Manila Standard - 2018 April 18 - Wednesday

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SC voids De Lima travel circular

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

VOL. XXXII • NO. 62 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday scrapped an eight-year-old circular issued by then Justice secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima granting herself the authority to prevent

Rights groups condemn nun’s arrest, detention

the flight of suspects facing criminal charges.

At their en banc session in Baguio City, the justices voted unanimously to declare as unconstitutional De Lima’s Circular No. 41, which she used in 2011 to bar former President Next page

Man with three faces accepts new identity

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday released from its custody Sister Patricia Fox, a 71-year-old Catholic nun from Australia, a day after she was arrested in her convent for allegedly violating immigration laws by engaging in political activities and anti-government demonstrations.

Fox was brought to the bureau late afternoon due to reports that she violated the conditions of her stay by joining a protest action with farmers last year.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente approved the recommendation of the BI legal division headed by lawyer Arvin Cesar Santos that Fox be released for further investigation after it ARRESTED, RELEASED. Australian Catholic nun Sister Patricia Fox (center), 71, talks to media during her release Tuesday from was established that the Australian nun detention, a day after she was arrested. Philippine immigration authorities detained her overnight in what civil groups alleged was a holds a valid missionary visa. Next page crackdown on foreign critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s human rights record. AFP

Turf war: Food council head loses to Agri chief

PARIS—Jerome Hamon is getting used to his new soubriquet “the man with three faces.”

He remains in a Paris hospital, three months after undergoing his second face transplant, but has quickly accepted his new “identity.”

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Patron leaves resto with $2,000 tip CHICAGO—What is a reasonable tip at a restaurant?

For most Americans, the answer is likely—at most—20 percent. But how Next page about 260 percent?

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday placed the National Food Authority under the Department of Agriculture and named Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol as the new chairman of the NFA Council in place of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco.

RIOT POLICE. This file photo of anti-riot police from the Manila Police District shows just part of hundreds of law enforcement agents to be deployed to Boracay to keep travelers out and head off possible protests ahead of the six-month closure to tourists. President Rodrigo Duterte has branded the island and its white sand beach a ‘cesspool.’

Riot cops tapped to keep watch over Boracay, ward off protests THE Philippines is set to deploy hundreds of riot police to top holiday island Boracay to keep travelers out and head off potential protests ahead of its sixmonth closure to tourists, the government said Tuesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte has branded the tiny central island and its worldfamous white-sand beach a “cesspool.”

He has ordered visitors be kept away from April 26 so facilities to treat raw sewage can be set up and illegal structures torn down.

Meanwhile, the Environment department said Tuesday it will come up with

an administrative order establishing a 750-hectare critical habitat for threatened species within Boracay in Aklan province.

Secretary Roy Cimatu met with representatives of Boracay Island resorts and other businesses that have expressed their full support behind the establishment of a critical habitat area.

“We shall establish the Boracay Island critical habitat to protect and conserve the forests and coastal marine areas located in barangays Balabag and Yapak, which serve as the habitat of

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the NFA, the Philippine Coconut Authority, and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) are now attached agencies of the DA, and clarified that the NFA Council will not be abolished as it can only be removed through legislation.

During the NFA Council meeting in Malacañang on Monday, Roque said the Development Bank of the Philippines asked to be removed from the council to focus on its other projects, a request that was granted.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development will take the place of DBP,” Roque said.

Evasco used to supervise the NFA on the strength of Executive Order 1 signed

by President Duterte in 2016.

The President also approved the NFA plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice

Ex-lawmaker begins opinion column FORMER ABAKADA-Guro Party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz begins his opinion column today with Manila Standard. “Crossroads” will appear every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

De la Cruz has over 30 years experience as workers’ advocate, diplomat, journalist, management consultant and organizer.

A product of the public school system in his earlier years, De la Cruz served as president of the student council of Ateneo de Manila University, and concurrently as editor-in-chief of the school paper, Pandayan in 1972.

In 1981, he was a Ten Outstanding Young Men awardee for Employment and Workers’ Welfare.

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JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ

Pinoy newsman, two others win Pulitzer for reporting on drug war

Barangay polls nearing but where’s the chief?

A FILIPINO correspondent and two other journalists from the news agency Reuters won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for their coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Manuel Mogato, a correspondent for Reuters for 15 years, and two of his colleagues, Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall, were recognized “for relentless reporting that exposed the brutal killing campaign behind Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.”

The New York Times and The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for public service on Monday MANUEL MOGATO

through a government-to-government agreement to replenish the rice inventory.

The imported rice is set to arrive soon, Roque said.

In a statement, Evasco, who used to supervise over 11 other government agencies, said he respected the President’s decision and thanked him for giving him the opportunity to lead the council, which decides on rice importation matters.

“We have put in place several policy guidelines that have provided a more transparent, competitive, inclusive and accountable system of procurement and distribution of NFA rice as a result of more than 20 council meetings since my designation by the President as NFA Council chair,” Evasco, who served as Duterte’s national campaign manager in the May 2016 elections, said. Next page

Next page

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Joel E. Zurbano

MACAPANTON ABBAS

WITH barely three weeks left before the barangay and SK elections, a former commissioner on Tuesday asked the Commission on Elections who is in charge of the coming political exercise.

In a statement, former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that, as standard procedure, the Comelec chairman should be in charge of the whole election preparation.

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Blame game, confusion over Dengvaxia I

By Cecil Morella

MUS—Melinda Colite shakes with rage as she clutches a photo of her grandson, who she says died after getting the anti-dengue fever vaccine at the heart of a bitter scandal in the Philippines.

While Dengvaxia’s maker Sanofi has said unequivocally that its world-first vaccination is safe, Philippine authorities disagree publicly over whether it could have contributed to children’s deaths.

The resulting confusion has prompted a dangerous plunge in vaccination rates in the Philippines for other diseases.

It has also added to a swirling political battle, fanned by bloggers who back President Rodrigo Duterte and have an audience of millions of Facebook followers.

“The blame game has taken over the main issue,” Ronald Mendoza, dean of the Ateneo de Manila University’s School of Government, told AFP. “It may be doing damage to public health rather than protecting it.”

Health authorities have said child vaccination rates against illnesses like measles have dropped by as much as 25 percentage points over the previous year as public anger and mistrust has grown in the Dengvaxia case.

Several measles outbreaks have struck the nation, claiming at least 13 lives, since the controversy began.

The trouble started last year, shortly after the Philippines gave Dengvaxia to some 837,000 students as part of a public immunisation campaign.

Sanofi hailed the vaccine as a break-

This photo taken on March 5, 2018 shows patients arriving at the East Avenue Medical Center in Manila. While Dengvaxia’s maker Sanofi has said unequivocally that its world-first anti-dengue fever vaccination is safe, Philippine authorities disagree publicly over whether it could have contributed to children’s deaths. The resulting confusion has prompted a dangerous plunge in vaccination rates in the Philippines for other diseases. AFP

cine is safe, noting in a March statement: “No causal-related deaths were reported in 15 countries after clinical trials conducted for more than a decade with 40,000 subjects involved.”

“There continues to be no evidence that any deaths have been causally linked to our vaccine,” it added.

But that has not stopped allegations emerging of vaccinated children dying of super-charged cases of dengue after getting Dengvaxia.

“It could not have been anything else.

Allegations fly He started complaining of frequent Sanofi has repeatedly said the vac- body aches after his third injection,”

through in combating dengue, which kills hundreds in the Philippines every year, mostly children.

But the company set off a panic when in November it said a new analysis showed the vaccine could lead to more severe symptoms for people who had not previously been infected with dengue.

It prompted Manila to halt the campaign and left hundreds of thousands of terrified parents wondering if their children were at risk.

Melinda Colite, 55, said of her 12-yearold grandson Zandro.

As of last week 65 deaths have been reported to authorities and are under investigation, the health department says.

Different branches of the Philippine government have disagreed openly about potential risks of the vaccine, leading to confusion for the public.

“We cannot conclude at this point that Dengvaxia directly caused the deaths,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque told lawmakers in February, referring to the cases of 14 children who received the vaccine. AFP

Poll tribunal Du30 EO ends ‘endo’, won’t ban contractuals sees reduction in VP votes after recount THE number of votes for the 2016 vice presidential polls are expected to change once the manual recount being conducted by the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, is over, an election official said Tuesday.

Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez said the opposing camps of Vice President Leonor Robredo and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not be surprised if the votes they received in 2016 will not be the same as the would-be results of the recount.

“Numbers will change. That would be one of the possible consequences of this move now,” Jimenez said.

The revision of the votes will determine who between Marcos and Robredo actually won the vice presidential race in 2016 elections, he said.

The PET’s supervised revision of ballots or manual recount of votes started on April 2 for the resolution of the election protest filed by Marcos against Robredo. This will be the first recount of votes to be conducted by the PET under the 1987 Constitution.

Jimenez explained that the change will come mainly due to the difference in ballot appreciation between a machine and a human revisor.

“A manual revisor means that a human reading the ballot might interpret it differently. So even without the threshold question, you are already looking at a possible mismatch of the machine results versus the human counted result,” said Jimenez in a television interview.

Add to this, according to Jimenez, is the recent PET decision that reiterated its use of the 50 percent threshold in ballot oval shading instead of 25 percent.

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colonies of flying foxes, the nesting grounds of marine turtles and the nascent corals sprouting in the reef,” Cimatu said.

On Tuesday, authorities laid out a lock-down plan to keep out all foreign and Filipino tourists using more than 600 police, including a 138-member “crowd dispersal unit.”

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His new face remains smooth and motionless, with his skull, skin and features yet to be fully aligned, a gradual process reliant on immunosuppressant drugs which, hopefully, will prevent his body rejecting the transplanted material.

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has told Sandiganbayan that alleged pork-barrel-scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles does not have the right to demand transfer to a safe house.

“Accused Napoles was previously granted a provisional coverage under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program,” Guevarra said in a manifestation to the antigraft court on April 16. “The same, however, does not confer upon her an actionable right to demand detention or custody under the aforesaid program.

“Her application is still pending, and the provisional coverage merely signifies that she has yet to complete all the requirements and/or that her application is still under evaluation.”

After resigned Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II granted Napoles provisional entry to the Witness Protection Program, she immediately filed motions with the Sandiganbayan to be transferred from cell in Camp Bagong Diwa and to a safe house of the Justice department.

It was later revealed that Napoles’ lawyer Stephen David didn’t even want to file a motion in the first place. He wanted his client transferred immediately and to inform the Sandiganbayan later.

But David was overruled by Aguirre and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in a meeting inside Malacañang that raised questions on why a plunder defendant’s lawyer could easily get meetings with top-ranking officials.

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months to become a regular worker.”

Roque said the supposed signing of the EO last Monday was delayed after the labor groups, the government, employers and other stakeholders did not agree on the proposed EO draft.

Malacañang had earlier admitted that the EO was not enough to totally prohibit the unlawful contractualization in the country, saying the pending EO on contractualization had “limitations.”

Former senior deputy executive secretary and now Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has said the total ban itself is something that the Palace cannot do by executive order.

“Only Congress could end all forms of illegal contractualization by drafting a

proposed measure that would amend the country’s Labor Code,” Guevarra said.

“If you want something like a total ban on contractualization, you need a law to repeal or amend that particular provision of the Labor Code.

“An executive order is meant only to supplement or to give the implementing details of what the law provides. But it cannot add or subtract, or substantially alter what the law provides. That’s really more for Congress to do. So I hope that you will understand the limitations on an executive order,” Guevarra said.

The labor groups have been insisting that Duterte sign the proposed labordraft EO that would favor workers.

gether the critical and evidence-based reports and inputs coming from National Economic and Development Authority, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Trade and Industry and even our banking institutions in the Board, namely the Land Bank of the Philippines and The Development Bank of the Philippines while building on the reports provided to us by NFA management.”

The Cabinet secretary also urged Piñol “to take advantage of what we have started and continue the systems transformation can so that it can take root in NFA.” Evasco said he did nothing wrong in

the government and will continue to serve the Duterte administration.

“I can never break the good relationship I have with the President, a relationship we have built through the years with the people we work and serve with. I can never put my family in a position of compromise after all the support, sacrifice and love they have given to me as I continue to serve this government and the people,” Evasco added.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said Evasco’s removal from the NFA Council was a loss in the fight against corruption in the importation and management of rice.

Megan Twohey and New Yorker contributor Ronan Farrow, for reports that disgraced the Hollywood mogul and sparked an avalanche of accusations against other powerful men.

Since the Times and New Yorker articles last October, more than 100 women have publicly accused the producer of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape, sparking

the #MeToo movement that has seen a string of influential men lose their jobs and reputation.

Weinstein’s marriage has ended, he has been under police investigation in London, Los Angeles and New York, hit by a litany of civil lawsuits and his former production company has been forced to file for bankruptcy. AFP

For one patron at a Chicago restaurant, a normal tip was not enough to show his appreciation after a meal Sunday night.

Identified only as “Mike, who was visiting from Seattle,” Boka restaurant announced Monday that the delighted customer left a $2,000 tip on a $759 bill.

Boka describes itself as an upscale restaurant serving seasonal American fare. It boasts one Michelin star.

After initially tipping $300 on his bill, he then went to the kitchen to give each of the 17 staffers there $100, the restaurant said.

The company posted an Instagram photo of the man giving a thumbs-up sign while posing with smiling kitchen staff. AFP

her hypoparathyroidism and metabolic bone disorder while electoral sabotage From A1 charges against her were pending.

The Court argued that the Justice secGloria Macapagal Arroyo from leav- retary has no authority under the law to ing the country to seek treatment for stop any respondents or accused in crimi-

nal cases from leaving the country with pending charges.

Only the trial courts can issue a hold departure order, the justices added.

“The Court, in interpreting Article III, Section 6, determined that there was no le-

gal basis for the Department Circular No. 41 because of the absence of a law authorizing the Secretary of Justice to issue hold departure orders, watch list orders or allow departure orders,” SC spokesman Theodore Te said in a press conference in Baguio.

By Vito Barcelo

By Joel E. Zurbano

No to safe house for Napoles, DoJ rules

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will sign an Executive Order that will put an end to endo or 555 but will not totally prohibit contractualization, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday.

He said Duterte’s campaign promise was to eliminate 555 or end of contract or “endo” but not contractualization.

“I want to make it clear: The promise of the President is to stop 555 or endo, and not contractualization,” Roque said.

“There are two types of contractualization and endo. This endo will terminate a worker after five months so the employer has reason not to regularize its worker. A worker needs at least six

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He also said the importation of close to 805,200 metric tons of minimum access volume rice without a centavo spent by government is also an attempt by the council and this administration to not add to the liabilities it has incurred since its creation through Presidential Decree 1770.

“Finally we have been able to also make sure that decisions of the council are collegial in nature and bring to-

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for explosive reporting that brought down Harvey Weinstein and spawned a cultural watershed on the issue of sexual harassment.

The prestigious prize was awarded to the Times team led by Jodi Kantor and

SC...

“In any transition, especially for a drastic action such as this, there is always confusion, uncertainties and low morale,” the regional police director, Chief Supt. Cesar Binag, said at a public forum on the island, which was aired on national television.

“What we did was to identify the sources of confusion, sources of uncertainty and sources of low morale that might result in agitation and eventually into a security issue.”

Boracay residents will be obliged to

carry new identification cards and will be banned from boating and night swimming, he said.

Entry to the 1,000-hectare island, located 300 kilometers south of Manila, will be limited to a single small sea port.

The island residents’ new identity cards are expected to be distributed three days before the shutdown, and security forces will conduct a “capability demonstration” next week, Binag said.

AFP, with Rio N. Araja

“I feel very well in myself,” the 43-yearold transplant recipient told reporters last week as he continues his recovery from the surgery which was carried out on Jan. 15 and 16.

“I can’t wait to get rid of all this,” he adds, speaking with difficulty of all the major treatment he has undergone to become the first man to have received two face transplants.

This unprecedented feat was pains-

takingly carried out by the staff at the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital in Paris, and Laurent Lantieri, a professor of plastic surgery, who led the team through the multi-step procedure.

It was a strange reunion for patient and doctor as it was Lantieri who carried out the world’s first full face transplant, including tear ducts and eyelids, on Hamon at a hospital outside Paris in July 2010. AFP

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“If the Comelec chairman refuses to take charge, the en banc should designate a commissioner in charge to provide direction and leadership,” Larrazabal said.

He made his statement even as the Comelec on Tuesday warned it will disqualify candidates who will overspend during the elections on May 14.

The commission also reminded the candidates to file their statements of election contributions and expenditures not later than June 13, 2018, or risk being perpetually disqualified to hold public office.

Win or lose, all candidates must file their statements, according to Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez.

Commissioner Al Parreño replaced Commissioner Robert Lim as acting chairman after the latter retired on Feb. 2.

Fox reportedly submitted her passport and other immigration documents showing that she was issued her missionary visa on Oct. 15 last year and that said visa is valid until Sept. 9 this year.

In a two-page Note with Recommendation to Morente, Santos noted that while Fox was alleged to have taken part in protest actions by farmers in the past, she was not doing so at the time Immigration agents arrested her Monday.

Santos said Fox is not covered by inquest proceedings because these only apply to aliens arrested after being caught in the act of violating immigration laws.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said Fox’s case “has nothing to do with her being a nun, nor with her personal advocacies.”

“But like any other foreigner enjoying the privilege of staying in our country, she has to obey and comply with our laws,” he added.

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However, it is not clear if the new acting chairman is handling the whole preparation since Parreño has been unavailable to discuss any election matter before the public.

President Rodrigo Duterte has again renominated Commissioner Sheriff Abas as Comelec chairman following the failure of the Commission on Appointments to confirm his nomination before the Congress session ended.

Based on an order dated April 6, 2018, Malacañang renominated Abas as poll chief, citing provision os Section 16, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution.

A current Comelec official and insider told the Manila Standard that Abas was no longer interested in the chairmanship.

“He never even assumed as chairman. He was okay in the commissionership,” the insider said.

News Albayalde told: Get to bottom of unreleased SAF allowance DAYS before he assume his post as the country’s next chief of the Philippine National Police, NCRPO chief Oscar Albayalde already got his first “advice” from outgoing PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa has advised Oscar Albayalde to immediately launch an investigation into the alleged unreleased allowance of Special Action Force commandos amounting to millions.

Dela Rosa, who is set to retire on April 19, said that Albayalde should give priority to the case of almost P60 million worth of subsistence allowance which were not given to its supposed recipients in the SAF. “I leave it up to the incoming chief PNP kung paano niya i-handle ‘yan,” he said in an interview after his testimonial parade at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on Monday.

“Get to the bottom of it, kailangan imbestigahan niya para malaman ng PNP, although meron ng investigation [na] ginagawa ang Ombudsman, hintayin natin yung resulta ng Ombudsman, naka-file naman na sila ng complain doon but still for internal consumption kailangan gawin rin ng PNP,” he added.

Dela Rosa’s instructions stemmed from reports that former and current SAF personnel had filed malversation and plunder complaints against former SAF chief Director Benjamin Lusad and other finance officers for allegedly failing to distribute two years’ worth of daily additional subsistence allowance amounting to over P59.8 million.

Dela Rosa vowed that there would be no whitewash in the investigation in the accusation against Lusad, his classmate and member of PMA Class ’85, and was his “savior” in the academy.

‘No need to cite main plunderer in ex-BI officials plunder case‘ RESPONDING to the motion filed by retired policeman Wally Sombero, the alleged middleman of Chinese casino mogul Jack Lam, who argued that the law requires a main plunderer who holds a government position during the commission of the crime, Ombudsman prosecutors said they are not obliged to identify a “main plunderer” in the P50million immigration bribery scandal case at the Sandiganbayan.

In a 20-page opposition submitted to the Sixth Division on Monday, the Ombudsman said Republic Act 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Law makes no reference to a main plunderer as an essential element of the crime.

The prosecution added that it is unnecessary to cite a main plunderer because the crime was committed through a conspiracy among former BI commissioners lawyer Michael Robles, Al Argosino, and Sombero in exchange for their help for assistance in the release of 1,316 illegal Chinese workers arrested at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga.

Sombero had said that state prosecutors accused Argosino and Robles as the two public officials who allegedly amassed P50 million, but the Ombudsman failed to identify which of the two was the main plunderer.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Inhibit or resign, Sereno backers urge 5 ‘biased’ SC justices

CJ SUPPORT. Protesters gather in front of the Supreme Court to support CJ Sereno against the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Norman Cruz

Guerrero to new AFP chief: Focus on internal security S HE steps down as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday, AFP chief General Rey Guerrero said that he gave instructions to his successor, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, to focus on internal and maritime security.

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Guerrero will officially turn over his post to Gen. Galvez, who is currently the commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia, said that President Rodrigo Duterte will preside over the ceremony to be held at the parade grounds of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Guerrero will be honored with a testimonial parade and review and will be presented the prestigious Philippine Legion of Honor (Rank of Commander).

As head of the Eastern Mindanao Command head, Guerrero spearheaded the execution of Community Support

Programs, a key component of the military’s new operation plan, the Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan.

During Guerrero’s term as AFP chief, the concerted efforts of AFP units in the conduct of focused military and intelligence operations, alongside intensified stakeholder engagements, resulted in the neutralization of 6,817 members of the New People’s Army as of April 15.

A total of 6,709 of them have surrendered, 723 of whom were regular NPAs and Sangay ng Partido sa Lokal members; 513 were Militia ng Bayan; 712 were underground organization

members; and 4,761 were mass supporters.

Moreover, 47 NPAs were also killed, while 61 others were apprehended in legitimate focused military operations.

A total of 288 assorted firearms were also seized from the rebels.

Meanwhile, intensified efforts against local terror groups and foreign fighters have resulted in the neutralization of 457 various terror personalities, 81 of whom were killed, 280 were apprehended, and 96 surrendered.

Faced with an equally challenging task of rebuilding Marawi City from the devastation brought by the armed terrorist attack, the AFP has conducted activities to support the overall effort of the government, spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense, for the City’s recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.

A total of 3,953 assorted unexploded ordnance (UXO) and 738 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been found and disposed of. With PNA

Grab drivers slam Nograles on ‘overcharging’ issue

By Maricel V. Cruz NOW, it’s lawmaker versus Grab drivers.

PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles was put on the defensive after Grab drivers accused him of ignorance on the lawmaker’s claims of alleged overcharging and P2-per-minute “hidden” chages.

The confrontation between the drivers and Nograles was so heated, a driver was even kicked out of a hearing of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for heckling Nograles.

The driver, who was later identified as Vince Fernando, president of the Philippine Solid Grabbers, said Nograles has no idea what he is talking about.

“Hindi totoo ‘yan, wala kasi siyang alam. ‘Di niya naiintindihan ang

sinasabi niya. Hindi niya nakikita ‘yung hirap ng mga driver,” Fernando told an online news portal.

Another driver, identified as Gohan Nuguid, said drivers were told of how Grab computed its fare although both drivers did not say if the explanation included the P2 travel charge.

Nuguid said they were surprised at Nograles’ claim of overcharging as they did not feel the benefits of such charges.

“Wala kaming maramdaman na kumikita kami nang maganda,” he said.

The LTFRB called for the hearing to order Grab to explain the P2 travel charge or else it would lose its accreditation.

But in a separate interview, Nograles said he was only fighting for consumer rights and due process and insisted that he believes Grab overcharged commuters and bypassed the LTFRB in setting its fares, although Grab had

repeatedly denied the charge.

“Ang paningin ko, ‘yung algorithm ang hindi nagde-determine dapat ng mga fare. Ang nagde-determine ng fare ay ‘yung LTFRB, at dapat i-programa ang algorithm depende sa approval ng LTFRB,” he said.

Grab Philippines officials said that the P2-per-minute charge was not hidden and had been part of their pricing structure since it was revamped in June 2017, saying that the charge was included in Grab’s fare hike petition in January this year.

But LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said that the time-based charge was not included in the petition.

“Ang lumalabas, ang pag-implement ng P2-per-minute nung June 2017, hindi po dumaan sa due process. Dumaan lang po sa Powerpoint presentation,” Nograles said.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin will “do the right thing” in dealing with the United States and its allies over the airstrikes in Syria, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

In a press conference, Roque said that President Duterte expressed his concern to Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev who paid a courtesy call to Malacañang Monday.

Roque said the Russian envoy gave the President a personal letter from Putin.

“President Duterte articulated that he is confident that President Putin will do the right thing in the present situation in Syria,” Roque said.

“The President likewise expressed hope that the situation in Syria will

not escalate any further and there will be return to peace as there are around 1,000 Filipinos in Syria,” he added.

The Palace spokesperson said both the Philippines and Russia reaffirmed their “mutual support” for each other.

In the same meeting, Duterte and the Russian envoy also discussed the drug war in the Philippines and the country’s decision to pull out from the International Criminal Court, Roque said.

Russia, the Syrian regime’s top ally, reacted strongly to the airstrikes launched by the United States and its allies on Damascus and Homs last Saturday, warning of “consequences.”

The US, UK and France launched a series of strikes on three locations identified as critical to Syria’s production of chemical weapons, including a scientific research center in Damascus, and a production facility and storage facility in Homs.

Leni says sorry for posing beside Holocaust Memorial

By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo on Tuesday issued a public apology for posing for a photograph with several members of the Liberal Party at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Germany.

In a statement, she apologized “for offending the sensitivities of others.”

“There’s no excuse. While there was no malice in it, I take full responsibility, kaya I would like to apologize for whatever offense to the sensitivities of the people it caused,” she said.

Detractors of Robredo hit her when Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, in a Twitter account, posted a photograph of Robredo, along with Senator Francis Pangilinan, Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte, Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, ex-Budget secretary Florencio Abad and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, at the memorial place.

Robredo and the other party-mates went to Berlin for a study tour for poverty alleviation.

The picture went viral in social media.

85 private vocational schools face charges

By Jun David and Joel Zurbano

Du30 concerned over airstrikes in Syria

By Vito Barcelo

ASSOCIATE Supreme Court Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Noel Tijam and Francis Jardeleza should resign if they fail to inhibit themselves from the ongoing hearing on the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

This was the demand made by a multi-sectoral group who had thrown their support to the Chief Justice, saying that the five Supreme Court justices had repeatedly shown their bias against the embattled Sereno.

“We call on the SC to honor its own Code and instantly compel the inhibition of the Biased 5. If the Biased 5 will not inhibit, we adamantly insist that they resign,” the Coalition for Justice said in a statement.

The groups numbering 400 Sereno supporters from the CFJ gathered at the SC compound in Padre Faura Street in Manila on Tuesday morning to protest Solicitor General Jose Calida’s petition for quo warranto, calling it “unconstitutional.”

“We demand that the Highest Court of the land prove to the Filipino people its respect for the Constitution and its own rulings. Justices, observe the law you are sworn to serve,” the statement added.

Sereno earlier asked the five justices to recuse from deliberations on the quo warrant petition, which challenges the validity of the top magistrate’s appointment in 2012.

Sereno had said that the five justices exhibited “bias” and “animosity” against her when they testified in the impeachment proceedings at the House justice committee.

SCAFFOLDING. Workers install scaffolding on a church’s spire in Manila on April 17,

2018. AFP

AT LEAST 85 technical vocational institutions nationwide are in “hot water” after they were found to have committed several violations against the implementing guidelines enforcing the scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

This after the agency’s National Inspectorate for Scholarship Programs, during its spot inspections, found possible corrupt practices among technical-vocational institutions and training centers with registered Tesda courses from 2017 up to the present.

Tesda Director-General Guiling Mamondiong ordered a separate, newly formed Validation Committee to conduct further investigation into the alleged violations of the 85 TVIs. He has also sought for the immediate cancellation of these TVIs’ certificates of program registration and the possible filling of appropriate charges against them should the initial findings be confirmed.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

An exercise of sovereign right with us, getting a room next to ours and even eating with us! Santa Banana, the PROC must have thought I was a spy for the Kuomintang.

Still, that was an exercise of China’s sovereignty.

AFTER reading about the outrage of *** bishops, priests and leftist groups over On the night of the counting of votes the impending deportation of an Aus- for the May 2016 elections, Bongbong tralian nun called Sister Fox, who came Marcos was gaining a steady lead over to the Philippines as a tourist but later his closest rival, Leni Robredo. I was on participated in rallies, I could not sure Marcos would win. Before I went help laughing. to sleep, I called up one of Robredo’s The arrest of this nun-tourist is now PR aides to tell him that his candidate being interpreted as an act of govern- was losing. ment cowardice. But we all know that He told me that President BS Aquino a tourist’s participation in rallies could had called an emergency meeting with be considered a crime. the people of Robredo and presidential A funny comment came from a fe- candidate Mar Roxas, because “somemale lawyer, once chairperson of the thing must be done.”

Human Rights Commission. She said When I woke up at three in the mornwe could expect retaliation from other ing, lo and behold, Marcos’ lead had countries where there are overseas Fili- disappeared and Robredo was winpino workers. ning. That was when I said to myself It’s far-fetched that OFWs would get that Aquino and his Yellowtards were involved in partisan activities where monkeying wit the results to make eithey are working. ther Roxas or RoEvery lawyer bredo win. should know that In the case of deportation is an Roxas, he was act of sovereignty, Davao A country can deport trailing as is the act of banMayor Rodrigo ning undesirable or ban any undesirable Duterte by 6.6 aliens from enter- alien. million votes—a ing the country. too-big margin to When Immiovercome. gration in Cebu Thus, the Yellow Army settled for banned the entry of a European Union official who was Robredo as vice president with a lead critical of President Duterte’s crack- of 263,473 votes over Bongbong. down on illegal drugs, it was also an act With that narrow lead, Marcos proof sovereignty. That Italian, Giacomo tested, alleging cheating. An example Fillibeck, was seen in a photo among was the province of Basilan where not other critics of the President. one of the Iglesia ni Cristo votes that My gulay, I can only recall the times supposedly went all-out for him was when I was denied entry to the People’s counted.

Republic of China years ago, when I Now with the recount of votes from used to visit Taiwan and write stories Marcos’ pilot province, Camarines Sur favorable to the late Kuomintang chief (Robredo’s home province), Iloilo and Chiang Kai Shek.

Negros Oriental with more than 5,800 It was only during the incumbency clustered precincts, the revisors of the of former President Fidel Ramos that I Presidential Electoral Tribunal are saywas able to visit Beijing and Shanghai ing that Robredo’s lead could be naras I was a member of the his business rowed down substantially. delegation when he visited China.

Robredo’s camp will of course insist When my wife and I visited China that this does not automatically transas private citizens, I was the guaran- late to a Marcos victory. Still, the fact tee of my good friend Vic Tan, who remains: Cheating took place. accompanied us to China. Somehow At the start of the pre-count early this he enjoyed some influence on Beijing. month, Marcos’ camp claimed to have Still, somebody from the Chinese trav- discovered irregularities on a number el agency that gave us visas had to be Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Just the facts

T

HERE are many ways to view the kerfuffle over Facebook’s decision to enter into a fact-checking partnership with Rappler and Vera Files.

The Palace on Tuesday objected to Facebook’s choice of partners, saying they, too, were guilty of political partisanship and should not be trusted to vet people’s Facebook pages.

On the Internet, supporters of President Duterte voiced the same objections, albeit with more vitriol—and less thought. One blogger’s threat to delete his Facebook page in protest was a textbook example of cutting off the nose to spite the face. A call for a mass exodus from Facebook to its Russian counterpart seemed even more bizarre and equally pointless, bringing to mind lemmings marching off to oblivion.

The suggestion from a Palace official—to make their objections

known to Facebook—seemed a much more sensible way to go.

Unfortunately, given the partisan nature of our media landscape, any choice that Facebook makes would draw opposition from somebody.

A 2018 study of 38 countries by the Pew Research Center is indicative of how far apart we are from other countries in valuing a non-partisan press.

In one part of the survey, respondents were asked if it was never acceptable or sometimes acceptable for a news organization to favor one political party over others when reporting the news. Large majorities in most countries and a global median of 75 percent of all respondents said it was never acceptable. In the Philippines, however, only 52 percent said it was never acceptable, and a large 41 percent said it was sometimes acceptable to favor one political party over others when reporting the news.

Despite this view, Filipino respondents gave local media or-

ganizations high marks for reporting on important issues, government leaders and officials and political issues fairly.

These two seemingly incompatible findings suggest that Filipino readers accept that news organizations here are partisan, but patronize enough of them to balance out the falsehoods and get at the objective truth.

None of this makes it easy for a social media company such as Facebook to choose a local factchecking partner that is acceptable to all. Instead of just two like-minded media partners, perhaps the social media giant needs to widen the field to a more diverse set of partners to ensure that falsehoods on both sides of the political fence are identified and properly vetted.

These partners, of course, will need to check their politics at the door and keep each other honest.

After all, as the US statesman Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”

Stopping a tyrant cheaper P39 a kilo to undercut prices by commercial traders who are selling rice at P42 to P45 depending on the variety.

Poor people welcomed the rolling ALEJANDRO rice stores. This is an effective counDEL ROSARIO terfoil to those greedy rice traders THERE is a certain professor and hoarding their supply to drive up pricanalyst who thought the triumvirate es. Instead of profit the hoarders could of the United States, Great Britain and now face the dire prospects of their France merely wanted a show of force stocks rotting in warehouses. Serves when they launched airstrikes against them right for their greed.

VP poll case Syria. Although partly right that the The camp of Vice President Leni three major powers did display their military might, their action was more Robredo sent us its side on the ongoing election protest case filed by forthan muscle-flexing.

First of all, strong nations have a mer Senator Bongbong Marcos. We moral duty to stop someone like Ba- are running Robredo’s statement in shir al-Assad from thinking he can get this column in the interest of fair play. away with being a tyrant. This is par- I will also publish Senator Marcos’ reticularly true when he gasses to death joinder when I get it.

On April 5, his own people, 2018, the camp unleashing a lethal of Vice President nerve agent on ciLeni Robredo vilian men, women filed a motion and children in reThis grim prospect questioning the bel territory. This threshold being is one of the ugli- can be attributed to applied by the est episodes of the the interests of certain long-running civil countries with their own Presidential Electoral Tribunal war in Syria that for being twice seems to have no agenda in Syria. higher than the 25 end in sight. This perent threshold grim prospect can be attributed to the actually used by interests of certhe Comelec in tain countries with their own agenda the 2016 elections.

The threshold refers to the minimum in Syria. Russia and Iran, which are supporting Assad, do not want Syria amount of shade in the oval which the to fall into the orbit of US and Israel Vote Counting Machine will admit as which obviously are on the side of the a valid vote.

In the recount, the PET has insisted rebels and a freely elected government that for a voting mark to be treated as a in Damascus. valid vote, 50 percent of the oval must Rice crisis The Duterte government is dealing be shaded. Thus, any shade less than with the rice crisis heads-on. In order 50 percent is treated as stray for purto cope with the dwindling supply and poses of the recount.

It appears that the PET is using Rule the spiraling prices of the basic commodity, the National Food Authority is 43(l) of the 2010 PET Rules of Procedeploying trucks selling NFA rice at a Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

Without fear or favor CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ THE title of this piece is the ultimate journalist’s credo, as it should be even in this age of fake news. That elegant phrase was culled from a piece written

by Adolf S. Ochs in 1896 when he took over The New York Times—the global newspaper of record, as its owners and editors claim it to be. It was Ochs’ battlecry of sorts as he engaged the “...

“It will be my earnest aim,” the powerful, sensationalistic competitors in the heyday of yellow journalism...” 38-year-old Ochs said, “...that The New The creed remains an abiding guidepost York Times give the news, all the news, to this day. in concise and attractive form, in language that is parliamentary in good society, and give it as early, if not earlier, than it can be learned through any other reliable medium; to give the news imparWriting an opinion tially, without fear or favor, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved; to make piece is no license to of the columns of The New York Times a fabricate or twist the forum for the consideration of all questions of public importance, and to that facts. end to invite intelligent discussion from all shades of opinion.”

Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

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

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion A culture of distrust SO I SEE LITO BANAYO TAKING a plane at Domestic Terminal 4 for Puerto Princesa made me wonder why passengers need to pass several checkpoints.

First, as you enter the terminal, a security guard asks to see your ID and ticket. Then you go into the metal detector as your luggage goes through the X-ray machine. From there you proceed to the ground crew who ask you for an ID, understandable because tickets are no longer in vogue.

After checking in, you pass through another security guard who again asks for your ID along with your boarding pass. And then your hand-carried luggage, along with cellphone, belt, watch and shoes pass another X-ray scrutiny.

Having gone through all that, you amble your way into the crowded predeparture area, looking for a seat.

That too is difficult, not because there are far too many passengers compared to the number of seats, but because many of us have the bad habit of placing our hand-carried luggage in the next seat, or seats. Some even have the bad manners of laying their miserable corpus on an entire row of seats.

Your flight is called, and as you line up, you find out that you have to present once more your ID along with your boarding pass. No, not again!

But that is not the end of this culture of distrust. As you enter the plane, the attendant asks for your boarding pass, which she has to check and scribble some initial or something upon. You wonder: Whatever for?

Days later, leaving through Naia Terminal 1 for Taipei, I retrace the steps: the guard at the terminal door; the X-ray machine; the check-in counter; and before going through immigration, another guard asks for ID (passport) and boarding pass. Of course so does the immigration of-

ficer. And then there is another Xray machine where the same metallic items, electronic gadgets and shoes have to pass through X-ray.

If you don’t look dignified enough, “mukhang mahirap,” “dugyot” “maitim,” yet another guard demands to see passport and boarding pass as you walk to the pre-departure area.

But if you are in a branded suit or jacket, or sport an Hermes handbag, or look like a LizQuen or JaDine, the guards would turn solicitous and even obsequious. And of course, as you depart, airline personnel look at your passport and boarding pass.

Now compare these checkpoints to those obtaining in your usual foreign destination when you depart from their airport.

You enter the terminal without a security guard checking you and straight

Then again, even this distrust is selective.

into the check-in counter or use the electronic check-in machine. After which you go through customs where your hand-held luggage and laptops go through X-ray (just once and no removing of shoes). Your next boarding pass and passport control would be the immigration officer, after which you go through to the pre-departure area.

And just before you depart, you pass by an airline ground attendant who checks your boarding pass along with passport. That is all, right?

And yet there are no “tanim-bala” incidents in foreign terminals where there are less checkpoints.

One wonders if the numerous manned checkpoints are our way of employing the otherwise un-employable. Or it is just because by culture, we are a distrustful people.

But then again, even our distrust is selective.

Pag mukhang mayaman, less check-

points. The rich and powerful even have “escorts” so they could breeze through the airport terminals (in my entire public service career where I have held lofty-enough positions, I have disdained the practice of having escorts or “salubongs,” finding the same both abusive and “nakakahiya.”)

Even with foreigners, we tend to discriminate. Pag colored, inspect and scrutinize. Pag puti, todo pasa.

Especially pag mukhang mayaman, magara ang damit. (A Taiwanese company once complained to us that an engineer they hired from the mainland was not allowed entry by immigration officers because he came in shorts and sandals). Smacks of racism, and then again, why do you think our females (and some males as well) buy tons and tons of “whitening” lotions and take glutathione pills, with advertisements thereof shamelessly denigrating the “dark” complexion and being “white” such a desideratum sine qua non.

In many cosmopolitan cities, Taipei for instance, you can hardly find “sekyus” guarding establishments other than banks where a lot of cash gets stashed and withdrawn. In Metro “ Manila, you have “sekyus” in almost every establishment, whether private or government offices, restaurants, malls, even beauty parlors. And if you try to find out the ownership of the security agencies, you will most likely discover an ex-general, or even one still in active service.

Yet we pride ourselves in being a “kind and hospitable” people. Just because we keep smiling, and our children as well even if they are hungry and miserable, we tout our “happiness” and claim “cheerfulness” as a tourism come-on.

One of our memorable tourist slogans was “The Philippines, where Asia wears a smile.” But there is an awful disconnect when we place our smiles side by side with a culture of distrust that manifests in most every way we deal with fellow humans from foreign shores and even with fellow Filipinos.

Peso, prices and polls VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THERE are two disturbing developments on the economic front. One, the peso has depreciated against the US dollar, by 10 percent, since 2016, from P45 per dollar to P52 today—a 10-year low. This makes the peso the worstperforming currency in Asia. This is ironic, considering that the Philippines is supposedly the best-performing economy in Asia, next to or outside of China, with annual growth that should average 7 percent per year. Imagine that—the region’s greatest economy has the region’s worst-performing currency.

The level of foreign reserves—which serves as a checking account against which imports and other foreign exchange outflows are charged, has remained at the $80-billion level. The peso is supposed to hit P51 by the end of 2018 yet, per predictions of analysts.

Yet, as early as March 22, the peso hit its 10-year low of P52.439 to the dollar. Since Jan. 7, the peso has lost 4.5 percent of its value against the US greenback. The second development is that the inflation rate has leaped to its highest level in 40 months.

Why? Because of high food prices. Why are food prices high? Two reasons: One, the high taxes on bellweather products like diesel, and two, because the state-owned National Food Authority has run out, deliberately, for the first time since its invention in the 1970s, of rice. A government rice agency running out of rice is like the central bank running out of cash. As a result, there is now a virtual run on rice, its prices gone berserk.

Rice, by the way, is 15 points out of the 100 points of the Consumer Price Index. And food, in general, is 55 points of the poor man’s CPI. Because rice prices are up, diesel price is up, and because the dollar has become more expensive when buying imports, prices of nearly every other commodity or service are up. Your

cellphone bill is up, your telephone bill is up, your water bill is up, your electricity bill is up, and your transport fares are up. Utilities, as you know by now, enjoy, by government tolerance, an automatic CERA—currency exchange rate adjustment. Your water bills, in fact, has one other rider—a charge for sewerage service, meaning the water company collects something like P50 a month from you for service that is basically not rendered, which is cleaning out your underground cesspool. Usually, when your waste tank is full, you call Malabanan. Now, that service is hardly rendered by Manila Water and Maynilad Water, despite a fee that is collected in advance. When they don’t render the service, you have what you call pure profit and you wallow in sh*t.

Amazingly, President Duterte’s approval ratings remain very high.

Amazingly, President Duterte’s approval ratings remain very high. In the past, if the incumbent administration ran out of rice, it would lose the next election. Because voters treat it like sh*t. Instead, Dearest Digong’s satisfaction rating has even gone up, from 67 percent of people surveyed in September 2017 to 70 percent in March this year, per the Social Weather Stations.

His satisfaction rating is higher in Metro Manila—the center of media and critics—at 72 percent in March (two percentage point above the national average), and four percentage points above September 2017’s 68 percent.

If you assume that there are 105 million Filipinos and assume that each Filipino, including babies who cannot talk, can express an opinion, a 67 per-

cent satisfaction rating means 70.35 million Filipinos (70 percent of 105) like their President and are happy with his performance. For every Filipino who doesn’t like Digong, there are two Filipinos who like him. That’s an overwhelming advantage of two-toone. In six months, from September to March, the number of Dutertediehards increased by three million.

You cannot blame the D30 believers. The guy has just created a new middle class—our soldiers (140,000), our policemen (194,000), and our teachers (244,000). This class of wage earners now makes an average of P40,000 a month ($769 a current peso-dollar rate) or P520,000 a year (13 months times P40,000). These people become millionaires every other year. They shame journalists who probably make only half that despite their command of language and knowledge. A cabinet secretary makes P2.378 million a year, whether or not he has command of language or knowledge.

Who is the president who can do that? Duterte, of course. Your average police or army general makes P1.3 million a year, because the monthly pay of generals is now P100,000.

Remember the police and the army guard polling precincts on election day. Teachers count the votes at the end of election day.

Additionally, there is indefinite martial law on the entire Mindanao archipelago. Without anybody looking, Duterte has become the Philippines’ most powerful president ever.

So now, there is talk that the next president of the Philippines, after our Dearest Digong, is a woman, Sara Duterte Carpio. This early, she is organizing her own political party and this early, many are joining her bandwagon. So this early, the 2022 presidential election looks like a three-way fight —among global boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao, returning senatorial topnotcher Grace Poe, and Sara, of course. Prepare your depreciated peso, for bets. biznewsasia@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Without...

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One cannot claim to be a true-blue journalist if he or she breaks this creed. As a reporter, one must report only the facts and nothing else. To be fair and credible, the truism goes, one must stick to the facts and, as much as possible, “get the other side of the story.”

Opinion writing is another matter.

Still, writing an opinion piece is no license to fabricate or twist the facts. As the saying goes, one is entitled to one’s opinion but not to one’s own facts. Not even columnists can invent their own facts. To be credible and responsible one must be factual. Not a ‘hearsayer’ or a scriptwriter. Otherwise, one descends into the depths and becomes a ‘calum-nist,’ a muckraker undeserving of a column inch in print. Or even a second in radio or TV or social media.

“Without fear or favor” has been my creed in my decades long stint in media.

I intend to keep it that way as I get back into the groove, so to speak, having been out of circulation (at least in print) for almost five years now.

So, let’s journey on: Report on the issues of the day and discuss and debate “questions of public importance,” as Ochs advised in 1896. *** What’s the big fuss about the deportation—the airport-to-airport trip as the airline industry calls it—of Giacomo Filibeck, the Italian Deputy Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists? Filibeck was supposed to attend the annual congress of Akbayan—the party-list twin of the Liberal Party which lorded it over in the previous regime—when he was barred from entering the country for having “engaged in partisan political activities.”

As reported, the guy was a member of the seven-man “Human Rights Mission” of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, a political grouping in the European Parliament, which visited Manila last October 2017 and which roundly denounced the Duterte administration’s “bloody war on drugs” even before they could warm their seats. Apart from that, Fillibeck has been identified as an active European conduit of anti-Duterte groups spreading all kinds of unverified information, not only about the administration’s “failings” but the country’s “breakdown as a failed state.” Did he really expect a warm welcome after doing all these things?

Why should any self-respecting nation and government allow entry to people like Fillibeck who parachute into town with a prepared spiel on what’s wrong with the host country and its leaders (except for their partners) and gleefully parade all over the place armed only with their bias and prejudice based on tainted information? Why should we allow ourselves to be treated with such contempt by foreigners whose countries and leaders may even have worse “failings” than us? Fillibeck and his cohorts should know better than whine. After all, the last I heard, we remain a sovereign country with a democratically elected leader and a working system of government. We are not the vassal of any other nation or even a group of nations like the European Union. And,

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of ballot boxes. For example, there were wet and distorted bottles. Some of the boxes did not have audit logs. My gulay, with Marcos protesting results from some 39,000 clustered precincts from some 30 provinces, we can only imagine what the end-game would be: a Marcos win! *** Long before President Duterte made his election promise to end contractualization, I had been writing against this practice. Retail giants, for instance, hire workers for only five or six months and then replace them with other workers, also for the same period.

This practice came about to circum-

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dure, which provided for a 50 percent threshold.

In the 2010 elections, the Comelec adopted a 50 percent threshold. Subsequently, however, it lowered the threshold.

What is alarming is that the threshold discrepancy would mean an election day result that is different from the PET result. It has already been reported that the Vice President is losing votes in her province of Camarines Sur. The recount has only been going for two weeks.

This is why Robredo asked the PET to be consistent with the Comelec’s 25 percent threshold. Her lawyers submitted to the PET the 2016 elec-

lest Akbayan and the Liberal Party forget, they chorused their approval of the “airport-to-airport trip” of a foreigner engaged in illegal political activities in 2015 even as their critics denounced them as ‘undemocratic and dictatorial.’ *** That Pope Francis should be deeply disturbed by the international community’s failure to come up with a common response to the crisis in Syria and other parts of the world comes as no surprise. The Roman Catholic Pontiff has steadfastly denounced the tragic civil war which has resulted in deaths to thousands that left this ancient and living country in ruins. That the war has also engulfed not only Syria’s neighbors but a host of powers competing for influence in the region has only exacerbated the situation.

All people of peace and goodwill should join the Pope and the Catholic faithful in knocking at the global community’s conscience to put an end to this long drawn-out civil war.

This includes the likes of Giancomo Fillibert and his cohorts in the European Union and the European Alliance of Socialists.

If, as this group claims, it aims to be in solidarity with all those suffering from human rights abuses and undemocratic governance, perhaps they can now invite themselves to a number of countries, say, Syria or Afghanistan among those in the cusps of devastating civil war and do something to stop the tragedy. Better still, they can proceed to the White House or Buckingham Palace or the Elysee, to denounce the trigger happy, selective response of the occupants of these offices to the protagonists in these civil wars which has only led to more problems and prolonged the sufferings of the masses of civilians caught in the tug-of-war.

Best of all, Fillibeck can encamp in front of the Italian Parliament building in Rome and read out to one and all Pope Francis’ various statements on the human sufferings and devastation in Syria, Afghanistan and, yes, Libya, the former Italian colony, all of which are experiencing the tragic consequences of never ending civil war.

He can do all this instead of poking a parachutist’s finger in the Philippines. *** That was indeed a commendable act which President Duterte did in Hong Kong, and I am not just talking about that raucous and hopeful rally-of-sorts with thousands of our kababayans who could hardly move in that jampacked auditorium, nor about the merienda meeting with an OFW resulting in a free round-trip ticket plus vacation for the lucky woman. I am talking about the President’s apology to the Chinese people and the Hong Kong government for that failed Luneta rescue operation which resulted in the death of eight tourists from the region.

I am sure that although it was eight years (and counting) late, the Chinese public and the government wholeheartedly welcomed the President’s gesture. After all, compared with Noynoy’s silence and the almostcontemptuous statements issued by his cohort days after the tragic rescue after some prodding by a lot of people and sectors, this one was done without any prompting and conditions and with such sincerity and empathy that only a Duterte could possibly deliver.

It was a class act by any reckoning. vent the Labor Code that makes it obligatory for employers to make their workers permanent after six months so they could enjoy benefits due regular employees.

But that would mean new legislation amending the Labor Code which gives employers the right to hire and dismiss employees through due process.

Another anomaly created here is that the big companies have their own organizations that furnish them employees as they please.

Contractualization is a malpractice that must end.

Still, the process is easier said than done. It requires a tripartite effort by labor, employers and the government.

And now there are so many versions of the order to end “endo.”

So which shall it be? tions Random Manual Audit (RMA) Report. In this document, the Comelec stated that it adopted a 25 percent threshold for the 2016 elections.

And yet, the PET denied the Motion of the Vice President.

In its Resolution dated 10 April 2018, the PET said that it “cannot treat the Random Manual Audit Guidelines and Report as proof of the threshold used by the Comelec.”

With this decision, votes that originally passed the 25 percent threshold are now being classified by PET head revisors as stray. Worse, the PET wants the Vice President to take the burden of claiming her votes, instead of having rival candidate, Bongbong Marcos, register his objections.

The fate of the Vice President, and the millions of Filipinos who voted for her, now rests with the PET.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cebu Pacific After probe: No baggage theft at Naia

Mancilla much better, consul in Saudi says THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said Agnes Mancilla, the Filipina allegedly forced to ingest household bleach by her employer in Saudi Arabia, is now in a better condition.

In a meeting with Consul General to Jeddah Edgar Badajos, Mancilla narrated her harrowing experience under the hands of her employer who, aside from the latest cruelty against her, starved her for more than a month with only coffee for food.

Agnes arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2016 as a household service worker for the same employer.

According to the agency, they were initially based in Jeddah but transferred in 2017 to Jizan where the maltreatment allegedly started.

Mancilla told Badajos her female employer forced her to drink household bleach for failing to make tea properly.

Aside from this, she has not been fed anything except coffee for almost 40 days and was made to work from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m.

DFA-Office of Public Diplomacy Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, who was directing information from Jeddah, told media Mancilla was also bearing bite marks at her back, alleged to have been inflicted by her woman employer.

For more than two years, the Filipina worker was not able to contact her family in the Philippines after her employers confiscated her phone.

Cato said Badajos would be seeing authorities in Jizan who are handling Mancilla’s case Tuesday to ensure that proper charges would be filed against her employer.

While she is now in an improved condition, Badajos did not say how many more days Mancilla would be staying at the hospital.

Meanwhile, when asked if the Duterte administration would call for better working conditions for household service workers in the Gulf State, Cato replied there were existing bilateral mechanisms in addressing cases of abuses where there are overseas Filipino workers.

“In the case of Agnes, we are working closely with authorities in Saudi Arabia in making sure her employer is held accountable,” he said. PNA

Imee presses for revival of Kadiwa system

By Joel E. Zurbano

DRUM ROCKERS. Japanese Samurai Drum Rockers called Drum Tao perform Tuesday at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, in their first appearance in public, with the Manila Standard the only broadsheet invited to witness the band play the taiko, a broad range of traditional Japanese percussion instruments. Adding a stronger appeal to Drum Tao are costumes designed by Junko Koshino, whose edgy and fashion-forward creations have gained international acclaim. The group last performed in Manila in 2012. Sonny Espiritu

DoJ summons Rappler over tax evasion raps T

HE Department of Justice has summoned Rappler president Maria Ressa and treasurer James Bitanga over the tax evasion complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against Rappler Holdings Corp.

Ressa and Bitanga received the subpoena, signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Zenamar J.L. Machacon-Caparros on April 11, on April 16.

Caparros directed Ressa—who called the BIR complaint “ludicrous”—and Bitanga to submit their “counter-affidavit and other supporting documents” or affidavits by witnesses, if any, at 11 a.m. Two dates were listed: April 24 and May 7.

“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with this subpoena shall be considered as a waiver to present your defense and the case shall be considered submitted for resolution based on the evidence on record,” Caparros said.

The BIR last March 8 claimed Rappler had profited from the sale of Philippine

Depositary Receipts to two foreign entities in 2015 and that it should pay income and value added tax for the transaction.

Francis Lim, a securities law expert and legal counsel of Rappler argued the capital raised from issued PDRs had not been booked by Rappler as income.

“There is no income taxable event, so to speak. When you raise capital, that’s not income,” Lim said in an interview with ANC. The BIR said Rappler was subject to income tax and VAT as the company is a “dealer in securities”—a claim also contested by Lim. He said then that just because Rappler issued PDRs did not make it a dealer in securities.

This interpretation, Lim added, would

make any company or person who buys and sells shares a dealer in securities.

In a referral letter dated March 8, BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay told then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II that “RHC, Ms. Ressa, and Mr. Bitanga are being charged for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information for taxable year 2015.”

Dulay said RHC, Ressa, and Bitanga violated Sections 254 and 255 in relation to Sections 253 and 256 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

The DoJ’s Caparros said Ressa and Bitanga should submit the necessary documents at the second floor of the Prosecution Building of the Department of Justice in Padre Faura, Manila.

“This is clear intimidation and harassment. The government is wasting its energy and resources in an attempt to silence reporting that does not please the administration,” Ressa said.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TO CURB runaway prices of basic goods and commodities and help farmers get the best prices for their produce, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos pressed for the revival of the Kadiwa market system implemented during the time of her father, then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Mobile Kadiwa outlets in the 1970s primarily catered to depressed areas, selling staple food items and groceries at markedly reduced prices to ease living costs for poor households.

Marcos said strengthening the agricultural sector through the revival of the Kadiwa market system should be one of the top programs of government to help poor families, especially those in below the poverty threshold to cope with the rising prices of commodities.

“We need to institute reforms in the food supply chain to address the problem of rising prices of basic commodities,” said Marcos in a statement obtained by the Manila Standard.

At the same time, she said “we can bolster our farm sector with the Kadiwa outlets firmly in place—the consumers buy farm produce at farm gate prices.”

The Kadiwa market system spearheaded by then first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos became a venue where goods were made available at farm gate prices.

This enabled the public to buy goods at cheaper rates and the farmers to sell their crops without having to worry about transportation costs and eliminate the middle men who jacked up prices for profits.

Marcos stressed that to stabilize prices of basic goods, the government should buy the goods when the supply is excessive and sell when stocks run low: Marcos also emphasized the need to save the “dying” agricultural sector in the country in the face of the Asean integration.

“There is a need to focus on this, implement if needed because import limit would be removed during the Asean integration,” she said.

At present, she said “we have a limit on the number of tons that can be imported.”

“When there’s Asean integration, that will be removed, The importers and traders would prevail. Our farmers will be in a pitiful condition. We need to prepare all sectors particularly the agriculture sector,” she said.

PCSO gives hope to baby needing heart surgery A YOUNG couple received an unexpected gift from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office as they lined up at the Nueva Ecija High School gym to receive their free medicines from the PCSO’s medical and dental mission there.

Aries and Shilet Cabildo were with their one-year-old son Usher, who is suffering from tetralogy of fallot, a congenital heart disorder, when they caught the eye of PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan, who was supervising the agency’s medical personnel.

Balutan called the couple’s attention, and they didn’t hesitate to tell the former battle-hardened Marine general nicknamed “Mandirigma” (Warrior) about their child’s impending heart surgery.

“I hope we have more years with Usher,” Aries pleaded with Balutan.

To which Balutan gladly replied, “We are still warriors, but we no longer fight in Mindanao, we are fighting for charity now.”

“So, we will try to do everything possible to help your baby. We will maximize our financial assistance for his surgery up to his recovery,” he told the Cabildos.

The couple was overjoyed and couldn’t thank Balutan enough for the unexpected blessings.

“Thank you very much, we are very grateful to GM Balutan because he paid attention to us when we came and talked with him. He brought us to the PCSO staff and told them to take care of our request for aid to help our baby Usher,” said Aries.

“We did not think that Sir Balutan’s heart is soft, even with the toughness of his stance.

Just his hearing our request is a big deal to us. Thanks to PCSO,” Shilet said, trying to hold back tears.

PCSO Medical Services Department manager Dr. Jose Bernardo Gochoco said that the agency usually gives P100,000 worth of financial assistance maximum to a patient with a heart case, but that would still vary on the case rate and patient’s classification.

THE Cebu Pacific Air has completed its probe and declared no baggage theft happened in the case of a female passenger who claimed she lost her laptop and other belongings on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last weekend.

The passenger, whom the airline refused to identify, arrived in Manila on board CEB flight 5J113 from Hong Kong last April 14.

“After a full and thorough investigation, which included inquiries with the ground staff, viewing body cam and fixed closedcircuit television cemera footage, among others, we have found that there were no discrepancies nor indications of tampering in the baggage of the concerned passenger under the care and custody of Cebu Pacific,” said CEB chief information officer Ma. Rosario Lagamon.

Reports showed the passenger flew via another airline from London to Hong Kong, where she retrieved her luggage prior to checking in for Flight 5J 113.

“We are providing all information and footage to the authorities, and submitting a full report to the Manila International Airport Authority,” said Lagamon.

She added the Office for Transportation Security and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group would also be furnished with the copy of the CEB’s investigation report of the incident.

“We thanked the passenger for her patience as we investigated the incident and the appreciation she conveyed to our team for the support we provided. The passenger asked for discretion and to be low profile,” Lagamon said.

Initial reports showed that after checking in for Flight 5J113 in Hong Kong, the passenger’s baggage was placed inside a Unit Load Device or baggage container and secured aboard the aircraft.

“The CCTV security footage showed that the ULD arrived Manila intact, with the passenger’s baggage inside. CCTV footage further showed ground personnel loading the baggage on the carousel with the lock still in place,” the CEB management stated.

The incident went viral during the weekend with more than 70,000 shares on social media.

Airport administrators in the past launched a campaign against baggage pilferage to help the airlines in protecting its passengers’ check-in luggage possibly against unscrupulous station loaders who are employees of a subsidiary corporation of Naia’s accredited ground handling companies.

They reminded passengers that as much as possible, they should avoid putting valuable items in their luggage, or place these in their carry-on bags to keep them safe.

The authorities said pilferages were not only happening in Naia.

Bad SALNs get Maguindanao mayor indicted

By Rio N. Araja

CHECK THEM OUT. LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III and Board Member engineer Ronaldo Corpuz compare notes during the public hearing Tuesday on the alleged illegal fares charged by Grab Philippines. Manny Palmero

Sandiganbayan acquits Echiverri from one of 44 graft complaints

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan First Division has dismissed one of the 44 graft charges filed against former Caloocan City mayor Enrico Echiverri, citing the failure of the prosecution to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The anti-graft court also acquitted former city accountant Ednan Centeno and former city budget officer Jesusa Garcia.

Echiverri’s case pertains to the Caloocan city government’s road and drainage systems improvement projects in 2011.

The former mayor is not yet off the hook at the Sandiganbayan, owing to the P1.4billion loan he entered with the Land Bank of the Philippines for the city’s infrastructure projects. He allegedly misused P235.65 million of that amount.

Ombudsman prosecutors charged Echiverri and his co-accused of graft for allegedly giving unwarranted benefits to P.B. Grey Construction for the improvement of

roads and drainage system in Phase 6, Green Valley, Barangay 178 amounting to P8 million.

The contract was part of the loan that Echiverri agreed to with Landbank on behalf of the city government.

The prosecution cited the Commission on Audit’s findings that that Echiverri failed to secure an approval from the city council to sign an agreement with LBP. But the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution did not consider the CoA’s reversal of its audit against Echiverri in an en banc decision dated June 19, 2015. The court said the CoA stated that the local government has its own power to implement the projects.

“The above decision of the CoA En Banc bears considerable persuasive effect in the disposition of these cases. Effectively the instant charges have become crippled sans any support to withstand the heavy burden of the constitutional requirement that a prosecution should be based on evidence beyond reasonable doubt to convict,” the anti-graft court said.

THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted a Maguindanao mayor for untruthful declaration of his assets in 2011 until 2015.

The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Talitay Mayor Montaser Sabal for five counts each of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act No. 6713 or and Section 7 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act Republic Act No. 3019 for his untruthful statements in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2011 to 2015.

Sabal misrepresented the contents of his SALNs when he failed to disclose his ownership of 13 firearms; four vehicles—a Hummer, a Ford Ranger pickup, a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Toyota Hilux; and four business interests located in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Talitay, Maguindanao.

He also failed to disclose the purchase price of each real property mentioned in his SALNs. In a Counter-Affidavit, he blamed his staff for the non-declaration of his firearms, and asserted that his businesses were just small ventures.

He said his vehicles were acquired through a chattel mortgage, thus, unnecessary to be included in the SALNs. “The law on SALN is clear that all assets of a public officer, including those of his or her spouse, must be declared.

There is no mention that where the value of the property was insignificant or the mode of acquisition was by loan, the declarant has the option not to disclose,” the resolution read.

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Ilocos Sur vows best Palaro

ILOCOS SUR GOV. Ryan Singson and Sec. Leonor Briones of the Department of Education flank the portrait of former Palarong Pambansa standout and Asia’s sprint queen, Lydia de Vega, this year’s Palarong Pambansa Lifetime Achievement Awardee.

THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE

Kadara PH holds batizado AMONG the sports gaining popularity nowadays is capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics, dance, and music.

Known as ‘capo’ for short, the sport is gaining ground mostly in schools where there are ‘capo clubs.’

Here’s a very simplified explanation of the sport: capoeira is taught by ‘mestres’ (masters) and thus has lineages—this is the reason for the various capoeira schools around.

Like many martial arts, participants move up through various levels and gain different colored ‘cordas’ (the equivalent would be ‘belts’ in karate, judo, and so on).

Capoeiristas are called by their ‘apellido,’ a name that is bestowed upon them on their ‘batizado’—baptismal’ or graduation— which also includes the ‘troca de corda’ or ‘belt change,’ sort of a moving-up ceremony.

An aside: an interesting thing about cords is that the students and teachers make them themselves prior to the ceremony.

Lengths of cord are measured, cut, and painted. They are never washed, a mark of how hard the capoerista has been practicing, and old ones are carefully folded and put away.

Kadara is the school founded by Mestre Cicatriz. It has various chapters around the world, including the Philippines. The school here, run by Joseph Pagulayan, known as Coach Leao (‘lion’) had a batizado ceremony last April 14.

Prior to that date, workshops were conducted by Mestre himself and highlevel practitioners visiting from abroad including Instrutor Serpente and Instrutor Trovão, and special guests Urso, Kara, and Macaquinho.

I attended the 2016 batizado where my daughter, writer Alex Alcasid, gained her first belt—the crua (‘raw’ or ‘natural’ cord). In 2016, there were over 100 participants, one of the most well-attended.

This year, Alex moved to the next level, crua-amarela (natural-yellow) and received her capo name or ‘apellido’ – ‘Escritora’ (writer).

At the batizado, there were over 40 participants who participated in the ‘roda’ (‘wheel,’ pronounced ‘hoda’). “It’s how you play capoeira,” Escritora says. “And it’s ‘play’ capoeira, never ‘fight.’”

In the roda, they stand in a circle, a makeshift ring. Some clap, sing, and play drums, berimbau, and other instruments, lending their ‘axe’ (‘energy, pron. ‘ashe’) to two capoeristas who execute figures within the ring. “it gave me purpose and a sense of discipline without having to conform to a certain way of doing things. It also enticed me because of the beauty of its philosophy,” says Filipino practitioner Urso (Jose Manuel Torres).

“It’s not just a workout,” says Escritora.

‘There’s a deep sense of family, I found a family in this community. They don’t leave anyone behind. Capoeira feels patient, it lets you grow into your own style, in your own way, in your own time.”

Capoeira is energetic and graceful, and prescribes certain forms while accommodating personal styles. “You can watch people doing ‘ginga’ (sway, flow) but each has they have their own way of doing it,” says Urso.

It’s perfect for those who enjoy dance and music while learning a useful martial art. For more information, check out the Capoeira Kadara Philippines page on Facebook.

Parabens to all those who got their cords and apellidos! Axe Familia Kadara! *** Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communications consultant. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @ hoarsewhsprr and @jennyortuoste

VIGAN CITY—The heritage province of Ilocos Sur is pulling all stops to make the 61st edition of the Palarong Pambansa the best ever even as President Rodrigo R. Duterte graced the opening rites at the Quirino Stadium Sunday.

“We just don’t want to set a gold standard for Palarong Pambansa hosting, but also turn the games as vehicle for sharing our blessings to the athletes and their officials,” Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Singson said.

The National President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, added: “Doing it right the first time’ is one of our province’s guideposts” (referring to Ilocos Sur’s initial foray as Palaro host).

Even before the games began, Ilocos Sur will already go down in the Palarong Pambansa history as the first host to foot the transportation

bill (from Manila to Ilocos Sur) of the contingents from Visayas and Mindanao.”

Ilocos Sur supplemented the more than P300 million poured in by the organizing Department of Education.

A total of 20,000 athletes and officials from 17 regions will have their eyes feast on more than the skirmishes in the 29 sports on tap in the weeklong event.

Ilocos Sur is best known for its heritage and culture. Its capital, Vigan City, is in the UNESCO World Heritage list, likewise, the Nuestra Seṅora Church in Santa Maria town.

Ilocos Sur’s hosting is all the more historic as it coincides with the bicentennial year celebration of Ilocos Sur after it was separated from Ilocos Norte in 1818 by virtue of Spanish Royal decree.

More games’ records fall in Day 2

By Peter Atencio

B

ANTAY, Ilocos Sur—As more records fell on a scorching summer day, two teenagers showed the way in setting a higher standard in athletics on Day 2 of the 2018 Palarong Pambansa here.

Seventeen-year-old Eliza Cuyom of Region IVA and Ann Katherine Quitoy of Region VI had big marks in the secondary 100-meter hurdle heats and the javelin throw after they surpassed a pair of national junior records.

The impressive performances came as a total of five games’ records fell, including one in the secondary girls’ javelin throw, the secondary boys’ 2,000-meter walk and the 30-meter distance in secondary girls’ archery.

Cuyom, an 11th grader from Sampaloc 1

in Dasmarinas, Cavite, finished the heats in 14.73 seconds at the Quirino Stadium, and with her effort, she broke the 14.9 second mark set by Michelle Pastasha in 1996.

Even better and with track officials using a standard 896 cm barrier in their hurdles, Cuyom went on to eclipse the hand-timed clocking of 15 seconds that Julie Anne Forbes set during the 2000 National Open.

“Kabado po ako. Una, binilisan ko.

Saka na ako bumagal,” said the 5-foot Cuyom, who beat Ella Sirilan of the Na-

tional Capital Region and will try her luck in the finals today.

Earlier, Quitoy, who is from Bacolod, hurled the standard 600-gram spear to a record-smashing distance of 45.72 meters on her second attempt in the secondary girls’ javelin throw at the University of Northern Philippine fields in Vigan City.

She surpassed the existing national junior mark of 45.74 meters that Fil-Heritage athlete Cerah Moren did last year in a United States track meet in San Mateo, California.

Her effort also shattered defending champion Sylvan Faith Abunda’s gold medal-winning feat last year.

Abunda, who is from Northern Mindanao and held the games record last year at 42.85 meters, settled for the silver medal.

Kassandra Hazel Alcantara, a 12th grader from the

6 Filipino jins vie in Wuxi world tourney A SIX-MAN Philippine team carrying the colors of SMART/MVP Sports Foundation will participate in the open qualification tournament for the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Championships on April 20-22 in Wuxi, China.

The well-trained Filipino jins who will compete against entries from 59 other countries are Francis Aaron Agojo (-58kg), Arven Alcantara (-68kg), Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison (-80kg), Baby Jessica Canabal (-49kg), Pauline Louise Lopez (-57kg) and Darlene Mae Arpon (-67kg).

The team officials are Dindo Simpao, head and coach and Carlos Jose Padilla V, coach.

Philippine Taekwondo Association Secretary General and incumbent Makati Congressman Monsour Del Rosario says the prestigious competition will serve as the national team’s preparation for two other important events—the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Ho Chih Minh, Vietnam in May and the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in August.

Del Rosario says Filipino fighters have always been ranked among the top contenders in past international events. “Our entries vow to do their best against fighters from the other participating countries like Korea, France, Spain, Iran, Turkey, Chinese Taipei and the United States,” stresses Del Rosario, a former multi-titled international campaigner.

The Wuxi-bound Filipino squad is also supported by PLDT, Meralco, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Philippine team member Arven Alcantara (left) delivers a turning side-kick at his opponent in a recent local competition

University of the East, broke a 26-year-old meet mark in the secondary girls’ javelin throw four times, with her highest heave at 11.88 meters set on her fifth try.

This erased Marites Barrios’ 11.2-meter mark set in 1992. Alcantara also holds the UAAP mark at 11.96 meters.

Jamela de Asis of Western Visayas also broke the meet record at 11.26 meters for the silver.

In the 2000-meter walk, Region 1 bet Francis San Gabriel led the way as five participants set new best times, with Gabriel finishing in nine minutes and 33.01 seconds, a clocking that’s faster than the 10:11.33 submitted by Bryan Oxales last year.

Oxales, who is from NCR, was second, followed Peter Lachica of Region XI. Region VII’s Phoebe Amistoso shot a 339 in the 30-meter of the secondary girls’ archery meet, bettering the 334 feat of Femi Bajado last year.

UAAP champs test mettle of Gilas PH cadets

Ben Allen will try to foil the back-to-back title drive of Bradley Weiss in the XTERRA Philippines series.

Allens shoot for XTERRA sweep AUSSIE Ben Allen and Jacqui SlackAllen seek to foil Bradley Weiss and Carina Wasle’s back-to-back title drive and pull off a rare husband-and-wife sweep of the XTERRA Philippines series when the premier off-road triathlon is fired off Sunday in Danao, Cebu.

Ben and Jacqui missed the inaugural XTERRA staging in Danao last year after placing third and second, respectively, in Albay in 2016, but both are coming into this weekend’s event organized and produced

by Sunrise Events, Inc. ready to slug it out with the best in the fold.

Weiss and Wasle posted a pair of emphatic victories over a crack international field last year but both expect a tougher challenge this time with Allen aiming to add the title to his past XTERRA victories in Malaysia, Asia Pacific Tour, Saipan and Guam, among others.

Two other couples are also in the fold Jackie Boisset and Myriam GuillotBoisset of France and Brodie Gardner and partner Kate Schultz of Australia, both raring to prove their worth in the grueling 1.5K swim-28K mountain bike8K trail run event serving as the second of three Xterra races slated at the Coco Palms Beach Resort and Cebu Technological U in Danao.

Also tipped to contend for the crown are New Zealand’s Sam Osborne and Japanese Takahiro Ogasawara, winners of XTERRA Saipan in 2017 and 2016, respectively, Kiwi Kiera McPherson, Brodie Gardner of Australia, Frenchman Fabien Combaluzier, Alex Roberts of New Zeland, American Will Ross and local ace Joseph Miller.

Fierce competition is also seen in the women’s pro side with Jackie Allen and Wasle facing a formidable set of rivals in Leela Hancox of Australia, Myriam Guillot-Boisset, also of France, Laura Dias of Brazil, Kristy Jennings of New Zealand, and Aussies Kate Schultz and Penny Slater.

For details, visit www.danao.xterraphil.com or at facebook and twitter xterrasouthph.

Spicing up the full Xterra races (individual and relay) are the Lite (individual and relay), a 750m swim-14km mountain bike-4km trail run, and the duathlon (individual), a 2km trail run-14km mountain bike-4km trail run event.

Presented by the Province of Cebu and the City of Danao, Xterra Phl is backed by venue hosts Coco Palms Beach Resort and Cebu Technological U, and 2Go Express, David’s Salon, Intercare, Motor Ace, Hyper on Cignal, The Philippine Star, AlcoPlus, DeVant, Sanicare and Storck.

REIGNING UAAP men’s champion Ateneo tests the mettle of Gilas Pilipinas cadets in the opener of the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup this Saturday.

The tussle between the nationals and the Blue Eagles is set at 6:30 p.m. at the Filoil Flying V Centre and serves as the main game of a busy triple header ushering the 12th season of the annual preseason tournament.

The opening ceremony begins at 12 noon and will be shown live on ESPN 5.

This will be the first tournament where the cadets are seeing action since a training pool was formed early this year from where the nucleus of the national team to the 2023 FIBA World Cup here will be culled.

Tournament director Bennett Palad said the stint will definitely help the squad become one cohesive unit.

“Malaking tulong because they’re competing with the best players and best schools natin. Kung national team player ako mahahasa ng husto yung skills ko,” said Palad, who was with long-time Filoil Preseason Premier Cup official Joey Guillermo during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao.

“At ‘yung bonding nila importante ‘yun,” added Palad, a former PBA player and national team member himself.

“Through the years, kailangan i-polish ‘yan. Hindi naman overnight ‘yan nagagawa. Malaking factor ‘yan especially when we compete with other teams abroad.”

Guillermo said the country’s premier preseason tournament has always been committed to extending a helping hand for national cause.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

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

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat watches his shot in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game 2 of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Heat defeated the 76ers, 113-103. AFP

San Andres rules CEZA motocross STA ANA, Cagayan—Reigning Rider of the Year Kenneth San Andres of Kawasaki-JBS team stamped his dominance in the 2018 CEZA-Eastern Hawaii National Motocross Championship, winning both the premier MX1 and MX2 divisions of the national series at the world-class Cagayan Economic Zone Authority track here on Sunday.

San Andres quashed the challenge of Jhetric Marquez, Moymoy Flores and Kobe Sta. Ana in both races of the MX1 of the series held under the auspices of the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (NAMSSA).

The many-time awardee of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) for motocross was in a zone in the MX1 as he controlled the pace from the get go in the first moto and set the pace the rest of the way, before repeating the trick in the second heat.

San Andres continued his dominance in the MX2 as he controlled action from start to finish of both the first and second motos, again frustrating Marquez and Flores and eventual fourth placer, Aaron Pacheco.

The Valenzuela native accumulated 50 points in each of the two divisions. Each stage win is worth 50 points, built around two moto races of 25 points each.

His father Junjun San Andres made it a double celebration with his own emphatic triumph in the Veterans’ Division of the motocross event backed by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, in partnership with the Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company Limited.

The motocross extravaganza is one of the many firsts introduced to promote CEZA as an investment hub, a tourism destination and a motorsports venue in Northern Luzon.

“The CEZA and Sta. Ana, Cagayan, courtesy of Mayor Darwin Tobias, concluded its hosting of the national series with flying colors,” said NAMSSA president Stephan Macky Carapiet, who was also recently elected as president of the FIM Asia. “I’m sure this will be the first of many.”

Vintage Wade show lifts Heat past 76ers

L

OS ANGELES—Conference, Dwyane Wade produced a vintage performance as the Miami Heat ended ended Philadelphia’s 17-game winning streak to level their series 1-1.

Wade, 36, scored 28 points in 25 minutes as Miami stunned the 76ers’ home crowd into silence with a 113-103 victory.

It was a superb display from Wade, a three-time NBA champion who started this season with Cleveland before re-joining Miami in February before the trade deadline.

Wade’s experience proved crucial throughout, inspiring a first-half fightback to wipe out the 76ers’ early lead before shepherding Miami to the win in a nervy finale.

Wade, who also had seven rebounds and three assists, was backed by 20 points from Goran Dragic and 18 points from James Johnson.

“I just came in with an aggressive approach,” Wade said afterwards. “I told myself that whatever minutes I was going to play, I was going to do it aggressively.

“Once the balls start falling for you

then it just goes from there.

“I love the stage. I play the game for these moments. To be able to come through for your team when they need you feels good.”

Philadelphia meanwhile were left reflecting on their first loss since early March, jolting their momentum as the series heads to Miami for game three on Thursday.

Ben Simmons led the Philadelphia scoring with 24 points, with Dario Saric adding 23 and Marco Belinelli 16.

Sixers coach Brett Brown later was forced to respond to a profane social media post from injured star Joel Embiid, who wrote of his frustration at being “babied” after watching the defeat from the sidelines.

“He just wants to play basketball, to be with his team, to play in front of the fans,” Brown said.

Reigning Rider of the Year Kenneth San Andres (1st place) holds his championship trophy as he ruled the MX 1 division of the 2018 CEZA-Eastern Hawaii National Motocross Championship at the worldclass racetrack of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority in Sta. Ana, Cagayan on Sunday.

Others in the podium are Jethrick Marquez (2nd place), Moymoy Flores (3rd), Aaron Pacheco (4th) and Kobe Sta Ana (5th). Joining them are (from left) NAMSSA president Macky Carapiet, CEZA’s Chief of Staff Mike Gonzales, Eastern Hawaii Director for Operation Ivette Garcia, CEZA’s Deputy Administrator for Administration and Planning Leonardo Cruz and Eastern Hawaii Property Manager Aljun Manlapaz.

Joseph Muego

Song’s 6-under 66 leads ICTSI Luisita golf by 1 stroke TARLAC—Young Lee Song sizzled early at the back then closed out with two birdies in the last three holes to shoot a six-under 66 and wrest a one-stroke lead over American John Jackson and local bet Rolando Marabe Jr. at the start of the $100,000 ICTSI Luisita Championship at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here.

The long-hitting Song, 19, birdied all par-5s then added five more birdies against three bogeys in an impressive round for a player who turned in a mediocre joint 29th finish in last week’s PGTA Q-School topped by Thai Sattaya Supupramai.

“I played well today (yesterday) and my putting worked well,” said the Cavite-based Korean, who hit 10 fairways and 14 greens on his way to a 35-31 card, spiked by five birdies in the first seven holes at the back where he teed off.

But Jackson and Marabe stood just a stroke behind with 67s while Aussie Nicholas Coxon shot a 68 and Erwin Arcillas, Thai Varanju Rat-

tanaphilboonkij and South African Mathiam Keyser turned in identical 69s, hinting at a spirited battle for the top $17,500 purse in the 72-hole championship kicking off the second season of the region’s newest circuit put up by ICTSI. Jackson, a 30-year-old ace from San Diego, and the unheralded Marabe put in a pair of bogey-free five-under cards in scorching heat while Coxon leaned on a five-birdie binge in a seven-hole stretch from No. 6 against a bogey on the fifth to join the crowded leaderboard.

“My putting saved my day as my driving either went left or right,” said Jackson, adding he needs to play smart in the next three days to earn a crack at the crown in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Marabe, whose best finish was third at PGTA Wack Wack topped by Tony Lascuña last year, birdied Nos. 3, 5, 8, 11 and 14 and preserved his unblemished card with four scrambling pars. He could’ve tied Song or grabbed the lead if not for his three-putt miscue on the par-5 ninth.

Korean Lee Song flashes superb form off the tee on No. 10

“When he’s not able to do that he gets frustrated and I respect his frustration.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson handed San Antonio a painful shooting lesson as Golden State took a grip on their Western Conference playoff duel on Monday.

Durant and Thompson both weighed in with 30-point games as the Warriors powered to a 116-101 win that puts the NBA champions 2-0 up in their best-ofseven series.

The Warriors—still missing the injured talisman Stephen Curry—outclassed a physical San Antonio from three-point range in a devastating display of scoring.

Golden State made 15 of 31 attempts from three-point range, contrasting sharply with San Antonio, who could only muster four from 28 attempts.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich pinpointed his team’s failure to threaten from distance as the principal factor in the loss.

“The ball has to go in the basket,” Popovich said. “That’s the difference in the ball game. They shot 50 percent of threes; we made 14 percent, four of 28 or something.

That’s tough to overcome. AFP

PBA legends’ showcase set in September A DOUBLE-HEADER pitting the old champion teams of San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk, and the original Barangay Ginebra-Purefoods rivalry is sealed.

Set either Sept. 9 or Sept. 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, this classic legends showcase is the initial project of Samahan ng mga Dating Propesyonal na Basketbolista ng Pilipinas, in cooperation with the Philippine Basketball Association.

“We sought the PBA’s support and they gave us a warm reception especially because this in an event for a cause,” said former Crispa superstar Atoy Co, the president of their newly formed foundation looking to raise funds to support former PBA players who hit hard times in life.

Another former Crispa star Philip Cezar is the vice president, former Toyota player Ed Cordero is the secretary, Allan Caidic is the treasurer while Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes, Jojo Lastimosa, Pido Jarencio and Art dela Cruz are those given a seat on the board.

“They put up a foundation that will be ready to help their peers. We’re cooperating with them and we’re giving them all-out support,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

Co and his group sat down in an initial meeting with Marcial Tuesday in the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City. And they had a meeting of minds right away.

“Tutulungan natin lumakas ‘yung foundation. Kapag lumakas ‘yon, marami silang matutulungan na nangangailangang dating kasamahan,” said Marcial.

“For the initial project featuring former stars of Ginebra, Purefoods, San Miguel Beer and Alaska, sila ang bahala sa players while the PBA takes care of the operation and promotions. The proceeds go to the foundation,” Marcial also said.

This bill would feature big stars including Fernandez, Caidic, Lastimosa, Patrimonio, Duremdes, Ato Agustin, Hector Calma, Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins, Jeffrey Cariaso, Jerry Codinera, Chito Loyzaga, Vince Hizon, Marlou Aquino, Noli Locsin, Bal David and many others.

“We’ll be inviting all former PBA players to be there,” said Co. Two classic legends games have been held in the past, including the Crispa-Toyota reunion game in 2003 then a showdown among the 25 PBA greatest players.

All-Star tickets’ demand surges DEMANDS have surge after tickets in this year’s PBA All-Star were officially made available to the market this week.

Sales for tickets in the May 23 to 27 mid-season classic are so far encouraging as per request in the various outlets in each of the three provinces where the games will be held.

Ticket outlet in Davao del Sur where the All-Star week commences on May 23 is at the accountant’s office of the provincial government through May Fernando-Uy at tel. 0825533668 and the budget office c/o Dessamie BuatSanchez with celfone no. 09286713890.

Batangas, which holds the second leg on May 25 and featuring the different side events, has its outlet at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

Toyota Diversion and Toyota Jaro serve as retailer in Iloilo, the final stop of the annual spectacle on May 27.

The 2018 PBA All-Star, which has Phoenix Fuels with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor and supported by Peak sports apparel, will have the same format as last year when Gilas Pilipinas battled three selection teams representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Mindanao squad will be the first to test the mettle of the national team in Davao del Sur (May 23), followed by Luzon in Batangas (May 25), and finally Visayas in Iloilo ( May 27).

UST, Adamson dispute last Final 4 berth in UAAP men’s volleyball will take on top-ranked UNIVERSITY of Santo Game today National University in the Tomas and Adamson (Filoil Flying V Centre) semifinals on Sunday at University clash for the 2 p.m. – UST vs AdU (Men playoff) the Mall of Asia Arena. remaining Final Four slot The Tigers lost twice today in the UAAP Season 80 men’s volleyball tournament at the against the Bulldogs this season, while the Falcons split their head-to-head with the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Bracing for a big Falcons comeback, Bustillos-based spikers in the eliminations.

Adamson University, for its part, is eyecoach Odjie Mamon remains upbeat up the Growling Tigers’ chances to achieve a ing a return trip to the semis after missing second consecutive Final Four stint in the the bus last season.

The other Final Four pits No. 2 Far crucial match at 2 p.m.

Eastern University and defending cham“We are very positive,” said Mamon.

Behind Jayvee Sumagaysay’s 20-hit pion Ateneo on Saturday also at the Mall outing, UST forced a playoff for the No. 4 of Asia Arena.

By finishing in the top two, the Bullslot with a 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, 25-17 victory over Adamson University last Sun- dogs and the Tamaraws need only to win once against their lower-ranked foes to arday, tying its victims at 6-8.

The winner of the no-tomorrow match range a best-of-three title showdown.

IN BRIEF

Aseana land value to surpass Ortigas

ASEANA City is seen surpassing Ortigas among central business districts with the highest land value this year.

Real estate consultancy firm Colliers International said in a report the land value at Aseana is forecast to rise 9.2 per cent to P249,800 per square meter this year from P228,800 per sq. m. last year, or a 24-percent increase from 2009.

Makati still had the highest land value last year at P560,500 per sq. m., followed

by Fort Bonifacio at P499,500 per sq. m.

Ortigas was third with P233,700 per sq. m.

But projections for the current year show Aseana overtaking Ortigas, where land value is estimated to rise to P248,800 per sq. m. this year.

Makati will remain on top in terms of land value, projected at P575,000 per sq. m. by year’s end, while that of Fort Bonifacio is esimated at P533,500 per sq m.

“The higher land value of Aseana compared to Ortigas... can be attributed to the area’s proximity to Makati, the presence of integrated casinos and the upcoming developments,” Colliers said in its report.

The 107.5-hectare Aseana, in Paranaque, is less than seven kilometers from Makati.

TV5 on track to meet ‘19 breakeven target

TV5 Network Inc. on Tuesday said it is cashing in on its new revenue streams to hit break even by next year.

“In terms of the objective, I think we’re on track. We are very encouraged with the response, the kind of advertising money that we’re able to generate so far has been able to hit our target, achieve our targets.

We’re hitting our targets with the current properties, so now we have constantly come up with new properties to get a bigger slice of the pie,” TV5 president and chief executive Vincent Reyes told reporters during the launching of ESPN5 Live Boxing Event.

“In our first quarter, we hit our targets for airtime revenue and majority of the financial targets that we’ve set for ourselves have been achieved. Its just the first quarter. Its a very encouraging start,” he added.

Reyes said the network planned to cut its net loss by 50 percent this year compared with last year. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business Robinsons investing P25b in malls, offices

By Jenniffer B. Austria

R

OBINSONS Land Corp., the property unit of the Gokongwei group, said Tuesday it will spend P24.6 billion in 2018 to construct new malls, offices, hotels and mixed-used projects as it expects net income to substantially increase this year.

RLC said in a regulatory filing this year’s programmed capital expenditures would be financed by internally generated cash from operations and borrowings.

The P24.6-billion spending plan for 2018 excluded capital expenditures for ongoing residential developments in China, it said.

The real estate developer said of the total capex, it would allocate 56 percent for the development of new malls and expansion of existing ones, offices and hotels, and earmark 12 percent to mixed-used developments and masterplanned communities.

It said 13 percent would go to the completion of ongoing residential property developments, while the remaining 19 percent on replenishing the company’s landbank.

RLC said it was scheduled to open four shopping malls this year in Ormoc, Pavia (Iloilo), Tuguegarao and Valencia (Bukidnon).

The new malls will increase RLC’s leasable mall area to 1.508 million

square meters from 1.389 million sqm as of end 2017.

The property firm also expects to complete three hotels this year, including Dusit Thani in Mactan, Cebu; Summit Hotel in Tacloban City; and Go Hotel in Iligan City. The new hotels will boost by 23 percent the company’s number of hotel rooms to 3,086 by end2018 from 2,516 as of end-2017.

RLC said that for office developments, it would end 2018 with 518,000 sqm of leasable office space with the completion of four office buildings.

The company said that with a healthy pipeline of investment projects, it expected recurring income to rise this year.

RLC said the residential business was also expected to sustain its growth momentum this year as reservations sales in the first quarter jumped 100 percent to P3.68 billion.

37th CMAP credit congress on April 24

THE Credit Management Association of the Philippines Inc. will host the 37th National Credit Congress, coinciding with its 86th anniversary on April 24, 2018 at the Manila Diamond Hotel.

The theme for these year’s Congress is “Raising The Bar, Breaking Boundaries: For Better Business Development.”

Keynote speaker for the event is Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Senior Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, who will talk on the economic and financial outlook for the rest of the year.

Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. president Roberto Tan, who was formerly the National Treasurer of the Philippines, will discuss good governance in credit.

Jaime Aristotle Alip, President CARD Inc. will talk on sustaining micro finance, while Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio discuss infrastructure projects for the information and communication technology.

BILLION-DOLLAR RESORT. Widus Philippines Inc. breaks ground for a $1-billion luxury integrated resort in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. The resort, to be called Widus Tower Four, will rise on a 20,000-square-meter property beside soon-to-open Marriott Clark and will have a total floor area of 130,000 square meters. Shown during the ground-breaking ceremony are (from left) Widus general manager Tarek Aouini, Tenman HK Ltd. executive director Nick Boekel, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. president and chief operating officer Alfredo Lim, Pagcor chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo, Widus president and chief executive Daesik Han, Asia United Bank president and chief executive Abraham Co, Widus assistant vice president for corporate planning and development Neki Liwanag, Clark Development Corp. president Noel Manankil and Angeles City Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

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IMF sees PH growing faster than Vietnam, China this year

By Julito G. Rada THE International Monetary Fund said it expects the Philippines to grow 6.7 percent in 2018, faster than most Asian countries including China and Vietnam.

It said the annual expansion of the gross domestic product would likely pick up to 6.8 percent in 2019, with the Philippine economy on track to sustain its momentum on solid domestic demand and robust investments.

The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday showed the Philippines would outperform most of its peers in the region including economic powerhouse China, which was projected to grow 6.6 percent this year. Only India was predicted to expand faster at 7.4 percent.

The growth outlook for the Philippines this year is higher than 5.3 percent for Indonesia, 3.9 percent for Thailand, 5.3 percent for Malaysia, 6.6 percent for Vietnam, 1.2 percent for Japan, 3 percent for South Korea, 3 percent for Australia, 1.9 percent for Taiwan, 2.9 percent for Singapore, 3.6 percent for Hong Kong and 2.9 percent for New Zealand.

“As you may know, these growth forecasts are among the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that the Philippine economy will continue to grow strongly, driven by solid domestic demand and public investment,” IMF resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said in a statement after the WEO was released.

“The strong global growth will also provide a favorable external environment for the Philippines’s export growth, OFW remittances and BPOs [business process outsourcing companies]. Strong domestic reform momentum, including in the area of taxation and capital market development, bodes well for private sector investment, including FDI [foreign direct investments],” Yang said.

Yang said main risks to this growth outlook could emanate from tighter global financial conditions, trade tensions among major economies and geopolitical events.

Dominguez assures speedy construction of 75 projects GMA Network’s income fell 30% in 2017 in absence of political ads

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III assured the speedy and graftfree implementation of infrastructure projects under the P8.4-trillion ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Duterte administration.

The Duterte administration identified 75 flagship infrastructure projects under the five-year “Build, Build, Build” program. The National Economic and Development Authority board chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte already approved 23 projects for implementation.

“Under the leadership of President Duterte, we have managed to reduce corruption to the barest minimum in all our government efforts. We have started the projects already,” Dominguez said in an interview in Singapore on the sidelines of the recent Asean Finance Ministers’ and Central Governors’ Meeting.

“So the projects are going quickly, and we are very, very confident that they are going to be completed on time with no corruption,” he said.

Dominguez said with a combined cost of $170 billion, the implementation of these big-ticket infrastructure projects “is the heart of the economic program” of the Duterte administration.

“This investment is very much needed by our country. We have to modernize our infrastructure and, at the same time, provide a lot of good jobs and a lot of business opportunities for our people,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said in a speech at the 8th WorldBank Singapore Infrastructure Finance Summit that the Duterte administration tweaked the traditional Public-Private Partnership program into a “hybrid” model so that the government could implement projects using a combination of its own budget, the massive inflows of official development assistance loans and funds raised from bond floats at investment-grade rates to speed up project execution, reduce completion risks and deliver the economic benefits to the people as soon as possible.

He cited as example the P9.3-billion expansion of the passenger terminal of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga, which already broke ground, and the signing of the P51.3-billion loan agreement with Japan for the first tranche of Tokyo’s financing assistance to build the first phase of the Philippines’ first Metro Manila subway.

Finance Undersecretary Grace Karen Singson said in a Manila forum that the Duterte administration abandoned the traditional PPP mode because the government consumed too much time renegotiating contracts, deciding on cost recovery issues and resolving legal disputes among contesting private bidders.

Singson said another factor―cost― also dissuaded the government from implementing projects through the usual PPP, which often led to excessive user fees charged to the public to ensure that the private sector partners recouped their respective investments quickly and at wider profit margins. Julito G. Rada

By Darwin G. Amojelar GMA Network Inc. said Tuesday net income fell 30 percent in 2017 in the absence of election-related spending.

The broadcast network said net income amounted to P2.55 billion last year, down from P3.64 billion in 2016 which received a boost from the national elections.

“Following a banner year in 2016 with the windfall of nearly P1.5 billion from the last national elections and compounded by contraction in the ad spend of major industry players this year, GMA Network and subsidiaries nevertheless managed to exceed prior year’s top line in terms of recurring sales,” GMA Network said.

The company said consolidated revenues also dropped 8 percent in 2017

to P15.34 billion from P16.67 billion in 2016, as airtime sales decreased 10 percent to P13.60 billion from P15.13 billion.

GMA Network said the shortfall in airtime revenues from both television and radio operations was partly cushioned by the improvement in other revenue streams which grew 13 percent last year.

“Without the one-time boost from political advocacies and advertisements this year, nearly all airtime revenuegenerating platforms’ top-line performance paled in comparison to 2016.

Core channel, GMA-7 which comprised about 81 percent of the consolidated revenues registered the biggest drop among airtime-revenue platforms with a setback of 10 percent compared to last year,” the listed company said.

Global Business Power investing P5b in renewable plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores ILOILO CITY―Global Business Power Corp. said it plans to invest P4 billion to P5 billion in its foray into renewable energy projects with a capacity of 300 megawatts over the next two years.

“We have a new five-year vision and it will talk about… sustainable energy solutions. In sustainable energy solutions, what comes into your mind is renewable energy. The way we define it is mixing renewable energy sources with fossil fuels,” Global Business Power president Jaime Azurin told reporters.

“Let’s face reality. Renewables will not able to address all the power requirements of a growing economy, but our strategy is to minimize the fossil-based fuels so we do renewable energy projects. The fossil-based fuels will become its back up and that is a new strategy

that we are going to adopt to address this RPS [renewable energy portfolio standards],” Azurin said.

Azurin said the company’s five-year renewable energy plan would begin in 2019, but the 300-MW renewable energy portfolio could be completed in the next two years.

The 300-MW capacity forms part of the 1,500-MW capacity target of Global Business Power by 2023. Global Business Power has a total installed capacity of 854 MW, making it one of the leading independent power producers in the Visayas, with facilities in Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan and Mindoro.

Global Business Power acquired a 50-percent stake in Mindanao-based Alsons Thermal Energy Corp. in 2017.

Azurin said the company was looking at solar power projects because it had become “competitive” and the company

was planning a solar power project of up to 45-MW capacity in Luzon.

He said the company was also planning a “specially designed pumped storage technology” in the Visayas with a capacity of 150 MW that could deliver ancillary service which would be introduced before the end of the year.

“Sustainable energy not only implies addressing power requirements, not only addressing climate change but also addressing grid stability,” Azurin said.

He said an increase in renewable energy use could affect grid reliability.

“So we are going ancillary using different types of technology. And we are already almost at the end of our development stage using pump storage for ancillary, a specially-designed plant.

Only in Europe can you find this,” he said.

LIST GROUP’S INVESTMENT. Japan-based real estate company List Group is heavily investing in real estate development projects in the Philippines, including a large-scale development project in Subic Bay and Boracay Island. A signing ceremony with President Rodrigo Duterte was conducted as early as October 2017 to solidify the plans of the List Group. At the signing of the agreements in Tokyo are President Rodrigo Duterte (seventh from left) and members of his Cabinet, together with List Group president and chief executive Hisashi Kitami (eighth from left) and List Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd. chief operating officer Yasushi Yamada (fourth from right).

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Business

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks plunge to near one-year low

T

HE stock market plummeted Tuesday to near one-year low on political distractions, ignoring the overnight gains in Wall Street and China’s more-than-expected economic growth in the first quarter.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 146.86 points, or 1.9 percent, to 7,723.39 on a value turnover of P7 billion. The benchmark index has already lost 10 percent since the start of 2018.

Losers overwhelmed gainers, 161 to 57, with 34 issues unchanged.

Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co. tumbled 9.1 percent to P47.20, while Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, slumped

5 percent to P4.40.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp., which is into banking, telecommunications, property development and water distribution, declined 3.9 percent to P909, while PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, fell 2.4 percent to P1,405.

The rest of Asian markets failed Tuesday to hold on to early gains, with trade and geopolitical tensions still dogging sentiment.

Hong Kong and China turned negative after fluctuating through the morning on data showing the world’s number two economy expanded in JanuaryMarch at the same rate as the previous three months.

The 6.8 percent reading was slightly more than tipped in an AFP survey and came despite a brewing trade dispute with the United States, a drive to address the country’s troubling debt mountain

through the year.”

The news provided support to equities after Monday’s sell-off sparked by a US-led attack on alleged chemical weapons facilities in Syria—in response to what the Western allies say was a toxic gas attack by the Russiabacked regime.

US markets ended higher Monday on relief that the strikes did not escalate despite Russian warnings.

However, dealers are keeping a close watch on events, while the trade row with China remains in focus after the Wall Street Journal reported the US is considering measures over Beijing’s restrictions on tech devices.

That came just after Washington banned exports of sensitive technology to Chinese giant ZTE for seven years over the way it handled a probe into the illegal sale of goods to Iran and North Korea. With AFP

and a war on pollution that saw factory production cut.

Hong Kong fell 0.4 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai finished down 1.4 percent. Sydney, where a number of firms that rely on Chinese business are based, was flat, but Singapore added 0.2 percent.

Tokyo closed slightly higher while Seoul eased 0.2 percent, Wellington dipped 0.7 percent and Taipei fell more than one percent.

“The economic performance continued to improve and the economy was off to a good start,” said National Statistics Bureau spokesman Xing Zhihong.

However, Xia Le, chief Asia economist at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA in Hong Kong, said ahead of the release that “growth headwinds remain in place, mainly from domestic policy tightening and trade skirmishes from the US. Growth is most likely to moderate

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.9 15,320 103 1,641,590 3 51,000 133 1,763,460 1.57 16,000 35 222,200 8.49 300 16.5 9,600 17.8 1,615,600 1.63 107,000 865 110 0.57 6,584,000 82.4 3,697,450 1.13 860,000 12.12 4,700 53.35 88,380 228 1,760 106 2,300 44.9 1,400 224 316,160 1,905 180 90.4 25,180 1.25 316,000

901,281 169,139,153 153,060 235,391,090 24,920 7,804,210 2,271 158,368 29,148,476 173,200 94,650 3,962,240 304,989,061.50 983,140 56,926 4,749,723.50 401,280 244,302 63,000 70,954,298 343,400 2,268,146 397,150

540,200 -56,538,146 -79,762,338 -1,326,950.00 -458,834 -35,960 21,248,438 -41,430.00 -2,529,779.50 40,430 -4,495 -29,058,316 20,588 -

37.45 13.7 0.57 1.25 20.55 0.225 141.2 3.48 16.02 252 48.7 25.8 61.1 75.05 80 1.9 5.29 10 10.7 14.88 11.5 7.27 5.34 16.22 64.55 25 9.4 16.02 2.27 287.4 5.06 3.3 17.84 26.5 14.94 22.5 320.6 0.19 7.75 2.31 4.91 9.05 5 7.9 1.51 12.5 52.45 6.1 4.62 1.9 3.51 1.9 14.3 66.1 5.4 0.133 1.01 136.3 2.58 2.58 0.82

INDUSTRIAL 37.65 942,600 14.14 1,747,500 0.57 3,375,000 1.25 683,000 20.95 52,100 0.225 3,680,000 141.2 210 3.5 5,833,000 16.26 105,000 270 430 50.2 520,100 27.15 131,600 61.1 190 75.05 1,300 80 10 1.9 576,000 5.29 55,200 10.1 3,000 10.7 1,076,100 14.9 172,700 11.5 649,800 7.27 667,200 5.4 16,749,200 16.46 1,068,500 64.6 199,510 25.95 32,700 9.4 112,000 16.04 342,000 2.28 3,046,000 288.6 1,061,840 5.12 1,072,800 3.34 10,000 17.84 1,000 26.8 206,600 15 182,700 22.5 8,921,800 324 181,850 0.191 450,000 7.85 201,100 2.32 1,259,000 4.91 257,000 9.39 7,362,100 5.1 132,800 7.98 8,400 1.55 1,148,000 12.5 100 52.5 1,149,080 6.25 14,100 4.62 15,000 1.9 172,000 3.51 2,000 1.92 3,466,000 14.3 105,800 66.15 132,380 5.45 22,800 0.135 2,710,000 1.01 30,000 136.4 1,341,100 2.65 15,000 2.99 61,782,000 0.82 14,548,000

35,545,660 24,404,102 1,953,340 862,120 1,095,205 831,090 29,661 20,431,800 1,701,354 124,550 26,064,037 3,574,655 11,771 98,505.50 800 1,101,030 293,750 30,214 11,547,874 2,573,476 7,490,494 4,850,826 90,403,399 17,502,990 12,900,568.50 835,315 1,052,950 5,555,576 7,061,270 306,310,554 5,648,983 33,080 17,840 5,528,725 2,746,758 204,734,790 58,792,436 85,950 1,585,284 2,957,190 1,282,020 68,346,999 674,184 66,928 1,756,680 1,250 60,484,553.50 86,995 69,300 335,970 7,020 6,844,180 1,531,128 8,799,937.50 123,272 362,460 30,300 185,745,275 39,030 175,057,640 12,330,730

1,407,965 110,018 -4,321,840 -910,470 502 -37,745 -48,150 -7,980,406 947,692 3,504,142 -3,300,580 41,922,910 -1,748,802 3,822,378 -517,040 306,502 -249,210 52,370,002 20,317 -1,959,810 -433,304 59,659,635 16,743,086 38,200 -928,160 42,891,044 -10,270 1,379,090 -14,569,358 20,000 39,700.00 -773,994 -1,728,716 -59,280,251 3,597,310 30,220

0.295 68.1 14.04 0.93 6.24 0.63 0.65 909 6.74 12.08 7.58 5.4 1,072 6.7 61.9 4.88 0.63 4.73 18.3 0.57 4.6 3.5 0.041 1.17 3.23 2.6 139.1 915.5 0.82 1.62 556 264 0.235 0.201

HOLDING FIRMS 0.295 310,000 69.5 475,920 14.2 5,237,200 0.93 1,000 6.48 31,300 0.64 4,264,000 0.65 3,774,000 909 262,560 6.74 3,219,500 12.1 5,994,300 7.58 3,100 5.4 2,400 1,072 80,315 6.7 54,100 62 2,430,940 4.88 700 0.66 322,000 4.73 277,000 18.36 3,909,100 0.58 18,410,000 4.61 30,420,000 3.5 1,000 0.041 23,800,000 1.19 1,258,000 3.26 9,859,000 2.6 5,000 141 158,000 918 222,770 0.82 101,000 1.65 767,000 558 280 265 1,570 0.235 360,000 0.202 450,000

91,800 32,904,480.50 74,432,970 930 197,936 2,718,310 2,478,110 240,981,885 22,329,332 72,643,598 23,498 12,975 86,784,250 366,330 151,360,037 3,418 204,340 1,325,060 72,372,776 10,988,330 142,670,340 3,500 1,012,200 1,493,820 33,332,010 13,230 22,251,294 205,048,610 82,820 1,274,760 156,810 414,940 84,600 90,530

5,715,373 24,820,076 1,975,000 -101,279,475 -265,287 -44,504,848 -9,834,795 33,500 1,429,908 -872,370 2,242,854 3,290,000 -62,503,990 43,000 42,000 1,459,820 13,378,542 -43,730,780 79,580 -7,950 -

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

58.8 104.3 3 137.7 1.57 35.3 7.11 16.5 18.38 1.55 860 0.62 83.55 1.15 12.1 55.6 228 107 46 226.8 1,910 90.5 1.25

59 104.7 3.01 137.7 1.57 35.4 8.49 16.5 18.52 1.65 865 0.64 83.8 1.2 12.12 55.8 228 107 46 226.8 1,910 90.75 1.33

58 102.3 3 132.3 1.52 34.9 7.11 16.48 17.8 1.55 860 0.56 81.6 1.13 12.1 53.3 228 106 44.9 223 1,905 90 1.22

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 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 LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG 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 SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

37.9 13.84 0.58 1.28 20.55 0.226 141.2 3.54 16.3 252 48.7 29 62 79.95 80 1.92 5.35 10.12 10.9 14.92 11.8 7.27 5.4 16.4 65 26.55 9.4 16.62 2.38 291.6 5.53 3.3 17.84 27.2 15.2 22.7 322.2 0.19 8.06 2.42 4.96 9.26 5.18 7.98 1.55 12.5 52.85 6.25 4.62 2 3.51 2.1 14.84 67.45 5.48 0.134 1.01 142 2.58 2.65 0.86

38 14.14 0.59 1.29 21.8 0.233 141.5 3.55 16.3 298 50.4 29.3 62 79.95 80 1.98 5.35 10.3 10.9 14.92 11.8 7.3 5.5 16.5 65.45 26.55 9.45 16.62 2.4 291.6 5.6 3.34 17.84 27.2 15.3 23.6 325 0.192 8.07 2.42 5.05 9.4 5.35 7.98 1.55 12.5 52.9 6.25 4.62 2 3.51 2.1 14.84 67.95 5.48 0.135 1.01 142 2.65 2.99 0.89

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

0.305 68.2 14.5 0.93 6.48 0.65 0.66 941 7 12.16 7.58 5.41 1,095 6.88 63 4.88 0.67 4.84 19.3 0.62 4.78 3.5 0.043 1.22 3.55 2.71 141.5 930 0.82 1.69 560 265 0.235 0.201

0.305 69.5 14.5 0.93 6.48 0.65 0.66 946 7 12.3 7.58 5.41 1,119 6.88 63 4.9 0.67 4.85 19.3 0.63 4.78 3.5 0.044 1.22 3.58 2.72 142.8 948 0.82 1.69 570 265 0.235 0.202

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 DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES

6.79 1 15.12 2.11 0.85 40.15 3.49 4.64 6.05 0.48 1.05 1.01 0.27 31 0.69 0.123 1.76 1.36 1.07 4.05 4.64 0.6 0.4

6.79 1.01 15.12 2.11 0.85 40.15 3.5 4.64 6.19 0.48 1.08 1.01 0.27 31 0.7 0.123 1.76 1.36 1.1 4.05 4.66 0.61 0.4

6.7 0.98 15.1 2.09 0.83 39 3.46 4.51 6.05 0.455 1.04 0.98 0.25 30 0.68 0.122 1.7 1.33 1.02 4.05 4.34 0.57 0.395

VOLUME

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

0.56 4.69 19.4 1.96 3.19 33.8 1.02 11.5 0.82 6.79

0.57 4.7 19.4 1.97 3.2 33.9 1.02 12.5 0.85 6.79

0.55 4.25 19.12 1.89 3.15 33.1 1.02 10.52 0.82 6.7

0.55 4.27 19.2 1.9 3.2 33.5 1.02 10.58 0.85 6.74

6,325,000 3,511,000 2,250,300 1,186,000 270,000 6,359,600 205,000 2,168,700 11,000 12,967,000

3,525,760 15,658,680 43,271,568 2,266,000 854,410 212,723,015 209,100 24,389,318 9,050 87,362,241

-140,000 -349,280 8,370,810.00 726,490 -23,863,045 119,854 21,680,308

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL 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

17.62 28.75 1.31 0.5 0.048 12.5 12.9 0.058 90.9 7.3 7.44 2.3 24.8 905 1,576 6.36 313 4.82 2.37 98 8.2 0.119 1.43 3.33 14.84 4.6 1.08 28.85 0.465 5.2 7.4 3.29 8.05 11.5 9.8 2.89 120.5 6.2 1,478 1.01 0.415 51.4 84 7.12 2.64 1.51 0.41 4.76 0.9 10.9

17.62 28.85 1.31 0.5 0.049 12.5 13 0.059 92.05 7.34 7.75 2.37 25.8 905 1,576 6.37 325 5.08 2.37 98 8.25 0.119 1.44 3.38 15.4 4.65 1.08 28.85 0.465 5.26 7.4 3.37 8.59 11.68 9.9 2.89 120.5 6.2 1,478 1.02 0.42 51.4 84 7.35 2.64 1.55 0.425 4.76 0.92 10.9

17 28.7 1.31 0.48 0.047 12.5 12.34 0.055 90.9 7.18 7.03 2.15 24.1 905 1,545 6.26 306 4.8 2.35 93.8 8.2 0.118 1.43 3.33 14.5 4.39 1.04 27.8 0.465 5.04 7.07 3.28 8.03 11.5 9.8 2.87 120 6.06 1,380 1 0.395 46.1 82.6 7.12 2.5 1.47 0.405 4.63 0.89 10.5

SERVICES 17.46 28.8 1.31 0.48 0.049 12.5 13 0.055 91.4 7.19 7.5 2.15 24.1 905 1,545 6.26 315 4.84 2.35 97.5 8.25 0.119 1.43 3.38 14.5 4.39 1.05 28.75 0.465 5.04 7.14 3.31 8.18 11.64 9.8 2.87 120 6.17 1,405 1 0.405 47.2 83.4 7.33 2.52 1.47 0.41 4.72 0.89 10.7

82,900 25,000 54,000 7,356,000 15,600,000 20,800 17,409,900 55,420,000 466,600 1,534,000 137,800 15,000 45,300 40 96,280 1,310,300 12,550 3,262,000 41,000 878,570 11,700 350,000 245,000 2,000 10,300 6,450,000 331,000 1,970,800 50,000 861,600 3,650,200 878,000 6,040,000 228,200 1,000 12,000 450 341,400 201,015 3,191,000 3,580,000 14,369,700 618,470 18,100 1,519,000 1,449,000 6,900,000 4,682,000 4,611,000 8,052,100

1,425,584 720,020 70,740 3,591,835 738,800 260,000 221,365,674 3,109,210 42,647,871 11,119,875 1,045,101 34,070 1,123,930 36,200 149,831,030 8,253,837 3,919,760 15,974,860 96,870 85,142,623.50 96,465 41,560 350,580 6,710 153,144 29,068,650 348,800 56,094,450 23,250 4,355,749 26,095,425 2,914,410 50,266,688 2,663,034 9,830 34,510 54,100 2,087,670 282,105,895 3,206,920 1,456,200 679,259,106 51,576,438.50 129,181 3,867,180 2,178,210 2,839,750 22,072,490 4,145,240 85,896,258

-17,380 18,340 2,500 14,100 34,503,548 275,000 8,781,754 63,508 951,111 -12,600 10,247,040 -66,116 -101,540 15,641,707 2,705,690 28,945,905 -64,731 -437,010 1,001,050 -710,542.00 12,000 36,600 -39,708,460 -382,540 24,300 -233,217,825 16,808,373 32,798 -2,443,940 46,280 638,850 -7,225,810 -111,330 -21,691,192

506,400 73,115,710 859,810 92,240 44,950 1,701,650 467,300 25,547 126,455,650 20,290 905,350 1,106,340 90,400 508,460 13,072,768 8,430 1,753,920 220,330 189,700 1,950,000 130,100 11,520 13,135,441 124,864,342 11,128,695

2,323,210 -411,240 30,000 50,497,220.00 507,480 -734,946 51,000 -10,020,483 -155,162 -1,342,750

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.75 0.99 15.1 2.09 0.85 39.75 3.46 4.56 6.1 0.465 1.04 0.98 0.25 30 0.68 0.122 1.71 1.35 1.02 4.05 4.4 0.58 0.395

579,800 2,904,000 5,200 112,000 374,000 10,755,700 361,000 1,174,000 108,000 33,170,000 60,000 169,000 51,990,000 637,300 5,847,000 680,000 4,744,000 5,199,000 5,398,000 3,000 23,899,000 75,810,000 2,570,000

3,910,670 2,863,290 78,584 235,240 314,380 424,377,750 1,254,090 5,305,740 659,796 15,462,350 62,930 166,600 13,183,150 19,386,780 4,038,950 83,560 8,131,960 6,984,450 5,647,300 12,150 105,579,490 44,519,190 1,015,300

-59,552 19,800 15,100 -50,604,230 139,050 -834,260 51,856 -1,149,100 -501,750 -2,256,290 49,330.00 -2,570,210 -810,600 107,700 -29,385,180.00 -1,140,890 -

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

0.0029 1.97 4.53 17.06 1.45 1.63 0.305 7.7 2.49 0.211 0.146 0.153 0.0091 1.41 6 1.2 0.54 0.87 0.012 0.013 0.013 2.28 5.97 15.06 31

0.0029 1.98 4.55 18.7 1.45 1.65 0.305 7.86 2.57 0.211 0.148 0.153 0.0091 1.42 6.15 1.23 0.54 0.89 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.4 5.97 15.34 31

0.0028 1.7 4.51 17 1.45 1.62 0.3 7.36 2.4 0.199 0.145 0.15 0.009 1.4 5.91 1.17 0.48 0.86 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.28 5.78 13.8 30.7

MINING & OIL 0.0029 179,000,000 1.75 40,025,000 4.51 190,000 17 5,400 1.45 31,000 1.63 1,046,000 0.3 1,540,000 7.7 3,300 2.41 51,115,000 0.21 100,000 0.148 6,230,000 0.15 7,280,000 0.009 10,000,000 1.4 361,000 5.93 2,174,100 1.21 7,000 0.5 3,495,000 0.89 251,000 0.013 15,800,000 0.013 150,000,000 0.012 10,800,000 2.4 5,000 5.78 2,226,900 14.2 8,729,100 31 360,200

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

28 508 101 104 6.24 998 979 100.3 1.04 980 77 79 75.2 76.95 78 76.7 75.5 75.6

28 508 101.3 104 6.24 998 979 100.3 1.06 980 77 79 75.3 76.95 78 76.7 75.5 75.6

27.75 507.5 101 104 6.12 998 979 100.3 1.04 980 75.25 78 75.2 76.95 77.1 76.7 75.5 75.6

PREFERRED 27.75 726,800 508 220 101.3 420 104 130 6.17 627,100 998 110 979 100 100.3 21,300 1.06 21,000 980 1,710 75.25 870 78 43,720 75.3 2,030 76.95 2,640 77.9 9,110 76.7 1,210 75.5 33,710 75.6 500

20,349,785 111,755 42,519 13,520 3,874,768 109,780 97,900 2,136,390 22,020 1,675,800 66,100 3,447,705 152,659 203,148 702,880 92,807 2,545,105 37,800

-49,950 61,700 -

LR WARRANT

2.9

2.9

2.8

WARRANTS 2.8 1,747,000

4,932,750

-

6,378,028 3,060 1,000,190 19,681,050

-233,764 -310,700

4,335,016

174,884

26,265 102,400

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.3 3.06 3.2 3.5

5.46 3.06 3.32 3.5

5.24 3.06 3 3.28

FIRST METRO ETF

121.1

121.1

118.6

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.3 10.24

TRADING SUMMARY

10.3 10.24

SHARES

FINANCIAL

19,350,813

INDUSTRIAL

149,968,442

HOLDING FIRMS

116,577,398

PROPERTY

261,960,473

SERVICES

178,556,885

MINING & OIL

492,266,962

GRAND TOTAL

1,226,122,011

10.3 10.24

5.3 3.06 3 3.3

SME

1,202,500 1,000 320,000 5,879,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.6 36,270 DDS

10.3 10.24

2,550 10,000

-

VALUE 1,975.27 (down) 45.82 999,935,032.81 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,052.50 (down) 155.88 1,423,636,122.44 HOLDING FIRMS 7,726.81 (down) 140.41 1,187,844,976.54 PROPERTY 3,567.38 (down) 47.58 1,589.34 (down) 28.54 1,055,864,256.915 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,864.71 (down) 231.35 1,961,847,815.63 PSEI 7,723.39 (down) 146.86 372,403,299.6215 All Shares Index 4,695.96 (down) 75.32 7,032,936,806.68 Gainers: 57; Losers: 161; Unchanged: 34; Total: 252

Jollibee completes Smashburger takeover

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FASTFOOD giant Jollibee Foods Corp. said it completed the purchase of an additional 45 percent stake in US hamburger chain Smashburger.

Jollibee said a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday it secured the closing conditions, including required government approvals, under the purchase agreement signed by wholly-owned unit Bee Good!

Inc. with Smashburger Master LLC. With the acquisition, Jollibee now owns an 85-percent stake in the US hamburger chain, while Smashburger Master will retain the balance.

Jollibee said it would start consolidating Smashburger into its financial statement starting April 17.

Jollibee also disclosed that BGI refinanced Smashburger’s $80-million loan obligation by using a long-term loan obtained by the parent firm.

“A much lower cost long term financial mode possibly by JFC’s strong balance sheet will significantly improve the net income of Smashburger immediately,” Jollibee chief finance officer Ysmael Baysa said.

“It will also enable Smashburger to make more meaningful investments for healthier and faster growth. Smashburger has positive EBITDA. We look forward to the business making positive net income contribution to JFC’s profit in the medium term and significant contribution in the long term,” Baysa added.

Jollibee earlier said the acquisition of an additional 45-percent share in Smashburger worth $100 million would enable the fastfood chain to expand its geographical presence from 16 countries to 21, adding Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, United Kingdom (England and Scotland), and Panama.

It will also add 365 stores to the Jollibee store network and increase sales from the foreign business to total systemwide sales to 30 percent from 20 percent.

Jollibee reported a 15-percent jump in net income in 2017 to P7.1 billion from P6.45 billion in 2016 on higher revenues and aggressive rollout of stores

PetroEnergy says 2017 profit rose to $8.46m

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETROENERGY Resources Corp. reported a consolidated net income of $8.46 million in 2017, up 44 percent from $5.86 million in 2016.

PetroEnergy disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday net income attributable to equity holders of the company also increased 114 percent to $3.79 million from $1.77 million in 2016.

The company credited the significant rise in earnings last year on higher revenues from electricity sales of renewable energy investments.

Revenues from petroleum operations in 2017 also rose 22 percent as a result of slightly higher crude oil prices.

“Our 2017 financial performance shows PERC’s growth-driven direction, credited mainly to the efficiency and reliability of our RE power plant operations. And to be recognized recently by the Financial Times as one of the fastestgrowing companies in the Asia-Pacific region is truly and encouraging achievement for PetroEnergy,” PetroEnergy president Milagros Reyes said.

PetroEnergy’s original business was petroleum exploration and production.

In 1995, the company along with US partner Vaalco Inc., secured the Etame Offshore oil block in Gabon, West Africa. It made an oil discovery in the block in 1998 and went on to start commercial oil production in 2002.

PetroEnergy started to diversify into renewable energy development and operation starting in 2009.

PetroEnergy, through its subsidiary, PetroGreen Energy Corp., invested in the 20-megawatt Maibarara Geothermal Power Project, 3-MW Nabas Wind Power Project and 50-MWTarlac Solar Power Project.

The 12-MW Maibarara-2 geothermal power facility in Batangas successfully started supplying power to the Luzon grid on March 9 increasing PetroEenrgy’s total renewable energy power generation portfolio to 118 MW. “We are optimistic that with our planned expansion in our Tarlac and Nabas projects, and the profitable operations of our existing power facilities, PERC will continue to grow both in terms of revenue and in the benefits we give to our various stakeholders,” PetroEnergy vice president Francisco Delfin Jr. said.

Standard Standard TODAY

TODAY

CYAN CYANMAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOWBLACK BLACK WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

World

Manila Manila

extrastory2000@gmail.com

‘Water rage’ heiress faces criminal probe

IN BRIEF $100m for malaria drug research ZURICHSwiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on Tuesday announced $100 million of funding over the next five years for research into new treatments for malaria, a mosquito-borne disease with a devastating impact that killed 445,000 people in 2016.

There were some 216 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2016, an increase of five million from the year before, according to the World Health Organization.

Around 90 percent of the 445,000 of malaria-related deaths occurred in Africa, but people in southeast Asia, the eastern Mediterranean, the western Pacific and the Americas are also considered at risk.

In a bid to redress the disproportionate burden carried by African countries, Novartis said it would establish a strategy aimed at ensuring equitable pricing.

In a statement, the company also said it would “further help expand access” to treatment for children with malaria.

Novartis’s announcement came as Senegal hosted a pan-African conference this week on the fight against malaria. AFP

Facebook hit with class-action suit SAN FRANCISCO—A US federal judge in California ruled Monday that Facebook will have to face a class action suit over the allegations it violated users’ privacy by using a facial recognition tool on their photos without their explicit consent.

The ruling comes as the social network is snared in a scandal over the mishandling of 87 million users’data ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.

The facial recognition tool, launched in 2010, suggests names for people it identifies in photos uploaded by users—a function that the plaintiffs claim runs afoul of Illinois state law on protecting biometric privacy.

Judge James Donato ruled the claims by Illinois residents Nimesh Patel, Adam Pezen, and Carlo Licata were “sufficiently cohesive to allow for a fair and efficient resolution on a class basis.

“Consequently, the case will proceed with a class consisting of Facebook users located in Illinois for whom Facebook created and stored a face template after June 7, 2011,” he said, according to the ruling seen by AFP. A Facebook spokeswoman told AFP the company was reviewing the decision, adding: “We continue to believe the case has no merit and will defend ourselves vigorously.” AFP

WAITING FOR TRUDEAU. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe waits for the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at the Hotel de Matignon, on April 17, 2018, in Paris. AFP

Trump hosts Japan’s Abe with N. Korea on agenda W ASHINGTON― US President Donald Trump hosts Japan’s Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago resort Tuesday, with both men under pressure to deliver something more than bonhomie and birdies.

The Japanese prime minister will make his second visit to Trump’s ostentatious Palm Beach, Florida estate, when the focus will be on trade and security.

Last year, Trump and Abe traded fist bumps and high fives as they snuck in a round of golf in Palm Beach and a return leg near Tokyo, tucking into burgers with ketchup for good measure.

“Obviously, the president has got a great relationship there,” said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders looking forward to meetings this Tuesday and Wednesday.

But with Abe’s approval rating languishing at its lowest level in years and Trump mired in controversies and crises

too numerous to list, both are under pressure.

“Long-distance relationships are complicated, and the stakes of their second rendezvous at Mar-a-Lago this week are high,” said Mireya Solis of the Brookings Institution.

Trump’s decision to hold an improbable summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un this May or June was announced without consulting Abe. And worse, it was announced by a South Korean official.

Since then Tokyo officials have watched in horror as China and South Korea -- an ally, but an uneasy one -- take on a more direct hand in influencing the outcome of a nuclear crisis that places Japan’s very existence in question.

Pyongyang has lobbed test-missiles over the sea of Japan, triggering public warning alerts. The abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea remains a high profile domestic issue.

As he left Japan, Abe told reporters that he would be reiterating Tokyo’s “maximum pressure” policy towards Pyongyang, and that the “important abduction issue” would be high on his agenda.

“I will use all my strength so we see progress towards resolution of the abduction issue,” he said.

Trump could do with a political vic-

told national security officials to closely monitor the “surrounding situation”.

“Please rest assured that we have the confidence and determination to safeguard the country’s security,” she said at Taoyuan International Airport.

Tsai added that maintaining a peaceful “status quo” across the strait was her government’s mission.

Although a fully fledged democracy, Taiwan has never formally announced independence from the mainland and Beijing has warned of military action if it ever did.

Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally pro-independence and her newly appointed premier William Lai is a longstanding independence advocate.

AFP

1.1.The TheCity CityGovernment GovernmentofofLaoag Laoagthrough throughthe theDBM DBMSpecial SpecialAllotment AllotmentRelease ReleaseOrder Order (SARO) (SARO)No. No.SARO-ROI SARO-ROI17-0007140 17-0007140dated datedMay May19, 19,2017 2017under underthe theHealth HealthFacilities Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP Project) intends to apply for the corresponding Enhancement Program (HFEP Project) intends to apply for the corresponding Solicitation SolicitationNo. No.2018-085 2018-085being beingthe theApproved ApprovedBudget Budgetforforthe theContract Contract(ABC) (ABC)toto payments ABC paymentsunder underthe thecontract contractforforeach eachitem. item.Bids Bidsreceived receivedininexcess excessofofthe the ABCforforeach each lotlotshall shallbebeautomatically automaticallyrejected rejectedatatbid bidopening. opening.

Item No. Description Qty ABC Delivery ofof Bid Docs Item No. Description Qty ABC Delivery Cost Cost Bid Docs 1 1 Installation ofof Medical Oxygen Plant months 25,000.00 Installation Medical Oxygen Plant 1 1 25,000,000.00 25,000,000.003 3 months 25,000.00 Temperature Plasma Free Low Temperature Plasma Free 2 2 Low 1 1 8,000,000.00 days 10,000.00 8,000,000.00 1515 days 10,000.00 Sterilizer Sterilizer X-ray C-Arm with Radioscopy and X-ray C-Arm with Radioscopy and 3 3 Flouroscopy 1 1 13,500,000.00 days 25,000.00 13,500,000.00 1515 days 25,000.00 Flouroscopy Endoscopy Machine with Endoscopy Machine with 4 4 Gastroscope, Colonoscope and 1 1 13,200,000.00 days 25,000.00 Gastroscope, Colonoscope and 13,200,000.00 1515 days 25,000.00 Bronchoscope Set Bronchoscope Set 5 5 Mechanical Ventilator (2(2 in in 1)1) 9 9 10,300,000.00 days 25,000.00 Mechanical Ventilator 10,300,000.00 1515 days 25,000.00 6 6 Cardiac/Patient Monitor 3 3 1,500,000.00 days 5,000.00 Cardiac/Patient Monitor 1,500,000.00 1010 days 5,000.00

2.2.The TheCity CityGovernment GovernmentofofLaoag Laoagnow nowinvites invitesbids bidsforforthe theabove abovementioned mentionedgoods goods and andrequired requireddelivery deliveryBidders Biddersshould shouldhave havecompleted completeda acontract contractsimilar similartotothe theProject.

Project.

Bidders Biddersshould shouldhave havecompleted, completed,within within5years 5yearsfrom fromthe thedate dateofofsubmission submissionand andreceipt receipt ofofbids, The bids,a acontract contractsimilar similartotothe theProject.

Project.

Thedescription descriptionofofananeligible eligiblebidder bidderisiscontained contained ininthe theBidding BiddingDocuments, Documents,particularly, particularly,ininSection SectionII.II.Instructions InstructionstotoBidders.

Bidders.

3.3.Bidding Biddingwill willbebeconducted conductedthrough throughopen opencompetitive competitivebidding biddingprocedures proceduresusing using non-discretionary non-discretionary“pass/fail” “pass/fail”criterion criterionasasspecified specifiedininthe the2016 2016Revised RevisedImplementing Implementing Rules Rulesand andRegulations Regulations(IRR) (IRR)ofofRepublic RepublicAct Act9184 9184(RA (RA9184), 9184),otherwise otherwiseknown knownasasthe the “Government “GovernmentProcurement ProcurementReform ReformAct.” Act.” Bidding Bidding isis restricted restricted toto Filipino Filipino citizens/sole citizens/sole proprietorships, proprietorships, cooperatives, cooperatives, and and partnerships partnershipsorororganizations organizationswith withatatleast leastseventy seventyfive fivepercent percent(75%) (75%)interest interestoror outstanding outstandingcapital capitalstock stockbelonging belongingtotocitizens citizensofofthe thePhilippines.

Philippines.

4.4.Interested Interestedbidders biddersmay mayobtain obtainfurther furtherinformation informationfrom fromthe theCity CityGovernment GovernmentofofLaoag Laoag through throughthe theBids Bidsand andAwards AwardsCommittee Committee(BAC) (BAC)Secretariat Secretariatand andCity CityEngineer’s Engineer’sOffice Office and andinspect inspectthe theBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsatatthe theaddress addressgiven givenbelow belowfrom from8:00 8:00AM AMtoto5:00 5:00 PM. PM. 5.5.

AA complete completeset setofofBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsmay maybebeacquired acquiredbybyinterested interestedbidders biddersononApril April 10, 10,2018 2018from fromthe theaddress addressbelow belowininthe theamount amountindicated indicatedaboved. aboved.

6.6.The TheCity CityGovernment GovernmentofofLaoag Laoagthrough throughitsitsBAC BAC will willhold holda aPre-Bid Pre-BidConference Conference ononApril April11, 11,2018 2018atat2:00PM 2:00PMLaoag LaoagCity CityConference ConferenceRoom, Room,which whichshall shallbebeopen opentoto prospective prospectivebidders. bidders.

7.7.Bids Bidsmust mustbebeduly dulyreceived receivedbybythe theBAC BACSecretariat Secretariatatatthe theaddress addressbelow belowononororbefore before April April26,2018, 26,2018,2:00 2:00PM. PM.AllAllbids bidsmust mustbebeaccompanied accompaniedbybya abid bidsecurity securityininany anyofofthe the acceptable acceptableforms formsand andininthe theamount amountstated statedininITB ITBClause.

Clause.Bid Bidopening openingshall shallbebeonon April April26, 26,2018, 2018,2:00 2:00PM PMatatLaoag LaoagCity CityConference ConferenceRoom.

Room.Bids Bidswill willbebeopened openedininthe the presence presenceofofthe thebidders’ bidders’representatives representativeswho whochoose choosetotoattend attendatatthe theaddress addressbelow. below.

Late Latebids bidsshall shallnot notbebeaccepted. accepted.

8.8.The TheCity CityGovernment GovernmentofofLaoag Laoagreserves reservesthe theright righttotoreject rejectany anyand andallallbids, bids,declare declare a afailure failureofofbidding, bidding,orornot notaward awardthe thecontract contractatatany anytime timeprior priortotocontract contractaward awardinin accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurringany any liability liabilitytotothe theaffected affectedbidder bidderororbidders. bidders.

9.9.For Forfurther furtherinformation, information,please pleaserefer referto:to:

Arts Festival - Weekend 1 on April 15, 2018, in Indio, California. AFP

2.2. The TheDepartment DepartmentofofEducation Education- -Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionofofAurora Auroranow nowinvites invites bids bidsfor forRestoration RestorationofofGabaldon GabaldonBuilding BuildingIncluding IncludingAngara AngaraHall HallBuilding Building (12CL (12CL++4CL) 4CL)atatBaler BalerCS. CS. Completion Completionofofthe theWorks Worksisisrequired requiredwithin within Two Two Hundred Hundred Seventy Seventy (270) (270) calendar calendar days. days. Bidders Bidders should should have have completed completeda acontract contractsimilar similartotothe theProject.

Project.The Thedescription descriptionofofananeligible eligible bidder bidderisiscontained containedininthe theBidding BiddingDocuments, Documents,particularly, particularly,ininSection SectionII.II. Instructions InstructionstotoBidders.

Bidders.

Bidding Biddingisisrestricted restrictedtotoFilipino Filipinocitizens/sole citizens/soleproprietorships, proprietorships,cooperatives, cooperatives, and andpartnerships partnershipsorororganizations organizationswith withatatleast leastseventy-five seventy-fivepercent percent (75%) (75%)interest interestororoutstanding outstandingcapital capitalstock stockbelonging belongingtotocitizens citizensofofthe the Philippines.

Philippines.

4.4. Interested Interestedbidders biddersmay mayobtain obtainfurther furtherinformation informationfrom fromthe theDepartment Department ofofEducation Education- -Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionofofAurora Auroraand andinspect inspectthe theBidding Bidding Documents Documentsatatthe theaddress addressgiven givenbelow belowfrom from8:00 8:00AM AMtoto5:00 5:00PM PMfrom from Monday MondaytotoFriday: Friday: Department DepartmentofofEducation Education Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionOffice OfficeofofAurora Aurora Brgy.

Brgy.Bacong, Bacong,San SanLuis, Luis,Aurora Aurora 5.5. AAcomplete completeset setofofBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsmay maybebeacquired acquiredbybyinterested interested bidders biddersstarting startingononApril April13, 13,2018 2018from fromthe theaddress addressstated statedabove aboveand and upon uponpayment paymentofofthe theapplicable applicablefee feefor forthe theBidding BiddingDocuments, Documents,pursuant pursuant totothe thelatest latestGuidelines Guidelinesissued issuedbybythe theGPPB, GPPB,ininthe theamount amountofofTwentyTwentyFive FiveThousand ThousandPesos Pesos(Php25,000.00).

(Php25,000.00).

It Itmay mayalso alsobebedownloaded downloadedfree freeofofcharge chargefrom fromthe thewebsite websiteofofthe the Philippine PhilippineGovernment GovernmentElectronic ElectronicProcurement ProcurementSystem System(PhilGEPS) (PhilGEPS)and and the thewebsite websiteofofthe theProcuring ProcuringEntity, Entity,provided providedthat thatbidders biddersshall shallpay paythe the applicable applicablefee feefor forthe theBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsnot notlater laterthan thanthe thesubmission submission ofoftheir theirbids. bids.

6.6. The TheDepartment DepartmentofofEducation Education– –Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionofofAurora Aurorawill willhold holda a Pre-Bid Pre-BidConference ConferenceononApril April21, 21,2018/ 2018/9:00PM 9:00PMatatthe theDepartment Departmentofof Education Education– –Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionOffice OfficeofofAurora, Aurora,SDO SDOConference ConferenceHall, Hall, Brgy.

Brgy.Bacong, Bacong,San SanLuis, Luis,Aurora Aurorawhich whichshall shallbebeopen opentotoprospective prospective bidders. bidders.

7.7. Bids Bidsmust mustbebeduly dulyreceived receivedbybythe theBAC BACSecretariat SecretariatatattheDepartment theDepartmentofof Education Education– –Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionOffice OfficeofofAurora, Aurora,SDO SDOConference ConferenceHall, Hall, San SanLuis, Luis,Aurora Auroraononororbefore beforeMay May3,3,2018 2018atat8:30AM. 8:30AM.AllAllbids bidsmust mustbebe accompanied accompaniedbybya abid bidsecurity securityininany anyofofthe theacceptable acceptableforms formsand andininthe the amount amountstated statedininITB ITBClause Clause18.

18.

Bid Bidopening openingshall shallbebeononMay May3,3,2018 2018atat9:00AM 9:00AMatatthe theDepartment Departmentofof Education Education– –Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionOffice OfficeofofAurora, Aurora,SDO SDOConference ConferenceHall, Hall, San SanLuis, Luis,Aurora.

Aurora.Bids Bidswill willbebeopened openedininthe thepresence presenceofofthe thebidders’ bidders’ representatives representativeswho whochoose choosetotoattend attendatatthe theaddress addressbelow. below.Late Latebids bids shall shallnot notbebeaccepted. accepted.

8.8. The TheDepartment DepartmentofofEducation Education– –Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionOffice OfficeofofAurora Aurorareserves reserves the theright righttotoreject rejectany anyand andallallbids, bids,declare declarea afailure failureofofbidding, bidding,orornot not award awardthe thecontract contractatatany anytime timeprior priortotocontract contractaward awardininaccordance accordance with withSection Section41 41ofofRA RA9184 9184and anditsitsIRR, IRR,without withoutthereby therebyincurring incurringany any liability liabilitytotothe theaffected affectedbidder bidderororbidders. bidders.

9.9. For Forfurther furtherinformation, information,please pleaserefer referto:to: Gilbert GilbertF.F.Bayudang Bayudang Chief, Chief,SGOD SGOD BAC BACChairperson Chairperson

APPROVED: APPROVED: (SGD) (SGD)ATTY. ATTY.MARLON MARLONWAYNE WAYNED.D.MANUEL MANUEL BAC BACChair Chair

Hundred HundredFifteen FifteenThousand ThousandNine NineHundred HundredThirty-Eight Thirty-Eightand and99/100 99/100Pesos Pesos (Php17,215,938.99) (Php17,215,938.99)being beingthe theApproved ApprovedBudget Budgetfor forthe theContract Contract(ABC) (ABC) totopayments paymentsunder underthe thecontract contractfor forRestoration RestorationofofGabaldon GabaldonBuilding Building Including IncludingAngara AngaraHall HallBuilding Building(12CL (12CL++4CL) 4CL)atatBaler BalerCS. CS.Bids Bidsreceived received ininexcess excessofofthe theABC ABCshall shallbebeautomatically automaticallyrejected rejectedatatbid bidopening. opening.

3.3. Bidding Biddingwill willbebeconducted conductedthrough throughopen opencompetitive competitivebidding biddingprocedures procedures using usingnon-discretionary non-discretionary“pass/fail” “pass/fail”criterion criterionasasspecified specifiedininthe the2016 2016 Revised RevisedImplementing ImplementingRules Rulesand andRegulations Regulations(IRR) (IRR)ofofRepublic RepublicAct Act9184 9184 (RA (RA9184), 9184),otherwise otherwiseknown knownasasthe the“Government “GovernmentProcurement ProcurementReform Reform Act.” Act.”

Republic Republicofofthe thePhilippines Philippines Province ProvinceofofIlocos IlocosNorte Norte CITY OF LAOAG CITY OF LAOAG INVITATION INVITATIONTO TOBID BID

CONTACT CONTACTPERSON; PERSON; MARIA MARIALUISA LUISAF.F.CASTRO CASTRO BAC BACSecretariat SecretariatChairman Chairman City CityPlanning Planning&&Development DevelopmentOffice Office Brgy.

Brgy.1010A.A.Tupaz TupazSt., St.,Laoag LaoagCity City Tel. (077) 770-5964; Telefax: (077) Tel. (077) 770-5964; Telefax: (077)7732561 7732561 www.laoagcity.gov.ph www.laoagcity.gov.ph

WEEKEND 1. Street Style At The 2018 Coachella Valley Music And

SEOUL―A Korean Air heiress accused of assault has been suspended by her father’s company as police Tuesday launched a criminal investigation into claims she threw water into a man’s face in a business meeting.

Cho Hyun-min, a marketing executive at the South Korean flag carrier, is the latest scion of its founding family to spark controversy through her hot-tempered behavior.

Four years ago her older sister Cho Hyun-ah made global headlines for angrily kicking a cabin crew member off a plane after being served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl―an incident that was quickly dubbed “nut rage”.

The row over the younger Cho, 36, emerged after reports that she flew into a rage during a meeting with an advertising agency manager last month.

She allegedly threw water into the man’s face because she did not like one of his responses.

Seoul police, who earlier opened a preliminary inquiry to see if Cho had broken any laws, said Tuesday they were launching a formal probe based on testimony of the participants in the meeting.

Following the incident Cho sent a wide-ranging apology by email to “every single person at the advertising agency and Korean Air employee that I have worked with.”

“I was so absorbed by my passion for work that I could not restrain my reckless remarks and actions, leaving many people deeply disappointed and hurt,” she wrote.

But her apology has failed to placate many in South Korea, where hugely powerful family-run conglomerates have long been dogged by criticism of their founding families’ brash behavior.

A Korean Air labor union expressed “indescribable regret” over Cho’s behavior.

“Because of the latest controversy ... some 20,000 workers who have worked so tirelessly for the firm have become targets of public criticism,” it said.

“Why should the Korean Air employees feel so ashamed?”

The head of South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party urged the ouster of Cho―a granddaughter of Korean Air’s late founder and daughter of the current chairman Cho Yang-ho.AFP

tory―perhaps in the form of opening up trade negotiations with Japan as he seeks to calm an increasingly restless and crisisweary base.

His recent decision to order air strikes in Syria has soured supporters who believed that his “America First” policies would spell an end to Middle Eastern military intervention.

This comes just weeks after signing a budget that exploded spending―infuriating Republican fiscal hawks―without paying for his much-promised wall along the border with Mexico.

Both decisions may be the result of campaign promises running into reality, but have prompted prominent supporters to balk.

Conservative pundit and longtime cheerleader Ann Coulter went as far as pillorying Trump as a “shallow, lazy ignoramus.”

Amid the tumult, Trump has taken a harder line on his Republic Republicofofthe thePhilippines Philippines DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTOF OFEDUCATION EDUCATION promise to Region RegionIIIIII rewrite the DIVISION DIVISIONOF OFAURORA AURORA San SanLuis, Luis,Aurora Aurora global terms INVITATION INVITATIONTO TOBID BID of trade in A m e r i c a ’s 1.1. The TheDepartment DepartmentofofEducation Education- -Schools SchoolsDivision DivisionofofAurora, Aurora,through through favor. AFP the theGAA GAA2018 2018intends intendstotoapply applythe thesum sumofofSeventeen SeventeenThousand ThousandTwo Two

Taiwan leader says island secure ahead of China drills TAIPEI―Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen reassured residents that the island was secure Tuesday, a day before China is set to hold live-fire drills in the narrow strait that separates the two.

Tsai spoke to reporters as she left for Swaziland, one of Taiwan’s few remaining international allies that has not been wooed away by an ascendant Beijing as cross-strait relations deteriorate.

Chinese officials have suggested Wednesday’s military exercise is a warning to pro-independence advocates in Taiwan as Beijing steps up its rhetoric against any challenges to its sovereignty.

China sees self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold and has not ruled out reunification by force.

Tsai said Monday she had

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SGD. SGD.GILBERT GILBERTF.F.BAYUDANG BAYUDANG BAC BACChairperson Chairperson (MS-APR. 18,18, 2018) (MS-APR. 2018)

(MS-APR. 18 18 , 2018) (MS-APR. , 2018)

CYAN CYANMAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOWBLACK BLACK

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

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Estrada to turn 81, prays for good health, more years “MAY God gift me more years of good health and more glory for the good of the City of Manila.”

Thus said ManiIa Mayor Joseph Estrada, who will celebrate his 81st birthday on ApriI 19, Thursday.

“Hopefully, our God will extend my life, and give me strength and health so that I can relate to my countrymen the great trust and love they have given me since they voted me mayor of Manila,” Estrada said Tuesday.

He said he wanted good health so that he could give back to Manileños a successful administration that they deserve.

“If not for their trust and faith in me, I would not become mayor, so I want to repay their love and trust in me,” the mayor said.

Estrada also wished for success for his pro-poor programs, especially his campaign to bring back Manila to its former glory as the Pearl of the Orient Seas.

“I hope I will be able to continue all the good programs the city government had initiated for the well-being and satisfactions of my kababayan,” he said.

He also wished that local politicians will concentrate more on bringing peace to the city and urged them to refrain from early politicking.

“The election is still some time away, so my request is everyone’s cooperation and the progress the city enjoys today. If only they allow me to continue the programs for the greater good of the greatest number of our fellow Manilenyos,” Estrada said.

He also wished for fortitude and more strength and steadfastness, so he can continue instituting the needed programs for real change for the city government of Manila. Vito Barcelo

QC women gain biz training from Artisan Academy

By Rio N. Araja TO PROMOTE economic empowerment and equality in business and livelihood opportunities, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has trained another batch of micro-entrepreneurs to help them expand their small businesses.

Belmonte congratulated the latest batch of artisans who graduated from the Artisan Academy, a four-day workshop seminar teaching small-scale entrepreneurs the basics of business in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development.

“We are quite proud that you have done well and I’m confident you will be able to use your newly learned skills to grow your businesses, provide for your family, and contribute to our nation’s economy,” she said.

The resource persons and instructors came from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bankers Institute of the Philippines and Sun Life Financial.

Belmonte said the Artisan Academy will continue to train more city residents, especially solo parents, single mothers and the unemployed, to help them put up their own livelihood.

INSURANCE SPONSOR. Makati Mayor Abby Binay speaks before officials and personnel of six barangays under the city’s Cluster 3, who are among 3,228 beneficiaries of the city-

sponsored personal accident insurance program with the Government Service Insurance System for all 33 barangays. It is funded under the Makati Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan through the mayor’s initiative. Binay, together with Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and other city officials, led the distribution of GSIS Personal Accident Insurance Certificates on Monday at the Carmona Covered Court. The distribution will be done for the remaining five clusters of barangays in designated venues from April 17 to 20.

Espinosa drug group back in action in Leyte?

T

ACLOBAN CITY—Provincial police here are watching remnants of the notorious Espinosa drug group that have reportedly resumed their operation in Leyte province.

Senior Supt. Norberto Tuazon, Leyte Police director, said they are validating reports that the gang of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa has regrouped in his hometown of Albuera, Leyte.

Kerwin, currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation, is the son of slain Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was killed in a raid inside his detention cell in Baybay, Leyte on Nov. 5, 2016.

The Eastern Visayas Police reported that the Espinosa group was supplying 30 to 50 kilograms of shabu every month in

the region during Kerwin’s heyday.

Tuazon said they have been closely monitoring terminals, ports, airports, nightclubs, and other establishments to prevent the recurrence of illegal drugs here.

Leyte is merely a transshipment point for illegal drugs since they have not monitored the presence of laboratories in the area, Tuazon told the Philippine News Agency.

He noted that the strict enforcement of anti-drug laws and successful implementation of the war against drugs have resulted in a significant drop in illegal drugs in Leyte.

Meanwhile, in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, simultaneous anti-illegal drug raids led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yielded 69 sachets of suspected shabu.

Wilkins M. Villanueva, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 10 director, said a joint team of PDEA and Philippine National Police personnel arrested three suspects who were subjects of separate search warrants simultaneously served at around 4:15 a.m. Monday.

PDEA 10 identified the suspects as Virgo Gempisao, 47, married, of Purok 2, Barangay Dalwangan; Angel Mutia, 38, married, of World War II Heroes St., Barangay 7; and John Palamine, 20, single, of Phase I, NHA, Casisang. PNA

FOR BACOOR.

Calax, flyover, new roads open up GenTri traffic MPCALA Holdings Inc. Calax will pass from Mamplasan in Biñan City, Laguna to Governor’s Drive in General Trias and Arnaldo Road to the Open Canal, Pasong Camachile and Alapan to Centennial Road in Kawit.

A four-lane road widening and open canal bridge project in Pasong Camachile is also ongoing through the efforts of Cavite 6th District Rep. Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV, Imus Rep. AA Advin-

cula and Mayor Ferrer.

The city is also constructing the Sta. Clara-Pinagtipunan Bridge, a 377-meterlong flyover across Governor Ferrer Drive as a new diversion road to ease the traffic on Sta. Clara, Prinza, and San Juan crossing.

It also recently opened the Lumunsad-Manggahan bypass road, a 27-meter-long access road in Barangay Manggahan that decreased traffic in the area by 50 percent, the mayor added.

SSS collects over P200k from RACE Campaign in Batangas LIPA CITY, Batangas— A month after the conduct of the Run After Contribution Evaders Campaign in a shopping mall here, the Social Security System collected more than P200,000 from six delinquent employers that have been issued with a Show Cause Order.

SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said that the SSS is happy with the positive results of the RACE Campaign in Lipa and hopes that employer compliance will increase more in the coming months.

“We would like to thank the employers who immediately responded to our warning. They registered their businesses and employees with SSS and

paid their delinquencies as well. We hope that this will be the start of our good partnership in providing social security protection to our members,” said Dooc.

As of this writing, six out of 11 employers have already responded to the Show Cause Orders posted by the RACE Team on their premises during a mapping operation last March 9.

Johan Marlo Food Enterprise and Redberry Trading have settled their total delinquency, with a combined amount of over P158,000 while Diandra Denise Boutique opted for an installment scheme and made a partial payment of P19,707.

GenTri welcomes new police chief GENERAL TRIAS CITY—Mayor Antonio “Ony” Ferrer and local officials here recently welcomed Police Supt. Gil Torralba as the new acting chief of police of the General Trias Component City Police Office during the 2018 Investors Month celebration held at Bayleaf Hotel in Barangay Manggahan.

Torralba replaced Supt. Carlo Caceres, who had a brief stint as officer in charge of the GenTri Police Department and is now back in the Cavite Provincial Police Office.

Torralba served the San Pablo City Police Office in Laguna for almost eight months before transferring to Cavite, according to Senior Supt.

William Segun, CPPO Director.

Torralba has also handled the Dasmarinas City Police Office, Silang Municipal Police Station, Noveleta Municipal Police Station, and Cavite Provincial Intelligence Branch.

The colonel will handle the GenTri Police main office and the substations in Manggahan, Pasong Camachile II, San Francisco, Tropical Village, and in Peza in Bacao along Centennial road.

Fratmen give free dental, surgical aid

Bacoor native and Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla (left) meets with some city government officials during a session break of Congress.

The lawmaker used his free time to talk to agencies that will be a big help to Bacoorenos and other nearby cities.

Revilla noted the city now has a Land Transportation Office branch, which he had requested, along with the Ciudad De Strike, a low-cost housing construction project.

Lino Santos

GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite—Many residents and businesses here are happy with the new developments in the locality, especially its accessibility to major thoroughfares and modes of transportation.

Officials of the soon-to-open CaviteLaguna Expressway recently held a public consultation at the General Trias Convention Center with Mayor Antonio “Ony” Ferrer and representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways DPWH and

IN BRIEF

GARDEN REVIVED. The Metro Manila Mayors Spouses Foundation Inc., in partnership

with the Philippine General Hospital, successfully rehabilitated the Central Garden located at the hospital compound as part of its projects this year. The garden offers relaxation and hope to PGH patients and relatives by serving as a quiet refuge from stress and fatigue.

Present during the unveiling of the commemorative marker for the project with PGH director Gerardo Legaspi (second from right) are MMMSFI officials (from left) lawyer Maricar Sarmiento, representing Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano; foundation treasurer Edna Calixto; former Pasig City mayor Maribel Eusebio, PRO; MMMSFI president Janet Olivarez, wife of Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez; and Ms. Edna Malapitan of Caloocan City.

BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya— Close to 100 indigent villagers here were recently benefited with a free dental and circumcision services sponsored by the Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity and Sorority Theta Epsilon Chapter Alumni Association in this town.

The services were given to villagers of barangay Magsaysay Hills here in partnership with the APO-Alpha Theta Alumni Association medical team and collegiate members.

Bro. Reynald Tan, APO-TECAA vice president for internal affairs, said the activity was the first and the biggest dental and surgical services made by the organization to provide free health services for the poor.

“We are grateful for our sponsors as the activity became a success. We hope to bring these services again next year with more resources and intensity,” Tan said.

APO-TECAA here was organized in the late 1980s, with alumni coming mostly from the former Nueva Vizcaya State Polytechnic College, now a state university. Ben Moses Ebreo

NV DENR bares gains in past year BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The disposition of confiscated lumber, improvement of working conditions, implementation of the National Greening Program, Patent Processing Issuances, and continuing information, education and communication activities, among others are some of the successful accomplishments of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office here.

Forester Constante Espiritu, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said their recent significant accomplishments over the last year covered several areas.

They include an intensified information campaign on clean air, clean water, solid waste management, geohazard, groundwater assessment, responsible mining, forest and watershed management, intensified forest protection, anti-illegal logging, enhanced biodiversity conservation and improved land administration and management. Ben Moses Ebreo

Life Hypebeast hosts a party for Burberry

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

fashion and beauty

wEdnESday, aprIL 18, 2018

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K

orean actor ah In Yoo, former Girls Generation member Jessica Jung, and rapper BeWhy were just some of the celebrities and other personalities present at the party hosted by Hypebeast Korea and Burberry in Seoul, South Korea.

also in attendance to the stylish event were a Hyun Kim, ellis ahn, Jin Park, Seol Hee Kim, Megyu, Ho Jung Lee, and Hae Sun Shin.

Musicians Zion T and DJ Yaeji performed live at the party.

The party coincided with the launch of Burberry’s February 2018 Capsule collection of reissued archive pieces from the 1980s and 1990s, rereleased as part of the runway collection and made available for purchase immediately after the show.

Burberry’s latest collection is now available at Burberry stores globally. In the Philippines, Burberry is located at Greenbelt 4 and Rustan’s Shangri-La.

Zion T performs live at the Hypebeast x Burberry party in Seoul, South Korea, whose guests include (from left) Seol Hee Kim, Ah In Yoo, Jessica Jung, Jin Park, and Megyu.

Crocs’ LiteRide collection is composed of slip-ons, sneakers, sandals, slides, and clogs made of soft, lightweight, and resilient LiteRide foam.

Canadian singer Henry floats in comfortable LiteRide clogs

Crocs means comfort CaSuaL footwear label Crocs continues to do what it does best—offering products that put comfort first with the worldwide debut of its Literide collection.

The collection, made of Crocs’ trademarked Literide foam, a revolutionary closed-cell material, that reinforces the brand’s dedication to comfort, delivering consumers a delightful mix of support and sink-in softness.

The foam is 40 percent softer and 25

percent lighter than the Classic Croslite, another trademarked foam technology of Crocs that consumers already know and love.

For spring/summer 2018, the Literide collection features the brand’s popular silhouettes in their more streamlined and stylish iterations, perfect for the ontrend athlesiure style. Comprising the collection are the Clog, the Slide, the Sandal, the Flip, the Slip-on, the Lace, the Pacer, and the Mule.

“not only does the Literide technology offer an elevated level of comfort, but the new streamlined designs deliver modern Crocs styling at its best,” says Michelle Poole, senior vice president of Global Product and Marketing at Crocs.

She continues, “The bottom line: we believe in continuous innovation in order to make our consumers feel comfortable in their own shoes.”

Speaking of “making consumers feel comfortable,” Canadian singer/song-

writer Henry, one of Crocs brand ambassadors, attests to the shoes’ comfort.

“I wore the Literide clogs for the first time at a Crocs shoot last July, and now I cannot stop wearing them! They have become my favorite for any casual occasion,” he enthuses.

The LiteRide collection is available at Crocs stores located in select SM Stores, SM Supermalls, and other malls nationwide.

Life

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wednesday, apri apriL 18, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Facial treatment helps unveil smooth skin

Day and jersey dresses are perfect on a summer day in Britain

I

ndIvIduals suffering from fine lines, acne, blackheads, and rough skin, among others may take advantage of Diana Stalder’s Ultimate Power Peel treatment that harnesses the power of glycolic acid to smoothen out the texture of the skin.

Glycolic acid is part of the group of active compounds known as AHA (alpha hydroxy acids), derived from cane sugar. It has the smallest molecules that penetrate the skin deeply and easily, making it the most effective for treating fine lines, acne, blackheads, and oiliness.

Diana Stalder Ultimate Power Peel is an effective procedure that successfully helps in visibly reducing acne scars, acne, and rough and patchy skin. It also helps in reversing signs of aging like dark spots, wrinkles, and fine lines; and improves other skin conditions like keratosis, scarring from injuries, skin damage from prolonged exposure to sun, and uneven pigmentation.

Diana Stalder Sunscreen Cream SPF 35 helps protect skin from harmful UV rays

While the effects of this treatment can be remarkable, Diana Stalder clinic warns about the risks involved in using glycolic acid as it is an active compound.

Thus, to ensure patients get the best results from this treatment, it is best to follow skin care tips from Diana Stalder’s skilled therapists and to wear sunscreen to avoid pigmentation and further skin damage.

Diana Stalder Sunscreen Cream SPF35 helps protect skin from sun damage, especially when applied 30 minutes before sun exposure. This braod spectrum sunscreen contains Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide that physically block harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Go to www.dianastalder.com to learn more about its products and services.

How to dress for a British summer Diana Stalder Ultimate Power Peel harnesses the power of glycolic acid to smoothen skin

10-step Korean skin care regimen in three products

The Bare Essentials skin care line is composed of (from left) Primer Water, Contour Cleanser, and Fixer Cream, which when used together provide the same benefits of a 10-step skin care regimen.

FOr its spring/summer 2018 collection, Warehouse elevates key British summer staples with a modern twist, curating a wearable collection for the stylish woman who wants to dress for the summer in Britain.

Each story within the collection embodies a contemporary approach to urban summer dressing, reimagining casual fabrics, softening structured silhouettes, and updating traditional prints.

City-smart tailoring is given an informal edge with an oversized fit and relaxed pastel color palette, featuring blue with highlights of pink.

Fringing, drapery, and wrap shapes make day and jersey dresses feel di-

KOrEAn skin care is known for its multistep regimen, which, while is thorough and beneficial, could be very tedious.

Althea, one-stop online shop for Korean beauty and skin care products, strips down the exhaustive 10-step routine to three quick and easy steps with the launch of its first skin care line.

Bare Essentials is Althea’s first foray into skin care production. It is composed of three hybrid products, the Contour Cleanser (P300), the Primer Water (P550), and the Fixer Cream (P640) which are all made of clean, minimal, yet effective formulas—providing the same benefits of a 10-step skin care routine.

“We wanted to go back to the basics and really strip it all down to give customers the most fundamental steps,” said Althea’s head of brand Hyeyoung Park.

Citing data collected over three years, Park said a solid Korean skin care routine all boils down to three essential steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. “All the other additional steps added to your routine are just that—additional.”

The Contour Cleanser harnesses the power of soothing Ice Plant and detoxifying Lemon Myrtle extracts, in addition to the microcapsules that burst upon contact with water, to help exfoliate and

rectional for summer, while classic indigo denim is modernized for urban living with structured silhouettes.

Bold, graphic block panels and stripes look fresh in shades of aubergine, navy, and green. Featuring layers of contemporary fan floral designs and layered scarf prints.

Contrasting against wild conservatory-inspired plant prints sit on a backdrop of tangerine and forest green. An urban, multi-shaded granite print completes the color palette.

Finally, texture is explored through smart indigo and white denim, juxtaposed against soft jacquard dresses returning to natural fabrications such as cotton and linen.

detoxify skin. This cleanser also helps promote blood circulation, reducing bloating and swelling for a defined and slim face shape.

Meanwhile, the Primer Water is a hydrating toner and primer in one. It contains patented dewdrop technology that gently fills the gaps between pores and allows hydration to penetrate deep within the layers of the skin.

Made with Snow Lotus extract, it has a smooth and silky texure that enhances skin’s natural glow.

Finally, the Fixer Crean a non-oily, quick-absorbing cream made with Trehalose, an ingredient found in cactus plant that prevents moisture loss to provide 24-hour skin hydration. It is also rich in antioxidants derived from Camellia sinensis (green tea) seed oil and Baobab Tree extracts. The skin feels bouncy to the touch upon application of this wonder cream.

And much like how the line highlights minimalism, each product under the Bare Essentials is packed in a simple, clean packaging.

Althea is giving out an additional 10 percent off and a free special edition mirror to those who will purchase these products at ph.althea.kr/bare-

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Philippines is Mrs. Asia-Pacific Tourism 2018

AT Geo Earth Day Run 2018, one of the most awaited and well-attended running events in the country every year, is slated for April 22, at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds.

Now on its 9th year, the Nat Geo Earth Day Run reinforces its commitment to preserving the planet by calling all “Eco Warriors” to be part of the exciting race, which will coincide, with the celebration of the International Earth Day. Since its inception, the Nat Geo Earth Day Run has been attracting thousands of individuals across Asia who has pledged to save the planet. In the Philippines, National Geographic is looking to see 15,000 runners across the 3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K categories.

Following its success in the previous years, Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2018 together with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, will partner again for the 6th time to officially commence the #NotPlastic campaign, which will tackle the country’s issue on single-use plastics that pollute oceans and threaten marine biodiversity.

“The Philippines has been identified as the third highest plastic polluter in the world. In response to this, the two organizations aim to increase awareness on plastic waste and push programs that focus on plastic waste management by utilizing the proceeds of the highly-anticipated annual run for the environment,” said Jose Angelito Palma, WWF President & CEO. Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2018 will present a lineup of exciting and meaningful activities participants can join.

This year’s edition includes the Fun Run under the new 3K race category that encourages more Eco Warriors to participate and champion the environmental causes they believe in.

Registered runners will be able to receive a singlet, race bib, timing chip, water bottle and towel. 21K race finishers will receive a finisher’s medal and a finisher’s shirt, while 10K finishers will receive a finisher’s medal. Interested participants can log onto the Nat Geo Earth Day Run website (http://www.nat-

By Eton Concepcion

First row, from left: Charo Espedio, Director – Head of Marketing, FOX Networks Group, Raymund Villanueva, Paymaya, Vice President and Business Unit Head; PayMaya Consumer Business; 2nd row (on stage) from left: Bea Fabregas, Nikko Ramos, Jude Turcuato, SVP – GM FOX Networks Group, Coach Rio de la Cruz – President RunRio Events Inc. , and Andrew Neri, Managing Partner RunRio Events Inc.

Nat Geo calls on Eco Warriors for 2018 fun run

geoearthdayrun.com/). Offline registration is available at authorized booths located at SM MoA, SM Aura, and SM the Block.

Registration fee for the 3K category is Php 750.00, 5K category is Php 850.00,

10K category is Php 950.00, and 21K is Php1, 400.00. The gun start for participants of the 21K run is at 3:30 a.m., 10K is at 4:00 a.m., 5K is at 5:30 a.m., and 3K is at 6:00 a.m..

A closer look into HISTORY’s most boggling mysteries THIS month on HISTORY™, uncover answers to the most mysterious, and mind-boggling questions about the makings of infamous crimes, buried treasure in a cursed island, secret missions, and so much more.

Dive into the swamplands of Louisiana and find the hidden world of the Swamp People. In season 9, witness how the swampers try to shed bad habits, save their collapsing alligator hunting industry, and make life-changing

decisions every Thursdays, at 10:50 p.m..

Then revisit some of the most heinous crimes in season 2 of Crimes that Shocked Asia on April 28 at 8:05 p.m.. In this episode called A Mother’s Nightmare, uncover the most terrifying murder cases where suspects kill for no reason but for the pure thrill of taking human life.

If you’re still wondering how the most notorious crimes come about,

The cast of the hit series, 'Pawn Stars.'

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, April 18, 2018

ACROSS 1 Feeling good 5 Big dance 9 Slap on hastily 13 Adams or Brickell 14 Fido’s pal 16 Monsieur’s airport 17 Rip 18 Make glad 19 — and dine 20 Rhett’s hangout 21 Elongated fish 22 Bamboo munchers 24 Wildcat 26 Import vehicle 27 Heats to boiling 30 Spanish orange 34 Broadway awards 35 Derisive snorts 36 Six-shooters 37 Unit of work 38 Ms. Zellweger 39 Wall Street option 40 The chills 42 Cards dealt 43 Laissez- — 45 University of Montana town 47 Temper 48 Float downriver 49 Army post 50 Piano piece

53 — Perce tribe 54 Online auction 58 Rolling — — (rich) 59 Mail carrier’s beat 61 Fictional captain 62 Youngster 63 Bread pro 64 Poet’s contraction 65 Former spouses 66 Sunset colors 67 Vaulted recess DOWN 1 Wagon train direction 2 Best or Ferber 3 Fact fudger 4 Rightfully 5 Struts with pride 6 Expensive watch 7 Stadium shape 8 Faced 9 Swallowing 10 Waterless 11 Longest arm bone 12 Tournament passes 15 Beat back 23 Fruit cooler 25 Fabric meas.

26 Oohed and —

27 Geyser output 28 Welsh dog 29 Black cattle 30 “Wheel of Fortune” name 31 Valentine decor 32 Harden 33 Flower 35 “— Street Blues” 38 Dustup 41 Villas 43 Like the horizon 44 Rabbit ears 46 Not at home 47 Earthmovers,

for short 49 Honored 50 Web locale 51 Black gemstone 52 Running shoe name 53 Microwave, slangily 55 Traffic sound 56 City near Des Moines 57 Good old days 60 Boat implement

catch the new season of Evil Genius every Saturday, at 7:10 p.m..and discover how criminal masterminds outsmart the law as they orchestrate bank heists and take down a major airport.

Hit series Pawn Stars returns with brand-new episodes. Get to see how the Richard, Rick, and Corey look into a statue with a six-figure price tag, a signed Winston Churchill Letter, and a custom vintage car.

Then catch season 4 of Forged in Fire featuring all new challenges that sets the bar to unimaginable heights as fan favorite bladesmiths return for a second shot at victory. And for the first time ever, both masters and apprentices will team up to fight for the championship.

Don’t miss out on the new series Tactical Sunday every Sunday at 9:00 p.m..

Inspired by real missions of SEAL Team Six, the series depicts emotional truths of what it means to be in the elite special forces, including making life and death decisions to protect one another and their country.

While in Storage Wars, bidders wait anxiously for what’s behind each storage unit. In season 11, beginning April 24, Tuesdays 9:00 p.m., witness how two bidders get baited into a massive a locker, while another bidder’s mystery box gets mislabeled.

MITZIE Go Gil, a 40-year-old native of Sultan Kudarat, was named Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism 2018 after besting 22 married women from Asia and Pacific countries at the finals held recently at the Phoenix Forest City Garden Hotel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Gil, a mother of three, a travel entrepreneur and a philanthropist, also took home the Mrs. Glamour, Best in Smile, People’s Choice and Special Queen Ambassador special awards in the pageant where compatriot Eurresse Czeurisse Misola, a 24-year-old Cebuana, won as Mrs. Asia Pacific All Nation 2018, and bagged the Best in National Costume and Mrs. Encouraging Woman special awards.

Gil and Misola joined other winners including: Mrs. Russia Ulyana Kofanova, Mrs. Asia Pacific Global 2018; Mrs. India Urooj Ashaish Khan, Mrs. Asia Pacific Intercontinental 2018; and Mrs. Malaysia Elisse Lim, Mrs. Asia Pacific Cosmopolitan 2018.

The five-day pageant was a presentation by Lumiere International based in Singapore exclusively for married women advocating women empowerment, among others.

The pageant’s national director Annie Refrea, believes that Gil’s sincerity and being authentic helped her a lot to win this international competition and she was so happy seeing Gil bringing the crown and trophy.

Go is the wife of retired PNP Gen. Virtus V. Gil, who currently acts as vice president of V.V.G. Realty and manager of the Eagles Fly Travel & Tours. She considers Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte as her role model. She dreamed as a kid of becoming a beauty queen and at the age of 10, she experienced her first pageant in a small town in Sultan Kudarat, finishing third among three contestants.

Go was invited to represent the country in the Mrs. Asia Pacific after being spotted at a Christmas party of the National Association of Independent Travel Agency (NAITAS) when she won as Star of the Night.

Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism 2018 Mitzie Go Gil (center) with National Director Annie Refrea and her daughter Roanne.

Photo by Joel Maniquis

New face of M Lhuillier COMEDIAN Empoy Marquez is the newest ambassador of M Lhuillier, the leading non-bank financial services provider in the Philippines.

Empoy being a soft-spoken, hardworking, and family-oriented man makes him the perfect fit to become M Lhuillier’s brand ambassador, given that he is accustomed with its services because it’s his first choice when it comes to financial services. His bubbly personality also matches well with the friendly employees of M Lhuillier.

Since 1994, M Lhuillier has been serving OFWs well with their expansive reach and huge network, making transferring money convenient for them wherever they are.

“We currently serve a large part of

the money transfer service coming to the Philippines. In 2017, remittances to the Philippines closed at around $28 billion dollars,” Mr. Lhuillier, added.

Empoy shared that he previously used M Lhuillier for sending money and that he had a positive experience with the brand service.

He also emphasized that M Lhuillier’s great services are a big help for OFWs and their families and because of that, a lot of people are choosing them when it comes to financial services.

To know more about ML Wallet, go to http://www.mlhuillier.com/ or visit their social media accounts: Facebook https://web.facebook.com/mlhuillier. official; and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mlhuillierofficial/.

Empoy Maquez (left) with Michael Lhuillier, President and Chief Executive Officer of M Lhuillier

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

DoT ropes in ‘The Fat Kid Inside’ to join ‘BUHAY CARINDERIA’

By Nickie Wang

Chef and blogger Erwan Heussaff joins TPB's 'Buhay Carinderia' as content creator.

(Image from Team Manila)

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OURISM Promotions Board of the Department of Tourism is currently promoting ‘‘Buhay Carinderia…Redefined,’’ a culinary spectacle that trains the spotlight on Filipino culture and custom.

Initiated by Marylinbert International, Inc., the project will run for nine months and will culminate in a culinary exposition in November.

Now, who among the popular personalities should best represent this project and advocacy?

At the grand launch of ‘‘Buhay Carinderia’’ held at the Rizal Park Hotel and attended by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, and Tourism and Promotions Board head Cesar Montano, we were introduced to content creator Erwan Heussaff who would most likely be the poster boy of the project.

“He clearly represents the ‘Buhay Carinderia…Redefined’ advocacy, which is to focus and understand the history of local dishes, to popularize the use of natural and native ingredients, and to accentuate Filipino home cooked flavors,” explained Linda Legaspi of Marylindbert International that organizes the annually held event.

In a statement sent to the members of the press, it said that when Erwan opened a pop-up carinderia, for one day last year, to promote his newest online game, the organizers of this year’s “Buhay Carinderia…Redefined” immediately knew who to tap as their content creator.

“I was surprised that they contacted me, but I was super happy as well,” Erwan told the press during the launch.

“We’ll be doing a series of videos featuring the best, and maybe some of the

Rising star Kyline Alcantara scores a record deal

Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Cesar Montano (left) with Marylindbert International's Linda Legaspi, (center) and xcontent creator Erwan Heussaff during the grand launch of 'Buhay Carinderia...Redefined.' Photo by Lino Santos

least known carinderias in the country… and we can give them the attention they truly deserve.”

Being a restaurant and bar investor, an online personality, the husband of actress and TV host Anne Curtis as well as the brother of actress and TV host Solenn Heussaff, Erwan has managed to create his food and beverage niche. After all, his blog The Fat Kid Inside has been viewed by millions since 2011, his Facebook page has about 1 million likes, 1.4 million followers on Twitter, half a million subscribers on YouTube and1.9 million more on Instagram.

“I may not be a Filipino food expert yet, there are so many dishes that I still need to discover, but I am curious to keep learning and I am a staunch advocate of our culinary culture,” the French-Filipino content creator said.

But there’s more to Erwan than his Internet popularity. He has long been an advocate of healthy and affordable eating, his recent crusade where he came up with Php 150 per day meal plan, to prove that if you eat local, you don’t

need to break the bank, only endeared him to more Filipinos.

A quick look at his YouTube channel will also will also prove that he is making lots of shows in the Philippines, from travel to food farming and sustainability, a true love for country resonates in his content. He also recently produced a show called Origins, which is all about 8 different provincial areas in the Philippines where Erwin showcases everything from fishing octopus with the Dumagats in Isabela to spending hours on a boat with fishermen trying to catch Dorado in Batanes, to documenting the rice harvest festival in the Mountain Province. This show was shot for the American market and will soon be distributed by an international network.

This year’s event is scheduled to scour the whole country in search for the best of the best on culinary scene.

There will be exchanges of knowledge throughout the project duration where linkages between food and tourism to provide a platform for national and regional economic development will be highlighted.

BENJAMIN ALVES

Actor and GNEA ambassador Benjamin Alves

reaches out to exemplary students ACTOR Benjamin Alves has been named ambassador of the GMA Network Excellence Award (GNEA) for the third consecutive year.

Joining the 29-year-old star during the announcement and official signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on April 13 were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz, Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi S. Lara, and Assistant Vice President for Talent Imaging and Marketing Simoun S. Ferrer.

“These students will determine the future of our country, and Benjamin is very appropriate to become the ambassador for academic excellence because he was a scholar prior to his showbiz stint. He has accomplishments that the younger generation can look up to,” the Network executive stated.

Benjamin, on the other hand, said he is honored to once again represent GNEA and looks forward to reaching out to exemplary Filipino students around the country.

“It is humbling to be GNEA’s ambassador. I feel like I’m still a student, I feel like I still want to seek higher education because when you see how passionate these students are, it makes you want to excel as well,” Benjamin expressed.

The 2018 GMA Network Excellence Award is in partnership with YesPinoy Foundation, Airfreight 2100, Inc. (Air21), University of the Philippines (Diliman) College of the Mass Communication Foundation, Inc., Don Bosco Technical College, and Angeles University Foundation.

GMA Network will give out two awards – one for the best communication student and another for the outstanding student of a technology-based course. Nominations for the academic year 2017-2018 are open until June 29.

To join, submit the Entry Book which contains the accomplished application form, related work, transcript of records, certificate of candidate for graduation, certificate of good moral character, and recommendation letter.

For criteria, mechanics and other details, visit http://www. gmanetwork.com/excellenceaward or contact Unis M. Loleng at 982-7777 local 1108 or e-mail GMAExcellence@ gmanetwork.com.

KAMBAL, Karibal actress Kyline Alcantara is on her way to making another dream a reality when she signed a recording contract with GMA Records last week.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Records Managing Director Rene Salta, Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi S. Lara, GMA Artist Center Senior Talent Manager Vic Del Rosario, GMA Records A&R Manager Kedy Sanchez, co-manager Manny Vallester and mother Rowena Alcantara.

The Kapuso star shares that being a recording artist has always been her dream, and with her online covers hitting thousands of likes and views, Kyline is ready to make that dream into a reality. She is set to release an official single and a full album under GMA Records in the coming months.

“Before entering show business, I was really wishing to be a recording artist,” Kyline shares.

She also reveals her plans for a concert, where she can showcase her passion to perform, “For the past few years, we’ve been planning on what to do in case I would have a concert, and now that I’m with GMA Records, I hope we could execute those plans.”

What’s also striking about Kyline apart from her excellent acting is her

passion to share her craft with her fans, which she calls her “sunflowers.” She dedicates this milestone to them and does not forget to acknowledge that her fans are the reason behind her achievements.

“This is the chapter of my life where I strive really hard to be successful, I hope the ‘sunflowers’ appreciate all the things that I do,” Kyline says.

Kyline will appear on Spotlight Music Sessions this month, and will have an OPM cover session in time for Mother’s Day this May.

Kyline Alcantara will soon record an album under GMA Records.

MARAWI DOCU

gets top prize at NY Festivals ABS-CBN DocuCentral’s documentary ’Di Ka Pasisiil on the Marawi siege won a Gold World Medal at the 2018 New York Festivals World’s Best TV & Films (NYF), leading the Kapamilya winners in the prestigious competition.

Reporters Jeff Canoy and Chiara Zambrano received the award in a ceremony held in Las Vegas, USA on April 10. The documentary won the top award in the category of Coverage of a Continuing News Story.

The country’s leading media and entertainment company also won a Silver World Medal in the Cinematography category for the documentary Local Legends: Bandurria of ANC, and a Bronze World Medal in the Station/ Image Promotion category for ABSCBN Creative Communications Management’s “To Love and To Serve” campaign.

In his Twitter post, Canoy dedicated their award to their fellow reporters and soldiers and civilians in Marawi, where

Jeff Canoy and Chiara Zambrano celebrate the Gold World Medal for 'Di Ka Pasisiil' in the 2018 New York Festival.

he and Zambrano broke news from the warzone.

“Still surreal. This Gold World Medal from the New York Festivals is for our troops who fought the fight, for the people of Marawi who continue to show us courage & for our fellow Filipino journalists who continue to tell our stories like only we can,” Canoy stated.

Zambrano also vowed to continue following their stories as they heal from the physical, mental, and emotional wounds brought to them by the war.

“This award we share with all of these heroes, and this is also our commitment to them that we will stick by them and continue to tell their stories as they rebuild their lives,” she said in her acceptance speech.

Di Ka Pasisiil first aired on Aug. 13 last year three months after the siege of Marawi began. The documentary told stories about how the war changed the landscape in the Islamic state and how the government’s brave soldiers defended Marawi from the terror group.

A “Mukha” episode of the same title, which featured personal accounts of Canoy and Zambrano as they covered the war, also made it as finalist in the NY Festivals.

ANC’s Local Legends: Bandurria, meanwhile, focused on the life and craft of a master guitar-maker in Pampanga, while “To Love and To Serve” poetically expressed the love of a “Kapamilya,” and how ABS-CBN is committed to serve Filipinos through its various services and products.

These NY Festival awards add to the growing number of recognitions received by ABS-CBN News in 2018 for its programs, campaigns, anchors, and journalists.