings in various GMA shows.

CERTIFIED KAPUSO. Former

Kiray with GMAAC Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer (left) and Senior Talent Manager Tracy Garcia.

Kapamilya star Kiray Celis is now a proud Kapuso as she inks a management contract with GMA Artist Center.

ARIAS

No lip service

ALWIN IGNACIO BEFORE I follow the lead of our fourth Miss Universe, Catriona Gray, on her desire for all of us to be grateful, allow me to address first the nagging bash about Gray’s supposedly “romanticizing poverty” in her silver-lining laced reply to the final question; “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned and how will you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?”

Catriona’s answer to the question started with the most apt situationer, which was, “the slums of Tondo, Manila” and “life there is poor and very sad.”

The “beauty” that she saw in all the filth and squalor, were the people, most especially the kids, their parents, guardians and kin, despite the impoverished they are in, are always cheerful, they know that each day brings new hope and dreams can and may be realized. They are not only fighters, they are survivors. They are with what they have and they make the most out of it, and most of all, their “beauty” comes from the fact that yes, they do complain and grumble, but their faith is strong and their communal spirit and community, even stronger.

The judges knew that this was the beauty that Catriona saw, her answer was not lip service, the words that came from her were not motherhood, if not vague statements.

Catriona spoke from the heart, she was in Tondo, she did not just intermingle, she bonded and made a connection with the people, that was how she saw the “beauty “ of it all. *** Christmas is just a few days away that is why I am sharing these moments and some very important people in my life who made this 2018 a delight.

Rex Tiri of T-Rex Entertainment, the relatively new film production outfit that give us cinematic gems like Deadma Walking, Bakwit Boys and Class of 2018, to mention a few.

He feted a birthday dinner for me with my closest showbiz writer friends in attendance.

One picture of FG Tiri, showed him beam with so much happiness as he was a few inches away, looked at me while I blowed the candle on the birthday cake. When I teased him about the photo, he said, "Kasi gusto ko on your birthday, masaya ka."

Al Gatmaitan, tenor and actor was recently elevated as an ALIW Awardee Hall of Famer. He made me feel ecstatic with his “Despacito” serenade that happened during his In My Heart concert. He also made me part of his spiels.

When he sang the full Spanish version of “Despacito,” he went to where I was seated, oblivious of the stares and puzzlement of the other viewers with his public flirtation.

At that moment, Al made me feel wanted.

From that day on, Despacito became our special friendship song.

The tighter than tight embrace from Ken Chan during the GMA 7 Christmas party.

After his drawing the names of winners assignment, I approached him to say hi and greet the My Special Tatay star a happy Christmas. When Chan saw my image, in an instant, the embrace happened with him shouting, "Ms. Alwin miss na kita!"

His kilig to the bones gesture, was so familiar with the tighter than embrace that Ivan Dorschner gave a year ago. How I miss Ivan.

Speaking of embraces and the semblance that yes, maybe we can be good

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, December 24, 2018

ACROSS 1 “I came,” to Caesar 5 Secret motive 10 Clump of dirt 14 Computer graphic 15 Wassailer’s song 16 Wish you were — 17 Lacking moisture 18 High spirits 20 Wildly dramatic 22 Ms. Arthur 23 Butte cousins 24 “Bolero” composer 26 Weightlifter’s pride 27 Plotted 30 Noisy bird (2 wds.)

34 Gumshoe, often 35 Gambler’s cubes 36 Cotton gin name 37 Quit working 38 Say silently 40 Barrette 41 Lb. or oz.

42 Long ago 43 Develop 45 Occurring on 12/31 (hyph.)

47 Piles up

48 Approx. number 49 Date 50 Nimble 53 Owned 54 Band instruments 58 Without disagreement 61 Miser’s cry 62 Greenish mineral 63 Helen, in Spanish 64 Millay or Ferber 65 Runs up debts 66 Dance all night 67 College VIP DOWN 1 Container for liquids 2 Tan shade 3 Roulette color 4 Roundabout 5 Crack pilot 6 Took into custody 7 Thin porridge 8 “Damn Yankees” vamp 9 House wing 10 Cracker go-with 11 Spyglass part 12 Porpoise kin 13 Poor grades 19 Fill with 21 Titled lady 25 Ethan Allen’s state

26 Medieval science 27 Wander off 28 Sweet liqueur 29 — la vista!

30 Fragment 31 Firms up 32 Dynamic 33 Cry of fright 35 Unpaid, as a bill 39 Airport code for O’Hare 40 Garbed 42 Toady’s answers 44 Far-flung

46 Heirlooms 47 Fiery 49 Spud 50 Commuter vehicle 51 Chew at 52 Not employed 53 Storytelling dance 55 Wait 56 Governess in Siam 57 Connery of 007 fame 59 Vim and vigor 60 Preferred shift

friends given the time and opportunity, Paulo Avelino was generous enough to make me feel that somehow, we can connect on a bromosexual relationship level.

We had three great, far and in between meetings this year, most notable of course, were the Kasal after party and the grand press conference of Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.

What I admire most in Avelino, is his manner of not caring of what others might think. We three press encounters this year and every time he sees me, he made it a point to give a moment of him only for me.

Such a sweet gentleman and one of my favorite dramatic actors as well.

After the Binondo the Musical last show, patiently waited for one of its leads, Floyd Tena. Yes, my patience bore golden fruit. Not only did we have a picture together, I met his mom and son, JD. No, we did not have a "family" picture. I don't want to be accused of being presumptuous.

And last but not the least, in another musical play, the Gee-gee and Waterina world premiere, meeting my friend, J. Dennis Teodosio, with my company, my dearest fag hag friend, Alice Borbe. My friendship with Dennis started when I watched the original Geegee shown during the first Virgin LabFest. Since then, he became the playwright of most of Gantimpala Theater's children's musical. He is Myanmar based now and his name and body of work, you may read in the newly minted CCP Encyclopedias for the Seven Arts.

There are still other friends and moments in my life this year that filled my heart with so much love. You know who you guys and

C3

gals are, happy holidays to you, I love you all, and thank you for all the love.

To my Beautiful Ones, readers of ARIAS here in Manila Standard, Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Simply...

From C4

Globe shows mad love for local movies, TV, and music Globe is redefining local primetime entertainment and continuing its support for Filipino talent and content by beefing up its video streaming platforms via partnerships forged with iWant and iflix in order to offer a more robust library of local shows, movies, and TV series.

The move aims to satisfy the customer’s cravings for the latest and hottest flicks and shows from local content sources. iWant offers users from the Philippines access to original films and series, current and past Kapamilya shows, movies, restored film classics, music, and live concerts, for free. iflix also boasts an extensive lineup of powerhouse Filipino movies such as I Love You, Hater, Love You To The Stars And Back, Sin Island, The Ghost Bride and Bloody Crayons, alongside iflix Originals Hot Ones and Live Life With Kris, all of which are exclusive to the platform.

Globe mobile customers can enjoy movies and TV shows on iWant and on iflix for as low as P29 via GoWATCH for Globe customers (2GB of data for videos for 1 day) and for as low as P19 via EasyWATCH for TM customers (1GB of data for videos for 1 day).

Globe Studios, the entertainment production company arm of Globe Telecom joins the effort in raising local love of Filipino viewers with the second year of Globe Independent Film Festival, which celebrates the modern Filipino cinema scene by providing local budding filmmakers their long-awaited break.

The festival will hold three main programs in its search for the next Filipino film classic: Streaming Competition, where filmmakers can submit their ready-made films in the following competition categories: Narrative, Experimental, Animation, Documentary, and Music Video; Short Film Lab, where 10 selected filmmakers will get a grant and a mentorship program to complete a short film which will all compete in the festival awards in April 2019 and; Cinema Writing Lab, in which 10 aspiring film journalists/writers will undergo mentorship on writing about the art of film.

To kick things off, Globe Studios will also premiere Elements: The Series. Elements Music Camp is a national singing-songwriting camp with the goal of helping local music talents to reach their full potential, and pave their own paths in growing the local music scene. This year, Elements Music Camp has joined forces with Globe to create a bigger, stronger camp that aims to bring together aspiring and professional musicians with local and international mentors to share, learn, and promote Filipino music. Fans can get first and exclusive dibs on these campers’ inspirational journey by catching all episodes streaming exclusively on iflix.

More recently, Globe Telecom has joined AVIA, the Asia Video Industry Association, to which Globe CEO, Ernest Cu, was recently elected as a board member. This further strengthens the mandate of the association in representing the interests of companies across the broader video industry in Asia. ** * More stories of these kinds at www.isah.red. Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@ isahvred) and Instagram (@isahvred). ΙŘ

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

BOYET FAJARDO

Feeling blessed this holiday season Designer Boyet Fajardo with his models

Toni and Alex with the film's male lead star Sam Milby

P L U S - S I Z E designer Boyet Fajardo is still unable to fathom how he had overcome the most difficult test in his life, not as women’s apparel designer, but as human being.

We had lunch last week with the designer who said he is more than glad to be back on track after what he had gone through. First was the controversial video involving him and several employees at Duty Free Philippines on March 13 2009, which he had hurdled by the grace of God, he said, and second when his glaucoma became worse making him blind. For two and a half years he was unable to see, not even a shadow of any figure he could lay his eyes on. He succumbed to depression, getting help as much as possible from clinical psychologists to psychiatrist to enable him to cope with losing his sight.

While he was in that condition, some members of his family tried to take advantage of his helplessness, aggravating the already miserable life he was leading. He even tried to take his own life, but some loyal friends who did not abandon him in his darkest hours took it upon themselves to comfort him until he was able to regain his eyesight, thanks to Dr. Ma. Dominga B. Padilla or just Dra. Minguita, an optometrist Fajardo met through a radio program in which she was the guest. While most doctors Fajardo consulted had not given any ray of hope to regain his vision, Dr. Padilla immediately went to work to restore his sight, and she was able to. Fajardo couldn’t thank the gracious doctor for what she had done to him.

Now, Fajardo has an advocacy for persons with disability (PWDs) working with the Ephpheta Foundation for the blind.

“There are so many people who are blind simply because of poverty. What can I do? My heart breaks for them.

They go blind because they can’t afford a simple cataract or glaucoma operation.

I helped them by investing in a machine

that could help restore sight,” he says.

“I’d already spent millions over the course of the twoISAH V. RED and-a-half years I was without sight, but Dra. Mingguita just asked if I had P2,000 when I went to her clinic.

She thought I was one of the many indigent patients he treats everyday,” Fajardo chuckled.

“In about 10 minutes, I had gained my sight back in one eye,” he said. “That was the first miracle of God. I could see!”

The second miracle came when he gained sight in his other eye. He was given an eye transplant that was very successful. Full vision could no longer be restored, however, because of other internal damages, but Fajardo is happy to take what he can.

After regaining his sight, he cut cloth, created an outfit, and gave it to Padilla, who has become a true friend. In a talk at a conference abroad, Padilla told her audience, “This dress was made by a patient who was blind. Now, he can see.”

If success went to Fajardo’s head when he was physically able, what he had gone through set his feet back on the ground.

He still design’s plus-size outfits.

Recently, he joined “Fashion Forte (Series Three)” at Holiday Inn Galleria, to mark his return on the fashion scene. “No, I am not going back to couture,” he told me. “I am over it. The young ones can try their hands on it. I am happy with what I have and able to share with the less fortunate the little I earn from that, so I will stick with what I do.”

And this Christmas season, Fajardo will again be busy reaching out to the people that he thinks need help, especially those that had lost their vision. He has also learned to forgive those that had wronged him, one way or another, and wish them well. But most of all, Fajardo gives thanks everyone who has stayed on when he was in the dark and now that through God’s divine intervention, he sees the light again.

Little and Teen Glam International set FIFTY young and talented models from the US, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia will vie for the crown in the first Little and Teen Glam International set on Jan. 20 to 27.

The children and teen international festival pageant will highlight the arts and culture of countries through dazzling performances of candidates and colorful presentation of their national costumes.

The young candidates will be judged according to their beauty, talent and poise.

Presented by Primo Modelo Management, the Little and Teen Glam International 2019 aims to develop selfconfidence and hone modeling talent of the youth through high fashion photo shoots and runway shows.

The grand presentation and coronation night will be held on Jan. 27 at the Chateau Royale in Tagaytay City.

Yasmin Namthip Bylin, Miss Mini Glam 2019 candidate from Thailand

Sissums Toni and Alex make sibling rivalry looks fun in new film S

ISTERS Toni and Alex Gonzaga are making their longtime dream a reality with Mary, Marry, Me, a Metro Manila Film Festival entry presented by TEN17P and produced by TINCAN. Helmed by RC delos Reyes, the film is the first movie collaboration between Toni and Alex, who we have been seeing together in guestings, endorsements and on TV projects.

The siblings wanted their film to redefine what a “family movie” is —in that it is made by a family for the Filipino family.

“I remember when we were kids we would always look forward to watching MMFF movies,” Toni recalls. “Pipila kami sa isa sa mga movies na gusto naming mapanood. Then fast forward to 20 years later, kasama na kaming dalawa na isa sa papanoorin ngayong pasko.”

Toni’s returning into the big screen more than a year since her dark-romance film Last Night while Alex is coming from her successful independent film Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka. Mary, Marry, Me is the story of Mary Jane (Toni) and her estranged younger sister Mary Anne (Alex) who is set to marry the former’s ex-boyfriend Pete (Sam Milby). Despite the initial hesitation, Mary Jane’s commitment to make up to her sister has enabled her to set aside her uneasiness with her ex-boyfriend as she agreed to plan their wedding.

Sharing the camera for the silver screen have both been easy and difficult for the Sissums. For one they were able to draw strength from each other and their own tight-knit relationship.

Yet at the same time, they’ve also stepped on each other’s toes quite a few times on the set since they know each other too well.

“Masaya makatrabaho ang Ate ko kasi una sa lahat feeling mo safe ka, feeling mo at home ka at wala ka sa work kasi nandoon ang Ate mo. Yet at the same time mahirap rin siya kasi masyadong perfectionist ang Ate ko and masyado rin niyang chinecheck at ino-observe lahat ng galaw ko so parang meron akong nanay sa set,” Alex describes the experience of working with her sister.

But, on another end, Alex noted that her sister played a huge part in bringing out her emotions.

“Kasi we’re never really sweet, we don’t really talk about our emotions for one another, so nung nandoon na sa part ng pelikula na kailangan ng dramahan or confrontation parang mas mabilis akong nakakapit kasi nga Ate ko siya,” Alex says.

“Tapos minsan kapag hindi na kami makaiyak, iniiba naming ang mga lines para ma-relate sa amin at maging true to life.”

Although they have always wanted to work with each other on the big screen, the stars never really aligned for them in the past. In fact, Toni pitched Mary, Marry, Me’s concept some three years ago.

“I have so many concepts in mind and I think we waited for the right time na magkatrabaho kami. Lagi kasing dapat magkakatrabaho kami sa TV until finally, I think this is the right time for us to do a movie together kasi we’re both professionals na to handle our relationship on the set,” shares Toni.

Making the film extra special are three huge happenings that fans have long been clamoring for. First there’s the reunion of the blockbuster Sam-Tin tandem after 10 years. Sam and Toni have brought kilig to their legions of fans through the films You Are the One(2006), You Got Me (2007) and My Big Love (2008).

“Working with Sam is like going back home also, back to where I started because my first full on rom-com was with Sam under Direk Cathy (Garcia-Molina). So parang I

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

For the first time, sisters Toni and Alex Gonzaga star in a film, an entry to the MMFF 2018, entitled 'Mary, Marry Me.'

The stars of 'Mary, Mary Me' with director RC delos Reyes

feel more comfortable with him now than our previous films because we’ve matured so much as individuals,” says Toni.

Second there’s the gathering of comedy stars as the lead stars would be joined by reliable comedians in the person of Bayani Agbayani, Moi Bien and Melai Cantiveros. And finally, there’s the fresh rom-com combination not just by a tandem but

by Alex, Toni and Sam. Mary, Marry, Me starts showing in cinemas nationwide tomorrow.