Manila Standard - 2018 July 14 - Saturday

WORLD BANK STILL SEES PH GROWTH STEADY AT 6.7 PERCENT

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 149 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Duterte’s trust rating surges

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

Primer on draft federal constitution Manila Standard columnist Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino begins today a primer on the draft federal constitution proposed by the consultative committee.

Congress, which will revise the Constitution through the constituent assembly, is free to accept or reject the proposals made in the draft.

Aquino is a member of the 22-member consultative committee.

The series will identify the highlights of the draft charter and provide answers to commonly asked questions.

Robredo, Pimentel, Alvarez likewise up in Pulse survey

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta RATINGS RISE. President

Q: What is a preamble?

A: In a Constitution, a preamble is an introductory declaration. While it is not an operative part of the Constitution in the sense that it creates neither rights nor duties, offices nor positions, neither branches, agencies nor instrumentalities of government, it declares the intent of the framers of the Fundamental Law and announces the core values underlying the Charter.

Rodrigo Duterte, eyes trained to the left, obtains two percentage points higher than his past highest approval rating of 86 percent in September 2016, according to the Pulse Asia’s June 2018 Ulat ng Bayan National Survey. The survey also reports the President as the most trusted government official, followed by (at right) former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (middle, right), Vice President Leonor Robredo (top right) and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (below right).

Q: How does the Con-Com’s proposed preamble differ from that of the 1987 Constitution?

A: There are more similarities than there are differences. There are adjectives added to describe Next page

Reds nix‘localized’ peace talks, say it’s ‘doomed to fail’

P ROBREDO

PIMENTEL

By Evalea Casaljay THE Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday rejected the localized peace talks with the government, saying they were “doomed to fail.”

In a statement released two days after President Rodrigo Duterte approved guidelines for localized peace talks with communist rebels, the CPP rejected the plan as a “worn-out tactic to conceal the continuing failure” of the military to defeat its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

The CPP also said the localized talks would be “a waste of people’s money” that would benefit local governments and the military.

“Only local government officials and military field officers are happy with the ‘localized peace talks,’ a moneymaking racket with hundreds of million [in] funds that will surely end up in their pockets,” the communist statement said.

It also said that the civil war between the government and the communists will continue despite the localized peace talks, and asserted that the National Democratic Front, the CPP’s political wing, was their sole representative in peace negotiations.

Duterte has ruled out power sharing with the communists and insists that

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Senators warn no-el violates 1987 charter

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo CONGRESS has no power to postpone the coming mid-term elections next May through a simple law, as an amendment of the 1987 Constitution is needed to do it, Senator Francis Escudero said Friday.

“Does Congress have power to postpone our elections? I believe it does not have. You need changes, amendment in the Constitution before you can postpone the national and local elections,” said Escudero, adding this could not be done through a simple law that would be Next page passed by Congress.

‘‘

ALVAREZ

That is not only an act of a lunatic.

That is done by a person who shows no love for this country—traitors and disrespectful people.

— Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, on the people behind the hanging of banners declaring the Philippines as a “province of China”

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s approval and trust ratings rose to record highs in June, Pulse Asia said Friday, in sharp contrast to an 11-percentage point decline in his net satisfaction rating reported earlier this week by the rival research company Social Weather Stations.

In a report released Friday, Pulse Asia said Duterte’s approval rating went up to 88 percent from 80 percent in March, despite growing criticism of high prices that accompanied his tax reform program.

The President’s trust rating, meanwhile, rose to 87 percent from 79 percent in March, Pulse Asia said.

The Pulse Asia survey of 1,800 respondents was conducted from June 15 to 21, before Duterte’s “God is stupid” remarks triggered widespread condemnation by the Catholic Church and other religious groups.

The June approval rating was two percentage points higher than the 86 percent Duterte obtained just three months into his presidency in September 2016.

In the Pulse Asia survey, only 3 percent disapproved of Duterte’s leadership, while the remaining respondents were undecided. Duterte remained the most approved government official, followed by former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III with 72 percent, Next page

Bicam set to approve BBL final draft

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE bicameral conference committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is almost done with the final version of the measure.

House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the bicameral committee will meet Tuesday to approve the final draft and submit it to President Rodrigo

Duterte for his comment.

“If he finds it to his approval, we will have it ratified in plenary by the House of Representatives and the Senate when we convene our third regular session on Monday, July 23, 2018, at 10 am, for it to be signed into law by the President on or before the Sona [State of the Nation Address] at 4 pm,” Fariñas said.

He said the bicameral conference Next page

Palace appointee rocks state-run firm

By Vito Barcelo A DOZEN officers of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund-Oil Mills Group resigned Friday to protest President Rodrigo Duterte’s appointment of fellow board member Rehan Lao as the chief executive officer of the government firm—a development that didn’t

Pacman’s future hangs in balance KUALA LUMPUR—Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao challenges Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt on Sunday morning, knowing defeat could lower the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history.

Pacquiao, 39, faced calls to retire from friends, family, and even his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach when he lost the WBO belt to journeyman Next page Australian Jeff Horn a year ago.

surprise Malacañang.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the CIIF-OMG officials “voluntarily tendered their resignations” and were there merely in a holdover capacity.

This was also confirmed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who Next page

Space tourism launch in 2019?

WASHINGTON—The two companies leading the pack in the pursuit of space tourism say they are just months away from their first out-ofthis-world passenger flights —though neither has set a firm date.

Virgin Galactic, founded

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Sotto: We’re no ‘willing victim’ in West PH Sea

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente Sotto III on Friday rejected the assertion of former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario that the Philippines is a willing victim of China’s abuses in the West Philippine Sea. He told Dobol B on News 5 that the public was just not aware of what the Duterte administration had been doing to protect the country’s rights and interests in the disputed areas.

“I don't believe we're being willingly oppressed. A lot of people don't know what the National Security Council is doing,” Sotto said, adding the government was just not vocal about what it had been doing.

He made his statement even as former senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday said he agreed with President Duterte’s strategy in dealing with China on the issue of the West Philippine Sea. He also hailed the Duterte administration’s foreign policy “They have aircraft carriers. They have submarines. Missiles. What do we have?” said Enrile at the sidelines of his pre-trial at the Sandiganbayan on Friday.

‘Undue suffering with federalism’

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday opposed the planned shift to federalism, saying it would cause undue suffering to the Filipinos and subject them to more and higher taxes.

He said federalism would also be an added layer to the bureaucracy, making it more difficult to do business.

“You duplicate the bureaucracy of the national government to the federal level.

It will burden the people too much with taxes,” Enrile said at the sidelines of his plunder case at the Sandiganbayan.

He made his statement even as Senator Francis Escudero said he was open to the shift to a federal form of government, but he was yet to hear its benefits and advantages.

In the past six years, Escudero said, the economy had grown bigger despite its being under a presidential form of government.

He said prices were increasing but he believed it had nothing to do with the current form of government.

Enrile made his remarks even as the consultative committee had already submitted to the President its draft federal charter, with both chambers of Congress also receiving copies.

With a federal form of government, Enrile said, the Filipino people would have to pay federal, state and local taxes.

“The proposal embodied in the proposed constitution that this group of people have submitted to the President so far calls for a very huge bureaucracy,” Enrile said.

Palace...

From A1 noted the officials had been serving as holdovers since their term expired on June 30 last year.

Medialdea, in a radio interview, said it was up to Duterte who to appoint as president of the state-run firm. He also asked the departing CIIF-OMG officials, led by board chairman Eddie Delima and CEO Benedicto Lor, to respect the President’s decision to pick Lao as the new president.

Aside from the resignations, over 170 personnel also signed an “expression of support” for Delima and Lor. But, Medialdea said: “As a matter of fact, there is no need for them to resign. We have all the right to change them.”

“We have to put some members of the Board. We cannot leave it that way and we don’t want to be accused of noncompliance,” he added.

Lao is also the current national president of Sulong ang Pag-Unlad Movement, a group that has been supporting Duterte’s right-hand man, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, who is reportedly running for senator in the 2019 elections.

Lao was appointed to the CIIF-OMG board last June 28 before being promoted to the helm.

Delima, Lor and the other officials claimed they were pressured to accept Lao’s appointment to the firm’s board.

Owing to their resignation, all three of the firm’s oil mills have stopped operating.

A conglomerate established in the 1970s, CIIF-OMG runs three oil mills in Iligan, Albay, and Batangas. Its operating plants have a combined annual crushing capacity of 370,000 metric tons of copra, with a refining capacity of 240,000 metric tons of different grades of processed coconut oils.

Apart from making the local coconut cooking oil brand Minola, which has been in the local market for over half a century, the oil mills’ total crushing capacity creates about a tenth of the country’s coconut oil milling industry, the CIIF website said.

PET rejects Marcos plea over VP-revisor ‘outing’

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has rejected the plea of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to investigate the outing last month of some of its staff in the company of a revisor of Vice President Leni Robredo.

In a resolution, the PET denied Marcos the request to investigate the outing in a resort in Calamba City on June 22, 2018, with Robredo’s revisor since it had already investigated it.

“We deny the motion to investigate

Duterte’ s...

From A1 Vice President Leni Robredo with 62 percent, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez with 47 percent.

Duterte also remained the most trusted official in government, followed by Pimentel (64 percent), Robredo (56 percent), Alvarez (45 percent), and ousted Supreme Court chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (19 percent).

The Palace, which had earlier said the Cabinet would work harder in the face of the SWS findings, expressed gratitude Friday for the people’s continued trust and confidence in the President.

But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President does not work for such ratings.

“The President views these latest survey results with all humility. However, he is not leading the country for the sake of high or good ratings,” Roque said.

“President Duterte is working double time to rid society of drugs, criminality, and corruption to achieve his goal of bringing a comfortable life for all,” he added.

Roque also cited remarks from Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who cited the Philippines as its model to “replicate the success” of the country’s war on drug.

Senators...

From A1 He also said a separate provision in the Constitution clearly stated that congressmen had a three-year term while senators had a six-year term in office.

“I believe you cannot legislate it because it is clear in the Constitution that the term of a congressman lasts for three years and there should be elections every three years,” he said.

In related developments: • Postponement of next year’s elections would be confronted by public outrage as Filipinos don’t like politicians extending their terms, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution said Friday.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said elections might not be held next year to give way to discussions on charter change, given candidacies have to be filed by October.

“I wish they would do that because I think

Primer...

From A1 the society that is desired: “United and progressive,” for example. In fact, these are rhetorical flourishes but they do contribute to an articulation of our vision of society.

Q: Is there any significance to the conjunction of “rule of law” with the vision of “truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace?”

A: Yes, while this was virtually taken over from the 1987 Constitution, it is the salutary reminder that law alone does not bring about a desirable society. Law should rather serve the ends of truth, justice, love, equality and peace. In this respect, the preamble establishes its connection with the sublime ideals of the French Revolution: Equality, fraternity and liberty.

Q: God has not been expunged. Why not?

A: Why should he be? While the Constitution guarantees the freedom of atheists and agnostics to keep a safe distance from God, the sentiment of most Filipinos is to recognize the sway of Almighty God over all. We remain a nation that honors God and looks to him. This should make it clear that although our political society is often characterized as “secular” in contrast to “theocratic,” it is neither an atheist nor an agnostic society.

Q: What is the most significant juridical effect of a preamble?

A: It is in fact the written expression of an underlying “social contract” among members of Philippine society to abide by a constitution. No constitution provides its own force. It is the consent of the people to be bound by it that lends it currency, and

Space...

From A1

by British billionaire Richard Branson, and Blue Origin, by Amazon creator Jeff Bezos, are rac-

as the Tribunal has already commenced and concluded its investigation relative to the subject Pansol outing,” the resolution says.

Marcos is contesting the results of the 2016 vice presidential elections that Robredo won, claiming her camp had cheated.

Meanwhile, the PET has ordered the Commission on Elections to comment on Robredo’s plea to lower the threshold percentage of the valid votes in the ongoing election recount of the votes in the 2016 vice presidential race.

Marcos’ backers said they were “completely surprised and quite shocked with the pronouncement of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal that an investigation on the highly improper Pansol outing had already been con-

ducted and concluded.”

Marcos as the protestant had all the right to know and be duly notified by the PET as to when the investigation commenced, who conducted it, what were the findings and the penalty meted out, Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez said.

“The fact that we filed the Manifestation clearly indicates all of these―the illegal Pansol outing, the purported surreptitious investigation, the highly secretive penalty imposed―happened without our knowledge,” Rodriguez said.

“It is clear in the Counter-Manifestation filed by Mrs. Robredo that she personally knew that an investigation was already carried out and sanctions imposed.

“With the 88 percent [approval rating], [it is the] all-time high of any president. All Filipinos supported the actions of the President so it is not really questionable that we have fans of the President even from Sri Lanka,” he said.

“The performance probe asks respondents to assess the work done by selected government officials in the three months prior to the conduct of the survey. Senator Pimentel still occupied the Senate presidency during most of the quarter covered by this survey’s performance probe,” Pulse Asia said in a statement.

Sereno’s trust rating was at 19 percent in June, down three points from March’s 22 percent.

The nationwide survey had a ± 2 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

Earlier this week, SWS said Duterte suffered an 11-point drop in his net satisfaction, which fell to a new low of +45. That survey, conducted from June 27-30, covered the period in which Duterte called God “stupid.”

SWS obtained the net satisfaction rating by subtracting those who were satisfied with Duterte’s performance (65 percent) with those that were dissatisfied (20 percent). It reported that the remaining 15 percent were undecided.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said he believes Duterte’s “crass language and blunt words”

projected his sincerity, resulting in his high ratings in the Pulse Asia survey.

“In my long years in politics, somehow, I’ve learned two major factors that endear our country’s leaders to the people—performance and messaging, not necessarily in that order,” Lacson said.

But opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV raised doubts about Duterte’s high ratings in the latest Pulse Asia survey, citing the sharp difference with the SWS findings.

“It is clearly a sampling design error and, therefore, invalid,” Trillanes said of the Pulse Asia survey.

He even said that Pulse Asia, historically, uses respondents in Davao City to represent the population for the entire Mindanao.

“This is not valid anymore because the respondents of the other regions are clearly not as fanatical to or fearful of Duterte as the Davaoeños are,” he said.

In the June survey, the Senate got a 69 percent approval rating, 9 percentage points higher than 60 percent in March.

The House of Representatives enjoyed an approval rating of 66 percent, up 10 percentage points from 56 percent in March.

Supreme Court also got higher public approval in June, up 10 percentage points to 63 percent from 53 percent in March.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Duterte’s Pulse Asia numbers “speak for itself.”

the people would be very angry... One of the things they don’t like is politicians extending their terms beyond the term for which they were voted for by the people,” 1987 Constitutional Commission member Christian Monsod told ANC’s Early Edition.

-• The labor group Federation of Free Workers warned the government of nationwide unrest should next year’s elections be postponed.

“Postponing the midterm elections is an invitation to chaos and anarchy in the streets,” lawyer Sonny Matula, president of the FFW, said.

“It is dangerous and has no legal basis,” continued Matula.

Except for the barangay elections, all the scheduled elections since the ratification of the 1987 Constitution have gone on as scheduled.

Escudero contradicted the opinion of Senate President Vicente Sotto III that a simple law was needed to defer the coming elections.

“If this will be the case, it will be a new

bullet amendment in the Constitution that I do not know how it will be done or if this can be done,” Escudero said.

Escudero also noted that the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” cited by Sotto only pertains to the date of the elections— every second of Monday of May— which could be changed to either First or Third Monday of May. “But you cannot change it in three years,” Escudero said.

He reiterated that while the date of the elections could be changed, there was another provision that clearly provided for the tenure of elective officials.

Saying he might be open to postponement of next year’s elections, Sotto said such was not possible unless the Constitution was amended first.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Sotto said what could be changed through legislation was the date of election but it should not affect the term of the senators and congressmen.

that is exactly what a preamble articulates.

Article I: National Territory Q: How does the definition of national territory in Con-Com’s draft differ from Article 1 of the 1987 Constitution?

A: The Con-Com, that gave me the assignment of writing the first draft, endeavored to rewrite Article I in a manner more consistent with international law.

So sovereignty now extends to the territory and to the waters encompassed by our archipelagic baselines.

Q: What are archipelagic baselines?

A: Take a look at the map of the North American and you will see that from Canada down to the southern tip of the US, the coast is continuous. The baseline in this case is continuous. Not so with the Philippines that is an archipelago. Even Luzon is a problem because Batanes is a group of islands far up north. It becomes very confusing when one reaches the Visayas and remains so with Mindanao, because you have the Sulu Archipelago.

The solution of international law is to draw artificial straight lines connecting the outer-most points of the Archipelago, and these straight-lines, provided that they do not digress beyond 100 nautical miles, are the baselines.

Q: So, in regard to sovereignty, is there no difference between land and water?

A: It all depends: In respect to land and inland rivers, lakes, and similar bodies of water, the exercise of sovereignty is identical. In respect, however, to the massive expanses of water covered by the archipelagic baselines, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea classifies them as “archipelagic waters,” and while the Philippines does exercise sovereignty over them—they are within our baselines—ships have a right of ing to be the first to finish their tests—with both companies using radically different technology.

Neither Virgin nor Blue Origin’s passengers will find themselves orbiting the Earth: instead, their weightless experience will last just minutes. It’s an offering far dif-

“innocent passage” over them.

Q: Why do we have one section more than in the previous Constitution?

A: Because we must assert our sovereign rights. Over the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf (that will include the Benham Rise), we enjoy “sovereign rights”:Exclusive rights over marine resources, minerals and sedentary species.

Q: Did the Con-Com consider the arbitral judgment in favor of the Philippines?

A: Yes, precisely because of that arbitral judgment there is express mention of rights reserved to the Philippines by international law. In this respect then, what we won by the Arbitral Judgment has been “constitutionalized” and no President or Congress is free to disregard this.

Q: What about the Kalayaan Islands?

A: While the Arbitral Tribunal could not rule on our sovereignty claims over the Kalayaan Islands, the rewritten section on sovereignty expressly lays claim to “islands and features outside its archipelagic baselines pursuant to the laws of the Federal Republic, the law of nations, and the judgements of competent international courts and tribunals.” So, even if the Kalayaan Island group is outside our archipelagic baselines, it is, nonetheless, by Philippine law, governed by the “Regime of Islands”—and this too has been “constitutionalized” since that is also in accord with the UN Convention on the Law of the sea.

Q: Why was the phrase “historic right or legal title” that had been excised from the 1987 Constitution restored?

A: On insistence of the great nationalist, Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, who was one of our guiding lights at the Con-Com, it was necessary for us not to give up on our claim to North Borneo. ferent from the first space tourists, who paid tens of millions of dollars to travel to the International Space Station in the 2000s.

Having paid for a much cheaper ticket— costing $250,000 with Virgin, as yet unknown with Blue Origin—the new round

Reds...

From A1 they stop collecting “revolutionary taxes” that it says is tantamount to extortion.

Earlier this month, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate accused Department of the Interior and Local Government of sabotaging peace talks between the government and the NDF. The administration earlier suspended the formal peace talks with the NDF for three months.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it supported the President’s decision to pursue localized peace talks with the rebels.

“The decision is very apt for the current trend in the field, and the Armed Forces is very much in support of President Duterte’s decision to localize the peace talks,” Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

He said the decision is very realistic as NPA rebels are surrendering to government forces in many parts of the country.

“Armed NPA regulars are coming down in so many areas around the country and local peace talks is the appropriate approach,” Detoyato said.

The AFP earlier announced that NPA forces nationwide are on the decline as some 7,531 rebels and supporters had been neutralized from Jan. 1 to June 28 this year, with 71 killed, 114 captured and 7,346 who surrendered.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte would issue an executive order on localized peace talks if the talks between the government and the CPP failed to materialize. With PNA

Bicam...

From A1 committee is close to finishing discussions on several issues in the proposed Bangsamoro Region.

“We will still resolve matters pertaining to telecommunications and franchises, among others,” Fariñas said.

The BBL proposes to establish the Bangsamoro juridical entity, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, said the bicameral conference committee agreed to have the Bangsamoro and the Department of Energy jointly explore, develop, and utilize fossil fuels and uranium in the new region.

“What we agreed upon was the Senate version wherein the Bangsamoro government and the DoE jointly explore and utilize these resources,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri also said the bicameral committe has already approved the provisions covering the Bangsamoro justice system, which includes the creation of the Shari’ah High Court.

Zubiri said under the approved version, cases involving Muslims and Christians would be under the jurisdiction of the ordinary trial courts.

The Shari’ah or Islamic Law, which forms part of the Islamic tradition derived from religious precepts of Islam, particularly of the Qur’an and Hadith, will only apply to cases involving Muslims, the approved provision stated.

However, it may apply to non-Muslims who voluntarily submit to the jurisdiction of the Shari’ah courts.

Meanwhile, traditional or tribal laws will be applicable to disputes of indigenous peoples within the envisioned Bangsamoro region.

Pacman’ s...

From A1 A second successive defeat, this time against the dangerous Argentine at Kuala Lumpur’s Axiata Arena, could see the veteran “National Fist” hang up his gloves for good.

But victory for Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs), who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions in a glittering 23-year career, would extend his legendary status and his life in the ring beyond his 40th birthday in December.

“I am not saying it will be the last [fight], but it will be the basis to think about [whether] to continue or not,” Pacquiao told Agence France-Presse at his training camp.

But “Pac-Man’s” conditioning coach Justin Fortune thinks the world will see “the old Pacquiao” return and silence those who question whether his aging body still has the ability to compete against the world’s best.

Pacquiao is going for his 60th victory since turning pro in 1995, but despite winning 38 of his first 47 fights by knockout, he has not stopped an opponent in nine years.

“He looks like the old Pacquiao,” declared Fortune of the boxer, who is also an elected senator in the Philippines and is tipped one day to run for president. “His metabolism is ridiculous. He’s a freak.”

Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) paid tribute to Pacquiao but warned that his admiration for one of the world’s greatest pound-forpound fighters would not stop him from taking his belt back to South America.

“He is a great champion but he still hasn’t faced ‘The Machine’,” Argentina’s Matthysse told a pre-fight press conference. AFP of space tourists will be propelled dozens of miles into the atmosphere, before coming back down to Earth.

By comparison, the ISS is in orbit 250 miles (400 kilometers) from our planet.

AFP

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Cases vs top BoC official dismissed THE Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed charges of grave coercion, falsification, grave misconduct and other violation of customs laws against a ranking official of the Bureau of Customs for “insufficiency of evidence.”

In a 16-page resolution, graft investigation and prosecution officer Leilani Marquez absolved customs enforcement group deputy commissioner Arnel Alcaraz and three other customs officials in connection with the supposed illegal seizure of plywood shipments at the Port of Manila in 2016.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales approved the dismissal order penned by Marquez and two other prosecution officers Bonifacio Mandrilla and Fatima Kristine Franco.

Also cleared of the charges were lawyer Rhea Gregorio, Disodado Moreno and Lieza Bernasol.

“Wherefore, the present administrative and criminal complaints are dismissed,” the resolution read.

Marquez ruled in favor of Alcaraz, saying he just acted to the best of his judgment to protect the Bureau of Customs when he issued an alert order over plywood shipments in October 2016. Rio N. Araja

DENR told: Prepare plan for tourist spots LAWMAKERS have ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to draft a masterplan to address the environmental concerns of areas frequented by tourists.

At a congressional hearing, members of the House of Representatives’ committee on natural resources asked DENR officials to submit a workable and attainable budget in 2019 budget for that purpose.

The congressmen issued the call during the hearing of the Committee on Natural Resources on House Resolution 1706, filed by the panel’s chairman, Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty of LP-GMA, that seeks an inquiry into the reported establishment of structures in the forest areas as well as the shorelines of Boracay.

Environment officials, led by Secretary Roy Cimatu, who attended the hearing, reported on the agency’s rehabilitation activities at Boracay, which is set to be be reopened on Oct. 26.

Cimatu’s report focused on the activities done to improve water services and sewerage disposal on the island.

A member of the committee, Rep. Jesulito Manalo of ANGKLA Party-list told Cimatu to submit to the Congress and the Department of Budget and Management the projected budget needed to protect the environment in various tourist destinations. Maricel V. Cruz

PNP fed with wrong advice—De Lima SENATOR Leila de Lima lamented the decision of the Philippine National Police rejecting Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s request to allow her to conduct committee hearings inside Camp Crame.

De Lima said PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde “has been given the wrong legal advice.”

Her statement came two days after the PNP said the courts should decide on matters related to De Lima’s exercise of duty as a legislator.

“Let it be stressed that Senate President Sotto, in his letter-request, is not asking that I be allowed to leave Camp Crame and attend hearings or sessions in the Senate premises,” De Lima said in a statement sent to reporters.

The senator has been detained for a year at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame due to her alleged involvement in the drug trade.

Sotto, on July 2, requested the PNP to allow De Lima to perform her duties as the Senate committee chairman on social justice, welfare, and development while in detention cell. MJ Blancaflor

Student-beneficiaries of Pembo Elementary School in Makati receive their meals as part of the school’s feeding program on Friday, July 13.

The Department of Education kickstarted the nationwide Oplan Kalusugan to provide basic primary health and dental services to public daycare, kindergarten, and elementary schools. Among the programs offered are the National Drug Education Program, Adolescent Reproductive Health Education, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools Program.

Lisa Marie P. David

Nearly 1k sacks of spoiled rice buried in Tacloban

By Ronald O. Reyes

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ACLOBAN CITY—The Bureau of Customs on Friday, buried some 982 sacks of confiscated milled rice at the city’s landfill area after it was found to be no longer fit for human and animal consumption.

The rice shipment arrived at the Tacloban City port on July 13, 2013, and consigned to a private company identified as A-1 Milling Corp., according to BoC at the port area in a press statement.

However, a hold order was requested by the Enforcement and Security Service Customs Police which was approved by the District Collector at that time, citing the lack of import permit from National Food Authority and other necessary papers.

The BoC said the rice item was stored at NFA GID warehouse. It was then affected when Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ hit the city on Nov. 8, 2013.

The agency added that on Feb. 17, 2014, the district collector at that

time decided to forfeit the subject shipment in favor of the government for violation of Section 2530 (f) and (1)-5 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

The statement also said that the claimant “expressly renounced its right over the seized milled rice, which left him no other option but to order for its forfeiture.”

It added that while the rice items were offered to be sold in public auction twice, it also failed due to lack of interested bidders.

It has been automatically forwarded for a “negotiated sale” subject for the approval of the commissioner after two failed biddings.

Yet the Office of the Commissioner was not able to come up with a decision,

with the abrupt changes in the Bureau’s administration, it said.

After the result of the laboratory analysis performed by the NFA, which deemed the rice to be unfit for human and animal consumption, the burying of rice was decided.

According to Acting District Collector Jose A. Naig, he created a Committee on Disposition of Goods Injurious to Public Health in compliance with Section 1145 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. It recommended the disposal of the said item after it turned “moldy, discolored and powdery, and emitted a pungent smell” after the committee’s inspection “Upon my assumption of office, I have worked out for the condemnation and immediate burying of these items. The prolonged stay of these commodities is prejudicial to the interest of the government because we are paying for their storage and they’re hazardous to public health,” said Naig in a statement.

Local media and some representatives from NFA and BoC, among others, witnessed the disposition of spoiled confiscated rice items.

‘Keno’ could deplete PCSO’s funds—CoA AN ONLINE gaming of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office could cause the depletion of its funds, according to the Commission on Audit.

State auditors also warned PCSO of another depletion in its charitable fund.

First, CoA flagged PCSO’s P5.890billion expenditures which it said were not related to charity projects and projects and yet charged to the CF of the agency.

In a 2017 audit report, the state auditors said the agency’s online Keno lottery game that involved multiple daily draw incurred deficits in its prize fund of P4.283 billion in 2016 until 2017 as of Dec. 30, 2017.

The online game had exceeded the allocated amount for prizes, and that such could result in the possible depletion of the reserve funds for the other forms of lottery games of PCSO, it said.

Based on the official website of

PCSO, Keno is its fastest online lottery games with multiple daily draws with a total of 103 draws a day.

PCSO entered into a lease contract with the Total Gaming Technologies Inc. to operate Keno for 10 years, or until 2020.

CoA told PCSO to adopt new approaches or to revisit its policies and guidelines for the Keno operations.

On the other hand, PCSO assured CoA of measures being undertaken to address the deficits, such as by increasing the minimum price bet from P10 to P20 or P24, adjustment in the amount of the jackpot prize and operating hours.

Daily Keno draws operate from 7 am until midnight from Monday through Sunday.

“Otherwise, consider the possibility of discontinuing the Keno operations if it will continuously incur deficits in the

prize fund which is detrimental to the stability of the consolidated prize fund,” CoA said.

The commission called the attention of PCSO for its P5.890 billion expenditures that were not related to charity projects and projects, but were charged to the agency’s charitable funds, in violation of Republic Act 1169 or the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office charter mandating that 30 percent of PCSO funds shall be set aside for health programs, medical assistance, and other charities of national character.

The Commission on Higher Education got a disbursement of P318.589 million; Bureau of Internal Revenue, P5.298 billion; PCSO charity clinic, P67.98 million for the payment of employee, and expanded medical assistance program for employees, P204.593 million. Rio N. Araja

DoJ upholds case dismissal vs Navarro

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has upheld its earlier resolution dismissing the rape and attempted rape charges against actor and television show host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro.

In a resolution, the DoJ denied the petition for review filed by model-stylist Deniece Cornejo, which challenged a September 2017 resolution that found no probable cause to press charges against Navarro in court.

Cornejo had accused Navarro of sexually abusing her on Jan. 17, 2014 and five days later on Jan. 22, when the actor was mauled by the group of businessman Cedric Lee, resulting in the actor’s hospitalization for multiple injuries.

The DoJ ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to warrant Navarro’s indictment as it junked Cornejo’s additional pieces of evidence, particularly the two previous rape complaints filed by two other women, a published statement

of another, and an alleged date-rape drug.

Aside from procedural flaws in the evidence filing, the DOJ said that even an assumption that Navarro has the “propensity to rape women” does not cure Cornejo’s “incredible account of the incident, especially her belated, much belated, account of her having been raped” by the actor on Jan. 17, 2014.

“Her case implodes for its own weakness. It would be such a stretch to breathe credibility into what is essentially lifeless simply because [Navarro] fits the profile of a rapist. The profile does not help,” stated resolution promulgated last April 30.

The DoJ also was not convinced that the date-rape drug was confiscated from Navarro.

The DoJ rejected Cornejo’s faulting of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the authority behind last year’s complaint throw-out, for echoing findings of inconsistencies in her narrative of the alleged rape and attempted rape.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. The Department of Health led, by Secretary Francisco Duque (third from left), together with Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center chief Dr. Emmanuel Montaña, Wendel Avisado, Presidential Assistant for Special Concern office, Acting Secretary Department of Social Welfare and Development Virginia Orogo, Dr. Shirley Domingo, vice president, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Rubin Magno, OIC assistant general manager of PCSO sign a joint Administrative Order that will make it more convenient for Filipinos to get medical assistance funds from the government on Friday, July 13, at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Norman Cruz

PDEA disputes CoA report on handling of evidence

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday disputed the findings of Commission on Audit for its lack of transparency and security in custodial handling of drug evidence.

Director general Aaron Aquino said CoA’s report was “moot and academic,” saying it would be of no practical value since the laboratory service being referred to in the report was the one in the old annex building that was struck by fire in 2015.

During the fire, the evidence room where confiscated illegal drugs were stored was spared.

“The PDEA laboratory service, which prides itself as the country’s premier drug forensic center, is now housed in a new three-story building at the agency’s national headquarters in Quezon City where the laboratory and storage facilities for drug evidence are relocated. The building worth P25 million was inaugurated last June 1,” he said.

“The new evidence room has an upgraded security system, making it inaccessible to unauthorized personnel. Closed-circuit television cameras cover all angles leaving no blind areas in the premises, with fire extinguishers, with proper labels and instructions of use. Metal grills and double doors were also installed around the facility,” he added.

Earlier, CoA released a compliance audit report concerning PDEA’s safekeeping, monitoring, and disposition of seized/confiscated dangerous drugs in its custody from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2017.

Du30 fratmate Kho appointed to Comelec

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a fraternity brother from the San Beda University-based Lex Talionis Fraternitas, as Comelec commissioner.

The Palace announced on Friday that former Justice undersecretary Antonio Kho was appointed last July 11, but his appointment paper was only released last Friday.

Kho will take the post vacated by then commissioner and now Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas. Kho will serve until 2022.

The appointment of Kho completed the seven-man Commission on Elections.

Kho was among the three Justice undersecretaries that submitted their resignation letters when Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra took over the reins of Justice department, replacing then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre who resigned for several bungled cases.

Duterte earlier appointed a hometown friend in ex-Court of Appeals Associate Justice Socorro Inting to the poll body.

Abas and Inting’s appointment were confirmed by the powerful Commission on Appointments in May.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The best and the worst in Puno constitutional draft ship in the draft, including in the transition period where the President is given enormous power.

I reserve my views on the design of the Federal system being proposed. I am glad that we are establishing regions and not states, and that the principle of BASED on a first reading of the Puno asymmetry will govern the relationship constitutional draft, my first impression between the Bangsamoro and Cordilleis that there are good and bad provi- ra regions and the Federal government. sions. Hopefully, only the good will sur- However, I am not convinced on the vive the constituent assembly process practicality, efficiency, and effectiveand the bad will be cast out. I am not ness of the division of powers between so optimistic that is the case, however, the Federal government, regional govgiven the composition of Congress. Still ernments, and local governments. Relatbut am willing to see how this unfolds. ed to this concern, I am also concerned The best provisions of the Puno text about the design of the fiscal and revare in the Bill of Rights of the proposal enue allocation system being proposed. (explained in full below) and in several My initial analysis is that rich regions provisions scattered throughout the text will benefit greatly from the proposed that reform our politics (such as the Federal design and the poor regions will self-executory anti-dynasty provision, be worse off, the the provisions that exact opposite of institutionalizes the outcome bevoting for parties ing promised. I and proportional am willing to be Difficult decisions r e p r e s e nt at ion , convinced and and those that sup- have to be made. persuaded that I port political party misunderstand the d e v e l o p m e n t) . proposal.

There are good I have no such provisions also in doubt with the the sections on the new Bill of Rights Judiciary and the Federal Commissions being proposed, an effort led by Fr. although, as I will write in another col- Ranhilio Aquino, my dean at the San umn, the revolutionary changes in the Beda Graduate School of Law. A staple former—having four highest courts and in every constitution, this section conregional supreme courts—will be ex- tains the declaration and enumeration of tremely challenging to implement. a person’s rights and privileges which The worst provisions of the Puno pro- the constitution is designed to protect posal emanate in the terrible choice the against violation by the government and consultative committee made of keep- other individuals. ing the discredited presidential system, Arguably, the Bill of Rights of the increasing and expanding further an 1987 Constitution was a reproduction of already imperial presidency based on its predecessor, the 1973 Constitution, the powers of the colonial governor gen- at least in most of its main features, the erals of Spain and the United States of constitutional commission of 1986 also America, contradicting and negating introduced substantial amendments, the decentralization principle of federal- resulting in a much longer provisions. ism and the libertarian and democratic However, the proposed federal tendencies of its Bill of Rights and pro- constitution provides for a much more visions on political reform. This in fact comprehensive bill of rights with 28 is the worst feature of both the 1935 and sections including a new section on 1973 constitutions, that among others environmental and ecological rights. allow presidents like Aquino and Du- In contrast, the Bill of Rights of 1987 terte to oust chief justices on personal Constitution has only 22 sections. pique. There are many seeds of dictatorTurn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

No tough talk for China

T

HIS week marked the second anniversary of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. That decision was favorable to the Philippines, because it declared that China’s nine-dash line claim over most of the South China Sea had no basis in fact.

That international legal victory, however, is bittersweet.

After an apparent indecision on whether to enforce the ruling amid China’s incursions into several areas, President Rodrigo Duterte set aside the award in exchange for investments from China.

Since then he has toed the friendly-neighbor line, refusing to bring up the incursions when he speaks with his Chinese counterparts, and even professing undying love for the Chinese leader.

More recently, Mr. Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, defended the Chinese coast guard’s taking of Filipino fishermen’s catch in Panatag

Shoal, saying they provided noodles and water in exchange for the fish anyway.

Even the Department of Foreign Affairs, now headed by politician Alan Peter Cayetano, has done nothing to protest China’s acts of militarization. Cayetano did say we protested more than 80 times, but he adopts so loose a definition of the verb “protest” that it hardly counts.

Two years on, the PCA’s decision remains one in theory. The Palace says the alternative is to go to war with China, which we cannot afford.

Such oversimplification merely dumbs down the people and does little to advance discussions on a fundamental democratic issue.

Photos of a banner declaring the Philippines as a province of China went viral this week, sadly coinciding with the ruling’s anniversary.

It was a joke of course, but one that drove home a point. Is this administration truly willing to trade not just fish for noodles, but sovereignty for investment and loan pledges?

Amid its tough talk and scare tactics, the administration will continue to be weak if it cannot even find the voice to demand respect from others.

Possibly a most life-changing Sona

pine Sea, the continuing daily killings of innocent people including local government officials, corruption allegations against some of the President’s people, and the deterioration of the economy with the rising inflation and PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will de- record-level weakening of the peso.

This Sona should be an opportune liver his third State of the Nation Address on July 23 and not a few are filled time for the President to assure the with foreboding about what he will say people that his administration is workon this occasion. Traditionally, the Sona ing hard to preserve our democratic is when the president reports to the peo- gains, protect our sovereign rights over ple about his/her accomplishments for WPS, respect people’s human rights, the past year, and his plans for the suc- address graft and corruption, and purceeding years to advance the country’s sue genuine economic reforms. These are reasonable expectations but may interests and people’s welfare.

However, going by his first two So- not be forthcoming.

Duterte will talk to the people “from nas, as well his style of communicating with people, Duterte does not have the the heart” says Roque. The country discipline to stick to his prepared state- is at crossroads. Duterte is the prime ments. He has his own “talking points” mover of the federalism initiative. Aland speaks extemporaneously about ready, his consultative committee has whatever he fancies. The speech is pep- submitted to him and the Congress pered with curses. Most of his state- leadership the draft Constitution for a ments have been very controversial. federated Philippines. This document is creating a lot of Since presidential stir among politipronouncements cal observers. Beare taken as policy yond dividing the pronouncements, country, there are many times, DuI hope I am wrong. very dangerous terte’s words have provisions that resulted in exallow for the contreme “policies” centration of powand orders that er in the hands of violate human rights. Worse, these have resulted in the president particularly during the tens of thousands of killings. His tirades transition period, making it easy to against other countries, as well as his declare Martial Law, and the dilution “bromance” with China, have put the of human rights guaranteed under the present Constitution, among others. country’s interests in a perilous state.

Midterm elections are scheduled for For the coming Sona, the Palace has already said that Duterte will not be next year. Talks are rife about a “noreporting about his administration’s el” scenario. In fact, the Speaker of the accomplishments. Spokesman Harry House of Representatives and the Senate Roque said that Duterte would like to President have recently expressed their speak to the people “from the heart.” openness to, if not outright agreement How this should be interpreted is, well, with scrapping the said elections. The a guessing game. The country is facing House Speaker has said that cancelling major political and economic challeng- the elections will enable the country to es and what the people need are con- prepare for the shift to federalism (and crete measures that will address these. for them to hold on to power). This will The country faces this adminis- be violative of the present Constitution tration’s shift to federalism project, but this does not seem to worry China’s continuing militarization and Congress leaders. occupation of areas in the West PhilipTurn to A5

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

Poland’s double-edged vodka tradition

By Stanislaw Waszak BE IT a source of national pride or negative stereotypes, vodka is an integral part of Polish identity.

The country has just turned a former distillery into a museum celebrating its long vodka tradition but the location in a Warsaw neighborhood once known for thieves and drunkards also recalls the downside of the national tipple.

“It’s part of our DNA, our history, our heritage and our tradition,” says Andrzej Szumowski, president of the Polish Vodka Association, which cosponsored the new museum, the first of its kind in Poland.

“Just like there’s no French history without cognac or champagne, no Brit-

ish history without gin or Scotch whiskey or no Mexican history without tequila, you can’t talk about Polish history without mentioning vodka.”

That history includes the French expression “drunk as a Pole,” which today is derogatory but originally had the opposite meaning when Napoleon allegedly first used it with his soldiers.

It was his way of saying, “You can drink but you must know how to be drunk like Poles who, even when inebriated, are able to get up and fight,” according to Szumowski.

Noble monopoly Poland was a kingdom of beer and mead before vodka appeared in the 15th century and upended drinking habits.

The landed gentry began assigning an

ever-increasing percentage of the wheat harvest to the production of spirits.

According to the monopoly that only completely disappeared just before the 19th century, the nobles had the exclusive right to import, produce and sell alcohol on their properties.

They even had the right to require their serfs to purchase a certain amount of alcohol.

Named after “woda,” Polish for “water,” vodka has also served as bartering currency during times of scarcity, of which there have been many over the course of Poland’s troubled history.

After World War I, the state liquor monopoly accounted for 10 percent of the state’s budget and even up to Turn to A5

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Opinion Fake news: The media industry strikes back

By Rob Lever THE viral spread of hoaxes and misinformation ahead of the US election and Brexit referendum two years ago was a wake-up call for many established news media, who have gone on the offensive to shore up their credibility and help filter out fake news.

Major media organizations, often in partnership with big technology and social media firms, have stepped up fact-checking and other steps to support fact-based journalism.

But these efforts have been complicated by unrelenting attacks on the media by US President Donald Trump and others who tend to label any unfavorable coverage “fake news.”

The ‘gatekeeper’ role Fake news is as old as journalism itself, and reputable media organizations have often played a role of “gatekeeper” to reliable information.

This role has been fundamentally challenged in the fast-moving Internet age when rumors and false information can become viral, sometimes with tragic results.

In one chilling example in India, a WhatsApp rumor warning that 300 people had descended on Gujarat looking to abduct and sell children has triggered deadly mob attacks.

Social media “has made things much worse,” because it “offers an easy route for non-journalists to bypass journalism’s gatekeepers, so that anyone can ‘publish’ anything, however biased, inaccurate or fabricated,” says John Huxford, an Illinois State University journalism professor.

“Journalism’s role as the ‘gatekeeper’ of what is and isn’t news has always been controversial, of course. But we’re now seeing just how bad things can get when that function breaks down.”

Internet firms, after initial reluctance to define themselves as “media,” have stepped up efforts to identify false news and to “curate” stories from “trusted” news sources.

“Technology companies including Apple, Google, Snapchat, Twitter, and, above all, Facebook have taken on most of the functions of news organizations, becoming key players in the news ecosystem, whether they wanted that role or not,” said a March 2018 report by

The best...

From A4

While most of the rights contained in the proposed federal constitution are a reproduction of its predecessors, the consultative committee chose to introduce novel principles and concepts which explicitly spell out, in no uncertain terms, certain rights of individuals to reflect present-day realities.

Substantially recreated in the proposed federal constitution which are also found in the 1987 Constitution are Civil and Political Rights with a number of alterations.

This article includes the right to life, liberty and property without due process; freedom of religion, press, and expression, rights of the accused, the inviolability of the right to privacy, right to travel, right to information.

The right against unreasonable searches and seizure is reiterated but here it now extends to the conduct of unlawful unreasonable surveillance. Surveillance, not just searches, will only be allowed if authorities obtain both a search warrant and surveillance warrant. Individuals can demand that government agencies delete illegally obtained information related to them.

Social and Economic Rights, which used to be scattered in different articles in the 1987 Constitution or merely implicitly stated therein, can now be found in the bill of rights of the proposed federal constitution. As provided, every person is declared to have the

Poland’s...

From A4

15 percent after the end of World War II,

according to Poland’s edition of Forbes.

Poland currently produces the equivalent of nearly 100 million liters of pure alcohol each year, according to the national spirits industry association ZPPPS. That puts it among the world’s top producers along with the United States, Ukraine and Russia.

King of consumption “Unfortunately, though, above all we’re exceptional at consuming alcohol,” says Krzysztof Brzoska, who heads the PARPA state agency for the prevention of alcoholrelated problems.

“Almost all of the alcohol produced here ends up on the domestic market,” he adds,

Possibly...

From A4

It took several days and a lot of criticism from social media users before the copy of the draft Constitution was released to the public. At first, there were Con-Com members who said that the President should approve it first before the release. This is hard to understand because the people should understand this very important document as its impact on the nation’s life is very significant.

The effects of this possible shift will be felt many years after Duterte and his

Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism.

Fake news spreads faster Numerous studies have shown that fake news—often more sensational than genuine information—spreads faster online because of how social media has prioritized “virality.”

“False political news traveled deeper and more broadly, reached more people, and was more viral than any other category of false information,” said a report this year from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The MIT researchers examined 126,000 rumors spread by three million people, and found that false news reached more people than the truth.

“Analysis found that it took the truth approximately six times as long as falsehood to reach 1,500 people,” the researchers said.

Oxford Internet Institute scholars came to a similar conclusion, pointing out that on many online platforms, news is “prioritized by complex algorithms that have been coded to sort, filter, and deliver content in a manner that is designed to maximize users’ engagement,” according to a study.

“The speed and scale at which content ‘goes viral’ grows exponentially, regardless of whether or not the information it contains is true,” wrote Oxford researchers Samantha Bradshaw and Philip Howard.

Huxford said many Internet users are not adept at telling fake news from the real thing, making the role of major news organizations critical.

“This is why Trump falsely labelling the mainstream media as ‘fake news’ is so toxic,” he said.

“It means that, at a time when there is a lot of fabrication and falsehoods swirling through the system, the credibility of the most reliable sources of news is being undermined.”

There have been some hopeful signs for news media, such as increased digital subscriptions for the New York Times and Washington Post. But many legacy organizations such as local newspapers are struggling with a shift to digital platforms.

New dangers for journalists?

Journalists may face new dangers in the current environment, in some cases subject to attacks by political leaders even

when trying to debunk false information.

In Brazil, the fact-checking organizations Lupa and Aos Fatos, which have partnered with Facebook to curb fake news, have faced threats and harassment, with some groups accusing them of ideological bias.

The Philippine government meanwhile revoked the license of website Rappler, which has also joined factchecking efforts against President Rodrigo Duterte.

The United States has broad constitutional protection for the press, but some say Trump’s attacks are having an impact.

After the deadly attack on a newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland, one prominent writer suggested Trump’s posture laid the groundwork for violence against journalists.

“He calls us the enemy of the people, he says that we are unpatriotic, that we do not love our country, and we’re surprised when someone picks up a gun to kill us?” said Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin in an HBO interview.

The value of fact-checking As fake news has extended its global reach, so has fact-checking—with some 149 initiatives now running in 53 countries, according to the Duke University Reporters Lab. Facebook has established fact-checking partnerships with 25 organizations, including AFP, in 14 countries, to stem the spread of misinformation.

Yet even fact-checking has its limits, and some people will remain committed to believing false information regardless of verification efforts, studies show.

In late 2016, a gunman fired shots in a Washington pizza restaurant based on the erroneous belief it was the location of a child sex ring involving Hillary Clinton. And 51 percent of Republican voters said in a recent survey they believed former president Barack Obama was born in Kenya—another widelyshared fallacy.

A Pew Research Center survey released last year found two-thirds of US adults say fabricated news stories cause a great deal of confusion about the basic facts of current issues and events.

The survey also found 23 percent said they had shared a fake news story, with nearly half of those saying they knew it was false at the time. AFP

right to adequate food, universal and comprehensive health care, quality education, adequate and decent housing, livelihood and employment opportunities.

A new section on Environmental and Ecological Rights states that every person has the right to a healthful environment, clean air, clean water, clean soil, and clean surroundings; to seek compensation for damage to the environment; and to seek “immediate relief” from courts through the writ of kalikasan and other protective writs.

What is radical is that all of these rights are self-executory and actionable. Citizens can immediately file lawsuits against government agencies and non-state actors to enforce their rights and seek redress if they are violated. For sure, some will claim that these rights will be abused and that this will cause congestion. But that’s not the case, as we have seen in the area of environmental rights, where the Supreme Court has been sympathetic to citizens in the rule of procedure it promulgated and its precedents. The rule and these precedents have not been abused, nor have they congested the courts.

One significant step taken by the consultative committee is to elevate the Commission on Human Rights into a constitutional commission with the responsibility to investigate human rights violations both by state and non-state actors. Under the present set-up, the Commission on Human Rights has a limited mandate. It is only authorized to accept complaints and investigate. But without prosecutorial powers, the CHR’s

hands are tied. As a constitutional commission, the existence of the Commission on Human Rights is guaranteed. It becomes insulated from partisan politics and protected from emasculation by state actors like as what previously happened when it ran the risk of being deprived of its annual appropriations by Congress.

Another important provision is the explicit statement that violations of human rights include those not only guaranteed by the Constitution but also international human rights covenants and treaties to which the Philippines is a signatory.

For sure, if the new Bill of Rights is approved, thanks to Chief Justice Puno Fr. Aquino and their colleagues, it would be one reason for voting yes in the referendum. It would be such an irony that the best Bill of Rights we would ever have is adopted during a government with the worst human rights record. There is of course precedent in that as the 1973 Marcos Constitution also had a strong Bill of Rights which the dictatorship simply ignored and disregarded. Nonetheless, I would still be surprised if the PunoAquino Bill of Rights survives the constituent assembly process.

If only one could choose and pick the text that is good and throw away the bad, that would be perfect. But that is not going to happen here. Hard decisions will have to be made. I hope to help my readers make that decision in the months to come.

saying that Poles are drinking more and more. The current favorite is beer.

While neighboring Lithuania consumes the most alcohol per capita each year in Europe, Poles lead the way when it comes to the amount consumed at one time.

“We drink less often than the French or Italians, but when we do drink we go the whole way,” says Brzoska, adding that around 1,500 Poles die of an alcohol overdose each year.

In the country of 38-million people, more than 800,000 are alcohol dependent, according to Dariusz Wasilewski, a psychiatrist specializing in drinking problems.

But he adds that the number of Poles whose drinking habits are detrimental to their health is three or four times higher.

“I just can’t accept the idea that an alcoholic beverage could be the object of national pride,” he tells AFP.

Art of vodka For Tadeusz Dorda, marketing head of the Chopin brand, there is an art to drinking vodka: “We want it to be talked about in a smart way.”

He wants it to be known for example that vodka does not need to be served ice cold.

In fact, some connoisseurs say that the mark of a vodka’s quality is whether it is drinkable at a temperature of between six to eight degrees Celsius (43 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit).

That is when it is possible to detect the vodka’s particular taste and fragrance, which depend on its main ingredient, as well as where and when it was made, according to Dorda.

Potato-based vodka has a heavy quality, while the rye kind is lighter and is also known for its bitter taste and strong fragrance. Wheat-based vodka offers the mildest flavor. AFP

cohorts are no longer in power. Why the reluctance, then? Is it because Con-Com members know that they have put in very dangerous provisions in the draft constitution?

There are talks that buses filled with people from some provinces are being hauled off to Manila, with promises of money and food (and in some cases, some capital for small business for those who are able to recruit many others to join) to attend orientations on federalism and sign papers on this. The accounts are sketchy but if this is indeed happening, it would appear that the move for federalism is in full blast.

Duterte himself has made the rounds of provinces after the last barangay elections for the swearing in of the newly elected village officials. Again, observers opined that this is in preparation for the big shift.

So what will Duterte say in his Sona?

What will “talking from the heart” entail? I am inclined to believe (and I hope I am wrong) that the President will use this platform to bring the case for the shift from unitary to federal form of government to the people. He will use his political capital, his popularity to convince the people to support the shift. If they are able to get a significant number of signatures from people, Duterte may brandish these

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

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An alliance Trump will never understand bloc effectively resulted in the dismantling of the Warsaw Pact and of the Soviet equivalent of the EU known as the CMEA or Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.

The continued eastward advance of THE North Atlantic Treaty Organi- Nato has now led many to ask why it zation became the principal shield of continues to expand. Could it be that Western Europe against the Soviet Un- Nato has conversely used it to justify its ion when its members organized it on imperativeness; that there is a need to April 4, 1949 in Washington. The mili- make the alliance strong to thwart postary bloc conceived the doctrine such sible reaction by Russia to this creeping that an attack on any of its members encirclement.

At the end of the Cold War in 1991, would be deemed an attack on its allies.

Consistent with this, President the US made a promise to the Soviet’s Trump, in his usual browbeating meth- last Premier Mikhail Gorbachev that od of impressing others, surprisingly in exchange for the dismantling of the exhorted all the members to raise their Warsaw Pact and the reunification of contribution to Nato’s military expen- Germany, Nato would not advance beyond the border that existed before ditures to 2 percent of their GDP. Trump, like many who have a hazy 1991. That, however, was violated, and understanding how Nato came into the US is not only enticing countries being, would take his acerbic state- in Eastern Europe and Central Asia ment as a reminder to comply with to join Nato which move could open a the “deal” they promised. By that, wide flank to create an imbalance from the President implies that the long pa- the whole of Russia to China that saw tience of the US is over. The US could the forging of their own strategic partno longer foot the bill that has reached nership.

The metamorphosis in the objective 74 percent of the alliance’s total expenditures. Probably, he was referring of Nato is now perceived by many as to the fact that of the 28 members, only no longer serving its original purpose.

Nato has involved about five have itself in many complied with the wars outside what 2-percent GDP has originally quota, saying that been defined as the US has been Nato’s objectives countries it sees playing the role of no longer serve their could pose as a “sucker.” threat to the alThus, if one original purpose. liance.

Rather, would take the it has become a abrasive statement tool to carry out of Trump, frankly US policy by its he is just remindinvolvement and ing them of their participation in so many wars never obligation under the agreement.

Particularly hit was Angela Merkel conceived by the member- states to beof Germany. That country is Europe’s come their enemies.

This is seen by their involvement in biggest and richest economy, and Trump did not mince his words in say- Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and covertly ing that Germany has reduced the US by its continued participation to oust to a sucker for failing to meet its quota the legitimate government in Syria. contribution to Nato, yet buying oil Nato is not only involved in these ilfrom Russia, referring to the $11 bil- legal wars, but its role is now being lion Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that questioned. Trump, for lack of tact, has would directly supply Germany with failed to reckon out that countries like natural gas from Vyborg, Russia to Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and Dreifsward, Germany passing through Poland are incurring great expenses to sustain this military adventurism that the Baltic Sea. Trump accused Germany and its originated in Washington rather than in partners of getting richer at the expense Brussels.

The harsh opposition by Trump to of the US, enjoying a trade surplus of $151 million while imposing restrictive the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 Pipeline project is without basis. While trade barriers on US goods.

But for all of Trump’s candor, he failed economically, the project could be a to mention that the alliance’s existence blow to the US export of natural gas today has become less and less in favor to Europe, strategically, that would be of the member countries of Western Eu- most advantageous to Germany and to rope. Nato has become the springboard countries supportive of the project who of the US to launch aggressive policies also happen to be members of Nato. across the continent onward to East- The US cannot insist on the continued ern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle German patronage of its natural gas East and North Africa. Trump failed to that costs three times the price offered mention that Nato has undergone a po- by Russia’s Gazprom, this not to menlitical and military metamorphosis in tion the cost of transporting oil across identifying its allies from its enemies the Atlantic.

Moreover, Trump did not mention in the wake of the end of the Cold War. He could not be boastful enough to re- the events in Ukraine where the US cite the truth that the only thing that is played a key role in bloodily ousting constant in the alliance is the fact that it Viktor Yanukovych. The increasing remains under the effective control and political instability and the civil war saw the disruption in the flow of gas command of the US. Trump remains unaware that Nato passing through that country. There was created at the height of the Cold is not only the threat of sabotage but War with a defined enemy headed by exorbitant fee being charged for their the then Soviet Union and its allies in transit. In other words, transit of gas Eastern Europe, and for which com- through Ukraine has become troumunist states organized their counter- blesome. Nord Stream 2 would reach part military bloc known as the War- Germany unhindered.

Germany has the right to protect its saw Pact in May 1955. Nato then was dichotomized from its enemies on the core economic interest and its obligation to support an alliance has become basis of ideological differences.

Today, the Soviet Union no longer less enthusiastic after Nato expanded exists, and most of the so-called East- its role outside the boundaries that ern satellite states now seek closer caused many to join and extend their identification with the European Union military support. Nato countries have of which 13 (Czech Republic, Hungary, redefined the purpose of their contribuPoland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lith- tion, and their own people are asking uania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, why their country ended up fighting an Albania, Croatia and Montenegro) have endless war initiated by the US. They joined Nato. Three were formerly part see their Bundeswehr holed in a foreign of the federated states of the defunct war they never conceived to be their enemy in the future.

Soviet Union.

The implosion of the Soviet Union rpkapunan@gmail.com in 1991 and the collapse of the Eastern

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

signatures to make it appear that Filipinos support the initiative.

He possibly can endorse the draft constitution to Congress and instruct them to convene as constituent assembly. This means that as Con-Ass, Congress will tinker with the draft constitution, make their desired changes (which undoubtedly will favor their interests) before submitting it to the people in a plebiscite for ratification.

So, the elections might be replaced by a plebiscite. Assuming that Con-Ass is convened and it finishes its work within the year, and plebiscite is scheduled by May next year, there will only be a few months

for people to study and understand the Constitution that they will be asked to ratify. Certainly, this is not enough time to prepare the country and the people for a major change in the nation’s life.

Thus, Duterte’s upcoming Sona is most important because of the possibilities. It is the responsibility of every Filipino to stay tuned and be alert to how the president will talk “from the heart.” Again, I hope that I am wrong that this Sona may be the most life-changing for the country and the people. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

News

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Makati tells owners: Comply with parking regulations

Sara says she would rather be in Davao

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio said if she were to choose to run in a national position or remain in the city, whether as a private individual or a government official, she would rather remain in Davao.

In an interview with the media after the 13th Araw ng Barangay Vicente Hizon Sr., Carpio said she was thankful for all the support she received from people around the country who were pushing her to seek a national post.

However, she would want to stay in Davao City whether as a government official or as a private citizen.

“If I were to decide today, I’d like to stay here. Live and work in Davao City whether in the government or private sector,” Carpio said.

During the celebration, barangay chairman Ralph Salvador suddenly endorsed Carpio for senator and even asked the latter to consider seeking the presidency.

“Well, I’d like to thank Captain Salvador for the endorsement but we will still have to think [about whether to run] for a national position—whether senator or president,” she said.

Abella said it would be best for Capio to consider the presidency after her father’s—President Rodrigo Duterte—term ends in 2022.

“It would be better if she considers the presidency since she will continue his father’s legacy,” Abella said during his speech.

In the recent Pulse Asia survey conducted on June 15 to 21, Carpio ranked in the top five.

Free eye surgery in Tacloban

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—In celebration of this year’s “Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month” in August, a free eye checkup and cataract operation for all men and women aged 60 years old and above is scheduled in Tacloban City.

Organized by Tingog Sinirangan Party-list group, in cooperation with the RTR Medical Program Services and the Congressional Office of Leyte First District Rep. Yedda Romualdez, the medical program is open to all persons suffering eye problem in Eastern Visayas.

“This is not limited to Leyteños only,” said Ivy Jane Dacallos, office manager of Tingog Sinirangan party-list.

“Those who would like to avail [themselves of] the operation have to visit our office for the laboratory screening, which is also for free,” she added.

The registration and screening will run until July 31.

Dacallos instructed those who would like to avail themselves of the Tingog Medical Program to visit their office at the Community Center corner Real Sagkahan street in front of Tacloban Astrodome, for referral checkup and preoperative screening endorsement.

After the registration, they will proceed to Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Eye Center Out-patient department for the checkup and screening.

The checkup and screening is open only from 8:30 am to 12 nn, Wednesday to Saturday.

PhilHealth information is needed to avail one’s self of the free operation for 60 years old and above patients.

“It’s first come, first served basis. But we have no quota for the number of patients. We’ll have to finish the screening first to identify the possible numbers of patients for the operation,” Dacallos added.

This is the first eye operation to be conducted by their group for this year.

Tingog Sinirangan and Romualdez have organized four medical programs this 2018.

Its recent Tingog Medical Program was at Brgy. San Agustin, in Jaro, Leyte on June 20, benefiting over 400 residents in the area.

The free medical, dental and wellness services were delivered through the joint efforts of Tingog Sinirangan, Philippine Association of Medical Technologists Iligan, Philippine Army, Local Government of Jaro, JCI Candahug Liberation, and JCI Kulintang Inc. The free medical consultation was given by the medical team from Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation, Department of Health -Leyte Provincial Office, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, and student group Akma ResBak.

By Joel E. Zurbano

ANTI-POVERTY DRIVE. Workers rush the signage for the 104th Iglesia ni Cristo religious sect in preparation for their two-day event starting today at the sprawling bayside Luneta Park in Manila, dubbed as the Worldwide Aid to Fight Poverty. Lino Santos

INC continues anti-poverty drive, stages ‘Lingap’ Sunday A

FTER taking its Lingap sa Mamamayan outreach program to Africa, the Iglesia ni Cristo is set to stage the latest edition of its global anti-poverty initiative back home with a Lingap sa Mamamayan at the Quirino Grandstand on July 15.

The activity is expected to draw in over 150,000 people in what INC General Auditor Glicerio Santos Jr. said in a statement was “part of the Church’s resolve to tap its resources and do something concrete to combat poverty here and around the world.”

Santos added while the INC had conducted the Lingap sa Mamamayan in foreign lands, the leadership of the homegrown church—established in the Philippines in 1914—recognized that “charity begins at home.”

“Poverty is indeed a worldwide problem, but we are aware that it has and continues to be a serious issue in our own country. So while we are spreading our reach and living up to our responsibilities as global citizens, we have not forgotten that we are, first and foremost, Filipinos,” Santos said in his statement.

The Lingap sa Mamamayan program has been one of INC’s significant programs under the leadership of Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, at the helm of the church since 2009.

For the big Lingap acitivity on July 15, INC has readied ultra-modern laboratory and radiology equipment ready to perform complete blood count, blood sugar determination, blood typing, pregnancy test and urinalysis as well as ultrasound, 2D echo, and 12 liter ECG. All these services are to be given for free.

Santos said: “We will also offer free consultations in internal medicine, dermatology, pediatrics, ob-gyne and surgery.

“Two mini hospitals with two minor operating rooms will be set up at the venue. Canes, wheelchairs and reading glasses would be given at no cost to

Lingap attendees on top of maintenance medicines for hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol, antibiotics, medicines for children and multivitamins for people of all ages.”

Lingap sa Mamamayan activities have been organized and staged in the United States, Canada, Northern and Southern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and key areas in the Middle East including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

The INC recently finished a Lingap sa Mamamayan swing in Africa, distributed food parcels in Kibera and Kawangware in Nairobi, Kenya last month.

It also held similar activity in Blantyre and Samama Village Mangochi in Malawi in the same period. Church officials said an estimated 33,000 people received assistance.

Santos had said the success of the INC’s Worldwide Walk Against Poverty last May allowed it to hold even more Lingap sa Mamamayan activities as a result of the funds the activity raised.

THE Makati City government on Friday reminded owners of all commercial and residential buildings in the city to strictly comply with parking regulations under the implementing guidelines of the National Building Code.

Mayor Abigail Binay said under the law, if the setback provided was less than five meters, the curb and gutter shall be restored, and no ramp would be allowed along the sidewalk.

She added the size of an average automobile (car) parking slot must be computed at 2.50 meters by 5.00 meters for perpendicular or diagonal parking, and at 2.15 meters by 6.00 meters for parallel parking.

She said all structures in the city, whether residential or commercial, must properly observe the road rightof-way for the safety of pedestrians and motorists as well as for unimpeded traffic flow.

“We reiterate our call to all residential and commercial building owners and administrators to comply with the parking requirements and free the sidewalk from all impediments,” Binay said.

Since sidewalks and roadway/carriageway are included in the road rightof-way, these should be equally enjoyed by the community, according to the law.

The Office of the City Building Official recently discovered that 139 commercial buildings and establishments in the city failed to conform with the parking regulations.

Binay tapped CBO head engineer Elmer Acuesta to issue a memorandum reiterating the required strict compliance with Parking Slot, Parking Area and Loading/Unloading Space Requirements of the Code.

The pertinent provision in the revised implementing rules and regulation of P.D. 1096 states that: a) The parking slot, parking area and loading/ unloading space requirements listed hereafter are generally the minimum off-street cum on-site requirements for specific uses/occupancies for buildings/ structures, i.e., all to be located outside of the RROW. Based on a report submitted by Acuesta to the Office of the Mayor, recipients of the said notices included 12 hotels, eight banks, 17 restaurants, six condominiums/apartment buildings, 29 commercial buildings, four convenience stores, two supermarkets, and 61 other establishments.

‘Stop smoking in public’

NOISE BARRAGE. Mentors under the Manila Public School Teachers Association hold Friday a lunch break noise barrage protest in front of the Ramon Magsaysay High School along España Avenue in Manila. The group is calling for the incorporation of the P30,000 entry-level salary rate for teachers in the 2019 budget. Norman Cruz

AUTHORITIES on Friday reminded smokers about an Executive Order 26 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in May last year prohibiting smoking in public places and conveyances nationwide.

The Philippine National Police and local government units are strictly enforcing the Order aimed to protect nonsmokers, especially pregnant women and children, from second hand smoke that caused lung cancer and other ailment.

In the southern part of Metro Manila, 276 persons were arrested by the police for smoking in public in the cities of Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Taguig in just two days.

Based on the accomplishment report dated July 11 to 12 released by the Southern Police District, the City of Makati got the highest number of persons arrested for violating the smoking ban with a total apprehension of 148 followed by Muntinlupa City with 110 apprehensions.

Thirteen individuals were arrested in Parañaque City while five other were caught in Taguig City, according

to the SPD report.

Under the law, the penalty for: 1) Smoking in prohibited places and for violation of DSA (designated smoking area) standards: -First offense: a fine of P500.00 P1, 000.00; -Second offense: a fine of P1, 000.00 - P5, 000.00; -Third offense: a fine of P5,000.00 P10, 000.00 and revocation of the business permits and licenses to operate.

2) Selling or distributing to/ buying from minors; selling of tobacco products within 100 meters from any point of the perimeter of schools, playgrounds, and other facilities frequented particularly by minors; and failing to properly post signage required in point-of-sale establishments offering, distributing, or selling tobacco products: -Fine of at least P5,000.00 or imprisonment of maximum of 30 days and at the court’s discretion, revocation of business licenses or permits in the case of business entity or establishment.

Duterte signed EO 26 on May 16, 2017. Joel Zurbano

New hospital bldg inaugurated THE Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, owned and operated by the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc., held a groundbreaking ceremony of their 17-story building at the CGHMC Compound last June 27.

A press statement said this had been possible under the leadership of Dr. James Dy, president of CGHMC, and the efforts of Dr. Benito Goyokpin, chairman of the board, PCCAI, Antonio Tan, vice chairman, Jose Castañeda Jr., vice president, Jameson Dy, vice chairman (PCCAI) and senior vice president for Overall Operation and Administration (CGHMC), Kelly Sia, executive vice president, as part of their modernization program.

The building, called “The Dr. James G. Dy Garden Suites”—Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, is designed as

a 300- bed hospital with the latest equipment and facilities in modern healthcare to complement the existing Chinese General Hospital Complex.

It will have the full range of diagnostics and treatment centers for patients in need of medical care highlighted by its Cardiovascular center, Cancer center and Hemo-dialysis facilities, the hospital said in a statement.

The design of the 17-story hospital building aims to address the patients’ well-being by providing unique spaces such as the Garden Suites concept and the Central Solarium.

This will have lush greeneries and allow patients to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and natural sunlight while being in the comfort and safety of the hospital premises.

The entire facade of the hospital will also feature a faceted external

CUTTING-EDGE RITE. The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center has inaugurated its 17-level building (right) at the Center compound.. At left photo, officials who attended the groundbreaking are (from left): Jose Castañeda Jr., vice chairman (PCCAI), Antonio Tan, vice chairman (PCCAI), Florante Dy, chairman emeritus, Dr. James Dy, chairman emeritus and president, Dr. Benito Goyokpin, chairman, Jameson Dy, vice chairman (PCCAI) and senior vice president for Overall Operation and Administration of (CGHMC), Dr. Modesto Llamas, medical director (CGHMC). double wall skin that encourages constant airflow leading to heat reduction and energy savings.

An Executive Doctors’ lounge at the center of the facade and a Spherical

shaped Presidential Suite further enhances the design and complete the State of the Art and Hotel-like design ambience of the Hospital, it said in its statement.

Sports

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Discovery Perlas wins Japan meet

World Cup finale airs on ABS-CBN S+A, Liga FILIPINO will watch with the entire world as France and Croatia battle for football supremacy in the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ with the live broadcast of the competition’s final match this Sunday at 11 p.m. on ABS-CBN S+A on free TV and LIGA on cable, with livestreaming on sports.abs-cbn.com.

The Battle for Third between England and Belgium will also be aired and streamed live this Saturday (July 14) at 10 p.m.

Both matches will be shown on high definition on S+A HD and LIGA HD. France took the first spot in the final after beating Belgium last Wednesday (July 11) with the score of 1-0 courtesy of Samuel Umtiti’s second-half header. Croatia followed suit on Thursday (July 12) with Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic leading them to a comeback victory in extra time over England, which scored early in the match off Kieran Trippier’s free kick.

Local football fans and Philippinebased football aficionados have been able to watch and follow the action in the biggest single-event sporting event in the world through official broadcasters S+A and LIGA, sports channels of ABS-CBN, the country’s leading media and entertainment company.

ABS-CBN Sports head Dino Laurena said offering this world-class tournament to the Filipino audience is part of the organization’s advocacy to promote sports development in the country.

“Football is the most popular sport in the world where some of the greatest athletes in history have played and are currently playing. We believe that Filipinos have the talent to make a mark in this sport and we hope that through exposing our viewers to topnotch football action, we also encourage them to learn to love what is known all over the globe as the beautiful game,” he said.

Don’t miss the Battle for Third between Belgium and England at this Saturday at 10 p.m. and the World Cup Final between France and Croatia followed by the Awarding Ceremony on Sunday at 11 p.m. LIVE on S+A, S+A HD, LIGA, LIGA HD, and via livestreaming on sports.abs-cbn. com/2018FIFAWorldCup.

F2, Cignal gun for PSL sweep

Discovery Perlas Pilipinas, former women’s national basketball team, brings pride to the country once again as it emerged victorious in the recently staged Memorial Day Tournament held in the Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

Super mom Serena ready for Kerber in Wimby finals L

ONDON—Serena Williams reached her first Grand Slam final as a mother just 10 months after giving birth as the seven-time champion marched into her 10th Wimbledon title match with a 6-2, 6-4 rout of Julia Goerges on Thursday.

On 20-match winning streak at Wimbledon, Williams will face German world number 10 Angelique Kerber on Saturday in a repeat of the 2016 showpiece won by Williams.

In only her fourth tournament since the arrival of her daughter Olympia in September, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is closing in on her first major title since becoming a parent.

German 13th seed Goerges was sent packing in only 70 minutes on Centre Court.

It was a cathartic moment for the 36-year-old, who endured severe labour complications that left her needing lifesaving operations.

“It’s crazy. I don’t even know how to feel. I didn’t expect to do this well in my fourth tournament back,” Williams said.

“I had a really tough pregnancy delivery. I had to have multiple surgeries and almost didn’t make it to be honest.

“I’m just enjoying every moment of this. This was not inevitable for me.”

The American star will have history in her sights against Kerber as she tries to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams singles titles.

An eighth Wimbledon title would also move her past Steffi Graf into second place on the list of fe- m a l e Wimbledon champions, behind

nine-time winner Martina Navratilova.

Serena will go into her 30th Grand Slam final—her first since winning the 2017 Australian Open—holding a 6-2 lead in her head to head record against Kerber.

“She is clearly a really good grasscourt player. But whatever happens it’s a great moment for me and incredible motivation to keep going for the rest of my career,” Serena added.

After all the controversy about the decision to seed Williams 25th at Wimbledon despite her position at 181 in the WTA rankings, she has proved the tournament’s officials were actually too conversative.

Williams, who missed Wimbledon last year due to her pregnancy, won the grass-court Grand Slam on her previous two visits in 2015 and 2016.

Twenty years after making her Wimbledon debut as a precocious teenager and 16 years since her first title at the All England Club, Serena remains the pre-eminent force in the women’s game.

In a testament to her remarkable longevity, the former world number one h a s now made at least one Grand Slam final for the last 12 years.

Serena Williams

Fr. Martin Cup cagefest starts

Games Today (Muntinlupa Sports Center) 4 p.m. — Cignal vs Cocolife 6 p.m. — Petron vs F2 Logistics

IT’S going to be an action-packed doubleheader as unscathed teams F2 Logistics and Cignal gun for a sweep in their respective pools to claim the two outright semifinal berths in the last day of the preliminaries of the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference today at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

Brimming with confidence with a clean 3-0 win-loss record in Pool A, the Cargo Movers renew their rivalry with Petron in a titanic clash at 7 p.m. in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

The HD Spikers, also holding a perfect 3-0 slate in Pool B, seek to clinch the other outright semis ticket as they clash with Cocolife in the 4 p.m. appetizer of the midseason conference that also has Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

Led by resurgent veteran Rachel Anne Daquis, defending champion Cignal tries to make a return trip to the semis, which will leave Smart-Army and Sta. Lucia Realty in the crossover quarterfinals against the No. 3 and No. 2 teams in Pool A, respectively.

Serena had lost only one of her 10 previous Wimbledon semi-finals and the 11th followed a familiar script.

When a panicked Goerges error wrapped up the first set, Serena’s dominance was so total that the American, whose emotions are usually on full display, barely acknowledged the moment.

By the time a Goerges drop-shot drifted into net to present Serena with the decisive break in the sixth game of the second set, the contest had already been sapped of any drama and moments later the title favourite was waving to the crowd in celebration.

Earlier, Kerber raced into her second Wimbledon final and fourth Grand Slam showpiece as the German crushed former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in 67 minutes.

The 30-year-old hit only 10 winners but that was all it took to get the job done as Latvian 12th seed Ostapenko shot herself in the foot with 36 unforced errors. AFP

EXECUTIVE FACEOFF PLAYOFFS. Director Ryan Neil Engara of the Senate

Team shoots from the inside during the game between the DOJ Justice Boosters and the Senate Sentinels at the Pasig City Sports Center in the elimination round of the UNTV Cup Off Season Executive Face-Off. The league resumes on Sunday with the playoff games pitting the PNP Responders against the Senate Sentinels at 3 pm and the Ombudsman Graft Busters with the Judiciary Magis at 4:30 pm.

THE National University Bullpups-B are entered in the senior division and will be among the teams seeing action in the 16th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament when it fires off today (Saturday) at the St. Placid gymnasium inside San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.

The Bullpups-B, who won the junior division honors last year, will meet Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila at 9:30 a.m.

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas clashes with First City Providential School of Bulacan at 8 a.m. in the junior side.

The San Beda-Manila Red Kittens take on St. Joseph Bulacan at 11 a.m.

Last year, the Bullpups leaned on twin towers Carl Tamayo Kevin Quiambao in repulsing the Manila Patriotic School Patriots, 91-69, Sunday to claim the junior division honors.

The Diliman College Blue Dragons are the defending champions in the senior division, beating the San Beda Red Lions, 58-53, in the finals.

Honda honing future PH riders

By Ernest Duane Caballero

Race students get tips from Honda ONE Dream trainers.

HONDA Philippines Inc. conducted its first racing clinic this year last June 23 at Carmona Cavite racing Circuit, in line with its new campaign “ONE DREAM”.

The racing clinic is an annual event created by HPI, aiming to develop future riders, enthusiasts and local racers who are willing to learn and experience various techniques and skills inside the racing track to hone their racing talents.

HPI’s program creates an opportunity for young riders and motorcycle enthusiasts to learn the basics of motorcycle racing and intermediate riding techniques for them to become more

competitive in motorsports.

“Kids who are mentally and physically tuned for racing can enjoy this activity and take it as an immensely rewarding experience,” said HPI in a statement.

HPI sees the clinics as an opportunity to create and hone future Filipino racers and promote the sport.

The next two legs of the Racing Clinic will be held on August 18 and October 13, both still in Carmona Racing Circuit.

For more information, follow Honda Philippines, Inc. on Facebook—www. facebook.com/hondaph/ or visit their official website—www.hondaph.com.

FORMER women’s national basketball team Discovery Perlas Pilipinas topped for the second year in a row in the recent Memorial Day Tournament at the Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

Cheering the team on its way to a back-to-back victory was Cynthia Tiu, team manager and acknowledged mother of Philippine women’s Basketball.

A member of the family behind the Discovery group of hotels and resorts, Tiu has made it her personal mission to provide full and unwavering support to Discovery Perlas Pilipinas. She has been an advocate for women’s basketball since 2008. That year, for the first time in Philippine history, the national team won the gold in the SEABA Tournament and two silver medals in the Southeast Asian Games.

The Discovery Perlas consists of 12 members, each a bemedalled baller from top educational institutions: Ish Tiu, SEA Games silver medalist, from Ateneo de Manila University; Ella Rodriguez, from Los Angeles, California and a player from Enderun Colleges; Joylyn Pangilinan, a member of the Guam National Team who is also from Enderun Colleges; Karla Manuel, Carolina Sanggalang, Sai Larosa and SEA Games silver medalist Joy Galicia, all from the University of Santo Tomas; Ford Grajales, SEA Games silver medalist, from Lyceum of the Philippines University; Lhen Flormata, SEA Games silver Medalist, also from Lyceum; Rica Francisco, from Rizal Technological University; Angeli Gloriani, SEA Games silver medalist, from De La Salle University; and Banjo Soriano, a member of University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion team from Far Eastern University.

Rodriguez, 25 and standing 5’11”, received the Most Valuable Player Award, while Pangilinan, 19, a FilipinoAmerican from Guam, was chosen as a member of the “Mythical Five” of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities.

Haydee Ong, the team’s head coach, said victory did not come easy.

Cocolife Tigers focus on Makati Skyscrapers WIN number three will be the main focus of the Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers when they face the Makati Skyscrapers in the 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup Southern Division in Binan City, Laguna on Thursday.

After posting back-to-back victories against the Quezon City Capitals and Imus Bandera, the Mindanao LGU team of Claudine Bautista and Cocolife, headed by its president Elmo Nobleza, with FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan, dropped a close 88-91 squeaker to the Bataan Risers at the Navotas Sports Arena recently.

Team managers Bhong Baribar and Ray Alao, coaches Don Dulay and deputies Manu Inigo and Rob Wainwright, together with the players went back to the drawing board to analyze the team’s strengths and weaknesses as they focused on their next assignment, the Makati Skyscrapers at Alonte Sports Center in Laguna, the first match of the twinbill before the hosts Laguna Heroes go up against the Manila Stars in the nightcap.

“Breaks of the game decided the outcome of our last assignment against Bataan, so we are now focused in getting back to life in Binan to stay within reach of the early frontrunners in this league by Sen. Manny Pacquiao,” said head coach Dulay.

Davao Cococlife [2-1] will once again rely of the effective backcourt tandem of Emman Calo and Joseph Terso, with the able support from ex-pro Leo Najorda and Mark Yee, Bonbon Custodio, Bogs Raymundo, Billy Ray Robles, Arnold Adormeo and its homegrown talents.

The Skyscrapers who are coming off a loss to first conference champion Batangas City Athletics, will be led by former PBA players Philip Paniamogan, Mark Isip and Rudy Linggayan.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

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

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

Terror fears high, Paris police brace for WC risks PARIS—Paris is preparing to deploy thousands of police to secure the massive street parties if France wins Sunday’s World Cup after years of attacks targeting crowds and other so-called “soft” targets.

The weekend is likely to be further complicated by Saturday’s Bastille Day festivities which have been known to get rowdy, at times leading to skirmishes with the police.

Few French can think of the traditional national holiday parties and firework displays without recalling the 86 people mown down by a van in the Mediterranean coastal resort of Nice on July 14, 2016.

More recently, one person was killed and four others wounded when a man went on a stabbing spree in a lively Paris neighbourhood last May. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for both attacks.

“The goal is to guarantee that these events go off smoothly... that the party not be spoiled by such tragedies,” Paris police chief Michel Delpuech said Thursday.

He said police forces had not faced such a confluence of “exceptional events” in the capital since July 12, 1998, when up to 1.5 million euphoric fans converged on the Champs Elysees after France won its first World Cup title.

The following day saw an ecstatic parade for the victorious French team, fuelling a burst of national pride that carried over into the traditional July 14 military parade along “the most beautiful avenue in the world”.

A total of 12,000 law enforcement officers will be deployed in Paris and the nearby suburbs over the weekend.

An additional 3,000 emergency medical responders are also being mobilized.

On Saturday, the military parade and air force flyovers attended by President Emmanuel Macron will be followed by a pyrotechnics display on the vast Champ de Mars underneath the Eiffel Tower which is expected to draw tens of thousands of people. AFP

Sports In this file photo taken on June 27, 2017 Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (center) warms up next to his conditioning coach Justin Fortune (left) during a training session in Brisbane ahead of his upcoming WBO Welterweight title defence against Australian challenger Jeff Horn. AFP

Bringing back the ‘old Pacquiao’ K

UALA LUMPUR—If Manny Pacquiao wants to know all about comebacks, he need look no further than his conditioning coach Justin Fortune.

The former heavyweight, who in 1995 went up against the great Lennox Lewis, found himself in an altogether different fight when a dental check-up four years ago discovered he had throat cancer.

“What do you do? You either roll over and die or you fight,” Fortune told AFP in Kuala Lumpur, as the 52-year-old put the finishing touches on Pacquiao’s return to the ring against WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina at the Axiata Arena on Sunday.

“They’re your only two options.

There is really no other choice,” said the Australian, who had chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, and is now in remission.

Ababa, 3 others seize lead as Kim stumbles ANTIPOLO—Jhonnel Ababa produced the lone bogey-free 67 card in tough condition to force a four-way tie for the lead as Kim Joo Hyung fell with a thud on a disastrous windup in an eventful third round of the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship at the Nicklaus course here yesterday.

Just when the chasing pack thought Kim would keep his huge four-stroke halfway lead intact with an even-par card after nine holes, the young Korean stumbled with a horrible finish that turned what had appeared to be a one-sided ending into a wild, woolly finale today.

Kim bogeyed the last three holes for a 75 and tumbled from the top of the heap to joint fifth with three others, enabling Ababa, Jobim Carlos, Thai Itthipat Buranatanyarat and American Josh Salah to wrest control at eight-under 205 heading to the final 18 holes of the $100,000 championship sponsored by ICTSI. Ababa, out to snap a six-month slump after scoring back-to-back Philippine Golf Tour Asia victories at Eagle Ridge and Pradera Verde last January, shot two birdies on each nine in the fourth-to-last group with Carlos and preserved his bogey-free card with a couple of scrambling pars on the unreceptive putting surface.

Buranatanyarat fired four birdies against a bogey on a missed drive on No. 4 for a 68 which Carlos matched behind three birdies in the last 10 holes while first round leader Salah got back into the thick of things with a gutsy 69.

“I scored good today (yesterday) despite my poor putting,” said Buranatanyarat, seeking a second victory after ruling the PGT leg at Sherwood in 2015. “I always hit it short because of wet, slow greens although they are nice and smooth. He missed just one fairway and hit all but four greens, then vowed to go for more birdies today to fuel his title drive.

“Tomorrow (today) I’ll try to give my putting a little push and try to hit more birdies,” he added.

Carlos, meanwhile, checked an early up-and-down stint with right club selection in the last 10 holes as he zeroed in

on his third crown after scoring a breakthrough at PGT Asia Riviera and topping the PGT stop at Apo three weeks ago.

“I struggled with my club selection and putting at the front but was able to settle down at the back,” said Carlos.

“Tomorrow (today), I need to be patient, try to wait for (birdie) opportunity and not force the issue.”

Though he blew a big lead and dropped to joint fifth at 206, Kim still remained in the hunt for a second straight crown after upstaging the elite field at PGT Pueblo De Oro last week. And to have three others—Albin Engino, James Ryan Lam and South African Mathiam Keyser—scrapping their way back to contention only guarantees a thrilling final round battle for the top $17,500 purse in the fourth leg of the PGTA organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Engino bounced back from a so-so 72 Thursday with a 69, missing joining the leaders with a bogey finish, while Lam shot back into mix with two eagles and three birdies that negated his doublebogey mishap on No. 12. Like Engino, he bogeyed the difficult par-4 18th and fell of the joint lead.

“My salivary glands are almost all gone,” said Fortune. “I was lucky to keep one, and I’ve got 90 percent of my tastebuds back.

“It’s hellish: chemo, seven weeks of radiation and they chop you up as well. But they can’t kill me yet.”

Pacquiao, 39, will be back in the ring Sunday for the first time since losing his World Boxing Organisation belt in a shock decision to Australian Jeff Horn on July 2 last year, after which he resisted calls to quit.

And Fortune, who has been in the Filipino former eight-weight world champion’s corner since 2002, said the world would see “the old Pacquiao” thanks to a shake-up in his training regime.

‘He’s a freak’ “Manny’s 40 this year and you know we changed things up this time,” said Fortune. “We did a whole bunch of different work. We were shocking his system back into working.

“He’s been doing the same stuff for 16 years so he probably gets so used to it.

“But now it’s a different style of training—shorter, faster and more intense. So his body reacts differently. So that’s why he looks like the old Pacquiao.”

That could be bad news for 35-yearold Matthysse, who has knocked out 36 of his 39 victims, while Pacquiao’s last stoppage victory was against Miguel Cotto way back in 2009.

“He overtrained for Jeff Horn, for sure, 100 percent,” said Fortune of Pacquiao’s flat performance a year ago which saw him lose a controversial unanimous decision.

“He’s just stubborn sometimes. He learnt his lesson. All I had to do was sit down and say to him: remember last year,” said Fortune.

“We don’t want to overtrain. This guy Matthysse is a lot better than Jeff Horn, he punches a lot harder. He’s a better fighter. He’s much more dangerous.”

Fortune said Pacquiao would have no trouble making the 147-pound (67-kilogramme) limit for his World Boxing Association welterweight challenge to Matthysse at Saturday’s weigh-in.

“He’s the only fighter I know that has to eat to make weight,” said Fortune, who added that the Filipino could easily drop down two divisions to lightweight if he wanted to, even in his 40th year.

“He could make 135 pounds inside of four weeks. His metabolism is ridiculous.

I don’t know what it is. He’s a freak.” AFP

San Miguel, Alaska begin semis faceoff

By Jeric Lopez IT IS on.

Alaska and San Miguel Beer renew their long-time rivalry as they begin fireworks in their best-of-five semifinals showdown in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

Drawing first blood will be the priority for both protagonists when they meet in Game 1 at 6:40 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Both teams are armed with a twogame winning streak coming and now, they are bound to separate paths.

Both coaches expressed their team’s readiness for their encounter.

“Alaska is a strong team, but our players are ready for another challenge,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “The players want to get back to the finals and I know they continue to play hard in this series.”

“There’s never an easy series against San Miguel. We’re hoping we can come through even against a strong team like that. We’ll be ready to give our best shot,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

The Beermen have emphatically dominated the Aces in their famous encounters in recent years.

SMB’s Chris Ross will have his hands full against Best Player of the Conference leader Vic Manuel of Alaska.

San Miguel Beer has won the rivalry’s last three encounters, all in the finals.

That unforgettable last conquest was when the Beermen clinched the 2016 Philippine Cup title against the Aces by becoming the first team to overcome a 0-3 deficit in the best-of-seven finale.

However, the Aces took their elimination round game, 105-103, last May 19, thanks to the heroics of Vic Manuel.

The pairing will also see the clash between the top two contenders for the Best Player of the Conference in Manuel and June Mar Fajardo.

Alaska easily dispatched Magnolia in the quarterfinals, while San Miguel swept another rival in TNT KaTropa.

An interesting import battle between Renaldo Balkman and Diamon Simpson is also an attraction to watch out for.

Pirates recover in time to frustrate Generals

By Peter Atencio

Ababa

JC Marcelino made heads turn when he wore opposite-colored shoes to spice up his mood.

And it did as the Lyceum Pirates nearly squandered a 31-point lead but survived a big rally, pulling off a 106-97 stopping of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.

Marcelino gave the Pirates the needed firepower to pull off their second straight win in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

“Big lead kami nang 31 points, tapos naging tatlo na lang. Kaya sa susunod, ‘di na mangyayari ulit iyun. Kaya pinagpursigihan namin, nagtrabaho sa loob para ibalik ang lamang at maipanalo ang

laro,” said Marcelino, who borrowed his younger twin Jayvee’s black Nike shoe to complement his white midcut cleat on his right foot.

The Pirates, who drew 24 points and 8 rebounds from Marcelino, lost Mike Nzeusseu to five fouls as the Generals leaned on the big games of Hamadou Laminou and Jerome Garcia to fight their way out of a 31-point deficit.

“I just reminded the boys that EAC practices, too. That game is a big experience for us. And it would have been a disaster if we did not get back to our senses,” said Pirates’ coach Topex Robinson.

The 5’8” Marcelino struck with 12 points in the final period, stepping up his game right after Nzeusseu fouled out in the last 7:19 and with EAC within range, 83-88, off Laminou’s freebies.

Games Tuesday (The Arena in San Juan) 8 a.m. Perpetual vs Arellano (jrs) 10 a.m. Letran vs Malayan (jrs) 12 nn Perpetual vs Arellano (srs) 2 p.m. Letran vs Mapua (srs) 4 p.m. San Beda vs JRU (srs) 6 p.m. San Beda vs JRU (jrs)

Laminou finished with 34 points, banging in 12 in the third period to lead the Generals out of a 41-72 deficit and to within seven points, 70-77, off a triple from Garcia, who made 20.

Jethro Mendoza tallied 13 points for the Generals, with his triple and Garcia’s driving shot in the dying seconds of the third allowing EAC to threaten, 77-80.

The Pirates found a chance to move away in the fourth after CJ Perez knocked in two free throws and Marcelino unloaded a trey, 86-79, with 8:53 remaining.

IN BRIEF Sun Life buys green bonds issued by IFC SUN LIFE of Canada Philippines Inc. made its first investment in green bonds through the purchase of the first-ever Philippine peso-denominated Mabuhay Green Bonds issued by International Finance Corp.

The bonds set a precedent as the first green bond denominated in Philippine pesos and issued by a multilateral development institution.

“The Mabuhay Green Bonds are the first of its kind in the Philippines and Sun Life is proud to make its first investment with these bonds as we strengthen our commitment in supporting sustainability projects,” said SLOCPI chief investments officer Michael Gerard Enriquez.

Sun Life Philippines chief executive officer and country head Benedict Sison lauded the issuance of IFC’s Mabuhay Bonds, which he considers as a helpful vehicle that can help improve generation output of geothermal power plants and address climate change.

“As a company, we continue to look for opportunities to be able to participate more in infrastructure financing. This is one opportunity that we have sought to participate in and one that would definitely impact on our efforts to be a vital contributor to nationbuilding,” Sison said.

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

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Globe’s AdSpark bares new chief executive ADSPARK Inc., Globe Telecom Inc.’s digital advertising subsidiary, appointed a seasoned marketing communications executive as the company’s new president and chief executive effective August 6.

Globe said Onat Roldan would be the new president and chief executive of AdSpark, replacing Glenn Estrella.

“Digital advertising in the Philippines has gone really huge, and my role now at AdSpark is how to harness the creativity of the talent we have, maximize our potential to be able to open up more opportunities, and make us understand more what the market and the consumers really want,” Roldan said.

“I certainly look forward to working with the AdSpark team and together, we will face the challenge of making AdSpark a true powerhouse in the digital advertising sphere in the Philippines,” he added.

After graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University, Onat went immediately to work, starting as a copywriter for Great Wall Advertising. Darwin G. Amojelar

Napocor adding 58 MW of new power capacity STATE-OWNED National Power Corp. plans to install 58 megawatt of new capacity in the Small Power Utilities Group or missionary electrification areas this year.

“For our existing power plants, we are targeting to install a total of 58 MW of new capacities this year,” Napocor president Pio Benavidez said.

Benavidez said the capacity addition programs this year until 2020 were laid down to ensure a more reliable power supply and eventually provide uninterrupted 24/7 power in the corporation’s service areas in the off-grid islands.

Napocor earlier this week launched the 24/7 commercial operations of its three power plants in the province of Tawi-Tawi, paving the way for a more sustainable economic development in the province.

“We now have considerable power reserves to our power plants in the municipalities of Balimbing (now called Panglima Sugala), Mapun and Sibutu, hence the extension of its operating hours from 16 hours to 24 hours,” said Nestor Flauta, Napocor’s chief for Napocor SPUG-Mindanao Operations Department.

Alena Mae S. Flores

SMARTS’ AWARDS. Smart Communications Inc. again emerges as one of the top winners of the Philippine Quill Awards, after receiving 15 trophies in a ceremony held recently in Pasay City. Smart’s winning programs sought to make the mobile internet experience more accessible, affordable and meaningful to Filipinos; use technology to enhance education, disaster preparedness, health services, and customer experience; and transform the workplace to support the company’s digital pivot. The Philippine Quill Awards is organized annually by the International Association of Business Communicators-Philippines to recognize excellence in professional communication.

World Bank keeps growth target

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE World Bank on Friday said it kept its 6.7-percent growth forecast for the Philippines this year and in 2019, as sustained private consumption and higher government spending are seen to offset the uncertainties coming from the external front.

“Considering recent economic data, the composition of expected growth was revised as compared to the April edition of the World Bank Philippines Economic Update,” the multilateral lender said in a statement.

“Given recent fiscal trends, government consumption growth was revised upwards, while private consumption growth is expected to expand at 5.9 percent in 2018 and 6.2 percent in 2019,” it said.

It said investment growth was slightly upgraded due to higher public capital outlays, including increased

infrastructure spending.

“Overall, it is anticipated that real GDP growth will increase towards the end of 2018 and into the first half of 2019 with higher election-related public spending,” the bank said.

Birgit Hansl, World Bank lead economist for the Philippines, said the government’s ability to carry out its investment spending agenda would determine if the Philippines could achieve its growth target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent over the medium term.

“In addition, higher private investment levels will be critical to sustain the economy’s growth momentum as capacity constraints become more binding,” Hansl said.

Exports, a key driver of growth for the Philippines economy, are projected to moderate in the coming years as global growth is expected to decelerate.

The World Bank’s June 2018 Global Economic Prospects projected a gradual global slowdown over the next two years, predicated on moderately higher commodity prices, strong but gradually moderating global demand, and incremental tightening of global

financing conditions.

It said uncertainty around global growth conditions had risen, with the possibility of trade and other policy shocks emerging from major economies.

The Philippine economy grew by a higher-than-expected 6.8 percent in the first quarter this year, driven mainly by the government’s higher fiscal spending and robust private consumption. The first-quarter GDP was higher than 6.5 percent a year ago and 6.6 percent a quarter ago.

The government expects the economy to grow between 7 percent and 8 percent this year, on the back of higher fiscal spending, robust domestic demand and investments.

The inflation rate, however, has accelerated, climbing to a five-year high of 5.2 percent in June from 4.6 percent in May, prompting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to review its monetary policy.

The June figure was the highest inflation rate in more than five years since the Philippine Statistics Authority used the 2012 consumer price index. It was also faster than 2.5 percent registered in the same month last year.

NBI asked to track ICTSI wins 20 year-contract to operate Sudan port operational and development re- shipping lines. persons circulating By Darwin G. Amojelar sponsibility for SPC’s existing conIt has equipment that includes INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER tainer terminal infrastructure and eight Ship-to-Shore Gantry Cranes defaced currencies Terminal Services Inc. on Friday terminal handling equipment. and an extensive range of yard hanTHE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Friday sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to find the people that have been maliciously posting photos of defaced Philippine currencies on social media.

“This is in connection with recent online and social media posts that contain fictitious Philippine currencies,” the Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

The central bank also requested the NBI to look into the identities of those who had initiated the circulation of “fake news” to deceive the public or generate entertainment from manipulated images of Philippine banknotes and coins on social media or any website on the internet.

The Bangko Sentral, under the New Central Bank Act, has the sole power to issue currency within the Philippines.

“No other person or entity, public or private, may put into circulation notes, coins or any other object or document which, in the opinion of the Monetary Board, might circulate as currency, nor reproduce or imitate the facsimiles of Bangko Sentral notes without prior authority from the Bangko Sentral,” the law said.

The is also vested with police authority to investigate, make arrests and conduct searches and seizures to maintain the integrity of the currency.

“The public is likewise encouraged to be judicious when encountering unofficial information on Philippine currencies on social media and the internet, and to contact the BSP for questions on the authenticity of Philippine banknotes and coins,” it said.

Earlier, the Bangko Sentral reminded the public that the denominations of banknotes it issued were the P1,000, P500, P200, P100, P50, and P20 only, following the image that circulated in the internet showing a P10,000-bill which, the regulator said, was fake.

Julito G. Rada

said it was declared the preferred bidder to operate, manage and develop a container port in Sudan for 20 years.

The port operator said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Sea Ports Corp. of Sudan, an independent state company of Sudan that governs, constructs and maintains the country’s ports, harbors and lighthouses, confirmed ICTSI as the preferred bidder to operate and manage the South Port Container Terminal at the port of Port Sudan under a 20-year concession.

ICTSI said it would resume the

“The Tender Process was led by SPC, with Hamburg Port Consulting as international advisor, and attracted bids from a number of international port operators,” ICTSI said.

SPCT in 2017 had a throughput of 470,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit and a capacity in excess of one million TEU. SPCT has state-of-the-art container terminal assets. It covers a land area of 180 hectares and 1,200 meters quay wall, with a design water depth of up to 16 meters and the capability to receive the largest container vessels of global

dling equipment including more than 20 Rubber-Tired-Gantry Cranes.

ICTSI posted a net income of $44.1 million in the first quarter, down 15 percent from $51.7 million year-on-year.

Gross revenues from port operations in first quarter rose nine percent to $325.4 million from $297.2 million in the same period in 2017.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 2,325,540 twenty-foot equivalent units in the first quarter, two percent more than 2,272,647 TEUs handled in the same period in 2017.

Cavite okays reclamation project with Century Peak

By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Peak Metal Holdings Corp. finalized a 1,332-hectare reclamation project with the local government of Cavite.

Century Peak said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned unit Century Peak Corp. and the Cavite provincial government successfully concluded the detailed negotiations on the unsolicited proposal it submitted for the reclamation of 1,332 hectares of land within Cavite.

Under the joint certification issued by both parties, Century Peak will be entitled to 90 percent of the total net usable land of the reclaimed area while the government will obtain the 10 percent of the net usable area.

In addition to the government’s share, Cavite will also be entitled to other areas to be identified for the construction of a coastal highway.

The agreement provides at least 80 percent of proposed reclamation project, which consists of five islands, should be completed within the period of six years from the time the government permits and clearances have been issued by concerned government agencies.

The Cavite provincial government, meanwhile, vowed to extend its full cooperation and assistance in helping Century Peak secure the necessary permits and clearances.

The reclamation project should also have no cost to the government.

Century Peak’s unsolicited proposal will be subject to competitive challenge.

“This an agreement between the CPC and the Province of Cavite will be executed only if the project is awarded to CPC following a competitive challenge,” Century Peak said.

Taiwan extends visa exemption privilege

By Othel V. Campos

BEST BANK. BDO Unibank Inc. gain beats other banks in the country after receiving numerous recognitions, including the much coveted Best Bank in the Philippines award from financial publications Finance Asia and Alpha Southeast Asia.

BDO senior vice president Howard Lincoln Son from BDO Hong Kong branch receives the Best Bank award at the Country Awards for Achievement 2018.

THE Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippine announced Friday that Taiwan extended the visa-exemption program for Filipinos for another year.

The trial period will continue until July 31, 2019, and will be reviewed for further extension.

For those who intend to stay in Taiwan for over 14 days or for the purpose of study, work, missionary, employment and other gainful activities, they are still required to obtain appropriate visas before entering Taiwan.

The visa-free privilege was a reflection of Taiwan’s goodwill and friendship toward all Filipinos under the “New Southbound Policy” that aimed to build stronger bilateral relations and closer people-to-people connectivity between Taiwan and the Philippines,

TECO said.

Taiwan representative to the Philippines Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu noted that the Philippines was Taiwan’s closest neighbor and an important partner for Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy.”

The Philippines and Taiwan in previous years launched a number of visa liberalization measures that resulted in a rapid increase of visitors.

The number of two-way visitors hit a record high in 2017, with the number of Filipino travelers to Taiwan reaching 290,784. Taiwanese visitors to the Philippines, meanwhile, hit 236,777.

The mutual relaxation of visa restrictions has been a significant tool in improving the bilateral overall relations and enhancing people-to-people exchange and cooperation between the two trading partners.

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Business

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; JG Summit rallies

T

HE stock market rose Friday for the fourth straight day following a record close on Wall Street overnight as trade war fears are tempered by hopes China and the US will eventually reach a compromise.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 48.60 points, or 0.7 percent to 7,399.18 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 103 to 91, with 46 issues unchanged.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei climbed 3.7 percent to P52.90, while Security Bank Corp., the sixth-biggest lender in terms of assets, added 2.2 percent to P212.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, power generation, water and electricity distribution and hospitals, gained 1.6 percent to P4.57.

Transpacific Broadband Group International Inc., which is bidding to become the third major telecommunications firm, slumped 12.9 percent to P0.54.

The company said Thursday it planned raise money from foreign investors for its planned participation in a consortium bidding to become the third major telecommunications player in the country.

TGBI said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its board approved the fund raising, equivalent to a 40-percent equity to foreign investors, through a private placement.

Asian equities have had a roller-coaster week, with strong US jobs figures providing initial support before Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on another $200 billion of Chinese imports sent investors running for the hills on Wednesday.

Expectations that US companies will

report a surge in April-June earnings have also helped deflect attention from the possibility of a damaging trade war.

All three main indexes ended higher in New York with the Nasdaq hitting a fresh record thanks to a rally in the tech sector.

And those gains filtered through to Asia, with the Nikkei in Tokyo ending 1.9 percent higher thanks to a weaker yen, while Hong Kong added 0.2 percent. Seoul and Taipei each gained more than one percent, while Singapore added 0.2 percent. Bangkok and Jakarta were also well up.

However, Shanghai dipped 0.2 percent after jumping more than two percent Thursday, while investors were unmoved by figures showing Chinese exports beat expectations last month but imports fell short.

Sydney was barely moved.

Beijing’s measured response to the warning and indications from both sides

that they are willing to talk has instilled trading floors with a little optimism heading into the weekend.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday told lawmakers the White House was “available” for discussions with China.

That came after China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said the economic superpowers “should sit down and try to find a solution to this trade problem.”

News that China’s trade surplus with the US, a major cause of Trump’s anger, hit a record in June added to the tensions.

Hannah Anderson, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management, said: “Our baseline view is that trade policy uncertainty will continue driving higher levels of volatility but will not fundamentally alter the direction of markets over the next 12-18 months. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.65 21,100 96 2,164,400 2.7 189,000 128.9 1,732,980 1.57 234,000 33.3 130,400 6.69 300 16.58 2,100 14.78 2,186,100 9 3,100 0.68 5,000 1.58 58,000 820.5 10 0.52 375,000 69.5 3,251,910 1.03 1,510,000 46.7 119,800 190 770 118 530 85.5 240 28.75 133,200 212 1,031,660 85.5 49,910 1.2 4,000

1,253,303.50 207,780,412.50 512,310 223,296,197 350,470 4,338,860 2,149 34,690 32,337,832 27,900 3,400 91,560 8,205 195,200 227,797,568.50 1,569,060 5,613,470 146,630 62,740 20,520 3,774,845 218,508,794 4,250,328 4,800

1,092,796.50 11,058,634.50 -30,640,052 -1,338,665.00 21,102,762 -4,650 -114,002,208 94,300 -2,748,160 3,420 -687,815 58,569,886 -

36.1 15.78 0.63 1.15 0.243 3.12 15.84 42.2 22.45 53.95 65 1.82 5.11 7.68 10.08 15.78 10.7 7.27 5.24 14.86 61 22.55 7.3 13.2 2.45 249.8 38.05 5.06 3.3 26.95 11.04 19.2 354 0.182 6.7 2.25 4.02 8.6 5.31 7.95 1.24 11.9 55.9 5.8 4.65 2.06 3.16 1.8 12.5 5.34 0.126 122.1 2.45 1.35

INDUSTRIAL 36.7 1,137,100 15.98 396,800 0.64 5,148,000 1.15 179,000 0.247 14,630,000 3.16 1,795,000 16.44 459,700 42.5 513,300 22.5 24,500 53.95 370 66.8 6,240 1.85 155,000 5.11 20,000 7.75 47,700 10.12 4,468,000 15.9 66,700 10.7 5,600 7.29 752,900 5.28 3,901,000 15.3 703,900 61.05 16,880 23.5 7,200 7.3 22,500 13.3 4,492,600 2.48 4,221,000 251.8 611,160 38.05 100 5.06 7,000 3.3 1,000 27 219,500 11.1 178,800 19.38 2,430,100 356 206,640 0.185 90,000 6.99 48,900 2.25 571,000 4.03 28,000 8.6 2,463,600 5.35 860,000 7.95 200 1.26 119,000 12.02 93,200 56.1 881,170 5.82 131,000 4.65 20,000 2.22 577,000 3.17 44,000 1.87 531,000 13.1 209,000 5.35 42,900 0.126 800,000 126 496,930 2.46 3,719,000 1.37 2,278,000

41,475,025 6,321,860 3,360,610 207,480 3,651,910 5,688,170 7,298,866 22,067,625 552,905 19,961.50 419,367 290,050 102,200 369,565 45,384,910 1,058,938 60,254 5,492,928 20,555,930 10,547,080 1,031,126.50 162,990 165,845 60,704,664 10,736,800 153,663,680 3,805 35,420 3,300 5,940,545 1,980,874 47,187,992 73,763,760 16,870 335,657 1,284,760 112,930 21,268,638 4,628,028 1,590 148,150 1,119,828 49,533,952 765,916 93,000 1,244,560 139,430 961,570 2,722,376 229,780 101,070 62,158,396 9,180,650 3,116,230

-1,832,410 396,580 -7,500 1,191,230 -6,946,154 21,245 12,950 -105,400 21,932,592.00 -330,636 -3,194,033 61,324 2,902,770 -256,358.50 -32,850 -4,591,052 2,480 -27,754,804 -1,346,580 -13,290 -5,475,062 30,549,580 11,320 375,750 -8,773,141 -90,120 4,904,257.50 278,568 -36,800 550,424 26,887 35,182,181 -335,100 12,870

0.245 53.55 11.58 6 30.2 0.7 0.73 951 6.07 10.98 4.31 0.202 952 5.98 50.75 5.07 0.61 3.54 17.9 0.62 4.53 0.037 1.2 2.79 136.5 2.55 910 0.75 1.58 471 255 0.35 0.217

HOLDING FIRMS 0.246 1,760,000 53.75 903,390 11.66 4,965,800 6 2,400 31.1 224,900 0.7 259,483,000 0.73 50,843,000 964 388,450 6.07 1,808,700 11 5,679,400 4.31 2,000 0.203 220,000 955 141,420 5.98 41,200 52.9 2,235,430 5.07 1,500 0.63 408,000 3.55 543,000 18 183,000 0.67 6,201,000 4.57 13,664,000 0.039 6,300,000 1.24 1,441,000 2.85 1,450,000 136.9 141,210 2.55 40,000 916 332,570 0.75 8,000 1.59 271,000 490 240 260 5,520 0.35 94,320,000 0.225 670,000

439,510 48,557,567 57,810,484 14,400 6,972,155 195,772,920 39,083,150 374,592,065 11,032,641 62,524,510 8,620 44,600 135,182,330 247,173 116,501,386 7,605 254,490 1,932,990 3,294,462 4,086,940 62,408,320 237,700 1,748,860 4,120,260 19,323,965 102,000 304,839,400 6,000 430,820 114,170 1,432,286 34,040,000 146,930

6,171,063.50 -13,358,720 -3,600 154,845.00 331,660 -85,542,335 10,895,010 46,218,040 -86,155 17,886,054 -170,630 -2,217,780 1,614,390 -37,169,270 46,160 386,100 -2,685,829 20,759,220 -154,702 5,050 -

1,944,048 1,258,480 8,530 182,960 452,790 296,570,605 92,290 1,576,580 324,209 8,273,750 195,770 438,940 549,280 122,550 27,446,648 42,343,965 3,000 5,953,250 426,290 12,892,830 64,250,440 18,857,370 1,469,650

-80,984 39,550 -83,515,600 -3,190 -287,619 38,700 3,600 35,360 3,600 -713,650 -2,584,450 54,610 15,179,530 26,330 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 98 2.76 129 1.47 33.3 7.4 16.5 14.78 9 0.68 1.54 820.5 0.52 70.9 1.09 46.6 193 118 85.5 28.4 207 85.55 1.2

59.65 98 2.76 129.7 1.57 33.3 7.4 16.58 14.92 9 0.68 1.6 820.5 0.53 71.2 1.09 48.5 193 118.5 85.5 28.75 213 85.55 1.2

58.05 94.7 2.7 128.3 1.47 33.15 6.69 16.5 14.78 9 0.68 1.54 820.5 0.52 69.5 1.03 46.6 190 118 85.5 28.2 207 85 1.2

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

36.4 15.98 0.67 1.16 0.265 3.12 15.84 44.45 26 53.95 69 1.82 5.11 7.68 10.18 15.92 10.92 7.3 5.25 14.86 61.35 22.55 7.39 14 2.52 252 38.05 5.06 3.3 27.35 11.08 19.46 355.6 0.182 7 2.26 4.02 8.8 5.54 7.95 1.24 12 56.7 5.91 4.65 2.19 3.25 1.82 12.86 5.4 0.128 125.4 2.51 1.35

36.7 15.98 0.68 1.18 0.265 3.19 16.44 44.45 26 53.95 69.7 1.9 5.11 7.75 10.34 15.92 10.94 7.35 5.3 15.3 61.45 23.5 7.39 14.08 2.62 253.6 38.05 5.06 3.3 27.35 11.1 19.5 359 0.19 7.08 2.26 4.04 8.8 5.54 7.95 1.27 12.02 56.8 5.91 4.65 2.24 3.25 1.88 13.14 5.4 0.128 126 2.52 1.41

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

0.25 53.6 11.64 6 32.3 0.73 0.73 951 6.1 10.98 4.31 0.202 952 6 50.75 5.07 0.64 3.6 18 0.64 4.55 0.037 1.27 2.82 137.6 2.55 910 0.75 1.59 471 259.6 0.365 0.217

0.26 54.8 11.78 6 32.35 0.8 0.81 980 6.12 11.2 4.31 0.203 960.5 6 52.9 5.07 0.64 3.6 18.2 0.68 4.61 0.039 1.27 2.89 137.6 2.55 924 0.75 1.59 490 260 0.38 0.228

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

7.35 0.97 14.2 1.85 0.71 38 3.17 4.54 5.92 0.43 0.9 0.87 0.22 0.395 8.95 26 0.6 1.5 1.21 1.39 4.61 0.57 0.44

7.35 0.98 14.3 1.9 0.73 38.05 3.19 4.65 5.92 0.44 0.94 0.88 0.222 0.41 9.1 26.1 0.6 1.5 1.22 1.45 4.68 0.6 0.455

7.23 0.96 14.2 1.85 0.71 37.45 3.17 4.54 5.62 0.43 0.89 0.86 0.219 0.395 8.8 25.35 0.6 1.47 1.19 1.35 4.57 0.57 0.435

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.51 3.56 19.78 2.01 3.23 36.4 1.05 7.23 0.76 6.1

0.52 3.58 19.78 2.04 3.27 36.95 1.05 7.6 0.79 6.1

0.5 3.45 19.32 1.99 3.23 36.4 1.04 7.11 0.76 6.01

0.51 3.57 19.52 2.04 3.27 36.95 1.05 7.24 0.76 6.05

1,876,000 1,197,000 2,488,700 15,000 8,000 3,465,200 973,000 768,300 196,000 5,865,100

956,620 4,213,890 48,565,032 30,160 26,040 127,356,910 1,017,650 5,628,743 152,800 35,439,932

62,730 72,960 27,816,356.00 20,070 81,444,210 25,840 -13,138,510

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

14.84 23.8 0.475 0.045 14.02 5.03 9.77 0.054 70.35 8.99 6.87 6.73 24.3 939.5 1,635 5.39 282 3.35 2.13 79.5 12.98 7.99 0.143 2.68 3.55 4.05 1.04 25.65 4.48 5.48 2.62 2.02 2.39 9.03 11 7.9 3.2 122 5.13 1,350 0.85 0.34 45.7 82.8 8.1 1.82 1.13 0.64 5.01 0.77 12.04

14.84 24.5 0.51 0.046 15 5.65 9.77 0.054 72 8.99 7 6.73 26.5 939.5 1,692 5.39 282 3.4 2.13 79.65 12.98 7.99 0.146 2.82 3.58 4.12 1.08 25.65 4.58 5.57 2.63 2.1 2.39 9.5 11 8.49 3.45 125.3 5.67 1,358 0.86 0.355 45.8 83 8.1 1.9 1.14 0.66 5.07 0.78 12.04

14.4 23.75 0.475 0.045 14 5.02 9.38 0.054 69.95 8.8 6.86 6.73 23.7 930 1,635 5.25 271 3.33 2.13 79.1 12.98 7.99 0.138 2.65 3.31 4.05 1.02 25.15 4.44 5.48 2.58 1.9 2 9.03 11 7.9 3.2 122 5.13 1,340 0.84 0.34 45 82.5 8 1.82 1.13 0.53 4.92 0.75 11.92

SERVICES 14.42 24.4 0.495 0.045 14.48 5.65 9.4 0.054 71 8.8 6.99 6.73 25.15 930 1,660 5.32 280 3.38 2.13 79.4 12.98 7.99 0.138 2.75 3.49 4.12 1.04 25.3 4.55 5.53 2.58 2 2.24 9.15 11 8.48 3.45 125.3 5.43 1,355 0.85 0.35 45 82.5 8.02 1.83 1.13 0.54 4.95 0.75 12

78,300 28,500 21,760,000 7,400,000 40,700 3,500 4,517,800 2,010,000 220,600 2,900 530,500 100 921,700 320 16,215 547,700 6,810 497,000 4,000 2,938,710 300 25,000 15,580,000 3,286,000 396,000 463,000 630,000 503,900 181,000 2,182,000 1,293,000 1,031,000 74,000 2,896,300 4,900 4,700 51,000 1,000 3,555,800 58,350 8,738,000 840,000 1,782,000 312,770 150,300 2,076,000 307,000 530,871,000 5,830,700 2,588,000 3,201,900

1,135,488 688,700 10,719,300 334,300 570,818 17,904 42,857,042 108,540 15,556,447.50 25,917 3,682,269 673 23,150,950 297,695 27,095,675 2,909,676 1,887,844 1,678,930 8,520 233,334,818 3,894 199,750 2,188,770 8,998,800 1,346,750 1,877,230 658,910 12,724,335 812,590 12,056,766 3,353,160 2,063,980 156,290 26,731,612 53,900 38,078 171,230 124,159 19,524,442 78,985,890 7,428,930 293,400 80,467,940 25,836,268.50 1,204,814 3,828,530 348,700 313,416,480 28,871,441 1,967,420 38,381,916

10,000 -23,000 -158,960 -15,540,292 -2,602,946.00 -9,800 -288,300 4,383,545 2,820 77,600 -17,427,039.50 -1,737,760 417,770.00 -1,861,100 6,025,138 220,920 30,465 -29,550 102,040 9,898 15,184,650 -205,200 -37,210,355 -16,373,240 -328,980 -204,060.00 1,439,520 -16,353,044 -527,220 2,162,340

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

0.0025 1.43 20.15 1.48 1.48 1.71 0.3 7.51 2.12 0.235 0.124 0.128 1.49 4.4 1.32 0.53 1.24 0.012 0.012 2.9 4.35 10.18 31.55

0.0026 1.45 21.7 1.5 1.48 1.78 0.3 7.8 2.13 0.238 0.125 0.129 1.52 4.43 1.32 0.53 1.29 0.013 0.012 2.95 4.49 10.2 31.95

0.0025 1.43 20.15 1.46 1.48 1.71 0.29 7.39 2.1 0.225 0.122 0.127 1.48 4.39 1.24 0.53 1.22 0.012 0.012 2.76 4.34 10 31.55

MINING & OIL 0.0026 17,000,000 1.45 493,000 20.6 14,100 1.5 36,000 1.48 25,000 1.74 6,682,000 0.29 390,000 7.8 6,700 2.12 1,238,000 0.23 2,850,000 0.125 1,540,000 0.129 780,000 1.48 320,000 4.43 9,917,000 1.27 2,196,000 0.53 1,000 1.24 4,117,000 0.012 153,500,000 0.012 5,200,000 2.94 64,000 4.35 327,000 10 1,507,600 31.85 1,115,100

42,700 710,580 294,250 53,640 37,000 11,703,460 115,200 50,385 2,619,080 654,080 189,650 99,130 475,640 43,793,330 2,759,440 530 5,134,710 1,842,200 62,400 182,710 1,422,950 15,154,016 35,444,345

45,760 -17,700 -27,000 -29,550 32,051,890 123,480 24,800 144,072 6,926,350

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

20.5 502 501 101 5.24 970 987.5 99.1 1.04 105 76 79 75.1 77.45 75.5 75.6 75.65

20.6 502 501 101.1 5.24 970 987.5 99.1 1.04 105 76 79 75.1 77.45 75.5 75.9 75.65

20.5 502 501 101 5.09 970 987.5 99.1 1.04 105 76 79 75.1 77.45 75.3 75.4 75.65

PREFERRED 20.55 42,400 502 10 501 40 101.1 8,610 5.23 603,600 970 2,050 987.5 10 99.1 20 1.04 42,000 105 30 76 2,300 79 39,620 75.1 10,000 77.45 2,000 75.3 147,000 75.6 59,580 75.65 500

873,115 5,020 20,040 870,410 3,084,317 1,988,500 9,875 1,982 43,680 3,150 174,800 3,129,980 751,000 154,900 11,069,500 4,515,468.50 37,825

-817,765 -2,925,128 1,511,851.50 -

LR WARRANT

2.3

2.36

2.29

WARRANTS 2.36 80,000

184,460

-

985,346 7,304,400

90,311 -66,290

768,148

-

27,977

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.3 0.97 14.3 1.88 0.71 37.65 3.19 4.65 5.92 0.43 0.9 0.86 0.221 0.41 9 25.35 0.6 1.48 1.21 1.4 4.67 0.6 0.44

266,600 1,303,000 600 98,000 636,000 7,883,100 29,000 341,000 57,600 18,860,000 217,000 506,000 2,490,000 300,000 3,050,300 1,643,900 5,000 4,030,000 355,000 9,219,000 13,820,000 32,069,000 3,340,000

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.1 3.11

5.15 3.2

5.05 3.07

FIRST METRO ETF

109.5

110.1

109.5

USD DMPL A1

10.1

10.1

10.1

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,503,738

INDUSTRIAL

61,020,053

HOLDING FIRMS

455,367,102

PROPERTY

117,415,384

SERVICES

631,294,906

MINING & OIL

209,367,296

GRAND TOTAL

1,490,513,200

5.07 3.15

SME

193,600 2,344,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.1 6,990 10.1

DDS

2,770

VALUE 1,825.74 (up) 1.66 970,669,306.14 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,447.73 (up) 57.43 713,633,469.07 HOLDING FIRMS 7,304.95 (up) 56.15 1,885,152,639.29 PROPERTY 3,612.92 (up) 30.84 1,431.91 (down) 1.07 709,951,161.285 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,720.13 (up) 39.07 1,044,432,363.10 PSEI 7,399.18 (up) 48.60 122,854,417.288 All Shares Index 4,474.89 (up) 19.69 5,455,751,876.52 Gainers: 103; Losers: 91; Unchanged: 46; Total: 240

7-Eleven hiked profit to P533m in six months

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE Seven Corp., the local licensee of 7-Eleven convenience stores, posted a net income of P533 million in the first six months of 2018, up 19.4 percent from P446 million year-onyear, despite an increase in commodity prices following implementation of the government’s tax reform agenda.

PSC, which operates the largest convenience store network in the country, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange retail sales of all stores totaled P22.2 billion during the period, up 22.7 percent from a year ago.

The higher sales were driven by the improvement in same store sales and the 14-percent increase in the number of operating stores. Stores rose by 299 to end the period with 2,386.

The convenience store operator said the new TRAIN Law (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) favorably affected sales by increasing customer count and the average basket size.

The lower personal income tax featured in the TRAIN strengthened the purchasing power of the middle-class while the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages increased selling price without resulting in a decline in sales volume.

PSC said net income in the second quarter climbed 18.9 percent to P342 million from P2.88 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Second-quarter revenues surged 19.2 percent to P11.55 billion from a year ago level of P9.69 billion.

PSC said it remained on track on its store expansion program. It will also continue to invest in opening new stores in existing and new markets even if competition had slowed down.

PSC said its capacity building expenditures on logistics assets and organizational capability had produced favorable results.

“There are various programs lined up covering expanding merchandise assortment and launching of new food and beverage items to serve as differentiation compared with other channels,” PSC said.

PSC earlier said it would spend at least P3.5 billion to support its store expansion strategy. The company is allocating the bulk of the amount to new store openings, store renovation and equipment acquisition.

Vista Land raises P1.7b after selling corporate notes HOMEBUILDER Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. has raised P1.7 billion from the issuance of fixed-rate corporate notes.

Vista Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the corporate notes carried a term of seven years at a fixed rate of 7.4913 percent a year and 10 years at 7.7083 percent yearly.

“The proceeds of the corporate notes facility will be used to fund the company’s 2018 capital expenditures for commercial property projects, and to fund other general corporate purposes,” Vista Land said.

Vista Land issued the notes to China Banking Corp., China Bank Savings Inc. and Security Bank Corp.

China Bank Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. were the joint lead underwriters for the fund raising activity.

Vista Land’s subsidiaries, namely Brittany Corp., Crown Asia Properties Inc., Camella Homes Inc., Communities Philippines Inc., Vista Residences Inc. and Starmalls Inc. acted as subsidiary guarantors.

Vista Land earlier said it would spend P50 billion in capital expenditures for 2018. It also plans to launch at least P50 billion worth of residential projects.

Vista Land reported a 13-percent growth in net income to P2.6 billion in the first quarter of the year from P2.3 billion year-on-year, driven by the sustained growth momentum of its core residential business and the contribution from the leasing business.

Consolidated revenues in the first three months of 2018 ended at P10.1 billion, up 12 percent from P9 billion a year ago.

Leasing revenues during the quarter increased 14 percent to P1.6 billion from P1.4 billion on year.

Vista Land had presence in 141 cities and municipalities across 47 provinces as of end March.

Share price of Vista Land on Friday fell 0.8 percent to P6.05.

Jenniffer B. Austria

World IN BRIEF Colombia’s glacier Standard cover melting TODAY Manila

BOGOTA―Climate change has helped melt nearly a fifth of Colombia’s mountaintop glacier cover in just seven years, the government said Thursday.

The surface area of its six glaciers has shrunk from 45 square kilometers in 2010 to 37 square kilometers in 2017, for a decline of 18 percent, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies said.

It blamed the glacier loss on “extreme events associated with natural phenomena and climate change.”

If things go on like this the snow and ice covering atop Santa Isabel, a volcano in the Cordillera Central mountains, could vanish over the next 10 years, said Omar Franco, the head of the institute.

In the last two years alone, Colombia has lost six percent of its glacier mass, the institute said.

Environment Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said Colombia has much to lose in global warming because in the whole world it is ranked second only to Brazil in terms of biodiversity.

“We call on countries that are big emitters of greenhouse gases to live up to their commitments,” Murillo said.

Colombia is a relatively low-level emitter, he added, “but even so, it has impacts on the country.” AFP

B3

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

More aid pledged to survivors T

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

OKYO―Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Friday with the survivors of the devastating rain that killed at least 204 people in flash flooding and landslides, as the government pledged more aid.

Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Friday that the toll was now 204 dead, with 28 people still missing.

Around 73,000 rescue workers including police and troops “are working as hard as they can, with the priority on saving lives”, he said.

Abe, who earlier this week canceled a foreign tour, traveled for a second time to areas hit by the disaster.

Television footage showed him visiting Seiyo in Ehime prefecture, where The toll from the record rainfall has he visited homes damaged in the dicontinued to rise, as rescue workers dig saster and talked to residents trying to through the debris and find the remains clean up. of dozens of people reported missing.

On Friday morning, meeting with the

government’s task force on the disaster, Abe pledged new assistance.

The government has already said it will tap around $18 million in reserve funds from this year’s budget, and Abe said $312 million in tax grants would be disbursed early to local governments in affected areas.

“I want local governments in disasterhit areas to do all they can for emergency assistance and reconstruction, without hesitating to spend,” he said.

The financial cost of the disaster is still being calculated, but the agriculture ministry said Friday it has assessed losses of at least $207 million.

That figure is likely to rise further as

HK activists mark 1 year since death of Li Xiaobo

Migrants disembark from ship in Italy TRAPANI, Italy―Dozens of migrants were permitted to disembark from an Italian coast guard ship in Sicily late Thursday, after they were held at the port over suspicions that some had been involved in a reported mutiny.

Police and coastguards escorted some of the migrants off the “Diciotti”, according to an AFP reporter at the scene, while Italian media showed them boarding black buses waiting for them on the quay.

The 67 migrants―including three women and six children―were earlier held at the port in Trapani as a row brewed over reports that a handful of the group revolted after they were rescued, amid fears that they would be returned to Libya.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said earlier Thursday night that they would be allowed off the boat once identification procedures had been achieved “in particular for those who may have committed a crime”.

Initially picked up by a supply vessel the “Vos Thalassa” over the weekend, the migrants were subsequently transferred to a coast guard ship after staff made emergency calls to authorities in Rome.

According to Italian media, sailors aboard the Vos Thalassa locked themselves in the control room and called for help after two migrants with mobile phones and GPS realized that the boat was heading south back towards Libya, sparking a furious reaction from some on board.

Migrants trying to reach Europe are desperate not to be returned to Libya where they face abuse and rape in detention centers.

The incident comes as tensions over migration rise in Europe, with 28 EU interior ministers meeting Thursday in the Austrian city of Innsbruck for a summit focused on finding a common migration plan.

Italy’s far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini―who has authority over the country’s ports―initially refused to allow the Diciotti to dock, despite previously saying ports would remain open for Italian naval and coast guard ships carrying migrants.

“If there was violence [on board the Vos Thalassa], the perpetrators will go to prison and if there was no violence, because someone lied, then they [those who supposedly lied] will suffer the consequences,” Salvini―who is also the leader of the far-right League party―said on the sidelines of the Austria summit. AFP

clean-up operations continue and the scale of the damage becomes clear.

It “could be the tip of the iceberg, as we are still unable to go and inspect fields,” ministry official Yasuhisa Hamanaka told AFP. Agriculture Minister Ken Saito said the cost of some vegetables had already shot up between 10-30 percent and that the ministry would be “closely monitoring” price hikes.

The size of the toll in what is now Japan’s worst weather-related disaster in over three decades has prompted questions about whether authorities were properly prepared and acted effectively. AFP

GROUNDED ICEBERG. This picture taken on July 13, 2018, shows an iceberg behind houses and buildings after it grounded outside the village of Innarsuit, an island settlement in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. AFP

Largest solar park turns Mexican desert green VIESCA, Mexico―Driving through the endless dunes and cacti of the Chihuahuan desert in northern Mexico, a shimmering blue field suddenly appears on the horizon―not a mirage, but the largest solar park in Latin America.

This silent stretch of sand in the state of Coahuila is the spot the Italian energy giant Enel picked to build the Villanueva power plant: 2.3 million solar panels that sprawl across a sunsoaked area the size of 2,200 football fields.

When the plant reaches full capacity later this year, it will supply enough electricity to power 1.3 million homes.

It is the biggest solar project in the world outside China and India.

The panels are designed to turn in tandem with the sun, like a field of metallic sunflowers.

They are part of Mexico’s push to generate 35 percent of its electricity from clean sources by 2024.

Mexico won plaudits from environmentalists in 2015 when it became the first emerging country to announce its emissions reduction targets for the United Nations climate accord, ambitiously vowing to halve them by 2050.

A key part of that push is a sweeping energy reform undertaken in 2013.

One of outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto’s signature initiatives, it was initially criticized by president-elect Andres

HONG KONG―Hong Kong activists tied black ribbons to security fences outside the Chinese government’s office in the city Friday to mark one year since the death in custody of Nobel dissident Liu Xiaobo.

A veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Liu died of liver cancer while serving an 11-year sentence for “subversion” on the mainland.

Dozens of pro-democracy campaigners gathered outside China’s liaison office in the semi-autonomous city, ahead of a larger public memorial event due to take place in the evening.

The commemorations come three days after Liu’s widow, Liu Xia, arrived in Germany after eight years of de facto house arrest in Beijing.

Activists attached a picture of Liu Xiaobo to the wall outside the liaison office, tied black ribbons to metal barriers there and burned incense and threw paper money traditionally offered to the dead.

The group also called for the release of prominent Chinese democracy activist Qin Yongmin, who was jailed for 13 years on the mainland Wednesday for “subversion of state power”.

They also called for the release of lawyers arrested in the “709 crackdown” of 2015, which marked the largest ever clampdown on the legal profession in China. “[The Chinese government] released Liu Xia on Tuesday, then jailed Qin Yongmin on Wednesday,” said veteran democracy activist Leung Kwok-hung, known as “Long Hair”.

“So to release Liu Xia was an act to hoodwink the public and pretend to show mercy,” he told reporters. AFP

Manuel Lopez Obrador, who will take office on December 1.

But the anti-establishment leftist has warmed to the overhaul, and analysts now say it is likely here to stay.

The reform made global headlines for reopening Mexico’s oil sector to foreign companies after 76 years of state monopoly.

A lesser-known―but perhaps ultimately more important― aspect was to allow private companies to generate and supply electricity.

Under the new law, Mexico Republic of the Philippines is now holding clean-energy DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE auctions in which private comRoxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004 panies bid to produce and sell InvItatIon to BId for the UPGrade of dof netWorK InfraStrUCtUre electricity on an open market. eQUIPMent “We’re very happy with the 1. The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 business environment and opintends to apply the sum of Twenty Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP 20,850,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under portunities that exist in Mexico,” the contract for Upgrade of DOF Network Infrastructure Equipment. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. said Enel’s global director for renewable energy, Antonio 2. The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites bids for the Upgrade of DOF Network Infrastructure Equipment. Delivery of the Goods is required within 60 Cammisecra. days after the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the “Since the reform, we see Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, better market conditions and particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. potential for a company like 3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules ours.” AFP and Regulations (Revised-IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

‘Skyscaper’ towers over summer schedule of sequels LOS ANGELES―A glance through the summer movie schedules reveals one rather depressing common denominator: every single big budget release is a sequel―apart from one.

Dwayne Johnson cuts a solitary figure in that all-important late May to early August period―when movie-goers seek refuge from the heat in air-conditioned multiplexes―as the only star of an entirely original blockbuster.

Even “Skyscraper,” which hits US theaters on Friday, is something of a 1970s and 80s disaster movie pastiche, with Johnson walking―or climbing, much of the time―the well-worn path of the traditional action hero.

“I wanted to make a movie that was an homage to ‘Die Hard’ and ‘Towering Inferno,’ ‘The Fugitive,’ ‘Cliffhanger,’ movies like that,” the 46-year-old star said at the premiere in New York on Wednesday.

The Universal release casts the former wrestler as a retired amputee FBI hostage rescuer turned security expert who has to clear his name and snare the bad guys when the world’s tallest building goes up in flames in Hong Kong.

It’s been a tough few months for film fans desperate to see something a little more nuanced than giant robots and men in tights larruping each other repeatedly in mid-air.

“There are 11 sequels on either side of us in our corridor. Who really gets to say they are in an original movie that this brilliant mind created from scratch?” said “Skyscraper” producer Beau Flynn, gesturing down the arrivals line to writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber.

“Everything was created from his head and it is something that has to be admired, I think, by the audience, and hopefully supported.

It’s very hard to do that at this scale in Hollywood today.”

“Avengers: Infinity War” and “Deadpool 2” kicked off the blockbuster season, although both were released before what most people think of as the peak period, when school’s out and kids are begging to see the latest Marvel or DC offering. AFP

Manila

Standard

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the DOF BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on July 16, 2018 to August 6, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty One Thousand Pesos (PhP21,000.00).

TODAY

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

NOTICE TO LEASE Notice is hereby given to the public that ASIAN TERMINALS, INC. has applied to lease a parcel of land with an area of 20,002.89 sq.m. at Phase II, Port of Batangas at the rental rate of P26.00/sq.m./mo. This is to develop port facilities consistent with the Port of Batangas Masterplan and for the sole purpose of conducting its core business of cargo handling services.

Interested parties are invited to submit comparative or counter proposal within fifteen (15) days from the date of this notice to:

6.

The Department of Finance will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 23, 2018, 10:00 AM at CAO Conference Room, 7/F EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:45 AM, August 6, 2018. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on August 6, 2018, 10:00 AM at CAO Conference Room, 7/F EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

ACTIVITIES Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Last Day of Request for Clarification Last Day for Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids 9.

The Port Manager PMO Batangas PMO Administration Building Port Access Road, Calicanto, Batangas City Telephone Number (063)(43)7234293/7238704 (sgd). LEOPOLDO C. BISCOCHO, JR. Port Manager PMO Batangas (MS-JUNE 30, JULY 7 & 14, 2018)

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:

SCHEDULE July 14, 2018 Starting on July 16,2018 July 23, 2018, 10:00 AM July 27, 2018 (by email) July 30, 2018 August 6, 2018, 9:45 AM August 6, 2018, 10:00 AM

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

10. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Richard G. Manzano BAC Secretariat, Procurement Management Division Department of Finance 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo Sr., Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telefax No.: 526-4786 Email Address: bac@dof.gov.ph

(MS-JULY 14, 2018)

(SGD) ANGELICA I. SARMIENTO Director IV and DOF-BAC Vice-Chairperson

Green as a way of life Construction, real estate sectors draw bead on ways to reduce waste, protect environment

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

A ‘STEVIE’ FOR A UNIQUE BIKE PARK. Ortigas & Co. recently won a Bronze at the Stevie Awards for Excellence in Innovation in Consumer Product and Service Industries, for its efforts to promote an active lifestyle in Metro Manila’s through The Bike Playground. The project is the only bike park in the country, located within Circulo Verde, a 10-hectare master-planned community in Quezon City — within easy reach of residents in the metropolis. It was built by Velosolutions, headed by international designer and mountain bike luminary Claudio Calouri. It houses the country’s first indoor asphalt pump track, as well as an outdoor trail and a kids’ track for all skill levels and types of bicycles. The Bike Playground offers bike rentals and assistance from highly skilled coaches from highly skilled and experienced coaches for a well-rounded service. “This Stevie Award is a testament to our commitment to offer solutions that meet Filipinos’ evolving lifestyles,” said Mr. Jimmy Ysmael, CEO of Ortigas & Company.

HEADS UP FOR BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia, a trade exhibition for the region’s green building market, and Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) Asia, a regional HVAC-R, water and energy exhibition, will kick off in September to advance the vision of a digital-first future for the industry.

BEX and MCE Asia will highlight the industry’s latest efforts and developments that will help advance climate change action for the region. Held as part of the Singapore Green Building Week (SGBW), BEX Asia, together with co-located events MCE Asia and the annual International Green Building Conference (IGBC), will gather together more than 12,000 professionals, thought leaders and policy makers from across the building industry. With the Philippines being one of five countries in the world facing the highest risks from climate change, the country is now pushing for more green building projects. At the press briefing to launch the trade exhibit were (from left): BEX Asia 2018 spokespersons Choong Chow Neng, director for business of G-Energy Global Pte, Ltd; Louise Chua, business development director / project director at Reed Exhibitions; Eduardo A. Manahan, chairman of the Building Owners and Managers Association of the Philippines;, Liza Morales-Crespo, design director at Liza Crespo Ecotecture; Carsten Ederer, technical director at ebm-papst SEA Pte. Ltd; Kerry Wang, green building consultant at Meinhardt.

G

OING green is becoming a new way of life. The whole world seems to be more conscious about being less harmful to the environment, and it’s no different in the Philippines.

When Filipinos talk about “going green”, it’s usually about recycling, choosing organic food, or using less electricity or fuel at home or on the road.

Green building uses the same principles. Green materials are constructed and developed through a sustainable supply chain, resulting in building materials that aren’t made with environmentally harmful chemicals. They also lessen construction waste by using materials that are sustainable and degrade less over time.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE The construction industry contributes around 30 percent of solid wastes that end up in landfills, according to some estimates. But there is a way of reducing this, experts say.

Instead of using traditional methods and materials, construction companies can adopt “green building” materials and technologies, which can significantly reduce waste products, said Micaela Rosette Santos, vice chair for the Green Certification System of the Philippine Green Building Initiative.

Builders simply need to keep in mind five Rs when procuring materials for their projects: reuse, recycle, rapidly renewable, regionally sourced, and responsibly grown, Santos said.

“If it’s a building or material, if you reuse it, you lessen the impact [on the environment],” Santos said.

Materials with recycled components are preferable. Rapidly renewable building materials that come from the region where the construction project is being done also result in lesser waste.

“Sometimes they say that ‘green’ is expensive. [But] it just takes proper planning, the proper choice of materials to use. Sometimes it does not entail cost,” she said.

NO PR STUNT Raymond Rufino, chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI)-Philippines National Council, said “going green” today is no longer just a PR stunt or a corporate social responsibility (CSR) idea.

“Developers now build green buildings because they’re demanded by clients and also because it’s already part of the environment regulation (in some countries and cities),” said Rufino He noted that while clients are driving the demand to go green, developers who seriously adhere to this movement are the ones that attract the top-tier clients.

While many developments in the Philippines are being marketed as having adopted green building practices, not all are “green” certified, Rufino pointed out.

“Get your projects certified ‘green’ because that’s the only way people would know the necessary things you did to get the credential,” he advised.

Compared to a handful of LEED-certified projects in the Philippines in 2010, the US Green Building Council database of green buildings shows there are currently 92 real estate projects that have been awarded LEED certifications in the Philippines, with more currently registered and undergoing the application process.

CLOSER TO HOME Building an eco-friendly home can have a big pay off. Here are some reasons to go for green building.

MINIMIZES CARBON FOOTPRINT Using traditionally sourced materials like steel, concrete, and virgin lumber require lots of fuel and resources to make and produce. Green materials are produced more efficiently as it requires less natural resources, produced locally with less waste over time.

1. LESSENS ELECTRICITY BILL The Philippines endures environmental extremes at both ends of the spectrum throughout the year. A well-constructed green home will assist in regulating the temperature and moisture in your home, which means possible lesser use of artificial cooling devices like air-conditioners and ventilation fans.

2. COST-EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT Choosing alternatives like reclaimed lumber, galvanized iron, or even fiber cement boards like James Hardie, save you energy and money over time because they degrade slowly.

3. DIY TO BUILD GREEN Building green at home can be your very own DIY project. You can start small like replacing your traditional incandescent lights with LED options as they consume less energy, last longer, and cost more or less the same as energysapping bulbs. For home repairs, fiber cement boards can be used for a roof’s eaves.

4. GREEN MATERIALS ARE INTELLIGENTLY MADE Green building materials that were produced mindfully, reduce concerns about how safe, or how well your house parts will withstand the elements and the ravages of time.

HEALTHY COMMUNITY Rufino, who is also the chairman of the Philippine Green Building Council which developed the Berde rating system, said the trend of sustainable spaces is not only meant to attract investors but also targets the improvement to the quality of life of tenants and homeowners.

“Going green is more than just protecting the environment and achieving lower operating costs. It is also about creating a community of healthy, wealthy and happy people,” he said.

GOLFER’S PLAYGROUND.

CEBU LANDMARK. Construction of the 22-story JEG Tower One Acacia, the newest LEED pre-certified silver high-rise building in Cebu, kicked off recently with a groundbreaking ceremony led by JEG Development Corporation (JDC). At the event were top officials of the company and its partners, namely, Ricky Dakay, CEO, Dakay Construction; Marko Sarmiento, COO, JEG Development Corp; Michael McCullough, managing director, KMC Savills; Arch.

Meloy Casas, managing partner, Casas Architects; Melo Porciuncula, executive director, KMC Savills; Vicente Palomares. project manager, KMC Savills; Tomas Tan, director, Arcadis; Gaylord Bongalon, senior Architect, Casas Architects; and Michael Hearn, director, Arcadis. “This building attests to our vision to build an eco-friendly structure, which can help the market shift toward a more sustainable design,” said Sarmiento. Shown here lowering the time capsule are (left to right): Arlo Sarmiento, Ramontito Garcia, Margette Sarmiento, Melinda Garcia and Shem Garcia.

ENDLESS SUMMER.

Horizon Land, a subsidiary of real estate developer, Federal Land, Inc. recently launched the final phase of Florida Sun Estates, a master-planned community in General Trias Cavite, featuring a mix of clustered house and lots, low-rise residential buildings, as well as a commercial complex. The new Orlando phase is a 29,788 sqm development made up of 161 house and lots, plus resort-inspired amenities and open spaces. The developer offers three type of housing units – the 131 sqm 2-storey single detached unit, Madison; the 126 sqm 2-storey single attached unit, Lauren, and the 86 sqm Bungalow unit, Holly. The community harmonizes rural and urban living, offering residents a neighborhood close to educational and medical facilities as well as commercial, economic and industrial hubs.

The Sta. Lucia Group recently opened the community clubhouse of its latest development, the Summit Point Residential Estates and Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. Officials from Summit’s marketing arm, Royale Homes, welcomed guests during the blessing of the new addition to the existing clubhouse, and showed stakeholders the fairway lots, as well as residential lots with cuts ranging from 204-350 sqm within 220 hectares of greenery that are now being fully developed. Summit is targeting avid golfers and investors who want a residential property surrounded by sceneries such as the Malarayat mountain range, amid the sound of bamboo trees and bird species endemic in the area.

Summit Point can be reached through the South Luzon Expressway and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).

BUILDING UP COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. Standard Chartered Philippines recently supported anew DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela 2018 through simultaneous volunteering activities in two public schools. Employees of the bank volunteered to do classroom clean-up and painting in Baesa Elementary School in Caloocan City and San Martin Elementary School in Bamban, Tarlac. Brigada Eskwela is the annual program of the DepEd wherein teachers, students, parents, and other interested parties join hands in preparing classrooms in public schools for use in the coming school year.

Through the years, the Bank has supported this initiative and for this year, Standard Chartered added a school feeding and hygiene awareness activity benefiting more than one hundred Aeta students of San Martin Elementary School.

Life

Bernadette lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardlIFE

young life

saturday, july 14, 2018

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SQUARE SHOTS. Instax Square SQ6 is Fujifilm’s first square-format analog camera, equipped with features that satisfy the #feedgoals of the millennial generation.

Back to square one

She added, “The Instax camera is for amateur photographers, hobbyists, and people who are into retro vibe—people T TruLY is interesting to note how, especially in this age who like to reminisce the good things of digital technology, instant cameras are a hit—among the in their lives.” younger, “smartphone” generation, no less.

So said the growing trend Instant cameras are those of instant cam camequipped with a photographic eras, fueled by film that allows the developing the millennimillenni process right after a photo has als’ love for all been taken. things vintage, If sales reports of camera and is expected to film brands are any indication, continue in the photo printing is indeed getting years to come a new lease on life. Fujifilm’s “as proven by Instax brand of instant cameras, the popularpopular for instance, has sold 7.7 mility of Instax lion units globally in FY 2017, 10 cameras and years since its launch, according prints they to Fujifilm India managing direcproduce.” tor haruto Iwata.

Taking ad“right not we are living in a digivantage of tal age, and Instax, in a way, is old this trend, technology. But it is actually thriving Fujifilm continually brings in thing right now. A lot of millennials, who tangible,” Fujifilm Phil- instant cameras to the Philippines, the are surrounded by everything digital, ippines marketing leader Geremy Faye latest of which is the Instax Square are clamoring for something real, some- So told Manila Standard.

SQ6, launched on June 29.

By Bernadette Lunas

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Instax SQ6 ambassadors with Fujifilm Philippines team

The SQ6 is the brand’s first square format analog camera. Fujifilm previously released SQ10, a hybrid camera with digital components that prints on square films as well.

The new release is packed with features made for millennials’ #feedgoals.

It has Automatic exposure Control that instantly brightens the photo’s subject and background and Double exposure Mode that captures two images in the same print by simply pressing the shutter twice.

The Instax SQ6 also has Selfie Mode

that automatically adjusts brightness and focal length to the ideal level, Macro Mode that captures subjects from a close range of 30cm-50cm, and Landscape Mode that instantly amps up the ante of subjects taken two meters away and beyond.

It also comes with flash color filters in orange, purple, and green.

The Instax SQ6 is available in three stylish colors, namely Blush Gold, Graphite Gray, and Pearl White. It is now available at Fujifilm authorized dealers nationwide for P7,999.

Dazed and confused? 7 ways to plan for a better future When you were in your teens, you looked up to the twenty-somethings who seemed to have everything figured out. They have a budding career, a hot date, and enough cash that allowed them to party every night. You held on to this mental image, thinking that when you get to your 20s you can finally do whatever you want, just like them, unfazed by what the future may bring.

But now that you’re getting older, you realize how quickly time passes and you’re still not quite there yet. And you know what, that’s okay. What matters is you are doing your best to get to where you want to be.

That’s where planning for your future the smart way comes in handy. here are some things that may help you secure your future the smart way:

1. Identify your goals and hold on to them

Before doing or pursuing anything, have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. It’s always helpful to know where you intend to go before taking the first step in any venture. Whether it’s gunning for a promotion or putting up a business, you have to determine what your goals are and hold on to them especially when confronted with adversity.

2. Be brave in the face of change

As you grow older, you’ll find that your priorities and perspectives will evolve. Whether it be deciding to pursue a Master’s degree instead of traveling the world, or shifting companies or careers, embrace the change and keep in mind that they are monumental to your development. So long as you exert the YOLO? You’re not getting any younger, which means it’s time to plan for your future. same drive and passion, you should be able to roll with the punches and sucand having a long-term perspective of events may unfold can give you a clear di- these instant bouts of pleasure may ceed no matter where life takes you. things, you will be able to plan better ac- rection on how you should live at present. seem fulfilling at first glance, always remember that long-term happiness is tions to get to your desired outcome. What 3. Explore all possible happens if you spend all of your life sav- 4. Go for long-term happiness more worth your while. Before giving scenarios of your decisions There’s no denying that we live in in to impulse, whether it be reaching Foresight is always critical to any deci- ings in a car? What happens if you decide the age of instant gratification. While for another slice of pizza or purchasto move out?

Anticipating how future sion. By exploring all possible scenarios

ing your 100th pair of sneakers, hold back and reflect if these urges will make you happy in the long run.

5. Take care of yourself

It may sting a little for you to hear this, but you’re not getting any younger. The daily fast food diet you enjoyed or that stick of cigarette you think you needed won’t do your body any good. Staying healthy and achieving overall wellness is important now more than ever. Learn to integrate healthy food in your diet and stay active to be in tip top shape. not only will your body thank you for it, you will also be able to continue doing the things you love.

6. Get your priorities straight

There’s nothing wrong with living life to the fullest; after all, you only have one life to live so might as well make the most of it right? But before making #YOLO decisions and experiences, make sure you have your priorities straight. Ask yourself if those life experiences will bring you closer to your goal. If not, then maybe you should rethink if it’s worth it. You might want to invest for the future, study abroad, or even put up a business instead. Whatever your priorities are, plan ahead and live your life without losing sight of those goals. That way, you are able to truly make the most of what life has to offer without overextending yourself.

7. Protect yourself and your loved ones

With the right insurance products, you have peace of mind that your future family can live the life you want them to have, even after you retire or something untoward happens. With easily accessible tools that can help you plan ahead, such as Philam Life’s Financial needs Calculator, you can be one step ahead to a secure future. Go to philimlife.com to know more.

Life

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saturday, ju juLy 14, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

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Driving away creative block Wo accomplished millennials—one in culinary, the other in photography—share their secrets to beating every artist’s worst enemy: creative block.

Creative block is akin to hitting a wall that obstructs ideas, or creative juices, so to speak, from flowing.

“For a creative professional, a creative block isn’t just frustrating—it’s potentially career-damaging. When you rely on your creativity to pay the bills and build your reputation, you can’t afford to be short of ideas or the energy to put them into action,” writes Mark McGuiness in his article published in Adobe’s 99U.

Cooking formula for success

Before Nicco Santos became one of today’s sought-after chefs/brand ambassadors and restaurateurs, he had to forge an unorthodox path to get where he is today.

Santos never got to work for any other restaurant apart from those he currently owns, but instead, got his needed training under home cooks. His exposure in Singapore cooking was what pinned his curiosity further, specifically after getting a taste of the famous chicken rice.

Chef Nicco Santos cooks up his formula for success.

Because of his willingness to learn, he eventually got cooking lessons that expanded his knowledge on Asian cuisine.

The young chef took the learnings to his mind and heart, and upon his return to his homeland, he opened Your Local and, two years later, Hey, Handsome with his business partners.

“Food for me is love. Food for me is family. Food is bringing people together—cooking from a context that everybody matters,” says Santos.

Capturing memories

Succeeding the “gifted child” label she gained during her childhood, Shaira Luna has redirected her talent to her love for photography.

Her fascination with vintage has led her to incorporate a signature retro theme into majority of her work.

“I love old things whether it’s music, an object, or talking to older people, and in heaven. It was meant to be,” says the John and Yoko. when I discovered that I could connect 31-year-old photographer.

“I didn’t have a John. I only had a Yoko. my love for old things with photograLuna shares one of her favorite pro- So, I reimagined her in the actual phophy, I think that was just a match made jects was when she recreated ‘60 icons tos without John, and I wondered what it would look like, or what kind of reaction it would generate. It’s really one of my most Shaira Luna loves memorable shoots, because I think it’s the to relive the past emotion it conveyed, how unexpected it through her photos. was, how sad it was, but also how happy it was,” she relates.

Hitting a creative block

Chef Nicco Santos is no stranger to creative blocks. He says, “As an artist and creative chef, I always experience creative blocks.”

“Usually, when I experience a creative block, the best way to get through it is to get away,” shares Santos.

He continues, “Driving is a positive response for me. It clears my mind and inspires creativity. For me, one of the fastest and most inspiring things that

CHooSING a pair of school shoes for children is never an easy task.

Parents want practical and durable, kids want stylish and cool. SM Shoes and Bags bridges this gap with its new collection.

There are classic school girl shoes such as patent T-bar shoes that won’t slip off, soft and comfortable ballerina style shoes that are easy to slip on and off, and traditional Mary Janes with pretty flower appliques.

For playtime, there are sneakers, rubber shoes, and slip-ons, some inspired by their favorite characters Sofia the First and My Little Pony.

Boys are top of the class with classic black leather shoes, as well as rubber shoes and sneakers with Superman and Cars designs.

helps me get through a block is to just visit Gejo’s farm in Malipayon.”

Getting an alone time in the car is also Luna’s way of beating creative blocks.

“I always have a lot of ideas in my head, and sometimes, I need a space where I can be alone, and just take myself to places,” she says. “When I encounter creative blocks, I usually just take a drive and look around. I always enjoy driving because that’s my alone time.”

Santos and Luna are two of the creative millennials Ford is featuring in its The Creative BLK campaign.

The campaign is Ford’s way of connecting with today’s Filipino youth with powerful visual storytelling through a series of videos that showcase how the Ford EcoSport can take millennials to their own Creative BLK—any place where they can be inspired to pursue and live their creative passions and interests.

Stylish school shoes

The collection is available at all The SM Stores nationwide.

Jr. NBA finalist Jam Lachica (center) with AXA chief customer officer Amor Balagtas (right) and coach Dick Gawat

Third time’s the charm for this young athlete

Black leather shoes and sneakers for kids going back to school.

IF YoU ask Jam Lachica, a 12-year-old avid basketball player, how she ended up being selected among 800 players during the Jr. NBA Philippines, she will tell you right away that it was because of her coaches, including her dad Jaylord and school coach Joseph Rizos.

Lachica was always influenced by her father’s interests, including basketball, which led to her developing love for the sport. Since the age of six, she would tag along with her father’s barangay leagues and closely observe the game.

“Lagi akong sinasama ni papa sa mga laro niya, kaya ginusto ko na rin matutunan yung basketball (Papa always brings me to his games that’s why I became interested in learning basketball),” related Lachica.

Fast forward to 2016, Lachica first joined the Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp wherein she competed with several skilled female players her own age. However, she missed her chance to progress to the camp’s second day after she left to support her dad’s championship game in Quezon City.

But just like a true champion, she got back up and tried again in 2017.

Knowing that she had been chosen on her first try, the shooting guard had a little more confidence. But unfortu-

nately, she failed to make the cut.

“Ginawa ko naman yung best ko para makuha ako ulit kaso madaming ibang magagaling (I did my best to be picked but unfortunately there were a lot better),” lamented Lachica.

The budding athlete admitted to feeling disappointed and revealed that she, in fact, did not consider joining this year’s camp. However, her dad didn’t lose faith and, together with coach Rizos, encouraged her to join again. Surprisingly, 2018 seemed to be Lachica’s lucky year— with the help of AXA, the official insurance partner of the NBA in the Philippines, she had the support she needed to succeed.

Lachica was selected as one of the 16 girls that would represent Metro Manila and compete with peers from the provinces at the National Training Camp. All the hard work and long training hours were worth it.

“Sobrang saya at thankful ako na may na-meet akong coach na nag-motivate sa akin to do my best. Buti nalang nandiyan si papa para bigyan ako ng pag-asa (I am extremely happy and grateful that I have met a coach who motivated me to do my best. I’m glad papa is there to give me hope),” she enthused.

Entertainment Simply Red...

From C4

(Ang Larawan) Rising Producers Circle: Roselle Monteverde (Regal Films) and Veronique Del Rosario (Viva Films) Producer of the Year: Vic Del Rosario Jr.. Film Icons: Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Eddie Garcia, Nora Aunor, Charo Santos, and Marice Soriano. Manny Pichel Memorial Award: Mario Hernando (posthumous) Joe Quirino Memorial Award: Ricky Lo. Okay cinephiles, see you next July for the third The Eddys. Mabuhay ang Pelikulang Pilipino. *** Remember the good old days when a Pacquiao fight became synonymous to a national holiday?

The normally busy weekend would usually turn the metropolis into a virtual ghost town, with empty streets and zero traffic.

Young or old, rich or poor, Pinoys from all walks of life kept their eyes glued to their TV sets as they cheered and rallied behind their little brown hero’s every punch, hook and jab that got him closer to his winning knockout.

Every victory became a cause for nationwide cheer and jubilation, with frenzied fans taking to the streets to swap high fives and congratulatory pleasantries with virtual strangers. \It’s ironic when we realize how Pacquiao’s blazing fists of fury—high-caliber lethal weapons on their own—have become instrumental in uniting his countrymen who have always been divided by their beliefs and persuasions.

For once, Pinoys set aside their petty differences as they take pride in their Filipino heritage and rekindle their patriotic fervor.

Never in Philippine sports history has any local athlete triggered such pervasive hysteria, aptly dubbed by some quarters as Pacmania.

With his latest Fight of Champions match with Argentinian fighter Lucas Matthysse merely days away, netizens are wondering: will the People’s Champ be able to once more unify his people to rally behind him, reclaim his belt, and wave the Philippine flag proudly once again in the global boxing circuit?

Catch the Pacquiao-Matthysse “Fight of Champions” bout live from the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 15 via GMA-7, ABS-CBN, ESPN-5, Cignal TV, and Sky Cable.

Tickets are available at: https://myticket. asia *** Fans and supporters of the singing group Wishful 5 can now relive the most memorable moments of their musical journey!

On Sunday, ABS-CBN will air a two-hour special via the station’s Sunday’s Best featuring the vocal quintet’s victorious stint at Wishcovery up to the successful launch of their debut record titled “Wishful Journey.”

A product of Wish 107.5’s online singing competition, the newly-formed singing group is composed of Wishcovery grand winner Princess Sevillena, and runners-up Kimberly Baluzo, Louie Anne Culala, Carmela Ariola and Ace Bartolome.

An initiative of Kuya Daniel Razon, CEO and President of BMPI, the program “Wishcovery” aims to give chance to “those who are aspiring to be known in the world of music.”

Wishcovery is a fresh innovative platform that showcases the musical prowess of Filipinos, earning the nod of hitmaker and Wishcovery resident reactor Jungee Marcelo.

“I just want to tell [Kuya Daniel] to never stop doing things like this because it really blesses a lot of people—people who really need a break,” shared Marcelo in an interview.

Marcelo is set to return for the sophomore season of Wishcovery.

He, together with six more esteemed composers—Noel Cabangon, Boy Christopher, Moi Ortiz, Rannie Raymundo, Vehnee Saturno, and Top Suzara—are tasked to discover seven singing gems who have the potential to become the next big OPM star.

Auditions for the show are slated to begin in August.

Tune in to Wish 107.5 and follow its official social media pages for updates.

Pinoy student filmmakers COMPETE IN CALIFORNIA F

By Seymour Barros Sanchez

OUR capstone projects from the Digital Filmmaking program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) will vie for the Best Short Film at FACINE 25: The 25th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival from Oct. 18 to 21 in San Francisco, California.

Among those which made it as finalists to FACINE’s short film competition are Caramel Child by Kim Timan, Rufyla by Coleen Tanco, Suerte by Carlo Fajarda, and the documentary Hope Spots by Joseph Dominic Cruz.

Caramel Child, co-written by Timan with Palanca awardee Lino Balmes, is a light drama about a Filipino-American girl Katherine Kaye Jones (Angelica Ulip), or Kakay, who tries her best to look for her absentee father. Kakay’s curiosity is triggered by a regional science quiz bee poster and an American client (Savino Bellini) of her mother (Sue Prado). It won Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Performer and Best Musical Score (Marcus Santos and Joseph Salcedo) at Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival 2018.

It also brought home the Best Screenplay award from De La Salle University’s Indie Un-film Festival 2017 and competed in the short film category of Cinema One Originals Festival last year.

In Suerte, two student filmmakers are shooting a documentary about the drug trade within their city until it descends into a very dangerous obsession for them. As they go on along with their subjects, they slowly become characters in their own film, crossing the line between observer and creator. The film competed at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, 28th Singapore Int’l Filmfest and Taipei Film Festival in Taiwan.

In Rufyla, a T’boli tribeswoman dances for

BOXING fans can catch the much awaited bout between Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse via satellite on GMA-7 tomorrow, July 15, at 10:00 a.m.

GMA will likewise air an exclusive blow-by-blow coverage on its flagship AM radio station Super RadyoDZBB 594 and RGMA Super Radyo stations nationwide beginning 9:00 a.m.

Also available via pay-per-view in over 70 countries worldwide, boxing fans abroad can subscribe to GMA International’s partner distribution outlets: OSN Sports Box Office 1 HD (Channel 31) in the Middle East and North Africa region; Hang Meas HDTV for Cambodia; HD Telecom via the Vision-PH application in South Korea; and Mavshack in select Asia Pacific and Caribbean countries.

For the complete list of countries and their respective subscription details, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Dubbed as the Fight of Champions, the bout is slated to happen at the Axi-

Saturday, July 14, 2018

51 Ebony (2 wds.)

56 Risky 59 Caesar’s tongue 60 Work unit 61 Distinctive qualities 62 Chew the scenery 63 Take in 64 Cherry center 65 Eject DOWN 1 Is on the go 2 Cut grain 3 Ill-favored 4 One-sidedness 5 Ignited 6 Say no 7 Part of a circle 8 Square-dance partner 9 Brings forth 10 Mini or maxi 11 Uptight 12 Desirous 14 TV fare 19 Tree product 21 Loophole 24 Lawbreaker 25 Cafe au — 26 Chess win 27 Quiz 28 Costa — 29 Raucous diver 30 Recital pieces 32 Layers

a living and encounters a dramatic turn of events in pursuit of a better life for her family.

The short film is a CineFilipino 2018 student category finalist.

Hope Spots, a finalist in the documentary category of UP Cinema’s Piling Obrang Vidyo, looks into the debut of women wrestlers in a fight sponsored by the Philippine Wresting Revolution. It zeroes in on the local professional wrestling scene, presenting the polarizing sport of pro wrestling through the lens of the homegrown promotions’ first female talent.

The competition will open FACINE 25 on Oct. 18 at the San Francisco Main Library and the SF Philippine Consulate. The winner will receive a $100 cash prize and certificate of recognition. Special citations will also be awarded in any category upon the jury’s discretion.

Apart from the four Benildean student films, Hulid (Lie Together) by BenildeFilm program coordinator Jan Philippe Carpio also made it to the competition.

The experimental narrative questions sexual pleasure, voyeurism, detachment and the paradox of public anonymity.

“The finalists cover a wide range of genre, format, style and subject, all 45 minutes and less in length, both student

and professional works, including notably films by non-Filipino filmmakers with the Filipino as subject,” FACINE Director Mauro Feria Tumbocon Jr. said.

Meanwhile, nine full-length films will slug it out for the Best Film and other awards in the main competition from October 19 to 21 at the Roxie Theater, also in San Francisco. Vying for awards in the different categories are 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten written by Jason Paul Laxamana and directed by Petersen Vargas; Bomba by Ralston Jover; Kita Kita by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo; Meet Me in St. Gallen by Irene Emma Villamor; Melodrama / Random / Melbourne by Matthew Victor Pastor; Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha by Mes de Guzman; Pauwi Na by Paolo Villaluna; Tale of the Lost Boys by Joselito Altarejos; and Tu Pug Imatuy written by Arnel Mutia Mardoquio and directed by Arbi Barbarona.

FACINE is organized by the Filipino Arts and Cinema International, a nonprofit media arts organization that aims to promote and develop Filipino cinema from the Philippines and the Filipino diaspora.

It has organized the festival for the past 25 years

GMA Network airs Pacquiao-Matthysse bout

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Beetle larva 5 “Time is money,” e.g.

10 Fem. saint 13 Zeus’ shield 15 Wild 16 Mauna — 17 Ocean, in Mongolian 18 Like the Tower of Pisa 20 Fleming forte (2 wds.)

22 Malediction 23 Prompt 24 Move lightly and swiftly 26 Dry red wine 30 Usher’s quest 31 Principle 32 Waxing 37 Tortilla snack 38 Apportion 39 Lotion ingredient 40 Discharge 42 Overlord 43 Alphabet enders 44 Give a hard time 45 1066 conquerors 49 Triangular sail 50 Self-move firm (hyph.)

A scene from 'Rufyla,' a film that tackles the story of a T'boli tribe dancer who experiences a tragic turn of events in her pursuit of a good life for her family.

33 Frau’s abode 34 Troubles 35 Carol 36 Actor Richard — 38 Ra’s symbol 41 Shrubs in the heath family 42 Mob 44 Big success 45 Birthday suit wearers 46 Chicago’s airport 47 Target-practice

area 48 Coffee holder 49 Helms or Owens 51 San — Capistrano 52 Takes a powder 53 Up above 54 Quote 55 Had learned 57 Wheel track 58 El Dorado loot

‘Fight of Champions’ headlined by Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao (left) and Lucas Matthysse.

ata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The eight-division boxing world champion and the Philippines’ Pambansang Kamao Pacquiao is challenging the 35-year-old Argentinian Matthysse for

the latter’s WBA Welterweight title.

The replay of the Fight of Champions: Pacquiao versus Matthysse will also air on GMA Sunday Night Box Office (SNBO) on the same day at 10:30 p.m..

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO

‘If you build it, they will come’ MOST Kevin Costner fans remember this memorable line from the baseball drama, Field of Dreams. This is the same mantra that inspired Dr. Carl E. Balita to turn his vision into reality.

Balita strengthens his advocacy of promoting Philippine Cinema by opening his own microcinema, the CBRC Dream Theater. He also extends his support to local independent filmmakers through the Independent Film Producers Association of the Philippines.

Microcinema is considered an alternative venue for indie films. In this venue, a film gets the “quality time” it deserves, full playing schedules, no sliding screenings, no first day, last day occurrences.

Balita declares, “It is the Age of the Microcinema, the Millennials and the Independent Films and I believe, these realities must be addressed.”

He asserts the importance of films “as the best medium to communicate, a wonderful repository of art, culture and history.”

“Lack of access to theaters and cinemas.

Many times over, films lose their reach when they’re easily pulled out from commercial cinemas and wasted when they are shelved for a long period of time,” Balita says underscoring the pains of local indie industry.

The CBRC Dream Theater, which was formally opened last June 22, addresses these concerns. The 250-seater microcinema, the biggest so far in Manila, is equipped with a 5000-lumens projector and

Dr. Carl E. Balita (right), with wife Lyne Balita, and senior actress-singer Celeste Legaspi (center)

a 5.1 Digital Surround Sound. It also has eco-friendly chairs made of “jeepney loads of pet bottles” manufactured in Valenzuela.

Since its opening, the CBRC Dream Theater has hosted screenings of Ang Larawan and Maestra, which made Angeli Bayani one of the best supporting actress victors in the recently concluded Eddys.

Last Pride Month, screenings of Joselito Altarejos’ Kasal and Alvin Yapan’s Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Paa and Charliebebs Gohetia’s I Love You, Thank You were shown. Future screenings include 100 titles from Cinema One Originals and other films from Cinemalaya.

Balita has also embarked in creating cinemas in 100 branches of CBRC, and is even interested in building an “outdoor theater” in far flung areas of Surigao, Vigan, Calapan and Kabankalan.

Along with more than 100 branches, a market of 40,000 CBRC students and reviewees stand as initial potential audiences.

The CBRC Dream Theater alone caters to the U-Belt students since it is the nearest microcinema to UST, FEU, UE, and PUP, to name a few.

As each CBRC Dream Theater hatch one by one, Balita will spearhead a summit of stakeholders involved in independent film production making.

In conclusion, he says, “I don’t have to wait for people to do it if I can do it. And if others don’t follow, I don’t care. I’ll still do it. Sa totoo lang, kung gusto ko ng pera, bakit ko gagawin ito? Sakit lang sa ulo. It’s passion.”

For inquiries on CBRC Dream Theater, contact Jerrick Josue David at 09454922869.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Song on love and heartbreak

On its 2nd year, The Eddys shows signs of industry acceptance Film Icon awardees Eddie Garcia, Charo Santos, Nora Aunor and Maricel Soriano

tops Spotify PH’s Viral playlist

M

ANLY Ocampo, the vocalist of Eat Bulaga’s resident pop band Music Hero, describes the group’s newest single that is currently dominating the massively popular music streaming platform.

Manly Ocampo, lead vocalist of Music Hero, 'Eat Bulaga's' elite revolutionary band.

The band’s debut single “Walang Papalit,” which was recently launched in the country’s longest-running noontime variety program, topped Spotify PH’s Viral playlist.

This viral chart is put together by a metric that takes into account a songs' virality, it measures the number of times a song is shared. Most often, the singles that land on top of this chart are the ones considered a major hit, a new sound, and “a moment in time” (or those singles that gained massive support and promotion from entertainment outfits).

At press time, “Walang Papalit, which i s

‘Asia’s Got Talent’

Wrestling larger than Life on FOX+

their application and an audition video of under two minutes that includes a short introduction of the act and the actual performance.

Meanwhile in Manila, hundreds of talented performers—from a cultural troupe of 22 to an umbrella-wielding dancing grandpa - brought their A-Game to the open auditions on Saturday for a chance to secure their shot at international fame on the third installment of the record-breaking series.

“The Philippines has a proven track record of success on Asia’s Got Talent with El Gamma Penumbra winning the first season and DMX Comvalenoz as runner up in season 2. We expected the best from the Philippines and the acts certainly exceeded our expectations at the open auditions with their high level of passion, talent and enthusiasm,” said Wong.

By Clay Moreno

WWE wrestlers in action

The sensational singing trio, TNT Boys, at the Manila leg of 'Asia's Got Talent' auditions.

than him winning the award itself.

There will ISAH V. RED be other films this talented actor can show the members he deserves The Eddys, as well.

Some producers were there too, and it made me feel that these people know the importance of The Eddys. More so, the presence of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairman and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra and Movie and Television Review Board (MTRCB) Chairman Rachel Arenas gave the awards show a very big stamp of approval from the two government agencies in charge of film and television.

What more, have we ever seen the superstar Nora Aunor stand on stage and presented an award?

But in The Eddys last Monday, not only she accepted an award, she also presented not one but two major awards! Thank you, Ate Guy for your unwavering support for The Eddys.

I’d say, it was only the second and already the industry is getting to be acquainted with Eddys.

And, of course, as the founding president of SPEEd and one of the founders of The Eddys, I’d like to congratulate this year’s The Eddys recipients Best Film: Respeto Best Director: Mikhail Red (Birdshot) Best Actress: Mary Joy Apostol (Birdshot) Best Actor: Aga Muhlach (Seven Sundays) Best Supporting Actress (triple tie): Angeli Bayani (Maestra), Therese Malvar (Ilawod) and Chai Fonacier (Respeto) Best Supporting Actor: Dido Dela Paz (Respeto) Best Cinematography: Mycko David (Birdshot) Best Original Screenplay: Eric Cabahug (Deadma Walking) Best Sound Design: Corinne De San Jose (Respeto) Best Musical Score: Jay Durias (Respeto) Best Original Theme Song: Respeto Best Visual Effects: Ang Panday Best Editing: Marya Ignacio (Kita Kita) Best Production Design: Gino Gonzales (Continued on C3)

DIGITAL MEDIA

extends online auditions DUE to popular demand from across Asia, AXN has extended the Asia’s Got Talent online auditions to July 16.

After seeing what Asia is capable of during the captivating rounds of open auditions in Singapore, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur, the Asia’s Got Talent producers are giving aspiring performers one last chance to audition for the biggest talent competition show in the world.

“We have more than half the world’s population living in Asia and there is an abundance of incredibly diverse talent waiting to be discovered.

We want to ensure that everyone has ample time to get their acts together for a shot at chasing their dreams,” said Derek Wong, Vice President, Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

Aspiring stars can visit www.AXNAsia.com/AsiasGotTalent to submit

available on iTunes, Apple Music and other digital platforms, also earned spots on the music-streaming site’s local Top 200 Pop and All Genre tracts. The song also ranked second by the end of June in World Music Awards’ Top 10 Digital Tracks in the country.

"This is a relatable song because, one way or another, we all experienced love and heartbreak.

Through this song, we want the listeners to feel that there’s always a second chance at love,” said Ocampo who leads the nine-piece band that originated from the program's music competition with the same title.

He said "Walang Papalit" is a full collaboration between him and band mates Radlee Laquian (acoustic guitar), Fender Dimalanta (electric guitar), Joaquin Rodrigo (drums), Jim Tan and RD Benavides (keyboards), JayR Corre (bass), Brian Feliciano (saxophone) and Dominique Casacop (violin), who all featured in the competition's instrument edition which kicked-off in August 2016 and hailed Ocampo as the ultimate vocal hero after participating in a rigorous ninemonth vocal battle.

Speaking about their first single, Ocampo said it took them about a month to record the song.

"Because we came from different places and we have different backgrounds, we had to go back and forth on what kind of music we want to produce and offer the audience," he said.

Dubbed by the program as an "elite revolutionary band" because of the variety of musical instruments each member plays, Music Hero wants to follow the success of 90’s Filipino pop and R&B group South Border.

In fact, during their recent live guest appearance in The Roadshow on Wish FM 107.5, the group performed “Ikaw Nga,” one of South Border’s popular songs.

To follow up the single’s success, Music Hero is now working on its second single, which will carry a different vibe compared to the group’s debut song.

"We will make the most of this experience.

We know it's not going to be an easy journey but we're sure it's going to be an unforgettable and fulfilling one,” Ocampo said feeling excited on times ahead.

THEY say it is difficult to create credible awards for the movie industry.

When a group of entertainment editors banded together three years (Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors or SPEEd) one of the things they wished they would be able to contribute to the local movie industry is a movie awards. And when they decided they’d hand out awards, they called it The Eddys (short for editors) and they handed the first sent of The Eddys in 2017, in July, at the Kia Theatre.

That year, not very many knew about The Eddys or SPEEd. While the show at Kia Theatre marked the beginning of a new kind of show that showcased the best in local films, most of the nominees then ignored it.

We said it was all right. It is only the first year.

Last Monday, everyone thought it would rain hard, thanks but no thanks to Gardo, the typhoon that threatened to suck in the monsoon rains and dump them on the archipelago. Miraculously, though, it didn’t. But my fear that no nominees and other awardees would show up was allayed when I saw Bembol Roco (dressed to the nines) seated at the lobby as early as 5 p.m. and then the rest came streaming onto the red carpet with Rhian Ramos and Tim Yap hosting the pre-show activity.

I told myself the attendance this time was better than last year’s, a sign that gradually the movie industry is getting to know The Eddys and SPEEd. When I saw Nora Aunor, Eddie Garcia, Charo Santos, and Maricel Soriano came up the stage to receive their Icon awards, it awed me because not in my wildest dreams I saw the coming together of these respected names in the industry.

Not all nominees and winners (especially in the technical categories) were there to accept their trophies, but there were nominees who came because they were nominated like Best Actor nominee Edgar Allan Guzman (Deadma Walking).

And that was appreciated more

Have you ever seen a pro wrestling match? No, I’m not talking about wrestling in college sports or wrestling in the Olympics with the suspenders and the ear muffs. I’m talking about the WWE. TV becomes an action-packed experience, fights become wild and out of this world, and wrestlers change from men and women…to larger than life heroes.

People from all walks of life look up to their wrestling heroes. From young kids gawking at the TV screen to grown men screaming live at the front row of a cage match, watching the WWE and Monday Night RAW is an experience unlike any other. Even the wrestlers themselves came from fans to actual wrestling champions.

Many of the current WWE stars all started from the same place that we did. They were students in schools, varsity players in school sports, and people taking the bus in the street. The journey to the WWE and the Monday Night RAW stage can be long and hard. But many still climb the ladder and reach for the top. And who wouldn’t? The WWE is the biggest and brightest platform in professional wrestling.

Take WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar for example, he waded through many different chapters in his life before finally calling the WWE his home. He was a signed NFL Defensive tackle, he was a competitive mixed martial-arts fighter in the UFC, and now he claims the title of being the longest-running Universal Champion of the WWE. Even the ladies claim their dream at the WWE. Alexa Bliss currently holds the title of being the RAW Women’s Champion. Take note, she’s one of the meanest female superstars that the WWE has seen in a long time. Alexa is also the first woman in the history of the WWE to win both the SmackDown Live and Raw Women Titles.

The WWE is certainly larger than life.

And although we now know that pro wrestling is a rehearsed sport with scripts and trained athletes, we still can’t stop watching it! The flare, the action, and the drama are all what makes the WWE a one-of-a-kind spectacle that people all over the world enjoy.

In addition to the RAW live every Tuesday, the same time as the U.S., FOX+ will stream on demand WWE weekly highlight shows Afterburn®, Experience® and This Week®. FOX+ is available on Android and iOS devices as well as on Apple TV and select Android TVs. Start your free 30 day trial now and stream layest American TV series, Hollywood blockbusters, inspiring National Geographic documentaries, and live Sports anytime and anywhere. For more info, visit: http://www.foxplus.com