Manila Standard - 2018 December 29 - Saturday

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Big night for Gloria, ‘Rainbow’s Sunset’

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By Nickie Wang ACTRESS Gloria Romero, 85, made film history Friday by being the oldest woman to win the Best Actress Award at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for her role in the gay-themed Joel Lamangan feature “Rainbow’s Sunset.”

Receiving her award during the Gabi ng Parangal, Gloria expressed her surprise, “Nanginginig ako. What a Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 317 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

2 suspects sketches in solon’s killing out

By Francisco Tuyay

P

OLICE investigating the murder of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort, SPO1 Orlando Diaz, have released artists’ sketches of two suspects in the day-time attack that also left nine people wounded.

SUNSET HONOR.

Octogenarian Gloria Romero (far left) wins the Best Actress plum in the gay-themed Joel Lamangan feature ‘Rainbow’s Sunset,’ with its cast (above) which tells the story of an old man who comes out as gay while drama king Dennis Trillo (left) wins the Best Actor Award for his spectacular performance in the film “One Great Love.”

ARTIST’S IMPRESSIONS. Police have released the facial composite of at least two suspects in the murder of Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security escort, made by artists following description by self-confessed witnesses to members of the Special Investigation Task group. PNP The sketches were derived from the description of witnesses at the Daraga, Albay attack.

Police described one of the suspects as having a pointed jaw and dark complexion, about 40 years old and about 5’6” in height.

The special investigation task group said the first suspect was a driver of a single motorcycle wearing a black round-neck T-shirt and padded six-

Oil price rollback, VAT-free drugs up

By Alena Mae S. Flores

REP. RICHARD GARIN

DOUBLE good news for 2019.

Fuel prices are likely to go down by more than P1 per liter next week while power rates are also expected to go down in January.

An industry source said the more than P1 per liter rollback was “for both products [gasoline and diesel].”

“Reasons [of the rollback] are strengthening of the peso, oversupply concerns and US stock market,” the source said.

At the same time, medicines for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension will be cheaper starting January 1 when a provision in the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law exempting such drugs from the value added tax takes effect.

MAYOR OSCAR GARIN

Garins’ security agency probed; lawmaker apologizes to PNP A PRIVATE security agency owned by Iloilo 1st District Rep. Richard Garin and his father, Guimbal town Mayor Oscar Garin, and whether its security guards are licensed to operate as bodyguards are at the center of police investigations after the politicians were charged with beating up a local cop earlier this week.

This was despite Rep. Garin formally apologizing on Friday to the

Philippine National Police “as an institution” but not to Senior Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya, whom the lawmaker still described as “a habitual delinquent.”

Saying Garin’s explanation was “flimsy,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said in a television interview they could forgive the Iloilo solon but would “never forget” the incident.

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WEATHER

Usman barrels in, E. Visayas in harm’s way

By Nat Mariano and Ronald O. Reyes THE Palace on Friday called on the public to be watchful as tropical depression “Usman” neared landfall in Eastern Visayas four days before the New Year starts.

“We encourage citizens to be vigilant and monitor the situation through news and announcements from pertinent national and local government agencies,”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace official said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported early Friday that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has a stockpile of family food packs and non-food items, and standby funds amounting to P1.27 million.

He also added that the Department of Next page

In a Facebook post, the Department of Finance announced that starting on Tuesday, VAT will no longer be imposed on medicines prescribed for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension.

The Section 109 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law identifies the drugs and medicines exempted from VAT. The Bureau of Internal Revenue issued the Revenue Regulation No. 25-2018 dated Dec. 21, which laid out the rules for the VAT-exempt status of medicines for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension.

“The exemption from VAT provided herein shall apply to the sale by manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers of drugs and medicines prescribed for Next page

PH open to US security steps at NAIA

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE government will consider the recommendations of the US Department of Homeland Security on how to tighten security and safety measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, after the agency issued a travel advisory warning of lax practices there, the Palace said Friday, In a statement Thursday, the DHS said Manila “does not maintain and carry out effective security consistent with the security standards

There ‘ll be 109m Pinoys by 2019 THE Philippines’ population is expected to reach 107 million by the end of 2018 and to 109 million by 2019, according to the Commission on Population and Development.

The agency says Region 4-A, Calabarzon, is now the most populated, and that from 14 million in 2015 that number is projected to increase to 16.1 million in 2019. Next page

established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

“In view of this finding and effective immediately, airlines issuing tickets for travel between the United States and MNL are directed to notify passengers in writing of this determination,” the DHS Next page advisory said.

pocket denim shorts and black slippers.

The second suspect, the task group said, is rounded-faced in his 30s, of medium build with fair complexion. He was wearing a brown jacket and faded six-pocket denim shorts and slippers.

On Wednesday, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said task group has established some leads based on the physical evidence and information provided by witnesses. Next page

Rody ends year with ‘very good’ rating—SWS

By Nat Mariano MAJORITY of Filipinos remained satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s performance, despite his many controversial pronouncements, the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed on Friday, only three days to 2019.

According to SWS, seven out of 10 Filipino adults were satisfied with the Chief Executive’s performance.

The pollster recorded that 74 percent of Filipinos were satisfied, 11 percent of them undecided, while the remaining 15 percent expressed dissatisfaction over Duterte’s performance as the President.

Compared to September 2018, Duterte’s gross satisfaction also rose by four points from 70 percent, gross undecided fell by three points from 14 percent, and gross dissatisfaction fell by a point from 16 percent, the SWS noted.

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News

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Arroyo cleared of ’07 poll charge T

HE Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 has cleared Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of electoral sabotage, a case that stemmed from the alleged rigging of the 2007 senatorial elections.

“For failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt of accused Arroyo beyond reasonable doubt and moral certainty despite ample opportunity and even without evidence in favor of said accused, the demurrer to evidence is granted and the charge of electoral sabotage against accused Arroyo is hereby ordered dismissed,” Judge Jesus Mupas said in an order dated Dec. 17.

Mupas granted Arroyo’s Demurrer to Evidence, which means the former President never presented evidence in trial.

The court doubted the credibility of the whistleblower, former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, who said

he heard Arroyo say “It should be 12-0 in Maguindanao, even if you have to fix or change the results.”

The court said none of the other 12 prosecution witnesses “was able to establish any element of conspiracy with respect to accused Arroyo.”

The court will return to Arroyo her P1million bail.

In October 2011, Unas and 15 other election officers from Maguindanao came forward to tell a joint panel of the Justice department and the Commission on Elections that there was cheating during the 2004 presidential elections and

the 2007 senatorial elections.

A Pasay court says there was sufficient evidence to prove that the election results in North Cotabato were altered, but it wasn’t established that the instructions came from the former Comelec chief The electoral sabotage case eventually filed by the Justice department was the one that got Arroyo jailed in 2011, as she was put under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Arroyo stayed at the VMCC for almost five years until July 2016, when the Supreme Court acquitted her of plunder.

The court noted that Unas’ testimony was given on the condition that he enjoyed immunity from suit. Mupas doubted the credibility of Unas as early as 2012, when he granted Arroyo bail.

Unas said Arroyo’s instructions were for former governor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to

secure the landslide victory of her slate at the time, the so-called Team Unity.

Unas said Ampatuan then instructed him to provide logistical support for former Maguindanao Election Supervisor Lintang Bedol to ensure the 12-0 victory. Bedol never testified during trial, though he was initially on the prosecution’s list of witnesses.

Without Bedol, the court said, Unas’ testimony “remains uncorroborated” and that the prosecution was not able to sufficiently explain how the cheating happened.

“There is no allegation in the information that accused Arroyo ordered, or even suggested, that election documents be tampered with, or that votes for any candidate be increased or decreased.

This defect cannot be remedied by any testimonial evidence without violating the Constitutional rights of the accused,” the court said. Rio Araja

11,605 NPAs Lorenzana: US-PH defense pact could be abolished lay down arms in 2018—AFP

By Nat Mariano

A TOTAL of 11,605 New People’s Army fighters and supporters have surrendered to the government, according to the military.

And an official based in Kiangan, Ifugao, said 25 communist rebels and their supporters had recently surrendered in the upland town of Ambaguio.

Lt. Colonel Narciso Nabulneg, commanding officer of the army’s 54th Infantry Batallion, said the 25 were members of the Militia ng Bayan and three were supporters.

Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said Thursday the 11,605 surrendered during the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 26 this year.

Of that number, 1,222 were regular NPAs; 1,398 were “Militia ng Bayan” operatives; 408 were “Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad”; 1,133 were “Underground Mass Organization” members, and 7,444 others were considered rebel supporters.

Detoyato said 120 rebels were killed and 196 were arrested during military operations.

The number of seized high-powered firearms was placed at 787, while the low-powered ones totaled to at 1,074. Some 546 improvised explosive devices and 310 camps were also seized during military operations.

AFP Chief Benjamin Madrigal earlier said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army celebrated their 50th anniversary Wednesday without any real achievement, with their members fighting for a lost cause.

“Again, as far as we are concerned, the CPP-NPA have no reason to celebrate and no achievements to be proud of. We are reminding them that their options remain the same: we are ready to accept them, and they can avail of the benefits of ‘Balik-Loob’ or they might just die for a lost cause,” he said.

The NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. PNA with Ben Moses Ebreo

PH open...

From A1 The US agency said its findings were based on the assessments made by a team of security experts from the Transportation Security Administration.

Despite these findings, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo assured the public that the government was giving priority to carrying out strict security measures at the NAIA. Ensuring the safety of the traveling public is one of the Duterte administration’s critical interests to fend off looming threat of terrorism, he added.

“We intend to utilize the inputs of our global partners, including international assessment bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization whose latest security audit findings were found to be ‘generally satisfactory’ with ICAO standards of safety and security,” he added.

Panelo said the government plans to procure more X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors and alarm systems, which will be installed by the second quarter of 2019.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, said the US advisory did not mean the NAIA was vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

“I think they just saw some lapses in NAIA. The manager of NAIA [told me] that they are addressing or trying to say that all those things are not true. But I believe that they are on track on addressing these concerns for us not be blacklisted,” he said.

He said airport security forces are always on the alert for any possible threats.

Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eddie Moreal said the US advisory should not be a cause for alarm, and said there was nothing in the advisory that could not be addressed.

He said “enhancements” have been put in place to ensure secure flights for everyone.

Senator JV Ejercito brushed off the travel advisory, saying the long lines at the country’s premier airport were proof of tight security.

Passengers must go through at least two security checkpoints before entering the premises, he said. Those traveling to the US have to go through three checks.

“I don’t believe our security at NAIA is lax.

This can likely be the condition in our provincial airports, but not at NAIA,” he said.

THE possible review of the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States could result in its abolition, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday.

“That was done in 1951 and when that was done in 1951 there was this raging cold war,” Lorenzana told reporters.

“Do we still have a cold war today? Is it still relevant to our security? Maybe not...

Maybe we don’t need it now.

“That was from 1951. It’s a 67-year-old treaty. Is it still relevant to our national interest? That is what we need to look at.”

2Fromsuspects...

A1 He said they are beginning to ascertain the motives behind the killing and the people who might be behind it, but would say no more so as not to jeopardize the investigation.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier put up an additional P20 million, bringing to P50 million the reward for information leading to the arrest of the killers.

During Duterte’s visit to Batocabe’s wake in Albay, the President said a mayor would have knowledge about the killing—but did not say who the mayor was.

Albayalde has also said he is not discounting the possible involvement of a local chief executive, but said so far, they have no evidence linking the mayor with the crime.

Garins’ security...

From A1 Garin and his father were earlier charged with seven criminal and four administrative cases after they handcuffed, punched, slapped, and spat at Macaya.

In a statement, Rep. Garin said: “Regarding the incident at Guimbal Plaza, first and foremost, I make this public apology especially to the Philippine National Police as an institution, and also to the officers and personnel of the PNP upon whom I have great respect.”

He said that during the “Disyembre sa Guimbal” celebration at the town plaza, “the suspect [Macaya] mauled a guest, hitting him with a beer bottle on the head.”

“It would have been a manageable incident, however, the suspect turned out to be the same one known to police as a habitual delinquent,” added Rep. Garin, who said the police officer also has a pending murder case.

“In spite of that, and instead of filing a case on this recent incident, the victim was made to sign an Affidavit of Desistance by this one police for withdrawal of complaint. And this, in spite as well of the clear provisions that corresponding complaint be lodged in Court,” Rep. Garin added.

The solon said the police officer’s move “is a betrayal of public trust and a clear manifestation of his abuse of power” and was “a clear violation of a PNP policy not to meddle or negotiate in behalf of a party involved in a criminal case.”

“Yet in all these, I sincerely ask for an apology on what I earlier did. I reiterate my apologies for my actions which I take full responsibility for,” the younger Garin said.

The solon clarified that his actions were not directed to the PNP as an institution,

Lorenzana said he would have to look into the matter “dispassionately,” without considering past ties and future ties with the US. “It’s not like we’re saying that we should strengthen this treaty so that they could help us in times of war,” Lorenzana said.

“But who is our enemy? Are we still hoping that somebody will attack us here in the Philippines? I don’t think so. We don’t have foes who will occupy us. That’s what I was coming from.”

Lorenzana said the treaty’s significance should be checked to see whether or not it was still serving the Philippines’ national interest.

Asked if he believed the treaty was still relevant, Lorenzana said he had not read the document in its entirety.

“ I have to read it again,” Lorenzana said.

Under the defense treaty, Washington and Manila agree to conduct joint military exercises to strengthen both sides’ defenses.

The countries then engaged in regular war games and the deployment of thousands of US troops and state-of-the-art American military hardware to the country.

The treaty, forged by the two Pacific allies during the Cold War era in 1951, requires both countries to defend each other in case of an attack.

However, many have doubted the US’ sincerity in upholding the treaty’s commitment as the Philippines deals with China in the South China Sea dispute.

The race for mayor next year in Daraga, Albay was supposed to be a three-corner fight, with Batocabe, the incumbent Mayor Carlwyn Baldo of the Lakas-CMD and Victor Perete of PDP-Laban.

Baldo, then the deputy of Mayor Gerry Jaucian, became mayor after Jaucian died in office in May 2018. Perete, on the other hand, was the top kagawad during the last elections.

The Ako Bicol Party-list on Friday said it wanted Batocabe’s son, Justin, to finish his remaining six months in office. It is unclear, however, who will run for mayor in the slain congressman’s place next year.

The Commission on Human Rights condemned Batocabe’s assassination.

“This act frustrates the people’s right to choose their leaders in the upcoming elections, and treats a person’s right to life and dignity of no consequence,” said

Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel Gana.

The CHR has launched its own investigation into the case.

Gana said the case highlighted the increasing election-related violence and the need for gun control, which the government should address immediately, “Similarly, this is not the only killing witnessed by the country. Priests, lawyers, public officials, human rights advocates, and ordinary citizens have also been subjects of such assault.

These cases equally require our attention and vigilance in the interest of upholding justice and the rule of law for all,” she added.

“We call on the government to earnestly ensure that this trend of bloodshed no longer continues. At the same time, we hope witnesses surface with courage to make a stand to stop the many forms of violence and human rights violations that abound.” With Rio N. Araja

or against its officers and personnel, but were merely “actions [and] an unfortunate display of extreme frustration towards one, single PNP personnel who I believe committed a great disservice to the people of Guimbal.”

Still, the regional police are now checking if the security guards at Garin’s agency are licensed to operate as bodyguards, PNP Western Visayas police director Chief Supt, John Bulalacao told dzMM. “The issue here is are they allowed to be bodyguards because that requires a license.

I also asked our regional units if the security guards have permits to carry firearms,” Bulalacao said.

The PNP had also revoked licenses and permits to carry about 19 firearms for Rep. Garin and Mayor Garin.

“Definitely, that’s a lot. If I’m not mistaken, beyond five firearms registered to your name, you should already be considered as a firearms collector,” PNP spokesman Durana Jr. told ANC’s Early Edition.

Eight of the 19 registered firearms owned by the father and son have expired licenses, police earlier said.

Durana said the PNP will make sure that Garin and his father will face the consequences of their actions toward Macaya, whom they allegedly beat up, spat at and slapped.

“The fact that he slapped and spat at and threatened to kill using the enemies of the state, if those were true, definitely it’s an affront not only to the person and dignity of PO3 Macaya but the entire Philippine National Police,” he said.

Garin’s actions were unbecoming of a lawmaker, Durana said.

“I couldn’t dwell on what’s in the mind of the congressman, but I think that behavior is not reflective of a responsible lawmaker,” he said. Francisco Tuyay

Big night...

From A1 pleasant surprise. Alam niyo napaka-gandang regalo nito, pamasko ko na ito. Salamat po.”

(I was shaking. What a pleasant surprise. You know, this is such a beautiful Christmas gift, thank you.)

She continued, “Hindi ko akalain sa edad kong 85 years old, makakatanggap pa ako ng ganitong award.”

(I didn’t think that at 85 years old, I’d be receiving this kind of award.)

This was the second time the MMFF recognized Romero for her acting talent. The first time was for the 2000 Star Cinema film “Tanging Yaman.”

Romero’s illustrious acting career, which spans six-and-a-half decades, also includes award-winning performances in the films “Nagbabagang Luha” (1989) and “Dalagang Ilocana” (1955). “Rainbow’s Sunset,” which is the most decorated film entry at the MMFF 2018, is her 182nd film.

“Rainbow’s Sunset” tackles the story of an 84-yearold retired senator (played by Eddie Garcia) who leaves his wife (Romero) of six decades to take care of his best friend (Tony Mabesa) who is dying of cancer.

He has his wife’s blessings, but his three children

Rody...

From A1 “This gives a net satisfaction rating of +60, classified by SWS as very good. This is up by six points from the very good +54 in September 2018,” the pollster explained in its report.

“This bring President Duterte’s 2018 annual average net satisfaction score to a very good +54, 5 points below the very good average net +59 in 2017,” it added.

The SWS mentioned that the 6-point rise in Duterte’s net satisfaction rating from September 2018 to December 2018 was because of the increases of 22 points in Metro Manila, 13 points in the Visayas, and three points in Balance Luzon, joined with a 4-point decline in Mindanao.

The President’s net satisfaction rating rose by one grade from good to very good in Metro Manila, at +58 in December 2018, up by 22 points from the previous +36 in September 2018.

In the Visayas, it rose from good to very good at +62 in December, up by 13 points from +49 back in September.

It also rose from good to very good in Balance Luzon, at +52 this December, up by three points from +49 in September.

However, it decreased by four points in Mindanao at +73 in December from the previous +77 in September but still managed to stay in the excellent category, nonetheless.

Satisfaction with Duterte is also up across all socio-economic classes, the SWS said.

The 73-year-old President received +62 or “very good” in class ABC, which was up by 21 points from +41, +65 or “very good” in class E, which was up by 20 points from +45, and +58 or “very good” in class D, which was up by two points from +56.

feel scandalized by their father’s move. Nonetheless, the old man defies their collective protest.

The film bagged the Best Picture including the Best Director trophy for Lamangan, Best Supporting Actress for Aiko Melendez and Best Supporting Actor for Mabesa.

It also won Best Production Design, Best Original Theme Song, Best Screenplay and three special awards, including both Special Jury Prizes for Max Collins and Garcia, and the Gat Puno Villegas Cultural Award.

The 2nd Best Picture went to Viva Films’ Aurora, which also won Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Child Performer for Phoebe Villamor.

The award for 3rd Best Picture was handed to Regal Entertainment’s One True Love. The romantic drama took home the Best Actor honor for Dennis Trillo and the trophy for Best Musical Score.

Vic Sotto, Maine Mendoza, and Coco Martin’s Jack Em Popoy was awarded Best Float, Best Editing, and the FPJ Memorial Award.

This year’s top grosser Fantastica, starring comedian Vice Ganda, the romantic comedies Mary, Marry Me and The Girl in the Orange Dress, and the horror Otlum, went home empty-handed.

Best Short Student Film went to Kasilyas, an entry from Bulacan State University.

There’ll be...

From A1 The National Capital Region or Metro Manila is expected to have 13.8 million people and Central Luzon 12.2 million by the end of next year.

These three regions hold almost 35 percent or a third of the country’s total population.

The number of people in the least populated region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, is projected to increase by only 100,000 next year or 1.8 million people in total.

Based on the agency’s study, 70 million of the country’s population are 15 to 64 years old.

The agency projects the country’s labor sector to increase by 1.4 million in 2019.

POPCOM Executive Director Antonio Perez III says this is a good indication of a stronger and larger workforce next year.

This means, however, that the government will be compelled to offer more job opportunities for the growing number of workers for next year, not to mention the 18 percent of the population who are now underemployed or unemployed.

Perez says the country fared well when it came to the workers’ dependency ratio or the number of dependents the current labor force supports.

“Ang ideal ay silang manggagawa susuportahan ang sarili nila at saka isa pang dependent. Ang tawag doon dependency ratio na 50. So kapag malapit ka sa 50, tamang-tama iyan sa iyong populasyon. Ang Pilipinas ngayon nasa dependency ratio na 54, so konti nalang maaabot na natin yung 50,” Perez said.

He says a large number of the population prefers to seek job opportunities in the major cities.

He recommends to the local governments, however, to strengthen the agriculture sector in the provinces to provide employment to the job seekers in the countryside and to minimize urban migration.

Oil price...

From A1 the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension starting January 1, 2019,” the BIR issuance said.

Meanwhile, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said customers can expect power rates to go down at the start of the year due to lower capacity fees from power generators arising from fewer power outages.

“Hopefully there will be another reduction in January...if we will use historical records as basis, normally rates are lower in January,” Zaldarriaga said.

Zaldariagga said the January rates would still have to factor in the final computation from generators and the transmission operator.

These would reflect such factors as the exchange rate and the supply-demand situation, which would also affect generation and transmission charges.

“Generators are given a particular outage allowance per year,” Zaldarriaga said, noting these are translated into capacity fees.

Capacity fees are determined through the annual reconciliation of outage allowances that is done at the end of each year under the contracts approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

“The generators have a capacity fee per year which is divided by the number of days that they are available,” he said.

For example, if power generators do not exceed their outage allowance, their capacity fees are already paid in full and would no longer be reflected for the month of January.

The capacity fees from suppliers will normalize in the following month.

Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor with over six million customers in its franchise area, meanwhile, expressed readiness to provide 24-hour assistance during the upcoming New Year celebration.

Zaldarriaga said all emergency crews would be on alert, especially on New Year’s Eve to ensure that the utility firm will be able to respond to any issue or contingency.

He said that this early, they already have contingency measures in place in case facilities get affected by pyrotechnics and firecracker explosions.

Zaldarriaga advised all Meralco customers to observe utmost safety, as caution is still the best safety tip during the upcoming holiday.

“We advise the general public not to play with firecrackers and pyrotechnics near our facilities, most especially electric lines and transformers because this may cause power interruptions and even result in accidents,” he said.

“Confetti, party-poppers and balloons can also cause electric trouble, so it would be best to use them in open spaces and far from our facilities,” Zaldarriaga reminded the public.

Usman barrels...

From A1 Health reported a total amount of P7.3 million in logistics positioned in Regions VI, VIII and XI. “We pray for the safety of everyone,” Panelo added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government is all set to respond to cases of emergency as Usman enters the country.

Lorenzana, who chairs the NDRRMC, said that government agencies concerned with disaster response have been getting ready for Usman a week ago.

“The local NDRRMC offices have prepared already. Everything is prepared. There are supplies. Our responders, military, and police are prepared for that,” Lorenzana told Palace reporters in a briefing Friday.

The Defense chief, however, reminded the public of possible and inevitable landslides and flooding due to rainfall.

In its weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration reported that Usman has maintained its course towards Eastern Visayas.

PAGASA said the center of Usman was located at 250 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 7 a.m. on Friday.

It has winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph, moving west-northwest at 10 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 also remained hoisted over 27 areas in the countries. PNA

News

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

A3

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Lorenzana hits ‘armchair general’ CPP chief Joma

By Nat Mariano

AGAINST FIREWORKS. Children and residents of Barangay Project 6 in Quezon City join the EcoWaste Coalition’s ‘Iwas Paputoxic’ campaign promoting alternative merrymaking to usher in 2019 without using firecrackers and fireworks that can cause injuries and generate hazardous fumes and wastes, which the group said are harmful to health. Manny Palmero

Ex-Health boss faces more charges T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE PUBLIC Attorneys’ Office has asked the Department of Justice to prosecute former Health Secretary Janette Garin and 38 others, in connection for the death of a 12-year-old girl who was inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine.

In another criminal complaint filed with the DOJ on Friday, Christopher and Ginalyn Magtira, parents of Kristel Jean Magtira, accused Garin and other respondents of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the

Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act. The latest complaint has brought to 30 the number of cases filed by families of children whose deaths were allegedly due to the controversial dengue immunization program of the

Aquino administration.

Besides Garin, also included as respondents were several current and former health officials as well as the executives of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and distributor Zuellig Pharma.

Just like in previous complaints, Garin and others were accused of negligence for their failure to obtain the consent and inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents or families of the dangers and risks related to the vaccine.

Kristel received three doses of the vaccine on April 5, 2016, Oct. 6, 2016 and June 28, 2017.

Based on the complaint, Kristel started having fever on Jan. 8, 2018. Her condition worsened when she started vomiting and eventually became comatose three days later. She died on Jan. 13, 2018.

Based on her death certificate, the immediate cause of her death was the swelling and bleeding of her brain.

On Nov. 29, 2017, Sanofi has issued an advisory stating that “for those not previously infected by dengue virus, however,the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following the vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection.”

JOSE Ma. Sison is just an “armchair general,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Friday, slamming the exiled founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines for his “ineffective” directives made overseas after nearly 8,000 communist rebels have returned to the fold of law.

In a Palace press briefing, Lorenzana acknowledged the leadership of Sison when he founded the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

“Jose Maria Sison, maybe he was a good leader before in the 1970s when they started CPP-NPA in 1968 up to 70s and early 80s. He was able to organize from a small group in Pampanga, then they ventured in Northern Luzon until they reached nationwide. Maybe he was good then and he was able to militate people. They were active back then against the government, especially with [former] President [Ferdinand] Marcos,” Lorenzana recalled.

According to the Defense chief, communist rebels reached their prime back in 1980s when it had at least 25,000 fighters all over the country.

The CPP even used the dire poverty in different areas of the country such as in Bicol, Samar, and Negros to encourage people into rebelling against the government.

But after Sison left the country in 1987, the top communist has since lost touch with his men on the ground, Lorenza said.

“He has been far from the country for so long. He left the country in 1987.

He has not come back here, he hasn’t returned. Is he still attuned with what’s happening on the ground? I don’t think so,” he said.

“He makes himself relevant by having the peace talks in Norway.

Remove that concept, he will lose his relevance,” he added. “That’s why the President is right to have the peace talks here. Why do we have to involve the other countries in our local problems?”

According to Lorenzana, Sison plans to make the decades-old riff between the government and communist rebels to reach the international scene.

NCRPO tabs 400 areas as firecracker use zones

By Joel E. Zurbano MORE than 400 areas in Metro Manila were designated as firecracker zones in connection with the New Year celebration, the National Capital Region Police Office announced on Friday.

The NCRPO also identified 55 community fireworks display areas for the revelry aimed to reduce fire incidents caused by fireworks and firecrackers.

The designated firecracker zones, according to NCRPO chief Guillermo Eleazar, were made in compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 28, which prohibits people from putting up their own fireworks displays or use firecrackers in their residences.

Eleazar said the designated areas were identified by the five police districts under the supervision of NCRPO in close coordination with the respective barangays and local government units.

Police assistance desks will be established in these areas and will be manned by police personnel, who will be augmented by NCRPO force multipliers.

Quezon City Police identified 166 areas, the Northern Police District has 93, Manila has 73, Southern Police has 52, while Eastern Manila Po-

lice has 20 areas.

The prohibited fireworks include Piccolo, Super Lolo, Atomic Triangle, Large Judas Belt, Large Bawang, Pillbox, improvised PVC cannons known as “boga”, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Mother Rocket, Lolo Thunder, Atomic Bomb, Five Star, Pla-Pla, Giant Whistle Bomb, Kabasi and Watusi.

The list of firecrackers allowed inside the firecracker zones are Baby Rocket, Bawang, El Diablo, Judas Belt, Paper Caps, Pulling of Strings, Sky Rocket or Kwitis and Small Trianggulo.

List of Pyrotechnic Device that can be used outside the firecracker zone: Butterfly; Fountain; Jumbo Regular and Special; Luces; Mabuhay; Roman Candle; Trompillo; Whistle Devices; all kinds of pyrotechnic devices (Pailaw); and other types equivalent to the foregoing pyrotechnic device.

Thirty-four areas in Quezon City were among the 55 designated community fireworks display zones, 12 in EPD, five in SPD and two each in Manila and Northern Manila.

Eleazar said that cities of Makati, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Marikina and the municipality of Pateros have not released a designated firework display zones due to the strict implementation of their respective city ordinances.

Sayyaf man nabbed in Zamboanga ZAMBOANGA CITY―A police and military team arrested on Thursday an Abu Sayyaf Group bandit in a law-enforcement operation in this city.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office-9 director, said Friday the team arrested Ben Mungakay, 57, a member of the ASG’s Urban Terrorist Group.

Licup said Mungakay was arrested through a warrant of arrest for serious illegal detention around 4 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Curuan.

Mungakay is one of the followers of

ASG sub-leader Marzan Ajijul. Police said he was involved in the kidnapping of Doroteo Gonzales, a carpenter, on April 25, 2009 in Barangay Buenavista here.

The bandits beheaded Gonzales after his family failed to pay the P25 million ransom in exchange for his release.

Gonzales’ severed head was found on May 17, 2009 in the town of Al-Barka, Basilan province.

Licup said Mungakay was placed under the custody of the Police Station 2 of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO). PNA

NOISEMAKERS. A vendor at the Divisoria market in Manila tends to her stall of horns in various shapes, colors and sizes as authorities continue to endorse non-firework noisemakers to usher in the New Year just three days away. Norman Cruz

Teehankee: Du30 silence on federal charter ‘deafening’ A MEMBER of the group tasked to review the Constitution for a shift to a federal government said Friday President Rodrigo Duterte’s silence on the matter after the House of Representatives passed its version of a draft charter is “deafening.”

“The most important voice in this federal debate is the voice of the President and his silence is deafening. Perhaps he is biding his time because of the upcoming elections,” Presidential Constitutional Commission

member Julio Teehankee told ABS-CBN News Channel’s ‘Early Edition’ program.

This was after the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 15 approved by lawmakers on third and final reading earlier this month “deleted all of the proposed reforms in the Bayanihan Draft Constitution” and those enshrined in the 1987 Charter, such as the anti-dynasty provision and term limits for elective positions.

Duterte’s consultative committee submit-

ted its proposal to the President in July this year. The shift to a federal government is a centerpiece measure being advocated by his government.

A political science professor at the De La Salle University, Teehankee said federalism “might still be realized under this administration” considering the possible reconfiguration of political alliances in time for the 2019 midterm and 2022 presidential elections.

Validity of Anti-Hospital Deposit Law ‘good milestone’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta AKBAYAN Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday described as “a good milestone to cap off a productive year for the health sector” the Supreme Court’s decision dismissing a petition that challenges the validity of the measure.

She said the high court’s ruling clearly demonstrates that the law is faithful to the Constitution and validates the democratic

processes that were conducted to craft it.

With the decision, Hontiveros hopes it settles with finality all the legal challenges that might be raised by a few to undermine the spirit of the law.

“I now ask all stakeholders and relevant sectors to respect and commit to the full implementation of the law,” said the opposition senator.

“Let us end the despicable practice of demanding any deposit or other forms

of advance payment as a pre-requisite for admission or medical treatment of an emergency patient, particularly a poor person or pregnant woman,” she said.

“Let us welcome the new year with a stronger commitment to provide adequate health care to our citizens, especially those who need it the most,” added Hontiveros, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 10932 or “The Strengthened AntiHospital Deposit Law.”

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Opinion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

United by our humanity IN HIS traditional Christmas message, Pope Francis pleads for mutual understanding and harmony in the face of differences. He appeals for fraternity that Christ has bestowed on humanity. There may be differences of ideas, yet people are capable of listening and respecting others who may be different. This is the fraternity that Christ is offering the world, the Pope said during the “Urbi et Orbi,” or “to the city and the world” message he delivered from the Vatican.

Without fraternity, he continues, our best plans and projects risk being soulless and empty. He seeks fraternity among individuals of every nation and culture.

Fraternity among people with different

We are all brothers and sisters.

ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another. Fraternity among persons of different religions. Jesus came to reveal the face of God to all those who seek him. That Christ was born for us of the Virgin Mary tells us that we are all brothers and sisters.

Francis explains the connection of Christ’s coming into this world and men’s differences, saying: The face of God has been revealed in a human face. It did not appear in an angel, but in one man, born in a specific time and place. By his incarnation, the Son of God tells us that salvation comes through love, acceptance,

EDITORIAL

respect for this poor humanity of ours, which we all share in a great variety of races, languages, and cultures. Yet all of us are brothers and sisters in humanity!

For him, our differences are not a detriment or a danger; but a source of richness. It is sad that in this day and age, men look at these differences as a threat and a source of conflict. Men all over the world gravitate towards their own kind while rejecting others considered “different.” Men do not see eye to eye just because they do not have the same color of skin, do not profess the same beliefs, and do not share the same way of seeing things around them. But these differences are not enough reason to be at one another’s throat. The Pope see these differences much like an artist who is about to make a mosaic, it is better to have tiles of many colors available, rather than just a few! The experience of families teaches us this: As brothers and sisters, we are all different from each other. We do not always agree, but there is an unbreakable bond uniting us, and the love of our parents helps us to love one another, he adds.

He makes his appeal for fraternity and unity as the trend toward nationalism, which is fueling suspicion on migrants and refugees, has gained traction in much of Europe and the United States. Francis urges the international community to “work decisively for a political solution that can put aside divisions and partisan interests, so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country.”

Indeed, intolerance and hostility toward “others” has become the norm in most parts of the world. This sense of hostility is aggravated by massive migration of peoples who have been displaced by internal conflicts in their own countries. We are seeing this phenomenon in Syria, Iraq and most other conflict areas in the world where people are now seeking refuge often in European and other Western countries, prompting these affected countries to

Deficient

S

ECURITY measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are deficient, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. Airlines issuing tickets for travel between Manila and the US should tell their passengers this immediately.

The advisory, issued Wednesday, was based on assessments by the US Transportation Security Administration which concluded that Manila “does not maintain and carry out effective security consistent with the security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).”

The advisory, according to the DHS, should also be prominently displayed at all US airports providing regular flights to and from Manila.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said in his Twitter account that the advisory should not be questioned. Meanwhile, the Transportation Department assured the public that it was taking the recommendations of

the TSA seriously and working to enhance security.

The recommendations include installation of new equipment such as X-ray machines, walkthrough metal detectors and alarm systems.

The NAIA should also improve its background check procedures for personnel and other pass holders.

Those who have been working at the airport for a long time must also change their security culture in terms of strict and consistent implementation, said the TSA. “There is no cause for alarm,” said the Manila International Airport Authority.

All recommendations of the TSA can be addressed, it said.

While there is no reason to doubt that air transport officials are doing everything they can to improve security at the premier airport, we can only wonder how safe everyone truly is now that we are just moving toward attaining the level of security the TSA says we should have.

No less than the presidential spokesman has said that such improvements take time, with the new equipment set to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019.

Thus, despite the objection of a senator who said the long lines passengers have to endure at NAIA was proof of adequate security—forgetting it could be chalked up to inefficiency—it is always best for travellers to be extra vigilant when passing through the airport.

NAIA used to be notorious for its poor facilities and congested single runway. From the point of view of tourism, that was reason enough for concern; airports are, after all, a visitor’s first and last impression of a country.

Deficient security, however, poses far greater risks. While the warning should not occasion debilitating fear among the riding population and their families, it should prod officials into quicker, more decisive action. Even the airports of more advanced economies have allowed shady characters through.

If the Philippines wants to be taken seriously as a tourism and investment destination, and if it wants visitors and residents alike to feel safe, not only comfortable, then our transport officials should constantly try to meet global standards—and never rest a minute.

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Good riddance, 2018! basis. Netizen Dan Santos monitors and documents the killings. He recently tweeted that outside of the thousands of poor Filipinos killed, “under President Duterte, 12 mayors; 7 vice mayors; 35 lawyers, judges, and prosecutors; and 13 journalists have been killed.”

This year alone, Father Richmond Nilo I CANNOT wait for 2018 to end. It has been a difficult, even depressing year in of the Diocese of Cabanatuan was gunned many respects. The country continues down as he was preparing to hold mass at to be beset with many major problems a chapel in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija on June socially, politically, and economically 10; Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was assassinated by a sniper and Filipinos are barely able to cope.

Life has been quite hard this year. The during the flag-raising ceremony on July effects of Republic Act No. 10963, the Tax 2 making him the 11th local government Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion official to be killed in relation with the war Law that took effect on the first day of on drugs; Vice Mayor of Trece Martires, the year continues to burden Filipinos. Cavite Alexander Lubigan was ambushed This law promised to provide relief from and killed on July 7; and a lone gunman economic hardships to income earners shoots nine sugarcane workers inside a by supposedly increasing their take home hacienda in Sagay, Negros Occidental on Oct. 20. Life has become very cheap in pay. this country.

This promise Political vanished into opposition and thin air as prices those critical of of goods and the administration services soared Despite everything, continue to be with the rapid I remain hopeful. harassed. Senator increase in oil Leila de Lima prices. Imagine continues to be the lowly “sili” incarcerated costing more despite the fact than a thousand pesos a kilo! People began posting online that she has not been convicted of any the ridiculously high prices of ordinary crime. Another critic, Senator Antonio foodstuff. By August, the inflation rates Trillanes, continued to be threatened reached 6.4 percent. Unsurprisingly, with imprisonment when on August 31, people were angry and government was President Duterte issued Proclamation being blamed for the added suffering No. 572 that voided the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes by former they were bearing.

The war against women continues with President Noynoy Aquino. Duterte said the systemic misogyny we are subjected that the senator allegedly did not fulfill to, day in and day out. The saddest part all the requirements for the amnesty. is, this war is led by no less than the Trillanes was saved by a Makati Regional highest official of the land. Women’s Trial Court judge who ruled that the rights are being eroded by “mere words amnesty in question was valid.

Another critic, former Supreme Court and jokes” of the President himself. No wonder, fraternity “brothers” ridicule Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was and degrade women in their group chats. ousted from her post on May 11 by her There are even Facebook groups teaching colleagues who voted 8 against 6 granting the quo warranto petition of Solicitor men how to lure women to their beds!

Our rights and freedoms continue to General Calida against Sereno allegedly be threatened. The freedom of the press for non-compliance with requirements of is being curtailed as shown by what the SALN submission. Prior to this, the people harassment this administration is doing saw how desperately some members of the on Rappler and its lead journalist Maria SC lambasted Sereno during the hearings Ressa. We have also heard threats against of the House of Representatives on the the franchise of ABS-CBN. Surely, other impeachment petition against the then CJ. Remember that the one who filed the media outfits are feeling the heat.

As this administration’s sinister “war highly questionable petition was another on drugs” goes on, the numbers of Duterte diehard supporter, lawyer Larry killings, whether drug-related or not, Gadon.

Even Vice President Leni Robredo is continue to climb. We have lost count as murders continue to happen on a daily Turn to A5

Espionage or trade war AS THE year was about to end, the international community was treated to what could be the biggest diplomatic crisis in recent years.

This was after the Canadian government ordered the arrest and detention of Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, a top executive with the Chinese tech company Huawei, an offshoot of an extradition request from the United States.

According to reports, Meng is wanted on charges of fraud, including the use of

If left unchecked, the latter might spiral out of control. a Huawei subsidiary to conduct business with Iran, in violation of the sanctions the US had imposed on that country.

Further, her company is being accused of using its technology to provide intelligence report on the US to the Chinese

government.

Upset over Meng’s arrest and detention, China threatened “revenge” and “unnecessary troubles” for Canada if it did not release the Chinese CFO. In fact, China has since arrested two Canadian nationals: entrepreneur Michael Spavor, and former diplomat Michael Korvig.

While, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland called the detention of Spavor and Korvig “arbitrary” as opposed to what she called Canada’s “fair, unbiased and transparent legal proceeding with respect to Meng,” even adding that Canada “respects its international legal commitments, including by honoring its extradition treaty with Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Ambivalent opposition to the joint oil exploration (Conclusion ) (Continued from Saturday) IT WAS Velasco who first suggested the service contract in lieu of the concession system to projects involving the exploration, development and utilization of oil resources. He wrote, to quote: “Concession for oil is similar to that for mining. Once a concession area had been identified for exploration, the private innovator would submit to the government estimates of the expected volume of oil that could be tapped and the cost to be incurred in the exploration. After selling the oil in the international market, the investor would recover his cost and then take his share of the profit, with the remainder paid to the government. Now, the problem was that given the very complicated accounting system. oil concessionaires usually had a lot of leeway to pad the costs, even to the point of claiming that they lost money, so that the government seldom receive anything from whatever oil was sold by these concessionaires.”

“The service contract, on the other hand, was based on the concept of production sharing, which upheld the sovereignty of the producer-country over its own resources and guaranteed a share of the product itself without the royalties and that complicated accounting of the old concession system. At the same time, fair returns awaited firms (as service contractors) that assumed oil exploration risks and provided the necessary technology and capital. For exploration ventures that the Philippine government financed, a stipulated service fee was paid to the service contractors for having finished services and technology. If the service contractor financed the exploration, besides providing services and technology, the company’s operating expenses would be reimbursed side from the service fee.”

Executive Order No. 131 virtually abrogated P.D. No. 334 creating the PNOC. Shell enjoyed the advantage because of Buenaventura. Other companies that joined the consortium at Malampaya gas wells like Chevron and EDC also enjoyed the restored concession system by the mere payment of royalty fees and by the numerous tax exemptions and discounts. In the MOU signed on Nov. 22, 2018 between Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr. and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi He, some analysts insist that it should be one of service contract in the belief that it will serve to reaffirm our claim of sovereignty in the area.

Be that as it may, the parties cannot draft an agreement interpreted as either a concession contract or service contract much that it was an agreement reached by two sovereign states. Neither of the two can be treated as a contactor or contracting party. In fact, the two states refrained from asserting the issue of sovereignty because it does not vest to any of the parties that right. The Philippines only enjoys the right to claim over that portion of the South China Sea as part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but does not vest sovereign right over the area.

Should we insist, it is possible that China can also claim portions of that area as part of its EEZ pointing to those islands it occupies as the starting point in demarcating that country’s EEZ. The two simply tried to focus on the resources that could be extracted with China respecting our 60-40 provision in our Constitution and this is pursuant to Deng Xiaoping’s dictum of settling disputes by setting aside the issue of sovereignty.

Today, the interest of PXP Energy Corp., owned by Manuel Pangilinan of First Pacific Corp., to join the exploration alongside with PNOC and China’s National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) poses a big question. Under what arrangement will it seek to have itself accommodated? Would Pangilinan’s participation alter the arrangement in view of the 6040 sharing, or will it only affect the 60 percent share of the country to private

Good...

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threatened. On April 2, the SC sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal began the manual recount of votes for Vice President for the electoral protest of former Senator Bongbong Marcos, publicly known as Duterte’s choice for VP, against the sitting VP Leni Robredo.

This is not yet over and Filipinos must remain vigilant on this. We must remember that after the ouster of Sereno, the SC now is seen as quite friendly to this administration.

On the other hand, allies are given preferential treatment. Former First Lady and now Representative Imelda Marcos was granted bail after being convicted of seven counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan. She has appealed the decision directly to the SC. Another

energy company that officially stands as private subcontractor?

Interpreting the original intent of the MOU, it is clear that the Philippines is expected to deal only with China except if Vietnam decides to join later. Nonetheless, should PXP Energy Corp. be allowed to join, the arrangement could no longer be called joint venture, notwithstanding whether China would allow a private oil company to join and enjoy a status equal that of PNOC and CNOOC which are government corporations tasked to carry out the project.

There is also the problem of partition of the volume and value of oil and gas that may be extracted. Even assuming that China would allow that, most likely it will not allow its 40 percent share to be reduced, considering that it would shoulder the greater part of the financing, technical and exploration work. The 60-40 arrangement is in accordance with Section

Of course there is politics in the joint venture.

costs, and an exemption from all taxes and duties for importation of materials and equipment for petroleum operations.

“As if that wasn’t enough, the Shell consortium was also exempted from all taxes except income taxes. But for almost two decades now, the Malampaya operator has not paid a single centavo in income tax because under its service contract with the government, its income taxes are to be taken out of the share of the Philippine government. Effectively, therefore, it is Filipino taxpayers like you and me who end up subsidizing and paying for Shell’s income taxes. This absurd tax-dodging scheme certainly gives new meaning to the Filipino idiom “iginisa sa sarili mantika” (to be fried in one’s own lard).

X x x.

“By law, 60 percent of the income (or so-called “royalties”) from the net production of the Malampaya gas field is supposed to go to the Philippine government while the remaining 40 percent is to be allocated to the Shell consortium.

“Based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE), however, the actual royalty share of the government has been cut down to a mere 37.7 percent (of its 60 percent allotment) after deducting the incentives and benefits claimed by Shell like income taxes and branch profit remittance taxes, which amount to billions of pesos.

“X x x. Throughout the Malampaya field’s 17-year gas production, the total proceeds from the reservoir reached approximately $22.9 billion. Of that amount, the Shell consortium was reimbursed $6.2 billion supposedly for the recovery of its investment costs, reducing the gross revenue to around $16.7 billion, as of the end of 2017. With the 60-40 split, the service fee income of the Malampaya contractor reached an aggregate sum of $7 billion while the total royalties due the government reportedly amounted to some $9.7 billion.

“Perhaps to justify the extension of its contract, Shell has been pushing the narrative that the Philippine government’s share from the Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project will soon breach the $10-billion mark. That, however, is grossly misleading and inaccurate.

“What the Shell consortium failed to mention is that its income taxes over the past 17 years amounting to around $3 billion were taken out of the government’s royalties. This is on top of the deductions for the Malampaya contractor’s branch profit remittance taxes of $870 million and the assistance to LGUs amounting to roughly $2.4 billion, which whittled down the total royalty share of the government to a measly $3.4 billion, or just US$200 million annually since 2001.

“The bulk of the revenue from the Malampaya operations—a staggering $12.7 billion (consisting of service fees and reimbursements alone)—went to the pockets of the Shell and its partners.

“Compared to the $28.1 billion foreign currency remittance of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2017 alone, the annual royalties paid by the Shell consortium to the government is a mere pittance.

Even the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry’s foreign exchange earnings—$24.5 billion in 2017—dwarfs Shell’s annual payment to our national coffers.

“With the expiration of the Malampaya contract in the horizon, there’s a move by the current DOE leadership to place the operations of the Malampaya gas field in the hands of state-run PNOC Exploration Corp., which will then enter into farm-in deals (or an arrangement where it sells a stake in the service contract) with other energy companies, supposedly to enable the government to corner 100 percent of the royalties on gas production.”

Thanks to the role played by Cesar Buenaventura for completely defanging the Department of Energy and the PNOC for which he together with Jaime Zobel de Ayala, were subsequently knighted the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for their most disgraceful betrayal of the country’s interest to UK government.

2, Article XII of the Constitution, and the Philippines did not oppose it, for the fact that the area lies mostly within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

We have to take it that there is politics in the joint venture. Without stating the obvious, it is doubtful whether China would allow the entry of foreign private corporations to benefit from the undertaking by way of assignment of contact. The 60-40 arrangement envisions a service contract that is exclusive to the Philippine government through the PNOC, and to China’s CNOOC. Many could smell something fishy, for normally, private oil companies could only act after the Committee had worked out the mechanism outlined in the MOU. The PXP Energy Corp. cannot pre-empt the Department of Energy and PNOCEC. Other corporations like Shell, Chevron or EDC could only act on that portion allocated to it by the country. Neither can they be allowed to decide on areas which have yet to be explored.

To put it bluntly, private oil companies are licensed and are allowed to operate only in the Philippines and can only act on the rights and benefits given by the government. It cannot exercise those rights and benefits outside of what has been allocated to it by the government.

This has to be clarified because the 6040 sharing is based on the presumption that what will prevail is a service contract. This now explains why Executive Order Nos. 20, 131,171, 193, 211 and 279 ordered the transfer of functions of the Department of Energy and that of PNOC to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to purposely revive the royalty fee to private concessionaires paying only a minimal amount of income tax which is saddled with many exemptions. As explained by Atty. Dodo Dulay on how Shell Corp. benefitted in the Executive Orders crafted by Buenaventura, to quote: “THERE are five years left before Shell Philippines Exploration’s (SPEX) service contract for the Malampaya deep-water natural gas project expires but this early, the British-Dutch oil and gas company and its consortium partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and PNOC Exploration Corp., are pulling out all the stops to have its operating monopoly over the Palawan gas field extended for another 10 years, or up to 2034. If that happens, the Philippine government and, ultimately, the Filipino people will again be placed at a considerable disadvantage. “x x x. For the past 17 years since the Shell consortium began commercial operations in the Malampaya gas field, it has enjoyed a slew of incentives and benefits not available to other foreign investors such as a 40 percent share (a.k.a. “service fee”) of the net production, the reimbursement of up to 70 percent of the gross production to recover its investment rpkapunan@gmail.com ally, former Senator Bong Revilla who was accused of plunder in connection with Priority Development Assistance Fund Scam, has been acquitted by the Sandiganbayan on Dec. 7. He is now a free man and wants to go back to the Senate.

Meanwhile, Mindanao remains to be under Martial Law. On Feb. 6, the SC upheld the constitutionality of the one-year extension of Martial Law. Last Dec. 12, the Senate and House of Representatives, during a joint session approved President Duterte’s request for another ML extension until 2019.

Duterte’s domination of the country continues.

He has even challenged the international community. On March 14, he announced the Philippine withdrawal from the International Criminal Court which is looking into whether it has jurisdiction to probe allegations of state-sanctioned

killings related with the war on drugs.

Formal notification of withdrawal was received by the United Nations on March 17 and will take effect one year after or a little over three months from now.

The drive to change the Constitution and shift to federalism remains. China, throughout this year has continued to claim territories that the Philippines clearly won through international arbitration.

2019 promises to be equally challenging BUT there is hope that more and more people are waking up. We have a chance to change directions in 2019 through our power to put worthy and responsible public servants come election time. I remain hopeful. There is no way to go but UP. Good riddance 2018 and welcome 2019! @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Espionage...

From A4

the United States,” Canada nevertheless relented, relesing Meng on a $10-million bail, with additional conditions that she live in one of her two Vancouver homes, restricted to that residence between the hours of 11pm and 6am local time, that she be monitored 24/7, that she surrender all of her passports, and that she wear an ankle bracelet around the clock.

China reportedly has yet to respond to the Canadian government’s demand for the release of the two detained Canadians has the backing of both the US State Department and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

However, an article published by Centre for Research on Globalization in its website www.globalrersearc.ca, claims ther was more to the arrest and detention of Meng than the allegation of possible espionage and dealing with Iran.

Citing an exposè by the Australian Pres which it claims have been ignored by major media outfits, the article talks of a supposed meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence network with Prime Minister Trudeau at an undisclosed location in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia this past summer.

It went on to say that “the intelligence chiefs spoke of threats coming from China. And since the meeting, the article continues, “there has been an unprecedented campaign to ban Huawei technology from the emerging 5G networks in the Five Eyes countries, namely Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.”

As stated earlier, “the argument is that Huawei would use advanced capabilities to provide intelligence to the Chinese government, making it a threat to national security.”

But then, independent sources add that the real reason behind the arrest and detention of Meng of Huawei is mainly due to the US losing out in 5G technology, thus the need to resort to foul tactics, but which has failed to stop Huawei from shipping 200-million units catapulting it to Number Two behind Samsung, and relegating US brand Apple to Number Three in the world market.

Making it worse is the inability of the US to tap their allies to stop patronizing the Chinese product.

And if these claims are true, then it is the US that is now bearing the brunt of

United...

From A4

the trade war it has called for against China and the arrest and detention of Meng might only be a façade for a far more deadlier attack, something the civilized world cannot afford.

If left unchecked, the US-led trade war against China might spiral out of control.

And we’ll all end up losers.

The other day, the US Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory directing airlines going to the Philippines to alert their passengers on the deficiency of security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

According to the advisory, the Manila International Airport Authority, which is in charge of NAIA, “does not maintain and carry out effective security consistent with the security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

“In view of this finding and effective immediately, airlines issuing tickets for travel between the United States and MNL are directed to notify passengers in writing of this determination,” the DHS advisory said.

In response, the Department of Tourism issued a statement, saying that while the Philippine government respects the advisory, it nevertheless assures measures are being done to address the issue, and at the same time, guarantees the Philippines to be safe for both residents and visitors.

Following is the statement of the DOT: The Department of Tourism respects the recent announcement of the United States Department Homeland Security and the findings of the Transportation Security Administration.

The management and security officers of the Manila International Airport Authority, together with the Department of Transportation under the leadership of Secretary Tugade, have committed to positively address this concern. We are confident in their capabilities to handle this issue and we are ready to help them in any way to expedite the resolution.

We are in close coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines tasked to oversee our aviation security.

Both agencies have repeatedly assured the DOT of the readiness to assess and respond to threats to ensure the safety and security of our tourists, both domestic and international.

With this, we assure the international community, that the Philippines remains a safe haven for our visitors and residents alike. the proscribing of beliefs and pervasive discrimination... “are daily occurrences at the end of the twentieth century.”

Because man’s bigotry and prejudice toward others often get the better of him, we conveniently forget the basic human rights principle enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the right of everyone to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Addressing this problem in 2017, Pope Francis reminded a group of religious leaders on their obligation to denounce violations of human dignity and human rights, to expose attempts to justify every form of hatred in the name of religion, and to condemn these attempts as idolatrous caricatures of God.” In this year’s traditional Christmas message, Francis gives us a sobering reminder to see the richness in God’s gift of diversity as an opportunity for unity and by our humanity. In Pope Francis’ words, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

clamp down on their borders because they see these refugees as a threat to their stability. In the United States, anti-immigration policies have been adopted by the Trump administration to stop the so-called illegal immigration which track has given rise to a myriad of legal, moral, economic, security, and humanitarian concerns.

These differences, particularly religious differences, is also fomenting intolerance and persecution of religious groups all over the world. Clashes between Christians against Muslims, Christians against other Christian minority sects, and Muslims against other Muslims groups are now so common. “Discrimination based upon religion or conviction exists in almost all economic, social, and ideological systems and in all parts of the world,” noted Angelo d’Almeida Ribeiro, former Special Rapporteur appointed by the UN Commission on Human Rights. In their book Freedom of Religion and Belief—A World Report, published in 1997, editors Kevin Boyle and Juliet Sheen state: “Religious persecution of minority faiths [and] Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Bully Iloilo solon and mayor deserve prison time JUST a few days after the coldblooded murders of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe saddened the nation, we are shocked by another upsetting news involving another lawmaker.

We joined the nation in crying for justice for the slain Albay congressman along with his police aide.

In the latter incident, however, it was the solon who turned out to be the bad guy. He is Iloilo 1st district Rep. Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr. who, along with his father, Guimbal town Mayor Oscar Garin Sr., mauled a policeman early Wednesday morning.

This is such disconcerting news that one cannot possibly justify whichever way you look at it.

Reports have it that the notorious father-and-son summoned PO3 Federico Macaya, of the Guimbal Municipal Police Station at the town plaza, ordered the latter disarmed and handcuffed, and then went on to beat him at gunpoint.

The Garins were reportedly infuriated by the cop’s failure to file a complaint against a man involved in a domestic dispute.

The lawmaker allegedly repeatedly punched and slapped the defenseless policeman while the mayor threatened to shoot him pointblank.

There were reports that Rep. Garin reportedly even spat on Macaya’s face.

Reporters have sought the Garins for their side of the story to no avail. The congressman is the husband of former Health Secretary Janet Garin, who is facing multiple charges in connection with the Dengvaxia vaccine deaths.

If the allegations prove true as reported, these culprits must be penalized to the full extent of the law.

President Duterte has directed Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to press all applicable charges, including direct assault and false imprisonment.

The question is: Will the lawmaker and his father-mayor, who is also a former lawmaker, prove to be men “above the law?”

If the reports are true, then they make the Garins worse than the Ateneo high school bully whot preyed on defenseless schoolmates.

The bully father-and-son tandem deserves to be thrown behind bars.

News

A6

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Nuclear Regulation Act gets House ok FILIPINOS will likely change their outlook on nuclear concerns, after the House of Representatives approved on second reading HB 8733, also known as the “Comprehensive Nuclear Regulation Act,” which seeks to establish a comprehensive nuclear regulatory framework and create the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, the bill’s principal author. said PNRC will be a single, independent nuclear regulatory body focused on the control of peaceful uses and application of nuclear energy, as the country embarks on a renewed effort to strengthen science and technology and boost industrial growth. House Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo is among the bill’s proponents.

To be attached to the Department of Science and Technology, PNRC will be tasked to harmonize the country's nuclear regulatory structure with other countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, such as China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Singapore, among others.

Salceda said the measure aims to harness the peaceful and beneficial uses of nuclear energy in agriculture, health and medicine, energy production, scientific research, industry, and education; recognize the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation; protect society and the environment; establish a legal and regulatory framework for the regulation and control of the peaceful uses of nuclear resources; manage radioactive waste; and establish a legal and regulatory framework to prevent, detect, and respond to unauthorized activities involving nuclear materials.

PNRC, as an autonomous regulatory body, shall exercise authority over all aspects of safety, security, and safeguards involving nuclear and other radioactive materials, facilities, and radiation generating equipment.

Most importantly, Salceda stressed, PNRC will “ensure consistency with the nation’s obligations under relevant international instruments and modernize the nuclear civil liability and compensation regime in line with internationally-accepted standards.”

HB 8733, he added, also aims to establish and maintain a regulatory system for “the formulation and adoption of rules and guidelines on the use of ionizing radiation that shall specify the principles, requirements, and associated criteria for safety and security upon which the regulatory, judgments, decisions, and actions shall be based.”

‘Peryahan Ng Bayan’ operators warned The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Friday warned the operators of the Peryahan ng Bayan that they will be criminally prosecuted if they do not stop using the agency’s name and logo in their operations.

PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said the agency has received reports that the outlets of the controversial Peryahan ng Bayan continue to use the name and logo of the PCSO in their operations causing public confusion.

Balutan reiterated that the PCSO has already terminated in March 2016 the deed of authority it issued to PNB, operated by Globaltech Mobile Online Corp., but the lottery continues to operate illegally.

“Using the PCSO logo to look legitimate in the eyes of the betting public is illegal.

Globaltech has no right to use the PCSO logo as PNB is no longer authorized by the agency,” Balutan said adding that he will not allow the abuse and use the agency’s name in any form of illegal activities.

“What Globaltech is doing is a big insult to the agency’s name as PNB is operating illegally, competing unfairly with the only authorized and legal numbers game of PCSO, which is the Small Town Lottery [STL],” he added.

The PCSO has authorized 82 companies to operate STL in their localities and they have gone through great lengths to comply with PCSO requirements. But they are now suffering losses in revenue because of the continued operation of the PNB in different parts of the country.

Angara seeks fixed salaries for bgy. execs

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ILLEGAL FIRECRACKERS. Manila Police District Station 11 Commander Antonieto Eric Mendoza presents the illegal fireworks confiscated at Divisoria market in Manila. Norman Cruz

MWSS, NIA join hands for food, water security T

HE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and National Irrigation Administration have formed an alliance to share their resources in support of the government’s massive infrastructure program aimed at spurring economic development.

Administrators Reynaldo V. Velasco of MWSS and Ricardo R. Visaya of NIA have agreed to solve water and food security problems of their stakeholders by undertaking joint projects, including those aimed at flood mitigation to maintain ecological balance and preserve the environment.

Meeting with NIA officials, Velasco explained that while there is adequate water supply in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces covered by MWSS, additional water sources need to be developed to ensure water security. He revealed that of the water supplied to MWSS service areas, 96 percent comes from the Angat-Umiray Water system, three percent from Laguna Lake and one percent from ground water.

Except for the Angat-Umiray Water system, MWSS has not developed new water sources for the past few decades.

At present, MWSS is implementing several water infrastructure projects that

include the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project and other projects collectively called the Angat Water Security Projects.

Velasco noted that of MWSS’ 46 cubic meters per second (cms) of water rights, 15 cms is from the NIA’s 36 cms water rights, pursuant to Resolution No. 030188 of the National Water Resources Board, leaving NIA with 21 cms equivalent to 1,814 million liters per day. NIA’s Bustos Dam currently has 600 MLD water capacity, leaving 1,214 MLD that can be tapped for potable water supply.

MWSS recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with ITP-JV Co. for the conduct of a feasibility study on the possible utilization of the untapped water. ITP-JV Co. has submitted an unsolicited proposal to extract an average flow of 800 MLD, of which 400 MLD will augment the water supply of Bulacan, and 400 MLD will be used by MWSS. As proposed, the water extraction will

GIFTGIVING.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada eats with orphaned children of Association De Damas de Filipinas in Paco, Manila during a gift giving activity on Friday.

Norman Cruz

BI recaptures escaped Korean fugitive IMMIGRATION agents arrested a Korean fugitive who escaped from the agency’s custody nearly two months ago.

Choi Youngseop was rearrested outside the emergency room of the Manila Doctor’s Hospital in Ermita, Manila where he had gone for a medical checkup.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Choi will be deported immediately following his summary deportation issued by the BI board of commissioners for being an undesirable alien.

“This time we will make sure that he does not escape. He will be sent back to Korea so he can be held liable for crimes he committed in his home-

be done in two phases: Phase 1, which will extract 250 MLD, will be completed by 2020-2021 while Phase 2 which will extract 550 MLD will be completed by 2022-2024. This will be the first of the ABC Projects, and will form part of the Angat-Ipo-Norzagaray Water Optimization Plan.

Visaya lauded the plan saying it manifests both agencies’ support for the “Build.

Build, Build” Program of the Duterte Administration. He added that through efficient partnerships among government agencies, and between the public and private sectors, the water sources for present and future needs can be developed.

The other components of the ABC Projects are the Bayabas Dam Project and the Candaba MultiPurpose Impounding Dam. The Bayabas Dam Project is located in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan.

The completion of these projects will provide the desired water security level for Mega Manila at least over the next five to ten years. For NIA, it will also mean sufficient water supply for irrigation as it fulfills its objective of propelling agricultural productivity, economic growth, and food sufficiency.

land,” Morente said.

Choi has been on the BI’s wanted list since 2014 after the Interpol informed the bureau that he was charged with fraud before a Korean court for swindling his victims of more than half a million US dollars.

BI intelligence officer Edward Mabborang, who led the arresting team, said the Korean did not resist arrest when accosted by BI agents who apprehended him.

Mabborang said he coordinated the operation with the Ermita police station after informants tipped the BI that Choi was scheduled to undergo medical checkup at the said hospital.

Last Oct. 29, Choi escaped from

the custody of their jail guards who escorted them from their detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City to have a dental checkup. His companion, Korean Jeon Taeksang, 50, was intercepted and failed to escape.

They were eating at a restaurant when one of the guards used the restroom and the Koreans took advantage of the situation to attack the other guard and escape.

The guards were able to recapture Jeon but Choi managed to board a getaway vehicle that was waiting outside.

Both are currently detained at the Bicutan Detention Center pending the implementation of their deportation. Vito Barcelo

SENATOR Sonny Angara vowed to pursue legislation that would make barangay officials as regular state employees who are entitled to fixed salaries and benefits in recognition of their role as frontliners of government service.

He said it is time to recognize and to give importance to the services of barangay by giving them enough and appropriate salaries and not just honorarium.

Angara is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government and author of Senate Bill No. 2097, or the proposed Magna Carta for Barangays.

“If it is right for public servants to receive just compensation from the government, so are barangay officials,” Angara pointed out. “They are at the forefront of government service and they serve the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Under the Local Government Code, barangay officials should only receive honorariums, and not salaries. At present, a barangay chairman gets an honorarium of at least P1,000 per month while the councilors, treasurer and secretary each receive P600 monthly.

In the bill that he filed, Angara proposed that the Punong Barangay receive an amount equivalent to the salary of a Sangguniang Bayan member of his municipality.

He also wants each of the six barangay kagawad be given an amount equivalent to 80 percent of the Sangguniang Bayan member’s salary, while the kabataang barangay chairman and barangay secretary and treasurer, equivalent to 75 percent.

Aside from fixed salaries, Angara also wants barangay officials to get regular allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits and such other fringe benefits extended to permanent government workers.

Erap wants Manila to be drug-free

By Vito Barcelo MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday vowed to clear Manila of prohibited drugs next year, similar to President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign which the Manila chief executive blamed that illegal drugs as the root cause of rising criminality in Manila.

Estrada made the statement during the gift giving and distribution of “Noche Buena” pack to the orphans of Asosacion de Dama De Filipinas in Paco, Manila,as he called on residence of Manila to cooperate with law enforcement agencies on the fight against illegal drugs in the city.

“I was able to make Manila debt-free, now my next move is to make Manila a drug-free city,” Estrada said.

However, Estrada said the fight against illegal drugs would not be bloody like the President Duterte’s war on drugs, but restrained with the support of the community and barangay leaders in the city.

He said methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu remains the most abused drug by drug pushers and users, followed by marijuana and methylenedioxymethamphetamine or ecstasy.

Among the cities in Metro Manila, the City of Manila has the highest number of drug-related killings in the first year of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, according to the Philippine National Police.

During the event, Estrada said he wants to weed out illegal drugs in his level just like President Duterte’s aim for the whole country.

He said Manila cannot attain peace and order unless illegal drugs and other forms of criminality is stopped.

Estrada, who is running for his third and last term as Mayor of Manila, said he wants to leave a legacy to the young generation, not just to Manila residents, but to the entire country, that the capital city of the Philippines is drug-free and a safe and secure place to live in.

Sandigan clears Surigao del Norte mayor

By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan has cleared Surigao del Norte’s San Benito Mayor Rushford Dedumo of charges of graft in connection with the supposed irregular hiring of his sister as a consultant in 2010.

In an 11-page decision, the anti-graft court's Fourth Division said the Office of the Ombudsman's prosecution was not able to establish the guilt of Dedumo beyond reasonable doubt.

The justices also lifted the mayor’s hold departure order.

The mayor's sister, Flordeliza DedumoCoro, was also acquitted of the same charge.

The rap stemmed when hired Coro as a consultant despite a Supreme Court decision disqualifying her from holding or accepting any position in government.

Coro received a cash advance worth P22,760 for travel expenses even if she was not an employee.

The Sandiganbayan said the prosecution failed to present any evidence that he appointed Coro.

“None has been presented. Neither were copies of her service record, daily time record, or the municipality’s payroll showing that accused Coro was receiving compensation,” the decision read.

The cash advance was for the reimbursement of Coro and was received in good faith because she must travel to Manila to “advise” Dedumo on the municipal government's loan with the Philippine National Bank.

The trip was for an official purpose.

The Sandiganbayan gave weight to the testimony of Coro that she did not receive compensation but just helped his brother.

Sports A7

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Busy 2019 for Superliga A

NOTHER year of intense volleyball action gets underway as the Philippine Superliga formally rolls out its new season starting next month.

Based on its official calendar of events for 2019, the biggest and most prestigious club league in the country is set to start the year with a bang as it stages the traditional Fans’ Day and some out-of-town activities such as exhibition matches and volleyball clinics between Jan. 19 to 30.

Then, it’s going to be game time as the PSL opens the Grand Prix on Feb. 9 when two foreign players will fly in to power the eight competing teams in their quest for pride and glory.

The league will take a breather to give way for the country’s participation in the Asian Women’s Club Championship in China from Apr. 20 to 28 followed by the Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2019 from May 23 to 26 to wrap up the first half of the year.

“This calendar of events reflects our commitment of coming up with high-level women’s volleyball action,” said PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico, adding that the support of their broadcast partner, ESPN5, and the national federation, the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc., remains solid as ever.

The All-Filipino Conference, which was ruled by powerhouse

Petron recently, will run from June 15 to Aug. 24 followed by the 3rd Asian Women’s U23 Volleyball Championship in Vietnam from July 13 to 21.

Another international event, the 20th Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship, will take centerstage from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8 in South Korea before the league unveils the Invitational Conference from Oct. 5 to Nov. 16.

The Invitational Conference promises to be another slambang affair as it features not just the eight competing teams but also the regional, collegiate and other club teams in the country.

The league will take another break from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 as the national squad compete in the 30th Southeast Asian Games before staging another beach volleyball event in December to formally close out the season.

“I believe our 2019 season will be as action-packed and as intense as the previous years.

We’re looking forward to another successful season with the help of the players, clubs, sponsors, our broadcast partner, the national federation and, of course, the fans,” Juico said.

TechGlobal CEO Mike Frausing (Left), TechGlobal Operations team, and the Globe Governance Team with AJA Auditors.

TechGlobal Data Center launched to serve PH IT gaming enterprise GLOBE Telecom, through its information and communications technology arm Globe Business, and TechZone Philippines Inc. have launched TechGlobal Data Center, Inc. a joint venture aimed at catering to the changing needs and preferences of IT gaming enterprises.

TechGlobal provides a globally competitive, carrier-neutral facility to manage customers’ critical ICT requirements which calls for the highest level of availability, reliability, and security. TechGlobal forms part of Globe Telecom and TechZone’s strengthened approach in addressing the requirements of enterprises that need higher power output and extra layers of security.

“The reason we created TechGlobal is to ensure that, with the understanding and expertise of both TechZone and Globe, we can cater to the end-to-end needs of our online gaming clients.

As such, Globe provides the technical expertise to deliver the services coupled with the online gaming expertise coming from Techzone, creating a perfect marriage,” said TechGlobal Chief Executive Officer Mike Frausing.

To further enable Philippine enterprises, TechGlobal received an ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management System (QMS) from Anglo-Japanese American (AJA) Registrars Inc. This certification means that TechGlobal met the requirements in terms of availability and measurement of its Data Center Operations, Facilities Management, and Physical Security. In addition, since TechGlobal is located in TechZone, a PEZA-accredited building, current and incoming PEZA customers in the TechGlobal Data Center can enjoy the benefits of PEZA incentives.

“The certification supports Globe Business’ thrust to enable transformation and provide superior customer experience. It is an impetus to innovate and execute processes for the benefit of our enterprise customers and their clients as well. All in all, this recognition runs parallel with our goal to continuously strive for operational excellence, adherent to the vision, mission and values of Globe Telecom,” shared Globe Business Senior Vice President and TechGlobal Director Peter Maquera.

The TechGlobal Data Center is currently operated and maintained by Globe Telecom’s Data Center Operations and reflects the best practices and processes aligned with the rest of other Globe Data Centers.

To know more about TechGlobal Data Center, visit techglobalph.com or contact a TechGlobal representative at customer.center@techglobalph.com.

Sports

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

A8 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

LeBron taking time to heal groin injury LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Lakers had to get used to life without LeBron James as they faced the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

Lakers head coach Luke Walton said the decision on when James plays next will be made in conjunction with the superstar and the team’s medical staff.

“We are obviously not going to rush him back,” said Walton, speaking during the Lakers’ practice on Thursday morning.

James did not travel with the team to Sacramento for a 117-116 loss which halted his consecutive games streak at 156. Instead he returned to Los Angeles to rest.

“I will wait to hear back more from him and the doctors tomorrow,” Walton said. “One thing I learned from playing with some of the greats is you never count them out... I am not going to anticipate anything until I hear back from him and the doctors.”

James suffered a strained groin during the Lakers’ 127-101 blowout road win over the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. Team doctors officially diagnosed James with the injured groin after an MRI exam on Wednesday.

He was placed on the injured list and labeled day-to-day.

“I take a lot of pride in (staying healthy),” James said after the Warriors’ game. “It’s more than anything being available to my teammates, to my coaching staff—that is something I take more personal than anything.

“Hopefully it is not a long thing and I can get back on the floor as soon as possible.”

James has not been officially ruled out of Friday’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Kings visit Los Angeles for a rematch Sunday. AFP

ONE announces agreement with TV Tokyo TOKYO—The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™, announced an exclusive partnership in Japan with TV Tokyo, one of Japan’s largest national Free-To-Air television broadcasters.

The multi-year partnership will have TV Tokyo broadcast a full offering of ONE Championship content to its viewers weekly, including both live and non-live content.

“I am thrilled to announced that ONE Championship has entered into a partnership with TV Tokyo, one of the largest television broadcasters in the country. With Japan having a rich history of martial arts spanning many disciplines such as judo, karate, kendo, sumo, aikido, and more, ONE Championship is proud to be working with TV Tokyo to take martial arts to new heights. Together with TV Tokyo, ONE Championship will showcase the highest calibre of martial arts to Japanese audiences, exemplifying the bushido spirit by celebrating the values of honor, respect and humility,” said Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship.

TV Tokyo will serve as ONE Championship’s official broadcaster in Japan, and together with its group, will also promote ONE Championship content on their various digital platforms including BS TV Tokyoa nationwide broadcaster via satellite).

TV Tokyo began broadcasting in 1964 and is celebrating its 55th year anniversary in 2019. It is known primarily for airing Japan’s top animated programs, but has also shown support for global sports, with programs covering the Olympics, baseball, football, table tennis, golf, judo, and boxing, among others. TV Tokyo and its group are thrilled to be partnering with ONE Championship to grow and nurture the martial arts industry in Japan, while bringing ONE Championship’s unique brand of world class entertainment to Japanese fans.

James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

Harden makes case for MVP

L

OS ANGELES—James Harden delivered a message to his detractors on Thursday, finishing with 45 points as the Houston Rockets recorded their eighth win in nine games with a 127-113 victory over the Boston Celtics.

The reigning NBA MVP Harden played through the pain of a bruised calf and scored 17 of his points in the opening quarter. He shot 11 of 26 overall from the floor, including draining nine of 18 three pointers.

Harden, who has faced criticism for his play in playoff elimination games, had a message for those who say he is not deserving of the league MVP award.

“I receive a lot of hate but that won’t stop me from going out there and killing every single night, being the dog that I am,” Harden said.

“You can name a few other people that can be in that conversation, but realistically, it is coming back.”

Harden has scored at least 30 points

in eight straight games, the longest such streak since Russell Westbrook had eight straight 30-point games in November 2016.

And Harden has scored at least 35 points in six straight games, the longest streak since Carmelo Anthony had six straight in April 2013.

“You take those shots, you’re confident in those shots and those shots will go in,” Harden said. “Sometimes they might not go in, but mostly, they’ll go in. I just have to keep going, keep working.”

Clint Capela delivered 24 points and 18 rebounds and Eric Gordon scored 20 points for the Rockets, who improved to a season-high four games above .500.

Houston finished 18 of 45 from beyond the arc.

Kyrie Irving had 23 points and 11 assists, and Marcus Morris added 19 points before being ejected midway through the fourth quarter.

Jaylen Brown had 18 points off the bench for Boston, who were outrebounded 54-38.

Houston ended the third quarter on a 14-4 run. Gerald Green nailed consecutive three pointers to build a 103-90 lead three minutes into the fourth and the Rockets never looked back.

Elsewhere, Bogdan Bogdanovic made a three-pointer at the buzzer and the Sacramento Kings rallied from a 15 point deficit in the final quarter to stun Los Angeles 117-116 in the Lakers’ first game this season without LeBron James.

Four time MVP James missed the contest with a groin injury, ending his consecutive games played streak at 156.

Pagdanganan, Dy storm ahead with 140 ASIAN Games bronze medalist Bianca Pagdanganan put on a late charge to match par 68 while Jed Dy survived a wobbly finish with a 72 as the duo assembled a 140 in aggregate play to grab a one-stroke lead over Jet Hernandez and Josh Jorge in the second day of the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in QC yesterday.

Pagdanganan, member of the gold medal team in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta, recovered from a two-over 37 start with a closing 31 at the par 35-33 layout to cushion the impact of Dy’s wavering windup of 38 after a one-under card at the front in Group I play.

Counting their 63 in four-ball Thursday, Pagdanganan and Dy pooled a 203 total, one shot ahead of the erstwhile leaders, who turned in a 143 with Hernandez shooting a 70 and Jorge hobbling with a 73, for a 204 in the event also serving as part of the field’s buildup for the 2019 Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship slated Jan. 3-6 at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

Sean Ramos and Gabby Macalaguim blew an impressive frontside game with a shaky finish with the former settling for a 70 and the latter winding up with a 71. Ramos had a 33 while Macalaguim carded a 36 as they pressed their bid after nine holes, only to stumble with 37 and 35, respectively. But with their 141, they stayed in the title hunt at 206 in a tie with Ryan Monsalve, who also made a 70, and Lanz Uy, who shot a 72, for a 142.

With last year’s winner Don Petil and new partner JR Salahug, Paqo Barro and Jeff Jung, and Kristine Torralba and Santino Laurel falling seven shots off the pace with 210s, the chase for top honors in the season-ending tournament of the National Golf Association of the Philippines could be reduced to the four teams heading to the deciding two-ball foursomes or alternate shot format today.

Despite her strong finish, Pagdanganan rued her poor stint on the greens but credited Dy’s awesome putting touch.

Jed Dy watches his birdie putt roll in on No. 1 as Bianca Pagdanganan looks on.

“As a team we played really good but I’m a bit disappointed because I missed a lot of birdie chances. Good thing Jed was very steady with his putting,” said Pagdangangan, also a former Philippine Ladies Amateur Open champion.

Petil, meanwhile, carded a 70 while Salahug made a 71 for 141, Jung also came up with a up but Barro settled for a 72 for 142, while Torralba fired a 69 but Laurel limped with a 76 for 145.

Gymnast Yulo to join series of Olympic qualifying meets

By Peter Atencio AFTER a short holiday break in the Philippines, 18-year-old Carlos Yulo returns next month to Tokyo, Japan to train and join a series of Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya will be by his side again as Yulo seeks to nail needed points and medals in competitions that will be held in Australia, Azerbaijan and Qatar.

“For sure, he can go with very hard training. He has to continue. Kaya natin yan,” said Kugiyama, who returned to Manila with Yulo days after the youngster won two bronze medals in a local tournament in Japan.

The Philippine Sports Commission, through commissioner Celia Kiram, handed Yulo a check of P250,000 for snatching a bronze medal in the men’s

floor event of the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships recently at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar.

It was the first time that a gymnast from the Philippines and from the Southeast Asian region won a medal in the world championships.

Yulo is on his final two weeks in Manila and is getting ready to return to Japan on Jan. 5.

“Kahit mag-fifth lang po ako, ang importante makakuha na po ng points para mag-qualify,” said Yulo during a gathering yesterday at the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines training center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila.

Kugimiya, who has been handling Yulo for four years, is preparing the kid to see action in the first qualifier in Melbourne, Australia in February.

In March, Yulo will try his luck in Baku, Azerbaijan before he travels to Doha, Qatar in April.

More World Series meets are in store for Yulo, before World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany in October.

“He needs to get good grades, because this will add up to his qualification to the Olympics,” said GAP president Cynthia Carrion.

Yulo, who is supported by his dad Andrew and mom Angelica, comes from a family which enjoys doing gymnastic routines and hanging out at the RMSC gymnastics center.

His eldest sister, Juriel, is a coach, while his younger brother Eldrew is a three-time Palarong Pambansa champion at the elementary boys’ level. His younger sister Isa, 7, is beginning to learn how to do some tumbles.

Lakers lose without James James was injured during the Lakers’ 127-101 victory over two-time defending NBA champion Golden State on Christmas when he moved awkwardly while reaching for a loose ball.

Bogdanovic finished with 23 points and De’Aaron Fox added 15 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in the win.

Willie Cauley-Stein had 19 points and eight rebounds, while Iman Shumpert equalled a career high with a half dozen three pointers.

Kyle Kuzma had 34 points and Lonzo Ball added 20 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who struggled down the stretch and lost their fourth game in the last six.

In the late game, Damian Lillard nailed a go-ahead three-pointer with six seconds left in overtime and finished with 21 points as the Portland Trail Blazers squeaked past the Golden State Warriors 110-109. AFP

Federer, Serena back for another season PERTH—Tennis royalty Roger Federer and Serena Williams have been pounding balls across the net for more than 20 years and they are back for yet another season, starting in Perth at the mixed teams Hopman Cup from Saturday.

Both 37 years old and with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them, Federer is now a father and Williams a mother but tennis keeps calling, with neither showing any sign of quitting.

Flying Federer leads Switzerland in defence of the Hopman Cup title he won alongside Belinda Bencic earlier this year, with the pair teaming up once again.

Williams returns to the country for the first time since her famous Australian Open win in 2017, when eight-weeks pregnant with baby Alexis Olympia.

She partners rising American star Frances Tiafoe in her fifth visit to Western Australia.

In a mouthwatering prospect, Switzerland play the United States on January 1 with two of the greatest players ever facing each other in the mixed doubles.

Federer conceded it was a once-ina-lifetime match-up and one he was looking forward to.

“We’ll probably play it down a little bit and say it’s not that big of a deal for us, it’s just another tennis match, but it really isn’t because it’s probably going to happen once and never again,” he said on Thursday.

The Swiss great has spent the offseason training hard ahead of the defence of his Australian Open title and said he was happy with his fitness.

“The last three or four weeks have been very intense. I’m very excited and motivated for this next season.”

The last two seasons the Swiss legend started in Perth, he went on to win the opening Grand Slam of the year. AFP

IN BRIEF

Tan bats for clean, renewable energy

BUSINESSMAN Lucio Tan Jr. said the Lucio Tan Group will focus on developing clean and renewable energy projects in the future.

Tan, the son and namesake of tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan, encouraged his company executives in his customary year-end message to develop an ability to “go on offensive business mode” to adopt to a changing world advocating technologies that are environmentally-responsible and help ease the impacts of climate change.

“Our thrust is to participate and develop clean and renewable energy projects for our sustainability... reduce our carbon footprint to underscore our commitment to help mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Tan, president and chief executive officer of Tanduay Distillers Inc. The younger Tan announced plans to revive Asian Alcohol Corp., based in Bacolod next year, which was temporarily suspended eight years ago.

“Kapitan (Lucio Tan Sr.) made a strategic move to take one step backward in the hope of moving forward, a strategy that teaches us how to realize our future by our sacrifices of today. Next year, Asian Alcohol will begin its biofuel production.

Like Absolut Distillers, it will blaze new paths and return to its old glory,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Semirara chief exec Consunji passes away

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. president Victor Almeda Consunji has passed away, the company said in a disclosure on Friday.

Consunji died on Thursday at age 68, Semirara told the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The company did not provide details on the cause of death and details of the interment “Under Mr. Consunji’s leadership he was able to turn around the coal mining operations allowing the corporation to reach new heights paving the way for SMPC to become the only integrated power company in the country,” it said.

“The board of directors, management and employees of the DMCI group of companies deeply mourn his passing.”

At the time of his death, Consunji was also a director of DMCI Holdings, Inc, and president and cooperating officer of SEM-Calaca Power Corp. and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp.

Jenniffer B. Austria

BEAR MARKET. Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. ends the trading year with a special bell ringing ceremony attended by exchange officials and officers of stockbrokerage firms. The PSE Index fell 16.64 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,466.02 on the last trading day of 2018. The PSEi lost 12.8 percent this year. (Related story on B2.) Leading the ceremony are (from left) PSE general counsel Veronica del Rosario; PSE Market Operations Division head Rachelle Blanch; MDR Securities Inc. director Amalia Lourdes Manuel; Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines chief operating officer Renee Rubio; PSE director Alejandro Yu; PSE chairman Jose Pardo; Luys Securities Company Inc. vice president Aurora Shih; PSE Marketing Services Department head Jose Antonio Vilar; and Corporate Planning and Research head Mark Frederick Visda.

BSP: December inflation likely decelerated to 5.2%

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the inflation rate in December likely eased to as low as 5.2 percent from 6 percent in November, pulled down mainly by lower prices of rice and petroleum products.

The BSP’s Department of Economic Research said in a statement Friday it saw the December inflation settling within the 5.2-percent to 6-percent range.

“The sustained slowdown of inflation during the month is seen to be driven mainly by the continued decline in petroleum and rice prices, the rollback in minimum jeepney fare, and the slight appreciation of the peso,” it said.

However, these factors could be offset in part by higher electricity rates in the franchise areas of Manila Electric Co. “Moving forward, the BSP will continue to closely monitor evolving price

trends and domestic demand condition to help ensure that the inflation target is achieved,” it said.

Inflation in November eased to 6 percent from a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in October due to the decline in food and oil prices.

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

The interest rates on the overnight lending as well as deposit facilities were likewise kept unchanged.

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

The board said inflation expectations had steadied given the decline in international crude oil prices and the stabilization of the peso.

It said the risks to the inflation outlook had become more evenly balanced for 2019 and leaned toward the downside for 2020 amid a more uncertain global economic environment, which could further mitigate upward pressures

from commodity prices in the coming months.

Despite the latest move of keeping the benchmark interest rates, the board said the board remains vigilant against the latest developments and ready to take further action as appropriate to safeguard its price stability mandate.

The board has raised a total of 175 basis points in policy rate since May this year in a bid to rein in inflation.

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

Mapa said with the 2018 inflation also driven largely by supply side pressures, headline inflation could be expected to follow a sharp decline similar to that of 2008.

He said food supply bottlenecks were being addressed by the government and oil prices were declining.

“Should headline inflation continue to slide in coming months, growth slow to sub-6 percent levels in coming quarters and the Fed adopts a more dovish stance, then the likelihood that the BSP reverses its stance to easing by the second quarter of 2019 will have increased,” Mapa said.

Cusi orders oil firms to empty their tanks first

By Alena Mae S. Flores

AGRI FINANCING FORUM. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, along with Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., hold the Agriculture Value Chain Financing Forum on November 23, 2018 at the BSP Complex in Manila. Leading the forum are Monetary Board member Antonio Abacan Jr. (front row, second from left), MB Member Juan De Zuñiga Jr. (front row, third from left), Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier (front row, center left). With them are PCAFI officers and members headed by Danilo Fausto (front row, center right), and Ernesto Ordoñez of the Agri-Fisheries Alliance (back row, center left).

Kia revisits plan to establish car manufacturing operations again

By Othel V. Campos KIA Philippines plans to revisit a plan to set up manufacturing operations in the Philippines to provide competition to local vehicle producers Kia president Manny Aligada said manufacturing was part of the long term plan of the brand to expand its footprint in the Philippines.

“Manufacturing is an intention but we have not yet firmed up the plans for it,” he said.

He added the company would strengthen its partnership with brands and talk financial partners, “They must also get the same level of confidence with our brand,” Aligada said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

B1

Lower prices to boost PH consumption and economy

Japan is still the top ODA provider to PH

JAPAN remains the top provider of official development assistance to the Philippines as of end-September 2018, the National Economic and Development Authority said Friday.

Data showed Japan’s loans and grants to the Philippines stood at $5.98 billion, accounting for 41.20 percent of the country’s total active ODA portfolio.

It was followed by the World Bank with $3.13 billion (21.56 percent) and the Asian Development Bank with $2.24 billion (15.44 percent).

The United States was in fourth place with total active ODA amounting to $807 million (5.56 percent), followed by Korea with $660 million in loans and grants (4.55 percent).

Other ODA providers are Australia, United Nations System, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), France, EU, China, Germany, Opec Fund for International Development, Italy, Canada, Spain and New Zealand.

“They have been constantly beside us in our efforts to pursue much-needed reforms, and both social and physical infrastructures to reach our goals,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

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

The car company is preparing a grand relaunch of the brand on January 30, 2019, after AC Automotive Inc. of conglomerate Ayala Corp. took over the distributorship.

The Kia management will keep introducing the brand to a business partnership through dealer networks.

“Expand dealer network in relevant areas nationwide. Improve facilities aligned with global brand standards.

We will also work to apply new concepts, incorporate digital capacity as well as introduce next generation platforms,” Aligada said.

Kia currently has a stable dealership network of 37 networks, including 10 in Metro Manila.

To further build representations with fleet accounts, the brand will bring in the appropriate vehicles. Kia has a nine model line-up, which is present in significant segments of the sector. It plans to introduce three more models in 2019.

The company plans to sell as much as 10,000 units of Kia sedan and SUVs in 2019.

The company will bring in pick-up models, vans, trucks and buses to fill up the commercial segment.

Aligada said Kia sales and market had eroded in the last four years, although sales peaked to 10,000 units in 2015 while market share rose to 4 percent.

The market shared dipped to 0.6 percent in 2007 with sales of 2,400 units.

ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi directed oil industry players to empty first their 2018 oil inventories before applying the second round of the excise tax on petroleum products for 2019.

The Department of Energy, the Department of Finance, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue devised a mechanism to closely monitor oil inventories following the implementation of the second tranche of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law on 1 January 2019.

“We are ready to implement the second tranche of TRAIN, which imposes additional excise taxes to various commodities like petroleum products by New Year,” Cusi said in a statement.

“We have to ensure the proper implementation of the second tranche of TRAIN, because the new collection will be used to support our ‘Build Build Build’ programs, free tuition and medical assistance for our kababayans,” he said.

The DoE, along with its partners and stakeholders, provided mitigating measures to help consumers cope with the effects of the TRAIN Law during its first implementation, such as fuel discounts through the corporate social responsibility and promotional programs, “pantawid pasada,” energy efficiency tips, rigorous monitoring of gas stations to ensure good quality and right quantity of petroleum products, among other measures.

THE easing of inflation rate will augur well for the economy next year, economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said in a joint report Friday.

The economists’ Market Call report for the month of December said the downtrend in inflation which is expected to decelerate further to below 4 percent by the second half of 2019 was likely to boost consumer demand.

“Along with robust spending on infrastructure and capital outlays, election-related spending and job generation, we think that PH economic growth is poised for a faster expansion in 2019,” they said.

After peaking to 6.7 percent in October, inflation fell to 6 percent in November, supported by a combination of policy rate increases, easing of supply-side constraints on rice availability and some moderation in commodity prices.

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

The interest rates on the overnight lending as well as deposit facilities were likewise held steady.

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

The economy grew 6.1 percent in the third quarter, slower than 7.2 percent a year ago and 6.2 percent a quarter ago which was partly blamed to higher inflation that caused the slowdown in household spending.

Earlier, global debt watcher Fitch Ratings affirmed the investment grade or “BBB” rating of the Philippines with a stable outlook, citing the country’s favorable growth prospects supported by strong domestic demand and increasing infrastructure investment.

Fitch said in a statement the economy was likely to grow around 6.6 percent in the next two years. Julito G. Rada

MPIC borrows P19b to finance Cordova bridge

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Cordova Link Expressway Corp., an indirect subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has borrowed P19 billion from several banks to finance the construction of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Project.

MPIC told the stock exchange that CCLEC signed a loan agreement covering a P19-billion, 15-year term loan facility provided by a number of banks.

“The loan is secured by a pledge over CCLEC shares and a security interest over certain assets of CCLEC,” MPIC said.

“Proceeds of the loan will be used

by CCLEC to fund the construction costs and other project costs of its toll road facility linking Cebu and Cordova with a cable-stayed bridge as part of the facility,” it added.

MPIC said the toll road facility would use an open system once it starts commercial operations sometime in 2021.

CCLEC earlier awarded the P22.6billion design-and-build contract to Cebu Link Joint Venture, which is composed of Spain-based Acciona Construccion SA, First Balfour Inc. of the Lopez group and D.M. Consunji Inc. for the CCLEX project.

CCLEX is an 8.5-kilometer toll road that will connect mainland Cebu from the Cebu South Coastal Road to Mactan Circumferential Road in Barangay Pilipog, Cordova.

The project will have two lanes in each direction and will feature the main navigation span bridge, along with viaduct approach bridges, a causeway, roadway and toll facilities.

The span of the bridge allows for shipping traffic and the link is expected to serve at least 40,000 vehicles daily. It will give Cordova direct access to Cebu City and is envisioned to decongest the traffic in the two existing bridges between Mactan and Cebu.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market ends year lower

T

HE stock market slipped Monday in mixed trading at the close of year’s trading, after profit taking on select issues capped early gains in the session.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 16.64 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,466.02 on a value turnover of P5.7 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 118 to 81, with 48 issues unchanged. The index is down 12.8 percent since the start of 2018.

Manila Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, declined 3.8 percent to P380, while PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, dropped 2.2 percent to P1,125.

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. of the Villar Group rose 2.1 percent to P5.41,

while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, gained 2 percent to P100.

The rest of Asian investors moved with caution in Friday trade after days of volatility on global financial markets failed to boost confidence.

Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei index ended the year with its first annual loss since 2011, trading in negative territory through Friday despite a late rally in New York.

“It’s inevitable that selling emerges after sharp rises like yesterday’s,” said Makoto Sengoku, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Centre.

Over the year, Tokyo’s bellwether index has lost more than 10 percent.

“The Nikkei scored annual gains for the past six years under Abenomics but it’s not the case any more,” Sengoku said, referring to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pro-spending policies.

“This is because of large swings

caused by the Trump administration rather than domestic problems,” he told AFP, noting President Donald Trump’s trade spat with China weighed particularly on the market.

Investors moved cautiously across other Asian markets Friday, with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong largely flat throughout the day.

In Sydney shares were up one percent, Bangkok gained 0.3 percent, and Seoul’s Kospi shares index gained 0.6 percent.

Volatility reigned supreme across global markets this week, as investors wrestled with worries about slowing growth, trade wars, the Brexit process and a US government shutdown.

A choppy day’s trading on Wall Street finished solidly higher Thursday following a late session surge, but European markets suffered deep declines that dented investor hopes of finishing 2018 with gains.

Frankfurt is now nearly 20 percent

down from the start of the year, London has declined more than 14 percent and Paris more than 13 percent.

And while Wall Street staged its best rally in nine years the day after Christmas, US markets opened meekly on Thursday and confidence was hit by disappointing consumer confidence data.

Where stocks head from here is “anyone’s guess” as uncertainty looks set to continue into the first quarter of 2019, Ben Emons, managing director at Medley Global Advisors, told Bloomberg.

Stephen Innes, head of APAC trading at OANDA, warned: “This roller coaster ride is unlikely to stop anytime soon as investors continue to wear emotions on their sleeve.”

In the commodity markets, oil rebounded by as much as 3 percent in Asian trade Friday after rising US crude inventories pushed prices lower in the previous session―underscoring concerns that a supply glut will continue to weigh down on the market. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.3 26,040 94 1,526,340 2.19 15,000 130.8 4,058,540 1.5 134,000 27.1 83,500 16.24 271,100 11.9 1,471,300 4.47 592,000 0.72 740,000 1.53 1,000 750 100 0.465 340,000 80.95 3,407,500 0.91 218,000 11.98 4,500 42.75 92,600 180 970 145.2 9,370 62.3 12,900 28.5 205,500 155 250,060 1,800 170 63.95 12,770

1,537,765 143,418,893 32,880 528,483,356 193,340 2,259,145 4,346,770 17,398,834 2,691,480 508,390 1,530 75,400 159,450 274,629,150 198,260 53,648 3,963,490 173,935 1,348,671 803,558.50 5,773,585 39,033,383 306,000 817,805

644,340 6,175,578.50 89,670,283 -316,085 -1,351,802 14,100 -259,440.00 9,600 101,795,946.50 562,825 41,245 -302,735 -8,730,664 -547,137

34.75 16.62 1.02 1.24 0.238 1.8 14.82 30.95 37 1.73 6.5 6.2 10.74 15.16 7.95 7.08 1.7 19.8 64.25 25 1.97 5.76 10.56 1.8 291.8 4.3 3.18 8.5 27.15 10.22 17.9 380 0.172 5.71 1.31 3.5 7.69 5.2 8.8 1.11 10.58 46.95 5.79 4.6 1.95 2.67 1.35 11.68 80 5.44 0.125 0.85 126.3 2.33 1.9 1.58

INDUSTRIAL 35.1 2,202,200 17 846,900 1.06 11,139,000 1.28 97,000 0.24 370,000 1.9 17,915,000 15.2 293,800 30.95 402,100 37 71,100 1.8 129,000 6.5 376,000 6.38 103,600 10.98 7,051,400 15.46 530,200 7.95 331,800 7.11 3,081,700 1.7 2,000 19.98 2,055,300 64.75 194,240 26.75 31,100 1.99 5,972,000 5.8 81,700 10.6 1,822,600 1.81 298,000 291.8 425,440 4.3 46,000 3.3 7,000 9.68 21,100 28.25 1,161,000 10.26 168,400 18.5 7,271,200 380 280,020 0.176 870,000 5.85 3,900 1.34 1,052,000 3.5 2,965,000 7.71 3,644,700 5.45 87,600 9.09 95,100 1.15 7,981,000 10.74 116,700 47.75 409,200 5.8 143,000 4.89 309,000 1.98 542,000 2.67 12,000 1.41 141,000 11.9 668,800 82 395,550 5.44 79,600 0.125 110,000 0.85 2,000 127 386,430 2.33 41,000 1.99 24,950,000 1.6 7,775,000

77,370,160 14,357,232 11,771,890 124,540 88,940 33,864,740 4,435,368 12,456,275 2,632,480 231,260 2,483,263 643,037 76,680,108 8,187,476 2,651,000 21,909,994 3,400 41,052,307 12,576,612.50 781,555 11,956,100 477,208 19,558,098 540,820 125,709,488 197,800 22,380 180,828 32,534,055 1,730,446 133,421,060 108,307,986 154,170 22,648 1,394,650 10,679,110 28,137,263 465,595 862,047 9,067,920 1,250,892 19,453,730 829,399 1,448,350 1,092,010 32,040 195,410 7,950,946 32,293,322 433,587 13,750 1,700 49,144,674 95,530 49,009,530 12,553,850

-52,498,275 38,502 15,360 -1,990,610 -68,170 -382,270.00 204,780 -2,063 -581,037 -14,750,942 7,145,094 -585,358 -1,784,778 1,033,198 4,039,183.50 122,500 1,861,610.00 -426,400 5,910,662 -32,760 54,016,912 2,762,325 -37,980 -43,162,126 13,269,212 -182,860 43,220 -18,308,626 166,000 -1,794,000.00 739,555 -14,100 -4,640,540 -14,502,472.00 -2,740 -18,699,104 3,251,650 101,510

0.6 54.65 11.74 6.5 25.4 1.39 1.4 900 6.7 12.5 11.8 5.1 5.1 0.202 955 5.83 54.75 5.55 4.91 0.54 4 16.58 0.58 4.64 2.56 0.036 1.17 2.37 2.5 147 2.57 915 0.74 1.3 247 0.242

HOLDING FIRMS 0.61 14,885,000 55 663,970 11.9 3,413,200 6.5 11,000 26 60,200 1.42 26,463,000 1.42 5,764,000 900 382,040 6.71 582,600 12.78 1,706,300 11.8 257,100 5.3 35,000 5.19 12,000 0.219 120,000 975 67,230 5.83 25,600 55.7 2,679,310 6.78 102,600 4.91 11,000 0.56 54,000 4 1,917,000 16.6 896,500 0.59 352,000 4.64 13,847,000 2.56 10,000 0.037 3,200,000 1.23 350,000 2.37 498,000 2.62 12,000 147 843,500 2.6 32,000 917.5 316,700 0.74 40,000 1.32 52,000 249.8 1,580 0.247 4,270,000

9,063,810 36,572,110.50 40,571,036 71,500 1,550,840 37,856,990 8,252,090 345,382,560 3,915,504 21,705,184 3,105,382 181,500 61,380 25,940 65,147,955 149,418 149,247,279.50 683,250 54,010 29,200 7,740,820 14,954,910 206,860 65,055,420 25,600 119,600 413,900 1,187,950 30,710 124,369,215 83,000 290,906,070 29,600 67,690 394,674 1,039,480

-660 4,129,994.50 -22,495,400 71,500 -62,400 -238,200 -86,407,605 -1,578,172 2,155,260 210,460 29,054,405 20,688,548 -4,572,990 1,771,908 61,660 -3,000,000 -25,600 -23,700 -7,243,424.00 -44,574,890 -117,320 -

16,606,955 747,370 5,732 76,120 17,948,410 479,096,625 11,540,860 6,083,700 3,822 2,807,150 31,320 295,580 68,700 7,484,832 7,512,128 259,950 7,512,520 5,592,210 47,430,280 17,762,050 65,300

805,836.00 -22,490 -40,699,955 -4,767,850.00 -789,890 -24,000 -19,000 -3,379,395 -1,942,574 132,300 -4,091,280 74,020 10,431,420 325,150 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.1 93.55 2.2 129.7 1.5 27.25 15.6 11.5 4.65 0.67 1.53 760 0.46 80 0.91 11.92 42.5 178.6 130 62.2 28.2 156.7 1,800 65.35

59.3 94.5 2.2 132.4 1.5 27.25 16.24 11.9 4.78 0.72 1.53 760 0.48 80.95 0.91 11.98 43 180 145.2 62.8 28.5 158 1,800 65.4

58.1 92.95 2.19 129.5 1.42 26.95 15.6 11.5 4.47 0.67 1.53 750 0.46 79.5 0.89 11.9 42.5 178.5 128 61.8 28 154.1 1,800 63.95

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

35.45 16.74 1.02 1.28 0.25 1.8 14.82 31.05 37 1.77 6.92 6.2 10.78 15.5 8 7.1 1.7 19.8 64.8 25.05 2.02 5.8 10.72 1.86 295 4.3 3.18 8.53 27.7 10.26 18.28 394.4 0.172 5.88 1.35 3.9 7.78 5.21 8.8 1.15 10.8 47 5.8 4.8 1.96 2.67 1.38 11.78 81.1 5.5 0.125 0.85 128.5 2.33 1.91 1.66

35.55 17.08 1.08 1.29 0.25 1.95 15.2 31.6 37.9 1.8 6.93 6.38 11 15.5 8.1 7.2 1.7 20.2 64.85 26.75 2.02 5.9 10.96 1.86 299.8 4.3 3.3 9.7 28.25 10.34 18.6 394.4 0.18 5.88 1.35 3.9 7.78 5.45 9.2 1.16 10.8 48 5.8 4.89 2.02 2.67 1.41 11.98 82 5.5 0.125 0.85 128.5 2.33 1.99 1.66

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

0.61 55.8 11.98 6.5 26 1.39 1.4 910 6.83 12.56 12.4 5.1 5.1 0.202 955 5.84 55.9 5.57 4.91 0.54 4.1 16.74 0.62 4.7 2.56 0.038 1.17 2.42 2.5 148.2 2.57 925 0.74 1.33 250 0.243

0.62 55.8 12 6.5 26.3 1.45 1.46 914 6.83 12.78 12.88 5.3 5.19 0.219 975 5.84 55.9 6.78 4.91 0.56 4.1 16.88 0.62 4.76 2.56 0.038 1.23 2.42 2.62 149 2.6 926 0.74 1.34 250 0.247

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

8.02 0.8 11.46 1.73 0.89 41.1 2.3 4.08 6.37 0.415 0.87 0.239 0.39 7.75 17.8 0.49 1.43 1.07 4.7 0.46 0.46

8.17 0.8 11.48 1.73 0.98 42 2.35 4.14 6.37 0.43 0.87 0.243 0.39 7.85 17.96 0.495 1.44 1.13 4.78 0.465 0.47

8.02 0.78 11.46 1.73 0.84 40.6 2.28 4.04 6.37 0.415 0.87 0.233 0.38 7.75 17.8 0.485 1.41 1.05 4.69 0.435 0.455

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.26 0.42 3.59 39.95 20.4 2 3.06 35.9 1.24 5.65 0.7 5.31

2.27 0.43 3.6 40 21.1 2.01 3.12 36.05 1.25 5.7 0.74 5.46

2.19 0.42 3.54 39.95 20.15 1.99 3.06 35.5 1.23 5.4 0.7 5.31

2.25 0.425 3.54 40 20.15 2.01 3.12 35.8 1.25 5.4 0.74 5.41

7,044,000 800,000 203,000 1,600 1,661,000 106,000 109,000 9,044,100 1,556,000 338,100 66,000 13,893,300

15,649,870 338,400 720,830 63,975 33,921,640 211,590 336,930 323,672,280 1,920,020 1,879,308 48,280 75,004,659

494,310 71,100 -12,951,505 -19,900 -37,200 48,300,340 -22,320 -46,075 -740 -45,980,832

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

13.4 20.05 1.32 0.415 0.04 13.88 4.4 9.41 73.55 6.54 7.5 15.5 1,900 5.49 315.4 2.95 1.87 98.25 11.2 7.8 0.134 6.15 3.12 14.02 3.38 0.8 17 0.315 2.55 1.96 16.26 3.39 9.82 8.33 3.5 7.5 114 3.17 1,150 0.8 0.32 43.45 78.5 7.5 2.4 0.8 0.46 5.28 0.7 12.6

14.08 20.05 1.4 0.42 0.04 13.88 4.55 9.64 74.1 6.64 7.69 15.5 1,919 5.49 325 3 1.87 100.1 11.2 8.2 0.135 6.15 3.39 14.1 3.45 0.82 17.08 0.405 2.55 2.09 16.26 3.59 9.99 8.33 3.5 9.49 124 3.34 1,150 0.83 0.33 43.45 80.9 7.55 2.4 0.81 0.46 5.32 0.71 12.6

13 19.9 1.32 0.405 0.039 13.5 4.35 9.4 72.85 6.46 7.1 14.2 1,896 5.41 315.4 2.94 1.87 98 11.2 7.5 0.125 6.01 3.12 14.02 3.26 0.8 16.7 0.315 2.45 1.9 16.26 3.38 9.82 8.33 3.25 7.5 113 3.15 1,125 0.79 0.32 42.85 78.35 7.5 2.35 0.77 0.43 5.28 0.69 12.5

SERVICES 13.78 20 1.4 0.405 0.039 13.88 4.5 9.41 73.2 6.46 7.69 14.92 1,900 5.44 325 2.95 1.87 100 11.2 8.2 0.129 6.03 3.39 14.1 3.26 0.8 17 0.37 2.49 2.09 16.26 3.44 9.99 8.33 3.25 9.48 124 3.22 1,125 0.8 0.325 43 80 7.5 2.38 0.79 0.44 5.31 0.7 12.6

352,900 65,100 174,000 840,000 10,100,000 214,100 4,890,000 5,235,800 114,330 1,684,700 75,600 111,700 26,285 115,000 3,090 1,104,000 11,000 734,990 200 269,200 11,920,000 6,120,000 59,000 300 1,494,000 169,000 2,017,900 1,400,000 1,121,000 390,000 1,000 2,876,000 6,300 1,000 3,000 15,700 92,120 2,828,000 110,775 5,067,000 550,000 6,067,300 1,093,370 216,300 2,509,000 12,127,000 40,970,000 271,300 726,000 7,374,000

4,794,812 1,301,276 236,310 347,250 395,300 2,937,236 21,863,860 49,598,523 8,410,377.50 10,962,973 550,220 1,656,164 49,973,060 624,682 1,003,764 3,273,420 20,570 72,942,014 2,240 2,175,440 1,550,320 37,070,621 184,960 4,214 4,980,040 135,760 34,224,170 521,800 2,816,680 769,010 16,260 10,061,040 62,053 8,330 10,050 121,918 10,884,925 9,194,410 125,333,535 4,094,500 176,300 260,906,935 87,015,393 1,624,080 5,974,950 9,487,290 18,168,100 1,438,561 506,650 92,757,118

24,840 41,500 2,794,950 22,190 -1,398,632 -2,952,957 17,820 -14,149,335 -74,250 22,001,600 1,120 12,700 -2,867,708 -44,830 -5,975,376 -49,800 495,340 8,330 5,506,460 351,520 -20,595,870 -139,899,905 -32,214,923.50 142,570 -598,220 328,300 53,100,890

1,252,200 2,383,590 442,760 47,852 1,039,800 382,800 5,801,640 246,200 18,160 67,923,990 88,570 911,560 189,570 70,000 611,800 6,162,670 102,080 96,620 198,910 106,300 543,900 16,060 20,206,000 10,550,664 31,778,585 16,500

62,000 1,670 -63,610.00 5,800 138,610 1,314,170 109,990 -837,840 -4,724,805 -

MS

PROPERTY 8.1 0.78 11.46 1.73 0.96 40.6 2.31 4.14 6.37 0.43 0.87 0.235 0.38 7.8 17.84 0.485 1.41 1.13 4.75 0.45 0.47

2,045,700 949,000 500 44,000 19,492,000 11,717,100 4,972,000 1,474,000 600 6,650,000 36,000 1,250,000 180,000 958,100 419,900 530,000 5,302,000 5,072,000 10,000,000 39,880,000 140,000

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

0.002 1.68 2.53 15.5 1.48 1.35 2.07 0.295 7.32 1.66 0.205 0.109 0.114 0.007 1.23 2.25 1.01 0.6 0.95 0.012 0.013 3.17 2.97 15.2 23.6 0.0055

0.0021 1.68 2.65 15.5 1.5 1.5 2.08 0.3 7.33 1.68 0.206 0.112 0.115 0.007 1.24 2.25 1.08 0.61 0.99 0.013 0.013 3.37 3.22 15.3 23.6 0.0055

0.0019 1.64 2.53 14.54 1.48 1.35 2.04 0.29 7.21 1.66 0.201 0.104 0.113 0.007 1.18 2.19 1.01 0.6 0.94 0.012 0.012 3.17 2.96 15.14 23 0.0055

MINING & OIL 0.002 634,000,000 1.67 1,431,000 2.56 173,000 15.48 3,200 1.5 694,000 1.5 258,000 2.08 2,807,000 0.3 830,000 7.27 2,500 1.66 40,857,000 0.206 440,000 0.112 8,570,000 0.115 1,660,000 0.007 10,000,000 1.18 509,000 2.2 2,794,000 1.08 101,000 0.6 161,000 0.94 208,000 0.013 8,500,000 0.013 45,300,000 3.37 5,000 3.09 6,463,000 15.2 693,800 23.05 1,366,100 0.0055 3,000,000

LR PREF SFI PREF GMA HLDG PDR SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2I SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2C HOUSE PREF A DD PREF PNX PREF 3A FGEN PREF G AC PREF B1 GLO PREF P SMC FB PREF 2 PCOR PREF 2B

1.02 2.15 5.27 73 73.5 73.7 74 74.5 74.5 76.2 96 98.8 100 101.2 450 480 980 1,490

1.02 2.15 5.36 73 73.5 74.9 74.5 74.95 75 76.2 96 98.8 100 101.2 450 480 997 1,490

1.02 2.15 5.25 73 73.2 73.7 73.7 74.5 74.5 76 96 98.8 100 101.2 445 480 980 1,490

PREFERRED 1.02 5,000 2.15 1,000 5.36 50,100 73 500 73.5 517,930 74.9 14,100 74.5 4,470 74.95 15,100 75 516,310 76 16,240 96 200 98.8 10 100 500 101.2 310 445 10,000 480 520 997 1,000 1,490 5

5,100 2,150 263,502 36,500 38,067,555 1,055,970 332,807 1,131,700 38,473,232.50 1,234,808.50 19,200 988 50,000 31,372 4,465,830 249,600 991,900 7,450

-1,064,245 -

LR WARRANT

1.97

1.99

1.95

WARRANTS 1.95 274,000

535,750

-

12,343,180 50,248,260

-28,770 1,783,950

354,193

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.65 1.68

5.04 1.82

4.65 1.68

FIRST METRO ETF

111.5

112

111.5

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,480,089

INDUSTRIAL

117,576,777

HOLDING FIRMS

85,089,913

PROPERTY

146,022,240

SERVICES

135,121,884

MINING & OIL

770,843,681

GRAND TOTAL

1,299,187,106

4.85 1.72

SME

2,531,000 28,513,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 111.5 3,170

VALUE 1,779.85 (up) 12.33 1,028,236,164.065 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,951.36 (down) 76.77 986,651,164.49 HOLDING FIRMS 7,341.81 (down) 26.53 1,358,837,562.26 PROPERTY 3,627.98 (up) 0.50 1,442.71 (up) 7.25 1,082,828,960.625 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,200.50 (down) 34.04 994,383,737.095 PSEI 7,466.02 (down) 16.64 151,213,878.139 All Shares Index 4,517.85 (up) 3.72 5,665,117,365.19 Gainers: 118; Losers: 81; Unchanged: 48; Total: 247

Phoenix successfully registers P7b worth of CPs

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines raised P7 billion through the listing of commercial paper on Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Thursday.

“We are very pleased with the results of the offer. We received bids of over P9 billion for the initial series, which goes to show how strong investor confidence is in the Phoenix Petroleum and its future growth prospects,” PNB Capital president and chief executive officer Gerry Valenciano said.

PNB Capital acted as the sole issue manager for the commercial paper program and lead underwriter and sole book runner of the initial series.

Phoenix said the sale served as the maiden series of the company’s P10-billion commercial paper program, which would be issued and reissued over a threeyear period. It is a milestone in the debt securities market, being the first program of its kind to be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The initial offer of commercial paper is composed of two sub-series amounting to P3.5 billion each. Series A-1 has a fixed discount rate of 7.0937 percent and a tenor of 180 days, while Series A-2 has a fixed discount rate of 7.4717 percent and a tenor of 360 days.

Phoenix Petroleum initially filed a registration statement for the commercial paper program and the initial series with the SEC on October 17, 2018.

The SEC issued the permit to sell on December 18, 2018, allowing Phoenix Petroleum to issue and reissue P10 billion worth of commercial paper over a three-year period pursuant.

“Phoenix Petroleum has long recognized the role of the financial markets as a vital and dynamic source of funding for our initiatives. This is why, today, we mark another milestone with the biggest issuance of commercial paper at P10 billion,” Phoenix Petroleum chief finance officer Ma. Concepcion de Clasro said.

Phoenix Petroleum said it would be able to reissue commercial paper without having to file for a new permit to sell provided the total amount of commercial paper outstanding at any time did not exceed the amount of the program, “As the need arises, Phoenix Petroleum has the flexibility to tap the capital market for its working capital requirements. The entire process has been streamlined since the registration statement and permit to sell issued by the SEC are valid for three years,” Valenciano said.

PNOC unit installs 1-MW solar rooftop system on PICC PNOC Renewables Corp., a unit of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co., recently installed the one-megawatt solar rooftop project of the Philippine International Convention Center.

PNOC RC said in a statement it installed the solar rooftop on the reception and plenary hall (600 kilowatts), secretariat hall (210 kilowatts) and delegation hall 240 kilowatts).

The project completion and inauguration are one of the highlights of PNOC RC’s energy efficiency program for government agencies, and their most significant accomplishment in terms of scale.

“This is our most significant accomplishment for 2018, and our biggest solar rooftop installation to date. It has a capacity to generate more than one megawatt of clean solar energy, which will be consumed by PICC’s worldclass facilities for their daily operations.

This will very much reduce your electricity costs and carbon footprint for more than 20 years, the solar PV system’s expected lifespan,” PNOC RC president John Arenas said.

It is the largest rooftop solar PV system that PNOC RC has installed as of date, showcasing it on the world-class facility for global conventions and exhibits of the PICC. The installations will be operated and maintained by PNOC RC within the agreed cooperation period.

The solar PV system will provide PICC with clean solar energy and displace around 1,200,000 kWh annually of electricity from the grid.

Apart from the electricity savings, the project will offset more than 1,000 metric tons of carbon emissions from fossil fuel energy sources.

Alena Mae S. Flores

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

B3

World

Standard

TODAY

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Australia swelters in record heat

SAHARA FESTIVAL. A camel is led past the setting sun during the Sahara Festival on December 22, 2018, in Douz, Tunisia. The Sahara Festival, in its 51st year, brings together nomadic peoples of this Sahara region and celebrates their culture in a four day event showcasing music, racing and performances. AFP

Wild animals find home in private shelter in Russian city RAPPOLOVO, Russia―A lion that escaped from an airport, a crocodile found at a rubbish dump and an elk attacked by stray dogs—all these animals have found refuge in an unusual private shelter in Russia.

Dozens of bears have also passed through the Veles center, just outside Saint Petersburg, since it was opened in 2009 by businessman Alexander Fyodorov, who says he spent more than $1 million on the project.

“Our aim is to treat wild animals and get them back on their legs again in order to release them if that’s possible,” he said of the center in Rappolovo, 20 kilometers out of Russia’s second city.

“Some of the animals were found after accidents, others were abandoned.

Sometimes their stories are like the plot of a film,” said Fyodorov.

One particularly dramatic story is that of a lioness called Elza, who escaped in Saint Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport in December last year.

“Elza was sent from Grozny [the capital of Chechnya] by a Chechen businessman to his friend in Saint Petersburg as a New Year’s gift,” Fyodorov said.

“But the sleeping pills given to the lioness before the trip stopped acting too early. In the airport, the lion broke her cage open and made a run for it.”

The lion was soon captured and later taken to her new owner, but he quickly realized that “it was impossible for him to keep a lion” and brought her to the shelter.

At the time, keeping wild animals at home was not illegal, but a law was recently enacted that bans the practice from next year.

Less is known about the background of the crocodile named Gena who was found at a rubbish dump north of the city.

Keeping exotic wild animals as pets has long been fashionable among certain rich or novelty-seeking Russians but often ends unhappily with animals mistreated or escaping.

Other animals come to the shelter after incidents in the wild.

Two years ago, while still a foal, an elk called Alyuminka was badly hurt by stray dogs attacking her. Elks are still common in European Russia, living in forests. She now paces the enclosure in Rappolovo.

“Those animals that could not survive in the wild stay here,” said Alexander Teplyakov, a 45-year-old volunteer at the center.

Four staff and around 10 volunteers work in Rappolovo, where the animals are kept in huge cages or enclosures around a large stone building housing a medical facility.

Despite Russia’s huge size, human activity is increasingly encroaching on the animals’ natural habitat and making it harder for them to survive in the wild. AFP

Saudi reshuffle ordered after Khashoggi fallout R IYADH―Saudi Arabia’s King Salman ordered a sweeping government reshuffle Thursday, replacing key security and political figures including the foreign minister, as the kingdom grapples with the international fallout over critic Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.

The surprise shake-up saw the appointment of new ministers of the powerful National Guard, information and education, as well as the head of a new space agency, but the energy and finance ministries were unaffected despite an economic downturn.

The revamp left untouched the authority of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler facing intense international scrutiny over the October 2 murder of journalist Khashoggi, which tipped the kingdom into one of its worst crises.

Ibrahim al-Assaf, a former finance minister who was detained last year in an anti-corruption sweep, will replace

Adel al-Jubeir as foreign minister, a royal decree said.

Jubeir, who sought to defend the tainted government internationally after Khashoggi’s murder, was effectively demoted to minister of state for foreign affairs, the decree added without explaining the change.

In other significant appointments, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar was named chief of the powerful National Guard, and Musaed al-Aiban, a Harvard graduate, was appointed the new national security adviser.

The reshuffle would help the crown prince further “consolidate power” as many of those promoted were his “key allies”, tweeted Ali Shihabi, head of the pro-Saudi think tank The Arabia Foundation.

In other changes, Turki al-Shabanah, an executive at broadcaster Rotana, was appointed as the new information minister, replacing Awwad al-Awwad -- who was named as an advisor to the royal court.

Turki al-Sheikh, a close aide to the crown prince, was removed as the head of the kingdom’s sports commission and appointed entertainment authority chief, while Ahmed al-Khatib was named tourism authority chief.

The king also ordered the creation of a national space agency to be led by one of his other sons, Prince Sultan bin

Salman, a former astronaut.

The energy, economy and finance ministries were left untouched even as the petro-state faces a sharp fall in crude prices that has generated renewed uncertainty over Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 reform program for a post-oil era.

But the appointment as foreign minister of Assaf, who holds a seat on the boards of state oil giant Aramco and the vast Public Investment Fund, indicates an emphasis on “economic diplomacy” as the kingdom seeks to reassure foreign investors rattled by the Khashoggi crisis, analysts say.

Assaf was held in Riyadh’s RitzCarlton hotel last year along with hundreds of elite princes and businessmen, in what the government called an anticorruption crackdown.

The reshuffle comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to repair its tarnished image after Khashoggi’s murder, widely seen as its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals.

“You cannot delink Khashoggi from any developments, though government reshuffles are customary every four years,” said Mohammed Alyahya, a senior fellow at the Gulf Research Center. AFP

large scale crime that comes with such stupidity!”

“Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking, Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country,” he said in another tweet, also lambasting “Democrat obstruction of the needed Wall.”

Opponents, including some in his Republican party, accuse the president of exaggerating the danger from illegal immigration for his own political gain.

“No end in sight to the President’s government shutdown,” Dick Durbin, a senior Democratic senator, tweeted.

“He’s taken our government hostage over his outrageous demand for a $5 billion border wall that would be both wasteful and ineffective.”

Partial government shutdowns are not an unusual weapon in Washington budget negotiations, where party divides make cooperation a rarity.

But the rancor has spiraled under Trump’s abrasive administration and is set to go even higher after January 3 when the Democrats take over the House of Representatives, following their midterm election victory.

The mess has contributed to worries over the outlook for the US economy in 2019, following a surging 2018 performance.

The stock market has plummeted in recent days, before a record recovery on Wednesday, under a variety of factors including Trump’s barrage of criticism against the independent Federal Reserve. AFP

Defectors’ details leaked in hacking

SEOUL―The personal details of nearly 1,000 North Korean defectors living in the South have been leaked in a hacking case, officials said Friday, exposing them to potential threats from the North.

This is the first time that personal details including names and addresses of North Korean defectors have been stolen on such a large scale, the Unification Ministry said.

The hack was made at a center which is tasked with helping North Korean defectors settle in South Korea and get accustomed to its capitalist society.

The classified data was leaked through a personal computer. It was infected with a malicious code when an unsuspecting staff member opened a mail at the Hana Center in the North Gyeongsang Province.

There are 25 such centers across the country which provide support for the roughly 30,000 North Korean defectors who live in the country.

After confirming the hack last week, authorities conducted an emergency inspection of all computers at Hana Centers but no other leaks were found.

“We apologize to defectors from the North. We will make utmost efforts to protect their personal information and prevent any recurrence of such an incident”, the ministry said in a statement.

North Korea’s state media have threatened to silence defectors who actively engage in anti-Pyongyang activities such as launching leaflets to the North by balloons.

Yi Han-yong, a nephew of Song Hye Rim -- the first wife of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il -- was shot to death outside his house in Bundang, south of Seoul, in 1997.

His assassination by two attackers, who were never caught, followed the publication of his tell-all book about the private life of the Kims. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

US govt shutdown extends to next week WASHINGTON―The US government partial shutdown was set to stretch deep into next week after legislators failed Thursday to make a breakthrough in the row over President Donald Trump’s demand for a US-Mexico border wall.

After convening for just a few minutes following the official Christmas break, a still nearly empty Senate adjourned, deciding to renew budget deliberations only next Wednesday, the last day of the current Republican-controlled Congress.

That would take the government shutdown, already on its sixth day, into 12.

Both sides have dug in, with Democrats refusing to provide $5 billion for Trump’s border wall project and the president insisting he will not fully fund the government unless he gets the money.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders accused Democrats of “openly choosing to keep our government closed to protect illegal immigrants rather than the American people.”

She said Trump “will not sign a proposal that does not first prioritize our country’s safety and security.”

As long as the wall debate holds up approval of a wider spending bill, about 800,000 federal employees are not getting salaries and non-essential parts of the government are unable to function.

Trump made clear he does not intend to give way first.

In a tweet Thursday, he once more accused Democrats of wanting to encourage illegal immigrants, “an Open Southern Border and the

SYDNEY―Australia’s vast continent is sizzling through extreme heatwave conditions this week, with temperatures reaching record highs and emergency services on high alert for bush fires.

The mercury is up to 16 degree Celsius (29 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than usual for this time of the year for southern Australia, with numerous towns setting new December records, the Bureau of Meteorology said Friday.

“Heatwave conditions are being experienced across large parts of the country,” the weather bureau said, adding that the sizzling temperatures spanned the southern parts of four states and the Northern Territory.

Tiny Marble Bar in Western Australia state, which bills itself as the nation’s hottest town, recorded a peak of 49.3 degree Celsius (121 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday, it added.

Major cities across the country are also affected, with the thermometer pushing towards 40 degree Celsius and the heat set to linger into the new year.

In Sydney, thousands of people flocked to beaches to cool down, while the state’s health service issued a warning for poor quality air as ozone levels rise with the hot weather.

“This is all because of a high-pressure system coming off the Tasman sea that is slow moving and has set up a pattern over several days,” Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Nick Neynens told Fairfax Media.

“It’s a very stable situation with not a lot changing, meaning everywhere is pretty much going to be hot and we don’t see a strong change coming yet.”

Emergency services have issued fire bans and warnings and called on people to stay out of the extreme heat. AFP

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT Registration of Securities In the matter of : OCEANA BAY RESORT VACATION : AND LEISURE CLUB, INC. : x-----------------------------------------------x

SEC-CGFD No. 319 Series of 2018

ORDER Upon consideration of the Registration Statement and other papers and documents attached thereto which were filed by OCEANA BAY RESORT VACATION AND LEISURE CLUB, INC., the Commission, in its meeting on December 20, 2018 resolved to render effective the same covering the registration of Eight Hundred Fifty (850) Non-Proprietary Timeshares at the following Class and Offer Prices: Class 20 year Straight, Studio Premiere 20 year Straight, Studio Regular 20 year Straight, 1 Bedroom Premiere 20 year Straight, 1 Bedroom Regular 20 year Straight, 2 Bedroom 10 year Straight, Studio Regular

Number of Shares 50 50 50 50 50 50

Price Per Share P750,000 602,500 1,112,500 890,000 1,250,000 385,600

20 year Alternate, Studio Premiere 20 year Alternate, Studio Regular 20 year Alternate, 1 Bedroom Premiere 20 year Alternate, 1 Bedroom Regular 20 year Alternate, 2 Bedroom 10 year Straight, 1 Bedroom Regular Total

100 100 100 100 100 50 850 timeshares

405,000 325,000 575,000 460,000 650,00 482,000

A Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale authorizing the sale of said securities is issued with this ORDER. Let a copy of this ORDER be published at the expense of the corporation in a national newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines within two (2) business days from receipt of this ORDER. The subject company is hereby directed to furnish the Commission with a copy of the affidavit of publication of this ORDER within five (5) business days after the publication of the Order.

Further, the company is directed to upload this Order and its final prospectus on its website: www.oceanabayresort.com.

SO ORDERED. Pasay City, December 21, 2018 RACHEL ESTHER J. GUMTANG-REMALANTE Officer-In-Charge (MS-DEC. 29, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

DRAWING A BEAD ON EMERGING CITIES. Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC) recently stressed the importance of long-term ‘green’ investments in the urbanization of emerging cities in third world countries. IDC chairman and chief executive officer Romolo Valentino Nati told the Manila Standard that his company remains committed to environmental sustainability, through elegant architectural solutions. Nati said the Italian-Filipino real estate developer has built eco-friendly mixed-use projects in northern Mindanao, such as Primavera Residences and Primavera City in Cagayan de Oro City. He likewise revealed the construction

by Italipinas of its latest high-rise called Miramoni green residences in Sto. Tomas, Batangas (Seen in photo). The project was named the Best Innovation Project of the year during the 2018 Lamudi-Outlook Property Awards 2018. Nati was one of the panelists who participated in the discussion about urbanization during the “Sustainability Summit Asia 2018” organized last month by The Economist in Kuala Lumpur. Environmental issues such as climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure to offer fresh perspectives for the region, were discussed during the summit.

TIPS FOR SPRUCING UP SMALL PLACES an either/or situation,” advised Roland Badilla from James Hardie’s technical team. “Always go for the one that’s not only easy to install but also durable being resistant to damage from fire, moisture and termites. That way you’ll be prepping yourself up to do less repairs/renovations each time,” he said.

You don’t have to demolish everything. When it comes to rebuilding certain areas of the house, Badilla stressed the importance of assessing the space on hand, and prioritizing which areas need to be redone, and which can go on with a simple retouch.

“A lot of times when renovating, homeowners make the mistake of tearing everything down—even the walls or other areas that are still good,” said Badilla.

“In our recent project, we opted to work around the existing concrete walls and re-use the existing HardieFlex fiber cement boards of the homeowner to keep costs down.”

LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS INSTEAD OF CONCRETE Consider light weight wall partitions instead of traditional concrete. If part of the renovation plan includes building a new room, wall partitions made of lighter but resistant materials could be a better alternative to traditional concrete divisions.

PAINT AND FURNITURE Follow an overall mood with paint and wall accents. Smaller spaces are better off with cool, light-colored walls; it opens up the area making the space look bigger.

When it comes to furniture, choose timeless pieces of good quality. Filipinos prefer furniture that are comfortable, but can stand the test of time, thus one can’t go wrong by investing in quality home products that complement the look and feel of the landscape.

P

LANNING a house renovation well is a must these days, especially if the living space is small. HardieFlex recently teamed up with Josham Builders and Wilcon Depot to renovate a home in Quezon City, and proved that small space renovation is no big problem, given the right furnishings.

Use building materials that serve more than one purpose.

“Choosing your building materials doesn’t ever have to be

Giving back to the community

P.A. PROPERTIES celebrated the holiday season by showing its gratitude to its partners in the neighboring communities of Laguna and Cavite where it does business.

Dubbed as Pamaskong Handog 2018, the activity has been an continuing event for P.A. Properties for the past decade.

A collection drive for toys, clothes and books was organized in preparation for Pamaskong Handog day 1 with the Cittadinni School for the adults and children in San Pedro. Volunteers also treated the participants to a breakfast of bread and “lugaw.”

The second and third days were celebrated with differently abled children in San Pedro, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite, in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of San Pedro, the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), a local government unit from Carmona, Cavite.

The company also worked with Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.

(HHPC), and the LEAD graduates of P.A. Properties for a gift-giving event to differently abled children in San Pedro, Laguna.

EASY ON THE KNICKKNACKS When it comes to small spaces, do not to be scared of blank areas around the house. Don’t keep adding pieces of furniture or knick-knacks around the home to fill every nook. This makes an already small area feel even smaller. Space is good, so choose compact pieces that are easy on the eyes, don’t take a lot of space, and can serve a dual purpose.

For the HardieFlex’s home renovation project, the team did not bring in a huge couch that could eat up the living space. They brought in a quaint cream-colored couch plus a functional ottoman in the living room instead of the usual coffee table to provide more seating, while serving as additional storage.

Choose furniture with colors that can serve as room accents. Though sometimes taking color cues from the house’s palette is a safe bet in choosing furniture ,homeowners shouldn’t be scared of using colors that deviate from their interior’s color story. Rooms can be punctuated with statement pieces that add to the vibe of the area.

The HardieFlex renovation process with Wilcon Depot can be viewed on the James Hardie Philippines page at @ JamesHardiePH.

REACH FOR THE SKY. DMCI Homes recently unveiled its newest design feature which gives residents an opportunity to appreciate the cityscape, literally on the edge of a high-rise structure. Dubbed as “extended sky lounge,” the innovation is a variation of DMCI Homes’ roof deck function area called “sky lounge,” extending beyond the edge of the structure reminiscent of the Marina Bay Sands’ Skypark in Singapore, and Al Muntaha Restaurant in Burj Al Arab in Dubai. “Inspired by our Lumiventt® design technology, we were looking for something new, something that would offer a ‘wow’ factor for a new building feature,” explained senior architect Francis Villagonzalo, referring to DMCI Homes’ design of maximizing natural light and ventilation in its buildings through several three-storey high sky patios. “We came up with the idea of an extended sky lounge at the roof-deck which creates an impression of a ‘floating effect’ while one is admiring the city views,” he said.

First to use the design feature is the Brio Tower in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati whose construction drawing details were done by senior architect Analee Choco. The design feature will also be applied in the Lavender building of DMCI Homes’ Calathea Place development in Dr. A. Santos Ave. Parañaque City.

advertise@manilastandard.net

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saturday, december 29, 2018

Year end report eport

Philippine economic highlights in 2018

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by Rhosedel GRace Gabac

HE Philippine economy, according to a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), currently performs sufficiently well due to robust public investments, but is held back by a surging inflation and rigidifying global financial conditions. Another factor that must be recognized is the inequality brought upon by enduring poverty.

“The Philippines has been one of the region’s strong economic performers over the past years, reaping the fruits of prudent policies and critical reforms. The team welcomes the authorities’ strategy of maintaining policy continuity while adapting to emerging challenges and taking advantage of the strong economy to implement reforms to improve inclusive growth and job creation. This strategy has served the Philippines well,” said IMF mission chief Luis Breuer.

The IMF suggested that there needs to be a balanced strategy from the government in maintaining a strong and stable economy in an ever-changing global environment. At the same time, it needs to prioritize reforms such as targeted social spending and infrastructure investments that raise living standards.

Build, Build, Build program The Department of Finance (DoF) said “strong macroeconomic fundamentals backed by tax reforms and the ambitious P8.4-trillion ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure projects would continue to boost economic growth as the competitiveness of the economy rises and more jobs are created.”

According to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, economic managers slightly adjusted the deficit forecast from 3 percent to 3.2 percent through 2019 to maintain the momentum of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program.

“We assure our people that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to fiscal discipline. The improved revenue collections are channelled to productive spending that will clear the way towards economic growth,” said Dominguez.

TRaIN law Meanwhile, the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law this year ushered in higher taxes for oil, tobacco and sugary drinks, while promising unconditional cash transfers and fuel cards to alleviate the poorest Filipino families from the effects of inflation. Unfortunately, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said they were only able to release the funds in September, which was already at the height of inflation, while The Department of Transportation (DOTr) also faced hitches in distributing over 179,000 fuel cards worth over P5,000 each.

“The TRAIN law removed those zero excise taxes, on top of the 12-percent VAT (Value Added Tax). The TRAIN law is, thus, called by many as anti-poor. The point is that they took the gamble that the excise tax in petroleum will not impact on cost of goods and services. But as figures show, it did. It also impacted on consumption. Now, where, and how do we pick up the slack?” asked consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. president and former Trade undersecretary Victorio Dimagiba.

GdP and Inflation Based on the inflation averages from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the rapid but steady growth of our country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is accompanied by a slow descent of inflation, a subtle decrease in unemployment and a subsiding public debt.

“The Monetary Board (the policy-making body of the BSP) believed that the series of policy rate adjustments thus far in 2018 will help reduce further the risks to inflation, including those emanating from the ongoing normalization of monetary policy in advanced economies and its impact on the foreign exchange market, and bring inflation toward a target-consistent path over the medium term. Favorable conditions arising from sustained domestic growth also suggest that the economy can accommodate a further tightening of monetary policy settings,” the BSP said in a statement.

According to Trading Economics, an online platform that provides historical data, economic forecasts, news, and trading recommendations, the country’s GDP expanded to 1.5% in the first quarter this 2018, followed by 1.3% and 1.4% for the second and third quarters, respectively, and concluded with a 1.5% for the last quarter which was considered as the weakest quarterly expansion since quarter one, an underlying effect of the downturn in the services sector.

2019 economic prognosis The country’s economic momentum is expected to abate slightly in 2019 with solid fixed investment and government spending towards the midterm elections in May bolstering the economy, while private consumption is seen to be an impetus for growth, according to the Barcelona-based economic analysis provider FocusEconomics, whose panelists see the Philippine GDP expanding by 6.4% in 2019 and 6.2% in 2020.

Prospective investors are also on the lookout for next year’s TRABAHO BILL, which imposes stricter incentives for exporters in a weak exportation environment which might just force them to look for a greener pasture in business-friendly terrain.

The IMF also projected a 6.6 percent economic growth outlook by next year, while a weaker peso will be trimmed up to 4% in the current inflation rate of 6.7%, with higher excise taxes and rising global oil prices as primary mainsprings for inflation.

Life

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

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Giving the gift of everyday play

HE children in Barangay Sindalan in San Fernando City, Pampanga now have a safe and comfortable space where they can play and develop social, physical, and communication skills with the recent turnover of the Everyday Play community playground.

The Everyday Play project is one of the long-running campaigns of PhilSeven Foundation, Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Philippine Seven Corp. It aims to build suitable playgrounds in various communities in the country where accessible recreational spaces and facilities are lacking.

It reinforces the value of play in the foundational years of children. Learning through play in the early years, according to various studies, is the best way to prepare children for positive and progressive adult life. Additionally, using play as a context for learning is also found to enhance children’s academic

and developmental learning outcomes.

“Active play for kids is their way of expressing their feelings, interests, and exploring both familiar and new environments,” said PSC chief executive officer Jose Victor Paterno.

He continued, “Through the 7-Eleven Everyday Play project, we are able to provide Filipino children a fun and engaging learning area to nurture mindbody growth, a quality space for amazing discoveries and happy childhood experiences.”

Mayor Edwin Santiago, City Administrator Engr. Fernando Limbitco, Paterno, PFI head Israelita S. Ferrer-

The officers and executives of PhilSeven Foundation, Inc. and Philippine Seven Corp. with the kids, parents, and local officials of Brgy.

Sindalan in San Fernando City, Pampanga at the barangay’s Everyday Play community playground.

From left: City Administrator Engr. Fernando Limbitco, Brgy. Captain Dr. Benjamin Angeles, San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago, PSC chief executive officer Jose Victor Paterno, CSWD officer Aileen Villanueva, and PFI agency head Israelita Ferrer-Lequin led the turnover ceremony of the Everyday Play community playground in Brgy. Sindalan, San Fernando City, Pampanga

Lequin, PSC and PFI top officials, company volunteers, and local community officers were present at the turnover ceremony of the newly constructed playground inside the barangay complex of Brgy. Sindalan.

Brgy. Sindalan has an estimated population of 15,685, making it the sixth most populated community among the

35 barangays in San Fernando.

The children of Brgy. Sindalan, as well as their parents and teachers, expressed gratitude for their new community playground. The new facility boasts fun elements like attractive colors matched with exciting physical features like play equipment that stimulate curiosity and camaraderie.

Over the years, the project has successfully expanded to bring wide smiles to young kids in various communities.

To date, there are already five 7-Eleven Everyday Play learning playgrounds in the country, which are located in Dasmariñas in Cavite, Pateros, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Caloocan City, and San Fernando in Pampanga.

Dota 2, Mobile Legends shortlisted for SEA Games ‘19 esports event

HEADS up, gamers! Five of the six games to be part of the inaugural esports tournament in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, happening in the Philippines from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 next year, have been revealed.

The final medal count will include two medal events for PC games, two medal events for mobile games, and two medal events for console games. The games are gender inclusive and will be open to teams of both men and women.

The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee and global lifestyle brand Razer announced hit multiplayer online battle arena game Dota 2 and real-time strategy game StarCraft II for PC category.

Meanwhile, MOBA games Mobile Legends Bang Bang and Arena of Valor were shortlisted for mobile phone category.

Organizers have picked fighting game Tekken 7 for gaming consoles.

The sixth and final console game is undergoing evaluation and will be shortlisted in the coming weeks.

Upon confirmation, all six games will be featured as competition events in SEA Games 2019, where esports will be con-

Mobile Legends Bang Bang

CARD servicing company RCBC Bankard Services Corporation has launched two credit cards designed to complement the lifestyles of millennials, or those individuals aged 22 to 37.

The RCBC Bankard Flex and Flex Gold are packed with flexible benefits including the flexibility of earning double rewards points on categories relevant to the segment.

The RCBC Bankard Flex, which was developed with the first jobbers and young professionals in mind, allows cardholders to choose two categories from any of the following: Clothing, Dining, Travel, and Transportation. On the other hand, RCBC Bankard Flex Gold, which has been designed primarily for millennials who are starting a family, allows cardholders to choose three from any of these categories: Grocery, Gas, Department Store, Household Appliances, and Travel.

Cardholders can change their preferred categories every billing cycle by simply sending a direct message to RCBC Bankard’s official Facebook page.

Further, cardholders of Flex and Flex Gold also enjoy the flexibility of choosing what they want to redeem using their earned rewards points.

They can choose to redeem shopping vouchers or cash rebates, use the points to

Dota 2

Starcraft II

tested as a medal event for the first time weeks since we announced esports as a in sporting history alongside traditional medal event at SEA Games 2019, we’ve seen a phenomenal level of interest from all segments of the industry, most of all game publishers.”

Tan added, “The shortlisting of six games in such a short time is an evidence that the notion of esports as a legitimate sporting event is no longer a fad. We look forward to having more partners come on board and join us in defining a new generation of sporting Tekken 7 heroes for the youth and millennials.”

A key selection criterion for the shortsports like athletics and aquatics. listed games is the diversity of titles.

Razer co-founder and chief execu- A range of top publishers, genres, and tive Min-Liang Tan said, “In the three gaming platforms were evaluated for inclusion to make sure the most popular and competitive games are represented.

The strategy and teamwork demanded by the games were also considered, ensuring that competing teams deploy multifaceted tactics to clinch victory.

Lastly, the shortlisted games take into account the physical and mental intensity needed to persevere through marathon matches.

Arena of Valor

Credit cards made for millennials

Host and radio DJ Sean Kyle takes a selfie with RCBC Bankard marketing group head Anj Mirasol, RCBC senior executive vice president John Thomas Deveras, Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam Dan Wolbert, RCBC Bankard president and chief executive Simon Javier Calasanz, and RCBC Bankard segment head for business devt., sales and marketing Mylene Bico at the launch of RCBC Bankard Flex and Flex Gold.

pay their card, or use their rewards points to build their savings as the cash equivalent can be directly deposited to their RCBC Checking or Savings account.

Cardholders can also enroll in the

airmiles program and redeem airmiles to fly for free to their dream destination. Rewards points can also be used as donation to their preferred charitable or non-profit organization.

DepEd’s Alternative Learning System students from Concepcion, Iloilo learn their lessons with the aid of technology tools.

Teenage mom fulfills her dream

A TYPICAL morning for 19-year-old Shajhana Bonso from Concepcion, Iloilo starts with preparing breakfast for her husband and child. When she got pregnant at 17, she decided to set aside her dream of having a diploma.

She admits to regretting her decision two years ago, as she feels her dream drifts farther away as days pass by and technology develops.

“Ang magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makipagsabayan sa ibang estudyante sa panahon ngayon ay napakahirap.

Sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng teknolohiya halos lahat ng output ay sa kompyuter, at hindi ko kakayanin ang gastusin sa paaralan (Going back to school today is close to impossible. With the advancement in technology, almost all our output is done using a computer, and I can’t afford to pay for school fees),” laments Bonso.

But she believes that finishing her studies is the only ticket for her to be employed and earn enough money to sustain the growing needs of her family and provide a bright future for her kid.

In December 2017, with the help of a friend, Bonso enlisted for the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System.

The ALS program opens numerous opportunities for the likes of Bonso who have limited or no access to formal basic education.

ALS educators bring literacy, basic education, and useful knowledge to the deprived and underprivileged Filipinos. They often brave rough roads, hike mountains, or cross rivers to reach farflung communities where they teach.

Bonso shares she enjoys using the ICT package which City Savings Bank donated. CitySavings is the thrift subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines and a member of the Aboitiz Group.

“Gamit ito ay natuto ako ng basic computer sa tulong ni Ma’am Obillos

Shajhana Bonso, an ALS student, strives to finish her education in the hopes of a brighter future for her family.

na magagamit ko kapag ako ay may trabaho na. Nagkaroon din ako ng tiwala sa sarili na mag-report sa harap ng klase gamit ang projector (With this I was able to learn basic computer with the help of my teacher, Ma’am Obillos, which I will be able to apply once I’m employed. I also gained self-confidence as I report and share lessons to my classmates with the use of the projector),” says Bonso.

CitySavings has greatly supported DepEd’s ALS program since 2016. To date, the bank has donated technology tools composed of more than 250 laptops and over 240 LCD projectors, as well as external hard drives and pocket Wi-Fi to more than 120 DepEd divisions. The tools hope to provide assistance to over 4,500 mobile teachers and their students across the Philippines.

In its third year of advocating literacy, the bank has moved past inspiration into actively helping build communities where every child, parent, out of school youth has access to opportunities to elevate their lives and fulfill their dreams through education.

Shajhana is now thrilled more than ever to visit their local ALS center to learn more. She has set her mind toward getting her diploma soon and most importantly become a good role model for her child and her family.

Entertainment

‘Eat Bulaga’ now telecasts from it’s new Cainta home ON DEC. 8, after two decades and three years, Eat Bulaga, the longest-running noontime show on Philippine television, started broadcasting from APT Studios, a brand new studio in Cainta, Rizal that the show calls its “home” now.

It sits on a 9,200 square-meter lot along the Marikina-Infanta Highway, a mere 10-minute drive from the border of Marikina and Rizal.

The management of the show, said, “APT Studios is Eat Bulaga’s gift to dabarkads this Christmas For the most part of its four-decade history, Eat Bulaga delivered joy and entertainment to millions of viewers from an old movie theater-turned-TV studio at the Broadway Centrum in Quezon City -- its “rented apartment” for 23 years.

It is hard to miss from the outside with its facade cloaked in a bright red metal structure symbolic of a theater curtain that is about to open as if to signal the start of a spectacular presentation full of surprises -- and that’s exactly what Eat Bulaga is.

A number of noontime contenders have tried to outlast Eat Bulaga but they all failed and faded out sooner than it could take off. In the good times and in the bad, the show continued to keep a tight grip on the so-called prime real estate of Philippine television: the mass audience.

“Iyon siguro ang susi rin at bukas na lihim ng Eat Bulaga. Simula noon ay hindi kami bumibitiw sa nakararami naming tagapanood na hanggang ngayon ay patuloy pa ring tumatangkilik sa amin,” said host Joey de Leon whose triumvirate with Sen. Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto has been the show’s main pillar through the years.

De Leon, who coined the title Eat Bulaga when the show was conceptualized in 1979, explained that he deliberately combined an English and a Filipino word because he envisioned the show’s appeal to Filipinos from all walks of life.

“Kung mapapansin mo, English iyon at Tagalog. ‘Eat’ ay Ingles at ‘Bulaga’ naman ay Tagalog. Kasi inisip ko talaga noon na dapat kasama lahat. Ito ay show na bukas sa lahat ng Pilipino mula sa kahit anumang antas ng pamumuhay: A, B, C, D, hanggang F, G,” explained the host.

Thanks to the ingenuity of its producers and the loyalty of its fans (whom they refer to as “dabarkads”), Eat Bulaga has become one of the most profitable properties on television today. But as De Leon recalled in an interview, the first few years was a different story. “Halos umabot muna ng isang taon bago kami nakatikim ng una naming suweldo noon,” he revealed. “Pero ang catch: naiwan pa sa taxi,” referring to an unfortunate incident in the early days of the show when the entire production team’s half month worth of salaries was unwittingly left in a cab by a payroll staff.

“At saka iyong unang 10 taon namin, kanya-kanya kaming tanghalian. Kami nila Vic at Tito, talagang nabuhay kami sa siopao at mami. Nalibre lang kami ng pagkain noong lumipat kami sa Celebrity Sports Plaza. Kasi may word na ‘celebrity’ na, siguro nahihiya sila, pinakain na iyong mga celebrity,” he added.

All that is history now. After hopping from studio to studio, Eat Bulaga has finally built itself a home, which it says is dedicated to the future generations of dabarkads.

Rock even harder READY to rock? You better be, because Hard Rock Café Manila is opening tomorrow, Dec. 30, giving rock and rollers a great reason to end the year (and usher in a new one) with a bang.

The Bistro Group has partnered with Hard Rock International to bring back this iconic themed restaurant at Conrad S Maison in Pasay City. The 223-seater café is expected to be Manila’s go-to destination for great food, much-sought-after merchandise and live entertainment for which the brand is known all over the world for. All in all, what you’ll get are authentic experiences that rock.

Serving good food is one of Hard Rock’s favorite gigs. So, get ready to sink your teeth into their signature items that include the Original Legendary Burger, Hickory Smoked ribs and even an Asianinspired menu to make everyone twist and shout as the Manila branch opens. The extensive drinks selection also awaits guests- from margaritas to signature

Eat Bulaga dabarkads welcome the audience to APT Studios “Ang feeling namin is it’s a blessing,” said Antonio P. Tuviera, president and CEO of Television and Production Exponents (T.A.P.E.), Inc., the company behind Eat Bulaga. He is the A-P-T in the studio’s name and in APT Entertainment, T.A.P.E.’s film production unit.

According to Mr. T, as he is called in the industry, the new studio was designed with the comfort and convenience of both the hosts and the audience in mind. In fact, entering the studio is like entering a premier theater: carpeted floors, superb acoustics, clean and air conditioned restrooms, spacious dressing rooms, among others.

“That’s why we would like to give it back to the audience, to everybody, because we owe it to them. Hindi naman maitatayo itong mga ganito without them,” he explained.

Hosts Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza were among those who were very excited to move to the new studio. However, they admit to also feeling nostalgic as they bade farewell to Broadway Centrum where their on-screen team-up began.

“Maraming memories din namin ni Maine ang nabuo noong mga panahong nasa Broadway Centrum pa kami, kasi doon naman talaga nag-umpisa ang lahat. In fact, doon sobrang nabago ang buhay namin pareho,” the actor recalled.

Alden and Maine’s love team called “AlDub,” a portmanteau of “Alden” and “Yaya Dub” (Maine’s character in a segment called Kalyeserye), was an accidental discovery of Eat Bulaga. It became such a huge hit that a special episode dedicated to their elusive meetup was staged at the Philippine Arena. More than 50,000 fans, breaking all previous records of the gigantic venue, attended it.

“Ngayon po na ‘eto meron na kaming sariling tahanan, siguradong ito ay umpisa ng panibagong memories na naman; marami na naman kaming pagsasamahan dito. So ako very excited ako sa mga susunod na mangyayari dito simula ngayong araw,” said Maine.

In Eat Bulaga, a celebration is incomplete without giving back. As its housewarming treat, it gave away a brand new house and lot complete with furniture to a dabarkads from Tanza, Cavite and grocery packs to all of its studio audience who were lucky enough to book a seat for the special “Lipat Bahay” episode (the studio was fully booked days before its launch).

“Ito na ang umpisa ng ‘EB version 4.0.’

Ang studio na ito ay para sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga dabarkads,” declared Vic at the start of the episode, a warm gesture of welcoming a new beginning for Eat Bulaga.

“More than just a house, it is a home -a home that is not just for our dabarkads in the past or at present but more importantly for the dabarkads in the future,” said Tuviera.

“Sabi nga ni Joey, maski grumadweyt na kami, nandito pa rin ang Eat Bulaga.”

“Ang aming studio ay bukas para sa bawat Pilipino na gustong makatikim ng ‘isang libo’t isang tuwa’ na hatid ng ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Kami’y nagpapasalamat sa inyong walang-sawang pagsuporta sa amin sa loob ng halos 40 taon.

At hangga’t naririyan kayo, magpapatuloy ang ‘Eat Bulaga,’” De Leon assured. *** More stories of these kinds at www.isah. red. Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@ isahvred). ΙŘ

favorites and Alternative Rock (alcoholfree) beverages - all available in collectible glassware.

Visit the Rock Shop and grab some of the merchandise which have gained quite a cult-like status- from classic tees, hoodies, caps to commemorative pins and everything else in between, so you can dress like a rock star.

Groove not only to rock and roll but also to an anthology of music you love plus a showcase of various live musical performances. Get lost in its rock-androll memorabilia collection that adorns the café- from famous rock music icons, such as autographed guitars, world tour costumes, rare photos—purchased from auctions all over the world.

And to cap a hearty and dynamic experience, bring home some Hard Rock Café merchandise to use or mount on your own walls.

To celebrate the entry of 2019, the Hard Rock way, join its New Year Countdown on Monday for P1,500 per person (P500 consumable on food and drinks). Live performances will start at 8:00 p.m. by classic rock bands, Rouge and New Element. As the clock ticks down to 12 midnight, with drinks in hand and with an amazing view of the fireworks display on Manila Bay, you’ll have one exhilarating experience being part of the first New Year Countdown when Hard Rock returns in Manila.

For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com.

Make-up artist Solongo Batsukh (second left) wants to dispel the image of transgender women being only sex workers or strippers living on the fringes of society.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

The better actor

PEOPLE

By Nickie Wang

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OU’VE seen his videos as Boyet, a young man with mild intellectual disability, making rounds online.

Perhaps, you or one of your friends have tried acting like his character when you’re horsing around.

Boyet, apart from superheroes and scorned women, is one of the most interesting characters we’ve seen on the small screen this year. The audience loves the character not just because of his innocence but also by the way Ken Chan breathes life into this TV charmer.

Behind his effective and engaging screen acting, which best describes Ken’s portrayal of the young man, is hard work and dedication. In fact, the actor admitted that he even imbibes the nuances of his character even he’s no longer on the set.

It’s not the first time that it happened to Ken. When he played Destiny Rose, he admitted that there were instances that he was still in character although he was no longer taping.

“I guess it’s normal. It only means one thing, it means that you care about and love the character you portray,” he told Manila Standard in an interview.

But between Boyet and Destiny Rose, Ken was sure that both characters are difficult to portray but he exerted more effort on the latter.

“When you play a transgender character, it requires physical changes. You need to look and move like a woman.

Boyet, the mentally challenged character I’m playing now is more difficult. As an actor, it would be much easier for you to play the character if there will be physical changes,” he shared.

“They made me wear wigs and high heels in Destiny Rose, they made me look sexy and beautiful. It helped me internalized that I was a woman. But in Special Tatay, walang changes including my hair.

I didn’t have an outlet to show the audience that it’s a different character I’m playing. I have to deeply internalize. I have to convince the audience that I have a mental disability by simply acting like one, which is really difficult,” he added.

In our conversation with the actor, he shared that he had to sit down with GMA executives, the creative team and the director of the series several times to perfect their way of presenting Boyet.

One of their challenges was to make Boyet a believable character, a young man who is mentally challenged -- mild intellectual disability to be exact.

“Hindi kami pwedeng lumagpas sa severe, or bumaba sa mild.

We have to be precise in depicting a person with such condition,” he said.

He further added that they were worried because they didn’t want to be bashed online or hurt any parents who have children like Boyet. Hence, they consulted professionals to ensure the character is not misrepresented.

“Napaka sensitive ng role, we have to sit

Ken Chan with 'My Special Tatay' co-star Arra San Agustin

IN CHARACTER. Ken Chan in an emotional scene with Lilet in 'My Special Tatay.'

down to talk about the character and do screen test several times, too, to study Boyet. My journey in portraying Boyet is really difficult compared to the challenges I had to face playing a transgender woman in Destiny Rose,” he revealed.

But with the feedback Ken is getting from the critics and the viewers of the series, the hard work is all worth it. The character has made him a better actor, too.

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saturday, december 29, 2018 advertise@manilastandard.net

Year end report

90s vibes return in 2018 fashion

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By Charles arvin Dantes anD aliCia angeliCa villanueva

f ripped jeans and crop tops dominated the year 2017, 2018 has been a different story. Let’s just say, it was a déjà vu of a classic as we saw 90s fashion making a comeback in our closets, parties, workplace or even during our hangouts with the barkada.

With the new year approaching, let’s take a look at what the passing 2018 has brought to our daily OOTDs.

1. Floral prints and pastel colors floral prints have never been out of fashion whether they are on a skirt, dress, blouse or even on a polo. feel the summer vibes any time of the year with floral prints. flower motifs printed

on fabric are not only applicable for ladies, but this year, real men wore floral (remember the viral photo of men wearing black shirts with sunflowers printed on it?).

On the other hand, pastel-colored apparels gave a soothing and relaxing look that fit one’s fun side in every occasion. Spring and summer this year were dominated by pastel colors from blouses and blazers, to dresses and trousers. And to be more subtle, add-

ing some pastel colors to accessories fit perfectly, too.

2. Dark denim Last 2017, you can see fashionistas wearing ripped jeans as their go-to outfit, but this 2018, dark-colored denim jeans, shorts, skirts, and jackets were seen everywhere. for men, this type of bottom does not only work for a stroll, as denim jeans partnered with

a plain shirt and black coat work perfectly in semi-formal events.

Meanwhile, for ladies, denim skirts or shorts were still a good go-to outfit. A nice combination of t-shirt and denim jeans for girls could easily be a strong fashion statement and a head-turner for the boys.

3. sweatshirts Millennials often look for shirts that make them look cool and comfortable.

The look of those cheesy 90s boybands wearing sweatshirts was back this year, not just for men, but also for ladies who want to wear their boyfriend’s hoodies and sweatshirts.

Sweatshirts this year were just not made for men, as especially made sweatshirts printed with girly-ish designs like unicorns and empoweringwomen quotations, were available in fashion boutiques and of course, our very own “tiangges.”

4. Plaids and stripes Celebrities like the phenomenal star, Maine Mendoza, was usually spotted wearing plaid skirts, partnered with long-sleeved blouses as her OOTD in Eat Bulaga. Plaids were usually worn with plain tops to highlight their simple yet elegant look . Yet plaid tops can also be worn with a plain bottom.

Shirts with horizontal stripes are still in this year, which is perfect for petitesized women and men who want to look a little bit bigger, while mediumsized figures should wear vertical striped-shirts.

Another year has ended and the fashion world has brought us with amazing looks in every occasion. Next year, as we prepare for new sets of trendy OOTDs that may or may not shake the fashion world, only time can tell if our very own fashion tastes match our own colorful personality.