Manila Standard - 2018 November 27 - Tuesday

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MILITARY CADENCE.

Special Action Force teams from the National Police Command have been deployed to areas in Samar, Bicol and Negros following President Rodrigo Duterte’s new Memorandum Order against lawlessness.

VOL. XXXII • NO. 285 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

‘Memo 32 upholds habeas’ Palace zaps ‘creeping ML’ yarn amid SAF deployments

Palace slams ‘harassment’ on Panatag

By Nat Mariano MALACAÑANG on Monday said the government will not allow any harassment of Filipinos after the Chinese Coast Guard drove away a local television crew from Panatag Shoal, stressing the Department of Foreign Affairs would look into the incident.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government will first find out what exactly happened during the encounter and determine if China has a policy of prohibiting journalists from conducting interviews in the area.

“First, we have to validate what hap-

pened there... I said, is it the policy of China to prohibit media men from going there or not? We don’t know that yet,” said Panelo in a Palace press briefing.

The spokesman urged the GMA-7 television crew that accompanied fishermen to Panatag to lodge a complaint so the government can act “appropriately” as the DFA validates the incident with China.

“We have to validate whether or not [it’s the policy of China to deny journalists from covering the area] because according to that [Chinese] Coast Guard, it was prohibited. So that’s why I told them, you have to give us a letter-complaint,

Joint oil-gas hunt with China illegal, acting chief justice says

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz ACTING Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday said the Philippines cannot enter into an agreement with China for joint exploration and exploitation in the West Philippine Sea. “Joint exploration and exploitation Next page

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Carpio’s CJ bid unimpaired by WPS issue

By Nat Mariano ASSOCIATE Justice Antonio Carpio’s stand on the West Philippine Sea issue will not affect his chances of being appointed as the next Supreme Court Chief Justice, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Carpio’s position on the longstanding territorial dispute would not be a negative factor in the latter’s bid to become the next top magistrate.

Panelo said, President Rodrigo Duterte even has been known to appoint a number of critics to his administration.

“If you will look at the history of the President, when he appointed Harry Roque, his spokesperson, I remember, during the campaign, he was against the President,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“He (Roque) was supporting another candidate and yet the President appointed him, and he became a member of the Next page Cabinet,” he added.

RESOLUTE JUSTICE. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio talks Monday about his determination to fight for Philippines’ sovereign rights over islands in the West Philippine Sea in a forum at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

New Housing council chief named

YELLOW LANE RULE. Heavy traffic squeezes vehicles at the southbound EdsaKamuning stretch in Quezon City, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announcing Monday an increase in the fines for public and private vehicles violating the yellow lane rule. Manny Palmero

THE Palace on Monday named Marcelino Escalada Jr. as the new secretarygeneral of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, replacing Falconi Millar, who was sacked after he was accused of extortion.

Before his appointment, Escalada was acting general manager of the National Housing Authority.

As HUDCC secretary-general, he will also take charge of the Marawi rehabilita-

tion project.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Millar was removed after a company, to which HUDCC owes money, accused him of demanding money in exchange for the release of the payment.

Panelo said an investigation ordered

by President Rodrigo Duterte showed that the allegation was “valid.”

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Mayon Volcano acting up again

‘Tomas’ weakens as it reenters PAR

MOUNT Mayon in Albay spewed ash again on Monday morning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, in a bulletin issued 10:15 am on Monday, said two phreatic eruptions were observed between 7:59 am and 8:05 am. Next page

SEVERE Tropical Storm “Tomas” (international name “Man-yi”) has continued to weaken as it reentered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday morning.

Next page

By Nat Mariano, Francisco Tuyay and Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE deployment of troops to some parts of the Philippines is not a prelude to a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus or martial law, the Palace said Monday.

Reacting to speculation by the administration’s critics, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said troops were sent to reinforce the military and police in Samar, Negros Island and the Bicol region, which have experienced ambushes and destruction of property.

“We repeatedly said if there is any intention [to declare martial law], then it will have been declared, but there is none,” Panelo said.

On Thursday, the Palace released the Memorandum No. 32, which orders troop deployments to prevent “violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country.”

The order also authorized the enhancement of intelligence operations as well as the prompt investigation and prosecution of individuals or groups behind “acts of lawless violence.”

But Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares criticized the memorandum order, saying it could be a “prelude to more repressive measures such as martial law.”

On Monday, Panelo said the order was a “reaction to what iw happening” in those provinces.

“The memorandum precisely and expressly says that we should respect the rights of the individual. Memorandum Next page

China debt trap baseless, says Finance chief CLARK, Pampanga―The claims that the Philippines is in danger of drowning in Chinese debt are unfounded, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said here Monday.

“There is no danger of us being drowned from Chinese debt,” Dominguez said in a speech before the business community during Sulong Pilipinas 2018.

He made the statement even as Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the public did not know that the country owed $1.75 billion in five loan packages.

As a result, he stressed the importance of a Senate-approved bill mandating four Cabinet men to make two “national fiscal status” reports before a House-Senate oversight panel in a year.

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News

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Budget chief twits solons: Duty first before leisure

By Julito G. Rada CLARK, Pampanga―Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Monday lawmakers must do their duty so that the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019 will be passed before the end of the year.

He said he remained hopeful the budget would be passed by Dec. 31 this year.

“They [lawmakers] can work during holidays, you know. In the US, they work on Saturdays and Sundays. So I said duty first before leisure,” Diokno said at the sidelines of the Sulong Pilipinas economic briefing at the Clark Freeport Zone.

On Nov. 20, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed General Appropriations Act or the P3.757-trillion budget for 2019.

Lawmakers approved House Bill No. 8169 with a vote of 196-8-0, more than a month since they approved the 2019 budget on second reading on Oct. 3.

Diokno said with the recent change in leadership in both houses of Congress, there would not be any problems in the budget’s passage.

“The last two budgets we did not encounter any problem, so I do not know where is the [problem]... it’s been there...,” Diokno said.

Carpio’s...

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Panelo also cited the appointment of leftist personalities in Duterte’s Cabinet including former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, and National Anti-Poverty Commission head Liza Maza.

“Those members of the Cabinet coming from the left, they were attacking the President and yet they were appointed,” Panelo said.

“So, I don’t think you can derive a conclusion that just because someone is a critic of the administration, he cannot be appointed,” Panelo added.

Panelo admitted, however, that Carpio’s appointment as the next Chief Justice is still uncertain as the President will still have to decide on whether to follow the seniority rule or not.

Carpio, 69, is the most senior among the four other nominees– Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Andres Reyes Jr. In August, Duterte appointed Teresita de Castro as the chief justice based on seniority.

New Housing...

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“There was a complaint. There was a sworn statement and the President ordered its investigation. And there was a credible basis that validated the complaint,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Monday.

He said the complaint came from a representative of the company that had receivables from HUDCC. “According to that sworn statement, the complainant was asked to give money for its release. It happened to him twice, but the affiant refused. Instead of giving, he executed an affidavit, he filed a complaint,” Panelo said, adding he could not identify the company of the specifics of the project it was undertaking with the HUDCC. Asked if the government would support the filing of charges against Millar, Panelo said yes.

“Definitely, we will. That’s the policy of the government [against corruption],” he added.

On Thursday, the President, who admitted that he is having a “hard time” combatting corruption in his administration, said he dismissed Millar because of corruption.

Millar denied the allegations against him, and labeled the complaint “an obvious demolition job.” Nat Mariano

‘Tomas’...

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In its 11 am bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tomas was expected to weaken into a tropical storm, is not expected to make landfall, and has no direct effect on any part of the country.

Tomas was last observed at 1,195 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

Sea travels will be risky on the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern Luzon and the Visayas due to very rough seas associated with the surge of the northeast monsoon. PNA

Arroyo focuses on House oversight over agencies

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE House of Representatives will shift its focus on its oversight function over government agencies to ensure the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte are properly implemented, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday.

T

She said the House was either finished or almost done in passing several Palacebacked measures that Duterte mentioned during his State of the Nation Address in July.

“For the remaining months of the 17th Congress, the House is prepared to give the implementing departments and agencies the support that they may need, to the extent that they make this pivot from policy to action,” Arroyo said during her luncheon meeting with House reporters.

She also supported the decision of House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez to summon Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to explain the government’s alleged massive underspending amounting

to P1.3 trillion in 2017. Suarez, representative of the third district of Quezon, is the chairman of the House oversight committee.

“The oversight wants to look into the underspending, that is a very good function, that is a very good intention,” Arroyo said.

“This is a free assembly with freedom of thought and freedom of action as long as you stay within the parliamentary rules. If they want to have a question hour, it’s their call.”

Suarez, who filed a resolution to call Diokno, said Duterte may not know the real situation on the ground, and that his economic managers may not be telling

the whole truth to him, including the unemployment problem.

Arroyo said the House oversight committee will exercise its function objectively.

“I think oversight has a better tone than an inquiry supposedly in aid of legislation,” Arroyo said.

“We’d like to find out what are the reasons why and how we can help address those reasons. The whole idea is to help.”

Arroyo also said that during the first two-and-a-half years of the Duterte presidency, the Executive put in place a set of policies to guide the country’s economic and infrastructure development in the coming years.

“For its part, the Legislative enacted a set of laws in support of those policies. This week, the House can report with confidence that it has already either passed, or is in the final mile of the effort to pass, the President’s legislative agenda as he announced in his 2018 State of the Nation Address,” Arroyo said.

“Thus the country already has a good policy framework in place, supported by good legislation.”

Oil companies follow Phoenix lead, roll back prices by P2.30

By Alena Mae S. Flores MORE fuel companies cut pump prices by as much as P2.30 per liter effective Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Eastern Petroleum Corp. issued separate advisories of the price rollback.

On Sunday, Chevron Philippines, which sells the Caltex brand of fuels, also announced the price rollback effective Tuesday.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, however, was the first to implement the rollback, the seventh round of consecutive weekly oil price decreases with a cut of as much as P2.20 per liter starting noon Saturday.

Phoenix also dropped the prices of gasoline by P1.10 per liter and diesel by P2.20 per liter effective noon of Nov. 24, it said in its advisory late Friday.

Unioil Philippines said that since Oct 15, 2018, the price of diesel has decreased by a total P6.20 and gasoline has gone down by a total of P9.15.

‘Last Tango In Paris’ director dies

Joint oil-gas...

Palace...

ITALIAN film director Bernardo Bertolucci, whose films include “Last Tango In Paris” and “1900,” has died in Rome aged 77, Italian media said on Monday.

Considered one of the giants of Italian and world cinema, Bertolucci was the only Italian ever to win the Oscar for best film, snapping up the award in 1988 for “The Last Emperor.”

The biographical masterpiece about the last Chinese emperor won a total of nine Oscars, all of those for which it was nominated.

He acquired notoriety for his 1972 erotic drama “Last Tango In Paris” starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider which featured a controversial sex scene involving butter.

He had been wheelchair-bound for several years and won an honorary Palme d’Or for his life’s work at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

Former festival president Gilles

Jacob said he was saddened by the death of “the last emperor of Italian cinema, the lord of all epics and all escapades.”

“The party is over: It takes two to tango,” Jacob told AFP. Born in Parma, northeastern Italy, in 1941, Bertolucci made films that were often highly politicised, dealing with workers’ struggles in “1900” or the fate of left-wingers in fascist Italy in “The Conformist.”

In 2016 several Hollywood stars accused him and Brando of abusing Schneider by keeping her in the dark about how the notorious butter scene in “Last Tango” was to be shot.

Bertolucci acknowledged Schneider was not aware that Brando’s character would use butter as a lubricant during the scene in which the actor simulates anally penetrating his lover, played by then 19-year-old Schneider. AFP

‘Memo 32...

“We received complaints that the NPA is interfering with the elections in these areas,” he said, noting that candidates who do not pay the rebels will be unable to enter certain areas.

Lawmakers on Monday said they are convinced the deployment of additional soldiers and police in Bicol region and some provinces in the Visayas is not a prelude to martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the entire country.

Reps. Raneo Abu of Batangas, Rolando Andaya, Jr. of Camarines Sur and Edgar Mary Sarmiento of Samar said the President’s Memorandum Order 32 on the deployment of troops in the provinces was intended merely to stop lawless violence and acts of terror.

“I fully support the initiative of the administration in deploying additional troops to curb lawless violence in some parts of the country. During times like these, we must remain vigilant against those who threaten our peace, for violence has no place in a democratic society such as ours,” Abu, a deputy speaker, said.

Andaya, the House majority leader, also backed the President’s MO 32.

“I support the order of the President as I believe that it was based on verified information which came into his possession which for security reasons cannot be declassified.”

At the same time, Andaya asked the leaders of the implementing agencies to respect civil and political rights and explain the breadth and limits of their powers and actions to the public, in a language easily understood.

“This is to avoid conflict, misinformation, [and] misperception,” Andaya said.

“Both the public and the police and the military should be mindful of the clear language of Section 4 of the order that civil or political rights are not suspended and all the constitutional rights of every individual shall be respected,” he said.

Sarmiento said President Duterte’s order to deploy more security forces in his province is an answered prayer for Samareños, who are constantly terrorized by private armed groups during the election season.

“Samar is a constant hotbed of political assassinations and harassment during election season. Many of these armed goons employed by some politicians are mostly criminals involved in other illegal activities and communist rebels involved in extortion,” Sarmiento said.

“This move to deploy more troops in Samar in other areas deemed as election hotspots is definitely a welcome relief for most people of Samar. It is an answered prayer for us,” Sarmiento added. With Rio N. Araja and PNA

is prohibited in our Constitution, which requires that the Philippines shall have ‘full control and supervision’ in the exploration and exploitation of natural resources,” Carpio said, in a text message.

Carpio’s statement came after expressing approval earlier to the Memorandum of Understanding forged by the two governments during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Carpio said the imminent joint development in areas in the WPS that fall within the exclusive economic zone of the country would violate the Constitution.

Carpio warned that “joint exploration and exploitation” as defined in the law “will diminish our full control and thus violate the Constitution.”

With this, Carpio said that the 60-40 sharing scheme with Beijing in the proposed joint exploration and exploitation of resources in WPS could not be pursued without violating the Constitution.

Over the weekend, the most senior SC justice expressed support for the MOU, saying it had safeguards to ensure that the sovereignty of the Philippines would not be compromised.

“I think we’re pretty safe. The government has included service contractors, so if we cooperate, if the cooperation with China on oil and gas activities will be through service contractors, we’re very safe,” he said.

Carpio pointed out that a service contract for the joint exploration of gas and oil in contested areas in the South China Sea could actually boost the country’s rights over its exclusive economic zones in the WPS. “I don’t have any objection with that kind of arrangement because if China comes in through our service contractors, those service contracts expressly recognize that the area falls within Philippine sovereignty or sovereign rights,” he said.

In a forum at the House of Representatives, Carpio said the only way to get China to follow the UN arbitral decision recognizing the Philippines’ rights in the WPS is to educate the Chinese people and to show them that they do not own 85.7 percent of the South China Sea as their government claims.

“The Chinese government will not comply with the ruling until the Chinese people understand that that historical narrative is totally false,” Carpio said, Carpio said the Philippines has the rightful claim over the WPS as the earliest maps dating back to the Spanish period show.

These maps were the 1734 Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas printed by the Jesuit priest Murillo Velarde and the 1688 Coronelli Terrestrial Globe. Both maps submitted as evidence in the arbitral case.

Carpio said the Philippines won the arbitration case and the country must assert its territorial rights over the disputed waters . “The tribunal said China does not own the South China Sea… Now how do you convince the Chinese government to comply with the ruling when the China population believe that they own it?” he said.

expressing your concern so that we can act appropriately,” Panelo said.

“We will refer your complaint to the DFA, and the DFA will write the government of China whether or not there is such a policy,” he added.

Asked if the incident was a violation of Philippine rights, given that Panatag Shoal is within the country’s exclusive economic zone, Panelo said: “We don’t know it yet. Maybe it was just the [Chinese] Coast Guard making their own threats.”

The spokesman, who is also the President’s chief legal adviser, stressed that the Duterte administration will not allow anyone to harass Filipinos anywhere.

“We will not allow anyone to harass us in any place, whether in our country or their country,” Panelo said.

“Anything that is violative of our rights as a nation, anything that violates our citizens, we will always find it objectionable,” he added.

Panelo revealed that he texted Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua to find out about the incident.

The ambassador, Panelo said, only gave him a “general” reply, telling him about the existing diplomatic process where the DFA files a formal communication to the Chinese government.

Earlier this month, GMA’s “Reporter’s Notebook” TV crew sailed with local fishermen toward Panatag Shoal, located within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, to film the lives of the fishermen in the area since the Chinese started occupying the reefs.

Two Chinese coast guard boats, however, stopped the crew from taking videos, conducting interviews, and navigating further, saying the Filipinos “were in China’s territory.”

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32 was done pursuant to the constitutional duty of the President to protect and preserve the people,” he said.

“There were series of acts committed against civilians, against soldiers and policemen in those areas and therefore there is a need to deploy troops, as well as Philippine National Police [PNP] forces in that area to secure the people,” Panelo said.

Panelo also denied suggestions that the troops could be used against the opposition in the 2019 midterm elections.

He said putting the President’s orders down in writing would provide guidance and transparency.

PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, said the deployment of two companies of the Special Action Force to the areas specified by MO 32 was not a sign of “creeping martial law.”

“Remember the state has the obligation to protect its citizens from lawlessness.

This is part of it. It has nothing to do with martial law,” said Albayalde after the Monday flag ceremony in Camp Crame.

Albayalde said an additional SAF company will be sent to Samar and another to the Bicol region while a SAF standby force intended for deployment to Mindanao will be realigned to Negros Island.

Commission on Human Rights chairman Jose Luis Gascon, on the other hand, slammed the Duterte administration for deploying troops to three provinces in the Visayas and a province in Bicol.

Gascon said the government could already “suppress lawlessness, violence and acts of terror” with existing personnel and resources in those areas.

He also warned that the troop deployments could be a prelude to martial law.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, said MO 32 is in effect only in four regions—Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and the Bicol region— where the communist New People’s Army rebels were still conducting atrocities against civilians.

Lorenzana also observed in a radio interview Monday that the President has publicly stated he will never order martial law nationwide.

“This Memorandum Order 32 is focused on areas where communist terrorists thrive, specifically in Bicol, Samar and Negros [Oriental and Occidental]. They continue to burn construction equipment and extort money from businessmen,” he said in Filipino.

Lorenzana said the troop deployments would also ensure fair and honest elections.

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Mayon Volcano...

From A1

Mayon Volcano has been under Alert Level 2 since late March this year, meaning “a moderate level of unrest.”

A phreatic eruption is steam-driven and occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits, Phivolcs said in a statement.

The eruptions generated grayish to gray-

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China...

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Recto said this was also needed with the “national debt meter moving up but without us knowing the details.”

“If the President has a report to the country, his people should also have report on the public debt,” Recto said.

Dominguez, citing data from the Department of Finance’s International Finance Group, said the loan from China accounted for only 0.11 percent of the country’s total debt.

“We borrow with great prudence, aware that it is the taxpayer who ultimately pays for the debt,” Dominguez said.

“Thus we take care that the funds we borrow are wisely used and produce sufficient economic benefits to make the debt service easier down the road.”

The Philippines finalized two loan agreements with China: $72.49 million for the Chico River Irrigation project and P18.724 billion for the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit on Tuesday.

Macon Ramos-Araneta ish white ash plume that rose 300 to 500 meters above the summit before drifting southwest, the agency added.

Sudden explosions, lava collapses, pyroclastic density currents, and ashfall can still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes of Mayon, Phivolcs said.

People should not be allowed to enter the 6-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone and the 7-kilometer-radius extended danger zone stretching from Anoling, Camalig, to Sta Misericordia, Sto Domingo in Albay, it added.

News

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace bids to reverse ruling on Trillanes case PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government will question the decision of a Makati City court not to issue a warrant of arrest against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV before the Court of Appeals for a coup d’ etat case.

Panelo said the Office of the Solicitor General will refile the appeal by the Department of Justice which failed to convince Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 to reconsider his Oct. 22 decision.

“We are very confident we are going to win this case. Even hostile members of the court cannot dispute evidence that will be presented to them,” Panelo told reporters. “Courts will always rule on the basis of evidence.

We feel that our evidence is very strong.”

Panelo is also President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief legal counsel. Nat Mariano

Mike Arroyo files travel motion FORMER First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel to Japan and Hong Kong starting late next month.

In filing his travel motion at the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division, Arroyo said he plans to leave the country from Dec. 26, 2018 to Jan. 6, 2019.

“The Honorable Court has, for many times before, permitted him to travel and he has always returned here as it is here where his family and business interests are, hence, he has no reason not to return. He is, thus, not a flight risk,” Arroyo said in his motion.

From the Philippines, Arroyo will fly to Japan from Dec. 6, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019 where he will be billeted at the Oakwood Premier Hotel Tokyo.

While in Hong Kong, Arroyo will stay at the Shangri-La in Kowloon for the rest of his trip from Jan. 1, to 6. Maricel V. Cruz

BI agents nab ‘fake’ Guatemalan national IMMIGRATION Officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrested an African woman who attempted to leave the country for Europe in the guise of being a Guatemalan citizen.

The fake Guatemalan citizen, identified as Desiree Dalila Sanchez, was intercepted at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1 who was about to board a China Airlines flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

“The officer inspecting her documents noticed irregularities on her passport,” said Medina.

“Our forensic document examiners were able to confirm— the passport was fake,” BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said.

He said the arrest is another addition to a series of interceptions of illegal aliens attempting to use Manila as a transit point to first world countries.

“These schemes will not succeed, as we have highly skilled officers, as well as high tech equipment that can detect fraud within seconds,” Medina said. Vito Barcelo

NO TO CHED MEMO.

Student activists march to the Supreme Court on Friday, Nov. 26, 2018, to condemn CHED Memo No. 20 that aims to strike out Pilipino and Philippine literature as core subjects in college.

Norman Cruz

PNP to monitor local pols with links to crime groups W ITH the midterm elections a few months away, intelligence reports indicate that some local officials have linked up with kidnap-for-hire gangs, presumably to raise funds for their campaign.

The intel reports, although still to be verified, have prompted the national police leadership to monitor the situation, especially in Mindanao, where kidnappings are rampant.

According to PNP chief Director General Oscar Alabayalde, the PNP is still validating reports of “active collusion” by some local politicians who may be engaged in such activities “presumably for fund raising purposes.”

“Reports of this nature have been monitored in some parts of Mindanao, particularly in known areas of operation of kidnapping gangs,” Alabayalde told reporters in a press briefing.

“This is quite dangerous because of upcoming elections, especially in Mindanao where kidnapping still happening,” he added.

Albayalde, however, said that it is difficult to conclude that there was collusion among politicians and criminal element but stressed that there was still a need to monitor their activities.

“Unang una hindi pa natin ma-establish na there is collusion. Napakahirap, but sometimes you just have reason to believe na merong collusion ‘yan. ‘Yung kasing pagkuha ng physical evidence, ‘yung parang magli-link doon sa political or local chief executive, napakahirap,” (We haven’t established that there is collusion. It’s very difficult to dod that, but sometimes you just have reason to believe there is collusion. Sometimes getting physical evidence that would link a political or local chief executive is very difficult.) he said.

The PNP chief added that even the exact number of those who have alleged links with criminal elements are still being verified.

But he assured the public that they will only build a case against politicians based on intelligence reports gathered and validated by the PNP. Meanwhile, the PNP said it will go after police personnel who will be found inside casinos or any gambling places in

the country.

Albayalde said those who will be caught will face outright dismissal from service “at the very least,” The PNP chief made the announcement in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning the police not to enter Okada Manila, a casino in Parañaque City which he described was a place for “the lowlife in society.”

“They will face dismissal... from the service because that is a violation of a direct order,” Albayalde told reporters.

The PNP chief also reminded police that aside from Duterte’s warning, existing laws prohibit police officers and uniformed personnel from entering casinos or gambling establishments.

He cited the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, various presidential decrees, and Memorandum Circular 6 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in 2016, as among the pertinent laws on the ban.

Albayalde, however, said that he does not know of any specific incident of violation on the part of uniformed personnel in recent times, but added that the PNP continues its monitoring of its personnel. Francisco Tuyay

Okada was ousted based on ‘suspicion’—son

By Rey E. Requejo THE son of casino mogul Kazuo Okada has testified that he moved for the removal of his father from their familyowned company merely on suspicion of impropriety and not based on concrete evidence.

Tomohiro Okada made this admission when he testified in the case he filed in Tokyo against his sister Hiromi to validate the May 2017 Trust Agreement between the two of them, in response to a question raised on his father’s illegal removal from the family-owned Okada Holdings Limited.

“There was nothing like evidence, and while there were no specifics, I was hearing talk about things that were very suspicious,” said the younger Okada, when asked about his knowledge of his

father’s alleged improprieties.

“There were various suspicious stories, though not in the sense of being specific,” he added.

When asked if the stories were just suspicions, the younger Okada replied “yes, of course.”

During his testimony, Tomohiro also admitted that he prepared the share trust agreements dated March 2 and May 23, 2017 for his sister Hiromi, which were also based on baseless claims of impropriety against his father.

“I said that there was the possibility that he was doing so,” said Tomohiro, who was also accused of coercing and deceiving his sister into signing the two share trust agreements.

When she took the witness stand, Hiromi Okada claimed that Tomohiro took advantage of her weak emotional

state to trick her into signing contracts that were disadvantageous to her and her father.

According to Hiromi, Tomohiro did not explain to her the contents of the documents that she signed, contrary to the claim of her brother.

“On that day [March 2, 2017], I was going overseas again the following day, so I was really tired. There was no explanation. In a few minutes I signed them and it was over,” said Hiromi, who reconciled with her father in August 2017.

Hiromi has filed a lawsuit in Hong Kong against Tomohiro and Okada Holdings to have the Trust Agreement she entered into nullified.

If the court favors Hiromi’s lawsuit, Kazuo Okada will regain majority control of his holdings, which could lead to taking back control of his casino business.

Bill to help heirs of slain judges OKd

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has recommended for Senate action a bill providing support for the members of the judiciary by granting benefits to the surviving heirs of judiciary members who are killed intentionally while in the performance of their duties.

This came after the House unanimously approved House Bill 8121 which encourages what the bill describes as ‘young idealistic judges and justices’ to remain in the service and to dispense justice without fear.

The bill amends Republic Act 910, as amended, titled “An Act To Provide For The retirement Of Justices Of The Supreme Court And Of Court Of Appeals, For The Enforcement Of The Provisions Hereof By The Government Service Insurance System, And To Repeal

Commonwealth Act Numbered Five Hundred And Thirty-Six.” House Deputy Speaker Rep. Raneo Abu, principal author of the bill, expressed hopes that the Senate will pass the measure in the same enthusiasm as that of the House.

He said throughout the years, the country has experienced judiciary officials being assassinated, brutally killed, and assassinated by criminals in the hopes of obstructing the ends of justice.

He cited a report by the Amnesty International which states that from 1992 to 2015, some 22 judges were murdered or assassinated in the country. “This translates to two judges being killed annually.”

Abu said that as stipulated in Section 2 of the Republic Act No. 9946, as amended, when a judge or justice is intentionally killed while in service, the presumption is that the death is work-related.

FLAG CEREMONY. Newly-appointed Director General Nicanor E. Faeldon (center)

attends his first flag ceremony at the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa on Monday.

Norman Cruz

Palace backs Du30’s plan to revive ROTC program

By Nat Mariano A PALACE official backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to revive the Reserved Officers Training Corps, as this will instill discipline and nationalism to the youth.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Duterte wants to bring back the ROTC program in academic institutions to discipline students and teach them the concept of nationalism.

“The President wants ROTC revived because of the discipline, the ideals of being a nationalist,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Monday.

“Moreover, we have to prepare ourselves. We are the only unprepared country given to many war. We had our ROTC, I learned a lot, and I think the students will learn a lot from having a training,” he added.

The Palace official made the remark after youth groups voiced its opposition to the President’s wish to revive the ROTC as a mandatory subject in senior high school, citing the culture of violence and student rights violations that occured in the past upon its implementation.

Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns said its revival would only instill brutality, fascism, corruption, and impunity, stressing the Duterte administration does not have an ounce of moral ascendancy to teach the youth about respect for human rights.

Anakbayan-Cebu and Akbayan-Cebu also echoed Salinlahi’s sentiment, saying that the ROTC might only lead to abuses perpetrated by those who are in power.

Duterte, meanwhile, remained firm in his decision to call for the program’s revival.

Pangilinan warns to defer approval of NFA budget due to ‘corruption’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Francis Pangilinan on Monday warned that they would seek the deferment of the approval of P7-billion budget of the National Food Authority if it fails to submit a report on corruption that had hounded the agency.

During the hearing of the NFA proposed budger for next year, Pangilinan questioned NFA officials about the anomalies and illegal transactions within the agency.

The NFA, headed by OIC Administrator Tomas Escarez, was given

by Pangilonan until Friday this week to submit the report.

But Senator Cynthia A. Villar, who presided over the budget hearing, believes that the NFA will comply with the submission of the required report, saying “perhaps, they will submit because they would not want to delay their budget over time.”

She added that the NFA budget for buffer stocking will be used to buy palay from local farmers and to pay for their loans.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Distrusting China

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

by the militant and Left-leaning partylist representatives, I am all for it!

I refer to the move of President Duterte to deploy more members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to BiTHERE have been a lot of controver- col, Samar and Negros in the wake of sial reactions to the visit of Chinese increasing violence perpetrated by the President Xi Jinping last week and to New People’s Army. the signing of 29 deals especially that The communists are expected to proon the joint exploration for oil, gas and test such moves. They say it’s a prelude minerals. to martial law. I don’t agree.

Most of the Western press call the I am all for military and police presdeals part of the Chinese debt coloni- ence in areas where there appears to be alism or China’s debt expansionism as lawless violence, especially with the they cite countries that are highly in- upcoming midterm elections. Their debted to China—Sri Lanka, Pakistan, presence is needed to curb guns-forsome countries in Africa and even far hire, private armies and loose firearms. off Fiji Islands in the South Pacific.

We all know that in the local level, Here in the Philippines, we are as- candidates for governor, mayor, and sured that the controversial memoran- vice mayors take elections so seriously dum of understanding was drafted by that it’s a matter of life and death. no less than Foreign Affairs Secretary That’s why we see local officials Teodoro Locsin and yet to be imple- fielding family members and other mented after a year. This is to the ad- relatives—to prevent their rivals from vantage of the Philippines, conforming sharing the power. That’s how it is here. with the 60-40 ownership provision of I can’t forget that time in my homethe Constitution. town in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, where This assurance competing politiis further bolcians control opposite sides of the stered by the Sennational highway, ate, which still has Four in five to review not only so much so that the MOU on the Filipinos distrust companies of soljoint exploration diers were sent to China. Do you? but the other 28 guard the town. deals as well.

In Abra, where I was born, poliThus, things are still up in the air! ticians take elecThe contents, the amount of indebted- tions seriously so that somebody gets ness, the firms and agencies imple- killed every now and then. menting the deal and the benefits we In line with the President’s desire are supposed to derive from the deal to suppress lawless violence, I would are still subject to speculation. even recommend that the President The Duterte administration should should send more soldiers and cops in also make the other deals public to as- so-called election hotspots. In these sure us that our President did not sacri- places, local police can no longer be fice sovereignty in exchange for loans, trusted because they may have become grants, investments and other accom- the private army of some politicians. modations.

Filipinos are suspicious of China’s *** real motives because President Duterte Despite the fact that Makati Mayor does not protest China’s militariza- Abby Binay is doing an excellent job tion and occupation of the islands and for the citizens of the richest city in the shoals within the Philippine Exclusive Philippines, there are still some efforts Economic Zone. to derail her projects.

Eight in 10 Filipinos do not trust My gulay, I am referring to the fact China, according to a recent survey. that benefits for senior citizens like me Do you? and my wife are being held hostage by majority of the policy-making body of *** the city council.

Despite the noises and chest-beating Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Working with critics

T

HE three branches of government are equal and similarly independent. This is how the Constitution guarantees checks and balances in the system.

This is how a government of one is prevented, and how a healthy exchange of varying, if not diverse, opinions are encouraged. Excesses are capped, the best arguments win, and criticism is given and taken constructively to help each department do its job well.

All these sentence, however, are in the realm of the ideal.

In real-life politics, government officials are keen on appointing like minds and allies to work with them. This is not altogether illogical: We normally work best with people we trust and have a history with. Because we share the same vision and agree on methods, we get rid of resistance and opposition, and thus get things done faster.

But that is also where the danger lies.

To be fair, the predisposition for appointing only officials who hold back opposite views and outright criticism is not unique to this President. Predecessors have done the same, and have exhibited low tolerance for those who do not think as they do. Remember how former President Benigno Aquino III cas-

tigated the media who do not report favorably on him, or sidelined other elected officials who did not sport the same affiliations as he did.

In this administration, we have seen how loyalty is rewarded and how articulating opinion arrived at independently can cause people their jobs, even their good name.

This comes to mind as President Duterte prepares to choose from the Supreme Court justices short-listed by the Judicial and Bar Council. The next Chief Justice is expected to be named in the next few weeks.

The leading candidate is acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, the most senior among the magistrates, who has been bypassed more than once.

The last time he was considered

for the post, Carpio declined his nomination. He had just voted against the quo warranto petition that eventually ousted then-Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and he said he did not want to benefit from a decision to which he disagreed.

To say that he and the President are not on the same page in a fundamental national issue would be an understatement.

Carpio is known for his judicial activism in asserting our claim in the South China Sea, while the President has bent over backwards to avoid offending Beijing.

There are assurances, of course, from the presidential spokesman that this will not prevent the President from acknowledging the fact that Carpio deserves the post. Unfortunately, we have trouble taking the spokesman’s words seriously.

If at all, there must be distinction between criticism for politics’ sake, and substantive criticism.

One creates noise and discord; the other elevates discourse. We hope the President will be able to tell the difference.

Saving the seas of East Asia years of the leadership of the PEMSEA in ocean governance for the region. PEMSEA was created with and have lived up to its mission—to foster and sustain healthy and resilient coasts and oceans, communities and economies across the Seas of East Asia through integrated management solutions and partnerships. A regional inSTARTING today, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, tergovernmental organization based in the and culminating on Friday, Nov. 30, the Philippines, PEMSEA was funded by the East Asian Seas Congress will convene Global Environmental Facility in the early in Iloilo City. The EAS plays a vital role 1990s. Dr. Chua, who is now the Chair as an intellectual marketplace to convene Emeritus of the East Asian Seas Partnerpartners, collaborators, and stakeholders ship Council, hired me to be the legal exwithin and outside East Asia in sharing pert supporting PEMSEA in its earliest knowledge and experiences, in discuss- years and since then I have been involved ing trends, challenges and developments, with PEMSEA in various capacities, inin building stronger partnerships, and cluding as the current chair of the Partnerin charting future and sustainable plans ship Council. for ocean governance in the region. It is For over two decades, PEMSEA has prohosted by the Government of the Philip- vided solutions for effective management pines, organized by the Department of En- of coasts and oceans across the shared seas vironment and Natural Resources (DENR) of East Asia. We aim to proactively build and Partnerships effective interin Environmental governmental and Management for intersectoral partthe Seas of East nerships and exAsia (PEMSEA) pand the capacities The EAS Congress and supported by of countries and the Global Enviother stakeholdis an intellectual ronmental Facilers with innovamarketplace to ity, United Nations tive, cross-cutting Development Propolicies, tools and convene partners, gramme (UNDP), services for intecollaborators, and and Provincial and grated coastal and City Governments ocean management. stakeholders within of Iloilo. In addiAmong others, and outside the region. tion, the Congress PEMSEA applies will have several integrated coastal partnership hub management (ICM) conveners, includas our primary aping the ASEAN proach for generatCentre for Biodiversity, Korea Marine ing and sustaining healthy oceans, people Environment Management Corporation and economies.

(KOEM), Ocean Policy Research InstiPEMSEA was built on partnerships. For tute- Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI- over two decades, its Country and Civil SPF), International Petroleum Industry Society Partners have worked together, Environmental Conservation Association planning and implementing strategies for (IPIECA), International Council for Lo- the sustainable development of coasts and cal Environment Initiatives (ICLEI), In- oceans across the region. Eleven governternational Maritime Organization (IMO), ments are our official partners: Cambodia, International Union for Conservation of China, South Korea, North Korea, IndoNature (IUCN), RARE Philippines, Xia- nesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philipmen University, Florida International Uni- pines, Singapore, and Vietnam. versity, and others.

As our Executive Director Aimee The EAS Congress will celebrate 25 Turn to A5

EVERYMAN

The road to Katowice is powered by fossil fuels the recent release of a report claiming And yet, as world leaders take the that we only have until 2030 to keep stage giving speeches on committing STARTING the first week of Decem- global warming below 1.5 degrees, to enhanced action to combat climate ber, all eyes will be on Katowice, Po- many are hopeful that Katowice will change, and as delegations shuffle to airports all over the world for the anland as negotiators gather for the 24th nual two-week marathon of negotiaConference of Parties to the United tions, communities on the frontlines Nations Framework Convention on Cliare still up in arms to combat new fossil mate Change. Central to the agenda is We need to fuel projects and climate summits that the finalization of the Paris Rulebook, change that. are still being sponsored by fossil fuel a set of guidelines that will operationalcompanies. This, despite long-accepted ize the Paris Agreement. The rulebook scientific evidence that fossil fuels are is considered to be the heart and soul the number one contributor to climate of the landmark treaty as it determines how country commitments will actual- signal a move toward higher ambition change.

Turn to A5 ly be implemented starting 2020. After from all countries.

By Beatrice Tulagan

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Back from the frontlines FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

down to the barangays; Calapan—to be specific: Socorro, two hours drive away and the “fruit basket” of Mindoro, where our host was beauty-queen Mayor Bubut Brondial who also currently leads the national league of mayors; Davao, a frequent destination, this time to speak at the year-end conference of the national union of career executive service officers, from where I make sure to buy the mandatory durian and pomelo pasalubong; Tacloban, a second visit, this time to help train the regional speakers bureau in that region, from where I dutifully brought home a sample of the home-made local sisi as mandated by my wifey.

I KNOW, I know—it’s been a month and a half since my last column, and some of you, my faithful readers, may still be coping with withdrawal symptoms.

A million apologies of course for my extended absence. But I can assure you that a lot of it was caused by a pretty good reason: my continuing involvement in the speakers bureau that’s been going around the country on behalf of federalism, a major advocacy of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, lately with assistance from the Presidential Communication Operations Office.

It’s been an exhilarating six weeks as Here’s where I have I’ve made the rounds of the regions: getting to know my country all over again been over the last after having lived abroad for 16 years; several weeks. getting to connect with the young people who’re two generations away from my own baby-boomer cohort; getting to meet the dedicated people in DILG and other agencies, and especially the rising crop of young politicians in local *** government, upon whose commitment On these latest sorties—and increasand integrity will largely depend the ingly so since I started joining other success of federalism or, for that matter, volunteer speakers early this year—it’s any other reform initiative. become clear to me that the federalist idea is instinctively appreciated by peo*** ple out in the regions, and especially their leaders, in a way that just doesn’t Let me see, now: where have I been resonate with the Manila-based. allowing myself to be dragged over the Once they hear my standard onelast several weeks? sentence definition of federalism— Cotabato, where we landed in a mili- “creating a new, regional layer of govtary base and left with pabaon of deep- ernance in between national and local water crabs and giant sugpo from the government, and transferring most natwentysomething Mayor Mastura of tional powers and resources down to Sultan Kudarat city, capital of nearby the regional layer”—they’re invariably Maguindanao; hooked by the idea.

Biñan, home of sumptuous buko After all, it’s the local leaders who’ve pie, where the usual closing event, a had to undergo the dispiriting experihuge indoor rally, was for the first time ence, time and again, of investing time also simulcast online to other cities in and money in repeated trips to Manila to nearby Batangas and Cavite as well as plead for a new hospital, or new school, Laguna; or new road, only to be repeatedly Los Baños, my first time to train a turned down. The Local Government regional speakers bureau comprising Code of 1991 was supposed to end all local academics, government employ- of that, but today, nearly 30 years later, ees, and NGO volunteers who will later it’s the father of that law, “Tatay” Nene cascade the federalist idea all the way Pimentel, who’s leading the charge to

federalism.

Just last year, no less than 20 percent of the national budget—some P600 billion—had to be returned to the Treasury because it hadn’t been spent by the national agencies. It’s simple common sense that those monies would have been spent faster and better by local governments who’re closer to the ground.

It’s also the idealistic ones among the local citizens who chafe against the hide-bound patronage politics plied by dynasties, who presently comprise some 85 percent of the current Lower House of Congress. Not surprisingly, the new charter proposed by these congressmen does not ban dynasties, does not ban turncoatism, and, worst of all, would even do away with term limits under the present Constitution.

Talk about taking two steps backward. *** Even on the usually tricky issue of foreign investments, the folks out in the regions show a level of pragmatism that you rarely find among the “nationalist intellectuals” in urban ivory towers and within the hard Left.

My listeners know the cost they’ve had to pay in lost jobs, infrastructure and growth, when I point out that over the last ten years, foreign direct investment in our country was equal to only 1.9 percent of our GDP—the lowest in ASEAN, which averaged nearly 6 percent.

This is mainly—though not solely—because the Philippines is demonstrably the most protectionist country in ASEAN. Wouldn’t it be better—I ask my listeners—if the Constitution simply kept silent about restricting foreign investment, leaving it entirely up to the regions to put up any restrictions they might deem advisable through a simple process of regional legislation?

Among other things, this would let the rest of us find out, once and for all, if foreign investment promotes economic growth. I don’t know about you, but I for one wouldn’t put my money on the regions who’ll be trying to keep the investors out.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Saving...

From A4

Gonzales has pointed out, in June 2017, the United Nations gathered members of the international community to appeal for support in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. At this conference, PEMSEA was recognized as a significant regional body for its role in the East Asian region. PEMSEA’s work in scaling up the integrated coastal management in East Asia and partnerships with national and local governments, international organizations, intergovernmental institutions and other stakeholders were commended as relevant contributions to SDG 14.

Carrying the theme, “25 Years of Partnerships for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies: Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda,” the EAS Congress 2018 is open to a broad range of stakeholders including National and Local Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, bilateral and multi-lateral projects, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, and other stakeholders. We are in Iloilo to share what actions we’ve taken, what good practices and lessons we can share, not only with each other, but to the rest of the world.

The goals we set for ourselves include: (a) Mapping and aligning the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) and other sub-regional and regional strategies and action plans with the SDG 14 targets; (b) Sharing experiences and assessing challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the SDS-SEA at the regional, national and local levels including innovative policies and technologies, good management practices, and investment opportunities; (c) Building on existing partnerships and achievements and promoting new initiatives, investments and partnerships to accelerate the achievement of national, regional and global targets for sustainable development of oceans and coasts; (d) Tracking blue economy development and growth across the region with the launching of national, sub-regional and regional State of Oceans and Coasts Reports; and (e) Contributing to the planning and development of an ocean investment facility to leverage increased public and private sector investments in ocean-based blue economy development and growth.

These are all challenging tasks, but PEMSEA has proven time and again that it is well-equipped and more than capable of doing hard things. Through the years, PEMSEA has forged and strengthened partnerships with and between local and national governments, the academe, regional and global entities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, women’s and youth organizations, donor agencies and others. By fostering relationships and engagement at the local level, this bottom-up approach has created real and lasting impacts on the ground, particularly

in various ICM sites. Encouraging results on the local front motivate collaborators on the national level to adopt more measures on conservation and sustainability, resulting in better linkages with national government agencies and the utilization of countryspecific SDS-SEA plans.

The SDGs in particular have obvious synergies with the implementation of the SDS-SEA. Five of the 17 SDGs are aligned with what PEMSEA has been working towards. SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities, SDG 13 on Climate Action, SDG 17 on Partnerships and SDG 14 on Life Below Water.

PEMSEA countries respond to SDG 14, in particular, by establishing national ocean policy and legislation for the conservation and management of biological diversity, sustainable fisheries, management of habitats and protected areas, and safeguarding rare and endangered species. Efforts from ICM sites and the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, or PNLG are contributing to all the same five SDGs, particularly to SDG 11 as they continue to implement and promote ICM and blue economy at the local level to promote sustainable cities and communities that are able to provide residents with safe water and sanitation services, climate-smart housing and transportation, and sustainable energy.

Through the EAS Congress, as Ms. Gonzales emphasizes, we aim to advance and align our commitment to the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia with the global ocean agenda. Through the 6th Ministerial Forum, according to Ms. Gonzales, we hope to engage ministers and heads of international institutions in a high-level dialogue to tackle persistent and emerging issues and to adopt the region’s next five-year plan of action in support of scaling up the implementation of the region’s common sustainable development strategy.

The EAS Congress 2018 is of course a great opportunity for knowledge and experience sharing, partnership building, and collaborative planning with various participants from governments, organizations, the academe, the private sector, youth and women. Among its highlights will be the Fifth East Asian Seas Congress Youth Forum (YF5) which serves as a platform for young leaders to engage in coastal and ocean sustainability.

Recognizing the importance of continued and deeper youth engagement in our drive towards sustainable coasts and oceans, the YF5 aims to launch an EAS Youth Programme that enables the youth of the region to contribute to integrated coastal management (ICM) implementation at the local level, provides access to more learning opportunities and empowers youth to serve as ocean champions in their respective universities and communities.

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Distrusting...

From A4

Mayor Abby had plans on granting centenarians like me (I am now 91) P10,000 annually on top of the P5,000 we receive every year.

Those who are holding the plan hostage want Abby’s brother to replace her.

The real reason is that on cleaning up the mess left by her predecessor, she has had to include some of the councilors who have abused city funds by hiring ghost employees. They are now the same people egging Junjun to run against his sister.

A proof of Abby’s good performance is the endorsement of their father, former Vice

President Jejomar Binay.

Carpio has been bypassed at least twice I have been following Abby’s perfor- as chief justice. He has probity, integrity, mance as mayor and I say she is really do- and independence. In fact he praises the ing a good job. She takes care of us senior President when the latter deserves it. citizens. She also plans to build a 10-kilometer subway around the city. *** I think the choice is clear.

I cannot end this column without commiserating with the family of Metrobank *** founder and chairman emeritus George Despite the fact that Acting Chief Jus- SK Ty, a good friend. He was a banker of tice Antonio Carpio is not on the same note. He was also a cut above the rest in page as President Duterte on the issue of his vision and philanthropy. the West Philippine Sea, he still deserves to be chief justice. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Reminders of US colonial rule: Place names situated in the northern tip of Samar, just across from the southernmost municipality of Luzon, the Sorsogon town of Matnog. Who was Allen?

Again I must confess I don’t know.

The remaining two municipalities with US-associated names are BY the end of its occupancy of also in Samar. One is named after a territory, a colonizing coun- an American president (Taft) and try will have left ample evidence the other is named after a legendof its presence there. Part of the ary American military commander evidence is a collection of place (MacArthur). Samar is the only names associated with that coun- part of this country that has seen try. The longer its occupancy of fit to honor those two illustrious the colony, the greater the number Americans. of place names that are associated Most of the Metro Manila public with the colonizing country. names associated with this counThese thoughts came to mind try’s last colonial master have when I saw the name Brooke’s Point, been changed (including Dewey one of the municipalities that will Boulevard, Otis Street, Plaza comprise the province of Palawan Lawton, Fort William McKinley, del Sur, one of the three provinces Camp Murphy); only Taft Avenue into which this country’s third-larg- remains. Several years ago there est island has was an efbeen divided by fort to change a newly enacted Taft Avenue law. Being an to Jose Wright There are so many English name, Diokno AvBrooke’s Point, other reminders of enue, but that which is one effort was of Palawan’s that momentous—and unsuccessful. sout her n most felicitous—juncture The winning municipalities, in the history of this argument was obviously was to the effect given its name country. that Taft— during the pepronounced Tap by jeepriod of US rule in this country ney drivers and barkers—Avenue had become (1901-1946).

The US did not leave many Eng- so ingrained in the minds of Metro lish-sounding place names outside Manilans that changing it would Metro Manila, where public thor- have been a disruptive move. oughfares and gated-subdivision Until the 1960s many of the streets are named after American streets in the Malate-Ermita area personalities. Brooke’s Point is only of Manila were named after states one of only six municipalities that of the American Union (e.g. Arhave American names. kansas, Tennessee, Nebraska and Another one of the six is the mu- Dakota). Those picturesque names nicipality of Jones in the Northern are now a part of this country’s Luzon province of Isabela. I have storied history. But some of the not done any research on the Jones streets of Quezon City’s Cubao after whom the municipality is district and of San Juan City’s named.

Greenhills subdivision continue to A third municipality whose remind Metro Manilans of Amername is associated with the US ica’s universities and presidents, is New Washington in the Panay respectively.

Island province of Capiz. A point That is the sum total of the on the Sibuyan Sea, the claim to place-names legacy of US rule fame of New Washington is its over the Philippines. being the birthplace of the late But the names of municipalities Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop and thoroughfares are by no means of Manila. An excellent example the sole reminders of the Philipof a small-town boy who did well pines’ 45 years of colonial associa—very well, in fact. tion with Uncle Sam. There are so A fourth municipal place name many other reminders of that mowith an American association is Al- mentous—and felicitous—juncture len in the island of Samar. Allen is in the history of this country.

BUSINESS CLASS RUDY ROMERO

The road...

From A4

Take the Philippines for example.

The last two weeks saw increased opposition online to at least two coal-fired power plant projects in La Union and Mariveles.

In La Union, Luzon’s surfing capital, a coalition of nongovernment organizations and religious groups are urging Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to cancel the environmental compliance certificate issued to a 670-megawatt project by the Global Luzon Energy Development Corp. in Luna. In Mariveles, on the other hand, Mariveles Power Generation is seeking an ECC to start construction despite the vehement opposition of community groups like the Coal-Free Bataan Movement, who have also reported health conditions like lung diseases and skin ailments since the operation of a San Miguel Corporation coal plant in Barangay Lamao, Limay.

Some of the most toxic chemicals on earth are released by burning coal, including arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, and cadmium. A report from Greenpeace based on research conducted by Harvard University found that an estimated 2,410 people in the Philippines could die premature deaths each year due to stroke, heart disease, and respiratory diseases caused by the pollution from coal power. “The energy demand of Bataan is only 58 MW but we are producing more than 1000 MW courtesy of existing coal plants.” Derec Cabe, coordinator for the movement said.

“Is the health of Bataan citizens being sacrificed for profit yet again?”

The unrelenting grip of the fossil fuel industry can also be felt in the corporate sponsorship of these climate conferences. Polluters have historically sponsored the climate talks

as part of a PR strategy to showcase their being part of the solution. In exchange, they are usually allowed space in the conference center and given the opportunity to mount side events for participants introducing their new “sustainable” products and programs.

COP 21 in Paris, for example, was sponsored by fossil fuel energy company Engie and fracking enthusiast Suez Environment. Meanwhile, Shell was among the platinum sponsors of this year’s UNFCCC Asia Pacific Climate Week in Singapore.

For COP 24, Poland climate envoy Thomas Chruszczow has dismissed calls for the EU to support a conflictof-interest policy to keep polluters out of the climate talks, despite the Africa Group negotiators warning once again that business involvement “threatens the integrity and legitimacy of the process.”

We must remember these unfortunate realities on the ground as we negotiate our way to a rulebook that will determine our future in the era of climate change. Stripping the fossil fuel industry of their power starts with saying no to the convenience of sponsorships and ends with never having to sacrifice another community ever again to the effects of projects in the name of progress.

Our fight for climate justice should also translate in the legitimacy of how we conduct business to arrive at decisions in the climate regime. Ultimately, climate justice is ensuring the health and human rights of vulnerable people on the frontlines -- the very people we should be representing in the negotiations.

Beatrice Tulagan, 24, is the executive director of Climate Stories Philippines.

News

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC asked: ‘Reconsider ruling on Filipino’

By Rey E. Requejo A GROUP of professors and students in Filipino and Philippine Literature courses on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling last month that upheld the exclusion of the two subjects from college curriculum.

Members of the Alyansa ng Mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino (Tanggol Wika Network) trooped to the SC compound in Padre Faura Street in Manila and filed their motion for reconsideration of the decision that upheld the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Circular No 20-2013, which reduced the general education curriculum to a minimum of 36 units.

They assailed the finding of the SC that there was no removal of the two subjects in school curriculum as the changes in the General Education curriculum only ensured that there would be no duplication of subjects in grade school, high school and college.

“Petitioners showed in their petition that when Filipino in the core curriculum of basic education [senior and junior high school, in particular] is put side-by-side with Filipino in the general education curriculum in the tertiary level, it can be seen that there are matters covered in the latter which are not covered in the former,” the motion for reconsideration stated.

The group also again argued that the assailed CHED order violated Section 6, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which provides for the use of Filipino language as medium of instruction.

“The language of our fundamental law is mandatory, with its use of ‘shall,’ which leaves neither Congress nor any part of government to which the mandate is directed any choice as to whether to ‘take steps’ or not,” appellants said.

“The Court may have cited an exchange in the constitutional deliberations to declare that Section 6 is ‘not self-executory.’ However, there are mutilple references in the debates to support the conclusion that the Framers intended not to leave the matter entirely to Congress or government. Several commissioners enunciated the position of the committee and the plenary that the mandates in the language provisions are to be self-executory,” they added.

With these arguments, Tanggol Wika Network asked the SC to reverse its Oct. 9 unanimous decision on the CHED order.

The SC decision upheld the constitutionality of the controversial K-12 program of the Department of Education.

NEXT VOLUME. Officials of NBI-IPRD (Intellectual Property Rights Division) raid Monday a book warehouse along Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila containing illegally reproduced text books. It was not clear how many volumes there were and what authorities would do with the seized books. Norman Cruz

17 children die in suspected Sarangani measles outbreak G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY—At least 17 children were reported to have died in several remote communities in the Sarangani town of Malapatan during the past three weeks due to a suspected measles outbreak.

Dr. Diomedes Remitar, Malapatan Municipal Health Office chief, said Monday the victims, who included infants, reportedly died several days after exhibiting severe symptoms of measles infection.

Remitar said the suspected outbreak was monitored in Sitios Lower and Upper Kyogam, Mahayag, Lino, Datal Nai and Alna of Barangay Upper Suyan.

Based on information relayed by barangay health workers and officials of Barangay Upper Suyan, the MHO chief said the affected villages—among the remotest areas in the town—are inhabited by the B’laan tribe.

“These are considered suspected

measles cases as we have not conducted confirmatory tests on the fatalities,” he said.

The health officer suspected that some of the reported fatalities could have suffered from diseases other than measles.

As of Monday, at least 23 people from Barangay Upper Suyan are confined at the R.O. Diagan Hospital here after earlier showing symptoms of suspected measles such high fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, and other flu-like illnesses.

Hospital records showed 15 of the patients, which included a four-monthold baby and a seven-month pregnant mother, had confirmed measles infection and were currently under isolation in at

SSS pensioners to receive 13th

NAIA worker returns pouch with P120k

By Joel E. Zurbano AN HONEST worker at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport returned a pouch containing more than P120,000 owned by a Korean tourist, airport authorities said Monday.

Hwang Sung Ha, who arrived via Asiana flight OZ703 on Oct. 31, unknowingly dropped his pouch at the UBE Express counter at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 1.

The pouch, which contained an Asiana Club Visa card; Shinsegae Duty Free card; $2,056; 31,000 Korean won; 6,020 Thailand baht, and P20, was found by Judith Mertola, an employee of Lucky Jet Travel and Tours around 12:30 pm the next day.

Mertola immediately informed her co-worker Pinky Rose Canicosa who accompanied her to the Intelligence and Investigation Division-Lost and Found Section of the Manila International Airport Authority to surrender the pouch.

IID personnel, with the help of Asiana Airlines station manager Alvin Suarez, contacted the foreigner through his given phone number but to no avail.

Airport officials decided to wait for Huwang Su Ha at the airport when they learned he was scheduled to depart via flight OZ-702 on Nov. 26.

After checking in for his flight, the foreigner was approached by Asiana ground handling agents and invited him to the IID office to claim his pouch.

Mr. Ha was speechless after seeing his pouch and all its contents intact, authorities said.

He admitted that when it was lost, he got dismayed and would have left with a bad impression about the Philippines.

“This experience is worth sharing with my colleagues and relatives. I will tell them that Filipinos are honest and hospitable,” he said as he promised to visit the Philippines again.

least three rooms.

Boyet Ogan, chairman of Barangay Upper Suyan, said around 100 people, mostly infants and children, were affected by the outbreak.

Ogan said the initial measles cases were monitored in one of the sub-village last Nov. 5 and rapidly spread to the other areas.

As part of their interventions, Remitar said they had vaccinated around 500 infants and children in the area against measles.

He said their office has provided medicines and treatment to some of the affected residents.

“It’s quite difficult to access the affected communities due to their remoteness and the problematic roads,” he said.

Remitar added that they also had difficulty getting proper information as it requires a hike of at least 20 hours to reach the areas. PNA

MALARIA ERADICATION. In observance of Malaria Awareness Month malaria champions from the Department of Health Dr. Raffy Deray (left) with Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. executive director Edgar Veron Cruz (center) and program manager Marvi Trudeau share Monday at the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel the Philippines’ Journey in malaria eradication: 78,000 cases in the late 1990s down to less than 5,000 cases today. Lino Santos

PCSO nabs 40 over illegal gambling PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan declared on Monday that there would be no let-up in the campaign against illegal gambling as it arrested 40 people in Cebu and Mandaue cities on November 20 and 22, respectively.

“We will not stop until we shut down all peryahan ng bayan outlets,” he warned.

In a two-day joint operations headed

by Manuel Fraginal Sr., chief of the PCSO-Nationwide Inter-Branch Security Monitoring, in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation, he said the crackdown led to the closure of GlobalTech’s “peryahan ng bayan” collection outlets and the arrest

of 18 Globaltech employees in Mandaue City and 22 in Cebu City.

“The arrested personnel are now facing cases for violations of Republic Act 9287 [for direct involvement in the illegal numbers game] and Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act,” said Fraginal.

Confiscated from the peryahan ng bayan outlets were gambling paraphernalia, fake PCSO identification cards, cellular phones, and other pieces of evidence to be used in court.

Fraginal added that each of the arrested personnel would have to post bail for their temporary liberty ranging from P60,000 to P120,000 depending on the court.

THE state-run Social Security System on Monday said it had released nearly P22 billion to its partner banks for the release of the December and 13th month pensions of its pensioners starting Nov. 29 but not later than Dec. 7 this year.

SSS pesident and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc said the pension fund had released more than P21.9 billion to its disbursing partner-banks on Nov. 15 to give them ample time to release the regular monthly pension for December 2018 and 13th month pensions to pensioners.

Broken down, SSS released P10.95 billion for the 13th month pension and about P10.95 billion for December 2018 pension.

“We have already requested our partner banks to release the 13th month pension on November 29. However, we leave the discretion to our partner banks if they will release the regular monthly pension for December along with the 13th month pension or stick to the regular schedule of release of monthly pension on the contingency date of the pensioner,” Dooc said.

Dooc also added that the pension fund already asked the Philippine Postal Corp. to prioritize the delivery of the checks for the December and 13th month pensions of SSS pensioners residing in far-flung areas so they can enjoy their cash benefits before Christmas.

“Almost all our pensioners receive pensions through their respective bank accounts but there are more than 15,000 pensioners, mostly in far-flung areas, who still prefer to receive their pensions through checks. For those in Metro Manila and nearby areas, it usually takes three to five days to receive their checks while it would take five to eight days for faraway Luzon provinces, and eight to 10 days for Visayas and Mindanao,” Dooc explained.

Of the total number of pensioners, more than 99.38 percent or 2.4-million pensioners receive their 13th month and regular pensions through SSS-accredited partner banks while the remaining 0.62 percent or more than 15,000 pensioners receive their cash benefits through checks.

IN BRIEF Sandiganbayan clears ex-mayor THE Sandiganbayan has cleared a former municipal mayor of Isabela of graft charges in connection with the alleged purchase of gasoline by the local government from the gas station owned by his daughter in 2008.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division, in a 21-page decision dated Nov. 23, 2018, acquitted former Luna, Isabela Mayor Manuel Tio of graft for failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The anti-graft court ordered the return of cash and surety bonds posted by Tio for his temporary liberty, as well lifted the hold departure order issued against him.

“Evidently, the prosecution failed to show that public bidding is required in the first place. The prosecution failed to prove whether the ARC Road Maintenance Project falls under the scope of R.A. No. 9184,” the Sandiganbayan said in its ruling.

However, the Sandiganbayan said “the Implementing Rules and Regulations [IRR] of R.A. No. 9184 provides that there are activities wherein the law will not apply.”

The anti-graft court said that as the project is ODA (Official Development Assistance)-related, the failure of the prosecution to establish that public bidding is required “is detrimental in determining with moral certainty whether the accused acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence, in allowing the direct purchase of gasoline from Automate Gas Station.” PNA

Scanner launched

by St. Luke’s ST. LUKE’S Medical Center has launched the latest premium 1,152-slice computed tomography scanner from Siemens Healthineers.

Dr. Arturo de la Peña, SLMC president and chief executive officer, said the Somatom force dual-source dual-energy CT scan is the first-of-its kind in health-care that could challenge the conventional CT scan system.

“St. Luke’s is proud to introduce yet another marvel in the health-care industry. As the first health-care institution to bring the high-powered 1,152-slice CT scanner from Siemens Healthineers in the country, we are redefining CT exams through gentler imaging procedures with highly reliable results taken at unparalleled speed,” he said.

In an interview, Oliver Perez, Siemens Healthineers business development manager, told the Manila Standard that De la Peña welcomed the new technology that could view 1,152 pictures of a whole body CT scan than the conventional CT scan’s 526 pictures.

Dr. De la Peña wants a better, faster, safer and “cheaper” CT scan technology, he said. Rio Araja

Du30 guest of honor at Bohol-Panglao PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest of honor in today’s inauguration of the newly-built Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the country’s first eco-airport and dubbed the “Green Gateway to the World.”

The new facility will replace the Tagbilaran Airport.

Eric Apolonio, spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said Duterte will be attending the event together with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and CAAP director general Jim Sydiongco.

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and National Economic and Development Authority chief Ernesto Pernia will also grace the event.

Apolonio said the P8.9-billion airport will be launched in cooperation with the Japanese government and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

He said the new facility features green and sustainable structures such as solar panels and motion sensor lighting, among other things. Joel Zurbano

Sports

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

A7

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Foton tries to tarnish Petron’s clean slate Games Today (Bacoor Strike Gym)

2:00 p.m. – Smart vs Sta. Lucia 4:15 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Cignal 7:00 p.m. – Petron vs Foton

BACOOR CITY—Tarnishing Petron’s flawless slate will be Foton’s ultimate objective when they clash anew in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the Bacoor Strike Gym here.

Action kicks off at 7 p.m., with the Tornadoes itching to become the first team to deal the Blaze Spikers their first loss in this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, Sogo, Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, UCPB Gen and Bizooku with Genius Sports as technical provider.

Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia looks to barge into the win column when it tackles struggling Smart at 2 p.m., while Cignal and Generika-Ayala are out to shatter their deadlock in the 4:15 p.m. second match of this explosive triple header that ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

After racing to an impressive 8-0 start, Petron is heavily tipped to sweep this tourney, similar to what it did three years ago when the core of Rachel Anne Daquis, Aby Marano and Dindin Manabat steered the club to 13 consecutive wins en route to its first All-Filipino crown.

But the road to a perfect conference will be very difficult.

Foton, for one, is also having an amazing performance despite the absence of sisters Jaja Santiago and Manabat and the season-ending injury suffered by spikers Arianne Layug and Shaya Adorador.

Layug, the former De La Salle University stalwart, crashed with an anterior cruciate ligament tear while the former University of the East main gunner in Adorador suffered a severe sinusitis infection.

Adding motivation to the Tornadoes is their 14-25, 27-25, 14-25, 12-25 setback to the Blaze Spikers last Thursday that sent them to third spot with a 5-2 win-loss slate entering the second round.

But head coach Aaron Velez insisted that they would march to warzone with no pressure.

Members and officials of the Ningbo University basketball team of China display their trophy and medals after ruling the 10th Asian University Basketball Championship at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

chief airs Ningbo U loses to Russia, IOC concern over heat but still wins AUBC title extreme in ‘20 Olympics

A

MUR State University of Russia stunned erstwhile unbeaten Ningbo University of China, 93-80, to end its campaign on a high note in the 10th Asian University Basketball Championship at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

Amur State University of Russia’s Roman Shillin fired a game-high 28 points, including eight three-pointers, to lead the eight-player Fighting Bears to an impressive win and a runner-up finish in this prestigious tournament organized

by Basketball Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Asian University Basketball Federation.

Vitali Zalogin added 22 points, Ura Koratin contributed 15 points and Anton Shilin had 13 points for Amur State University, which finished with a 3-2 win-loss record in the six-team, singleround tournament supported by the City Government of Manila, headed by Mayor Joseph Estrada, and Manila Sports Council h e a d

Philip Cezar.

Despite the loss by to Amur State University, Ningbo University still clinched the crown with a 4-1 record.

Li Cheng Luan finished with 24 points for Ningbo University, followed

by Ye Jia Guan with 23 and Hui Liu Fan with 17.

BAP president Robert Milton Calo, AUBC Organizing Committee chairman Leonardo “Ding” Andres and AUBF Deputy Secretary-General Park Hyun Mo of South Korea awarded the trophies to the winners.

In the first game, University of Perpetual Help Jonelta System defeated Farmco Knight Club of Malaysia, 75-65, to improve its record to 3-2 and finish third overall.

With multi-titled coach Victor Escudero calling the shots, the Saints went to the troika of Sean Dillon Laban, John Carlo Villar, and John Angelo Rosale to roll back the Knights.

Laban scattered 21 points, Villar added 17 points with five three-point shots and Rosale had 11 points for the Biñan City-based team of Dr. Antonio Laperal Tamayo.

Escudero was ably assisted by coach Merlin Custodio.

Liew Kar Coon and Chin Reck Wei finished with 15 points apiece for Farmco University, which wound up with a 2-3 card for fourth place.

The Nippon Sport Science University of Japan crushed Technological University of the Philippines, 83-38, for its second straight win and a 2-3 card for fifth place.

Horoaki Isono scored 16 points, Yuki Ide had 13 points and Zen Endo added 12 points for the Lions of coach Masahiro Fujita.

Pistons, Ballers advance to semis

THE Laguna Pistons and the Dasmariñas Ballers advanced to the semifinals of the National Basketball League after beating separate foes recently at the Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas gym.

The third-seed Pistons overcame the sixth-ranked Nueva Ecija Go Bespren, 87-75, while No. 5 Ballers edged No. 4 CamSur Express, 76-72, to make it to the semifinal round of the league for homegrown talents.

The Pistons will be facing the secondseed Parañaque Aces, as the Ballers will be battling the first-seed Bulacan Makabayan in the semifinals set on Wednesday at the Baliuag Star Arena in Baliuag, Bulacan. The Makabayan and

Games Wednesday

(Baliuag Star Arena, Baliuag, Bulacan) 4 p.m. – Laguna vs. Parañaque 6 p.m. – Dasmariñas vs. Bulacan

the Aces hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals, needing just a win to move into the best-of-three finals set next month.

Jeff Disquitado had a triple-double after tallying 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the win by the Pistons over the Go Bespren, while Mark Sornet delivered 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting from the field for the Ballers in their close win over the Express.

Lady Bulldogs to grace PSA Forum

JP Rabe of Dasmarinas blocks a shot by a CamSur player.

REIGNING four-time UAAP women’s basketball champion the NU Lady Bulldogs will be the special guest in today’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao.

Coach Pat Aquino and star player Jack Animam are gracing the 11 a.m. public sports program as they talk about the Lady Bulldogs’ bid to win a fifth straight championship with an unbeaten record.

The team completed another 14-game sweep of the eliminations to make it back to the finals.

In all, the team stretched their winning streak—the longest in UAAP history - to 78 games dating back to July 13, 2014.

Aquino and Animam are also going to discuss the plans of the women’s national team program in the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Both are key members of the Perlas Pilipinas team.

Alonso departs with donuts, praise, penalties ABU DHABI—Fernando Alonso said goodbye to Formula One on Sunday amid a fanfare of crowd-pleasing donut spins, generous tributes and a handful of post-race penalties from the FIA. After walking through a guard of honour before the start of the seasonending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso pulled on his helmet and delivered a dogged drive that took him to 11th in his final outing with McLaren.

It was a metaphor for much of the Spaniard’s career: he nearly finished in the points, just as he nearly became the greatest champion of his era and nearly won titles with Ferrari.

Despite two drivers’ world crowns won with Renault, in 2005 and 2006, the 37-year-old Spaniard leaves behind a feeling that his was an unfulfilled career in F1 and a legacy that is as much about his personality as his talent.

“I have been very surprised because I have raced with great champions,” he said.

“I raced with Michael (Schumacher, a seventime champion), I raced with Jenson Button.

“And, two or three years ago, in the same place, it was his last race and no-one had all the things that I have received this weekend. So, I cannot say thanks enough to everyone.”

However Alonso hinted he might even make a comeback after taking a break in 2019 to try and win titles in other motorsports.

“Right now, I am not thinking to come back ... but I don’t know how I will feel next year. I need a break now—in 2019 I need different challenges.

“I want to fight for the ‘triple crown’, the Indy 500 and other iconic races.

Maybe Daytona. Maybe other things.”

Some observers will have smiled at seeing him hit with three penalty points

on his licence—for cutting the track in his final race—and collecting three fivesecond time penalties in the race as he battled to win a point.

‘Thankful’ He appreciated the gesture from race winner Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and second-placed Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari when, in a special tribute, they gave him space to drive with them in a synchronised display of donut spins during the slow-down lap.

“It was a good in-lap,” he laughed. “It was improvised and not planned. I saw them doing donuts at turn eight and turn eleven so I caught up.

“Then, one car was on the left, one was on the right, and we kept going like this until the start-finish line. So, I’m really thankful to them for the nice gesture and it was nice to celebrate by seeing the chequered flag.” AFP

TOKYO—Olympics chief Thomas Bach on Sunday stressed his concern over extreme heat during the Tokyo 2020 Games, suggesting plans to further bring forward the marathon start time.

Bach and John Coates, vice president of International Olympic Committee (IOC), met Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike ahead of an IOC committee meeting later this week in the capital.

Bach told Koike that heatwaves are “concern for us” if temperatures shoot up again in 2020 following record temperatures this summer.

Experts have warned that extreme heat could affect several sporting events at the Olympic games, particularly after Tokyo sweltered through a record heatwave this year.

The IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers have acknowledged the concerns and already brought forward the marathon start time by 30 minutes to 7:00 am, with competitive walking starting even earlier.

But Coates suggested the IOC may further move the start time to 6:00am or even 5:30 am.

Heat stroke kills hundreds of people each year across Japan, and this year record temperatures caused a spike in fatalities and hospital visits. AFP

Raptors’...

From A8

The Magic used a rock-solid defense and some timely scoring by Gordon and Vucevic to outscore the Lakers 35-19 in the third quarter and seize a 86-71 lead.

James and Kuzma were a combined zero-for-five in the quarter in which the team shot just five-of-21.

James said they need to become more consistent.

“Defensively, we kind of broke down and the energy level was a little lower than our expectations, and they took advantage of that,” James said.

In the fourth, James missed a threepointer and Ross made him pay by driving to the rim for a basket which broke a 104-104 tie.

The Lakers’ Kentavious CaldwellPope missed another shot from beyond the arc on the following Lakers possession, and Gordon got a dunk to help seal the victory for the Magic. AFP

Bataan, Batangas attempt to sustain winning streaks

BATAAN and Batangas, two of only a few streaking teams in the MPBL Datu Cup, try to sustain their winning runs when they take on separate foes in the MPBL Datu Cup Tuesday at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Riding on the crest of a 12game winning streak, the Risers of Bataan battle the slumping Caloocan Supermos-Longrich in the first game at 7 p.m. right before the match between the Athletics of Batangas City, who will host the 9 p.m. encounter against the Zamboanga Valientes-Family’s Brand Sardines.

Bataan is the owner of the tournament’s best record – a 12-1 slate, but there are several teams breathing down its neck in the tough northern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth

Games Tuesday (Batangas City Coliseum) 7 p.m. – Caloocan vs Bataan 9 p.m. – Batangas City vs Zamboanga

Duremdes serving as commissioner.

A win over the Supremos will put the Risers at least two games ahead of second placer San Juan Knights, who have a 13-3 win-loss slate.

The Supremos, who had lost back-toback games and are still in 11th spot in the northern division, are hard pressed to win their remaining games to keep their hopes alive for a top eight berth. This makes every Caloocan game crucial beginning its game against Bataan, which appeared to be unstoppable.

Just like Bataan, the Tanduay-backed Batangas City is a team on the rise as the Athletics racked up five straight wins to move up to solo third spot at 9-6.

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

A8

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

PH Azkals advance to semis vs Vietnam THE Philippine Azkals found it difficult to pull off a win over Indonesia.

Azkals’ head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson said this after the Philippines was held to a scoreless draw by Indonesia last Sunday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Despite the draw, the Philippines continued its unbeaten run in the 2018 Asean Football FederationSuzuki Cup as it earned a seat in the semifinals.

“It’s not easy to play them (Indonesia). I think we did okay, if we won it would’ve been brilliant.

Of course, we wanted to win, but Thailand had too many goals, but we haven’t lost one game,” said Eriksson.

The Philippines had a chance to score some 5 minutes in added time, but Manuel Ott’s left-footed shot from outside the box got saved from the top left corner by Indon goalie Andritany Ardhiyasa off an assist by Martin Steuble.

This is the third time that the Azkals have advanced to the semis.

Indonesia, which was playing for nothing but pride and for its home crowd, were already eliminated at that time.

The Azkals had their chances early in the game when Stephan Schrock attempted to side foot the ball home with Andritany Ardhiyasa out of position.

But Schrock put his shot wide in the fourth minute.

The Azkals’ chances to score any further were dashed when Phil Younghusband was forced off the field after getting injured during a collision with an Indonesian player in the 26th minute.

The Philippines will face Vietnam in a semis matchup on Sunday at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod The Azkals finished Group B with a 2-2-0 win-draw-loss record, behind solo leader Thailand (3-1-0).

The Thais prevailed over Singapore, 3-0, later in the evening at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Thailand.

Indonesia struggled throughout the tournament after head coach Luis Milla failed to agree to a new contract and vacated his role. He was replaced

by Bima Sakti. Peter Atencio

National U no. 1 after high school volleyball elims NATIONAL University ended a twogame slide as it overpowered University of the East, 25-18, 25-18, 25-13, Sunday in the UAAP Season 81 high school volleyball tournament at the FEUDiliman Gym. Faith Nisperos had six service aces to finish with 11 points, while reigning MVP Mhicaela Belen added nine hits and five digs to help NU finish the eliminations as the No. 1 team with a 10-2 card.

Angel Canino had 16 hits, while Alleiah Malaluan fired two service aces to also finish with 16 points to go with eight digs as De La Salle-Zobel also ended up with 10 wins and two losses following a 25-22, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16 victory over Far Eastern UniversityDiliman.

But the Junior Lady Spikers will settle for the No. 2 spot due to less match points.

Renee Lou Penafiel had three service aces for a 17-point outing, while Imee Hernandez added 16 points and seven digs as University of Santo Tomas bested Adamson University, 25-23, 2522, 25-18.

The Junior Tigresses clinched the No. 3 ranking in the Final Four with a 8-4 slate, while the Baby Falcons wound up fourth at 7-5.

In the semifinals, NU and De La SalleZobel will hold twice-to-beat incentives against Adamson University and UST, respectively.

In the boys’ division, FEU-Diliman foiled NU’s bid to jump straight to the Finals with a 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 win.

Titleholder UST eliminated UE, 19-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-7, allowing Adamson University, which turned back De La Salle-Zobel, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-15, to clinch the last Final Four berth.

Sports Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball against the Miami Heat at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

Gilas sees physical game with Kazakhs

By Peter Atencio

I

T WILL be a physical encounter when the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team plays a home game against Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“They will be prepared to do that on Friday,” said coach Yeng Guiao after Gilas went through a series of tuneup games with Lebanon and Jordan.

Guiao is set announce on Wednesday the final lineup in time of their game in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Gilas has been going through many phases, with Guiao checking the different rotations possible during their tune-up games.

“There needs to be not just a physical adjustment, but a mental one on the part of the players. These are smart players and

the best we have in the country. And they understand that,” added Guiao.

So far, the national team has won one of its four tune-up matches as the coaching staff is currently looking for the right mix of players.

Guiao noted that members of the pool have experienced a lot of physicality in all their tune-up games, and this will get them ready.

He feels that the physicality experienced by the players is much more than what they have gone through in the games of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Last week’s tuneup games have

been really tough on the aspirants of the national squad.

And Guiao believes that the character of the players have been tested.

Guiao and Jordan mentor Joseph Steibing got into each others’ nerves during Gilas Pilipinas’ game with Jordan last Wednesday at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City as that game was called off in the fourth quarter.

“It was a test of character and I felt that this is the kind of character that we need for a national team,” said Guiao.

Members of the pool from where the final 12 players will come from are June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Christian Standhardinger, Alex Cabagnot, Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood, JP Erram, Matthew Wright, Beau Belga and Stanley Pringle as well as cadets Kai Sotto and Ricci Rivero.

Palace-PSC Kamao, PNP boost semis bids MALACAÑANG-Philippine Sports Commission and Games Tomorrow (Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. – Judiciary vs AFP Philippine National Police 3:30p.m. – Senate vs Agriculture boosted their bids for outright 5p.m. – PNP vs NHA semis berths by downing their respective rivals in the 7th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The Malacañang-PSC Kamao hiked their record to 5-1 in Group B following their 75-66 win over the defending champions Senate Defenders through the hot-shooting of Erick dela Cuesta and Michael Ignacio.

The one-time scoring champion of the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League, Dela Cuesta scattered 22 points, while Ignacio added 14 points as the Kamao bucked a slow start that saw them fall behind 23-3 at the end of the first quarter to prevail.

It was in the third frame where the Kamao turned things around, outscoring the Defenders, 31-16, to take the lead, 59-46, going into the final 10 minutes of play.

As usual, it was Ollan Omiping, who starred for PNP’s fourth straight win—a 69-61 decision over the Judiciary Magis.

With the win, the PNP Responders improved to 5-2, while jeopardizing Judiciary’s quarterfinals’ bid as the Magis absorbed their fifth defeat against only two wins.

Omiping, a former star player of University of the East, tallied 17 points and seven boards, while ABL veteran Harold Sta. Cruz had only two points came through with a defensive job in the crunch aside from hauling down seven boards.

In the other game, Haddi Porto erupted for 26 points as PITC clobbered Department of Agriculture, 88-62, for its fourth in seven games.

The DA Food Masters slipped to 3-4.

Michael Ignacio helped the Malacañang Kamao to a big win over the Senate Defenders in the UNTV Cup.

Raptors’ hot streak continues; Magic win LOS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard delivered 29 points and 10 rebounds as the NBA-leading Toronto Raptors won their fifth consecutive game by cruising past the Miami Heat 125115 on Sunday.

Kyle Lowry finished with 12 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who are off to their best 21-game start in history with 17 wins and four losses.

Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Pascal Siakam finished just two points shy of his career best with 21 points.

Veteran Dwyane Wade turned back the clock by scoring a season high 35 points. It was the most points ever for a Heat player coming off the bench, but they still lost for the seventh time in their last nine games.

And that won’t cut it against Toronto, who are 11-0 against teams with losing records.

Josh Richardson scored 19 points and Bam Adebayo had 16 points and a career-high 21 rebounds in the loss.

The Raptors, who made a seasonhigh 17 three-pointers in Friday’s win over Atlanta, shot 11 for 35 from beyond the arc against the Heat.

Magic beats Lakers Elsewhere, Nikola Vucevic finished with 31 points and 15 rebounds as the Orlando Magic snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ three-game winning streak with a 108-104 victory.

Terrence Ross had 16 points including a clutch layup with 34 seconds left as the Magic beat the Lakers for the second time in eight days. On November 17, Orlando defeated Los Angeles 130-117.

“We’re trying to build something, and wins like these can really help you build some momentum,” Vucevic said.

Aaron Gordon had 17 points and D.J. Augustin added 12 points and nine assists for the Magic.

LeBron James had 24 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who have won six of their last seven NBA games. Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points and Brandon Ingram added 17.

Turn to A7

UE claims 7th straight fencing crown

University of the East ruled the men’s fencing for the seventh year in a row.

UNIVERSITY of the East retained the men’s championship, while teenage sensation Maxine Esteban powered Ateneo in winning its first women’s crown in 12 years as the UAAP Season 81 fencing tournament came to a close Sunday at the Victoria Sports Tower in Quezon City.

The team foil of CJ Concepcion, JC Concepcion, Sammuel Tranquilan and Xavier Arabaca won the gold on the final day of the competition as the Red Warriors extended their reign to a seventh straight year.

The Recto-based fencers have already annexed the crown Saturday, as the team saber of CJ Concepcion, JC Concepcion, Tranquilan and Jinro Villanueva emerged triumphant.

UE, which also captured three silver medals, also clinched a league-best 13th title overall.

The Warriors earlier swept the individual events, as CJ Concepcion nabbed the saber gold, while Tranquilan topped the epee and foil events.

For the second straight season, Tranquilan was named Most Valuable Player.

Esteban’s gold medal triumphs in the individual foil and

saber events, as well as the Lady Eagles’ victory in the team foil brought the Katipunan-based fencers back on top of the women’s division.

Esteban captured the Rookie-MVP award as Ateneo bagged its second title overall, and the first since 2006 behind sisters Faye and Veeg Garcia. It also ended UE’s amazing 11-year run in the throne.

University of Santo Tomas’ lady fencers finished second place with two golds courtesy of Marielle Peralta in the individual epee, and the team foil of Peralta, Andrea Bernal, Pauline Bernarte and Mira Dorimon. The Tigresses also bagged a silver and two bronzes.

The Lady Warriors finally won a gold in the fourth day, as Carla Arreza, Nicole Cortey, Joy Javinar and Marry Jae Lonzaga topped the team saber category. UE also went home with three silvers and three bronzes to settle for third.

De La Salle’s gold-medal quest in men’s team epee Saturday was enough to claim second place to go with a silver and three bronzes, while Ateneo’s one-silver, fivebronze haul sealed third spot.

IN BRIEF Neda, PRA approve reclamation protocol THE National Economic and Development Authority and the Philippine Reclamation Authority signed a joint memorandum circular putting more teeth into the regulation of reclamation activities.

The joint circular was signed Thursday

by Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and PRA general manager and chief executive and Janilo Rubiato.

Neda said in a statement Monday the circular aimed to enforce the strict implementation of Executive Order 146, which delegates to the Neda Board the power to approve reclamation projects.

The joint directive aims “to foster heightened compliance with the approval of reclamation projects” and “prevent indiscriminate illegal reclamation activities which lack prior Neda Board approval,” the agency said.

It states that “completed staff work by the PRA and the corresponding PRA Board endorsement, through a PRA Board Resolution, of a reclamation project... or infrastructure project should be obtained before submission to the NEDA Board Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) and/or NEDA Board, as the case may be.”

Julito G. Rada

Business

PAL begins Sapporo flight on December 7 PHILIPPINE Airlines said it will mount flights to Sapporo in Japan from Manila

by December 7 this year.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the airline’s newest route—Manila-SapporoManila—aims to serve the growing demand for direct flights to one of Japan’s popular travel destinations, especially Filipino tourists.

He added the new service between Manila and Sapporo would further boost the flag carrier’s presence in Japan.

PAL will deploy its brand new 168-seater Airbus single-aisle A321 NEO aircraft for Sapporo flight.

The airline earlier announced it would fly to New Delhi and Mumbai in India, Seattle, Chicago and a point in Western Europe.

In late October, PAL mounted non-stop flight between Manila and New York.

PAL also entered a code sharing agreement with Bangkok Airways to expand convenient connections for passengers traveling between Manila and Thailand.

Bangkok Airways is PAL’s 15th codeshare partner, and its fifth in South East Asia. Darwin G. Amojelar

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

B1

By Darwin G. Amojelar

MANUFACTURING SUMMIT. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Board of Investments in partnership with the Federation of Philippine Industries hold a two-day Manufacturing Summit on Nov. 22 to 23 at the Philippine International Convention Center. The summit is an annual gathering of stakeholders from government, industry and the academe to discuss the state of Philippine manufacturing and explore ways to maximize opportunities to sustain growth. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) leads other government officials and industry leaders during the summit.

10-month budget gap surged 87% to P438.1b T

By Julito G. Rada

HE government’s budget deficit widened 175 percent in October to P59.9 billion from P21.8 billion a year ago, as expenditures continued to outpace revenue collection, the Bureau of the Treasury said Monday.

Data showed that public spending in October jumped 35 percent, outperforming the 20-percent expansion in revenue collection.

This resulted in a wider cumulative budget deficit of P438.1 billion in the first 10 months, or 87 percent higher than the previous year’s level of P234.9 billion. The 10-month figure also represented 84 percent of the 2018 full-year deficit program of P523.7 billion.

“Government revenues stood at P246.8 billion in October, 20 percent or P41.7 billion higher than what was registered in the same month last year.

Similarly, collections for January to October 2018 increased by 18 percent or P351.7 billion compared to actual collections of P2,006.5 billion posted in the first ten months of 2017,” the Treasury said.

Collection by the Bureau of Internal Revenue increased 16 percent to P164.8 billion in October from P142.5 billion in the same month last year. The higher collection offset the contraction posted in the previous month.

This enabled the agency to realize a year-on-year growth of 12 percent in January to October to P1.6 trillion.

The Bureau of Customs raised P56 billion in October, up by 30 percent or P13billion year-on-year. Cumulative collection hit P490.6 billion as of endOctober, up by 34 percent from the previous year.

The Bureau of the Treasury generated P8.4 billion in revenue in October, or 10 percent above the prior year’s achieve-

Farmers group bucks proposal to abolish NFA

ment. The Treasury’s 10-month income also jumped 20 percent to P98.9 billion from P82.3 billion.

Revenues from other offices reached P16.1 billion in October and P141.7 billion in 10 months.

Government spending went up 35 percent to P306.6 billion. “This marked the second highest monthly disbursement growth for the year following the 43-percent growth recorded in April.

Year-to-date expenditures of P2.79 trillion is 25 percent higher compared to last year’s spending of P2.24 trillion,” the Treasury said.

Primary expenditures, net of interest payments, hit P282.6 billion in October, higher by 37 percent than October 2017’s P206.4 billion.

“Netting out interest payments from expenditures, the national government’s primary deficit for October was P35.9 billion, far exceeding the last year’s figures of P1.4 billion. This resulted in a year-to-date primary deficit of P142.8 billion, a reversal from the P34.5 billion primary surplus posted in the same period last year,” the Treasury said.

OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi leads the launch of the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program on Nov. 22 at the Shangri-La at the Fort Hotel in Taguig City.

Cusi said the “keen interest which many investors expressed in exploring oil and gas in the Philippines” augurs well for the country’s development and energy security.

By Othel V. Campos

THE country’s biggest farmers group opposed the proposal by several lawmakers to abolish the state-run National Food Authority once the quantitative restriction on rice is lifted.

The Federation of Free Farmers warned the proposal would be dangerous to consumers and rice farmers because of the possibility of collusion among rice importers.

“They are saying that open competition among importers and market players will ensure that rice prices will go down. What if it does not happen,” said FFF president Ruben Presilda.

The group said big time importers who could easily release billions to bring in imported rice could also manipulate the price of rice for higher profit.

It said a regulatory agency would be important to oversee rice-related activities such as assistance to farmers, rice price stabilization and import monitoring.

Presilda blamed Senator Win Gatchalian and the representatives of the Finance Department, the National Economic Development Authority and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to the NFA board for spearheading the call to shut down NFA. “Some well-financed groups could be aiming to control the lucrative rice market and will find it easier to do so if there is no NFA to monitor and counter their moves,” he said.

He said farmers may also be forced to sell their lands for property development and give up farming, altogether, once local rice could no longer compete with cheap imports.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

IFC acquires $40-m stake in Voyager

PTT opens 145th gas station in PH PTT Philippines, the local unit of Thailand’s largest oil and gas company PTT Public Co. Ltd., recently opened its 145th station in the country and its fourteenth in Metro Manila.

PTT Philippines also bared its new service station in PTT Baesa (the Thai oil firm’s sixth station in Quezon City), combining the flame logo design with ‘PTT Station” wordings highlighted in dark and light blue colors.

PTT Philippines president and chief executive officer Sukanya Seriyothin said the change in service station logo was part of the transition in PTT management of its oil business from PTTPLC to PTT Oil & Retail Business Co. “The new design was not a total depart from our original station logo that had the flame and the PTT acronym beside it,” Seriyothin said.

The transfer of assets has begqn from PTTPLC to PTTOR in preparation for the planned initial public offering on the Thai exchange next year.

Regulations for state-run enterprises in Thailand no longer applies to PTTOR. Alena Mae S. Flores

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

Govt reviewing plan to suspend second tranche of oil tax increase CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga―Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Monday the government is reviewing the plan to suspend the second tranche of oil tax increase following the recent downtrend in global petroleum prices.

“We are currently reviewing this... Oil prices now [I think[ hover around $55 per barrel,” Dominguez said at the sidelines of the Sulong Pilipinas economic forum at the Asean Convention Center here.

He said the current prices were significantly lower than the peak of $80 per barrel on Oct. 5.

Malacanang has given the go-signal for the economic managers’ proposal to

suspend the new round of oil tax hike next year, taking into account its contribution to inflation.

Inflation in September and October reached a nine-year high of 6.7 percent.

This brought the average inflation in the first 10 months to 5.1 percent, above the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2018.

The Duterte government suspended the scheduled increase in oil taxes in January next year in addition to recent measures announced to lower food prices such as liberalizing the importation of rice.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act or Train law that took effect in January, the increases in

petroleum taxes would be automatically postponed once the average price of Dubai crude ― which is used as benchmark for Asia ― reached $80 per barrel for three consecutive months before the next round of tax hike.

Global oil prices have been declining since October, encouraging oil companies to implement a series of price rollbacks for gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

The Train law cut personal income taxes but raised the taxes on tobacco, oil, sugary drinks, automobile, and alcohol. Under the law, an excise tax of P2.50 a liter was imposed on diesel and bunker fuel starting January 2018. This rate will go up to P4.50 in 2019 and P6 in 2020. Julito G. Rada

INTERNATIONAL Finance Corp., the private sector arm of the World Bank, acquired a minority stake in Voyager Innovations Inc. for $40 million.

PLDT Inc., the parent firm of Voyager, signed an agreement with IFC and IFC Emerging Asia Fund, a fund managed by IFC Asset Management Company, for the subscription of $40 million worth of newly-issued shares in Voyager.

“The investment is expected to help further expand financial inclusion in the country and promote the digital economy through broader use of digital payments,” PLDT said.

IFC and the IFC Emerging Asia Fund will join KKR and Tencent which previously announced their investments in Voyager.

With these investments, the total new external funding raised by Voyager will increase from $175 million, as announced on Oct. 4, 2018, to $215 million.

PLDT said the combined investments represented the largest investment in a Philippine technology company.

“We at PLDT are quite happy to welcome the investment of the International Finance Corp. and the IFC Emerging Asia Fund in Voyager Innovations. In this undertaking, we are kindred spirits. Through its Global Innovative Retail Payments Program, IFC aims to make financial services much more accessible and affordable to the world’s low-income population by supporting innovative financial services,” PLDT and Smart Communications chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said.

“That is precisely the goal that PLDT is pursuing through Voyager’s platforms,” he said.

Voyager president and chief executive Orlando Vea said the company’s mission was “to accelerate digital and financial inclusion in the Philippines, so all Filipinos can participate in the digital economy.”

“IFC and IFC Emerging Asia Fund’s investment will enable us to scale up our efforts especially in the digital financial services space,” Vea said.

PLDT investing P2.15b for 45.7% share in Multisys

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said Monday its board approved the acquisition of a 45.73-percent stake in Multisys Technologies Corp. for P2.15 billion.

PLDT said the investment would be done through wholly-owned subsidiary PLDT Global Investments Holdings Inc. It said the transaction was expected to be completed by next month.

Multisys, founded by software programmer and entrepreneur David Almirol Jr., developed over the past eight years a number of software platforms that can be used by its pool of programmers to create highly scalable, flexible and customizable software solutions as required by its clients.

These software platforms include those for payment gateways such as Bayad Center, utilities like power and water, data center setup and connectivity, big data handling and analytics and cyber security.

“This investment positions PLDT as a telecoms and digital services provider with core software development capabilities,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said.

“With the software savvy of Multisys, PLDT will be able to offer more custom- made solutions to its customers and thus deepen its relationships with them,” he said.

The specialized industry solutions of Multisys complement the suite of solutions of PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT. They can be further fortified by ePLDT’s managed infrastructure and cyber security solutions.

Multisys can also strengthen the ongoing digital initiatives of ePLDT and Voyager Innovations, particularly in the fields of electronic payments and digital financial services.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; ICTSI climbs

T

HE stock market rose Monday, extending last week’s breakout on improving investor sentiment and less inflationary pressures following the drop in crude prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 57.69 points, or 0.8 percent, to 7,397.87 on a value turnover of P6.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 106 to 74, with 50 issues unchanged.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, climbed 3.8 percent to P98, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 3 percent to P74.25.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. added 2.2 percent

to P34.35, but ISM Communications Corp., a member of the consortium declared by the government as the country’s third major telecommunications firm, fell 3.2 percent to P6.44.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets rose Monday as investors tentatively pick up cheap stocks, with focus on an expected meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the weekend that will be watched for signs of a softening in the China-US trade war.

The week has started on an upbeat note with Hong Kong jumping 1.4 percent and Tokyo 0.8 percent higher.

Singapore added 0.7 percent, Seoul and Taipei each jumped more than one percent, while there were also gains in Bangkok, Jakarta and Mumbai.

However, Shanghai, Wellington and Sydney declined.

Oil prices enjoyed a bounce but remain well beaten down after Friday’s hammering, which saw WTI sink 7.7

percent and Brent more than six percent, putting them at lows not seen for more than a year.

The broad gains came despite more hefty selling in energy firms after another collapse in oil prices on Friday, while the pound was flat against the dollar after European Union leaders approved a Brexit deal but which must be cleared

by British MPs who mostly oppose it.

The positive mood comes at the start of a key week that sees a speech by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell and the release of the bank’s last policy meeting minutes, before culminating in the G20 in Buenos Aires.

While the summit will focus on several global issues, the meeting between Trump and Xi will get the most attention with the economic superpowers engaged in a trade war just as global growth starts to stutter.

But expectations for a deal to end the standoff are low.

“It would seem that President Xi and President Trump have every incentive to come to an agreement on trade issues, even if that agreement does not significantly change the status quo,” said JP Morgan Asset Management chief global strategist David Kelly.

“However, perceptions are important on both sides. While some hold out the hope that an agreement in principle will be reached, it seems more likely that an agreement will have to wait for more posturing on both sides.”

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA, called the meeting “possibly the best and last opportunity for the two leaders to share middle ground.”

“The big question is are we going to see Trump the ‘deal maker’ or Trump the ‘trade warrior’ who wants China to ‘feel more pain’? Keeping in mind that betting against the latter has been a poor bet for traders this year.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.7 26,190 93.85 2,104,150 2.34 3,000 128 1,699,920 1.5 13,000 27.5 136,400 15.5 4,600 11.3 2,603,900 3.74 28,000 1.53 14,000 0.45 20,000 74.25 6,386,110 0.78 37,000 11 108,900 40.75 258,900 173 1,890 72 1,240 28.2 36,000 163 735,220 1,811 225 65.9 10,340 1.14 25,000

1,560,563.50 198,165,285 7,020 218,069,591 19,500 3,760,125 71,290 29,471,132 104,850 21,800 9,000 471,547,701 28,310 1,200,830 10,547,615 327,310 89,220 1,023,260 119,786,997 407,385 681,378.50 28,500

1,545,129.50 53,278,001 -25,110,125 -1,305,215 -23,862,680 263,077,749 151,350 3,116,795 1,730 10,795 30,365,275 122,027 -

32.8 17.36 1.03 1.23 0.244 99 1.61 14.52 35.5 15.5 36.9 1.35 5.22 6.6 10.38 15.66 8.47 6.88 1.5 17.34 62.3 22.7 1.85 5.96 8.57 1.56 280 25.2 10 16.6 386.2 0.165 6 1.3 3.9 8 4.58 8.5 0.9 11.28 47.85 5.05 4.7 1.77 2.8 1.21 10.32 83.45 5.2 0.121 0.77 132.1 2.32 1.51 1.62

INDUSTRIAL 32.9 1,258,700 17.7 823,000 1.06 6,958,000 1.25 430,000 0.25 4,060,000 100 530 1.69 4,750,000 14.52 75,100 35.5 38,800 15.58 1,600 36.9 700 1.4 136,000 5.25 5,000 6.85 8,600 10.4 2,741,500 15.66 5,304,700 8.56 301,400 6.96 73,700 1.5 1,000 17.36 1,373,900 63 161,130 23 45,300 2.1 34,640,000 5.97 333,900 8.85 6,324,600 1.71 1,229,000 280 316,450 25.75 1,015,600 10.3 191,800 16.6 10,885,000 388 218,230 0.165 100,000 6 17,500 1.34 517,000 4 78,000 8.13 1,165,200 4.8 214,000 8.78 3,800 0.9 642,000 11.3 179,100 47.9 935,700 5.05 252,000 4.75 21,000 1.83 129,000 2.82 15,000 1.29 134,000 10.6 100,200 83.6 1,568,220 5.3 231,700 0.121 250,000 0.8 105,000 135 702,390 2.32 4,000 1.51 20,522,000 1.68 11,768,000

41,559,825 14,551,948 7,374,850 533,330 1,014,640 52,674.50 7,881,440 1,100,766 1,385,040 24,820 25,830 186,200 26,145 59,005 28,799,052 83,073,640 2,570,612 508,748 1,500 23,906,658 10,047,182.50 1,042,760 68,965,640 1,998,955 55,835,294 2,047,760 89,152,006 26,074,975 1,972,610 185,900,866 84,847,330 16,500 106,369 696,250 305,290 9,438,876 1,003,990 32,356 580,590 2,038,364 44,881,350 1,283,500 99,540 234,900 42,260 166,490 1,054,808 131,050,348 1,208,930 30,320 82,380 96,151,841 9,280 32,036,950 19,764,970

-11,206,680 -860,814 -237,440 4,980 -2,498,300 169,864 -107,730 -13,810 -14,620,524 806,630 -52,649 -8,167,908 -217,632.50 982,100 -1,271,370 -1,906,946 3,967,094 -225,800 -21,755,140 7,820,270 -1,161,840 -16,644,174 46,710,202 14,850 -664,210 250,844 9,170 -406,490 -127,890 -5,078,360 -278,750 41,810,234.50 2,600 19,430,160 9,280 -7,798,080 -16,600

0.61 55 11.22 0.84 20.3 1.43 1.43 952 7.07 13.5 9 5.16 0.198 880 48.4 0.54 3.97 15.64 0.61 4.73 0.034 2.37 172.5 920 1.31 428 280 0.239

0.53 48.15 11.14 0.84 19.5 1.4 1.42 937 7 13.06 8.6 3.1 0.198 865 47 0.5 3.88 15.2 0.58 4.65 0.033 2.26 171.5 911 1.27 428 272.2 0.23

HOLDING FIRMS 0.58 93,700,000 53.5 1,573,000 11.18 12,146,300 0.84 1,000 19.82 64,200 1.42 3,018,000 1.43 532,000 945 211,850 7 373,700 13.38 3,790,800 8.92 1,089,300 5.16 10,400 0.198 10,000 867 122,830 48 2,208,100 0.5 74,000 3.89 14,825,000 15.32 2,234,100 0.61 2,732,000 4.65 18,074,000 0.033 4,300,000 2.31 913,000 171.8 94,490 915 212,830 1.27 257,000 428 110 280 5,700 0.232 2,110,000

54,649,020 82,542,320 135,757,086 840 1,265,786 4,268,110 755,540 200,548,565 2,630,686 50,546,496 9,718,326 32,734 1,980 107,077,170 105,923,290 37,130 57,565,060 34,306,308 1,652,480 84,332,130 143,900 2,125,440 16,223,390 194,630,700 327,020 47,080 1,587,750 493,760

277,300 18,918,005 -13,562,096 -102,490 364,940 -33,630,405 1,634,625 -18,455,350 -644,520 -58,432,280 -33,851,835 -1,234,710 11,128,470 65,100 -40,734,710 11,750 24,848 -72,200,790 -

7.59 0.81 10.6 0.58 42 2.27 4.14 5.97 0.415 0.83 0.87 0.218 0.35 7.65 18.28 0.54 0.134 1.45 1.01 2.72 4.86 0.385 0.465 0.39

7.5 0.76 10.46 0.56 41.2 2.16 4 5.7 0.4 0.83 0.87 0.213 0.335 7.6 17.84 0.495 0.114 1.43 0.99 2.52 4.75 0.365 0.46 0.355

16,907,131 1,897,400 245,542 627,020 438,943,585 3,452,670 3,787,730 118,017 3,564,250 7,470 8,700 263,180 97,000 2,255,247 4,303,308 77,800 219,680 2,240,470 2,262,550 63,600,920 40,698,950 11,115,800 239,250 1,078,650

1,044,241 -8,000 319,000 63,654,475 -2,775,850 53,170 -401,400 161,880 20,564 651,668 -174,260 107,520 -3,675,090.00 177,200 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 94.3 2.34 129 1.5 27.8 15.4 11.42 3.75 1.57 0.45 72 0.78 11.1 40.6 174 72 28.9 162.7 1,811 65.95 1.14

59.7 94.65 2.34 129.6 1.5 27.8 15.5 11.42 3.75 1.57 0.45 74.5 0.78 11.1 40.8 174 72 28.9 165.1 1,811 65.95 1.14

59 93.1 2.34 125.5 1.5 27.45 15.4 11.26 3.74 1.53 0.45 71.5 0.75 11 40.5 173 71.9 28.05 160 1,810 65.85 1.14

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

32.85 17.74 1.05 1.24 0.25 99 1.65 14.56 36.3 15.52 36.9 1.36 5.22 6.91 10.42 15.68 8.6 6.96 1.5 17.44 62.3 23 1.88 6.15 8.71 1.56 282.8 25.4 10 16.9 390 0.165 6.16 1.3 3.91 8 4.6 8.5 0.91 11.4 48.5 5.12 4.7 1.77 2.82 1.22 10.32 83.6 5.2 0.121 0.77 135 2.32 1.52 1.67

33.4 17.74 1.09 1.25 0.255 100 1.69 14.72 36.3 15.58 36.9 1.42 5.25 6.91 10.76 15.68 8.7 6.96 1.5 17.44 63.75 23.4 2.13 6.15 9.09 1.73 284.2 25.8 10.44 17.5 390.6 0.165 6.16 1.35 4 8.13 4.8 8.78 0.91 11.62 48.5 5.12 4.75 1.86 2.82 1.29 10.78 83.6 5.3 0.122 0.81 139.4 2.32 1.62 1.73

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS

0.54 48.15 11.2 0.84 20.3 1.42 1.42 939 7.01 13.06 9 3.1 0.198 874 47.5 0.54 3.89 15.5 0.59 4.73 0.034 2.3 172 911 1.31 428 272.2 0.239

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

7.57 0.77 10.46 0.58 41.5 2.23 4.01 5.7 0.405 0.83 0.87 0.215 0.35 7.6 17.86 0.495 0.115 1.43 1 2.58 4.85 0.37 0.46 0.36

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

3.62 21.35 1.92 3.1 33.85 1.16 4.75 0.68 5.39

3.62 21.35 1.95 3.12 34.8 1.19 4.83 0.69 5.45

3.57 20.65 1.92 3.04 33.25 1.16 4.6 0.68 5.38

3.59 21.15 1.93 3.12 34.35 1.18 4.7 0.69 5.4

587,000 2,170,000 125,000 42,000 8,566,100 812,000 518,000 106,000 1,008,300

2,105,710 45,812,035 242,410 129,470 293,880,800 952,640 2,462,130 73,080 5,447,151

-1,030,250 -10,520,555 81,450 75,955,845 -5,000 -918,053

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

10 19.5 0.36 0.038 13.4 1.95 8.08 69 7.77 7.55 9 1,975 5.24 320 3.4 1.7 94.7 7.2 0.101 6.57 3.28 14 2.79 0.75 13.88 0.35 5.45 7.17 2.06 2.07 2.07 17.7 3.16 10 7.8 3.4 107.9 2.92 1,208 0.67 0.33 43.5 74.7 6.74 2.59 0.65 0.37 5.28 0.52 12.16

10 19.7 0.365 0.038 13.4 2.07 8.33 73.4 7.77 8.2 11.8 2,002 5.3 320 3.6 1.7 98.5 7.2 0.101 6.7 3.45 14 2.82 0.76 14.08 0.375 5.55 7.17 2.13 2.07 2.07 19.8 3.64 10.44 8.19 3.49 108.1 3.13 1,210 0.67 0.335 43.5 74.7 6.78 2.6 0.67 0.38 5.28 0.59 12.5

9.8 19.4 0.36 0.038 13.4 1.92 8.03 69 7.48 7.48 8.98 1,973 5.2 310 3.39 1.7 94.7 7.2 0.097 6.2 3.28 14 2.79 0.75 13.7 0.35 5.35 7.1 2.01 1.52 1.64 17.7 3.16 10 7.8 3.3 105.9 2.92 1,182 0.64 0.32 42.65 71.2 6.74 2.55 0.62 0.365 5.22 0.52 12.02

SERVICES 9.91 19.7 0.365 0.038 13.4 1.99 8.3 72.05 7.55 7.6 11.8 2,002 5.3 320 3.55 1.7 98 7.2 0.098 6.44 3.45 14 2.82 0.76 14.06 0.375 5.55 7.16 2.01 1.85 1.8 19.48 3.63 10.44 8.19 3.49 108 3 1,188 0.65 0.33 43 72.05 6.74 2.57 0.65 0.375 5.24 0.58 12.18

11,500 24,300 380,000 100,000 300 5,936,000 3,531,800 740,370 3,127,800 27,300 1,044,900 41,530 124,600 730 2,519,000 2,000 8,474,740 1,500 2,020,000 19,401,900 25,000 4,600 317,000 84,000 2,636,200 540,000 75,800 3,003,600 6,066,000 1,525,000 47,000 3,800 14,188,000 3,200 4,800 14,000 2,680 434,000 121,800 15,674,000 200,000 3,308,300 1,121,130 41,100 3,360,000 3,833,000 29,920,000 359,300 6,598,000 1,749,300

114,700 474,398 137,450 3,800 4,020 11,778,120 29,079,688 53,395,332.50 23,708,926 206,695 11,679,128 82,605,420 658,330 232,450 8,878,010 3,400 823,652,913.50 10,800 199,320 125,693,754 83,600 64,400 891,390 63,730 36,893,842 191,000 408,295 21,349,609 12,378,640 2,775,640 85,430 69,666 49,529,110 32,880 38,532 46,780 287,927 1,311,430 145,272,760 10,198,260 65,800 142,272,915 80,782,173.50 277,022 8,636,320 2,470,040 11,135,350 1,884,410 3,695,080 21,333,678

87,010 712,726 23,468,250 200,805 987,278 27,284,435 -75,000 -689,031,139.50 9,800 17,845,933 -11,320 -8,079,820 54,000 -19,349,243 24,900 798,070 15,600 264,587 -304,400 -22,230,545 -5,760,570 -126,752,635 -25,080,007.00 2,341,310 -704,070 923,400 -284,199 11,200 12,997,512

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

0.002 1.7 2.36 13.9 1.94 7.11 1.71 0.2 0.093 0.0069 1.1 2.04 1.02 0.52 0.94 0.012 0.013 3.37 2.58 14.7 25.65

0.002 1.74 2.5 14 1.94 7.11 1.71 0.202 0.095 0.0076 1.1 2.13 1.03 0.52 0.94 0.013 0.013 3.38 2.59 15.4 27.15

0.0018 1.69 2.36 13.5 1.94 7.02 1.67 0.199 0.093 0.0069 1.03 2.03 0.99 0.52 0.91 0.012 0.013 3.2 2.54 14.3 25.65

MINING & OIL 0.002 1,037,000,000 1.7 5,244,000 2.5 133,000 13.7 21,200 1.94 5,000 7.02 8,500 1.7 736,000 0.202 170,000 0.094 490,000 0.0075 12,000,000 1.03 11,000 2.11 10,962,000 1 87,000 0.52 2,000 0.91 738,000 0.012 34,600,000 0.013 12,300,000 3.35 179,000 2.54 2,122,000 15.04 3,740,900 26.9 1,199,900

1,992,000 8,961,480 329,680 292,954 9,700 59,732 1,241,480 33,980 45,960 87,200 11,470 22,962,680 86,980 1,040 676,670 415,500 159,900 596,850 5,430,050 56,161,148 32,106,900

52,200 -304,910 24,570 -529,080 -10,089,120.00 4,600 -718,450 -287,166 2,117,480

DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

96 102.5 5.08 1.03 950 102 970 75.4 76.25 72.5 74.5 73 72.25 73.5

96.6 102.5 5.08 1.03 950 102 998 75.4 76.25 74.95 74.9 73 73.9 73.5

95.5 102.5 5.06 1.03 950 102 968.5 75.1 76.1 72.5 74.5 73 71.85 73.5

PREFERRED 95.6 19,000 102.5 1,930 5.06 4,200 1.03 1,000 950 770 102 20 998 1,810 75.1 10,180 76.15 427,600 74.95 7,970 74.9 6,300 73 15,130 73.9 10,700 73.5 60

1,820,740 197,825 21,264 1,030 731,500 2,040 1,756,520 766,417 32,560,605 580,275 471,190 1,104,490 773,083.50 4,410

-

LR WARRANT

1.63

1.76

1.63

WARRANTS 1.75 221,000

382,380

17,300

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.25 1.11

4.59 1.12

4.25 1.09

4.56 1.1

3,253,110 2,639,290

3,660 -1,288,710

FIRST METRO ETF

109.5

110.5

109

726,160

-2,205

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.2 10.2 1.03

10.2 10.2 1.03

10.2 10.1 1.03

60,180 117,865 49,996.20

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.55 0.8 10.6 0.58 41.5 2.18 4.14 5.97 0.415 0.83 0.87 0.218 0.345 7.61 17.98 0.53 0.123 1.44 1.01 2.72 4.75 0.385 0.46 0.39

2,239,300 2,405,000 23,200 1,083,000 10,524,300 1,573,000 927,000 20,700 8,870,000 9,000 10,000 1,230,000 280,000 296,100 237,300 150,000 1,840,000 1,552,000 2,260,000 24,172,000 8,503,000 29,270,000 520,000 2,910,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

14,832,292

INDUSTRIAL

123,754,127

HOLDING FIRMS

170,723,443

PROPERTY

122,925,490

SERVICES

143,485,522

MINING & OIL

1,121,834,959

GRAND TOTAL

1,700,697,091

SME

732,000 2,398,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 110.5 6,610 10.2 10.2 1.03

DDS

5,900 11,600 48,540

VALUE 1,745.37 (up) 6.18 1,116,983,935.48 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,774.59 (down) 9.05 1,220,808,598.52 HOLDING FIRMS 7,239.40 (up) 89.81 1,493,613,263.90 PROPERTY 3,600.21 (up) 26.05 SERVICES 1,415.07 (up) 16.60 1,065,066,186.92 MINING & OIL 8,653.61 (up) 280.65 1,848,013,746.108 PSEI 7,397.87 (down) 57.69 131,709,058.54 All Shares Index 4,441.09 (up) 31.86 6,882,829,768.12 Gainers: 106; Losers: 74; Unchanged: 50; Total: 230

Solid Cement obtains $75-m loan to expand Antipolo plant

By Jenniffer B. Austria CEMEX Holdings Philippines Inc. said unit Solid Cement Corp. has availed of a $75-million loan facility from CEMEX Asia, B.V. to fund partially the construction of a 1.5-million metric ton cement plant in Antipolo, Rizal province.

Cemex Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Solid Cement made an initial drawdown on the loan equivalent to approximately $40.7 million The company is using the proceeds of the loan to finance general corporate activities, including refinancing debt and funding the construction and installation a new cement production line at Solid’s cement plant in Antipolo City.

The $75-million revolving fund facility will have a tenor of six years and will carry a fixed interest rate, depending on the cement firm’s consolidated leverage which will range from 8.2 percent to 10.2 percent a year.

Solid Cement is entitled to prepay the loan with any other proceeds at any given time and with no penalty.

The planned cement expansion, which is estimated to cost $235 million, is scheduled for completion by 2020.

The project is expected boost Cemex’s total capacity in the country by 26 percent. Solid Cement currently has a capacity of 1.9 million metric tons and serves the markets of southern Luzon and the National Capital Region.

Solid Cement earlier signed project agreements with China’s CBMI Construction Co Ltd. for the procurement, construction and installation of the new line.

Cemex Philippines last week reported it was shutting down its Davao cement terminal and suspending indefinitely the operation of one of its two kilns in Cebu province, following the suspension of quarrying operations.

The closure would also force the company to lay off 30 percent of its workforce and cut the services of 40 percent of contractors.

Aboitiz begins work on Davao water project APO Agua Infrastructura Inc., a joint venture between Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and J.V. Angeles Construction Corp., has started construction of a P12.6-billion bulk water supply project in Davao City.

Aboitiz Equity said in a statement it held a ceremonial construction kick-off for the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project Monday to signal the start of the project’s three-year construction phase that began with engineering design works early this year.

Apo Agua plans to start operations by the first half of 2021.

The bulk water project is a strategic infrastructure initiative that will shift the dependence of Davao City’s main water supply from groundwater wells to the more sustainably-sourced surface water from the Tamugan River.

Set to be the largest private bulk water supply facility in the country, the P12.6-billion project will provide the Davao City Water District with over 300 million liters per day of safe water.

The treated water will be distributed to over one million residents through the DCWD’s five water systems, namely Dumoy, Calinan, Tugbok, Panacan and Cabantian, as well as three additional new water systems in Talandang, Mandug and Indangan.

“As a long standing partner of Davao City for over 70 years, we at Aboitiz are excited to be working with JVACC in order to provide current and future generations of Davaoeños with a sustainable, safe, and dependable source of bulk water supply. Our proven partnership with the Davao City Water District has led us to today’s momentous event where we celebrate the start of construction of our project,” Apo Agua president Romàn Azanza III said.

The project’s water treatment facility will be powered by renewable energy from a hydroelectric power plant.

By tapping the Tamugan River, the project will provide quality and ample quantity of water that will enable the DCWD to temporarily shut down many of its groundwater well sources.

Aboitiz Equity said the new source would ensure the preservation of the city’s water table and save it from irreversible environmental degradation such as land subsidence and saltwater intrusion. Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Russian seizure of Ukrainian ships off Crimea sparks alarm

TRADITIONAL COSTUMES. This picture taken on November 15, 2018, shows Papuan villagers in traditional costumes and headdresses performing in Port Moresby. AFP

IN BRIEF

145 pilot whales die in remote beach WELLINGTON―Up to 145 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in a remote part of New Zealand, with authorities saying Monday they made the “heart-breaking” decision to euthanize dozens that lay stricken on the shore.

The stranding was discovered by a hiker late Saturday on Stewart Island, 30 kilometers off the southern coast of the South Island.

Half of the whales were already dead and due to the condition of the remaining whales and the remote, difficult-toaccess location, the decision was made to euthanize the remainder.

“Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low,” said Ren Leppens, the Department of Conservation’s operations manager on Stewart Island.

“The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales’ deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanize.

“However, it’s always a heart-breaking decision to make.”

It was one of four strandings discovered on New Zealand shores over the weekend which stretched DOC resources. AFP

More than 700 hurt in Iran earthquake TEHRAN―More than 700 people were injured in a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that shook western Iran, state television reported in an updated toll Monday.

The quake struck Kermanshah province late Sunday, with an epicenter 17 kilometers southwest of the city of Sarpol-e Zahab, according to the country’s institute of geophysics.

State television, citing the emergency services, said that 716 people had been injured, but there were no reports of deaths or major damage.

State TV showed images of cracked walls inside homes, but said only 33 of those injured remained in hospital on Monday morning.

The initial quake, around seven kilometers deep, was followed by several aftershocks including one with a magnitude of 5.2.

Morteza Salimi, an official with Iran’s Red Crescent Society, said most of Sunday’s casualties had been injured in a stampede sparked by the first tremors.

AFP journalists reported feeling the quake as far away as Baghdad in neighboring Iraq. AFP

South Korea unveils Northern pups SEOUL—South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife have been pictured cuddling a litter of puppies whelped by one of the dogs given to them by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a symbol of the strengthening ties between the two countries.

Images released on Sunday show the couple smiling as they sit on the ground outside their residence in Seoul surrounded by the six pups and their mother Gomi.

Kim sent Moon a pair of indigenous North Korean hunting dogs following their meeting in Pyongyang in September as a token of their rapidly blossoming friendship.

“Meet the newborn puppies of Gomi, one of the Pungsan dogs from North Korea,” Moon’s office tweeted on Sunday.

It posted two pictures of the dogs, one of them showing five furry white pups cuddled on Moon’s lap with the sixth in the first lady’s arms, with Gomi by their side in the courtyard of the presidential residence.

Both the mother and the puppies— three males and three females born on November 9—were “very healthy”, the presidential office said. AFP

KIEV―Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval ships in waters near Moscow-annexed Crimea, raising fears of military escalation and prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday.

In an unprecedented incident, Russia used weapons against the Ukranian ships which it claims illegally entered its waters before boarding and searching them, tx=x=he country’s FSB security service confirmed.

The crisis unfolded on Sunday as two Ukrainian small warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov that is used by Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat in “openly aggressive actions” and then fired on the ships, immobilizing all three.

It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area.

The confrontation at sea is a dangerous development in the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the

east of the country.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the escalation, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said. The meeting was requested by both Russia and Ukraine, diplomatic sources told AFP. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked parliament to vote Monday on whether to impose martial law on the country for 60 days, after his Military Cabinet recommended the move in a latenight meeting.

Throwing his weight behind the measure, which is not guaranteed to pass, he said it “in no way means that Ukraine will carry out any offensive actions”.

“I want to emphasize separately that we have all irrefutable evidence that this aggression, this attack on the Ukrainian Navy’s warships was not a mistake, not an accident, but a deliberate action,” he said in a statement.

Ukraine said six of its soldiers were injured, two seriously, but Russia’s FSB reported only three had suffered nonlife threatening injuries and were given medical treatment. AFP

Tear gas fired at migrants trying to cross from Mexico

T

IJUANA―US agents fired tear gas at hundreds of Central American migrants that climbed over a fence and attempted to rush the border from Tijuana, Mexico into the United States on Sunday.

The San Ysidro border post—the busiest crossing on the US-Mexico border —was closed to north and south traffic and pedestrians for several hours following the incident, the US Customs and Border Protection office in San Diego, California said.

The migrants, mostly from Honduras, are part of a “caravan” loudly con-

demned by President Donald Trump.

The shutdown took place only three days after Trump threatened to close the “whole border” with Mexico if “it gets to a level where we’re going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt.”

Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete accused some of the migrants of attempting to cross from Tijuana in a “violent way,” and said they would be deported.

“Far from helping the caravan, they are hurting it,” he told the Milenio television network.

Video clips posted on Twitter showed crowds of migrants dashing across a shallow concrete riverbed toward the United States.

The sudden rush overwhelmed Mexican police, who were deployed with large clear shields and full riot gear.

Study says home ‘most dangerous place’ for women

VIENNA―More than half the women who were murdered worldwide last year were killed by their partners or family members, making home “the most dangerous place for a woman,” a new UN study said Sunday.

In statistics released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime calculated that of the 87,000 female homicide cases worldwide in 2017, some 50,000 –- or 58 percent -– were committed by the victims’ intimate partners or family members.

Around 30,000, or 34 percent, were committed by intimate partners alone.

“This amounts to some six women being killed every hour by people they know,” the Vienna-based body said.

The vast majority—around 80 percent—of homicide victims worldwide were men, but “women continue to pay the highest price as a result of gender inequality, discrimination and negative stereotypes,” said UNODC chief Yury Fedotov.

“They are also the most likely to be killed by intimate partners and family... making the home the most dangerous place for a woman,” he said.

“The fact that women continue to be affected by this type of violence to a greater degree than men is indicative of an imbalance in power relations between women and men inside the domestic sphere.”

The UNODC calculated that the global rate of female homicide victims stood at around 1.3 victims per 100,000 female population.

The study found that Africa and the Americas were the regions where women were most at risk of being killed by intimate partners or family members.

In Africa, the rate was around 3.1 victims per 100,000 female population, while the rate in the Americas was 1.6 victims, in Oceania 1.3 and in Asia 0.9.

The lowest rate was found in Europe, with 0.7 victims per 100,000 female population.

According to the UNODC, “no tangible progress” in combating the scourge had been made in recent years “despite legislation and programs developed to eradicate violence against women.”

The report’s conclusions “highlight the need for effective crime prevention and criminal justice responses to violence against women,” the UNODC said, stressing the need for measures to boost safety and empower potential victims while holding their abusers accountable. AFP

Some 5,000 migrants have been gathering in Tijuana in hopes of entering the US. Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kirstjen Nielsen accused the migrants of seeking to harm US border patrol personnel “by throwing projectiles at them.”

“As I have continually stated, DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons,” she said in a statement, adding that US officials would “seek to prosecute” offenders.

At least 500 migrants, including women and children, had been taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Tijuana before dashing toward the border in an attempt to clamber over a first metal fence.

“Are we in the United States yet?”

some asked in desperate tones.

Several hundred made it over the first barrier and were trying to cross a second —topped with spikes—when US border agents began firing tear gas and rubber bullets at them. US helicopters flew low overhead, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.

The migrants covered their faces to protect themselves from the acrid gas.

Mothers clutched their young children close as they fled for safety.

There were cries of pain, desperation and frustration as the crowd swirled over the border line and back.

Some migrants shouted that they only wanted to make their way to a better life.

“They told us that if we crossed [the first barrier] they would give us asylum, because we were already in the United States,” said Flor Jimenez, a 32-year-old Honduran woman. AFP

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY Region 10 Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF 2019 HAULING SERVICES FOR THE TRANSFER OF RICE FROM GID BALOY WAREHOUSES, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY TO VARIOUS PROVINCES IN REGION 10 AND MARAWI CITY The NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA) REGION X, Cagayan de Oro City, through its Corporate Operating Budget intends to apply the sum of Twenty Four Million Four Hundred Forty Eight Thousand Pesos (PhP24,448,000.00) inclusive of VAT being the aggregated Approved Budget for the Contracts (ABC) of hauling services for the transfer of NFA Rice Stocks as follows:

POINT OF DESTINATION

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF BAGS ( bag of 50 kg)

CONGHS-2019-001

GID Aglayan Warehouse, Cagayan de Oro City

50,000

CONGHS-2019-002

GID Valencia Warehouse, Valencia City GID Maramag Warehouse, GID Baloy Warehouse, Baloy, Maramag, Bukidnon NFA Camiguin Cagayan de Oro Warehouse, Camiguin City GID Baraas Warehouse, Baraas, Iligan City GID Lala Warehouse, Lala, Iligan City GID Gango, Warehouse, Ozamiz City GID Marawi Warehouse, Marawi City TOTAL

CONT. REF. NUMBER

CONGHS-2019-003 CONGHS-2019-004 CONGHS-2019-005 CONGHS-2019-006 CONGHS-2019-007 CONGHS-2019-008

POINT OF ORIGIN

APPROVED BUDGET FOR MINIMUM THE CONTRACT (ABC) NO. OF (INCLUSIVE OF VAT) (PHP) TRUCKING BIDDING PER BAG TOTAL UNITS FEE (PHP) REQUIRED 26.80

1,340,000.00

5,000.00

31.49

629,800.00

1,000.00

34.24

1,027,200.00

5,000.00

61.80

2,472,000.00

5,000.00

30.80

2,464,000.00

5,000.00

46.50

1,395,000.00

51.00

4,590,000.00

5,000.00

10,530,000.00

10,000.00

4 20,000

4

30,000 4 40,000 80,000 30,000 90,000 234,000

4 4 4 4 4

45.00

5,000.00

24,448,000.00

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The National Food Authority Region-X, Cagayan de Oro City, now invites bids for the supply of the above-mentioned hauling service.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project to at least fifty percent (50%) of the approved budget for the contract. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the bidding documents, particularly in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using the non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184) otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the bidding documents at the address given below during office hours and working days: The Bids and Awards Committee National Food Authority 2F, NFA – X Building Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders on November 27 – December 14, 2018, 8:00 AM 12:00NN, 1:00PM – 5:00PM; December 17, 2018, 8:00 AM - 12:00NN working days/hours from the address above and upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents.

The National Food Authority will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 3, 2018, 1:30 P.M. at the Conference Room, 2F, NFA-X Building, Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address above on or before December 17, 2018 at 1:30 P.M. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms.

Bid Opening shall be on December 17, 2018, 1:31 P.M at the Conference Room, 2F, NFA – X Building, Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

The National Food Authority 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.

For further information, please refer to: REGION X BAC, 2F, NFA – X Building, Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City. Telephone Nos. (088) 855-2721, (08822) 73-2215, Fax No. (088) 855-2723.

(Sgd.) APOLINARIO J. BUERANO Acting Assistant Regional Director/ BAC-10 Chairperson M. Standard – Nov. 27, 2018

QC dads boost longevity pay of city teachers

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

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By Rio N. Araja

tuesday, november 27, 2018

LGUs LocaL government units

CHRISTMAS JOY. Young girls jump for joy as they experience a magical winter snowfall with Snow

Man and Snow Lady during the magical Sparkly Christmas Celebration and grand Christmas launch at SM City East Ortigas in Pasig City. The scene was replicated at SM Santa Rosa City in Laguna (inset), which opened its own Grand Magical Christmas Parade 2018. Norman Cruz and Roy Tomandao

Makati surpasses revenue goal Farmers fete ‘Queen Pineapple’

By Butch Gunio BAYBAY CITY, Leyte―The Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Program in celebration of its 40th anniversary, held a three-day Farmers Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda featuring queen pineapple.

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Applied Communication Division Director Marita Carlos and top consortium officials led the opening on Thursday of the event at the open field of Visayas State University here.

The program included research and development symposium, technology forum, booth exhibition, the Kaugmaran dance festival, and pineapple cook fest as well as side activities like bartending competition and poster making contest.

While the Fiesta event officially began on Thursday, the symposium started a day earlier.

In his message relayed by Carlos, PCAARRD acting executive director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora said: “With FIESTA, we wish to heighten the traditional agricultural farming priorities from merely achieving agricultural productivity to a flourishing agribusiness-driven environment.”

“FIESTA, therefore, is seen as a tool to increase the value of agribusiness outputs, thereby contributing to inclusive growth,” Ebora added.

PCAARRD takes great pride in partnering with ViCARP and with the experts of VSU “to boost the local queen pineapple industry,” he said.

PCAARRD and ViCARP are jointly implementing a program that aims to increase and stabilize the income of marginalized and subsistent queen pineapple farmers not only here in Eastern Visayas but also in the Bicol Region.

PCAARRD provided P31 million fund for research program enhancing productivity and marketability of queen pineapple.

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE city government of Makati announced on Monday it has already surpassed its 2018 revenue goal by three percent, collecting P16.18 billion as of Oct. 31.

The positive performance, according to Mayor Abigail Binay, showed the trust and confidence of the private sector and taxpayers in the reforms she instituted to promote efficiency and transparency at City Hall.

“We are heartened by the positive outcome of our efforts to strengthen the institutional integrity of the city government.

Let me assure our residents that my administration will continue to implement and expand existing health, education and social services,” said Binay.

Last year, the city government met 100 percent of its P14.25 billion revenue goal by collecting P14.26 billion in just 11 months, and in December, the city got a total of P16.97 billion collection, 12 percent higher than the actual collection in 2016.

For 2018, city chief treasurer Jesusa Cuneta said Makati was able to collect

P16,189,056,365 from January to October, or 103 percent of the 2018 target of P15,676,047,000.

The bulk of collections, she added, came from local sources led by Business Tax with P8.9 billion (100 percent of target), followed by Real Property Tax, almost P5.2 billion (113 percent of target).

Other local revenue sources include Fees and Charges with P720 million and Economic Enterprise, P216.8 million.

The mayor also noted that new business registrants as of end-September reached 3,762 based on the records of the Business Permit Office (BPO), which have a combined capital investment of over P24.5 billion.

BPO records also show that the number of permit renewals at the end of the third quarter reached 33,781, which was higher by 1,122 compared with the same period in 2017.

Meanwhile, the city’s revenue collection from other sources for the 10-month period include P213 million from Interest Income, and P948 million from Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Makati is among a few local government units in the country that are not dependent on the IRA. Under the leadership of Mayor Binay since July 2016, the city government has implemented reforms at City Hall to facilitate business registration and promote transparency, including an aggressive campaign against fixers.

Notable achievements of her administration to date include the firstever ‘unqualified audit opinion’ of the Commission on Audit (COA) to be earned by the city, which is the highest audit rating given by the said body.

It was also in 2017 that the city posted, for the first time in 12 years, a twodigit increase in revenue collections.

Recently, Makati unseated Quezon City as the country’s richest local government unit, posting total assets worth P196.5 billion, and also became the first LGU to breach the P100-billion mark.

NEW HOMES.

Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (left, wearing a barong), assisted by City Administrator Ding Soriano, distributes the certificates of lot award to 43 landless families as beneficiaries of the city government’s Land for the Landless Program. The families came from the villages of Scarlet Ibaba, Barangay Moonwalk and Matatdo Green Heights in Barangay San Isidro.

THE 37-member Quezon City council has passed on second reading an ordinance increasing the longevity pay of public school teachers from P100 to P400 for every five years.

“Education is one of our highest priorities in the city, and it is only right that we invest in our public school teachers. This is why the council has been expediting the approval of additional benefits – such as this longevity pay – to help our teachers,” Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

District 1 Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. authored the proposed ordinance amending Ordinance No. SP-1407 of 2004 in a bid to “uplift the living conditions” of the city’s public school teachers.

Under the ordinance, the longevity pay of public school teachers in Quezon City is increased from P100 for every five years of continuous service to P400 for the same duration.

The proposal, if signed into an ordinance by Mayor Herbert Bautista, would apply to teachers who have rendered at least five years of continuous service, and that teachers with at least 10 years of service, a gap of one year of service is allowed provided that the gap year was done “on account of medical or grave personal problems.”

The budget for the increase would be appropriated from the city’s general fund or special fund.

“We know that our public school teachers are, like all of us, wrestling with the effects of inflation. Right now, they are also dealing with big classes, long hours, and lack of equipment. These problems in our schools are things we want to help address in the long run, but right now, we are first pushing for additional benefits,” the vice mayor said.

192 Navoteño families get new homes

By Jun David

THE Navotas City Government has given safe shelter to some 192 Navoteño families who have been living in danger areas.

Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Rep. Toby Tiangco, together with Engr.

Juancho Corpuz of National Housing Authority, Brgy. Chairperson Rochelle Vicencio and other city officials, led the blessing and inauguration of five buildings of the NavotaAs Homes Tanza II at Brgy. Tanza 2.

“We want every Navoteño family to live and be in a safe environment.

That is why we strive to provide them with homes where they can stay free from worries for their safety,” Mayor Tiangco said.

Rep. Tiangco, on the other hand, urged residents to follow the policies laid out by the city government to keep their new community peaceful and orderly.

Before qualifying to receive a housing unit, all members of an applicant’s family need to pass a drug test. Applicants also agree to refrain from gambling or drinking alcohol inside their units or within the housing site.

Navotas has five in-city housing projects intended to keep families living along coastlines and riverbanks, or those considered danger zones, safe from harm.

Wood product producers bat for sustainable forest management THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has committed itself to the promotion of sustainable forest management, as its National Greening Program of the Philippines aims to expand forest cover, mitigate and adapt to climate change, conserve biodiversity, poverty alleviation and inclusive growth while adhering to the principles of good governance.

An Executive Order was also issued by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 that further cements the country’s commitment to sustainable forest management as an effective way to promote the protection of our forest cover while alleviating poverty all around the archipelago.

“In the Philippines, we believe that sustainable forest management is the

Laguna Water offers free desludging service

By Roy Tomandao SANTA ROSA CITY—As the world celebrates World Toilet Day this November, Laguna Water joins the movement by inviting more households and establishments to avail of its desludging or used water siphoning service as a means to ensure the continued protection of the environment.

According to the World Health Organization, 4.5-billion people worldwide do not have access to safely-managed sanitation services where toilets are not connected to a sewer or a septic tank and human wastes are not treated properly, causing contamination of groundwater and other natural bodies of water.

In the Philippines, the improper disposal of untreated used water has been identified as one of the leading causes of pollution of Laguna Lake, posing major health threats to various communities in the Province of Laguna.

It now becomes imperative that domestic used water discharges are properly treated to protect the lake and improve its water quality.

To assist the government in preventing Laguna Lake from becoming an open septic tank due to the high discharge of untreated used water, Laguna Water continues to intensify its Tamang Sanitasyon Equals Kalusugan, Kalinisan,at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (TSEK ng Bayan) program.

only way forward.” Charlie Liu, Chairman of Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) said.

“By ensuring that we are balancing the needs of our people and the viability of our forests we can reach a more prosperous and sustainable future for the entire country,” Liu added.

PWPA is one of the leading voices pushing for the wider adaptation of sus-

tainable forest management practices here in the country.

The organization, which boasts of members from various stakeholder organizations within the forestry sector, believes that we can become more involved in the protection of our forests while also pursuing the interests of many Filipinos whose livelihoods depend on forest-based industries.

Laguna Water general manager Shoebe Hazel B. Caong (standing right) and Dustin Ibañez (foreground, left), communications and branding manager, present the portable toilet solution for toiletless communities with unstable water supplies during a media tour in celebration of World Toilet Day last Nov. 22.

Roy Tomandao

Life

By Paola Navarette

e

MbArkINg on a journey to wellness may seem daunting because of the ever-changing demands and fast-paced character of daily living. People nowadays have less time to prepare a meal, let alone maintain a nutritious diet.

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife

health and environment

@mstandardLIFe tuesday, november 27, 2018

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This is the reason a multinational food and beverage company is encouraging people to develop healthy eating habits in order to achieve optimal nutrition and health.

Nestlé Philippines, through its Wellnessize campaign, continues to help Filipinos enhance their quality of life by choosing better food and drink options and engaging in regular physical activities.

To showcase how to prepare nutritious dishes, Nestlé invited select members of the press to an exclusive food demonstration and presentation led by Chef Tess Sutilo of the Nestlé Wellness kitchen.

Participants were able to sample Chef Tess’ “wellnessized” versions of classic Filipino dishes such as papaya okoy, steamed fragrant chicken, potato and egg ensalada, shrimp and spaghetti in garlic and olive oil, sinigang na pusit, and beef mechado.

“Wellnessize is a term that Nestlé coined from the noun ‘wellness,’ because we thought that it must have an action. Also, an individual must take action to achieve wellness,” explained Aurora Alipao, vice president for communications and marketing services.

The health campaign, which was launched in 2016, is one of the initiatives of the Nestlé Wellness Club, the consumer relationship program of Nestlé that aims to educate wellness aspirants to care for their families through good nutrition.

HEALTHY PRIORITIES. Global food and drink company Nestlé Philippines encourages individuals to lead a healthy lifestyle through its Wellnessize campaign.

When

wellness becomes a

core value

The Nestlé Wellness Club educates members on the importance of making informed food choices and maintaining physical activity habits.

Chef Tess Sutilo demonstrates how to cook dishes using healthier ingredients.

As part of the club, subscribers get consistent access to recipes and latest articles and videos that focus on the importance of making informed food choices, developing sound eating, and maintaining physical activity habits.

Alipao also mentioned that their re-

Watsons gives smiles to children IN The Philippines, an estimated number of 4,500 children are born every year with cleft lip and cleft palate.

According to Operation Smile, an international medical service organization that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults born with the condition, nine in 10 children born with it could die due to lack of access to safe surgery.

Since 2013, leading health and beauty retailer Watsons has been partnering with

Operation Smile to give children born with cleft lip and cleft palate a chance to smile through free and safe surgeries.

This year, Watsons is committed to helping 400 children through its medical missions in Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Tacloban.

From today until Dec. 26, shoppers can use their Watsons Card or SM Advantage Card points to donate.

Visit www.watsons.com.ph for more information.

Operation Smile provides free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lip and cleft palate.

Watsons aims to help 400 children with cleft lip and cleft palate through its medical missions in Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Tacloban.

search into the behavior of homemakers who are members of Nestlé club found that most of them are inclined to search for classic recipes that Filipinos love, such as adobo and sinigang.

“The recipes present in the website have only two to three procedures be-

cause we had the homemakers’ mindset in mind that they have very limited time and they want to cook a simple dish without sacrificing the quality,” said Alipao.

To sign up and know more about Nestlé Wellness Club, visit nestleclub.com.ph.

Life

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tuesday, november 27, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

HEALTH BULLETIN

Immunotherapy as an effective

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treatment option

ANCER remains among the leading causes of death worldwide. The World Health organization reported that the disease accounted for 8.8 million deaths in 2015.

With the advent of targeted treatments and therapies, the latest of which is immunotherapy, patients now have more options that may help them in their cancer journey.

Immunotherapy has been regarded as a “gentler” treatment route, and has already been approved in the country for several types of cancers. Currently, these approved indications include the following types of cancers: lung, melanoma, head and neck, gastric, bladder, and Hodgkin lymphoma.

Dr. oscar Chan, a lung and head and neck cancer specialist from the Hong Kong Integrated oncology Centre, recently talked about how the treatment is making breakthroughs in (lung) cancer management in his country—where around 4,700 individuals are diagnosed with cancer annually.

Immunotherapy, according to Dr. Chan, was first introduced and applied in Hong Kong in 2014 for patients who were not responding to first-line cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He mentioned that those who responded best to the treatment were nonsmall cell lung cancer patients whose cells showed a high level of a protein biomarker called PD-L1, the expression of which may help medical experts recommend the correct treatment route.

“In the past, majority of lung cancer patients can only live up to one year, with the median survival of only around a year to 17 months,” said Dr. Chan. “However, with immunotherapy, patients may now live longer—the response rates are high and more consistent.”

Dr. Chan said the current estimated five-year survival rate for stage 4 lung

Dr. Oscar Chan

cancer patients is now around 16 percent, significantly more than the previous rate of 3 percent.

The specialist cited the case of a 70-year-old male patient who developed a tumor on his right bronchus—a growth which obstructed his airway and caused breathing difficulty, which also contributed to the presence of blood in his sputum. The initial treatment was applied through radiation and first-line chemotherapy, but the tumor still grew.

His doctors, as response to the results, switched the treatment to second-line chemotherapy, a route which did not yield the intended effect. The patient’s disease further progressed, and his right lung eventually collapsed.

Immunotherapy was then administered to the patient, applied through an immune checkpoint blocker. In just 14 days, his situation had improved.

Dr. Chan later took a radiograph of the patient’s chest and discovered the tumor had shrunk and it was no longer blocking his bronchus. With the tumor’s size reduced, the patient’s lung was now able to expand and his sputum did not yield any more blood.

“This patient is currently still on immunotherapy, and we have found that his quality of life has not been compromised,” said Dr. Chan.

Due to the observed benefits of immunotherapy, increasing access to it—to give better support to cancer patients—is encouraged.

Local initiatives, such as the Hope From Within multi-stakeholder advocacy, for instance, continually push for greater and strengthened efforts to fight cancer, stressing that close collaboration will be the key to ensure that proper testing methods, treatments, care options, and systems are in place—especially for those who need it the most.

Recently, the Hope From Within – Cancer Game Plan PH was launched, a campaign that aims to put the patients at the heart of the fight against the dreaded disease. Using powerful voices from leaders, advocates, policymakers, survivors, support groups, and patients, it boosted awareness of right cancer care, sparking conversations and purposive actions on how to save more patients from cancer-related mortalities and burdens.

Immunotherapy has been found effective in treating lung cancer.

Give the gift of a healthy vision WoRLD’s leading ophthalmic optics company Essilor lets its customers be the “clarity” to someone’s life with its ongoing promotion.

Those who will buy a pair of Crizal lenses will get 50 percent off on the second pair, a savings of as much as P1,950. This promo is available until Nov. 30, and is valid in all participating optical stores nationwide.

The promo covers Crizal Prevencia,

Crizal Forte UV, and Crizal Alize.

Crizal Prevencia offers the most complete protection from harmful blue light, while Crizal Forte UV shields the eyes from damaging ultra violet rays. Crizal Alize reduces glare from computer screens, tablets, and smartphones, reducing eye fatigue.

Visit www.essilor.com.ph for more information.

Sweet Daiana, zero sugar BRAzILIAN actress, model, TV host, and Kapuso star Daiana Menezes reveals her secret to staying fit and healthy: zero sugar. trictly zero carbs and zero sugar,” says the “strictly Brazilipina, who also drinks a lot of water and takes vitamin C. With her busy schedule, Menezes thinks it’s important to find time to take good care of herself.

“Even and most especially when there’s no time, kahit sa bahay pa lang, I make it a point or make it part of my routine to love myself a bit and take good care of myself physically and mentally,” she shares.

To take care of her face, Menezes says she only washes it and uses moisturizer before going to bed. she puts on facial masks and get facial once a month.

Despite her pretty basic beauty routine, she is open to surgical procedures to improve herself. “There’s nothing wrong with that if it’ll make you feel good or better about your appearance,” she says.

“Beauty for me is accepting your flaws and focusing on your qualities, what makes you confident will show beauty in different ways.”

A typical day for her includes taking care of her pets, having breakfast, and taking her supplements, before proceeding to work or to run errands. she he shoots her vlogs, goes on taping for Super Sabong (her regular thrice-aweek show on Pinoy Xtreme channel), and works on her music. Menezes also runs her online businesses @ma- gracoffee and @brazilipina and regularly brings food and spends time with the orphans at scuola Fliglie di Maria Immacolata.

Robbie Pangilinan

Essilor has an ongoing promotion that offers 50 percent off on Crizal lenses.

Compound fights against oxidative stress

Daiana Menezes maintains her sexy figure by avoiding carbs and sugar.

sEVERAL experts believe there is a tipping point at which exercise stops becoming healthy, and instead becomes detrimental to health.

It is a widely recognized fact that a side effect of intense physical exercise is the production of free radicals. These are chemicals that are naturally produced by the body under specific conditions. They cause oxidative stress, which has been conclusively linked to premature aging.

The Red orange Complex compound has been found helpful in mitigating oxidative stress due to intense physical stress.

A study published on the website scienceDirect, entitled “oxidative stress in Handball Players: Effect of supplementation with a Red orange Extract,” said, “The results obtained clearly reflect an overall lower level of oxidative stress in the athletes examined after short-term dietary supplementation with the RoC. Dietary supplementation with the RoC (which is endowed with strong antioxidant capacity) is able to decrease oxidative stress and thus might protect against its short- and long-term health consequences in athletes engaged in regular training programs.”

The Red orange Complex is developed from blood red oranges grown exclusively on the fertile Mount Etna in Italy.

Commercially it can be found in some nutrition supplements, such as

Nutrilite PhytoPowder Electrolyte Orange

the Electrolyte orange variant of Nutrilite PhytoPowder with Red orange Complex.

Nutrilite’s Electrolyte orange contains the same amount of Red orange Complex used in the aforementioned study, along with electrolytes, vitamins, fiber, and a specific blend Phytonutrients.

This all-in-one sports drink is low in calories at .30 cal., and comes in convenient stick packs that dissolve in 250ml of water.

Entertainment

A

BS-CBN’s Christmas Station ID “Family is Love” tugged at the heartstrings of Filipinos everywhere garnering more than 1.2 million views on YouTube less than a day after it was launched on Nov. 18 on ASAP Natin ‘To and almost 3 million views as of this writing.

The 2018 Christmas Station ID’s heartwarming stories featuring five unique families have shown that in times of joy or despair, triumphs or trials, we all go back to where we feel love, comfort, acceptance, and hope — our family. These are the Garcia brothers—three military men from different military services who fought side by side during the Marawi siege who were often separated for years at a time; superwoman and mom Lorlie “Keribels” Noblezada who earned her college degree while juggling jobs as a fisherman, security guard, traffic enforcer, coast guard volunteer, masahista, and “crying lady” and supporting her family of ten; Dr. Viktorija Cirvinskaite, a 30 year-old missionary doctor from Lithuania who found family in the residents of Talim Island, when she found her calling and stayed to become its only resident doctor; Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal and her family, who worked together to support the skateboarder in reaching her dreams; and inspiring communities in Benguet, who helped one another despite tragic losses to rise up after the ravage of typhoon Ompong.

Hundreds of Kapamilya stars participated in the video, which was sung by the likes of Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, Sarah Geronimo, Gary Valenciano, Piolo Pascual, new Kapamilya Regine Velasquez, and loveteams Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, and Joshua Garcia andJulia Barretto.

The Kapamilya Network released a recording lyric video featuring the artists who led the vocals on Nov. 16 that has already garnered more than 3.5 million views on Youtube as of today.

Netizens also had rave reviews for the station ID, with the hashtag #FamilyIsLoveDay also trending worldwide on Twitter.

The ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID 2018 was created by ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management (CCM) Division headed by Robert Labayen, Johnny De Los Santos and Patrick de Leon, and ABS-CBN COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes and directed by Paolo Ramos with second unit directors Peewee Azarcon

William Shakespeare’s classic takes on a modern adaptation From left: Toni Gonzaga, Sarah Geronimo, Piolo Pascual, Coco Martin, Susan Roces, Charo Santos,Vice Ganda, and Regine Velasquez

Gonzales and Lorenz Roi Morales.

Lyrics were written by Robert and Lloyd Oliver Corpuz and brought to life by composers Marcus Davis and Amber Davis.

Also lending their voices in the song were the UST Singers, the AFP Chorale, Ramon Magsaysay High School Choir, Manila and Koro Bangkal Magbikin.

Amber Davis also provided vocals for the music used for the five stories.

Behind the 2018 ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID is the ABS-CBN Creative Communication Management division in synergy with ABS-CBN Integrated Marketing, ABS-CBN TV Entertainment, ABS-CBN News, ABS-CBN Regional, ABS-CBN Sports and Action, ABSCBN Digital Terrestrial Television, ABS-CBN Digital Media Division, ABSCBN Licensing, ABS-CBN Property Management, ABS-CBN Star Magic, ABS-CBN Global, ABS-CBN Safety and Security, and ABS-CBN Corporate Communications.

The 2018 Christmas Station ID entitled “Family is Love” is now airing on ABSCBN channel 2 and posted online on the ABS-CBN Facebook and ABSCBN Entertainment YouTube channel.

For updates on this year’s ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID, follow the official hashtag #FamilyIsLove.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

DOWN 1 Water, in Spanish 2 Bell sound 3 Harvard rival 4 Turntable parts 5 Couch 6 Smoke or mist 7 On a rampage 8 Gentlemen 9 PST minus 3 10 Maria Conchita — 11 Sprawl out 12 — Minor 13 Put away 19 Fixed a tooth 24 Mag. staffers 25 Orbit segment 26 Gallivants

nickie.standard@gmail.com

'Alyas July' is the contemporary adaptation based on National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera’s Filipino translation of The Bard’s masterpiece.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 54 Very quickly 57 Stiller or Affleck 59 Temporary gifts 63 Long low dog 65 Native of northern Canada 66 Palo —, California 67 Pakistan’s language 68 Helen, in Spanish 69 Japanese soup 70 What — can I do?

71 Protest music name

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‘Family is Love’ celebrated in new ABS-CBN Christmas station ID

Dr. Viktorija Cirvinskaite, a missionary doctor from Lithuania who found family in the residents of Talim Island.

ACROSS 1 Lowest depth 6 Nosegay holder 10 Cry of woe 14 Lose it (2 wds.)

15 “Jake’s Thing” writer 16 Finished last 17 Pitch-black 18 Investor’s concern 20 FBI member 21 Go-aheads 22 Family member (hyph.)

23 Moose’s smaller kin 25 Unser and Gore 26 Lurched 29 Aggressive chieftains 34 Monstrous giant 35 Medium’s session 37 Lubricate 38 Issued from 40 Banned bug spray 41 Stall 43 Sz. option 44 Most dull 47 Bellow 48 Kept from falling 50 Like an evening gown 52 In the know 53 Purposes

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

27 Snowy-plumed bird 28 Wash out 29 Stayed near the shore 30 Hill builders 31 Acting jobs 32 AM and FM 33 Cunningly 36 Singer — Brickell 39 Vortexes 42 Confidential (hyph.)

45 Clothing defect 46 QB objectives

49 Reaction to pollen 51 Trusted 53 Not deserved 54 Mr. Sandler 55 Sanskrit dialect 56 Play parts 57 Thread knot 58 Extremities 60 “The Mammoth Hunters” author 61 Ms. Foch 62 Laurel or Kenton 64 Tint

Dennis Trillo feels elated costarring with Dingdong Dantes DENNIS Trillo admits that he could hardly sleep upon learning that he would share stellar billing with Dingdong Dantes in GMA’s latest prime time offering Cain at Abel.

“Imagine, it’s with Dingdong. It’s really one special project,” he says.

Touted as GMA’s Drama King, the good-looking actor has high regards for his equally accomplished co-star.

“He is the Kapuso Primetime King.

I’ve admired him for the longest time both in the professional and personal side. When Cain at Abel was offered to me, I felt it’s a dream-come-true that I’ll share the frame with him. For one, the genre is action-drama which is so challenging,” he adds.

In a separate interview, Dingdong stated that he is also nervous to do scenes with Dennis. He doesn’t want to commit blunders knowing his costar’s acting competence.

“He’s also a director and I know he’s meticulous in staging scenes.

Dingdong is very professional and is dedicated to his craft. I guess, this material is a perfect collaboration for us,” he says.

Actually, it’s not the first time that they’re together in one soap opera.

In previous years, they did Twin Hearts, Etheria and Endless Love. But it’s only now that they’re the two main leads in the show.

“I feel this is the right time for us to do this because our roles are complex and require maturity. Had we done this when we were younger, it might be forcing through. It’s really perfect timing because at this stage, we’ve gone through a lot and are more experienced. I’m looking forward to learning new things from Dingdong now that we’re working on this project,” avers Dennis.

Cain at Abel is pitted against the more established Ang Probinsyano of rival network ABS-CBN which has been on air for a few years now. How does he feel about it?

“Of course, being under pressure is inevitable. At first, we had no idea as

to the timeslot we’ll be fielded. From there, we really worked hard to come up with a quality soap which will fight in the ratings charts regardless of what show it will face. I’m confident with our material because it’s really good,” he asserts. *** Bea Alonzo’s next big soap will have her paired with Richard Gutierrez.

“I’m thrilled with the idea,” she avers.

She couldn’t hide her excitement with such development. ”It’s our first time to work together.

Finally, I’ll be able to see his talent; how he does scenes. It’s simply exciting because this is something different as compared to my previous shows. I hope the viewers will support it,” she says.

Meanwhile, the critically-acclaimed Kapamilya star is pleased with the good feedback on her recently shown potboiler First Love opposite Aga Muhlach.

“I’m happy and overwhelmed that the public liked it. Well, that’s our foremost intention anyway. Every time I do a movie, the goal is for the viewers to leave the theatres feeling happy and satisfied after watching it,” states Bea.

The lead cast of 'Cain at Abel'

THROUGH the years, the question of right from wrong and the constant balance of actions taken always bring a conflict within society.

This study of characters and human behavior will once again rise onstage, as one of the most renowned historical tragedies of all time, Julius Caesar,

by England’s national poet William Shakespeare Shakespeare, takes on a modern reimagination.

Entitled Alyas July, the contemporary adaptation based on National Artist of the Philippines for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera Lumbera’s Filipino translation of The Bard’s masterpiece, was presented by Dulaang Filipino, the resident theater group of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), yesterday and will run until tomorrow, Nov. 28 at the Black Box Theater.

Written by Carlos Palanca Memorial award-winning playwright Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by Riki Benedicto Benedicto, Alyas July shares the story of the theater group Klasiko Entablado, just some hours before the critic’s night of their play Julio Cesar.

July, who left the production during the early parts of the rehearsals, was once again invited by the assistant director to portray the main character. This caused conflicts between some of its members, particularly Turbo and Asyong, who believe that the actor is full of himself.

While everyone’s busy with the final touches of the play, Turbo and Asyong, through and evil pursuit, are determined to dispose of the main actor.

With flickering lights, ill-fitted costumes, will the drama still be a success?

Benedicto wishes that the audience is still familiar with the original story, though the adaptation focuses on a different approach on Shakespeare’s piece. “I just hope that watching this version would elicit interest not just for Shakespeare, but classic literature in general.”

Both the director and the playwright veered away from the prevalent political approach of plays which reflects the current situation of the country. “I don’t want my stage to be a propaganda platform. I want to present a literary piece focusing on the behavior of the characters,” Director Benedicto noted.

“Why are we doing the things we are doing? We keep on looking for someone to blame to justify our unjust actions.”

Today and tomorrow’s screening will be at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and tickets are priced at P150.

For ticket reservations, call +63 230 5100 local 1528 or 1603 or contact culture.arts@benilde.edu.ph.

The Black Box Theater is located at 6/F De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz) Street, Malate, Manila.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

ABS-CBN Lifestyle turns 4 with Kiana as guest editor

L

ISTEN up, heroes!

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has successfully launched its first-ever street battle in the Philippines on Nov. 17 and 18 at Barangay 159 Multi-Purpose Plaza in Malibay, Pasay City.

The launch was graced by Pambansang Bae and a self-confessed Mobile Legends enthusiast Alden Richards.

He joined Zeus and Z4PNU as a shoutcasters during the first day of the two-day challenge. The Kapuso actor said he has been playing Mobile Legends since it was introduced in the Philippines in 2016.

“I started playing when the game started here in the Philippines,” said Alden.

So, when he found out that Mobile Legends Bang Bang is holding its first street league in the country, he made sure not to miss the event. Alden said, “I’m so excited to be here. Galing pa akong Broadway, bini-beat ko yung traffic para umabot ako kasi last round na raw.”

As an avid player, Alden said his usual default hero is Kagura.

However, he said, “Madalas kapag rank game, Leomord talaga.”

Dubbed as “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA,” the three-street battle event aims to gather non-professional

e-sports legends in the country.

As a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang believes that there are still excellent players in non-professional league.

Therefore, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang hopes to provide them an arena to show their fabulous skills through a street battle called LIGA. Since it was announced on Oct. 30, avid players of Mobile Legends Bang Bang celebrated because a LIGA would finally happen in the country. Hundreds of squads have immediately signed up to be part of the three street battles that will happen in different barangays in Metro Manila.

MLBB Vice President Cherry Xia says, “As a globally-launched game, MLBB has always placed a strong focus on local popular culture and aims to connect with players at a deeper level.”

“LIGA being a popular culture within the Philippines, and among MLBB players, holding a LIGA theme event was a natural decision for us. Moreover, LIGA and MLBB share a lot of similarities, both of which emphasize the spirit of competition and teamwork. Players of all skill levels can experience the thrill of competition and teamwork. Anyone can be a legend,” Xia added.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA’s three street battle is a two-day event, which will be joined by 64 pre-selected squads.

The groups’ e-sports skills will be tested in a best-of-one elimination on the first day.

Then, the top 16 squads on the first day of LIGA will return on the second day for the semi-finals and championship rounds, where the best team will be hailed as a winner.

The first LIGA was won by NexPlay Squad.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA’s second street league was held on Nov. 24 and 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Barangay Dona Imelda, 145 Bayani corner Guirayan streets, in Quezon City.

The last street battle will be held on Dec. 1 and 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City. MLBB aficionados can watch the game live on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s official Facebook page.

The prize pool of each Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA is P55,000 cash and 100,000 diamonds.

After entering the Philippines for over a year, Mobile Legend: Bang Bang has become one of the most popular apps among Filipino e-sports fans.

In fact, a Filipino professional squad already won as champions in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) of 2018.

As a MOBA game, MLBB especially emphasize on sprite of competition, team work, skills, and thirst for honor.

To hold LIGA for players, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang wants to offer nonprofessional players a stage to show themselves while keeping its core message for all its players about the sprite and belief that “Anyone can be a legend.”

Red Bull Music 3Style tilt champion named DJ MARK Thompson emerged victorious at the Red Bull Music 3Style Philippine Finals on Nov. 18 at Xylo at the Palace, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila.

The newly crowned champion will advance to the Global Finals in Taipei, Taiwan, where he will represent the Philippines from Jan. 20 to 29.

Red Bull Music 3Style is one of the premier music tournaments in the world today. Now on its fifth year in the Philippines as an annual event, Red Bull Music 3Style brought out the best young DJs the country has to offer in a showcase of skill, creativity, and ability. Each participant was tasked to upload a five-minute performance video showcasing three different genres of music.

This year’s finalists included Arpee Ong, D’Mad Tweaker (DJ Jan Musa), DJ Gavin Skewes, DYHA (Ernesto Alfante Jr.), iNBiTuiN (Charles Angeles Jr.), and Mark Thompson.

Before a crowd of over a thousand, each finalist was given a 15-minute set to showcase their skills, dazzle the audience, and impress the judges. This year’s judges included respected and internationally renowned names on the scene such as DJ Puffy and DJ Shintaro; former Red Bull Music 3Style World Champions, and DJ Shortkut; a member of the legendary group, Invisibl Skratch Piklz.

After a night of back-to-back competition, Mark Thompson prevailed

as this year’s champion, with DJ Jan Musa in second place, and DYHA and iNBiTuiN sharing a tie at third place.

“I am lost for words,” shares 2018 Red Bull Music 3Style Philippine Champion, DJ Mark Thompson. “Like, never in a million years did I think I would win. I didn’t care about placing: I just wanted to do my set right and have a good time.

Being a fan and watching the years before was already a big deal, let alone place and win. I can’t believe it.”

Mark Thompson rocked audiences during his set, which saw a drum solo in its closing moments.

“What I did, because this is my first battle, was look at the rule book. I couldn’t compete with the talent, but I have ideas

and I wanted to make these ideas happen.

I can be creative and I wanted to mix the unconventional,” Thomson shares.

With a Philippine Champion crowned, Mark Thompson now advances to the 9th annual Red Bull Music 3Style Global Finals at Taipei, Taiwan, from January 20th – 29th, 2019.

“I’m going to practice, practice, practice. I’m going to do my best and have fun,” adds Thompson. “I’ve never played in another country, so this is going to be another first. If you love it, work hard at it. It’s supposed to be fun.”

For further details follow the hashtags #redbullmusic3style #playwithmusic http://www.redbull3style.comhttp:// www.redbull3style.com.

DJ Mark Thompson stands victorious as the 2018 Red Bull Music 3Style Philippine Champion

Cynthia Erivo (left) and Michelle Rodriguez in a scene from 'Widows.'

THE intense heist movie, Widows, starring a staggering, impressive cast composed of Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Rodriguez,Elizabeth Debicki, Liam Neeson, and Colin Farrell will have sneak previews nationwide today.

The movie, which puts women at the core of this gripping crime caper set in a ruthless reality, also stars Robert Duvall, Jon Bernthal, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Garrett Dillahunt, Carrie Coon, Jacki Weaver, and Manuel GarciaRulfo.

The filmmakers assembled an impressive cast of actors for the film. Director/writer Steve McQueen says it was very important to make his cast feel comfortable and at home, so to speak.

“It’s very simple: they’re all great actors and you need to create an environment in which they feel safe to experiment and explore. That’s what I hope I provide actors, a safe space to fall on their faces, brush themselves off and try again in search of some kind of truth,” he says.

Currently enjoying rave reviews from early previews, Widows brings together female major leads playing bereaved women when a police shootout leaves their husbands dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago.

Their widows—Veronica, Linda and Alice—have nothing in common except a debt they left behind from criminal activities.

Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, Veronica joins forces with the other widows to pull off a heist that her husband was planning.

Opening nationwide on Dec. 5, Widows is rated R-16 by the MTRCB.

LIGHT up and get the stage ready as ABS-CBN Lifestyle celebrates its fourth anniversary with young musician and style influencer Kiana Valenciano as its Lifestyle Inspo for November.

Gary Valenciano’s sultryvoiced unica hija takes on this special role, sharing her inspirations in fashion, music, makeup, and social media, and stories surrounding her starstudded family and circle of friends. She also dishes on her new single and album.

“I think I’m more confident now, I think I’ve really found my sound. It’s an evolution— you can be one thing today and something completely different tomorrow,” Kiana said about her continuing transformation in her young career.

“The past years have been quite an emotional roller coaster for Kiana.

At the advent of her career as an upand-comer in the local music scene, she, too, was facing her own demons—admitting she faced anxiety and depression and that she just got ‘saved,’” ABSCBN Lifestyle editor-in-chief Barry Viloria stressed.

“Kiana, at our shoot, came out honest about all of it, and this kind of relief and sense of inner truth we now owe to, as she promises to create more music.

Of course, we aren’t just talking about the songs and albums she’d churn out to glitter her career further. This also touches on her journey as an individual, which she generously shares on our site as this month’s guest editor,” added Barry.

From one musician to another, ABSCBN Lifestyle also does a major feature on up-and-coming musicians discovered by sister platform One Music PH. Watch as the site puts the spotlight on Iskala, Mischan, Sarah Caballero, Timmy Albert, Unit 406, and Volts Vallejo—new artists in the local music scene projected to make it big soon.

Check out the exciting reads and videos with Kiana, the #ABSCBNLifestyleInspo for the whole month. Catch more Inspiring Stellar Stories on ABSCBN Lifestyle by logging on to Lifestyle.ABS-CBN.com and following the site through its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @abscbnlifestyle.

ABS-CBN Lifestyle Inspo Kiana Valenciano