Manila Standard - 2018 April 20 - Friday

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Money Pacquiao set to launch virtual currency

VOL. XXXII • NO. 64 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Marcos slams Robredo ploy to cheat at recount

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

F

ORMER Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday slammed Vice President Leni Robredo for trying to taint the integrity of the recount of votes in the vice presidential elections, after she accused the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) of “systematically reducing her votes.”

“Robredo should stop accusing the PET of systematically reducing her votes and casting aspersions meant to debase its integrity,” Marcos lawyer Vic Rodriguez said in a statement.

The Marcos lawyer made the statement after Robredo asked the PET to abandon the 50 percent threshold for shading of ballots and instead adopt the 25 percent threshold that the Commission on Elections has set.

Rodriguez said that since the filing of the election protest against Robredo in June 2016, the Supreme Court, sitting as the PET, had acquired jurisdiction over the case.

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PHILIPPINE boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday he would launch a cryptocurrency to connect with fans, but also backed the regulation of virtual currencies.

Pacquiao, one of the world’s most successful boxers, is the latest athlete to launch a virtual currency, following Floyd Mayweather and former England striker Michael Owen. Next page

SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO

UK residents cash in on royal wedding bash WINDSOR, United Kingdom—From biscuits to beer and traditional mugs, businesses and Windsor residents are making the most of royal wedding fever with one month to go to the nuptials of Britain’s Prince Harry.

Within hours of Harry’s proposal to Meghan Markle being announced in November 2017, online store Jewlr. com had created “The Duchess” replica engagement ring.

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Prince Harry and his fiancee, US actress Meghan Markle

At 96, Mexican woman living out a dream

RECOUNT. Former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (top left) leads a huge crowd of supporters at the Supreme Court in this file photo while Vice President Leni Robredo files Thursday at the Supreme Court a motion for reconsideration with her camp blaming the “systematic decrease” in votes for her during the 2016 elections to the supposed wrong standard used to determine which votes are valid in the manual vote recount. She asked the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to direct its Head Revisors to apply the 25-percent threshold instead of the 50 percent to classify which votes will be counted. Lino Santos/Norman Cruz

Duterte tosses ‘endo’ dreams to Congress

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer issue an executive order to stop the practice of “endo” or contractual hiring that deprives workers of job security, and will leave it to Congress to enact a law instead.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the position of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was to leave it to Congress to enact or amend the labor law, saying the President followed the decision of the Labor chief.

The Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) slammed the Labor Department and the Palace for passing the issue on to Congress, and said this was inconsistent with the President’s promise to stop the rampant abuse of shortterm contract work.

“This statement and position is just the Secretary Bello, attorney Roque and the Department of Trade and Industry speaking, not the President. This is not the President speaking himself. Bello and Roque are just pre-empting the President’s desire to sign labor-drafted EO,” ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

In a press briefing at the Department of Labor and Employment, Bello announced that President Duterte will no longer sign an executive order (EO) on contractualization and he will instead certify a pending bill in Senate on the security of tenure as a priority bill.

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GUADALUPE Palacios stands out in her high school class in Mexico, and it is not just because of her gray hair, her deeply creased skin or her 96 years.

Palacios, who is seeking to live out her dream of finishing high school by her 100th birthday, is also the most enthusiastic student in the classroom.

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EU relents, won’t protest over PES official’s case

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Vito Barcelo THE European Union (EU) said Thursday it has already met with Foreign Affairs officials to seek clarification of the government’s move to deny entry into the country for EU political party official Giacomo Filibeck.

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said the regional bloc respects the decision of the Philippines tto accept or deny entry of any person.

“Of course we are aware of the case and we have been asking for clarification on that and we are in the process of getting that clarification and we will see how we will take that forward,” Jessen told the

reporters on the sideline sof Viva Europa 2018 press conference.

On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said that foreign nationals who join political rallies such as those that would advocate for or against President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war will be banned or asked to leave the country.

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‘Anak’ singer joins overflow list of senatorial bets

Quo warranto up for decision in May—Carpio

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel Zurbano FOLK singer Freddie Aguilar—born Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar—might run for senator under the ruling PDP-Laban in the coming mid-term elections in May 2019.

The party’s president, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III Thursday confirmed that Aguilar, who goes by the name Abdul Farid after he converted to Islam in 2013 to marry his then 16-yearold girlfriend, was being considered as among the senatorial candidates of their party.

While the party has yet to finalize the names of their senatorial candidates, Pimentel said Aguilar, born in Ilagan, Isabela, might be among their senatorial bets being a party member.

Due to the “overflow” of their possible candidates for senators, he said the party would likely finalize or even come out with the official list by August or September.

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GUADALUPE PALACIOS

By Rey E. Requejo

BEATING THE DEADLINE. Aspiring barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials flock Thursday to the Commission on Elections Office in Manila to beat the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2018 elections. Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año urged barangay officials dealing in drugs to do the county a favor and desist from running. Lino Santos

2 CamSur lawmakers swap insults, go viral

By Joyce Pangco Pañares TWO lawmakers from Camarines Sur engaged in a shouting match inside the Pili police station on Wednesday, hurling insults and taunts at each other.

Rep. Rolando Andaya of the 1st District went to the police station upon

learning that 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte was inside.

Andaya came from a meeting with residents of Brgy. Agustin who alleged that Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte ordered the dumping of gravel in their lands which were to be affected by the Naga Airport reorientation project. Next page

THE Supreme Court is expected to resolve next month the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said Thursday.

“We hope to decide on it as soon as we can. By next month we should be able to decide on it,” Carpio told reporters.

The acting chief magistrate admitted that he expects the completion of the draft decision on the case soon, but he refused to elaborate on it.

“I cannot talk about that but we hope to finish it by end of May,” Carpio said.

The acting chief justice made the statement as both petitioner Solicitor General Jose Calida and Sereno are expected to submit their respective memorandum today, April 20.

After the oral arguments held at the Supreme Court Session Hall in Baguio City, Carpio, who presided over the Next page

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News

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Con-Com asserts claims on WPS, Sabah T HE first article in the Constitution that the Consultative Committee or Con-Com will propose firms up the Philippines’ stance on the West Philippine Sea and its claim to Sabah, the online news site Rappler said Thursday.

The new site said the Con-Com on Thursday finalized its wording of Article 1 of its draft charter. The article, compared to its counterpart in the 1987 Constitution, has two paragraphs and refers specifically to international courts, laws of the sea and sovereign rights.

Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to make its proposed presidential-federal form of government “uniquely Filipino,” the Con-Com, which is tasked to review the 1987 Constitution, has dubbed its version of the system as “bayanihan” or working- together federalism.

“What we are trying to evolve is a federal system that is uniquely Philippine in character. We are not copying a federal system in any part of the world,” Con-Com Senior Technical Assistant and spokesman Ding

Generoso told reporters.

Retired Chief Justice and Con-Com Chairman Reynato Puno earlier urged the members of the body to make sure they do not plagiarize any federalism model as it should be distinctly Filipino.

“There are different models of this structure available off the shelf, but there is no model that will perfectly fit the Philippines,” Puno said during the first Concom en banc session in February.

The proposed Article 1 reads:

Sovereignty Over Territory and Sovereign Rights

Section 1: The Philippines has sovereignty over its territory, consisting of the islands and waters encompassed by

tories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas.

The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.

The difference: Fr Ranhilio Aquino, the Con-Com member who sponsored the final wording of the proposed article, said the article harmonizes the Philippine constitution with existing international laws on the sea.

This firms up, among other things, the Philippine position with regards to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on the West Philippine Sea, declaring China’s claim to it as invalid.

“It gives constitutional status to the National Territory arbitral judgment,” said Aquino.

The national territory comprises the PhilThe proposed article also introduces ippine archipelago, with all the islands and the concept of “sovereign rights” to the waters embraced therein, and all other terri- Philippine constitution. With PNA

its archipelagic baselines, its territorial sea and its airspace.

It has sovereignty over islands and features outside its archipelagic baselines pursuant to the laws of the Federal Republic, the law of nations, and the judgments of competent international courts or tribunals.

It likewise has sovereignty over all the other territories belonging to the Philippines by historic right or legal title.

Section 2. The Philippines has sovereign rights over that maritime expanse beyond its territorial sea to the extent reserved to it by international law, as well as over its extended continental shelf including the Philippine (Benham) Rise. Its citizens shall enjoy the right to all resources to which they are entitled by historic rights.

In comparison, Article I of the 1987 Constitution reads:

Duterte...

Dengvaxia victim’s kin make 5th criminal case

He said the Office of the Executive Secretary had studied three drafts of the EO. Bello said the Senate bill will address unlawful contractualization “if there is an effective and honestto-goodness implementation.”

For his part, Roque said the President had complied with his election promise—to do away with “5-5-5 endo, in which employers hire a worker for five months then fires him on the fifth month to avoid regularizing his employment.

“Now the DOLE has beefed up the number of its labor inspectors from 200 to 500 and that’s why they have effectively cracked down on those resorting to prohibited endo,” Roque said.

“Let’s see what kind of legislation Congress will finally approve, noting that the matter is now pending in the Senate alone, because the House already passed its version,” Roque said.

But the labor group urged the President to sign the EO anyway.

“The signing of the EO is the concrete manifestation of meeting his promise to end Endo and serve as policy guidance to the fate and direction of Security of Tenure bill now pending in Congress.

We all know that business is over-represented in Congress but with President Duterte signing the EO, it will send a signal to congressmen and senators to fast-track the passage of Security of Tenure Bill,” Tanjusay said.

Tanjusay said the workers’ one wish for Labor Day is that the President signs the EO drafted by the labor groups.

Bello, on the other hand, said workers should watch Duterte’s Labor Day speech for a possible “dramatic issuance.”

Also included as respondents in the Secretary Janette Garin and former

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon complaint were Maria Lourdes Santia- Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, among Ramos-Araneta

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Quo...

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hearing on the quo warranto petition, required the parties to submit their respective memorandum and documents today, without extension.

The quo warranto petition is a prerogative writ requiring the person to whom it is directed to show what authority he or she has in exercising some right or power the person claims to hold—in this case, Sereno as chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Calida questioned the validity of Sereno’s appointment as top magistrate on the ground that the chief justice allegedly lacks integrity when she supposedly failed to completely file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN. After submission of their respective memoranda, the quo warranto case is deemed submitted for decision.

Opposition Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday prodded the Supreme Court to dismiss the quo warranto petition against Sereno due to lack of jurisdiction.

Money...

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The Singapore-based Global Crypto Offering Exchange (GCOX), in which Pacquiao has invested, said it would unveil the “PAC Token” later this year, which would allow fans to buy the Filipino star’s merchandise and interact with him via live-streaming.

At 96...

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“I feel ready to give it my all. Today is a marvelous day,” she said Monday on her first day of high school in the southern state of Chiapas, wearing the school uniform of a white polo shirt

go and Melody Zamudio.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is the third senator to object to Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon’s Dengvaxia Report, which declared former President Benigno Aquino III and other officials of the previous administration allegedly liable in the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia controversy.

Drilon cast his dissenting vote to the draft committee report. He did not concur with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s report that recommended the filing of charges against Aquino, former Health

others, over the purchase and administration of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“Upon careful review of the draft report, I would like to inform you that I disagree with its findings, conclusions and recommendations,” Drilon said in a letter to Gordon on Thursday.

Acosta said Duque was included in the complaint because the inoculation of Hedia happened on November 2017 when Duque was Health secretary.

“We have no bad intention on anyone.

We just want to provide justice to the families of those who died after being immunized,” Acosta said.

tion of the April 10 ruling of the PET, Robredo through her lawyer Romulo Macalintal argued that the 50 percent threshold would disenfranchise voters who failed to adhere to the said threshold even though their votes had already been counted as valid by the vote counting machines and confirmed by the Random Manual Audit Committee for passing the 25 percent threshold.

The PET, in its ruling last April 10, denied Robredo’s plea for the tribunal to use the 25 percent threshold saying that Comelec Resolution 8804, as amended by Comelec Resolution 9164, failed to mention the threshold raised

by Robredo’s camp.

Besides, the PET noted that its decision is consistent with the Court rules.

The tribunal said the 2010 PET rules

specify the 50 percent threshold and that the 2018 Revisor’s Guide “did not impose a new threshold.”

However, Robredo, in her appeal, noted that the Comelec informed the PET on September 2016 through a letter about its use of the 25 percent threshold in declaring votes as valid.

Robredo said the threshold adopted by the Comelec is designed to scan every oval on the ballot and count as vote those that contain appropriate marks based on pre-determined sharing threshold.

Although the voters are told to fully shade the ballots, the shading threshold was set at 25 percent of the oval space.

Comelec said the purpose is to ensure that votes are not wasted due to inadequate shading.

was an edited version showing Andaya as the only one shouting. A longer and unedited version of the video was sent to Manila Standard by Andaya.

Andaya accused Villafuerte of being gay, while the latter shot back and called Andaya uncircumcised.

At one point, one of them could be heard taunting the other to give him a fellatio.

Andaya then challenged Villafuerte to step outside the police station so they could settle the score.

Villafuerte, who was also being restrained by the policemen, said: “I will go outside to teach him a lesson.” But he did not leave the police station and

instead shouted, “You’re a loser! A loser! Stupid!”

Andaya taunted in a similarly childish fashion: “You’re already old. You’re done! Stupid!”

The policemen could be heard pleading to the two lawmakers to relax and to stop degrading the police station.

At one point, Andaya held one policemen in a chokehold, and accused the latter of pushing him.

Villafuerte shouted from inside the police station, “You are gay and talkative!

Do you want to kiss me?” to which Andaya retorted, “You are uncircumcised.

You can’t even sit beside me in Congress because you are gay.”

“Go over the qualifications for senator. He (Aguilar) has all of them,” said Pimentel, a re-electionist.

“And for sure he has ideas on how legislation can solve some of our problems,” he said.

In related developments: –The Commission on Elections has

disqualified 105 individuals from running for public office for their failure to submit statements of campaign expenses and contributions in the previous elections.

The list was posted by the Comelec Campaign Finance Office in its official website Friday last week.

The publication of the list will be used by the Comelec to remind aspirants and reelectionists in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan

polls to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures on or before June 13, 2018.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall submit full, true, and itemized SOCEs after an electoral exercise.

After the second failure of a candidate to file his/her SOCE, the offender shall be subject to perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

“It can be a way to be in touch with the fan base and (there are) a lot of things we can do with this cryptocurrency,” Pacquiao told AFP. Forbes magazine last year listed the boxer—once dirt-poor—as the world’s 20th highest-paid athlete of all time, with career earnings of $510 million.

His venture comes as governments across Asia take a more critical look at cryptocurrencies following wild fluctuations in re-

cent months and the high-profile hacking of Japanese crypto exchange Coincheck.

Lawmakers in the Philippines have proposed legislation that would impose stiff penalties for crimes committed using cryptocurrencies.

Pacquiao, who is a member of the Philippine Senate, also backed the regulation of cryptocurrencies.

“It is already regulated in other countries,” he said. AFP

with a black skirt and her own personal touch: a pink sweater.

“Dona Lupita,” as she is affectionately known, was welcomed with applause from her fellow students at High School Number 2 in the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital.

She diligently took notes in her chemistry and mathematics class-

es and even strutted her stuff in a dance class.

Palacios grew up in poverty in an indigenous village and spent her childhood helping her family farm corn and beans instead of going to school.

As an adult, she went to work selling chickens at market, married twice and had six children. AFP

ANOTHER family on Thursday filed the fifth criminal complaint before the Justice department against Health Secretary Francisco Duque, former Health Secretary Janette Garin and 35 others people in connection with the death of a 13-year old girl who had been inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

Assisted by Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, the victim’s family filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against the respondent over the death of Abbie Hedia, 13, from Muntinlupa City.

Marcos...

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“Since it is the rules of the tribunal that shall apply, her invocation of the 25 percent threshold rule is erroneous as it was made by the Comelec only on Sept. 6, 2016, four months after the elections,” the Marcos lawyer said.

However, Rodriguez found Robredo’s move as an attempt “to cheat the Filipino people again by trying to change the rules in the middle of the game. “ “It is an obvious ploy on the part of the Comelec, then led by the resigned chairman Andres Bautista, to favor Robredo once the revision process starts,” Rodriguez said.

In her urgent motion for reconsidera-

2 CamSur...

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“The people asked for my help. They said they were being forced to surrender their lots for only P8 per square meter,” Andaya said.

But instead of a civilized discussion, the two lawmakers verbally attacked each other, to the distress of the policemen who appealed to Andaya and the elder Villafuerte to respect the police station.

Their exchange of gutter language was recorded on video and was posted on various social media platforms.

One of the videos posted on Facebook

‘Anak’...

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UK...

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Excitement over the white coat Markle wore following the engagement prompted the website of its designer, Canadian brand Line, to crash.

Seven years since the last high-profile royal nuptials -- the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton -- Britain has raced to prepare for the national event.

An official royal wedding collection of commemorative china was promptly launched, using 250-year-old methods and modern-day prices.

A coffee cup costs £25 ($35, 29 euros), while the price of a plate has been set at £49 and a tube of shortbread biscuits costs £5.95.

Grab has 2 new rivals, says LTFRB

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Rio N. Araja THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has approved the accreditation of two ridehailing companies.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III and board members Aileen Lizada and Ronaldo Corpus on Wednesday signed Accreditation Numbers 2018TNC-001 and 2018-TNC-002 allowing Hype Transport Systems Inc. and Hirna Mobility Solutions to operate for two years.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB has ordered Grab Philippines to stop imposing a 2-peso-per-minute travel charge to its riders. The board ordered My Taxi.Ph Inc. to immediately suspend the imposition of its two-peso charge.

Grab earlier said it imposed the charge to its riders to ensure sustainable income for its drivers, adding that 80 percent of the charge goes to drivers as part of their earnings.

The remaining 20 percent is remitted to Grab, which the company reinvests for driver incentives and passenger promos.

In the House, Rep. Jericho Nograles on Thursday accused Grab Philippines of using its drivers as an excuse to avoid giving a refund to its overcharged passengers.

He threatened to file criminal charges against Grab if it continued to pass on to its drivers the cost of the refunds.

“Make no mistake: the moment Grab tries to demand the refund from their drivers, I will be the first to file a complaint of large-scale estafa and syndicated estafa against Grab Philippines,” Nograles said.

Lizada said the ride-hailing companies could begin operations once they received their accreditation papers, giving commuters other options for ride-hailing services aside from Grab Philippines.

EU...

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“Of course it’s the right of the country. A country can always accept or refuse entry of a person, that’s of course their sovereignty rights so that’s not really the issue for me,” Jessen said.

“The issue is more of we are friends.

We do have a partnership and cooperation agreement and that means we have at all different levels a very active exchange of ideas and view at all different levels. And that of course is important for me,” he said.

There are 13 major organizations, including the PES, that have been legally recognized by the EU as political parties at the European level.

However there are more political parties that have been formed from the 28 member-countries of the EU. Jessen said he is not keen to file a diplomatic protest over the incident.

“Right now we are simply looking at what happened and they are trying to understand that. We had a meeting with the DFA a couple of days ago and asked for clarification and we are now going through with that process,” he said.

In the Palace, presidential spokesman Harry Roque denied there was a crackdown on foreigners that support leftist groups, following the brief arrest and detention of the 71-year-old Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox on Tuesday.

“Any political activity by foreigners, whether they support or not, is banned under the immigration law,” Roque said.

He said they are in the Philippines “because of our consent for them to be here, but they are not allowed to engage in any political activity.”

The line has been created by the Royal Collection Trust, which manages the royal art collection and the contents of the various palaces.

Unusual memorabilia But royal wedding memorabilia has extended far beyond the official souvenirs.

A brewery in the town of Windsor, where the couple will wed on May 19, has concocted a regal-themed brew for the occasion.

The “Harry & Meghan’s Windsor Knot” pale ale combines British and American hops, barley grown on the Royal Farms adjoining Windsor Castle -- and a finishing touch of champagne yeast.

Meanwhile, “Crown Jewels Heritage Condoms” have hit the market at £10 for a box of four.

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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PCG to deploy two ships to Boracay T

HE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy two patrol vessels to Boracay for the duration of its six-month closure for cleanup and rehabilitation, an official said on Wednesday.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo said that the MRRV 4409 BRP Cabra and SARV 3504 BRP Davao Del Norte will sail for Boracay on Sunday, April 22.

The PCG will deploy three groups namely the

Special Operations Group, Marine Environmental Protection Command Group and Coastal and Beach Patrol Group.

The Special Operations Group will coordinate with the Philippine National Police and Philippine Navy on

conducting security patrols.

The Marine Environmental Protection Command Group consisting of marine scientists from the PCG and Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct

water quality tests in the island as well as the transfer of petroleum products from Caticlan to Boracay.

The Coastal and Beach Patrol Group will comprise of female members of the Special Operations Force.

The Coast Guard will also provide free medical assistance and food to families in partnership with the Chinese General Hospital and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary during the medical and dental mission in Boracay.PNA

Sotto seeks creation of pres’l office on drugs and crimes

By Macon RamosAraneta ALARMED by the huge number of dismissal on drug cases, Senator Vicente C. Sotto urged President Rodrigo Duterte to create a “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes” that will focus and address the problem of prosecution in the government’s war against illegal drugs and other crimes.

Sotto filed resolution No. 202 to create an office under the direct supervision of the President, making the war on drugs lethal against drug syndicates in the country.

Based on records, there are more than 70% dismissal on drug cases in the Philippines. This huge percentage prompted Sotto to file the resolution in a bid to solve this perennial problem.

“Despite the strong cases filed, cases are eventually dismissed due to lack of coordination between the law enforcers and prosecutors especially in the case build-up stage,” Sotto explained.

Sotto said the purpose of this office, which will be created through an Executive Order, is to ensure that cases will

CHANGE OF COMMAND. Philippine soldiers march in formation during the Armed Forces of the Philippines change of command ceremony at the AFP headquarters in

Camp Aguinaldo in Manila. AFP

Rep. Bertiz calls Magdalo’s Alejano a ‘faultfinder’

By Rio N. Araja ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III on Thursday slammed Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano for attacking President Rodrigo Duterte’s Hong Kong stopover as a junket and public relations stunt.

He called Alejano a “grandstanding faultfinder.”

“We cannot avoid grandstanding

nitpickers who always try to find fault, however petty, everywhere they look,” he said, referring to Alejano.

Publicity seekers tend to get greater media mileage every time they pan Malacañang, thus their rants against the President, he said.

“The way we see it, these whiners are actually the ones trying to draw attention to themselves. The President is a natural media magnet wher-

ever he goes, even abroad. He does not need gimmicks,” he added.

In an official statement, Bertiz even said the Magdalo lawmaker is a “publicity-seeking whiner.”

On April 12, the President, in a sixhour meeting, met with members of Hong Kong’s Filipino community as an online registration was extended to accommodate as many people as possible at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

He went to Hainan province to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference last April 8 to April 11.

Meanwhile, Bertiz said she sees a “positive upward pressure” on the wages of the 190,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong in the years ahead, on account of the strong demand for educated, Englishspeaking household staff in mainland China.

Duterte wants to revive mandatory ROTC for college students

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will push for the revival of the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC) for college students, mandatory Citizens’ Army Training (CAT) for high school students, Palace spokesperson Harry

Roque said.

“We will look up to our neighbors like Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan because they are training their youth to become nationbuilders, to become patriotic citizens and enjoining them to become military reservists so that when typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and nation-

al emergencies besiege their society, they immediately deploy their youthful citizens to rescue their elderly and their families,” Roque said.

ROTC was abolished in 2002 after an investigation showed that a University of Santo Tomas student was murdered after he exposed alleged corruption in the ROTC.

The President was disappointed on how the ROTC program was scrapped by the Congress after the death of two neophytes during a fraternity hazing.

He said scrapping the program was shortsighted when an investigation could have been conducted in the first place.

Duterte said those who will undergo ROTC training would be the ones who can guide and protect the civilians in case of violence and anarchy since they have the knowledge on handling firearms.

In 2002, ROTC was made optional and voluntary through Republic Act 9163 or the NSTP Act of 2001.

be effectively prosecuted.

“The said office shall also formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers,” he added.

The State and Public Prosecutors will be designated to the PNP, PDEA and NBI to advise, supervise and monitor anti-drug and crimes operations especially high profile drugs cases. The Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes shall supervise and make into one body the DILG, PNP, PDEA, NBI, BOC and DOJ. The Solicitor General shall be designated as the head of this office. There shall also be Deputy Commanders for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The said Deputy Commanders shall be taken from the present Undersecretaries and/ or Assistant Secretaries from the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Dangerous Drugs Board, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other necessary agencies. Personnel and staff of the Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes will be coming from PDEA, PNP, DDB and NBI.

‘Labor Usec Say was on the chopping block’ good as gone LABOR Undersecretary Dominador Say was about to be fired when he resigned.

This was according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who contested Say’s reasoning why he was quitting his post.

Roque said that he was told that Say will be let go because of alleged corruptioln. ‘I was told already that he was the next on the chopping block,’ Roque said, adding that if Say did not resign, “he would have been fired.”

Roque said the major issue against Say was “corruption relating to activities of labor recruiters” in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“I was just awaiting orders when to announce it, but I did not have to announce it because he resigned. But it was important still to say it because in his resignation letter, he said it was a matter of differences over endo (end-of-contract scheme). Well.”

Say submitted his resignation letter to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III last Tuesday, April 17. He said that he wanted “spare the department [from] undue criticism” because of his “pro-management” background.

Gov’t to build new integrated bus terminal A SIGNIFICANT, concrete step towards solving traffic congestion in Metro Manila was taken, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with North Luzon Express Terminal Inc. to pave the way for the construction of the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET), an integrated bus terminal facility for Northbound provincial buses located right next to the Philippine Arena inside the Ciudad De Victoria complex in Bocaue, Bulacan.

According to Atty. GP Santos, the NLET is expected to remove close to six thousand provincial buses from Metro Manila’s already congested roads and contribute to government efforts to improve traffic in

the nation’s capital.

“Based on a study by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the worsening traffic in Metro Manila costs around 3.5 billion pesos a day in lost financial opportunities,” explained Santos, the Chief Operating Officer of Maligaya Development Corporation (MDC), the company that oversees the operations of the Philippine Arena and the Ciudad de Victoria complex.

“These losses will climb to 5.4 billion pesos a day by 2035 if nothing is done.”

“To decongest traffic in Mega Manila, it has been recommended that transport intervention should include the improvement of bus services through an intermodal bus terminal and interchange facility, ideally located outside Mega Manila,” said Santos.

Saudi HR body probes OFW Mancilla’s case—DFA

DENGVAXIA EVIDENCE. Families of children vaccinated with Dengvaxia troop to the Department of Justice in Manila to file additional evidence on their complaint regarding the Dengvaxia vaccine program of the past administration. Norman Cruz

THE HIGHEST human rights body in Saudi Arabia has taken “serious interest” in the case of Agnes Mancilla, the Filipina worker allegedly forced to ingest bleach in Jeddah, and is currently looking into her case, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday night.

Consul General Edgar Badajos of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah said representatives from the National Society for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia visited Mancilla at the King Fahd Hospi-

tal in Jizan to interview her and check the extent of her injuries.

According to the envoy, the Society is an independent non-government organization cloaked with the power to investigate and make appropriate recommendations to the Prosecution Office based on its findings.

He added that “the Society was organized to defend not only the human rights of Saudis but those of residents and visitors as well.”

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SAF 44

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

verge of being railroaded in the Lower House. Indeed, it was the cover-up which followed and which became the CROSSROADS basic PNoy response to the tragedy which made matters even worse.

JONATHAN This award will now be a major DE LA CRUZ step forward as we continue to heal the hurts and wounds which this inciIT IS good that the Duterte admin- dent engendered. I just hope the Presiistration has finally recognized the dent proceeds with deliberate speed heroism of the SAF 44, the contin- in giving justice to the SAF 44 as he gent of brave and patriotic policemen, promised, no matter how long it takes. who gave up their lives in pursuit of Meantime, he can probably have the then Asia’s number one terrorist, somebody check whether the promises Zulfiki Bin Hir alias “Marwan.” In made to the families by the previous simple ceremonies last Tuesday, Presi- administration have been fulfilled. If dent Duterte posthumously awarded not, he better order the DILG and the them the PNP’s Medalya ng Kagit- incoming PNP Chief to do something ingan, the highest award accorded to about this lest it become a stumbling block to full healing. members of the force. *** In the presence of family members of Still on resolving lingering “questhe SAF 44, Mr. Duterte in his usual fatherly way noted “...you know it comes tions of public importance,” as thenlate but better late than never.” He also NYT owner Adolph Ochs was wont vowed to go after the perpetrators of to say, the Supreme Court has finally the heinous crime “no matter how long ruled on the much-debated (some say it takes.” It was a gesture that moved abused and maligned) Department Order 41 issued not only the families of the departed by then Secretary but a grateful nanow Senator Leila tion as well. de Lima. Issued in 2011, the order For if truth be Why did we let our was used to stop told, this tragedy then former Presitouched the coun- young die in such a dent Gloria Macatry’s conscience terrible way? pagal-Arroyo, her to the core. Why husband and other did this tragic inmembers of their cident come to pass? Why did we family and immelet our young (per the record, the av- diate staff from leaving the country for erage age of the SAF 44 was 28) die her much-needed medical check up and in such a terrible way? These were operation, was declared unconstituquestions which up to now have to be tional by the HighTribunal.

Upholding the constitutionally enanswered. These were concerns which could have been partly addressed, in shrined right to travel provision, the SC a way, had then President Aquino and said only the courts can ban a citizen his senior colleagues shown a modi- from leaving the country not the Secrecum of empathy and, yes, honesty as tary of Justice.

The question that arises now is: how they faced the families and grappled with the answers to the hundred and can those issued Hold Departure Orone questions which came after that ders and Watch List Order seek redress from the pain and suffering endured as bloody incident.

Unfortunately, Aquino and his ilk a result of these issuances? Can they sue were more concerned with covering the then Secretary of Justice for having up their posteriors and evading any over stepped her bounds for damages? kind of responsibility for their actions Can they have their records corrected before, during and after that fire fight and given a clean slate as well? *** in Mamasapano. They were more obNow that Facebook has given way to sessed, one pundit noted, in saving the tottering peace talks with the MILF reason and fair play by advising that it and the infirm and frayed Bangsam- is open to have more “fact-checkers” Turn to A5 oro Basic Law which was then on the

T

Turbulent markets

HE Philippine stock market has sunk to a oneyear low in spite of optimism that the economic growth this year will stay robust and exceed the pace of most Asian countries. Overseas developments, notably the rhetoricsbetween the US and China over trade tariffs, have made traders and investors jittery as reflected by the daily charts in Wall Street and Tokyo’s Nikkei index.

Local shares predictably moved in step with the global markets, with the Philippine Stock Exchange Index plunging to a one-year low Thursday. The decision of US President Donald Trump, along with his French and British allies, to bomb Damascus and destroy suspected chemical weapons in the Middle East country has added to the volatility of the global financial markets and caused global oil prices to spike.

The prospect of a trade war between the US and China, however, is the more serious threat to the global financial

markets. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has conceded that a trade war between the two economic heavyweights could dampen economic growth in the Philippines and the rest of the world.

“We can’t say if there will be a minimal impact because we really do not know what is going to happen... And you know quite frankly, there is no winner in a trade war. So if our two markets get hurt, China and the US, we will also get hurt... I’m really concerned,” says Dominguez.

The US earlier imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum

from China. China retaliated by levying tariffs on US goods, including pork, wine, fruit and nuts.

A trade war, if it escalates, will inevitably affect manufacturing and investments in the Philippines. The tit for tat will result in reduced exports of the US and China to each other. Lower trade translates into reduced production from both countries.

For companies serving as suppliers of affected Chinese and American firms, the trade war will correspondingly reduce the output of third parties.

Filipino factories could be a casualty from the lower economic output of the US and China. Jobs could also be lost in the process.

Local authorities, thus, must prepare the Philippines if the trade war breaks out. The Philippine government should start diversifying its export market and try to lessen its dependence on the two economic powerhouses.

Disowned, denied stories.

What is really Jinggoy’s end game?

There are reports circulating that Jinngoy is actually being groomed as ALEJANDRO candidate for mayor of Manila by his DEL ROSARIO father, former president and incumOU T- ON - BA I L fo r m e r S e n a t o r bent Manila mayor Joseph Estrada.

Jinggoy Estrada’s bid to travel abroad The word is that Erap who marked his was denied by the court when it learned 81st birthday yesterday wished for a he had lied about being invited as third and last term as Manila mayor. guest speaker by a Filipino group in But city hall sources see him getting New York. The court trying his case weaker and really wants his son to rejected Estrada’s petition because he’s succeed him as Manila mayor.

Manilans who voted Erap mayor in considered a flight risk.

Jinggoy, in his plea to travel, claimed 2013 now regret they did. The city is all he was invited by the New York-based messed up with uncollected garbage, Pinoy for Good Governance. The PGG high crime rate and heavy traffic. is headed by New York-based Fil-Am Many streets are being used as parkbusinesswoman Loida Nicolas Lewis. ing spots by public utility vehicles and In a statement, Lewis expressed sur- pedicabs. Manila under Erap’s watch prise that her group would invite a po- has lost its stature as s great city compared to Makati, litical figure who Mandaluyong and is under indictment Quezon City. for plunder and Manilas are graft in connechoping for anothtion with the illegal Jinggoy Estrada was er mayor outside pork barrel funds. caught lying twice. of the Estrada Lewis is the widdynasty.

This ow of American early the names tycoon Reginald emerging for the Lewis whose fortune was built on his food conglomer- Manila mayoral race year include forate. Loida took over the management mer senator Manny Villar and formerof her husband’s business empire and mayor and now Buhay Party List Rep. still found time to get involved in do- Lito Atienza. Villar, however, is eying charitable and social work in her ing another run at the presidency. If home country. She is a member of the he loses in Manila, Villar’s chances at the presidency will be dimmed. He alAmerican Bar Association.

In another attempt to put his politi- ready lost a presidential run in 2010 to cal career back on track, Estrada made Benigno Aquino III. Former Mayor Alfredo Lim and an outrageous claim he was going to run again as senator under the ruling Congressman Amado Bagatsing, both PDP-Laban Party of President Rod- of whom Erap already beat in the Marigo Duterte. On hearing Jinngoy’s nila mayoral race, are out of the politiclaim he was being invited by the cal picture. It is Atienza whose three PDP-Laban. Party president and Sen- terms as Manila mayor who appears ate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimen- to be the best probable challenger to either Erap or Jinggoy. tel immediately debunked the story.

Atienza, former National Housing “No, PDP never asked Jinggoy to join the party,” said Pimentel emphati- Authority manager and Department of Environment and Natural Resources cally, debunking Jinggoy’s claim.

Estrada has been disowned and secretary during Arroyo’s time, is the Turn to A5 denied on two counts of fabricating

BACK CHANNEL

Philosophy and drafting a constitution PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO MY colleagues in the Consultative Committee that is tasked to prepare a draft constitution commonly address me as “Dean.” I frankly would prefer to be called by my name or, if they want to append a title to me—as Filipinos are wont to do—“Fr.” would be fine. But “Dean” of course relates me to San Beda University and its Graduate School of Law, although they also know that I am Vice-President of the Cagayan State University, because I have frequently adverted to the travails of a state university in the Committee.

(I have been batting for the loosening of the State’s regulatory grip over higher education!) And so, it is believed, it is as a researcher and professor of law that I am most helpful to the Commission.

Early on, as we debated on the form of government, choosing between a Westminster-type parliament, a presidential system and a hybrid, I had to deal with the objection one frequently hears that in the Philippines we really do not have real, let alone vibrant, party politics. In wrestling with this very valid concern, I had recourse to social theory, particularly Today we dealt with Giddens and Foucault. My riposte was that although, indeed, we need a citizenry the question “when is that is issue- and platform-oriented rather something human?” than personality-cult driven, it is as much true that structures shape thought, that the particularly “episteme” prevailing at any time of human history is revealed by its social structures as much as configured That is only partly true because from by them. So the absence of party-politics the very beginning, I have had the oc- was really no objection to adopting a parliacasion to put to good use my studies and mentary system (that, in the end, I alone voted readings in philosophy.

Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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

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can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

“Fish bulok” at Facebook FORMATION GARY OLIVAR SORRY, but this title was the best pun I could come up with to express my concern—shared by many other netizens—about the smell of something rotten going on inside the world’s biggest social media network.

It started with revelations about the trashing of personal data on millions of FB subscribers, including nearly 1.2 million Filipinos who may have been affected by the data breach at Cambridge Analytica, one of the users of that data.

The squirming, hemming and hawing performance put up by FB founder Mark Zuckerberg at a US Senate hearing was something to behold. One could only quail at the thought of so much information about billions of people worldwide being handled by this prodigiously smart millennial with so little evident social maturity or moral judgment.

The price that may have to be paid for reposing so much power with these overpaid geeks has already become apparent in our own country, reportedly FB’s most active market outside the United States.

The National Privacy Commission, headed by the very sensible lawyer Raymund Liboro, wants to find out if FB adhered to “data processing principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality required of information controllers processing data of Filipinos.”

Among other restrictions, Liboro says that FB’s dealings with data brokers, even if standard industry practice elsewhere, “is generally considered illegal under Philippine law as a form of unauthorized data processing.” Did the FB geeks even bother to ask their lawyers to find out what is and isn’t legal here? *** Not content with “perhaps” breaking the law, FB has gone ahead to partner with an outfit that ACTUALLY broke the law: Rappler, the online news site.

As everyone knows by now, the Rappler guys, led by uber-woman Maria Ressa, maneuvered to bring in foreign investment with substantive management control power, in excess of what the Constitution allows them as a media company.

As FB’s new “fact-checking” partner, together with fellow yellow gadfly Vera Files, Rappler now has the power to shut down whatever online site it doesn’t like, not just by labelling them as “fake news” sites, but simply by claiming that they’re “unsafe” or they don’t meet FB’s “community standards”.

The question now, given the demonstrably yellow color of Rappler’s and Vera’s past record, is whether they will come down just as hard on anti-Duterte sites as they definitely will on pro-Duterte ones. Unfortunately, the reports starting to come in say that they won’t.

The new online truth police are reportedly even going farther: For example, managing the distribution of online content for political reasons.

If you think reading fake news is bad enough, think about having to read only real news that’s been pre-selected for you by the “fact-checkers”—or

Something smells rotten in the world’s biggest social media network.

commission member Fr. Rannie Aquino has replied to Fr. Villarin, to the effect—paraphrased here—that quo warranto speaks to Sereno’s compliance with legal requirements BEFORE her appointment, while impeachment would deal with her behavior AFTER her appointment to the High Court.

The one does not necessarily cancel out the other. Every government official, whether impeachable or not, must comply with applicable requirements in order to validly take office. Any marriage can end up in divorce (wherever this is allowed), but it can also be annulled as invalid from the start, ab initio (especially if you ask the Catholics).

By accusing some justices of prejudging the case, Fr Villarin is veering dangerously close to contempt of court.

But perhaps he’s calculated that the risk is worth it at this eleventh hour, when he may be sensing that the scales will ultimately swing against him, his fellow yellows, and their unworthy heroine. *** With the resort island of Boracay now joining the less idyllic Marawi City as objects of massive government rehabilitation, many people may worry about the success of these well-intentioned interventions. We’ve seen too many rehab programs before that went nowhere, especially under the previous administration.

This is why we welcome the latest suggestion from Senator Ralph Recto to use Boracay and Marawi as pilot sites for “Project DIME”. This is a joint DBM-DOST project that will employ satellites, drones, and other cutting-edge digital communications technology to monitor big-ticket projects. The President himself could run this project, live-streamed real-time, out of a Palace war room.

The parentage of DBM and DOST assures me that DIME is likely to be cost-efficient, transparent, effective, and high in local content. In fact, there’s a lot coming out of the DOST laboratories these days that deserves to be commercialized.

And DIME need not be confined to rehab projects. It can also serve as management dashboard for all those major infrastructure projects being touted under the government’s Build Build Build program that, however, seem to be taking their time in breaking ground, setting sail, or taking off, as the case may be.

missing other real news that they’ve withheld from you.

The best solution, as FB has itself offered, is to license more fact-checking partners from other parts of the political spectrum, even from government itself. That way, biases are neutralized and all fake news is proscribed, whether it’s “your” or “our” fake news.

The other solution, of course, is straightforward: to close down FB in this country. China has shown that it can be done. The ball is now in FB’s court. *** In another face-off with the yellow camp, Ateneo president Fr. Jose Villarin fired a big shot across the bow of the oust-Sereno movement.

In his statement, Villarin opined that “the legal and proper process is impeachment and not quo warranto.” He further claimed that the justices who had testified earlier against CJ Sereno at the House committee hearings had “effectively prejudged” the quo warranto petition.

In a case of “your priest, my priest,” Readers can write me at gboliSan Beda law dean and consultative var1952@yahoo.com.

Injap disrupts leasing industry VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ IN October 2017, BizNewsAsia weekly business magazine predicted that Edgar “Injap” Sia II’s DoubleDragon Properties Corp. would be the Philippines’ next corporate giant.

The business weekly based anchored its prediction on DD’s track record. In 2017, it became the Philippines’ fastest growing property company—in revenues, profits, and acquisitions. In 2014, when DD went public the P1,000 invested in the company ballooned 15fold to P15,000, by Injap’s own reckoning. A 1,400 percent increase in share price, from P2 a share to P30, in four years, is equivalent to a 350 per year average gain in share price. Not bad for a company that in 2017 was barely seven years old.

DD’s market capitalization, or its stock market value, was, for a while, higher than its much larger and older rivals. In March 2017, with a market cap of P120.6 billion, DD was more valuable than Robinsons Land (P94.9 billion), and Megaworld (P109.29 billion).

In the past three years, DD’s revenues have risen on the average, by 61 percent per year, to P6.61 billion in 2017. Profits have surged, by 73 percent yearly average, to P2.52 billion in 2017.

By 2016, Injap had become the Philippines’ youngest dollar billionaire, with net worth of $1 billion. However, following a recent correction in DD’s share price, Injap’s 37 percent in DD is now worth only $475 million, a 46.6 percent decline. The belated, if not much needed share price drop after a frenetic and fantastic rise, while seemingly precipitous, is the potential upside for DD’s investors. In stock market parlance, it is a “correction”, creating a momentum for a sudden surge.

This April, DD is raising P6.75 billion in equity funding by selling 135 million new common shares. The P6.615 billion net proceeds from the IPO will fund 1) the expansion of its leasing and hotel business; leasable space has been increased 20 percent from one million square meters to 1.2 million by 2020;

and 2) land acquisitions for future growth.

This year, with the peso cheap because of the rising dollar, foreign investors are expected to overwhelm local investors in bidding for DD’s new common shares. Foreign players were left out during the 2014 IPO, they having underestimated DD’s market potential.

DD has recently repurposed its business model. Its two main businesses will now be leasing and hotels.

Leasing will be of three kinds—retail space, office space, and industrial factory, warehousing and logistics space.

With the Philippines now the fastestgrowing economy in Asia, outside China, and the Filipino now veritably middle class, all three sectors are booming.

“The leasing business has a very high profit margin,” gushes Injap Sia, chair and CEO of DoubleDragon Properties Corp. Compared with selling real estate, leasing has two big advantages:

DD has recently repurposed its business model.

one, you build a recurring income, from rentals, that is pegged to inflation; and two, you get to keep the property which invariably appreciates in price or value.

Either way, leasing wins.

DD’s retail space leasing has one remarkable push factor. Filipino consumers in big cities and urban areas like Metro Manila and Cebu may be getting tired of visiting big or massive malls, huge mountains of concrete and sprawling car parks that can be oppressive and unmanageable with horrendous traffic and hordes of shoppers.

What do these shoppers do instead?

Instead of visiting brick and mortar shops in malls, they go wireless, cashless, and carless. They go online or mobile with their cellular phones to shop. “Shoppers will still visit big malls,” notes Injap, “but not to shop.”

Consider this: Only one of every 20

Filipinos have a credit card, a 5 percent penetration rate. But four out of every 10 Filipinos have a Facebook account, a 40 percent penetration rate. What do you do then? Shop with your mobile phone, or Facebook. People now buy and sell online. It’s called e-Commerce.

And companies like Amazon and Alibaba have joined into the bandwagon to become behemoths of retailing.

What does Injap do then? His DD will concentrate on what he calls Tier2 to Tier 3 communities—cities and communities outside the big metropolises, small yet big enough for a retailer to have scale.

DD’s CityMalls are designed and customized precisely to meet that market segment Injap is building 100 CityMalls by 2020. So far, this 2018 alone, he has started up 28 malls and is completing another 22 to reach his target of 50 malls by yearend. He will build 25 CityMalls in 2019, and 25 more in 2020 to reach his century target. CityMalls have 95.3 percent of space leased out, meaning, there is little, if any more, space to rent.

DD’s entry into leasing of factory, warehouse, and logistics space is also in reaction to the rise of e-Commerce.

“You need warehouse space and logistics operation to deliver the goods bought online,” explains Injap. DD already is building eight CentralHubs with total leasable spae of 100,000. Two hubs, in Tarlac and Iloilo, will have 54,000 sqm of leasable industrial space.

At the same time, DD promises to be one of the country’s biggest hotel operators with as many as 5,000 hotel rooms by 2020. With 844 rooms, hotel occupancy averaged 74.8 percent in 2017.

DD began originally as Injap Land Corp. of Injap Sia on Dec. 9, 2009 engaged primarily in real estate development. In November 2010, it began commercial operations.

In June 2012, ILC changed its name to DoubleDragon Properties Corp. as it became a joint venture between Injap and the family of Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foods Corp., who owns 37 percent, thru the fastfood king’s Honeystar Holdings Corp. The remaining 26 percent is owned by the public. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EVERYMAN

The world’s fireman

By Eric Jurado

ascendancy, the major world powers have coexisted in relative peace. Now that peace is threatened, and America must step forward again. Simply put, no one else can do it.

Europe is too weak and divided to lead the world. The free nations have an essential role to play, and they must shoulder their full share of the cost, but only America has the credibility to lead.

This is not just about money or manpower. It is also about morality. Only America has the moral greatness to lead the free world—not for the sake of power, but for the sake of peace.

Yet the US will only be able to ensure peace if its leaders act with conviction.

If the world even thinks that America lacks the will to use force or enforce its red lines, it leaves a vacuum that will be filled by corrupt autocrats, rogue states, and murderous terrorists.

As tempting as retreat might be, it won’t make America and the other freedom-loving countries safer or more prosperous. History shows us: The bad guys don’t stay in their own neighborhoods.

We only need to look at Pearl Harbor or 9/11 to be reminded that the safety of Americans is deeply connected to the rest of the world. And the stability that has permitted the vast and worldwide economic expansion since World War II, an expansion that has lifted billions of people out of poverty, could not have happened if America had not guaranteed it.

But freedom, stability, and prosperity don’t come for free. And they are not the norm—they are the exception.

An American retreat will unleash a new plague of dictators and oppressors who seek to undo all the good America has done to secure peace and prosperity around the world for decades.

And that could lead to a fire no one will be able to put out.

ON April 14, the United States and its allies carried out a series of missile strikes against multiple government sites in Syria. They said it was in response to the Syrian government’s chemical attack against its own civilians on April 7.

The world is on fire. The Middle East is being torn up by war and terrorism that have forced millions of people to flee. Syria looks like the disaster of a generation. Iran seeks to dominate the region and openly declares its intention to wipe a sovereign nation off the map. While in Eastern Europe, a resurgent Russia seized Ukrainian territory by force of arms. China is flexing its muscles against its neighbors around the South China Sea. There is only one nation in the world capable of putting out these fires.

That nation is, of course, the United States.

Many people will argue, understandably, that this is not fair. It may not be fair. But it is a fact.

Only America has the diplomatic reach, the financial resources, and the firepower to lead the free world against the autocrats, rogue states, and terrorists that are trying to overwhelm it.

A case in point: Russia illegally annexed Crimea in March 2014—the first gunpoint land grab in Europe since the end of World War II. Former US Secretary of State John Kerry called it an “unbelievable act of aggression.” He went on, “You just don’t, in the twenty-first century, behave in nineteenth-century fashion by invading another country on a completely trumped-up pretext.”

This might be an admirable statement of principle, but as a guide to policy, it is dangerously naive, because whether it was believable or not, it happened.

Eric Jurado writes about the values The first half of the twentieth century was the bloodiest in human his- of personal and economic freedom, and tory. That was before America became their importance in advancing peace, a global superpower. Since America’s prosperity, and human progress.

Disowned...

From A4

best administrator to restore Manila to its former glory.

Former President Erap Estrada’s sixyear term was cut short when he was forced out of Malacañang in connection with jueteng and gambling allegations.

A people power protest on Edsa plus the withdrawal of support by key Cabinet officials and the military completed Erap’s exit. He was consequently tried and con-

SAF...

From A4

in the Philippines other than Rappler and

Vera Files, it is time for government and those who have expressed concern over the designation of these two entities to come around discuss concerns with the International Fact Checking Network. Apparently, the network acts as the “vetter’’ of web sites which Facebook used to fact check.

In fact, if any of those who were taken

Philosophy...

From A4

for!). In fact, putting in place a parliamentary system was one way of familiarizing and habituating the body-politic in the way of issue and platform centeredness—the currency of the party “manifesto.”

Then there was the issue of surveillance. The Bill of Rights we are drafting (a task particularly assigned to me) will have three categories of rights: the socalled “first generation” rights—civil and political rights, “second generation” rights —social and cultural rights and “third generation” rights—environmental and ecological rights. And CJ Reynato Puno, who presides over us, is intent on gathering the scattered rights provided for by the 1987 Constitution under the Bill of rights to underscore their justiciability and demandability. We were debating a general “right to privacy” provision—and reference was made to the Charter of Human Rights of the European Union, the Constitution of India, the Canadian Constitution and to other sources. There is, of course, in our 1987 Constitution, the provision against unlawful searches and seizures and the requisite of a court-issued search warrant.

But we were agreed that there were zones of privacy wider and more diverse than those covered by the present “search and seizure” provisions. And while some of the members of the Committee were adamant about setting safeguards in place against unauthorized surveillance, I pointed out to some colleagues that one of the characteristics of modernity is precisely increased surveillance. This is a phenomenological point that Anthony Giddens has very powerfully raised. This does not only mean intelligence-gathering by well-known intelligence agencies. Entrepreneurs do surveillance on consumer behavior—and this is many times more than the benign forms of normative survey. Health agencies do surveillance on sexual behavior and sexual preference, particularly in light of the alarming spread of HIV-positive cases.

And the safety of air and sea craft depend in considerable measure on the surveil-

victed of plunder but only served detention at his Tanay, Rizal rest house. For a reason that is still to be explained, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pardoned her predecessor a week after the court found him guilty of plunder.

City Hall sources also reported seeing Erap often with former business and financial advisor Jaime Dichaves. It will be recall that Dichaves was linked to the allegedly anomalous BW Resources stocks scam. Dichaves, investigators found out, was also the real owner of the Jose Velarde bank account Erap opened fraudulently. aback by the haste of the designation they should probably start filling up the forms for membership with ICPN. Better still, get going and propose a universally accepted definition of (‘false/fake news”) which should be used in the fact checking harmonized with the organization’s Code of Principles. Then, to complete the loop, urge ICPN and Facebook to use the accepted standard definition. That way even the warring news sites can propagate the same and give Facebook another chance to prettify itself. lance that is done of sea and sky. So there arises the intricate and knotty problem of regulating surveillance in an age that goes by increased surveillance!

And this morning, as we dealt with the provision on the guarantee to life, liberty and property and the requirement of due process of law, I had sought to introduce the phrase “that commences with fertilization” to follow life—to make it clear that the right to life begins at the moment of fertilization—which, besides being a clear Catholic position, also makes plenty of philosophical sense. That triggered a predicted debate on the beginning of human life. And there were suggestions that we shall invite biologists and obstetricians to tell us about the beginning of human life. I retorted that in this respect the experts considered would not be of much help, because all that they would tell us is what happens when sperm fertilizes egg, what happens after that, or what may happen. But as to whether the fertilized ovum or the zygote or the blastocyst is “human life” or not is not a biological or medical question but a philosophical question. It reduces itself to an ontological issue: “When is something human?” It is the same thing, I pointed out, as a paleontologist who arranges fossil remains according to their ages—but must then turn to the philosopher or at least to his philosophical biases to decide when to start calling the remains “human remains,” an issue that cannot be resolved by simply taking a closer look at the fossils. It is a question that calls for the application of a philosophical category. The philosophy of law is also implicated, because one can reasonably say that the question becomes: “At what stage of the developmental process should the law extend the mantle of the protection of the right to life?” In a sense, that is a positivist question, one with which the legal positivist or the legal pragmatist might be comfortable—but even without these allegiances, it is a genuine philosophical issue.

So, yes, a constitution is as much a philosophical document as it is a political and a legal one! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

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News

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 A6 Standard TODAY Manila

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30 names CA justice as Comelec commissioner PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has named Court of Appeals associate justice Socorro Inting from his hometown of Davao City as a new Commission on Elections commissioner, replacing commissioner Arthur Lim. Malacañang confirmed the appointment Thursday, two days after Duterte signed Inting’s appointment.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a Viber message to reporters that “with Justice Inting,” the Comelec is still “wanting a chair and one commissioner.”

Inting, the first new personality that Duterte is introducing to the 7-member poll body, will serve as commissioner until Feb 2, 2025..

While Duterte earlier nominated Comelec Commissioner Sheriff Abas as elections chief in November 2017, it was then president Benigno Aquino III who first placed Abas in the Comelec in April 2015.

The Commission on Appointments has yet to confirm the nomination of Abas, which is why Duterte still cannot formally appoint him as Comelec chairman.

Abas is supposed to replace Andres Bautista, who resigned in October 2017 after a public feud with his estranged wife.

Inting’s appointment comes after Christian Lim and Arthur Lim retired as Comelec commissioners on February 2.

Based on her profile on the CA website, Inting hails from Davao City, where Duterte served as mayor for more than two decades. She finished law, cum laude, from the Ateneo de Davao University in 1980.

She was named to the CA in 2009.

Before this, Inting served as judge in Manila and Makati for 12 years, a prosecutor for six years, and worked as public attorney for seven years.

Prior to entering government service, she also engaged in private law practice.

She became treasurer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Davao del Sur chapter in 1983, and treasurer of the Philippine Judges Association from 2007 to 2009.

Inting is now set to become one of two female members, alongside Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, in the traditionally male-dominated Comelec.

IN BRIEF MRT3 unloads 1,000 due to door failure

JOB DONE. Outgoing Quezon City Police District Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar starts packing his things Thursday to transfer to a new assignment as Regional Director Region 4A Calabarzon. Manny Palmero

Albayalde names Cascolan as new NCRPO director I

NCOMING Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde has named incumbent PNP Director for Operations Camilo Pancratius Cascolan as his replacement as the new National Capital Region Police Office Director.

Cascolan, 54, is a ‘mistah’ (batchmate) of Albayalde and outgoing PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986 and has served for 26 years in the PNP and five years in the defunct Philippine Constabulary.

He has served as Taguig Chief of Police and Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO11) Chief of Staff before being designated as head of the PNP Directorate for Operations.

Cascolan also has a master’s degree in Public Management from

the University of the PhilippinesVisayas.

A year out of the academy, in July 1987, Cascolan was assigned as acting intelligence and operations officer of the Regional Special Action Force 12 in Parang, Maguindanao.

It was followed by a stint as a junior officer in the 324th Reconnaissance Academy in Iloilo province.

Albayalde said Cascolan’s appointment was a result of a consultation with the oversight committee even as President Rodrigo Duterte assured that it would be up to Albayalde to appoint key officials

in the organization.

Cascolan said while he was considering appointing new district directors in NCR it would come after assessing the performance of the said units.

A reshuffle of three other ranking posts in the PNP was also announced following Cascolan’s appointment as NCRPO director.

Taking over the helm of the PNP Directorate for Operations is Chief Supt. Ma-O Aplasca, current Director of the Police Regional Office 4-A. Replacing Aplasca as PRO 4-A head is incumbent Quezon City Police District Director Guillermo Eleazar.

Eleazar, meanwhile, will be replaced by PNP Directorate for Intelligence head Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel. PNA

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY CHINA BANK SAVINGS, INC., Mortgagee, -versus-

FRE NO. 12186

DELA PAZA, RANDOLF V., Mortgagor. x------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the terms of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on August 2, 2016, by RANDOLF V. DELA PAZ, Mortgagor, with residence and postal address at 808-C Dr. Famella St., Brgy. Plainview, Mandaluyong City, in favor of CHINA BANK SAVINGS, INC., Mortgagee, to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of P1,714,895.81 as of January 30, 2018 in/exclusive of interest, penalties, attorney’s fees and other charges together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the ExOfficio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on May 31, 2018 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will sell thru public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements, to wit;

PH issues security alert in Syria THE Philippine government continues to monitor the situation in Damascus and has issued the latest security advisory to Filipino nationals residing there amid looming offensive to drive Islamic State militants from there last bastionm the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“We continue to monitor the situation in Damascus and have alerted our kababayans there to exercise caution and be vigilant ahead of plans of the Syrian Army to eject Islamic militants from their last stronghold in the capital,” said Elmer Cato, assistant secretary of the DFA-Office of Public Diplomacy on Wednesday night.

The Philippine Embassy in Damascus, headed by Chargé d’Affaires Alex Lamadrid, reiterated the agency’s call and advised members of the Filipino community to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

An impending offensive against extremists who seized the Yarmouk refugee camp in the southern part of Damascus in 2015 is expected should talks on rebel evacuation agreement fails.

According to Cato, at least 1,000 Filipinos are still in Syria despite frequent shellings and airstrikes in various parts of the country if talks of an evacuation deal fall through.

Yarmouk is just 12 kilometers from the embassy. PNA

IN THE MATTER OF THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF JOSHUA AGAO, JOSHUA AGAO, Petitioner, -versusSP CASE NO. R-QZN-18-00968-SP THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, THE ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (formerly NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE) AND ALL OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE OR CLAIM ANY INTEREST IN THE INSTANT PETITION, Respondents. x-----------------------------------------------------------------x

“A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 20-J OF THE SUBD. PLAN (LRA) PSD-395090 APPROVED AS A NON SUBD. PROJECT, BEING A PORTION OF LOT 20, BLK 1 (LRC) PSD-4786, LRC REC. NO. 5975), SITUATED IN BRGY. HOLY SPIRIT, QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA, ISLAND OF LUZON BOUNDED ON THE NE. POINTS 1-2 BY LOT 20-K ROAD (4.00 M. WIDE) OF THE SUBD. PLAN, ON THE SE., POINTS 2-3 BY LOT 8; ON THE SW., POINTS 3-4 LOT 19, BOTH OF BLK. 1 (LRC) PSD-4786, AND ON THE NW., POINTS 4-1

BY LOT 10-1 OF THE SUBD. PLAN xxx CONTAINING AN AREA OF FORTY TWO (42) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS.”

ORDER

This is a verified petition for correction of entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of Joshua Agao filed by petitioner himself.

The petition alleges that petitioner Joshua Agao was born on December 29, 1999 at East Avenue Medical Center, East Avenue, Quezon City to his unmarried parents Divina Fe P. Agao and Joel Herrera; that the Certificate of Live Birth of petitioner issued by the Office of the Civil Registrar General reflected an erroneous entry on Entry No. 3: Date of Birth as August 29, 1998 instead of December 29, 1999; that the correct date of birth of petitioner is December 29, 1999 as evidenced by his Certificate of Baptism issued by Members of Church of God International, NBI Clearance and Police Clearance; that petitioner could not obtain additional pieces of evidence due to the fact that he has no supporting school records; that the instant petition was filed in order to avoid possible and unnecessary dilemma in the future and to correct the erroneous entry in his certificate of live birth.

Wherefore, the petition is hereby set for hearing on May 11, 2018 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at Room 238, Second Floor, Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City at which place and on which date and time, all interested persons must appear and file their opposition/s to the petition.

Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in the Manila Standard, a newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines.

Further, let a copy of the petition, and of this Order be served upon the Office of the Solicitor General, Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority who may file their opposition thereto within fifteen (15) days from notice of this petition.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid office on the above stated date and time.

Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

In the event that public auction should not take place on the said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on June 7, 2018 at the same time and place without further notice.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, April 17, 2018 (Sgd.) JAIME JOHN G. QUINAGORAN Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface, or destroy this Notice of ExtraJudicial Sale of Real Property on or before the date of auction sale under penalty of the law.

ATTY. SIMEON T. ASIA, JR. CHINA BANK SAVINGS, INC. ALCALA DUMLAO ALAMEDA TAN ALANO MANINGDING & JANDA Attorney and Counselors-At-Law Annex, 8th Floor, China Bank Savings Building, 314 Sen. G. Puyat Avenue, Makati City (MS-Apr. 20, 27 & May 4, 2018)

SOME 1,000 southbound passengers of the Metro Rail Transit 3 were unloaded on Thursday afternoon after a technical problem was detected by rail officials.

The passengers were unloaded at the Ortigas Station at 1:17 p.m. due to door failure, the Department of Transportation said in a tweet.

The DoTr said the “passengers were loaded in the next train which arrived 6 minutes later.”

It added door failure might have been caused by “stress on door components which may be caused by leaning on the door or forcing it open.”

The DoTr reminded passengers not to lean on the door of the trains or force it to open.

It said the problem could be prevented with maintenance and replacement of door components.

On April 15, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the filing of charges against passengers who would force open or lean on train doors.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 217 – QUEZON CITY

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2016006614 REGISTRY OF DEEDS, QUEZON CITY

Copy Furnished: RANDOLF V. DELA PAZ 808-C Dr. Famella St., Brgy.

Plainview, Mandaluyong City

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SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, February 20, 2018.

(Sgd.) SANTIAGO M. ARENAS Judge

CC: PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE Atty. Maureen Kascha L. Osoteo Counsel for the petitioner DOJ Building, Quezon City

(MS-APR. 20, 2018)

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Office of the Solicitor General Quezon City

Philippine Statistic Office Quezon City Divina Fe P. Agao B13 L9 SVH, Sta. Maria, Bulacan Joel Herrera (MS-Apr. 6, 13 & 20, 2018)

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Sports

Standard

TODAY

A7

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Le Tour lures 10 foreign teams T

HE Le Tour de Filipinas returns with its ninth edition to the “Cradle of Philippine Cycling” from May 20 to 23, with six Philippine teams seeing action against a formidable roster that includes 10 foreign squads.

None of the four stages of the Category 2.2 International Cycling Union road race breached the 200-km mark, but organizer Ube Media Inc. made sure the routes are competitively technical specially the final stage that finishes in Baguio City.

“Every year, we try to make this race an international-caliber and we are very proud to do this because we want to be sanctioned internationally. We want to have a world class race for our local riders to race side by side with foreign cyclists,” said LTdF chairman Donna May Lina during the

event’s press launch on Thursday at the Palacio de Manila in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

The 16 teams are composed of five riders each who will kick off their campaign in the 151.32-km opening stage on May 20 from Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija and tackle a 157.90-km trek from Cabanatuan City to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya via Dalton Pass.

Stage Three would be a 174.5km grind from Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, to the Dagupan City finish Pangasinan and the fourth

and decisive stage will be a daunting 154.65-km challenge from Lingayen, Pangasinan, to Baguio City via the fabled Kennon Road.

All 80 riders would cover a total distance of 638.3 kilometers in the race co-presented by Air21 and Cignal and which passes through Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya, three provinces that have produced the most number of Philippine Tour champions.

“We made it a point that all four stages are technically measured,” said PhilCycling road and track commission chairman Jun Lomibao, who also shared center stage with LTdF founder Bert Lina and Sunshine Mendoza, the country’s first female national commissaire for road race.

Former titleholder Mark Gaeldo of continental team 7-Eleven RoadBike Philippines and Philip-

pine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Ronald Oranza and national road champion Jan Paul Morales lead the Philippine charge.

Completing the local team roster are Bike Xtreme PH, Go for Gold, CCN Superteam and the Philippine National Team.

Fancied Kiwi rider Daniel Whitehouse, who settled for a bridesmaid finish last year behind Australian Jai Crawford, is also back in the hunt as he takes up the cudgels for Thailand-based Interpro Cycling Academy team.

Also in the hunt are Iran’s Pishgaman Cycling Team Iran, Australia-based Brisbane Cycling team and Oliver’s Real Food Racing, Mongolia’s Nice Devo, South Korea’s Korail Cycling, Malaysia’s Team Sapura and Terengganu, China’s Ningxia Sports Lottery Livall, and Indonesia’s KFC Cycling Team.

LE TOUR DE FILIPINAS LAUNCH.

PhilCycling Chairman Alberto Lina (2nd from left) leads the launch of the Le Tour de Filipinas 2018 at Palacio de Manila yesterday.

With him are, from left: Road and Track Commission Chairman Jun Lomibao, LTDF Chairman Donna May Lina, Air21 President Reuben Pangan, Cignal TV Head of Sports Market Rafi Silerio and LTDF Co-Chairman Rudy Fulo. Lino Santos

Gleeson grabs lead with record-tying 65 TARLAC—Aussie David Gleeson missed setting a new course record at Luisita but achieved grabbing the lead, his seven-under 65 in super hot condition shoving him past a surprisingly tough Erwin Arcillas in the third round of the $100,000 ICTSI Luisita Championship here yesterday.

A three-putt miscue on the challenging No. 17, caused by his haste to escape the debilitating heat, marred an otherwise solid round that featured four birdies at the front and four in the first four holes at the back. But the 65 proved enough to move the Brisbane native 18 holes away from ending a long title spell.

“It was so hot, I just wanted to take cover from the heat,” said Gleeson, member of the winning team in the World Amateurs at Southwoods in 1996, who despite the late slip still jumped from joint sixth to solo lead at 11-under 205.

But just a stroke behind is Arcillas, the unfancied but gutsy Filipino shotmaker who continued to defy the odds to gain a crack at a breakthrough victory in the kickoff leg of the second Philippine Golf Tour Asia put up

by ICTSI.

But Gleeson said he thrives under pressure and the 40-year-old expects to wrap it all up today and nail his first win since winning the Indian Open in 2011.

“I play with my boundaries, I focused on every hole and I don’t relax because there’s always pressure in me. But that’s my game,” said Gleeson, who hit 10 fairways and 15 greens.

While erstwhile leader Rolando Marabe cracked under pressure and skied to a 77, Arcillas stayed in the hunt for the top $17,500 purse, putting a second 69 in three days on a three birdie-binge from No. 3 to pool a 206 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. “I told myself to focus on my game and not mind the game of my rivals. It helped and though I continued to struggle with my long game, my irons, wedge shots and putting clicked,” said Arcillas, whose best finish was fourth at PGT Mt. Malarayat leg in 2005.

But if there’s one player worth watching in the final round, it would be Thai Varantu Rattanaphilboonkil, who turned in a third straight 69 to join the championship flight at 207, just two strokes off Gleeson.

InvItatIon to BId for the Supply and delIvery of four (4) lotS BackpackS, School SupplIeS and hygIene kItS for puBlIc School pupIlS under ITB No. PB18-04-053COR The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Four (4) Lots Backpacks, School Supplies and Hygiene Kits for Public School Pupils under ITB No. PB1804-053COR. Brief Description

Danao ready for 2nd Xterra off-road triathlon FROM the swim leg to the punishing fire roads and rocky terrain in the bike part and the closing trail run, everything is set for the XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon AsiaPacific Championship unfolding Sunday (April 22) in Danao, Cebu.

The host city is putting its best foot forward again, vowing no less than surpassing its first staging of the demanding endurance race in ter ms of hosting, organization—and more importantly making all the participants feel at home.

Its inaugural hosting, in fact, has left a lasting impact for the defending champions, at the very least, with Bradley Weiss of Australia and Carina Wasle expressing enthusiasm and excitement given the chance to compete again in what has long been considered as the toughest endurance race in Danao.

“XTERRA Danao is one of my favorite races and I’m very happy to return and I hope I can defend my title,” said Wasle, who beat the field by almost 30 minutes last year in ending a pair of heartbreakers on XTERRA Philippines.

Like the Austrian ace, Weiss is looking forward to defending his crown in the men’s pro side although he remains wary of the souped-up field in the challenging

1.5K swim, 28K bike on fire roads and rocky terrain, and 8K trail run event with the city’s scenic mountain ranges as backdrop.

“I am incredibly excited to be returning to XTERRA Danao this year as the defending champion,” said Weiss, who banked on his superb mountain-biking skills in fire roads and rocky terrain to beat New Zealand’s Sam Osborne by almost seven minutes.

That should more than fire up the duo for the keenly awaited event.

Host of a number of international mountain bike events in recent years, Danao offers a challenging course that tests not only the field’s stamina and power but also their mental toughness. The host city will stage the Xterra until 2019 in line with the three-year contract signed by city officials with the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. For details, visit www.danao. xterraphil.com or at facebook and twitter xterrasouthph.

The event, presented by the Province of Cebu and the City of Danao, 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.

Stellar cast in Crankit PPS tilt THE best and the brightest in Philippine tennis, including the future stars, gear up for a battle royale in the PPS-PEPP MAC’s Crankit Open and Juniors tournament, which gets going tomorrow (April 21) at the Philippine Columbian Association courts in Paco, Manila.

Jeson Patrombon, coming off a victory in the just-concluded Brookside Open, heads the cast in the men’s singles Open which also drew the likes of Johnny Arcilla, PJ Tierro, Vicente Anasta, Leander Lazaro, Bryan Otico, Fritz Verdad, Noel Damian, Rolando Ruel Jr. and Marc Reyes.

Toughening up the field are Aussies Andrew Paul Bennet, a former Davis Cupper and among the Top 100 players in the ATP, and Timothy Thacker, a former Top 50 player Down Under.

Marian Capadocia, also the winner in the Brookside Open, banners the women’s side that includes fancied Khim Iglupas, Aileen Rogan, Patricia Velez, Clarice Patrimonio, Shaira Rivera with American Kane Madison and Aussie Gabrielle Murphy spicing up the elite field.

Sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, the MAC’s Crankit Open also features the juniors agegroup championships held simultaneously with the Open with Mlang, Cotabato’s Jazelle Madis, Bea P0.0 M+ Acena from Dubai and Laguna’s Denise Bernardo leading the girls’ 18-andP0.0 M+ under cast and Athan Arejola from Makati, Laguna’s Tim Gumban, DIGITS Cagayan de Oro’s Matt Palasan and QC’s Loucas Fernandez headlining DIGITS the boys’ field in the premier division of the event EZ2 sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 00-00-00 2 00-00

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Date Within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of receipt by the winning supplier of the Notice to Proceed (NTP) Within twenty-two (22) calendar days from nd Second (2 ) the date of receipt by the winning supplier of the NTP Within twenty-seven (27) calendar days Third (3rd) from the date of receipt by the winning supplier of the NTP Within thirty-two (32) calendar days from the Fourth (4th) date of receipt by the winning supplier of the NTP

ERC CASE NO. 2015-174 RC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 05 October 2015, the applicants National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) and Cebu II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO II) filed a Joint Application for the approval of the sale of various sub-transmission assets covered by a contract to sell dated 19 December 2014.

Applicants TRANSCO and CEBECO II alleged the following in their Joint Application:

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

CEBECO II is an electric cooperative (EC) duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address in Malingin, Bogo City, Cebu, Philippines.

3.

By virtue of Section 8 of the EPIRA, TRANSCO assumed the electrical transmission functions of the National Power Corporation, and the responsibility of the latter for the planning, construction and centralized operation and maintenance of high voltage transmission facilities, including grid interconnections and ancillary services.

4.

Section 8 of the EPIRA and Rule 6, Section 8E of the EPIRA’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) also mandate the segregation of the transmission and Sub-transmission functions and assets for transparency and disposal, and authorize TRANSCO to negotiate for, and to transfer such sub-transmission assets (STAs) and facilities to qualified distribution utilities (DUs).

5.

Pursuant thereto, the Honorable Commission promulgated the “Guidelines on the Sale and Transfer of the TRANSCO’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Franchising of Qualified Consortium” (ERC Guideline) dated 17 October 2003, as amended by Resolution No. 3, Series of 2005 dated 17 March 2005 which set forth among others, the standards to distinguish TRANSCO’s transmission assets from its subtransmission and establish the approval process prior to the final sale and transfer of STAs to DUs.

6.

Consistent with the ERC Guidelines, TRANSCO adopted its own Guidelines on the Sale of Subtransmission Assets (‘TRANSCO Guidelines”) [Annex “A’] as approved by TRANSCO Board Resolution No. TC-2003-067 dated 28 November 2003 [Annex A-1”], as further amended by TRANSCO Board Resolution No. TC-2004-009 dated 16 March 2004 [Annex “A-2”].

10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000

The total ABC is Twenty-One Million Six Hundred Forty Thousand Pesos (PhP21,640,000.00),VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

The ABC for each of the four (4) lots are as follows: lot no.

TRANSCO is a government-owned and controlled corporation created and existing by virtue of R.A. No. 9136, otherwise known as a the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), with principal office address at the TRANSCO Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City.

2.

Quantity

For Lot 2 to 4: Within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of receipt by the winning supplier of the NTP.

Applicants, National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) and Cebu II Electric Cooperative (CEBECO II), through their respective counsels, and to this Honorable Commission respectfully aver that: 1.

deScrIptIon Supply and Delivery of Backpacks Supply and Delivery of School Supplies Supply and Delivery of Hygiene Kits Supply and Delivery of Slippers

Delivery Schedule/ For Lot 1: Contract Duration Delivery (for general support services) First (1st)

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF VARIOUS SUB-TRANSMISSION LINES/ASSETS OF THE NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO) TO CEBU II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (CEBECO II), AS COVERED BY A CONTRACT TO SELL DATED 19 DECEMBER 2014 NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO) AND CEBU II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (CEBECO II), Applicants. x-----------------------------------------------------------------------------x

lot no.

1 2 3 4

deScrIptIon

aBc vat-excluSIve zero-rated tranSactIon

Supply and Delivery of Nine Million Six Hundred Thousand Backpacks Pesos (PhP9, 600, 000.00) Supply and Delivery of Six Million Six Hundred Thousand 2 School Supplies Pesos (PhP6, 600, 000.00) Supply and Delivery of Three Million Eight Hundred Forty 3 Hygiene Kits Thousand Pesos (PhP3, 840, 000.00) Supply and Delivery of One Million Six Hundred Thousand 4 Slippers Pesos (PhP1, 600, 000.00) Corporate Budget for CY 2018 1

Source of Funds:

NOTE: Bidders may bid on any or all lots.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

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

7.

On 16 July 2011, this Honorable Commission issued Resolution No. 15, Series of 2011 entitles “A Resolution Adopting the Amended Rules for the Approval of the Sale and Transfer of TRANSCO’s Subtransmissfon Assets and the Acquisition by Qualified Consortiums.”

8.

In accordance with the aforesaid ERC Guidelines, and based on a thorough evaluation conducted by TRANSCO, it was determined that the Lugo Load-end Substation Equipment, 5 MVA is a sub-transmission asset.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

Copies of the Report regarding the nature of the asset, List of STAs for sale to CEBECO II and the Single line diagram are attached as Annexes “B”,”C” and “D,” respectively.

The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows:

TRANSCO has clearly established that CEBECO II meets the financial capability criteria under Article IV of the ERC Guidelines in acquiring, operating, maintaining, upgrading and expanding the said STA.

1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

9.

Attached are copies of the Financial Qualification Evaluation [Annex “E”] and Audited Financial Statements of CEBECO II as of 31 December 2012 and 31 December 2013 [Annex “F”].

10.

TRANSCO has likewise established that CEBECO II meets the minimum technical qualification of an EC as set forth under the ERC and TRANSCO Guidelines. Attached is a copy of CEBECO II’s Technical Qualification Evaluation [Annex “G’].

11.

CEBECO II is the only qualified EC that is directly connected to the Lugo Load-end Substation Equipment, 5 MVA, as evidenced by the attached List of Connected Distribution Utilities and Directly Connected Entities [Annex “H”].

12.

On 25 October 2014, the CEBECO II Board of Directors issued Resolution No. 111, Series of. 2014 [Annex “I“] relative to the desired acquisition.

13.

On 19 December 2014, TRANSCO and CEBECO II concluded a Contract to Sell [Annex “J”] covering the subject Sub-transmission asset amounting to FIVE MILLION THREE HUNDRED NINETY SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE and EIGHTY SIX CENTAVOS, Philippine Currency (PhP5,396,425.86), plus interest, plus twelve percent value-added tax (12% VAT) thereon which is equivalent to SIX HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE PESOS and TEN CENTAVOS (PhP647,571.10) which CEBECO II shall pay in cash or through manager’s check.

14.

The subject STA is valued in reference to the Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) valuation pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 01, Series of 2009, as amended. An excerpt from the SKM report for the third regulatory period is attached as Annex “K’.

15.

Finally, applicants also respectfully submit the following documents in compliance with the Honorable Commission’s requirements: a. b.

Draft of the Deed of Absolute Sale [Annex “L”]; and, Franchise Description [Annex “M”].

16.

The proposed sale has satisfied all of the requirements and criteria set by the EPIRA and its IRR, as well as the ERC and TRANSCO’s Guidelines on the Sale of Subtransmission Assets.

17.

The approval by this Honorable Commission of the instant Joint Application shall pave the way for the attainment of a reformed electricity industry under the EPIRA, which would ultimately best serve the interest of the consuming public.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that the instant application for the approval of the sale of TRANSCO’s sub-transmission assets in favour of Cebu II Electric Cooperative, Inc. under the terms provided in the Contract to Sell dated 19 December 2014, be APPROVED. Applicants also pray for other just and equitable relief.

PAGCOR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

Activities 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4.

Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Date, Time and Venue April 20, 2018 (Friday) to May 10, 2018 (Thursday) April 30, 2018 (Monday), 2:30 p.m., Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office May 14, 2018 (Monday), 2:00 p.m., Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office May 14, 2018 (Monday), 2:00 p.m. onwards, Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Eight (8th) Floor, PAGCOR House Annex, Carmen Bldg. 1105 U.N. Avenue corner Maria Orosa St., Ermita, Manila, during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount based on the following schedule: Approved Budget for the Contract More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth(6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

The Commission has set the Joint Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 02, May 2018 at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), at CEBECO II’s Main Office, Malingin, Bogo City, Cebu.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the venue of the bid opening. Late bids shall not be accepted.

1) 2) 3)

The petitioner’s name and address; The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) 2) 3)

The name and address of such person; A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and The grounds relied upon.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - TieBreaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two (2) or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) b)

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Joint Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same prior, to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Joint Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Joint Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 23rd day of March 2018 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION: JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal (MS-APR. 13 & 20, 2018)

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the BAC, thru PD, PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Eight (8th) Floor, PAGCOR House Annex, Carmen Bldg. 1105 U.N. Avenue, corner Maria Orosa St., Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 708-0307 and 623-0496.

SGD RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 2 (MS-APR. 20, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

LeBron’s epic game lifts Cavs past Pacers LOS ANGELES—LeBron James crystalized his reputation as one of the best playoff performers in NBA history on Wednesday as the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from a game one rout with a 100-97 win over the Indiana Pacers.

James scored 20 of his 46 points in the opening quarter, getting off to a torrid start in which he singlehandedly outscored the Pacers 13-0 and 16-1 to begin game two of the first round Eastern Conference series.

“My mentality was we got to go back to Indiana tied 1-1,” James said. “We hadn’t scored like we are accustomed to doing so far so I wanted to see if I had a good hand to start.

“My guys kept coming to me and I was able to make a few buckets.”

In the late game, the Houston Rockets crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-82 to seize a 2-0 series lead.

Chris Paul had 27 points as the Rockets drained 16 three pointers compared to just five threes for the Timberwolves.

Nemanja Bjelica led the Timberwolves with 16 points.

Cleveland bounced back from an embarrassing 98-80 loss at home in game one and the mighty James set the tone early Wednesday, giving credence to coach Tyronn Lue’s pre-game prediction that if he showed up, the Cavs would level the series.

He did exactly that, shooting 17 of 24 field goals and delivering 12 rebounds and five assists as the Cleveland had to survive a late fourth-quarter charge by the Pacers.

“He did a great job of just being aggressive and attacking the basket for our team. LeBron did a great job setting the tone offensively,” Lue said.

The 33-year-old James also helped put the game away with two clutch free throws with 18 seconds left to make it 99-92.

Pacers star Victor Oladipo made a 26 foot jumper at the buzzer to close out the scoring. Oladipo finished with a team high 22 points in the loss.

The series now shifts to Indiana for game three on Friday.

James has never lost a first round series and being down 0-1 marked another first for James, whose teams have always managed to come out firing on all cylinders before. AFP

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) tries to post up Indiana Pacers defender Victor Oladipo (4) in Game Two of Round One during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Daughter of DH in UAE resets PH track record

By Peter Atencio

B

ANTAY, Ilocos Sur—Eliza Cuyom broke into a big smile after she won secondary girls 100-meter hurdles finals.

That’s after she finished with a recordbreaking time of 14.5 seconds, her performance eclipsing an existing Philippine junior record yesterday in Day 4 of the Palarong Pambansa athletics meet at the Quirino Stadium oval here.

“Masaya po. Nakakatuwa. Iyung ginawa ko sa trials, inimprove ko pa sa finals,” said the 17-year-old daughter of a domestic helper in the United Arab Emirates.

Cuyom is seeing action for Region IV-A. She was motivated by her coach Anthony Valdez who showed her his notes and told her that she smashed a seven-year-old Philippine junior mark for the second time since the time trials last Monday.

Cuyom, who led the trials in 14.73 seconds,

erased the meet record of 14.9 set by Michelle Pastasaja of Western Mindanao in 1996.

After increasing her pace in the last three barriers, Cuyom, an 11th grader from Sampaloc 1 in Dasmarinas, Cavite, beat National Capital Region’s Ella Sirilan (15.18 seconds) and third placer teammate Evangeline Caminong (15.44 seconds).

Cuyom joined javelin thrower Ann Katherine Quitoy and sprinter Veruel Verdadero, who left big marks in their respective events.

Quitoy, who is from Bacolod, hurled the standard 600-gram spear to a recordsmashing distance of 45.72 meters, surpassing 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.

Verdadero’s clocking of 10.55 seconds eclipsed the national junior mark of 10.6 seconds that Julio Bayaban set in the 1979 National Open, and also bettered the 10.75 seconds performance of Feberoy Kasi of Southern Mindanao Region.

Three course records were set after Rizza Jane Valiente of Mabini, Bohol contributed to Region 6’s efforts with her 1:01.45 clocking in the secondary girls 400-meter hurdles, which improved on NCR bet Rochelle Jalabrica’s 1:05 feat.

Region IV-A’s Jessel Lumapas took the secondary girls 400-meter run gold in 56.28 seconds, bettering Jenny Rose Rosales’ 57.33 second time in 2011.

Willie Trixie of Region 6 took the gold in the elementary girls 100-meter hurdles in 16.3 seconds, smashing the 8-year best time of 16.4 seconds that was set by Jesus Ampunan of Bicol Region in 2010.

Davao Del Norte Belingon battles Leone at ONE: Heroes of Honor hosts Indigenous Peoples Games

By Charles Dantes

KEVIN “The Silencer” Belingon (17-5), still hunting for another crack at a ONE Championship title, puts his four-bout win-

TAGUM City, Davao del Norte—It’s all systems go for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-backed Indigenous Peoples (IP) Games in the province of Davao del Norte on April 27 and 28.

PSC Charles Raymond A. Maxey said he is excited for the first salvo of the IP Games which will also be implemented in Bukidnon, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Ifugao, Benguet, and Nueva Vizcaya.

“We coordinated with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the provincial officials for the project. We had a series of coordination meetings with the tribal leaders before we received the green light,” Maxey said.

The objective of the project is the preservation of the traditional games of the IPs. The highlights of the IP Games will be the Games Demonstration, Games Competition, Indigenous Peoples Games, Forum and Photo Contest.

PSC Chairman William I. Ramirez and Maxey, oversight Commissioner for the IP Games, will deliver inspirational messages for some 300 participants from seven Indigenous Peoples (IP) tribes that include Ata-Manobo, Sama, Dibabawon, Mandaya, Mangguangan, and Mansaka.

Davao del Norte Governor Anthony del Rosario, for his part, will also deliver his welcome remarks along with other local chief executives of the participating LGUs. Participating local governments units (LGUs) are New Corella, Talaingod, Carmen, Panabo City, Sto. Tomas, Asuncion, Kapalong, Tagum City, Dujali, Island Garden City of Samal, and San Isidro.

The IPs will see action in eight common games including Kadang-Kadang sa Bagol, Kadang-Kadang sa Bamboo, Lubok sa Humay, Butong sa Lubid, Pana, Bangkaw, Basket sa Likod, 4x100m event and 100m run.

“We have also included games for women as well, particularly the Lubok sa Humay and Kadang-Kadang sa Bagol,” Maxey said.

ning streak on the line against former bantamweight world title contender Andrew Leone (8-3) from the United States in the main event of ONE: Heroes of Honor at the Mall of Asia Arena, today.

Filipino MMA fighter Kevin Belingon (left) unloads with a two-fisted attack against his opponent Toni Tauru during their ONE Championship fight.

Both Belingon and Leone are hungry to have another shot against the defending ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes. They need to go through each other to secure a chance.

“I know Andrew Leone is a tough opponent and I need to be at my best to win. It’s going to be one of my biggest matches to date,” said Belingon during the press conference at the City of Dreams, Paranaque City.

On the other hand, Leone knows how big this match is for his future. The Bali MMA stud promised to bring his best game and be fullyprepared to take home the win against Belingon.

“Kevin Belingon is a tough guy. He’s a hard puncher and he has power. But I’m not worried about his striking. I’ve faced tough guys before. All I can say is that I’ll be ready.” Leone said Adding fuel to the fire of the main event is the changes in the environment of the fight. The ONE Championship bout will be held inside a square ring instead of the wellknown cage.

Chairman and CEO of One Championship, Chatri Sityodtong stated that it will be the first time for ONE Championship to combine the action and thrill of mixed martial arts with the authenticity of the world’s most elite strikers in the ONE Super Series.

Hodge returns to action but De Ocampo is hurt again

By Jeric Lopez LOOKING ahead to their next campaign, the Meralco Bolts are currently dealing with several good news and bad news.

For most part of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup, the Bolts missed the services of rugged forward Cliff Hodge.

That obviously became one of the biggest factors why the Bolts had a forgettable campaign to start the season, missing the playoffs entirely after having two straight trips to the finals in the Governors’ Cup of the last two seasons.

Now, the Bolts are glad to know that Hodge, who recovered from an MCL sprain, is back in harness to give them a boost ahead of the Commissioner’s Cup. “We’ll finally have Cliff Hodge back and that’s good news for us. He’s in good shape,” said Meralco coach Norman Black. “We missed his hustle, energy and intensity and most of all, his presence on the defensive end.”

Not only that, Meralco also welcomes the return of an old reliable in the fray for a much needed reinforcement.

Former Best import awardee Arinze Onuaku is back for another tour of duty for the Bolts as his inside presence and scoring will be counted on.

While these are welcome returns for Meralco, it also needs to deal with a bad news as well.

Veteran forward Ranidel De Ocampo will continue to miss action for the Bolts for the foreseeable future.

After already missing out on the AllFilipino tournament due to a knee injury, De Ocampo suffered a different injury just recently in practice, hurting his Achilles.

He is slated to miss most part of the mid-season tournament for Meralco.

“Ranidel will still not be with us to start the conference,” said Black.

The Commissioner’s Cup starts on Sunday.

The initial offering features a doubleheader with Blackwater and Columbian Dyip going at it in the first game of the tournament while a fiery tiff between TNT KaTropa and GlobalPort is slated to follow.

Rivera extends dominance in Phoenix slalom

MILO Rivera of Tough Gear Racing Team extended his dominance as he bagged the overall and production best clocking in the second leg of 2018 RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series.

The slalom top gun clinched the overall best time of 47.24, as he won a tight battle with Mark Young Racing Team’s Iñigo Anton, who posted 47.28.

Jevoy Moreno of JAF Racing claimed third spot (48.34), with Rivera’s teammate/brother Estefano Rivera (48.74) and R ichard Gallardo also of JAF Racing (49.10) placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

However, Anton didn’t come home empty-handed as he got the Front Wheel best time with his 47.54 clocking, fol-

lowed by Moreno with 48.34, and Gallardo with 49.10.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Powee Base of PMMS Rennsport Racing Team bagged the novice best time (50.10), followed by Ram Rafanan of Globespade Baguio Team in second place (52.13), and Vegil Calayo of JAF Racing at third (52.19).

The 2018 RACE Motorsports Club National Slalom Series is presented by Phoenix Pulse Technology, with Federal Tyres & 3K Batteries, New SR KYB Special Shock Absorbers, and Robinsons’ Malls as major sponsors. It is also supported by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter.

Phoenix Slalom Series’ media partners are Stoplight TV, C! Magazine, AutoCar

Magazine, and Power Wheels Magazine.

Other participating groups were Team Big Chill, Toughgear Racing Team, JAC Racing Team, Speedmode Racing Team, G Spot Racing Team, Globe Spade, Autoforce Racing Team, Rodlea Racing Team, JIMBIG Racing Team, Kuhol Garage Racing, Seishin Racing Team and Mark Young cars and Tadoworks and Gadzspeed.

The third leg will be held on May 6 at Robinsons Novaliches, while the first leg of Phoenix Pulse Technology Slalom Invitational will be on April 22 at Robinsons Calasiao, Pangasinan.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at 09178119337 or like our FB page of racemotorsportsclub.

PMMS Racing Team’s 14-year-old driver Powee Base bagged the novice best of the day in the second leg of the 2018 RACE Motorsports Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series.

ICTSI readies expansion of three foreign ports in 2018

IN BRIEF Renewable body chairman resigns

ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Thursday announced the resignation of Jose Layug Jr. as chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board.

Cusi said Layug cited health reasons for the resignation which would take effect May 2.

“When he came in, he said he would stay for only a year. In fairness, I invited him to join the DoE if he was interested,” Cusi said.

Layug was sworn in NREB chairman in January 2017. He resigned on April 2 with a 30-day effectivity.

Cusi said Malacañang would announce Layug’s successor.

Cusi assured Layug’s resignation “will not delay any work because NREB is just an advisory body and not a line agency.”

“I resigned because of health reasons. I also informed the secretary that I have resigned because I have already completed all my tasks as NREB chairman. I originally committed only one year but I have stayed in this position for at least 18 months already,” Layug said.

NREB is an government agency created under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which seeks to accelerate the development of renewable energy resources and reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuel. Alena Mae S. Flores

New Clark City to attract tech firms

SURBANA Jurong, Singapore’s largest engineering firm and a leading expert in urban and infrastructure development, said it expects New Clark City in Tarlac province to attract a “whole new industry” of technology companies.

“Part of our task in New Clark City is really to see a bit forward, not just in 2022, but really 10 years from now,” Wong Heang Fine, chief executive of Surbana Jurong which was tapped by staterun Bases Conversion and Development Authority as development management partner for the implementation of New Clark City.

New Clark City is a 9,450-hectare development project of BCDA about 100 kilometers north of Manila.

“I think you will probably be seeing the next generation of city that is coming up. A lot of people are asking what the city of the future is like. In New Clark City, we are putting on a type of digital network. It’s going to be smart, as well as sustainable,” said Wong.

“It will be a showcase for the Philippines…I think that is very exciting, and [it is] a very unique city that is going to come up,” he said.

BCDA and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development signed a memorandum of cooperation with Surbana Jurong in February 2018. Othel V. Campos

Business

PBCom registers P718-m net income

PHILIPPINE Bank of Communications reported a consolidated net income of P718.7 million in 2017.

“Robust growth in the parent bank’s lending activities and supported by its deposit-taking activities, sustained the momentum from 2016,” the bank said in a statement.

PBCom said loan portfolio expanded to P53.4 billion, with corporate and middle market segments accounting for 76 percent of the loans and consumer finance growing 24 percent.

Interest income on loans, which registered a 10.8-percent growth to P3.2 billion, contributed largely to the improvement in operating income, it said. The bank did not provide year-on-year comparison.

It said the loan portfolio growth was funded largely by low-cost deposit which expanded 23.7 percent or P5.3 billion and made up 39.2 percent of total deposit.

“The efforts to strengthen low cost deposit generation helped contain the increase in interest expense to a marginal 2 percent,” it said.

PBCom said it achieved an enhanced return on asset of 0.77 percent in 2017, from 0.49 percent in 2016.

The final tranche of the committed capital infusion of PG Holdings Inc. amounting to P1.4 billion, together with the year’s net income boosted the bank’s capital to P12.9 billion.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

B1

P269-b bridges to link PH islands Gabby Lopez T steps down

By Julito G. Rada

HE government will build eight long bridges with a combined cost of P269.19 billion to link the islands in the Visayas to Luzon and Mindanao.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the bridges would be a part of the government’s massive infrastructure buildup to stimulate growth and create jobs outside Metro Manila.

Dominguez said the bridge projects would be complemented by the construction of road networks to transform the island-economies of the Visayas into growth corridors.

“These bridges will provide growth corridors and ensure that none of the major islands of the Visayas will be left behind in the country’s race to

progress,” Dominguez said in a speech read by Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin at the closing of the Philippine Economic Briefing at Marco Polo Hotel in Cebu City.

Dominguez said the eight proposed bridge projects were set to be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee for approval.

The proposed projects include an 18.2-kilometer bridge to connect Samar provinces to the main island of Luzon; a 20-kilometer bridge connecting Leyte to Mindanao through either an underwater tunnel bridge or a long-span overhead bridge; a 5.7-kilometer Panay-Guimaras bridge; and a 12.3-kilometer GuimarasNegros inter-island linkage.

Other projects are a one-kilometer Bohol-Lapinig Island bridge; an 18-kilometer Lapinig Island-to-Leyte bridge; a 5.5-kilometer Cebu-Negros Link bridge; and a 24.5-kilometer Cebu-toBohol link.

Dominguez said the proposed bridg-

es would be on top of the four bigticket projects in the Visayas under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program already approved for implementation by the Neda board.

These are three airport improvement projects and the New Cebu International Container Port.

“Our infrastructure investments, estimated at $170 billion between now and 2022, have very high multiplier effects.

By undertaking these thoroughly studied strategic projects, we will stimulate economic activity. Jobs and opportunities will be created, and we are confident we can bring down poverty incidence to only 14 percent by 2022,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the government was in full swing and Filipinos would feel the economic benefits of the infra projects “very soon,” with the country “moving strongly towards achieving a high middle-income status in a few years.”

BPI expects growth to continue this year

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, said it expects to sustain the growth momentum this year on the back of strong core businesses.

BPI president and chief executive Cezar Consing said in a news briefing after the annual stockholders’ meeting in Makati City that higher interest rates as well as the infrastructure projects under the ambitious ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Duterte administration would augur well for the bank, and the industry in general.

Consing said he was expecting strong gains in BPI’s SME, retail, credit, auto and housing loan segments in 2018.

“I am excited about the Train [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion], higher interest rates and ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the government,” Consing said.

He said the bank’s goal of strengthening its SME, retail and micro-lending would benefit the bank in the long term.

“If we do that, it will make us more inclusive…

We really want to be a technologically strong and inclusive bank,” Consing said.

Consing also said BPI would strengthen its online banking business with the introduction of new products to attract more clients to the platform.

Julito G. Rada

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

RICE PRICE REGULATION. The Agriculture and Trade Departments announce a plan to impose suggested retail prices on rice in a bid to prevent overpricing. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol preside over a news briefing at the Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila. Lino Santos

Hot money inflows hit $1.1b in March, highest in 3 years FOREIGN portfolio investments or ‘hot money’ posted a three-year high net inflow in March on strong confidence in the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday.

Data from the Bangko Sentral showed that foreign portfolio investments yielded a net inflow of $1.132 billion in March, a sharp turnaround from the $460-million net outflow a year ago.

It was also a reversal of the $545-million net outflow in February and brought hot money in the first quarter to a net inflow of $749.43 million, compared to a $567-million net outflow in the same period last year.

The net inflow in March was the highest in more than three years since it registered a $1.19-billion net inflow in February 2015.

Gross inflows in March climbed to $2.468 billion from $1.373 billion a year ago, while gross outflows went down to

$1.336 billion from $1.833 billion.

About 50.6 percent of investments in March were in other peso debt instruments, while 40.9 percent were in securities listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange, pertaining to holding firms, property companies, banks, food, beverage and tobacco firms and utilities companies.

The 8.5 percent balance went to peso government securities. The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Norway and Hong Kong were the top five investor countries in March.

The Philippine government raised 1.46 billion renminbi or around $230 million (P12 billion) from the sale of Panda bonds in China in March.

The Bureau of the Treasury said the order book for the issuance reached 9.22 billion renminbi or 6.22 times the issue size of 1.46 billion renminbi. The bonds fetched a coupon of 5 percent “or 35

basis points over the two-year Chinese bond rate of 4.65 percent.”

Foreign fund managers withdrew their investments from the domestic financial markets in February on profit taking and in reaction to the possibility that the US Federal Reserve might increase interest rates.

Foreign portfolio investments are also called ‘hot money’ because of the ease they are invested in and taken out of the domestic financial markets.

Hot money posted a net outflow of $205 million in 2017 as the total withdrawals of $16.267 billion offset the gross inflows of $16.062 billion, affected by global uncertainties such as geopolitical concerns and the anticipation on the next policy moves by the US Federal Reserve.

The Bangko Sentral expects hot money to post a net outflow of $900 million this year.

Julito G. Rada

as chairman of ABS-CBN

By Darwin G. Amojelar EUGENIO Lopez III is stepping down as chairman of ABS-CBN Corp. after two decades at the helm of the leading broadcast company as a part of the company’s digital pivot.

Lopez, more popularly known as Gabby, was elected as chairman emeritus during the company’s organization meeting, while his 45-yearold cousin Martin Lopez was elected chairman of the board.

Gabby, who turned 65 in August and is the second chairman emeritus in the company’s history, will remain as a director of the board. His father Eugenio Lopez Jr. – fondly known as Kapitan Geny – was given the same title after Gabby was elected chairman in 1997.

“As every athlete knows, there comes a time when inevitably it’s time to let go of the reins and allow others to take over. My father has always said ‘broadcasting’ is for the young. After all, today’s digital world is vastly different from the world I managed,” Gabby said in a speech after the ABS-CBN annual stockholders’ meeting.

He also said that he “will not disappear into the woodwork.”

Gabby, who also served as chief executive of ABS-CBN from 1997 to 2012, is credited with steadily transforming ABS-CBN from being the country’s biggest broadcasting network into being the country’s leading media and entertainment company.

Under his leadership, ABS-CBN diversified into various successful ventures that included interactive and online media, international and domestic cable and satellite channels, broadband services, sports programming, consumer products and licensing, digital TV and immersive experiences.

It was also under his leadership that ABS-CBN launched cable TV service SkyCable, global subscription channel The Filipino Channel and video-on-demand streaming sites TFC.tv and iWant TV. He also pursued the launch of ABS-CBN TVplus, the country’s first-ever digital terrestrial television product.

“I accept this huge responsibility of carrying on the company’s vision of being in the service of the Filipino – using the blueprint of excellence and innovation set by Gabby. ABSCBN has played an instrumental role in nation-building in the past 65 years. We understand what the company means to the Filipino and this country, and we will take this to heart as we guide the company through its digital transformation,” said Mark, who was identified as a successor as early as five years ago.

Mark, who was the chief technology officer before the appointment, was responsible for setting the company’s strategic directions and ensuring operational excellence in information and communications, as well as technology broadcast engineering.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market plunges to 1-year low

T

HE stock market sank again Thursday as traders resume their consolidation mode, ignoring the gains in the region.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index plunged 110.89 points, or 1.4 percent, to a one-year low of 7,682.24 on a value turnover of P11.8 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 171 to 58, with 31 issues unchanged.

Blue chips led the losers, with market heavyweight PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, slumping 3.5 percent to P1,370. Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, tumbled 3.1 percent to P285.

Conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei fell 3.9 percent to P60, while Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan sank 4.9 percent to P13.50.

The rest of Asian markets, meanwhile, enjoyed another day of gains Thursday as energy firms tracked a surge in oil prices, while fears over Syria and a possible China-US trade war eased.

Fresh hopes that Donald Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un will hold a historic summit within months also provided some much-needed optimism.

Both main crude futures rallied almost three percent Wednesday on the back of data showing a drop in US stockpiles— indicating improved demand—and expectations that a Russia-Opec output cap deal will be kept in place.

Adding to the gains was talk that Opec kingpin Saudi Arabia wanted to see crude at around $80 a barrel as it prepares for a gigantic listing of part of its state oil company. Tensions in the oilrich Middle East are also keeping prices elevated.

Brent and WTI, which are now sitting at levels not seen since the end of 2014, edged up further in Asia.

Energy firms across the region were boosted, with Hong Kong-listed PetroChina up more than five percent and CNOOC 3.5 percent higher. Woodside Petroleum added one percent in Sydney and Inpex put on a similar amount in Tokyo.

“That surprise draw on inventories in the US appears to have changed the game despite the fact that we did see an increase in US production. The market has looked past that,” said Michael McCarthy, an analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.

“With that increasing demand and some concerns about (the) supply side, a number of traders have been blindsided by this recent move.”

On equity markets, Tokyo ended 0.2 percent higher, while Hong Kong and

Singapore each gained more than one percent and Shanghai added 0.8 percent.

Sydney and Seoul both climbed 0.3 percent.

Taipei, Wellington and Jakarta were also higher.

The positive trading environment is a far cry from the unease felt at the start of the week after US-led strikes on Syrian targets—in response to an alleged chemical attack—sparked worries of a confrontation with Russia, which is an ally of the Damascus regime.

However, reports have suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to ease tensions as he faces fresh sanctions.

China’s announcement of a timetable to remove restrictions on foreign ownership in its car market, the world’s biggest, also lifted optimism that a simmering trade war with the United States can be avoided. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.95 6,660 109 3,036,100 2.97 48,000 133.6 4,518,350 1.4 334,000 34.5 363,000 6.7 24,400 16.58 39,500 17.02 2,379,200 3.4 49,000 8.87 700 1.54 24,000 0.54 1,573,000 83.5 2,992,520 1.1 2,896,000 12.2 29,800 53 7,120 224 8,790 110 650 87.75 10 43.2 4,600 222.4 827,350 1,890 65 90.5 51,590 1.22 147,000

389,960.50 316,429,845 142,560 600,177,119 472,020 12,568,855 160,792 655,234 40,556,736 158,610 5,999 37,000 860,170 245,654,685.50 3,105,310 363,652 377,462.50 1,956,204 69,387 877.5 198,160 183,962,760 122,850 4,648,745.50 181,150

257,449 -63,863,571 -208,169,097 520,815 7,299,712.00 -31,798,540 80,890 182,332 17,800 -38,880 -132,483,404 2,532,120.50 -

37 14.14 0.52 1.24 20.1 0.222 140 3.39 16 265 48 24.5 58.55 72 96.9 1.87 5.22 9.88 10.28 15 10.94 7.1 5.36 1.67 15.9 64.5 25.1 9.32 15.84 2.04 282 58.5 5.01 3.11 25.75 14.68 22.7 317.6 0.188 7.81 2.31 4.96 9.1 4.75 7.74 1.48 12 51.95 6.1 4.65 1.86 3.3 1.85 13.6 65.5 5.42 0.134 0.99 136.5 2.69 3.44 23 0.78

INDUSTRIAL 37.85 2,789,600 14.42 934,200 0.54 7,000,000 1.26 461,000 20.7 41,600 0.229 2,820,000 140 30 3.41 4,699,000 16.1 48,700 270 40 50 472,700 25.4 59,500 58.55 3,001,580 72 3,530 96.9 140 1.89 712,000 5.22 158,200 10.28 8,300 10.38 3,409,400 15.04 4,202,800 11.4 285,100 7.22 2,326,200 5.49 212,400 1.67 4,000 16 1,135,100 65 201,850 25.1 76,300 9.32 33,700 16.24 1,235,600 2.09 8,483,000 285 1,653,070 58.5 30 5.07 117,200 3.19 24,000 25.9 3,077,100 14.7 56,600 23 3,069,800 319.8 561,860 0.188 1,760,000 7.99 35,500 2.4 999,000 5 338,100 9.17 1,501,900 4.78 164,200 7.98 45,800 1.51 1,228,000 12.4 27,200 51.95 2,076,960 6.25 600 4.76 24,000 1.87 87,000 3.3 29,000 1.87 926,000 13.9 432,100 65.95 103,230 5.48 101,800 0.136 1,050,000 0.99 376,000 138 2,026,000 2.69 30,000 3.6 187,598,000 23 1,000 0.81 9,175,000

104,395,185 13,377,208 3,816,830 576,150 855,345 631,500 4,200 16,144,150 780,320 10,700 23,443,605 1,484,650 183,099,132.50 254,520 13,606 1,338,460 829,447 83,194 35,503,810 63,199,484 3,157,132 16,744,567 1,160,278 6,680 18,179,964 13,129,696 1,946,570 315,032 19,773,652 18,032,750 471,219,438 1,755 593,054 77,190 79,819,730 837,762 70,990,650 179,590,022 332,080 281,833 2,376,080 1,696,478 13,759,225 790,356 358,680 1,833,010 333,228 108,006,307.50 3,693 111,710 164,790 98,600 1,756,440 5,997,700 6,814,812 555,053 141,280 375,720 279,851,016 80,700 714,921,380 23,000 7,385,030

-30,743,460 66,612 2,500 4,200 2,329,640 192,600 5,400 -2,070,410 0 -78,750 -17,768,836 42,944,884 1,192,168 -13,344,897 -59,473 -4,016,102 8,603,244 -138,548.00 -9,929,176 -103,000 -118,226,238 -51,100 18,542,130 -37,114 7,980,510 -16,645,400 37,900 -600,980 -719,770 2,894,953 -90,844 269,700 -15,850,178.50 1,870 -38,400 -1,133,986 286,679 1,092 -40,040,568 33,118,620 -55,820

0.3 69.2 14.1 0.93 6.48 0.61 0.62 928 7 12.22 7.57 0.198 1,114 7 62 5 0.66 4.89 18.6 0.58 4.76 0.041 1.16 3.42 2.73 141 2.61 920 0.81 1.65 574 266 0.25 0.201 0.194

0.295 63.4 12.76 0.89 6.23 0.58 0.6 899.5 6.93 11.48 7.57 0.191 1,033 6.66 58.5 5 0.61 4.62 18 0.55 4.52 0.039 1.13 3.16 2.54 138 2.6 886 0.81 1.61 551 259.4 0.23 0.201 0.192

HOLDING FIRMS 0.295 1,460,000 68 4,077,420 13.5 26,976,300 0.89 126,000 6.48 19,100 0.6 4,976,000 0.62 5,558,000 906 954,050 6.95 1,630,600 12 10,020,700 7.57 100 0.198 120,000 1,055 213,515 7 27,500 60 6,273,650 5 1,000 0.64 183,000 4.7 469,000 18.3 3,373,000 0.57 4,997,000 4.61 117,019,000 0.04 29,300,000 1.16 1,849,000 3.3 4,735,000 2.73 40,000 140.9 292,960 2.6 35,000 900 650,110 0.81 46,000 1.63 285,000 569 200 266 3,300 0.23 450,000 0.201 300,000 0.192 760,000

430,900 268,787,930 357,113,536 112,720 122,357 2,957,440 3,384,270 863,650,005 11,334,179 118,427,750 757 23,080 224,728,330 185,220 377,113,769.50 5,000 112,990 2,204,230 61,754,730 2,774,670 538,062,810 1,174,000 2,090,820 15,486,640 108,360 41,016,559 91,100 584,435,075 37,260 459,900 111,870 863,544 104,250 60,300 146,150

-157,277,434.50 -216,462,090 2,471,670 -182,891,820 1,896,235 -18,312,816 -103,457,665 -152,518,932 759,090 -16,046,918 1,406,900 -79,491,660 -1,150 -474,930 10,970,140 -290,314,395 16,100 -7,800 -

6.73 0.99 2.06 0.84 40.95 3.48 4.6 6.18 0.46 1.04 1 0.28 0.46 31.15 0.69 0.123 1.75 1.34 1.1 4.48 0.58

6.56 0.97 2.03 0.82 39.5 3.45 4.5 6.02 0.435 1.03 0.97 0.255 0.435 30.2 0.66 0.123 1.68 1.3 1 4.22 0.52

1,973,970 3,157,360 571,210 1,979,290 990,761,405 2,671,220 7,115,500 133,514 19,678,600 29,980 320,220 8,928,600 158,400 4,809,605 393,220 8,610 13,265,490 7,834,260 5,411,930 227,053,750 78,781,300

-368,656 -38,800 -142,100.00 266,500 -323,361,355 -13,810 1,893,090.00 -2,471,350 -14,400 1,417,810 9,520 8,610 -5,320,400 -383,270 -134,700 -163,951,120 653,660.00

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58 101.6 2.97 133 1.44 34.85 7.28 16.6 17.4 3.26 8.52 1.55 0.56 82 1.11 12.66 54.1 225 106 87.75 43 223 1,890 90.1 1.25

58.95 109 2.97 137.2 1.56 34.85 7.28 16.6 17.4 3.4 8.87 1.55 0.58 83.5 1.11 12.66 54.1 225 110 87.75 43.2 225 1,890 90.5 1.25

58 100 2.97 131 1.38 34.5 6.1 16.56 16.7 3.2 8.52 1.54 0.54 80.5 1.05 12.2 52.7 220 105.5 87.75 43 221 1,890 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 EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

37.55 14.42 0.57 1.26 21.7 0.225 140 3.48 16.1 265 48.75 26.3 62.85 78.8 99.9 1.9 5.27 9.88 10.62 15.34 11.2 7.23 5.49 1.67 16.08 65.4 26 9.38 16.6 2.29 289 58.5 5.18 3.35 26.2 15 23.3 321 0.189 8.18 2.32 5.1 9.3 5 7.84 1.52 12.5 52.4 6.28 4.65 1.93 3.5 2.02 14.3 67.4 5.46 0.134 1.01 140 2.69 3.69 23 0.85

38.2 14.42 0.58 1.26 21.7 0.229 140 3.5 16.1 270 50.25 26.3 62.85 78.8 99.9 1.9 5.27 10.3 10.68 15.34 11.4 7.28 5.5 1.67 16.6 65.5 26 9.38 16.6 2.29 293.4 58.5 5.18 3.35 26.2 15 23.7 327 0.19 8.18 2.43 5.1 9.3 5.2 7.98 1.52 12.5 52.5 6.28 4.76 1.93 3.5 2.02 14.3 67.4 5.48 0.136 1.01 140.1 2.69 4.2 23 0.85

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

0.295 67 13.8 0.93 6.23 0.61 0.62 910 7 12 7.57 0.193 1,071 6.67 61.4 5 0.64 4.89 18 0.57 4.62 0.041 1.16 3.38 2.7 140 2.61 910 0.81 1.61 555 260.4 0.235 0.201 0.194

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

6.7 0.99 2.06 0.84 40.5 3.47 4.6 6.18 0.46 1.04 0.98 0.275 0.44 31.15 0.69 0.123 1.75 1.33 1.07 4.4 0.57

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.39 0.57 4.07 31.5 19.3 1.9 3.16 33.35 1.01 11.5 0.82 6.6

0.39 0.64 4.14 31.5 19.34 1.92 3.19 33.5 1.03 12.2 0.82 6.7

0.39 0.56 3.9 30 18.4 1.89 3.13 32.1 1 10.4 0.8 6.41

0.39 0.62 3.99 30 19 1.91 3.19 32.85 1.03 10.4 0.8 6.44

1,470,000 78,953,000 1,926,000 2,000 7,679,700 173,000 111,000 19,364,500 890,000 4,382,200 327,000 12,236,200

573,300 47,930,630 7,665,360 60,150 144,230,972 328,760 349,110 631,254,195 896,500 48,894,496 262,360 78,808,830

-614,780.00 232,870 -51,150 -68,685,404 100,850 -87,680 -350,072,970 -30,300 126,088 -9,127,178

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

16.64 28.7 1.31 0.485 0.049 12.98 12.8 0.054 89 7.19 7.55 2.17 24 1,540 5.89 306 4.65 2.32 93.6 13.3 8.3 0.116 1.43 3.25 14.1 5 1.04 28.6 4.58 7.39 3.28 16.9 8 11.4 9.5 2.86 120 6.17 1,400 0.99 0.395 48.05 85 7.49 2.5 1.36 0.42 4.78 0.87 10.72

17.2 28.7 1.38 0.485 0.049 12.98 12.8 0.055 90.85 7.28 7.55 2.17 24.5 1,596 5.89 309 4.65 2.49 94.95 13.3 8.3 0.118 1.43 3.3 14.2 5.11 1.04 28.6 4.58 7.39 3.28 18.5 8 11.4 9.5 2.86 121.5 6.17 1,415 1.01 0.405 48.05 88 7.49 2.6 1.39 0.42 4.8 0.89 10.72

16.54 28 1.28 0.46 0.046 12.98 12.5 0.053 88.5 6.86 7 2.1 22 1,500 5.64 300 4.4 2.32 92.25 12.5 8.3 0.114 1.4 3.16 14.08 4.78 1 26.9 4.33 7.07 3.23 16.9 7.25 11.38 9.5 2.86 120 5.46 1,340 0.98 0.38 47 84 7.12 2.3 1.32 0.4 4.61 0.84 10.56

SERVICES 16.96 28.2 1.31 0.465 0.047 12.98 12.72 0.054 88.5 6.99 7.5 2.1 22.65 1,570 5.7 308 4.42 2.32 94 13.3 8.3 0.118 1.43 3.3 14.2 4.92 1.02 27.8 4.38 7.16 3.25 18.5 7.6 11.38 9.5 2.86 120.5 6.12 1,370 1.01 0.405 47.95 88 7.38 2.39 1.38 0.42 4.71 0.85 10.72

71,700 48,800 323,000 8,230,000 20,400,000 200 10,045,600 13,610,000 92,890 2,480,700 2,500 87,000 69,800 71,495 814,700 26,570 2,451,000 184,000 2,259,890 47,600 10,000 2,340,000 362,000 191,000 2,300 7,684,000 877,000 1,938,800 591,000 496,900 996,000 600 11,468,900 3,600 10,500 40,000 302,740 1,372,300 233,270 1,489,000 3,490,000 2,769,500 679,670 57,000 2,332,000 5,447,000 17,350,000 2,928,000 6,445,000 3,727,000

1,194,100 1,379,295 420,050 3,873,650 961,700 2,596 127,010,510 734,650 8,277,692.50 17,364,298 18,475 184,820 1,570,905 109,021,320 4,632,291 8,076,606 10,969,850 429,840 210,845,539.50 620,718 83,000 270,290 515,600 609,260 32,432 37,745,460 886,250 53,340,010 2,604,480 3,550,221 3,234,370 10,470 87,074,565 40,998 99,750 114,400 36,328,870 8,141,991 316,855,970 1,479,150 1,366,550 131,979,215 59,356,693 414,256 5,567,780 7,378,070 6,983,250 13,709,470 5,468,330 39,529,800

-8,310 5,020,146 -966,493 780,356 20,205 -51,438,920 -18,064 1,263,860.00 -50,490,283 7,758,990 -2,459,860 17,440 -687,658 3,420 -7,000,347 260,400 -158,978,750 63,510 -20,834,775 -7,317,874 589,540 4,805,700 110,050 -1,875,720 -58,800 5,234,074

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

0.0029 1.83 4.47 17.98 1.6 0.3 7.67 2.4 0.199 0.143 0.148 0.009 0.0093 1.45 6.22 1.19 0.47 0.88 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.26 5.65 14.54 30.2 0.0064

0.0029 1.83 4.47 18.5 1.63 0.3 7.67 2.48 0.209 0.145 0.151 0.009 0.0093 1.47 6.45 1.23 0.485 0.92 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.26 5.65 14.66 30.75 0.0064

0.0028 1.7 4.42 17.98 1.6 0.295 7.33 2.31 0.198 0.141 0.147 0.009 0.0093 1.4 6.13 1.14 0.46 0.86 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.21 5.58 13.6 30.05 0.0064

MINING & OIL 0.0029 321,000,000 1.75 11,940,000 4.42 169,000 18.5 6,900 1.62 868,000 0.295 370,000 7.46 6,200 2.42 22,287,000 0.198 90,000 0.145 11,110,000 0.147 880,000 0.009 1,000,000 0.0093 2,000,000 1.47 809,000 6.2 11,910,800 1.2 20,000 0.48 788,000 0.91 393,000 0.013 75,100,000 0.013 100,000 0.012 10,000,000 2.25 30,000 5.6 1,198,800 14 2,937,500 30.1 2,160,800 0.0064 4,000,000

899,800 20,817,110 753,880 124,174 1,408,560 110,650 45,913 53,010,250 18,080 1,576,680 130,260 9,000 18,600 1,175,080 74,197,184 23,710 370,625 350,280 918,500 1,300 121,000 66,900 6,716,265 40,796,936 65,124,975 25,600

2,209,450 -361,300 -160,380 -15,443,060 13,808,019 -4,500 -4,754,936 4,143,556 -19,985,055 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B 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

27.75 508 106 101.3 104.1 109.2 5.85 970 100.3 1.05 1,160 101.1 107 980 77 79 75.5 75.2 78.1 76.45 76 75.6

27.75 508 106 101.3 104.1 109.2 5.85 970 100.3 1.05 1,160 101.1 107 980 77 79 75.5 75.2 78.1 76.45 76.2 75.65

27.5 507 106 100.1 104.1 109.2 5.7 955 100.3 1.04 1,160 101.1 107 980 76 78.6 75 75.05 76.05 76.3 76 75.5

PREFERRED 27.5 292,900 508 5,100 106 2,000 100.1 9,840 104.1 90 109.2 10 5.77 8,600 962 1,860 100.3 11,000 1.05 214,000 1,160 5 101.1 10 107 10 980 60 76 400 78.6 2,150 75 3,040 75.2 13,510 77 7,050 76.45 8,830 76.2 78,230 75.65 7,000

8,088,875 2,588,800 212,000 985,590 9,369 1,092 49,532 1,796,730 1,103,300 224,680 5,800 1,011 1,070 58,800 30,700 169,450 228,020 1,015,950.50 541,502.50 674,903.50 5,950,540 528,850

-514,445 -1,574,800 -30,048 164,900 -3,020 -1,015,200 -

LR WARRANT

3.13

3.23

2.8

WARRANTS 2.99 1,754,000

5,205,230

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.22 3.15 3.25

5.22 3.21 3.32

4.83 3.08 3.14

4.95 3.2 3.25

11,181,679 272,380 6,588,780

111,497 -246,520

FIRST METRO ETF

120

120

116.5

MS

PROPERTY 6.73 0.97 2.03 0.84 40.1 3.45 4.58 6.14 0.44 1.03 0.98 0.26 0.46 30.6 0.68 0.123 1.68 1.31 1.1 4.28 0.53

298,700 3,248,000 280,000 2,388,000 24,761,600 773,000 1,571,000 21,900 43,920,000 29,000 327,000 33,690,000 360,000 157,600 576,000 70,000 7,816,000 5,957,000 5,128,000 53,051,000 146,133,000

USD DMPL A2

10.24

TRADING SUMMARY

10.24

SHARES

FINANCIAL

22,133,141

INDUSTRIAL

263,532,259

HOLDING FIRMS

227,365,720

PROPERTY

680,371,865

SERVICES

139,751,457

MINING & OIL

482,478,362

GRAND TOTAL

1,820,086,374

10.24

SME

2,259,600 87,000 2,051,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.6 54,210 DDS 10.24

2,000

6,371,768 20,480

55,080 -

VALUE 2,007.23 (up) 9.92 1,484,018,462.23 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,987.66 (down) 190.97 2,494,699,567.64 HOLDING FIRMS 7,599.29 (down) 147.81 3,493,162,506.47 PROPERTY 3,539.49 (down) 80.21 1,568.39 (down) 18.81 2,649,787,996.65 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,696.01 (down) 21.65 1,346,189,643.319 PSEI 7,682.24 (down) 110.89 268,840,819.88 All Shares Index 4,665.65 (down) 54.93 11,761,119,561.92 Gainers: 58; Losers: 171; Unchanged: 31; Total: 260

ICTSI readies expansion of three foreign ports in 2018

By Jenniffer B. Austria PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said it is expanding three of its fastest growing terminals including one in Iraq, as it expects global trade to be “good” this year barring the merchandise war that could break out between China and the US. ICTSI president and chairman Enrique Razon Jr. said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company allocated $380 million programmed for capital expenditures this year to expand the capacity of ports in Iraq, Mexico and Honduras.

Razon said ICTSI would increase the capacity in Iraq to 1 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) and the output in Mexico to 1.5 million TEUs. ICTSI would also complete the expansion of the Honduras port to boost the total capacity to 1 million TEUs, he said.

In the Philippines, ICTSI is set to complete a new barge terminal in Tanza, Cavite by June this year. The $30 million project, called Cavite Gateway Terminal in partnership with the Department of Transportation, will become the country’s first roll-on roll-off barge terminal.

CGT will facilitate the off-the-roads transport of containers through the sea lanes of Manila Bay between the port of Manila and Cavite. It will have an annual capacity of 115,000 TEUs, or equivalent to 140,000 fewer trucks on city roads each year.

“This will be the first Build Build Build project developed, conceptualized, started and completed under this current administration,” Razon said.

Meanwhile, Razon said a trade war that could break out between China and the US was among possible disruptions that could affect growth of global trade.

ICTSI’s operation in Mexico is at risk amid prospects of a trade war, while the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Area could disrupt shipments to Mexico from China.

Razon said the trade war could only be beneficial to ICTSI if China found other export markets.

“Our existing terminals are all growing,” Razon said.

RFM posted P211-m profit in 1st quarter RFM Corp. said net income in the first quarter of 2018 rose seven percent to P211 million from P198 million yearon-year a year ago on the back of a double-digit rise in revenues.

RFM said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues climbed 10 percent in the first three months of 2018 to P2.8 billion from P2.55 billion a year ago.

First- quarter net operating margin, however, dipped slightly to P272 million from P275 million on year.

RFM president and chief executive Jose Concepcion III said the company posted growth in all businesses, including ice cream, flour, pasta, milk and private label.

First-quarter revenues of ice cream category leader Selecta grew nine percent year on year, while institutional sales, including the bakery business, rebounded with a 10 percent increase.

The combined sales of RFM’s other flagship brands—Fiesta pasta, Royal pasta, White King mixes and Selecta Milk—also rose 12 percent.

RFM said the company’s the firstquarter financial performance suggested a better year ahead.

RFM will spend P1 billion to fund expansion and the ice cream business joint venture, as well as investments in flour milling, supply chain, milk, pasta and sauce.

“For 2018, we expect to sustain this strong first-quarter momentum with the recent launch of our Selecta Fortified Milk TV campaign and upcoming marketing initiatives for our pasta, sauce and ice cream, over the course of 2018,” Concepcion said.

RFM said it expects to continue its policy of declaring a 50-percent dividend payout from recurring net income and pursue an ongoing share buyback program.

RFM in January said it would spend an additional P300 million to buy back more shares in the open market, after exhausting over 70 percent of the budget for the program.

Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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IN BRIEF In Romania, distrust of vaccines kills BOLDESTI-SCAIENI, Romania— Measles still claims young lives in Romania, where nearly 40 children have died in an outbreak that many blame on parents being misled by scare stories that vaccinating them is dangerous.

Some 12,000 people have contracted measles since late 2016 in the European Union’s second-poorest country, 46 of them died.

Among the dead, 39 were children under the age of three who had not been vaccinated, making Romania one of the worst affected countries in the ongoing measles outbreak in Europe.

“People are mistrustful because they read all sorts of things on the internet,” said Dr Silvana Dan, from the southern regional Prahova Public Health Authority, citing persistent rumours that vaccination causes autism.

A girl aged just 11 months died in the region in March after her parents refused to vaccinate her.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects children in particular but it has largely been brought under control.

The World Health Organization says the deaths caused by measles plunged from 550,100 in 2000, to just under 90,000 in 2016. AFP

America mourns Barbara Bush W ASHINGTON―Former US first lady Barbara Bush died Tuesday at the age of 92, triggering an outpouring of praise for the matriarch of a Republican family once at the apex of American politics.

Barbara and George H.W. Bush were married for 73 years, and the widower “of course is heart-broken to lose his beloved Barbara,” his chief of staff Jean Becker said in a statement.

“He held her hand all day today and was at her side when [she] left this good Earth.”

The ex-president, who is 93 and has been in ill health in recent years, is “determined to be there” for his family while in mourning, Becker added.

Funeral arrangements were due to be announced soon for Barbara Bush, who was also survived by five of her children

and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and her brother, Scott Pierce.

She was preceded in death by her second child, Robin, who died of leukemia as a toddler.

In honor of Bush’s life, President Donald Trump ordered that the US flag be flown at half-staff until sundown on the day she is buried, at all public buildings and grounds, as well as military posts and vessels.

Bush has long been considered the rock at the center of one of America’s most prominent political families, as

the wife of a president and the mother to another -- George W. Bush -- and to Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor and onetime presidential aspirant.

She first met her husband-to-be at the age of 16 when she was a schoolgirl and he was a student at an elite preparatory school in Massachusetts. They married in 1945 while he was on leave from wartime service as a naval officer. The couple had six children.

As first lady, from 1989 to 1993, she embraced the cause of universal literacy, and founded a foundation for family literacy.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum to honor her life.

Trump hailed her as an “advocate of the American family.”

“Among her greatest achievements was recognizing the importance of literacy as a fundamental family value that requires

taken on April 18, 2018, shows a graffiti on a wall in the Lebanese capital Beirut depicting fictional politicians running in the coming parliamentary polls scheduled for May 6, with speech bubbles below the faces reading in Arabic “Vote for us, no matter. So we can love your mother again.” Lebanese voters and candidates alike are eager for the polling to start nearly 10 years after the last parliamentary elections in June 2009, with stakes running high as the first test of Lebanon’s 2017 voting law that will carve out the country’s political and economic trajectory for years to come. AFP

3.

SYDNEY-Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffered a “catastrophic die-off” of coral during an extended heatwave in 2016, threatening a broader range of reef life than previously feared, a report revealed Thursday.

Scientists said some 30 percent of the reef’s coral died in the heatwave from March to November 2016, the first of an unprecedented two successive years of coral bleaching along the 2,300-kilometer World Heritage-listed reef off Australia’s northeastern coast.

The study published Thursday in the journal Nature found that coral, which serve as habitats for other creatures, were particularly hard hit by the rising sea temperatures caused by global warming.

Terry Hughes, a report co-author and head of the Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at Australia’s James Cook University, told AFP the most susceptible to heat exposure were branching corals―

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids Hemodialysis Lease Package for 17 Sets (Price Per Treatment per Patient/Unit). Delivery of the Goods is required One (1) Year. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from April 20, 2018 to May 8, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P 15,000.00).

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at the BAC Secretariat, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, upon payment of the applicable non-refundable fee.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 26, 2018, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Building, Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before May 8, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Building, Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

6.

7.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman.

The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

8.

table-shaped creatures that provide nooks and crannies for fish nurseries and fisheries.

Corals that were more likely to survive the warmer sea temperatures were smooth and melon-shaped, he said. While they were good calcifiers that add volume to reefs, they were “not very useful as habitable providers”.

“So there is a shift in the mix of species and the overall loss of corals has a broader impact on all the creatures that depend on the corals for food and habitats,” Hughes said.

His research center said the new study showed that corals on the northern Great Barrier Reef “experienced a catastrophic die-off” following the 2016 heatwave.

“The coral die-off has caused radical changes in the mix of coral species on hundreds of individual reefs, where mature and diverse reef communities are

being transformed into more degraded systems, with just a few tough species remaining,” said Andrew Baird, another of the report’s authors.

The scientists said the focus should be on protecting the surviving corals, which number about a billion after the two bleaching events in 2016 and 2017.

“They are the ones that are going to refeed and repopulate an altered reef into the future,” Hughes said, adding that one way to maintain their health was through improving water quality by reducing coastal pollution.

Efforts to curb climate change, such as through the Paris Agreement to cap global warming at under 2.0 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit) below preindustrial levels, were also critical.

“We’ve now seen four bleaching events (1998, 2002, 2016 and 2017) on the Great Barrier Reef with one degree [Celsius] of global average warming,” he said. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur Municipality of Narvacan BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur Municipality of Narvacan BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/ distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder contract:

THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/ distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder contract:

Name of Contract

Name of Contract Location Brief Description

Location

Brief Description

: Construction of Flood Control Projects/Storm Drainage/Seawall (Cluster FC-I) : Barangays Abuor, Aquib, Ambulogan, Banglayan, Bantay Abot, Cadacad, Camarao, Casilagan, Codoog, Estancia, Lanipao, Marozo, Quinarayan, Rivadavia, San Antonio, San Pablo, Sarmingan, Sucoc, Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur : Construction of Stone Masonry/Gabion Baskets Embankment Protection, Storm Drainage Canal & Dredging of Waterways

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 39,800,000.00 Contract Duration : 360 Calendar Days Source of Fund : R.A. 7171 FY 2014/Appropriation Ordinance No. 12A, S. 2017 Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / Schedule 1. Issuance of Eligibility Documents - April 20-May 03, 2018 2. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents - April 20-May 03, 2018 3. Pre-bid Conference - April 27, 2018 – 2:30 PM/BAC Office 4. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) - May 11, 2018 - 2:30 PM/BAC Office 5. Bid Evaluation - May 14, 2018 6. Post Qualification - May 15, 2018 7. Approval of BAC Resolution/Issuance of Notice of Award-May 16, 2018 8. Contract Preparation and Signing - May 17, 2018 9. Approval of Contract - May 18, 2018 10. Issuance of Notice to Proceed - May 21, 2018

The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P 25,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

The Provincial Government of Quirino reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

The Local Government Unit of Narvacan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of Bidding, or not to award the contract and assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

For further information, please refer to:

April 20, 2018

Engr. Dencio A. Pagbilao Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Province of Quirino +639175007275

(SGD.) ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman

(SGD) ENGR. DENCIO A. PAGDILAO BAC Chairman (MS-APR. 20, 2018)

NEW YORK―Hollywood is falling back in love with the movie musical, seduced by the success of Oscar winner “La La Land” and buoyed by a wave of live-action Disney adaptations.

In a Tinseltown landscape largely dominated by superheroes, 2017 still saw “La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman” and “Beauty and the Beast” pull in more than $2.1 billion at the global box office.

Disney is the backbone of the revival, with a “Mary Poppins” sequel expected later this year―with Emily Blunt taking over the iconic role of the magical nanny―and new live-action versions of “Aladdin,” “Dumbo” and “The Lion King” due in 2019.

But Universal’s “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” and a “West Side Story” remake from Steven Spielberg are also in the cards, along with an updated version of “A Star Is Born” starring Lady Gaga.

“There’s a whole generation of people who grew up watching animated musicals, and it kind of cultivated an audience for that,” says Andy Kirshner, a composer, performer and professor at the University of Michigan.

“There’s more of a tolerance for fantasy today.”

Before this renaissance of sorts, the movie musical had not completely vanished from Hollywood―”Chicago” snagged a Best Picture Oscar in 2003, and films like “Grease” and “Mamma Mia!” opened to popular acclaim.

But those hits were exceptions: the genre more or less fell out of favor on the silver screen after 1965’s “The Sound of Music.” AFP

‘Catastrophic’ coral die-off on Great Barrier Reef

Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF QUIRINO Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR Hemodialysis Lease Package for 17 Sets (Price Per Treatment per Patient/Unit) Contract No. PB-GS-2018-003 April 20, 2018 1. The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino, through the General Fund intends to apply the sum of P 15,381,600.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for PBGS-2018-003 Hemodialysis Lease Package for 17 Sets (Price Per Treatment per Patient/Unit). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Movie musicals coming back in Hollywood

GRAFFITI. This picture

End of an era as Castro hands torch to Diaz-Canel HAVANA—Cuba is poised for the end of an era on Thursday as President Raul Castro steps down, formally handing power to his longtime deputy Miguel Diaz-Canel— and thereby ending his family’s sixdecade grip on the island.

The silver-haired Diaz-Canel, 57—a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013—will become the island’s first leader born after the 1959 revolution, and the first in 60 years who is not named Castro.

Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Raul, now 86, has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution.

Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency on Wednesday.

He will formally be confirmed as the country’s leader at roughly 9:00 am (1300 GMT) Thursday—the anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Fidel Castro’s forces defeated 1,400 US-backed rebels seeking to overthrow him. AFP

nurturing and protection,” Trump said.

“She will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family, both of which she served unfailingly well.”

Her son Jeb wrote: “I’m exceptionally privileged to be the son of George Bush and the exceptionally gracious, gregarious, fun, funny, loving, tough, smart, graceful woman who was the force of nature known as Barbara Bush.”

And his son George P. Bush tweeted: “I will miss you, Ganny ―- but know we will see you again.”

“Barbara inspired us all to be the best version of ourselves,” said Orrin Hatch, America’s longest-serving Republican senator.

Trump’s Democratic predecessor Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said “We’ll always be grateful to Mrs Bush for the generosity she showed to us throughout our time in the White House.” AFP

: Tourism Development : Narvacan, Ilocos Sur : Supply/Delivery and Installation of LED Streetlights, Tapered Galvanized Poles Schedule 40 with Base Plates, Bolts, Nuts and Washers and Bullet type CCTV Cameras

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 20,000,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 Calendar Days Source of Fund : RA 8240 FY 2015/Appropriation Ordinance 11-C-1; S. 2017 Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / Schedule 1. Issuance of Eligibility Documents - April 20-May 16, 2018 2. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents - April 20-May 16, 2018 3. Pre-bid Conference – May 02, 2018 – 2:30 PM/BAC Office 4. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) - May 16, 2018 – 2:30 PM/BAC Office 5. Bid Evaluation - May 17, 2018 6. Post Qualification - May 18, 2018 7. Approval of BAC Resolution/Issuance of Notice of Award - May 21, 2018 8. Contract Preparation and Signing - May 22, 2018 9. Approval of Contract - May 23, 2018 10. Issuance of Notice to Proceed - May 24, 2018

The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P 25,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The Local Government Unit of Narvacan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of Bidding, or not to award the contract and assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

April 20, 2018 (SGD.) ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman NOTED:

NOTED: (SGD.) ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor (MS-APR. 20, 2018)

(SGD.) ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor (MS-APR. 20, 2018)

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friday, april 20, 2018

QC names new sr. high school after natl hero Emilio Jacinto

Mindanao solar power project changes hands

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Philippine Competition Commission has approved the acquisition of Alterpower Specialist, Inc. of the shares of Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Fourth, Inc., allowing it to acquire a solar power project in Mindanao.

The PCC approved the acquisition as it “does not result in substantial lessening of competition in the relevant market, considering that post transaction, sufficient constraints remain from other market participants and does not result in increased likelihood of anti-competitive coordinated behavior.”

The PCC, an independent quasijudicial body created to promote and maintain market competition by regulating anti-competitive products, issued the ruling last April 12.

Alterpower Specialist, a local firm headed by businessman Jose Silvestre Natividad acquired Enfinity’s 28.6-megawatt solar power project located in a 34-hectare land farm in Brgy.

San Roque, Digos City, Davao del Sur. The solar project was completed in 2016 with Sterling and Wilson of India as its international engineering, procurement and construction contractor with Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp. as its local contractor.

Alterpower is engaged in the construction and maintenance of solar electric facilities.

The company’s majority shareholder is Clean Renewable Energy Solutions Philippines also known as Cresphil.

The Renewable Energy Law of 2008 paved the way for billions of pesos worth of investments from thousands of megawatts of renewable energy projects around the Philippines.

Renewable energy projects such as geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and solar accounted for 7,709 megawatts of installed power generation capacity in 2017, next to coal.

In BrIef DPWH paves road to Capissaan Caves THE Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 2 has started the P41-million rehabilitation works on the road going to the famous Capissaan Cave tourist spot in Nueva Vizcaya.

District Engineer Ronald P. Reyes of DPWH-Nueva Vizcaya Second District Engineering Office said travel to the caves in the upland town of Kasibu in the province will soon be faster and easier, as the access road that leads directly to the tourist spot is now being repaired.

The rehabilitation includes the concreting of 1,656 lineal meters of road section, which will improve vehicle mobility and provide a smoother travelling experience for the public.

Capissaan Cave is the fifth longest cave system in the country and offers rare kinds of calcite formations.

“When completed, we hope that more tourists will visit the Capissaan Caves,” Reyes said.

He said the road will also facilitate faster delivery of goods and services and transportation of agricultural products of the villagers to and from the town center.

He said the road project is funded by the Department of Tourism (DOT) under the DPWH-DOT Convergence Program. Brenda Jocson

Free services for NV inmates BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The Pugad Lawin sa Vizcaya Radio Communications Group will be offering free medical, dental and legal services to the inmates of the provincial jail in this town.

Provincial Prosecutor Eufrocinia Dumlao, PL president, said the activity dubbed “A Day with the Inmates” is part of their outreach program that provides various assistance to the needy and indigent.

The activity will be on April 22 at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Jail.

Dumlao said they will also offer gift giving and feeding services.

“This activity will provide our inmates dental hygiene, health and wellness check-up and the needed legal assistance regarding their cases in courts,” she said. Ben Moses Ebreo

By Rio N. Araja

PROUD GRADUATES. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan gives a speech during the

44th Commencement Exercises of the University of Caloocan City at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. One of the graduates is former Manila Standard reporter Gigi Muñoz David (inset), who now heads the city’s Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office. She finished her Master’s in Public Administration and is greeted by the mayor and District 2 Rep. Dale Gonzalo Malapitan. Jun David

Binay hails 2 seniors, 2,680 UMak graduates

M

AKATI Mayor Abby Binay expressed her admiration for two senior citizens, both women, who recently earned a Certificate in Barangay Governance after completing, as city scholars, one year of the ladderized executive program offered by the College of Governance and Public Policy (CGPP) at the University of Makati (UMak).

Remedios Malabag Sta. Ana, 84, of Barangay South Cembo, and Teresa Pablo Jacinto, 65, of Barangay Pinagkaisahan, were among some 2,680 graduates who participated in the 45th Commencement Exercises of the cityrun university last Saturday at the PICC. “I am so impressed that these two women, despite their age, promptly took up our offer for scholarship to the elderly for various courses at UMak, which started only last year. I salute them for inspiring the youth of Makati to make the most out of the free quality education being provided by the city

government,” Binay said.

In 2017, the City Council passed ordinances granting free tuition and incentives to senior citizens who pursue and finish senior high school, college or post-graduate studies at the city’s public schools, including UMak. “Nanay Remy” (Sta. Ana) and “Nanay Tery” (Jacinto) are both working in Barangay Pinagkaisahan as health worker and as utility worker, respectively. They both decided to enroll at UMak when they learned of the scholarship offer of the city government.

The sprightly octogenarian thanked

the city government for the opportunity for higher learning and expressed her willingness to continue being a public servant of Makati.

“I was born here in Makati and I work here now. I am very much willing to continue serving the people of Makati,” stated Nanay Remy who has worked at Pinagkaisahan Barangay Health Center since 1996.

Her classmate and colleague, 65year old Nanay Tery, a high school graduate, also said she did not hesitate to grab the chance to be a UMak scholar and study for free even at her age.

After obtaining her Certificate from UMak, Nanay Tery now aspires to become part of the Lupon Tagapamayapa (Pacification Committee) of her barangay. She said her final paper dealt with the duties and responsibilities of the Lupon and hoped she would be given the chance to serve as a Lupon member.

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Thursday approved an ordinance to name a new senior high school facility after national hero Emilio Jacinto, the brains of the Katipunan.

He backed City Ordinance 2654, authored by District 2 Councilor Aly Medalla, to name the new facility as Emilio D. Jacinto High School in Barangay Pasong Tamo. The building will be constructed at Lot 715-A-5 in Pasong Tamo.

Meanwhile, Bautista also signed an executive order supporting the senior high school work immersion program within the city government offices.

EO 1-2018 cited the need for schoolindustry partnerships to offer senior high school students a venue for practical, on-the-job, enterprise-based training.

Bautista tasked various city hall departments and offices to accept and train SHS students.

In another development, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to extend “hilot” native massage training course to help detainees develop skills and be gainfully employed once they are ordered released from detention.

At least 100 detainees at the Quezon City Jail were able to go through the 18-day “hilot” training.

“When they are released, they face an environment that is challenging and actively deters them from becoming productive members of society,” Belmonte said.

“So, we thought of teaching them useful skills that they could use to start a small business that need little or no capital at all,” she added.

Belmonte tapped the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide such training skills.

The vice mayor, daughter of former mayor and now Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., recently led the graduation ceremonies for the first batch of trainees.

“We really need to rethink the way we treat former criminal offenders.

And it is our moral duty, every one of us, to welcome them back, give them another chance in life,” she said.

NOTICE OF DISOLUTION Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of GLOVE CONSULTANTS, INC. (hereinafter referred to as the “CORPORATION”) in a Meeting of the Board of Directors held on 27 November 2013, approved shortening of the term of the Corporation for which the Corporation is to exist to a period up to 30 June 2014, which resolution was duly ratified by the affirmative vote of the stockholders owning and representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock of the CORPORATION at the stockholders’ meeting held on the same day.

By: The Board of Directors

(SGD.) THOMAS GLUCKMAN (SGD.) ANDREW GLUCKMAN (SGD) LORNA U. TAN (SGD.) MARITONI Z. LIWANAG (SGD.) ARNIDA VELASQUEZ

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) Quezon City) S.S. DIRECTORS’ CERTIFICATE WE, the undersigned members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Secretary of GLOVE CONSULTANTS, INC. a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines and currently under the process of dissolution, with registered address at 9-A Strata 100 Bldg., Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, do hereby certify: 1. The attached Articles of Incorporation is a true and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation of GLOVE CONSULTANTS, INC. as amended by at least a majority vote of its Board of Directors at a Meeting held on 27 November 2013 at 9-A Strata 100 Bldg., Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, and duly ratified by the affirmative vote of the stockholders of the Corporation owning and representing at least 2/3 of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation at the Special Stockholders’ Meeting held on the same day at 9-A Strata 100 Bldg., Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila.

2. The Fourth Article of the Articles of Incorporation was amended in order to shorten the term for which the Corporation is to exist to a period up to 30 June 2014, as follows: “FOURTH: That the term for which the Corporation is to exist is for a period ending on 30 June 2014.”

BIRTHDAY TREAT. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada feeds a boy spaghetti as he celebrates his 81st birthday with the children of the Association De Damas De Filipinas orphanage in the city on on Thursday.

Norman Cruz

More projects in Mt. Samat pipeline

By Butch Gunio PILAR, Bataan—The Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its projects, a side event of the observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan at the Mt. Samat Shrine here.

The projects include expansion and improvement of the underground museum, commercial spaces, cable cars and green transportation, a landscaped memorial, walking trails, and a view deck.

“Of course, more tourists arriving here because of the FTEZ development is good for the economy of the province. But more than that, we want to create patriots especially the millennials by inspiring them with the sacrifices of the World War 2 veterans,” said Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia.

Pilar Mayor Alice Pizarro said: “We want inclusive growth here at FTEZ prioritizing the employment of our residents. We are lucky that Mt. Samat Shrine is in our town.”

“The proposed Center for World War 2 Studies here will help us rewrite the history of the war from the point of view of Filipinos,” PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina said.

Usec. Reynaldo Mapagu of the Department of Defense’s Civil, Veterans and Retiree Affairs was also present during the ceremony.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, who jokingly remarked she forced Carolina to invite her to the event, said: “It is a sentimental journey for me to be here. I remember the building of Mt. Samat Shrine was one of the first projects of my father [former President Ferdinand Marcos]. And during the time of Kabataang Barangay, we planted trees in this area.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this 23rd day of November 2017, at Quezon City, Philippines.

(SGD) THOMAS GLUCKMAN (SGD) ANDREW GLUCKMAN Director & Chairman of the Board President/ Director TIN 121-064-682 TIN: 435-666-208 (SGD.) LORNA U. TAN (SGD) MARITONI Z. LIWANAG Director Director TIN 107-762-256 TIN: 150-919-125 (SGD.) ARNIDA VELASQUEZ Treasurer/ Director TIN: 125-716-835 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 23rd day of November 2017 affiants exhibiting to me the following: Name Andrew Gluckman

Competent Evidence of Identity Passport No. 561588041, issued on April 19, 2017, New York, USA Thomas Gluckman Passport No. 505451148,issued on March 4, 2014, New York USA Lorna U. Tan Passport No. EC0169851, issued on 30 January 2014, Manila SSS#04-0575776-7 Arnida Velasquez CTC No. 19309197 issued on 06 April 2017, Marikina/ SSS #03 3328875-1 Maritoni Z. Liwanag CTC No. 26398945 Issued on 11 January 2017, Pasig City/ SSS#03-966054-78 Doc. No. 319 Page No.64 Book No.12A Series of 2017

(SGD.) ATTY. BENJAMIN F. ALFONSO NOTARY PUBLIC Until December 31, 2017 PTR No. 3805840- 1/16/2017 Quezon City IBP No. 1038379 – 11/24/2016 Quezon City ADM. MATTER NO. NP-046 (2017-2018) Roll No. 13296 TIN NO. 177-967-619-000 ADD., NO. 34 ASSETS ST., GSIS VILL. PROJ. 8, Q.C. MCLE NO. II-0020276 – 29 OCTOBER 2011

(MS-APR. 13,20 & 27, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Bernadette lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardlifE friday, april 20, 2018

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Life culture and media

FOLK DANCE. The different municipalities of Basilan perform theatrical performances depicting their values and traditions.

Merrymaking, the Basilan way

During the recent Pakaradjaan festival, Governor Jim Hataman Salliman challenged Islamic purists by holding HE recent Pakaradjaan, the annual festival that marked the the Mussah si Basilan or the Pearl of 44th founding anniversary of the province of Basilan, was Basilan. held last Feb. 27 to March 7. With a theme of celebrating the Despite the tradition that Muslim pride and culture of the indigenous Yakan tribe, Basilan Governor women are not to display themselves in public, the pageant defied Western Jim Hataman Salliman, elder brother of Autonomous Region for ideals of physical beauty. It became the Muslim Mindanao Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, said the province’s search for a young, elegant, Pakaradjaan festival aimed to make Filipinos more aware that the intelligent, and most importantly, pioriginal inhabitants of the region are from Sulu. ous representative. These candidates prayed several times and honed their The largest island in Sulu archi- ermen’s lives from going to the sea, pre- reading comprehension of the Quran.

“Their clothes should be culturally pelago, Basilan consists of the Muslim paring for fishing, catching their harvest, groups of the Yakans and Tausugs and to returning home from their expedition. sensitive. They should show that beauthe Christians called Chabacanos. The Despite having no training in dancing, the ty is in the character,” said Salliman.

“We looked for presence, for their viYakans are believed to have migrated students told their story with clarity. from Borneo where the people are short, The beauty of this festival is found in sion for their future, and for those who dusky in complexion, and have slanted the authenticity of the dances and mu- are role models in their communities.”

The winner, Florivie Caburnay, a eyes and straight hair. The Yakans are sic. While many folk dances may have farmers who cultivate coconut, abaca, been stylized by mainstream cultural student from Isabela, stood out among corn, cacao, and upland rice. Their most groups, there are cases where the sub- the six other participants for her poise and intelligence. She will help distinctive costume is the wraparound stance is sacrificed for the dazthe provincial government in sash on the torso and the skirt around promoting civic projects. tight-fitting pants.

The official attire for the catwalk were the head Breathtaking scarves and closed necktheatrical wear. Following the rules of performances Islamic modesty, there were Pakaradjaan, no exposure of elbows and which means “merankles. However, the pagrymaking” in the loeant also highlighted culcal dialect, was held turally and environmenin the capital city of tally driven fashion.

Isabela. Every year, The first part of the the different municipageant was the Repalities produce thecycled Gown portion, atrical performances which showcased lodepicting their values cal and found materiand traditions. als. Although the clothes The group from Akseemed outrageous, the bar won the first prize looks echoed the ecofor its story about a logical advocacies of cross-cultural love story the seven municipalibetween a Yakan maiden ties such as conservawho falls in love with a tion of the coral reef, Tausug. Despite the maid-waste management, en’s previous betrothal recycling, and disaster to another Yakan and her preparedness. tribe’s differences with the Caburnay’s costume Tausugs, they fought for was repurposed from their love against all odds. rice and flour sacks.

The 20-minute perfor perforThe hooped gown was mance began with a celdyed in bright colors ebration of Tausug and Yaand layered with gikan dances, with signature ant woven fans and moves that featured the paper cutwork. dancers’ sinewy arms and si h sa us M In her statement expressive hand gestures ed ty was nam ay of Isabela Ci rn bu 18 about the Tree of Ca that mimicked nature. Then 20 ie n iv aa or Fl karadj Basilan at the Pa Life, first runner-up came the confrontation beAnisa Malangkis, tween the Tausug and the zling fac- a student from Sumisip, wore a gown maiden’s fiancé in the tumahik or war dance, where the tor. On the other hand, these local and a crown made of dried coconut dancers showed their virility and sword dances seen in the festival have been flowers. Showing the resilience of the bamboo, second runner-up Jurin Culen skills. In the end, the maiden’s love for handed down from the tribal elders. the Tausug convinced her family and Through these kinds of cultural events, from Lamitan City wore a terno made her tribe. The winning team consisted the stories, songs, and traditions are pre- of bamboo buttons for the top and bamof seasoned dancers from the La Cultu- served as they are performed to the live boo fringes for the skirt. Other contestra Dance Troupe, which also performs music of the agung or wide rimmed sus- ants used recycled paper, dried leaves, in other parts of the Philippines. pended gongs and the kulintang, a group abaca coir, and other materials on their The first runner-up from Tipo-Tipo of gongs of different sizes. The events ball gowns.

For the Yakan-inspired Gown porpresented the paunjalay, an authentic also encourage the locals to maximize the Yakan wedding dance with the bride use of their famous Yakan textiles that are tion of the competition, the highlight and groom, whose faces painted to known for their bold geometric patterns was the modern use of Yakan weaves for the evening gowns. Weaving is the ward off evil spirits. The style is char- and bright colors. province’s greatest heritage, said Govacterized by eloquent arm and wrist celebration of beauty and culture ernor Salliman. He wanted to correct movements and delicate footwork.

In the conservative Muslim world, the misconception that the Yakan fabThe second runner-up from the fishing town of Maluso were students who show- women do not compete in a “beauty rics originated from Zamboanga and cased a performance mimicking the fish- contest” but in a cultural pageant. not Basilan.

By ayunan Grande Gunting

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The gowns were spectacular examples of creativity and culture. Caburnay’s yellow gown was accentuated with python patterns on the bodice and sleeves.

Malangkis, who was also crowned Miss Tourism, wore a royal purple column gown with diamond patterns. Culen, also named Miss Youth Ambassador, donned a black gown with colorful rainbow weaving and native brass buttons on the shoulders.

Governor Salliman said that the winners, as role models, can communicate their experiences as Muslim women to the rest of the country and change naive views about Basilan. Salliman said, “Culture is about honoring the best of the past and the present, wherein lies the foundation for a bright future. By encouraging our people to continually celebrate our customs and traditions, our values will continue on to the next generations.”

Jack of None's award-winning EP, 'The Tattle Tale Heart'

Filipino art-rock band wins at Independent Music Awards 2018

FILIPInO experimental art-rock band Jack of none bags two awards in this year’s Independent Music Awards held on March 31 at The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in new York City.

The group, composed of siblings A.G., Maxine, and Julian Syjuco took home the Best Eclectic EP of the Year for their EP/album entitled The Tattle Tale Heart, and the Best Eclectic Producer of the Year for A.G.’s work on the band’s second solo album, Who Shot Bukowski?.

Jack of none was also nominated in Best Spoken Word Album of the Year, Best Spoken Word Song of the Year, Best Eclectic Album of the Year, Best Eclectic Song of the Year, Best Album Art, Photography and Design, and Best Lyric Video of the Year.

The competition’s panel of judges was composed of esteemed musi-

cians and artists from around the world, including Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Sepultura, Slayer, Ben Lee, The Kills, Sublime, Macy Gray, Passenger, and more.

Jack of none is Manila’s foremost experimental art-rock band, critically-acclaimed for their unique fusion of poetry and spoken word with industrial electronic rock music. They are described as “a bold and courageous band composed of musicians and poets… Dark, thought-provoking, and most significantly, this band transcends music into the realm of pure art.”

In celebration of their recent win, Jack of none is giving out their award-winning EP, The Tattle Tale Heart for free on their official website. To download the four exclusive tracks, visit www.jackofnone.net.

Filipino art-rock band Jack of None, composed of A.G., Maxine, and Julian Syjuco, bags 2 awards at the Independent Music Awards 2018

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018 Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

nickie.standard@gmail.com

GMA-7 maintains nationwide TV ratings leadership

K-Pop boy group GOT7

GOT7 FANS WIN

#Twitter Best Fandom Award, BTS makes history

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HILE the 13th Annual Soompi Awards (#SoompiAwards) was being held, K-Pop and K-Drama fans stayed close to all the action on Twitter as the microblogging site officially supported the annual event hosted by Soompi, the longest-running K-pop site that covers covering K-Pop news, music, and fashion.

In the Twitter Best Fandom award category, fans Tweeted their love for their favorite K-Pop group with the #TwitterBestFandom and #Team hashtags, generating nearly 42 million tweets worldwide over two 24-hour voting periods.

The number of unique voters on Twitter increased by 17 percent over the previous year, making 2018 the most popular Soompi Awards voting season on the site. #TeamGOT7 emerged the winner of the #TwitterBestFandom Award with nearly 40 percent of the total number of voting tweets and successfully defended their Best Fandom title for the third year running. Further cementing their status as a heavyweight in the Hallyu wave, GOT7

was also crowned “Best Male Group” and “Latin America Popularity Award” at this year’s Soompi Awards.

Ranked by the number of Twitter votes, #TeamGOT7 is followed by #TeamBTS, TeamEXO, #TeamSuperJunior, and #TeamMonstaX. Meanwhile, the top countries ranked by number of unique voters are Thailand, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, and USA. They are closely followed by Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and Turkey. #SoompiAwards, #TwitterBestFandom and many of the Twitter Best Fandom team hashtags also trended worldwide, proving once again that Twitter is the best place to join in live conversations on the

latest K-entertainment events. In fact, the #SoompiAwards hashtag was used in nearly 14 million conversations on Twitter globally.

Meanwhile, global phenomenon BTS set a new record this year when it won in six categories as a group. The boy band earned the title of Artist of the Year, and received the Album of the Year award for You Never Walk Alone, Song of the Year for “DNA,” Best Collaboration for their “MIC Drop” remix with Desiigner and Steve Aoki, Best Choreography for “DNA,” and Fuse Music Video of the Year for “Spring Day.” BTS member V (Kim Taehyung) also received the Best Idol Actor award for his performance in Hwarang.

The Soompi Awards is the largest international award program that recognizes the best in Korean television and music each year. The winners of the 13th Annual Soompi Awards were recently announced, with the results based on the combination of music chart scores and over 163 million votes by readers from more than 190 countries. Nickie Wang

Sherlock Jr.’s Ruru Madrid and Gabbi Garcia

GMA Network sustained its lead in the nationwide television ratings competition in the first quarter of 2018 based on the latest data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider.

From January 1 to March 31 (with March 25 to 31 based on overnight data), the Network posted an average of 42.1 percent total day people audience share in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), which was 3.5 points ahead of ABS-CBN’s 38.6 percent.

GMA continued to lead in NUTAM’s morning block with a people audience share of 40.5 percent versus ABSCBN’s 35.6 percent, while maintaining its strong performance in the afternoon block with 46.2 percent as against its rival’s 36.2 percent.

The Kapuso Network likewise won across all day parts in its bailiwicks, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day people audience share of 47.4 percent versus its competition’s 32.4 percent.

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.

In 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, 2 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency); and 1 advertiser.

With official data from January to March 24, the GMA consistently

ruled in Mega Manila with a 50.3 percent total day people audience share while ABS-CBN only picked up 28.5 percent.

New magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remained the most watched GMA show nationwide in the first quarter and was followed by primetime drama series Kambal, Karibal. Joining them in the list of top-rating programs in NUTAM were Magpakailanman, Super Ma’am, Pepito Manaloto, 24 Oras, Sherlock Jr., All-Star Videoke, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Ika-6 na Utos, 24 Oras Weekend, The One That Got Away, Sirkus, My Korean Jagiya, Imbestigador, Eat Bulaga, and Tadhana.

The network also dominated the lists of top-rating programs in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila respectively claiming 21and 24 spots out of the top 30 shows, respectively.

Meanwhile, viewers should also watch out for the Kapuso Network’s hottest program offerings this summer.

Soon on GMA Telebabad will be the Network’s much anticipated series The Cure featuring a powerhouse cast topbilled by Jennylyn Mercado, Tom Rodriguez Jaclyn Jose, Mark Herras, LJ Reyes, and Ken Chan, among others.

Set to premiere in May is the romantic comedy series Inday Will Always Love You, which sees the return of Barbie Forteza on primetime. Joining her are Kapuso hunks Derrick Monasterio and Juancho Trivino.

Mikee Quintos will team up once again with Kate Valdez in the upcoming family drama Extraordinary Love featuring newcomer Jo Berry.

Playing a very special role in the series is Superstar Nora Aunor together with Cherie Gil. On the other hand, Julie Anne San Jose returns to the small screen through the musical romantic comedy series My Guitar Princess with heartthrobs Gil Cuerva and Kiko Estrada.

TV SURFING Coco Martin’s ‘Ang Panday’ debuts on TV

PRIMETIME King Coco Martin once again wields his sword via the 2017 MMFF box office hit Ang Panday as the movie debuts on television this weekend, April 21 to 22, on ABS-CBN TVplus’ KBO, now available to all networks.

Ang Panday follows Flavio III (Martin), grandson of the original Panday, who grows up on the streets of Tondo. He gets caught up in gang fights but decides to change after getting released from prison. When the world needs the Panday the most, Flavio takes on the challenge by looking for the Panday, and wields it to defeat the forces of evil.

Also available this weekend using any SIM from all networks are The Love Affair, Woke Up Like This, Pwera Usog, and Bromance: My Brother’s Romance.

You may register using any prepaid or postpaid SIM. For prepaid, just load up (Globe, TM, Smart, Sun, TNT, or ABS-CBNmobile SIM) with P30; press the green / INFO button on your TVplus box remote to get your box ID; then text KBO30 APR21 <TVplus box ID> to 2366.

Is it reset or reconciliation in “I am Not a Robot” finale?

WILL their love story really go on reset after the Migo finally found out that Jia was just pretending to be Aji 3 in the last week of I am Not a Robot?

Jia thought she was already off the hook when she convinced Migo that she just modeled for the Aji 3 prototype. But truth was really bound to come out as Migo soon discovered that Jia was wearing the necklace he gave Aji 3.

Feeling very hurt and betrayed, Migo’s condition once again manifested all over his body and had an allergic attack.

Don’t miss the final week of I Am Not A Robot, after Hanggang Saan on ABS-CBN.

Global sensation BTS

Filipino-Greek student wins DZMM global singing tilt SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD student Anthony Carbonel emerged as the grand winner of DZMM Global Pinoy Singing Idol (GPSI) 2018 held recently at Gazi Music Hall in Athens, Greece.

Anthony prevailed over nine other finalists and won a trophy with a USD 1,000 grand prize for his astounding rendition of “Writings on the Wall” by Sam Smith.

Before winning the singing tilt, Anthony dealt with self-doubt but was encouraged by the love and support of his parents. “They inspired and motivated

Knowledge Channel’s docu on UST flooding, unusual family

DZMM Global Pinoy Singing Idol (DZMMM GPSI) grand winner Anthony Carbonel

me to go after my dream. They told me not to be afraid and use this experience to grow not only as an artist but also as a person,” he shared.

Named as first runner-up was Kleoniki Perikleous, who took home a trophy and USD 500, while Eunice Manigbas bagged a trophy and USD 300 as the second runner-up. Eunice was also The Filipino Channel’s (TFC) People’s Choice awardee and received USD 200.

The winners were chosen by a panel composed of ABS-CBN integrated news and current affairs head

Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN Europe Ltd. Country manager Luis Bariuan, and DZMM Usapang de Campanilla anchor Maresciel Yao. Aside from the grand finalists’ performances, Gerald Anderson and Morissette Amon also entertained the audience at the event. DZMM Showbuzz host Ahwel Paz and William de Leon hosted the program.

GPSI is annually organized by DZMM, ABS-CBN’s official AM radio arm in Mega Manila, and TFC, to discover and showcase the world-class talent of overseas Filipinos (OFs).

THE history behind the causes of University of Santo Tomas’s perennial flooding and the story of an unsung hero with an unusual family of people in need take the spotlight in Knowledge Channel’s Class Project: Winners’ Festival as it airs documentaries by budding filmmakers from UST and Leyte Normal University (LNU) today at 7:30 p.m..

UST students’ Usapang Balangay explores the floods that plague the university as a matter of course every rainy season. Audiences will get to learn the origins of country’s oldest university, which was built on a stretch of flat rice lands that lacked proper irrigation.

Meanwhile, LNU students’ Kupkop tells the story of Lola Ansing, a woman in a provincial town in Leyte who proves that family can come in many forms. Viewers will hear the story of Lola Ansing’s unusual family made up of neighbors she took under her wing—young children and elderly neighbors whom she cares for like family.

‘Supernatural’ Gets Animated in ‘Scoobynatural’

TWO beloved worlds collide in the upcoming episode of Supernatural when Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Castiel (Misha Collins) are transported into the animated world of Scooby-Doo where they join forces with the Scooby gang to solve a ghostly mystery.

The cast of Supernatural shared their excitement about the soon-to-be iconic episode during the recent Comic-Con. “I am pretty stoked about it. When we finished voicing the animation, we were like ‘Let’s do another one. That was awesome!’ We’d never been so eager to work before in our lives.” said Ankles.

“Doing the voiceover for Scooby-Doo was awesome. It was a real ‘pinch me’ moment.

Frankly, it was one of the moments when I felt—Man, I love this show,” Collins shared.

This highly-anticipated episode of Supernatural premieres on AXN 27 April, Friday at 10:40 p.m..

Motoring

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

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Xpander garners awards in Indonesia

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he new multipurpose vehicle from Mitsubishi Motors, Xpander has been named Car of the Year in Indonesia, the latest recognition of its highly successful launch.

The award was made by Otomotif, the leading Indonesian tabloid, and was collected by Kyoya Kondo, president of PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI), at a ceremony held today. The Xpander R also won in two other categories in Otomotif’s 2018 awards – Best of the Best MPV and Best of Small MPV (Best Low MPV).

Since Xpander’s launch last August,

dealers at MMKSI have taken 60,000 orders for the class-leading small MPV, which was designed specifically for the needs of the fast-growing Indonesian auto market where MPVs are a popular category. Last month, Xpander ranked among the top 3 best-selling models in the small MPV segment.

The Xpander is a small but roomy and comfortable seven-seater MPV with plen-

ty of space for luggage. It combines an attractive and comfortable design with the toughness and reliable performance for which the Mitsubishi brand is renowned.

The vehicle is produced at Mitsubishi Motors’ state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Bekasi Prefecture, West Java, which was inaugurated in April last year

by President Joko Widodo. The factory, the result of a $540 million investment, employs 3,000 workers and is capable of producing 160,000 vehicles a year.

The Bekasi plant will shortly begin exporting XPANDER to the Philippines and Thailand, reinforcing Mitsubishi Motors’ strong market positions in the ASEAN region.

Osamu Masuko, chief executive of

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, said: “We are very grateful to have received this award from Otomotif, which is a recognition of the wonderful reception that XPANDER has been given by the people of Indonesia. Many people had a hand in this success, including our friends and business partners at MMKSI and the Indonesian government. Years of careful research went into the design of the XPANDER, a modern MPV that meets the needs of Indonesia’s hard-working families.”

Panji Maulana, chief editor of Otomotif, said: “The Car of the Year is selected from among the winners in each category that have been evaluated from many aspects such as design, features,

performance, handling, fuel consumption, price and the latest model. And our editorial judging panel takes into account sales, community engagement and value for money. The Mitsubishi Xpander is a worthy winner for 2018.”

The Xpander was the first all-new vehicle from Mitsubishi Motors since a strengthened management team at the Japanese automaker embarked on a new growth and recovery strategy.

Under the company’s Drive for Growth plan, the company is investing more than $5 billion to improve its product line-up, building on its traditional strengths in four-wheel drive, sports utility vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

24/7 emergency roadside assistance for KTM riders

Dual clutch transmission (DCT) makes the Soul more fun to drive.

When ‘Soul searching’ leads to Kia SINCE its introduction into the Philippine market, the Kia Soul has become the choice for the young, confident auto-buyer that also has a taste for the individual and unique. Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, has expressed their satisfaction with bringing in a vehicle that you can easily pick out in traffic in the sea of similar silhouettes.

The market for the Kia Soul not only values uniqueness in its aesthetics, but also for the innovation in technology that has become a hallmark of the vehicle. Kia has selected the Soul as the platform for some of their most daring developments in the field of automotive engineering.

The Soul is available as a futuristic, fully Electric Vehicle and is also Kia’s

chosen test vehicle for the development of their Autonomous Driving technology.

CAC first introduced the Kia Soul to the Philippines in August of 2009. At the time, Kia engineers were already in the early stages of developing their 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission or DCT in their Namyang, South Korea Research and Development facility.

It was introduced to the market in 2015 aboard the Kia Cee’d GT-Line and eventually found its way into the Kia Soul in late 2016 with CAC making it available to the Filipino public in 2017.

While based on a manual transmission, driving the Soul DCT is as easy as any other car with an automatic transmission.

By separating odd and even gears into separate clusters, each operated by its

own independent clutch, the DCT combines the smooth and easy gear changes of an automatic transmission with the fuel economy benefits that are associated with manual transmissions. In the Soul, this translates to an average of 5% improvement in acceleration times and a 7% improvement in fuel efficiency.

More than just its standout looks, the Soul also stands out for what the consumer doesn’t see. The technologies that Kia has imparted into the Soul, speaks to a consumer base that is just as confident, unique and technology-savvy as the vehicles they drive.

Get to know more about DCT and the other technological developments found in the Kia Soul with the help from one of Kia’s knowledgeable sales representa-

KTM customers who will buy street-legal motorcycles on May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019 from authorized local distributor Adventure Cycle Philippines, Inc. and its growing network of dealers around the country are qualified to avail the nationwide emergency roadside assistance coverage through Ibero Asistencia Philippines, global market pioneer in roadside travel assistance.

Under an agreement signed recently by KTM and Ibero, KTM riders enrolled in the program can contact Ibero’s assistance coordinator through (02) 4594755, a 24/7 call center hotline in 86 areas in Luzon, 17 in Visayas, and 7 in Mindanao if they need motorcycle assistance like engine trouble, towing, removal of damaged unit or delivery of fuel or spare key. In the event that you lose your key, Ibero shall even cover the cost for replacing the key.

The assistance coordinator can also arrange for legal assistance, ambulance service, hospital admission, and accident coordination with relevant government units such as PNP, PNP-HG, MMDA, Skyway Patrol, among others in times of emergencies.

Other services available include lodging and travel expenses coverage of up to two nights at an agreed rate of up to P2,000 per night in case of immobilization, and if the motorcycle’s repair time is longer than 48 hours as established by the repair facility; or the arrangement of an alternate means of transportation to the intended destination; or reimbursement of alternative transportation expenses.

“Our customers deserve nothing less than the best after-sale services because our relationship with them does not end after the purchase,” says Dino Santos, COO, Adventure Cycle Philippines, Inc. “With Ibero Asistencia partnership; they get total peace of mind and utmost customer service available across the country.”

KTM is the first motorcycle manufacturer in the country to provide the most comprehensive emergency roadside assistance on all of its street-legal motorcycles.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

C4

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

Motoring

Results oriented Participants whoop it up after having a field day driving around several vehicles of various makes.

Petron field test delivers outstanding outcome

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S a fuel innovator, industry leader Petron Corporation is continuously looking for ways to provide Filipino motorists with the best possible products in the market.

Having achieved recognition as the best gasoline in the country for its Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, the company’s R&D team recently enhanced the formulation of its premium Petron Turbo Diesel to be the best diesel in the Philippines. Last January, the Petron TriAction Performance Run – Diesel Edition took off from Manila to Baguio for a week-long series of tests on challenging mountain roads from Baguio to Ambuklao, and then from Baguio to Halsema, t she highest elevation in the Philippine highway system, before finishing with a fuel economy run from Baguio back to Manila.

Faced with the challenge of measuring improvements in engine power, engine response, and acceleration, test drivers were asked to rate the performance of different diesel fuels in a stringent double blind procedure. Using a different diesel fuel each day for four days, the drivers drove the same winding, uphill-downhill route from Baguio City to Ambuklao Dam and back. All these while keenly observing whether there was an immediate engine response when going uphill after slowing down on a sharp curve, or if the engine does not feel strained when carrying a full load, or if the vehicle is able to accelerate smoothly even on long uphill climbs.

To ensure that Petron Turbo Diesel is able to deliver optimum performance across vehicle types, different vehicle

categories and brands were included in the field test. The test vehicles consisted of a BMW X1, a European luxury subcompact crossover; a Toyota Innova, the market leading utility vehicle; a Honda CR-V Diesel, the 2017 Car of the Year-Philippines; a Nissan Urvan, a popular people-mover; a Ford Everest and Ford Ranger to represent the American brand; Isuzu mu-X and Isuzu D-MAX for the leader in commercial vehicles; and a Ssangyong Tivoli XLV, a Korean SUV model.

When asked to rank the test fuels― designated only by letter codes―in the daily runs, the consolidated results indicated that Petron Turbo Diesel was rated by the drivers as delivering the best performance in terms of power, engine response, and acceleration.

Improved Fuel Economy Following the test protocol of the Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Economy Run, the vehicles traversed some 230.7-kilometers from the Petron station on Kisad Road, Baguio City, going through the relatively busy Marcos Highway, then on to the Tarlac-Pangasian-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), ending at Petron NLEX Southbound in Bocaue, Bulacan.

All vehicles delivered outstanding results, averaging 20% better than the official Fuel Efficiency Ratings (FER) posted in the 2017 DOE Fuel Economy Run. For example, the BMW X1 achieved 34.08km/L, which is 43% better than the 23.88km/L recorded in the DOE Run.

The Honda CR-V’s fuel consumption improved by 19% to 28.52km/L from 23.96km/L. The fuel efficiency results were similarly impressive for the other vehicles, as follows: Ford Everest – 27.21km/L; Toyota Innova – 23.4km/L; Ssangyong Tivoli XLV – 22.6km/L; Isuzu mu-X – 19.97km/L; Isuzu D=MAX – 18.44km/L; Nissan Urvan – 17.22km/L; and Ford Ranger – 17.08km/L. The Petron TriAction Performance Run – Diesel Edition was observed and certified by representatives from Department of Energy Automobile Association of the Philippines, and the Car Awards Group Inc. Enhanced Diesel Formulation

Petron Turbo Diesel has been further enhanced as a high-performance, technologically-advanced fuel. With robust multi-functional additives in its improved formulation, this superior diesel fuel has been designed to unleash the full power and optimum performance of the most advanced and sophisticated diesel engines.

Petron Turbo Diesel has high ignition quality and combustibility that maximize fuel energy conversion for maximum engine power and efficiency. It has the ability to effectively clean up and keep clean the fuel injection system to deliver exceptional protection and sustained optimum performance.

Auto importers feel pinch of tax reform AS THE market adjusts to the impact of higher auto excise taxes due to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, AVID sales declined by 2% from 23,317 units sold in the first quarter of 2017 to 22,758 units this year.

The association’s first quarter performance gave an indication of the industry’s stability amid the transitional or short-term effects of TRAIN on consumer sentiment and purchase behavior.

The Passenger Car (PC) segment, which appeared to be less volatile among the two segments, experienced a slight slowdown--from 9,247 units sold in 2017 to 9,189 units sold in Q1 of 2018.

Hyundai continued to rally for the segment as it posted a 4% growth while accounting for 68% of total PC sales.

On the other hand, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) totaled 13,569 units sold— 4% less against the 14,070 units sold in the first quarter of 2018. Ford leads the segment, recording the highest sales of 6,273 units in Q1 2018.

that it will achieve its target of 7-8% GDP growth in 2018. Infrastructure spending and private consumption is expected to sustain positive growth due to TRAIN. The lowering of personal income tax has translated to higher purchasing power while the foregone projected revenues will be offset by higher excise levies on petroleum and automobiles, among others.

The spike in prices of goods and services resulted in 4.3% inflation as of March 2018, possibly dampening consumers’ auto-buying intentions. Despite this, AVID maintains a rosy outlook behind the steady and strong demand for the excellent products that each member company offers. Expect AVID to capitalize on these trends as it catapults itself to greater heights in 2018.

“AVID capped off the first quarter with 22,758 units sold. Despite given market challenges, we remain resolute that the stabilizing market condition and the influx of new products and services will serve as ample boost as we wind-up for a stronger 2018”

Sales and Economic Outlook Anchored on the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, the government is confident

—Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo President, Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc.