Manila Standard - 2019 January 19 - Saturday

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PRICES INCREASED AT SLOWER PACE TO 5.9% IN Q4 PACQUIAO’S EVOLUTION.

The metamorphosis (from left to right) of the Philippines’ boxing icon Emmanuel Pacquiao, 40, who goes up the boxing ring tomorrow for his 70th professional fight against American Adrien Broner 10 years his junior in Las Vegas, Nevada, literally will be jabbing a challenge against old man ‘Father Time’ who wears a shabby robe and an hourglass as timekeeping device. File Photo/Sonny Espiritu

Story on B1

At 40, Pacman fights Father Time, Broner FIRST fight at 40 years old. In his 70th professional boxing match against an opponent over 10 years younger. Poised to collect $20 million (P1.05 billion) for his first fight in Las Vegas in over two years.

These are the numbers that will define Manny Pacquiao’s bout on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) against Adrien Broner, as the Filipino senator and ring legend seeks to defy Father Time anew and defend his World Boxing Association

welterweight crown.

There’s no doubt the peak years of Pacquiao’s career are behind him, boxing pundits say, but the southpaw was still impressive last July in stopping Lucas Matthysse in the seventh round, a fitting bounce-back after losing to Jeff Horn in Australia in 2017.

Pacquiao should have enough to get the better of Broner, most Las Vegas bettors Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 338 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BOL plebiscite set, voting ‘fluid’

ARMM youth to go for it amid ‘no votes’ growth elsewhere

By Rio N. Araja MARY ANN CASTRO

M

AJORITY of the youth in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would vote “yes” to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, according to a survey done by the peace group International Alert Philippines.

Twists and turns marked ex-Cebu lady prosecutor slay

FORMER Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro, linked to some legal knock-down-dragout for more than three years, has been shot dead, prompting the Department of Justice to order an in-depth investigation of the murder.

Police said the 49-year-old Castro, who faced an administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for immorality and grave misconduct for having an extramatial affair in 2002, was shot dead by an unidentified man on a motorcycle at 9.53 Thursday night.

No suspect has thus far been arrested by law enforcement agents.

But Justice Secretary menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the circumstances surrounding Castro’s assassnation.

“I have immediately directed the

NBI to investigate the ambush of Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro and to identify the perpetrators at the soonest possible time,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

This developed as lawyers groups including the Manila-based Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers separately expressed alarm over the surge in the murder of members of the legal profession.

According to IBP, at least one lawyer is killed per month since August 2016.

At the same time, data from NUPL showed that excluding judges and prosecutors, there are already 24 lawyers killed in two years.

Police said Castro, who was assistant prosecutor for 18 years–she

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday told voters to say “Yes” to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law ahead of the plebiscite on Monday and on February 6.

At a pro-BOL assembly in Cotabato City, Duterte pitched voters to use the plebiscite as a “peaceful means” to “finally” correct the historical injustice committed against the Bangsamoro people in his home region of Mindanao.

“Let us forget the bitterness of the past and look forward to the future which means, ladies and gentlemen, my beloved Moro brother or sister, please vote yes,” Duterte said, drawing applause from the audience.

In Cotabato City, the “no votes” grew to 32 percent, up from 13 percent in December. In Isabela, the “no” votes rose to 35 percent from only 8.8 percent in December.

“These data on youth preference is important because intention to vote is fluid.

Even those who declared they will not go

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Areas under BOL plebiscite

WEATHER

• ARMM (Basilan, Lanao

TEMPERATURES in Metro Manila dropped to a low of 19 degrees Celsius on Thursday the lowest during the so-called “amihan” season—even as a low-pressure area being monitored off Mindanao may develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours and become the first storm of 2019, the weather bureau said Friday.

The northeasterly winds chilled the National Capital Region to 19 degrees at 7:50 a.m. on Thursday, GMA News resident meteorologist Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz reported on “24 Oras.”

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STAND TO ATTENTION. Some 20,000 troops and police gather in Camp Siongco in Awang, Maguindanao on Friday and stand with their feet together to receive orders minutes before their send-off to secure the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite.

Pay hike funds for gov’t workers out

By Maricel V Cruz

Doctors set drive vs. pro sin tax bets

DOCTORS from at least 30 medical societies threatened Friday to boycott and even campaign against lawmakers who block the increase in so-called sin taxes on cigarettes to raise funds for the Universal Health Care program.

At a meeting in Quezon City, the health advocates led by PhilHealth Director An-

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del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi).

• Isabela City (Basilan) • Cotabato City

Metro chills at 190c

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Nikki dela Rosa, IAP country manager, said based on their survey of 328 youth respondents in areas that are set to vote in the plebiscite on Jan. 21–ARMM, Cotabato City, and Isabela City—70 percent are in favor of the BOL, up from 60.4 percent in a similar poll of 614 respondents in December 2018.

But Dela Rosa said there was a dramatic increase in “no” votes in the highly contested cities of Cotabato and Isabela.

thony Leachon and Antonio Dans of the National Academy of Science and Technology said the doctors would advise patients not to vote for lawmakers seeking reelection who object to raising taxes on cigarettes.

In a press conference, Leachon said such lawmakers could lose a “conservative estimate” of five million to six-million votes in the mid-term elections.

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HOUSE Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. on Friday welcomed the release of funds for the salary increases of government workers.

“Finally, Secretary Diokno has come to his senses. Now, he realizes thst he has to implement the law granting salary increases to civil servants even under a reenacted budget,” Andaya said.

Andaya said he recently got hold of the two Department of Budget and

Management Circulars, which authorize the local government units and government-owned and -controlled-corporations to release the fourth tranche of the wage hike to their employees under the Salary Standardization Law. The DBM Circulars—Local Budget Circular No. 118 and Corporate Budget Circular No. 23—were both signed by Diokno on Jan. 15.

Diokno had earlier declared that the 2019 national budget—which has been delayed in Congress—had to be passed before he could release funds for the pay increases.

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Duterte hails Misuari, eyes renewed peace negotiation with MILF

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he plans to sign an agreement to promote the interests of the Moro National Liberation Front, calling on MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari for a possible resumption of peace talks with the government.

In his speech during the peace assembly for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Duterte said Misuari has contributed to the government’s efforts to create a lasting peace not only in Mindanao but in the entire country.

“Though he’s not here, but he is a critical factor in the overall process.

And I refer to my good friend whom I Next page

WHO lists 10 health issues to watch out for in 2019 THE World Health Organization has started a new five-year strategic plan with a list of 10 issues that will demand attention from the global agency and its health partners in 2019.

The list includes air pollution and climate Next page Air polution

Obesity

Flu

Fragile

Microbio

Ebola

Weak

Vacine

Dengue

HIV

A2

News

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

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Palace: PH no ‘war zone in disguise’

By Nat Mariano

M

ALACAÑANG on Friday slammed a United Statesbased non-governmental organization for calling the Philippines “a war zone in disguise” under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo described ACLED for its “remarkably ignorant, biased and fallacious” report, saying the US-based NGO “has not presented any proof that it has conducted a factual investigation in the country.”

“It is reasonable to believe that its conclusions are based on allegations made by groups that are hopelessly and blindly critical of the Duterte administration,” Panelo said in a statement.

He said describing the war on drugs as a state terror campaign targeting innocent civilians was pure “hogwash.”

“The report stating that there is an alleged prevalence of state repression tagging the Philippines as a country where civilians are most at risk in 2018 is an infinitely fallacious finding,” Panelo said.

“The anti-illegal drug campaign is gov-

erned by strict police protocols that subject the police officers to accountability given the President’s zero tolerance for errant law enforcers.”

Panelo said the government does not tolerate impunity, citing the conviction of the Caloocan City policemen involved in the killing of Kian delos Santos.

He said the Philippine press remained one of the freest in the world, but other groups and media outfits were “blindly critical of the Duterte presidency.”

“These include the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as partisan media outfits like Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer, New York Times, and Reuters, among others,” Panelo said. He said ACLED leaned heavily on the allegations of the groups he mentioned.

In its report, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project or ACLED emphasized the “lethality” of the administration’s relentless crackdown on drugs, citing the killings of over 1,000 civilians in 2018.

ACLED said the number of civilians killed in the country last year was higher than the casualties in conflict-stricken nations such as Iraq, Somalia or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Even after President Rodrigo Duterte re-

ceived support from Sri Lanka for his war on drugs, the organization still tagged the Philippines as one of the “deadliest countries for civilians” in 2018 along with Syria, Nigeria, Yemen and Afghanistan.

“In 2018, nearly as many civilians were killed in Syria (over 7,100) as were in Nigeria, Yemen, Afghanistan and the Philippines combined (over 7,600 total)―the next four countries topping the list of deadliest countries for civilians,” the ACLED said in its report.

Twists and turns...

Man up, Andaya tells Diokno for budget hearing

resigned on April 1, 2017 after being suspended twice and left two children–was driving a yellow Nissan Juke car towards the Capitol area from the Cebu Business Park in the city center when she was gunned down by the suspect who drove his motorcycle close to the driver’s side of Castro’s car.

Her car swerved to the opposite lane and crashed against the perimeter fence of a construction site.

Official sources said the Supreme Court suspended Castro for six months and a day in June 2015 for wielding “excessive influence” when she asked the police to help her brother who complained about a defective vehicle he bought in 2001.

The SC 2nd Division affirmed the ruling of the Court of Appeals, which found Castro guilty of using her influence to use the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team “for a personal matter.”

The sources said Castro was again suspended in 2016.

This time, the high court’s Third Division suspended Castro for six months for filing separate petitions for annulment of marriage in two trial courts in Cebu in 2000.

The high court lifted Castro’s suspension and reinstated her to the practice of law effective January 2017.

According to court records, in March 2016, while serving her suspension imposed by the Supreme Court in 2015, she began work as acting chief of the Talisay City Legal Office.

At the same time, Castro’s involvement in extramarital affairs was easy fodder for tabloids in the city.

Records suggested that in August 2002, Cherry Basalo Augusto filed an administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for immorality and grave misconduct against Castro for having an extra-marital affair with her husband, Zandro Augusto.

Cherry claimed she had seen the pair in a motel in Mandaue City on Aug. 11, 2002.

But two months later, on Oct. 3, Cherry was shot in the head allegedly by PO1 Clementino Dulguime Jr., who subsequently shot himself with the same gun.

Observers said the NBI would have to do good spade work to uncover all the official and personal flack.

By Maricel V. Cruz

From A1

Metro chills...

From A1

Cruz, who formerly worked with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said the mercury was expected to dip to a low of 21 degrees on Friday.

Meanwhile, the weather system, which will be named “Amang,” may enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday and make landfall over Caraga region on Sunday, Pagasa forecaster Gener Quitlong said.

If the LPA develops into a tropical depression, storm warning signals may be raised over Eastern Samar and Caraga on Saturday, Quitlong added.

Due to the amihan’s surge, Pagasa raised a gale warning for the seaboards of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan province. Small seacraft were urged not to venture out, as waters may get rough.

Moderate to heavy rains are expected to persist over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental on Saturday.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains are expected to prevail over Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Southern Quezon, Mindoro provinces, Romblon, and Marinduque.

Flood warnings may be raised in almost all the river basins in the southern half of the country as the storm traverses its track, said hydrologist Ed dela Cruz.

WHO...

From A1

change; noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cancer; a global influenza pandemic; “fragile and vulnerable settings”; anti-microbial resistance; ebola and other high-threat pathogens; weak primary health care; “vaccine hesitancy”; dengue; and HIV or human immunodeficiency virus.

“The world is facing multiple health challenges,” WHO said in the article “Ten threats to global health in 2019” on its website.

These range from outbreaks of vaccine-

THE House of Representatives’ Rules Committee has invited Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to appear as a resource person in the probe it is conducting on his department’s allegedly questionable allocations and practices.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said his committee will conduct another series of hearings on Diokno beginning Jan. 21.

In other developments: • Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday expressed hope that his colleagues would be firm with what they agreed upon on the proposed 2019 national budget as he expected “bloody and sweaty” bicameral conference committee meetings.

“First hurdle is for the senators to stand side by side and firm on what we have agreed

BOL...

From A1 to the polls may change their mind before the plebiscite,” she said.

She did not say how the respondents were chosen, what ages constituted a “youth,” when the surveys were conducted, or what the margin of error of the IA survey was.

Jan. 21 has been declared a special nonworking day in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as well as in Isabela and Cotabato to enable residents to vote in the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Another plebiscite will be held on Feb. 6 in Lanao del Norte, Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit and Pigkawan towns in North Cotabato and other areas seeking inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

According to the International Alert Philippines, those that intend to vote rose from 54.5 percent in October to November 2018 to 77 percent in January this year.

Dela Rosa noted an increase in youth familiarity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law from 84 percent before the campaign period to 93.5 percent in 2019 as one of the major reasons for the possible increase in voter turnout and an increase in support of the measure.

The group’s survey showed the rise in the percentage of those who are in favor was most dramatic in Tawi-Tawi, where support grew to

both in plenary and in our informal discussions in the lounge,” Lacson said.

• Malacañang believes there is no need to pressure Congress to pass the proposed 2019 national budget.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the lawmakers themselves knew very well how important the passage of the measure was for the country.

“I am sure they will be passing that.

They are all concerned with the services, the infrastructures that will be affected,” Panelo said.

Andaya challenged Diokno “to be man enough” after he snubbed the first two hearings of his panel.

“The third hearing on the issues hounding DBM is set on Monday, Jan. 21.

We have sent a formal invitation to Secretary Diokno, and we hope he will reconsider his earlier decision not to appear in the House

investigation,” Andaya said.

“As the DBM’s top honcho, Secretary Diokno should be man enough to explain the anomalous allocations and questionable practices that the House panel uncovered in the course of the investigation.”

Andaya said instead of sending his undersecretary and other senior officials for questioning by the congressmen, Diokno should be the one doing the explaining. He said Diokno was the top decision maker in the department and the buck stopped with him.

“Despite earlier denials, Secretary Diokno finally admitted in media interviews that the DBM does implement projects to the tune of almost P200 billion,” Andaya said.

“Confronted with facts and official documents unearthed by the House panel, he finally confessed that DBM is indeed involved in bidding multi-billion projects earmarked for other departments.

82.2 percent from last year’s 46.2 percent.

In the previous study, the group noted Sulu as distinct from the rest in terms of the higher proportion of youth voting “no” to the Bangsamoro Organic Law. “The Sulu youth are outliers as the ‘no’ vote remains resilient, and in fact widened from 17.5 percent in 2018 to 25.6 percent in 2019,” De la Rosa said.

“Whether or not the Bangsamoro Organic Law wins in this plebiscite, more work needs to be done in engaging the youth and convincing them, especially those who remain to be against the BOL, of their role in making the law work in their favor and work for the Bangsamoro people,” Dela Rosa said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday reiterated the government’s strong support for the BOL. “We in the national government, most especially in your Department of National Defense (DND), fully support the BOL and the BARMM. For all we know, only unity and love of country can propel us to greater heights as one nation,” Lorenzana said in his speech at the “BOL Miting de Avance” at the Mindanao State University campus municipality of Jolo, Sulu.

Lorenzana noted that the measure will help the Bangsamoro people attain social justice, equality, peace Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. assured the public

that security measures were in place for the Jan. 21 plebiscite.

Albayalde said more than 20,000 police and soldiers would be deployed to secure the plebiscite.

Monitoring of areas with known armed groups continued, Madrigal said.

The Commission on Elections has prepared 2.1 million ballots for voters of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato City, and Isabela City in Basilan, where the plebiscite will be held on Monday.

The upcoming plebiscite will determine the fate of the BOL, which seeks to create an autonomous Bangsamoro entity that could bring peace to Mindanao.

President Rodrigo Duterte said the law’s ratification would heal “historical injustices” suffered by the Muslims.and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the Comelec said 60 polling precincts around the country will be opened Jan. 19, Saturday, for mock elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the mock elections will help the agency assess and fix any potential problems that might arise in the midterm elections in May. Each precinct will hold 100 registered voters in all 57 precincts in preparation for the May 2019 midterm polls. Voting will begin at 6 a.m. until noon, except in Metro Manila, were voting will be extended until 6 p.m.

The mock elections will also enable the Comelec to see the automated election system in action. With PNA

respect very much also, Nur Misuari,” Duterte said in Cotabato City.

“I hope to talk to him in the coming days as we agreed. I told him, let us finish this [BOL] first. We should pause our matters for a while, then again we can resume after the Bangsamoro,” he said.

According to the President, the BOL must be ratified first before the talks with the MNLF resume.

“I would call out to him, extend my hand and friendship and peace and I hope that we can sign an agreement that will also promote the interest of the MNLF and the rest of the Moro of Mindanao,” the President said.

As he attended an assembly to support the ratification of BOL, Duterte emphasized that the people’s approval of the law will serve not only as an expression of the people’s desire to end more than half a century of armed struggle in the region, but also serve a testament to genuine and lasting peace.

“It will also serve as a testament of your [Misuari’s] determination to bring genuine peace and development in Muslim Mindanao to an autonomous government that truly represents and understands the needs of the people,” he said.

The President also stressed that a man,

whatever his religion may be, “is entitled to his place under the sun,” hoping the BOL would focus on that.

“I guarantee you there will be least disturbance or interference if there is a workable governance,” the President added, assuring that lands will be distributed justly and resources will be divided by the Moro who are in possession of the land.

“This landmark law was not built entirely from scratch. It echoes the aspirations and principles embodied in the past peace agreements embodied in the different Moro fronts,” said the President, stressing that a law is a product of blood, sweat, and tears “of many great men who dreamt of it.”

“I am proud to say the BOL has undergone comprehensive analysis and thorough review to ensure that once implemented, it will lead to better governance, inclusive political empowerment, and enhanced systems of transparency and accountability,” he said.

“The power to chart the course of your future is now solely in your hands. Exercise this right with utmost care, because the future of succeeding generations depends on it,” he continued.

“My beloved Moro brothers and sisters, vote yes for the ratification of the BOL. Or I will not come here again,” the President quipped.

Since last July, Duterte has been pushing the public to participate in the plebiscite and approve the landmark law as the country proceeds with the reconciliation process.

preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, increasing reports of drug-resistant pathogens, growing rates of obesity and physical inactivity, to the health impacts of environmental pollution and climate change and multiple humanitarian crises, it added.

To address these and other threats, WHO said 2019 sees the start of its new five-year strategic plan, which it called the 13th General Programme of Work.

This plan focuses on a triple billion target: ensuring 1 billion more people benefit from access to universal health coverage, 1 billion more people are protected from health emergencies, and 1 billion more people enjoy better health and well-being.

“Reaching this goal will require addressing the threats to health from a variety of angles,” WHO said.

On air pollution and climate change, the agency said nine out of 10 people breathe polluted air every day, and WHO considers it the greatest environmental risk to health.

Around 90 percent of these deaths are in low- and middle-income countries, with high volumes of emissions from industry, transport and agriculture, as well as dirty cookstoves and fuels in homes, the agency said.

Noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, are collectively responsible for over 70 percent of all deaths worldwide, or 41 million people. This includes

Duterte...

From A1

At 40,...

From A1 say, as the “Pambansang Kamao” (National Fist) is still durable, still possesses bursts of power and is much more experienced on this sort of stage than Broner.

Reuniting with famed trainer Freddie Roach ahead of the fight should also be an ace in the hand of the powerful lefty.

Broner, meanwhile, has never quite delivered on the potential he showed early on, and now aged 29, he would gain from a win over a high-profile boxer such as “Pacman.”

Broner is a 9-4 underdog to beat Pacquiao, but will see the biggest payday—at least $10 million, according to a Forbes report–of his career.

Interest in Pacquiao may have faded somewhat since his loss to Floyd Mayweather― who is rumored to be ringside for this bout, fueling speculation of a rematch with the Filipino champion―but fans in Las Vegas will still expect the force of nature that was once one of the most thrilling spectacles in boxing over the last decade.

Pacquiao showed some flashes of his old self in beating Matthysse, putting the Argentine down in the third and fifth rounds before eventually finishing off the contest in the seventh. Before that fight, Matthysse had never kissed the canvas in his career. Jimbo Gulle 15 million people dying prematurely, aged between 30 and 69, WHO said. Over 85 percent of these premature deaths are in low- and middle-income countries.

Meanwhile, WHO said of the flu: “The world will face another influenza pandemic– the only thing we don’t know is when it will hit and how severe it will be. Global defenses are only as effective as the weakest link in any country’s health emergency preparedness and response system.”

WHO is constantly monitoring the circulation of influenza viruses to detect potential pandemic strains: 153 institutions in 114 countries are involved in global surveillance and response, it said.

Road Board one step closer to abolition THE House of Representatives is expected to soon transmit to the Senate the bill abolishing the graft-ridden Road Board, an official said Friday.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., chairman of the House committee on rules, said the House will ensure that the bill will be approved before Congress adjourns on Feb. 8 as the election campaign period begins on Feb. 12.

“We are going to send the bill next week to the Senate to have it approved by the senators,” Andaya said.

The House approved on second reading a bill on the Road Board’s abolition last Wednesday.

Andaya led the crafting of the new measure with “perfecting amendments” to the original House Bill 7436 creating the Road Board.

Earlier, Andaya said both chambers of Congress had agreed to approve a legitimate bill that called for the Road Board’s abolition to stave off a supposed attempt to hoodwink President Rodrigo Duterte into signing an earlier “defective” measure.

Andaya, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto agreed on Tuesday night to dump the original draft of the fake Road Board abolition measure.

Andaya said the proceeds from the motor vehicle users’ charge collections would be itemized for road maintenance under the national budget.

He said the proceeds would go to the general fund to ensure their use for the reconstruction of calamity-hit areas upon the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Road Board controls the funds collected from the MVUC solely for road maintenance and drainage improvement, the installation of traffic lights and road safety devices and the monitoring of air pollution. Maricel V. Cruz

Pay hike...

From A1

“We have been telling Secretary Diokno all along. There is no basis for the delay in the release and disbursement of funds as there are available alternative sources of funds for the fourth tranche of personnel benefits,” Andaya said.

The two alternatives to raise the P42.7 billion necessary for the fourth tranche of increases are the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and savings from the 2018 budget.

The MPBF currently has P99.446 billion, which is “allowed to be used for payments of personal benefits, such as deficiencies in authorized salaries, bonuses, allowances, associated premiums and other similar personnel benefits of national government personnel.”

Andaya said at least P75 billion from the MPBF fund is allotted for “payment of compensation adjustment” and “funding requirements for staffing modifications and upgrading and salaries.”

Doctors...

From A1

Leachon said if the bill to raise sin taxes is not passed before Jan. 17 when Congress adjourns, it would be back to square one for efforts to fund the UHC. Dans said that while PhilHealth, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office would provide funding for the first two years of the UHC, the program would need funding for the succeeding years.

For its first year of implementation, UHC would need P257 billion, and for the second year, P271 billion.

He also dismissed claims by tobacco companies that the imposition of sin taxes failed to lower the incidence of smoking, increased cases of smuggling of cigarettes and prejudiced the income of tobacco farmers.

Senator JV Ejercito, principal author and sponsor of UHC, admitted that strong lobbying from tobacco companies has succeeded in watering down sin taxes.

He also cited the presence of congressmen from tobacco-producing provinces who are exerting efforts to stall an increase in cigarette taxes.

“The real battleground in this issue is not the Senate but in the House,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito’s measure sought sought to raise the sin tax to P90 per pack of cigarettes, while Senator Manny Pacquiao supported a P60 tax per pack.

The House version of the sin tax reform bill, which was passed on third and final reading, imposed an additional tax of only P2.50 on every pack of cigarettes.

Leachon admitted they shot high by seeking P90 per pack so they would have room top haggle.

“While we are asking for the moon, they might give us the stars so that P60 per pack of cigarette would do,” Leachon said.

Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography, said time was running out on the bill.

“We want to hit two birds with one serious honest-to-goodness health measure though we don’t have the luxury of time since we only have nine session days left before the break,” he said.

He underscored the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the UHC.

News

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

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4 in 10 believe Du30 to fulfill vows O

By Nat Mariano

NLY four out of 10 adult Filipinos expect President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on the promises he told the people, the latest Social Weather Stations’ survey revealed on Friday.

In its survey, SWS said 48 percent of adult Filipinos expected the President to fulfill most, if not all, of his promises.

The latest figure was two points higher than the previous 46 percent mark recorded in March 2018.

Asked how many of the President’s promises can be fulfilled, 13 percent said Duterte can fulfill “all or nearly all” of his promises.

Thirty-five percent of those polled said Duterte could carry out “most” of his promises, while 46 percent believe he can succeed with a few of his promises.

Also, the SWS noted that 6 percent believe Duterte can carry “almost none or none” of his promises. “ President Duterte’s net satisfaction rating was an excellent +85 among those who say President Duterte can fulfill all

or nearly all of his promises, an excellent +80 among those expecting he can fulfill most of his promises, and a good +46 among those who say he can fulfill a few of his promises,” the SWS said, emphasizing that the recent survey results are all higher than their September 2017 and March 2018 counterparts.

“However, it was a neutral -7 among those expecting almost none or none of President Duterte’s promises can be fulfilled. This is similar to the neutral -8 in March 2018, and higher than the poor -29 in September 2017,” it added.

The two-point increase in the national proportion of those saying Duterte can fulfill “all or nearly all” of his promises was because of the increases in the Visayas and Balance Luzon,

combined with a decline in Mindanao and a slight decline in Metro Manila.

In the Visayas, it rose by eight points from 38 percent in March 2018 to 46 percent in December 2018.

It also rose by five points in Balance Luzon from 44 percent in March to 49 percent in December.

However, it declined by 10 points in Mindanao, from 60 percent in March to 50 percent in December.

It also slightly declined in Metro Manila moving from 42 percent in March to 41 percent in December.

The pollster also found out that the expectation that Duterte can fulfill most, if not all, of his promises, rose by seven points in urban areas from 46 percent in March 2018 to 53 percent in December 2018.

YOUNG VAPERS. Young men from the group Responsible Vapers show off their vapes at the DOH in Manila where talks on the rules and regulations on the use of electronic cigarettes were discussed.

Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Use geohazard maps, Poe urges LGUs SENATOR Grace Poe wants to find out if local government units are making full use of the government’s geohazard maps that could spare communities from the impact of natural disasters, if not lessen their vulnerabilities.

Poe visited Albay and Camarines Sur on Thursday to check the condition of the calamity victims and distribute relief goods to the families affected by Tropical Depression “Usman” last month.

She said the hazard maps could be a good guide to make communities safe from the possible effects of landslides and flooding subce the maps can identify the landslide and flood-prone areas in the country.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

House okays ‘Family Tree Planting Act’ THE House of Representatives has recommended for Senate action a bill requiring parents to plant two trees for every child born to them.

House Bill 8727 or the “Family Tree Planting Act” of Baguio City Rep. Mark Go aims to protect and preserve the environment and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

With a vote of 208-0 with no abstention, Go noted that the policy of the state to promote and pursue reforestation programs and encourage tree planting as part of the family’s responsibility and legacy to protect the environment and conserve the natural resources of the country for the future generation. Maricel V. Cruz

Palace lauds Villegas’ ‘concern’

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Palace on Tuesday considered Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas’ “expression of concern” for President Rodrigo Duterte’s well-being as “an invitation to a healthy, mature and constructive discourse between the Church and the State.”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the remark after the Catholic bishop stated that Duterte’s recent tirades against the Church will impact him more than the religious institution he is attacking.

“We consider such expressions of concern as an invitation to a healthy, mature and constructive discourse between the Church and the State,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The concern of Archbishop Villegas is, in fact, shared by the majority of Filipinos who understand that the success of this President equates to the success of the nation,” he added.

According to Panelo, the President’s stance on the activities of some Church leaders “should not, in any way, worry them considering the Church’s long existence.”

“There is no need for some of its leaders to act distressed and manifest their unpleasant comments against the President, especially with respect to how the President runs the government,” he said.

The Palace official emphasized that disagreements in religious beliefs should not deter the government and the church from helping each other for the good of the country.

“Let us, therefore, focus on our respective duties and maintain the inviolability of the separation between the Church and the State to avoid religion and governance from mixing and impeding upon each other,” Panelo added.

Asked what it would take to end the verbal tussle between the Chief Executive and members of the clergy, Panelo said “Nothing.”

PNP did nothing wrong in profiling ACT teachers—Año SC disbars

NO RIGHTS were violated in the profiling of Alliance of Concerned Teachers members.

This was emphasized by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano in a statement, as he responded to a petition claiming that the profiling of ACT members violated the rights of the teachers.

“In fact, allegations of a police crackdown on ACT is absolutely devoid of basis or evidence and is merely a propaganda ploy to earn precious media mileage ahead of the partylist elections in May.” Ano was referring to a petition ACT filed before the Court of Appeals (CA), asking to block and eventually nullify

the alleged police orders to profile its members in public and private schools.

The ACT said that the PNP violated the teachers’ rights to freedom of association, expression, self-organization as well as the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

But Año said intelligence gathering has always been a part of the mandate of security forces to protect the safety of citizens and maintain peace and order in the society.

He also echoed the statement of PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde that it was Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison himself who identified ACT as front or-

ganization of the communists.

“The PNP will be guilty of dereliction of duty and negligence if it were to do nothing about Sison’s admission that is making the rounds of social media,” Año said.

“As the President has vowed to put an end to the communist armed conflict fueled by an irrelevant and politically and intellectually bankrupt ideology that has already claimed countless lives and property, the DILG and PNP shall continue to religiously fulfill its duty to maintain peace and order and to take all necessary steps to ensure public safety within the bounds of law,” he added.

HIGH-POWERED. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency distributed its newly procured highpowered firearms and protective equipment that will be used by the operating units in different regional offices nationwide. Photo shows PDEA Dir. Gen. Aaron Aquino demonstrating how to use the equipment during the turnover rites held at the PDEA office in Quezon City on Friday.

Manny Palmero

BI reshuffles 500-plus immigration officers THE Bureau of Immigration reshuffled more than 500 Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as the agency anticipates an influx of more international travelers to and from the country this year.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he ordered the reshuffle following his policy to rotate the terminal assignments of immigration officers performing primary line duties at the NAIA every quarter. Vito Barcelo

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lawyer for ‘sextortion’

By Rey E. Requejo A LAWYER who served as former executive of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. has been disbarred after the Supreme Court found him guilty of gross immoral conduct and violation of Code of Professional Responsibility.

In a 15-page decision, the SC disbarred Antonio N. de los Reyes, a former vice president of the Legal and Administrative Group of the NHMFC, for abusing his authority to get sexual favors from his secretary The SC en banc found De los Reyes guilty of gross immoral conduct and violation of Rule 1.01, Canon 1 and Rule 7.03, Canon 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility. It also ordered his name stricken from the Roll of Attorneys.

Rule 1.01 provides that “[a] lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct,” while Rule 7.03 mandates that “[a] lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, nor shall he, whether in public or private life, behave in scandalous manner to the discredit of the legal profession.”

“Respondent Atty. de Los Reyes is guilty of ‘sextortion,’ which is the abuse of his position or authority to obtain sexual favors from his subordinate, the complainant, his unwilling victim who was not in a position to resist respondent’s demands for fear of losing her means of livelihood,” the SC ruled.

Worker who returned money to Korean at NAIA commended

By Joel E. Zurbano MANILA International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal on Friday commended another airport worker for honesty after he returned money to a Korean national.

Reports from the MIAA-Media Affairs Division office said that Kangho Yoon, a departing passenger of Jeju Air

flight 7C 2306 bound for Incheon, accidentally dropped his wallet at the roadway of the West Departure Curbside at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 last Thursday.

NC Lanting security guard Reno Erenea who was on duty around 10:25 p.m. in the area found the wallet containing assorted IDs and money worth P24,950 and 181,000 Korean won.

Erenea immediately reported the incident to the Terminal Police Office and exerted effort to locate the owner of the wallet by asking the Paging Section personnel to page the owner who later appeared to claim his personal property.

I was delightful and I appreciate your efforts to return my wallet,” Yoon told Erenea.

Monreal, for his part, also thanked Ere-

nea for his honest gesture. He urged all airport workers to continue proving that the culture of honesty is still present in NAIA. This is a good message for the country´s premier airport,¨said Monreal.

Last Wednesday, 30-year-old building attendant Jeffrey Almoguerra was praised for his good deed when he returned an envelope containing a huge amount of money he found also at the NAIA Terminal 1.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Voting yes to human rights and justice THE Bangsamoro Organic Law has good provisions on human rights and the justice system. It also has betterthan-expected provisions on indigenous peoples’ rights. Its provision on how to address historical injustice also has potential.

These are all good reasons for voting yes in the plebiscite on Monday, Jan. 21, and on Feb. 6.

These progressive provisions are found in Article IX—Basic Right and

In the meantime, it is important to stop the cycle of injustice.

Article X—Bangsamoro Justice System. Thus, Article IX lays down the fundamental rights that will be enjoyed by the Bangsamoro, including indigenous peoples. It also specifies certain rights of various sectors of society including women, labor, children, among others.

The rights of indigenous peoples are protected to cover native titles, customs and traditions, justice system, indigenous political structures, and equitable share in the revenues from the utilization of resources,

among others. The customary rights of indigenous peoples are also protected and guaranteed. The Parliament shall enact laws to this effect and such laws shall not derogate the rights recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act. As I wrote in a MindaNews article last year, it took a lot of effort and lobbying, one that I proudly participated in, to get Congress to assure indigenous peoples that their rights would be respected in the Bangsamoro. It is to the credit of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that it accepted the amendments proposed by the coalition of indigenous peoples during the legislative process. For sure, the MILF has travelled a long way on this issue. I remember how in 2010, when I was a member of the government panel negotiating with them, how difficult it was to even mention indigenous peoples’ rights and particularly IPRA in our agreements.

Just as important as indigenous peoples’ rights, the BOL contains an ironclad guarantee of religious freedom. People of faiths other than Islam should be assured that they can worship as they please without any hindrance. There will be no religious discrimination in the Bangsamoro.

To ensure the protection of the human rights, the BOL creates the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission. Among others, this commission will cooperate and closely coordinate with the national Commission on Human Rights.

The BOL also goes beyond the

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

N

This time around

OBODY will say he or she is against achieving peace in Mindanao. It’s a statement that is difficult, even impossible, to disagree with.

Previous administrations have tried to do their part to this end. In 1996, under President Fidel Ramos, the government signed a peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front, even as his successor, President Joseph Estrada, declared an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a breakaway unit of the MNLF. Under President Gloria Arroyo, there was almost a formal signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain—almost, because the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against it and eventually declared it unconstitutional.

President Benigno Aquino III had been banking on passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law under his watch.

The proposal had in fact started gaining support from lawmakers—that is, until the January 2015 Mamasapano massacre where 44 members of the Special Action Force died at the hands of a mix of MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The incident

prompted a wave of renewed distrust of the insurgents, and the initiative eventually lost steam.

This time around, it is President Rodrigo Duterte’s turn to try his hand at the tricky exercise.

The President, being a child of Mindanao, is expected to show extraordinary zeal in achieving peace there. In July 2018, two years after he assumed office, he signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law which Congress had earlier passed.

On Monday, Jan. 21, a plebiscite will be held in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as well as the cities of Isabela and Cotabato to determine whether residents approve of the BOL, which would lead to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

On Feb. 6, Lanao del Norte, Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit and Pigkawan towns in North Cotabato and other areas seeking inclusion in the proposed BARMM. There are petitions challenging the constitutionality of the measure, and it appears impossible that the Supreme Court could act on these before the voting. Thousands of military personnel have been deployed to Mindanao to ensure the safety of the people and the security of the plebiscite.

Many legal experts concede, too,

that the law is far from perfect, with loopholes that may be exploited or abused.

Then again, what law is perfect?

And what law is not vulnerable to exploitation or abuse?

Specifics of the law lay out the principles that will govern the BARMM and spell out its structures and mechanisms. While it has benefited from Mr. Duterte’s characteristic obstinacy and single-mindedness, its eventual success will be determined by whether the people, assuming the “yes” votes win, are vigilant enough to ensure that it is implemented according to the ideals that shaped it in the first place.

Transitions are always difficult, even painful—but progress has never come to those who stayed in the confines of the familiar.

Many challenges face the people of Mindanao. Some of them are known; others may not even be contemplated or imagined at this point. The BOL would only be good on paper if the people who would implement it are not up to the task, or have other agenda.

We should brace for disappointments, frustrations and even moments when we might wonder whether the changes are worth all the trouble. However, if we stay focused on the long-term goals of economic improvement, social justice, and long-lasting peace, then turning back will no longer be an option.

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Sparks of joy

MARIE Kondo has gained popularity because of her approach to decluttering.

One of her famous phrases is “keep only what sparks joy in you.” I have seen a few episodes of her show on Netflix and I must say that her method of putting order in one’s messy home is simple to grasp.

One thing I like about her approach is she leaves the decision on what to keep and what to let go to you. This is so unlike other decluttering shows where viewers see how the hosts almost bully homeowners into giving up items important to them. Kondo’s way is to encourage one to decide on what happens to one’s belongings. When one seems unsure, or one is having difficulty, it is when Kondo usually coaxes her clients to choose to keep only items that spark joy in them.

This “keep-what-sparks-joy-in-you” can actually be applied beyond material possessions. It can be also be one’s guiding principle in ‘decluttering’ one’s life especially when one has reached her or his senior years. It is time to discard unimportant, meaningless, and useless things. Baggages should be thrown away. By this time, kids have finished school and many may already have families of their own. By this time, you can afford to be selective. It is time to choose yourself.

Kondo’s principle can apply to relationships. Why keep one that makes you unhappy, unfree, or unloved? Why keep people who affect you negatively? In the first place, why allow negative people into your life? Life is short. Less stress, less tension, less heartache is good. You will have more time to focus on family, friends, and colleagues you love, and who truly love, and care for you. To me, they are the most important.

Kondo’s keep-what-sparks-joy principle can also apply to the things one does. For years, I would usually have three or four things going on simultaneously. I wanted, and still want to make a difference. For several decades, in my desire to pay it forward (for the good things I have received in life despite the humblest of beginnings), I have been

involved in many social development programs. My group has helped, and continues to help in advancing women’s rights and welfare.

Needless to say, there were many times when I would accept responsibilities because no one would do them. I would stay up all night at times to meet deadlines or make sure that problems were addressed.

When I turned 60 last year, I made a promise to myself: I will be choosy, and I will now choose myself. I will start unloading responsibilities and only focus on those that spark joy in me. (Naks!)

Moreover, I will do more things that I WANT to do and less of those that people say I should do.

Yes, I am decluttering, in more ways than one.

I have started with clothing items. Despite the fact that I unload clothes yearly, there’s a lot still. And I mean a lot. Here, i do not follow Kondo’s process of get-

You can afford to be selective. It is time to choose yourself.

ting all clothes in one heap before the selection process. I do not have the time to do so I go through my cabinets one by one. So far, I have collected a fairly big number of clothing items to give away, and it will continue to grow.

With the start of the new year, I went back to my daily morning walks. Walking was my regular exercise for years but stopped in the last two or three years. I am rediscovering the joys of walking as I regain my pace and redevelop my stamina.

I only walk around the village where I live. Going around is very interesting because I like seeing old and Filipinothemed houses. I also like looking at plants and trees that are beginning to be forgotten by people. I get excited when I see trees start to bear fruit. In my neighborhood there are still fruit trees—guavas, jackfruit, mangoes, duhat, tiesa, macopa, and at times, I see unknown fruits. Google is a good thing because i get to meet unfamiliar fruit and trees.

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Touching heaven POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE “THE barefoot procession of an almost 4.3-mile (7 kilometer) journey starts from the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta and snakes its way towards the narrow streets.

“Passing through the city’s winding roads after 19 hours of spiritual euphoria, the procession eventually reaches Quiapo at the Basilica Minore de Nazareno. The devotees flood by

What is this feast’s role in our culture?

to touch the image and throw cloths to touch the image, before receiving the cloths back.”

This is how Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, Rector of the Minor Basilica of the Nazarene, described the Trasla-

cion procession of the Black Nazarene—held last week, Jan. 9—in an interview on QuiapoChurch.com, “Understanding the Fierce Devotion Behind the Black Nazarene.”

A church official estimated that 2.5-million devotees participated in the feast’s Traslacion (transfer) procession this year, up from last year’s 1.5 million. Around 18-million worshippers were believed to have visited Quiapo Church from Jan. 5 to 9.

Msgr. Ignacio explained other interesting facets of the religious festival.

On its historical background: “A

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Opinion A well-deserved vacation CATANDUANES Gov. Joseph Cua goes on a well-deserved vacation whether he likes it or not, the latest sampling of the government’s consistent and persistent fight against graft and corruption, and against those suspected of having links to drugs.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government acted swiftly to execute the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon’s suspension order against Cua. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año did not waste time to sack Cua. He directed the DILG regional office to install Vice Governor Sherley Abundo, as acting governor.

It’s disgusting that notorious trapos facing graft and other criminal cases are still allowed to run for reelection, as in the case of Cua. Cua’s suspension arose from a complaint of private citizen Rey Mendez over the governor’s “abuse of author-

Voting...

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traditional civil and political rights and also include social justice provisions. Thus, the BOL commands the Bangsamoro to ensure the access and delivery of basic services and responsive health programs, quality education, appropriate services, livelihood programs among others.

Housing and human settlements shall also be addressed. The rights of labor to self-organization and participation in decision-making processes, among others, shall also be ensured.

Women’s participation in the Bangsamoro government is guaranteed by giving them a reserved seat in the Parliament and at least one appointment to the Cabinet. The Bangsamoro government shall also protect and uphold the fundamental rights of women.

Aside from those already mentioned, the rights of children and youth will also be protected, recognizing their vulnerabilities and their role in nation-building. Their total well-being will be protected.

Quality education will be a top priority. The Parliament will create a Tribal University System to address the higher education needs of nonMoro indigenous peoples.

Other vital concerns such as arts and culture, health and science and technology will not be left out as these will also be given priority under the Bangsamoro government.

Article X presents the design of the

Touching...

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first group of Augustinian Recollect missionaries landed in Manila in 1606 from Mexico. They brought with them a dark image of Jesus Christ kneeling on one knee and carrying a large wooden cross.

“The image was first enshrined in St. John the Baptist Church at Luneta in 1606 and after two years was moved to a bigger church nearby.

Over a century and a half later, in 1767, the image was transferred to Quiapo Church whose patron is also St. John the Baptist.” Pope Innocent X is said to have also “specially recognized the Philippines’ strong devotion to the Black Nazarene of Manila in 1650.”

On the Traslacion procession: “Traslacion” means the transfer of the Image of Black Nazarene. In a way it is imitating the Calvary experience: The sacrifice and suffering that our Lord endured for our salvation like when Jesus was walking barefoot, carrying the cross to Mount Calvary. The devotees also want to give back to God by participating in the suffering of our Lord and entering into the Paschal mystery of Christ.

“It is also commemorating the transfer of the image from Luneta to Quiapo, when we first received the statue in 1868. Since then, because of the many answered prayers, people have been celebrating the feast on

ity, dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.”

Mendez vowed to strongly oppose any attempt by Cua to secure a court injunction against the DILG implementation of the suspension order handed down by the Deputy Ombudsman.

The governor supposedly allowed ER Construction, a private company, to use a vacant provincial government lot for storage and workers’ barracks without the consent of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

In his resolution of the complaint, the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon said that the “testimony of the complainant and the documents presented, which are indicative of strong evidence of guilt, at this stage, compel this office to grant the preventive suspension prayed for.”

Prior to the case, Cua had been implicated in illegal drugs trafficking, as well as other cases of allegations of graft and corruption. Cua and several officials of the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (FICELCO) were investigated by the Congres-

sional committee on dangerous drugs following the expose on the operations of a “mega-shabu laboratory” in Virac.

Other pending cases against Cua include the complaint of the family of journalist and publisher Larry Que, who was slain by gunmen last Dec. 10 in Virac.

Cua was tagged as the mastermind in Que murder by PO1 Vincent Tacorda, one of the suspects who surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Tacorda confessed that Que was ordered liquidated for his serialized exposé on the mega-shabu lab operations, involving Cua and a former local NBI official.

Cua, who is running for reelection in May, has vehemently denied all the allegations against him. Unfortunately for him, higher authorities decided he has to take some time off as head of the province.

It is in these instances where the government regains the trust and confidence of the people, unlike the past years when the big fish often escape unscathed

Bangsamoro justice system based on the unique cultural and historical heritage of the Bangsamoro. Thus, the BOL provides that the dispensation of justice is in accordance with the Constitution, Shari’ah, traditional or tribal laws, and other relevant laws. It also establishes Shari’ah courts that form part of the Philippine judicial system subject, like all other courts, to the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Section 3 of Article X enumerates the sources of Shari’ah divided into primary and secondary sources. The Parliament shall have the power to enact law relating to Shari’ah including personal, property and family relations. It is also given the power to enact laws relating to commercial and civil action not covered by Presidential Decree No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines and criminal jurisdiction over minors under certain conditions.

The Shari’ah Circuit Courts shall have original exclusive jurisdiction over certain cases involving Muslim parties provided that non-Moro parties will be under its jurisdiction only if he or she voluntarily submits to its jurisdiction.

However, the Shari’ah District Courts shall exercise original jurisdiction in certain cases where either or both are Muslim.

There shall also be a Shari’ah High Court which forms part of the Philippine justice system that will exercise jurisdiction over certain cases where either or both parties are Muslim. The decision of the Shari’ah High Court will be final and executory except on

questions of law where the case may be elevated to the Supreme Court.

The Shari’ah High Court is to be composed of five justices including the presiding justice.

The Parliament is authorized to enact laws that promote and support the traditional or tribal justice system.

This notwithstanding, the regular courts will continue to function in accordance to national laws.

Finally, the BOL explicitly provides for a transitional justice mechanism to address the historical grievances of the Bangsamoro and the indigenous peoples that arise from discrimination, human rights violations and marginalization. In instances of unjust dispossession, the Parliament is vested with authority to laws providing for the reparation of the Bangsamoro people.

As long as the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the BOL are respected, the transitional justice system should work out fine and could even serve as a model for our national transitional justice issues (dealing with the Marcos legacy is not yet done while we have to deal with new challenges like the one posed by the massacre of the poor in the war against drugs). In the meantime, it is important to stop the cycle of injustice. In my view, if we implement the BOL provisions on human rights properly, that will be the case and we will see a better Bangsamoro and Mindanao.

January 9.”

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada declared Jan. 9 a public holiday in Manila, with classes and government work suspended to give way to the celebration and ease the expected traffic. Some 1,000 policemen were deployed in different areas around downtown Quiapo church, in addition to the 7,000 members of the Philippine National Police from the National Capital Region Police Office to maintain peace and order during the celebration.

What is the Traslacion and what is its role in our culture and that of urban Manila?

First, it is a popular devotion that is not part of the regular Catholic church liturgy. Michael Carroll (1989) defined popular devotion as “a pious practice that centers on the veneration of some sacred object or thing but which is not considered by the Church to be part of its official liturgy.” A cult “is a group of people who all engage, individually or collectively, in some particular pious practice.” Obviously, the word ‘cult’ here is not used in its negative sense but in an anthropological one.

The Black Nazarene and its rites are not part of the formal liturgy. Traslacion, then, is a Catholic popular devotion whose worshippers are part of the cult of the Black Nazarene.

Cults have been associated with ritualistic behavior that borders on the obsessive. Rituals abound in the Traslacion—the rubbing of kerchiefs

and hand towels on the image, the kissing or ‘pahalik’. These are rituals have been prescribed over four centuries by the traditions of the religious community that has formed around this image and Quiapo Church. It has become an important religious tradition of the area.

The Traslacion is performative, a “cultural performance” of basic values that is a “social drama,” a phenomenon that allows “social stresses to be worked out … symbolically in a ritual catharsis” (Victor Turner, 1974).

This can be seen in the way the Traslacion brings together in a sweaty, grinding melee people from different socioeconomic classes who would not otherwise similarly engage with each other. The feast serves to help blow off steam from the past year, relieving social tensions that would not otherwise have an outlet.

Wish-fulfillment is also a factor. Traslacion is an opportunity for devotees to ask for favors, with their effort and labor of participation representing a ‘sacrifice,’ therefore an exchange of energy. It is a chance to request blessings for the coming year.

It is a way to fulfill religious vows (panata), promises made in return for answered prayers.

As for the tremendous physicality of the Traslacion, Msgr. Ignacio explained: “Our culture is a culture of touch and, significantly, in a way we want to touch heaven.”

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

A5

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Contracting out the printing of our passport From our understanding of the facts, it cannot be said that in assigning the printing of passport was a contract between APUI and the DFA in a sense that it was awarded to a private entity. APUI is a state-owned corporation. Rather, APUI was simply given its rightful task IT IS not really a case of the Department of printing security-related documents of Foreign Affairs assigning to APO Pro- and papers considered sensitive to the duction Unit, Inc, (APUI) the printing country’s national security. It possibly of the Philippine passports, but a case of enjoyed a semi-autonomous status from contracting its assignment to private con- the BSP. Probably because of the status tractor United General Expression Corp. its head, Alora, at the instruction of DFA (UGEC). The sleuth work by Rigoberto Secretary Del Rosario, ventured out to D. Tiglao has blown right unto on the face entertain the notion she was given the goof the Aquino administration. Maybe had signal to contract out the production and that Spanish mestizo millionaire Iñigo printing of our passports to UGEC. As one would say, it was Coloma who Zobel who got the award of printing of our passport not absconded with the data, paved the way for the violation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro law, while Del Rosario implemented it Locsin, Jr. would not have blown the despite the clear prohibition not to subwhistle that instantly saw operators of contract said undertaking to a private entity because of the harebrained the security risk Noynoy Aquino involved. Tiglao, ad m i n ist rat ion quoting Yasay squirming like said, “objecting to worms.

The private the awarding of the Originally, the contract to private electronic printcontractor has now firm by APUI, on ing of our passmorphed into a legal and moral port was assigned ground—that the to APUI despite monster. award wasn’t bid an existing agreeout to get comment between the petitive prices and Bangko Sentral that the huge profit ng Pilipinas and Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciary from the contract would be going only to (FCOF) of France. If Secretary Locsin a private firm. The contract is estimated used the word “autopsy” to determine the to generate at least P1 billion for UGEC cause of the mess, he will realize that the if it remains the passport printer for10 yellows slowly nibbled at the contract in- years, which is the length of the term of volving the production of our passports. DFA’s contract with the APUI.” In the initial joint congressional inTheir followers in the Senate began to holler as if to ask what happened. But no quiry into the passport mess last March, one asked why such a security-related lawmakers noted that the joint venture task of the government was devolved has earned UGEC a least P630 million in from the BSP like the printing of our profits annually for the past three years, money, BIR and documentary stamps its investment amounting to only P193 million. The contract being enormously and seals, land titles, etc.

The issue of security-related functions profitable, UGEC was prompted to anof the government is now raised, for it nounce a plan of listing its shares in the seems the government that descended stock market.

Nonetheless, there remain unanswered after 1986 has their inherent hatred of the government. They devolved almost questions that need to be clarified. First, all functions to the private sector, al- if APUI is under the supervision of the ways giving the consistent alibi that the Presidential Communications Operations government they wish to capture is run Office headed then by Coloma, then how by corrupt elements without saying that come it was DFA Secretary del Rosario privatization is their way to allocate the who ordered Alora, the head of APUI, to fruits of their so-called democracy and enter into a contract with UGEC? Secfreedom to their selected minions. Yen ond, it is not the huge profit that is being Makabenta wrote, quoting former DFA generated in the printing of passport, or a secretary Perfecto Yasay, “that the prob- question of legal and moral ground that it lem began when then DFA secretary did not go through the required bidding Albert del Rosario in 2015 awarded the process, but of devolving the government printing of electronic passport to APUI of its basic function like printing of sensidespite an existing agreement between tive data to private contractors.

The irony of it is that the private conthe BSP and FCOF”.

To be exact, on Oct. 5, 2015, while the tractor has now morphed into a monster.

FCOF contract with BSP was subsisting It has not only become a powerful loband even as the MREP (machine readable byist that exerts influence to members electronic passports) continued to be fully of Congress who might attempt to invescompliant with the standards of ICAO, the tigate its background, that of the owner, DFA awarded the production to a new e- Zobel, and its stockholders. It is this Passport system to APUI, a government threat of not being renewed of its lucraprinting facility without bidding on condi- tive contract why UGEC is possibly holdtion that no part of the contract can be sub- ing hostage the data of more than 70 milcontracted or assigned to a private printer. lion Filipino passport holders. It does not In violation of this condition, the APUI only hold a monopoly to print a crucial engaged the services of United Graphics document that could declare one a FiliExpression Corporation (UGEC) which is pino citizen or prevent him from leaving reportedly owned by Zobel. After given or entering the country.

According to Tiglao, Zobel, whose the go-signal by Secretary Del Rosario in October 2015, Milagros Alora, then chair- wealth he mostly inherited, also owns a man of APUI, contracted UGEC for the secretive Haldane Investment based in the tax-haven island of Vanuatu. This means printing of new e-Passports.

APUI was under the supervision of that while UGEC is enjoying the largess Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, then sec- of the 3 million OFW and Filipinos dual retary of the Presidential Communica- passport holders whose fee goes right into tions Operations Office (PCOO) of the the bank account of a Spanish mestizo in Noynoy Aquino administration. Ac- cahoots with some shadowy foreign capicording to Yasay, Coloma lobbied for the talists. UGEC has to be reminded that the transfer of the passport printing from the government can demand the return of the BSP to APUI. Nobody thought that the data because they remain the property of move was preparatory to the privatiza- the government and their custody of the tion in the printing of our passport by data is only on the basis of a contract to UGEC until DFA Secretary Albert del outsource the printing of passport, which Rosario ordered in 2015 “without com- by any angle, is questionable as illegal. pelling reason” to remove the printing of rpkapunan@gmail.com the passport from the APUI.

Sparks...

From A4

were after all among the first residents of the village) to many more mundane things.

This conversation started near their home’s gate but they invited us to look, see their plants, their guava trees, and eventually their home. The conversation was punctuated by burst of laughter. I was to have a full day but this conversation took a good two hours of my morning. Ordinarily, I would be worried and stressed because I was off my plan. But this time, I asked myself, “Did meeting the couple spark joy in you?” The answer was, “Absolutely!” So those hours were not wasted. They were precious as they made me feel good and happy. I reminded myself that work can wait and what’s more important is what sparks joy in me.

Beyond getting rid of baggages as we declutter our life, look closely, listen intently, and open yourselves up to possibilities, and you will find things that and people who will spark joy in you. Let the fun begin!

Early morning walks enable me to meet people in the village. I have gained a few neighbor-friends and I like it.

I recently met a couple, both significantly older than me. That day, I began my walk thinking about how the day was going to run. It was going to be a busy, full day so I was making a mental note of how I was to spend my hours.

Then I saw this couple with whom I have exchanged “good mornings” in the past days. This particular day, however, the pleasant man struck a conversation with me.

The conversation went from how old we all are, where I live, the other neighbors and their “barkadas,” their prayer meetings that turn into what he termed as “green jokes” afterwards, their ninein-the-morning-till-six-in-the-evening mahjong sessions, to the homeowners association, to how much they bought @bethangsioco on Twiiter Elizabeth their lot and how much they spent for building their home in the ’70s (they Angsioco on Facebook

News

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House oks proposed CNR Act THE House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill 8733 or the proposed “Comprehensive Nuclear Regulation Act” which provides for a comprehensive nuclear regulatory framework and, to this end, establishing the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is one of the principal authors of this bill, which received 206 affirmative votes and no abstention.

HB 8733 seeks to establish a legal framework that will adequately protect public health and safety, as well as the environment against the negative effects of ionizing radiation. It shall further work for the safety and security of radiation resources.

A regulatory system shall be created for the formulation and adoption of regulations and guidelines on the use of ionizing radiation. It shall specify the principles, requirements, and associated criteria for safety and security, which shall be the bases of all regulations, judgments, decisions, and actions.

The bill recognizes that the State shall (a) harness the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, (b) recognize the potential harmful effects of ionizing radiation; (c) protect the society and the environment, (d) establish a legal and regulatory framework for the regulation and control of the peaceful uses of nuclear resources, (e) manage radioactive waste, and (f) establish a legal and regulatory framework to prevent, detect, and respond to unauthorized activities involving nuclear materials.

Any individual who will violate the provisions of this proposed Act shall be penalized with imprisonment of at most five years, and/or shall be meted a fine ranging from P1 million to P5 million.

The bill also aims to establish the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a single and independent nuclear regulatory body that shall exercise authority over all aspects of safety, security, and safeguards involving nuclear materials and other radioactive materials, facilities, and radiation generating equipment.

Maricel V. Cruz

Sandiganbayan chides Andaya THE Sandiganbayan on Friday chided House of Representatives’ Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. for his ‘inappropriate’ comments on the court’s handling of a case filed against him by the Ombudsman.

The case against Andaya and several others arose from alleged irregularities in the use of the Malampaya funds amounting to almost P1 billion.

“You mentioned your arraignment being ‘nice timing’ today,” Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said on Friday.

Tang reacted to Andaya’s statement on television Thursday that his arraignment on the graft case filed against him had a “nice timing... just when all of these were coming out.”

The House committee on rules, chaired by Andaya is in the midst of investigating the alleged irregularities in the preparation of the proposed national government budget for 2019.

Andaya apologized in open court, promising to be more careful with his statements in the future.

“I apologize if it sent the wrong message. It won’t happen again and I will be more careful,” Andaya said.

Tang accepted Andaya’s apology.

“In resolving cases, the court will never be swayed by external factors like politics. In fact, the court is apolitical. You may disagree with our resolutions, but you have remedies. Please avail of that. Do not try to attribute anything to the court if you are not satisfied,” Tang said. Maricel V. Cruz

Arroyo eyes revival of canceled port projects

By Maricel V. Cruz

AGRARIAN BENEFICIARIES. DAR Secretary John Castriciones turns over Thursday 18 six-wheeler heavy duty dump trucks to 18 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations of Region VIII during the ceremonial awarding and distribution in Tacloban City. Also present are DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla, Head Executive Assistant Juan Lorenzo Maria Castriciones, Region VIII Regional Director Shiela Enciso, Assistant Regional Director for STO & LTS Ma. Fe Malinao and Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.

Makati’s legal officer tells opposition: Come clean

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE legal officer of the Makati City government on Friday asked members of the opposition in the City Council to come clean about their motives in delaying the approval of the 2019 city budget, saying these councilors failed to perform oversight function during the term of former mayor Junjun Binay.

Michael Camiña, also the spokesperson of Mayor Abigail Binay, said the opposition councilors who made up the majority in the City Council were not consistent in performing their oversight function, and invoked it only now to suit political ends.

“If they had been as zealous in exercising their oversight function during the term of mayor Junjun Binay, he would not be facing charges today. They did a great disservice to the former mayor,” Camiña said.

The 12 members of the majority bloc are allied with mayor Junjun, who vacated his post in July 2015 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his ouster in connection with the alleged irregularities in the construction of Makati Science High School.

Junjun Binay is running against his sister incumbent Mayor Abigail in the

midterm elections this May. Camiña rejected the claims made by Majority Floor Leader Councilor Nemesio Yabut, Jr. that the city´s executive branch was holding hostage the fourth tranche of salary increases under the Salary Standardization Law, which he said can be implemented under a reenacted budget.

“The argument of the Majority Floor Leader is wrong. It is clearly the majority of the Sanggunian that is holding hostage the increased salaries of the employees of city hall. It is a basic principle that ‘No money shall be paid out of the local treasury except in pursuance of an appropriations ordinance or law,’ as expressly stated in Section 304.a of the Local Government Code of 1991,” Camiña said.

He said considering that the new rates prescribed by the national government for salaries of government workers were con-

tained in the proposed 2019 budget of the executive, the executive had no choice but to retain the 2018 rates in its budget.

“They ought to know that unlike previous administrations, the new administration follows proper procedures despite the increased difficulty in its day to day operations,” Camiña stated.

Camiña also pointed out some serious consequences as the majority of the Sanggunian continued to hold the 2019 budget hostage.

“The intended improvements in the services of the Ospital ng Makati have been hampered because the hospital cannot hire the doctors it had trained in 2018. Likewise, preparations for the elections are also being derailed as the city and Comelec will only have limited funds available for training as opposed to what was envisioned in the 2019 budget,” he said.

“Clearly, the acts of the majority of the Sanggunian are doing a disservice to the hard working employees of the city and to Makatizens,” Camiña said.

Meanwhile, Minority Floor Leader Councilor Maria Concepcion Yabut said that politics, and not oversight function, was the underlying reason for the inordinate delay in the budget approval.

PRRD names new DSWD undersecretary

CLEAN AND SAFE WATER. Local Water Utilities Administration Administrator Jeci Lapus (left) assisted by Raymond Romualdez (second left) former Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez (third left) Philippine Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez (fourth left) and businessman Zaldy Co (right) lower the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Clean Water Supply System for Yolanda NHA Resettlement Sites worth P404 million in Barangay Cabalawan Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a new Department of Social Welfare and Development undersecretary and two new members of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation Board of Trustees.

In appointment papers signed on Tuesday and released to the media on Friday, Duterte named Mark Allan Jay Yambao as DSWD undersecretary, and Michelle Aguilar-Ong and Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto as new members of the NPF Board of Trustees.

Yambao served as vice mayor of Malabon City from 1995 to 2004. He also served as an assistant secretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Aguilar-Ong and Malilong-Isberto will replace and serve the unexpired terms of NPF board members Gerald Medina and Patricia Yvette Ocampo up to June 30. PNA

PH opens Consulate General office in Frankfurt for consular services THE Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt opened its doors to the general public last Jan.15 to render consular services to Filipinos in the southern part of Germany, the foreign office said Friday.

The Consulate General covers seven states in southern Germany under its consular jurisdiction, which is home to approximately 15,000 Filipinos and FilipinoGermans.

“The reopening of the Consulate General forms part of the Philippine government’s efforts to make public services more accessible to Filipinos everywhere.

It is also a recognition of Frankfurt’s importance as a

banking, commerce, and air travel entrepôt,” Consul General to Frankfurt Evelyn Austria-Garcia said in a news release.

“The opening of the Consulate here is a huge help because I do not need to go on a day off to go to Berlin. We are very pleased with the wonderful and fast service,” Marissa Ocampo of Wiesbaden said.

An employee of an international hotel chain in Frankfurt, Ocampo has been in Germany since 1999.

The provision of consular services beginning this

month complements the Consulate General’s work, which had been rendering assistance to distressed Filipinos, and promoting Philippine culture and strengthening economic ties since late 2018.

The Consulate General is temporarily housed at Gervinusstrasse 17, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, and is scheduled to move to its permanent address at the same building complex by the second quarter of the year.

The Consulate General may be contacted at telephone number +4969 566082 118 to 123 and through the e-mail address, frankfurt.pcg@dfa.gov.ph.

SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday pushed for the revival and expansion of the Roll-On-Roll-Off transport system, a project she spearheaded when she was President.

Arroyo made the statement during her visit here to attend the 11th anniversary of the Bacolod Silay airport, which was built and inaugurated during her administration in 2007.

She narrated that she was sad a few years ago when she heard that many of the RORO projects were canceled or discontinued.

“We built many RORO ports all over the country but mostly in the Visayas and I was so sad to hear a few years ago that the administration after mine discontinued the rest of the RORO port projects,” Arroyo said.

Noting the RORO system’s proven importance in travel and trade and tourism, Arroyo said she will convene an Oversight Committee in the House of Representatives on the RORO to determine the status of the country’s ports and how to improve them.

“When I go back to Manila, I am going to convene the oversight committee for the RORO because with the help of the PPA [Philippine Ports Authority]and the DOTR [Department o Transportation] to compare the old ADB [Asian Development Bank] study with what are the the projects that had been canceled and see what should be revived,” Arroyo said.

In 2003, Arroyo who was then President ordered the establishment of the nautical highway that is envisioned to link all major islands through ports with roll-on roll-off capability.

The Road RoRo Transport System is a project designed to carry rolling stock cargo that does not require cranes for loading. The system was part of the 919-kilometer Strong Republic Nautical Highway that connected the major islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao through an integrated network of highway and vehicular ferry routes.

It was one of her administration’s priority programs to ensure fast and economical movement of goods and people, and to boost domestic tourism and trade.

PDEA gets P79-m new protective gear, firearms THE Philippine Drug Enforcement on Friday distributed new high-powered firearms and protective gear to its regional units to boost their capability in leading the government’s anti-illegal drugs drive.

“All in all, the firearms and protective equipment procured have a total value of PHP79,598,672, which will be distributed to PDEA operating units in the country, boosting their capability in the fight against illegal drugs,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in his speech during the turnover ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Quezon City.

The equipment included caliber .45 pistols, bulletproof “sando” vests, and tactical protective shields.

PDEA procured 838 bulletproof sando-type vests (Level III A) worth P50.28 million and 20 tactical protective/ballistic shields with a total value of P13.96 million.

Bulletproof sando vests are made of 100-percent Kevlar Aramid Ballistic Fabric capable of reducing degradation when submerged in water due to its waterproof ballistic panel sealing.

It is a Level III-A vest designed to stop body penetration of firearm-fired projectiles and explosives shrapnel and can absorb the impact of caliber 9mm, caliber .45, and magnum .44.

Tactical protective shields are also Level III-A capable of defeating center fire caliber lead core projectile threats from caliber .45, magnum 44, and 7.62 bullets.

Meanwhile, the short firearms consist of 479 caliber .45 (Jericho 941 FS) pistols with a total value of P15.351 million.

These are designed with advance technology features to be used by PDEA agents in anti-drug operations.

“These pieces of equipment are part of our operational capacity and capability enhancement program as we vow to intensify our fight against big time drug lords and high-value targets across the country,” Aquino said. PNA

Sports

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Aquino heads BES Patrol Move team UNITED STATES CHESS FEDERATION (USCF) master Jose “Jojo” Aquino Jr. will spearhead a strong cast clashing in the Hon. Alfredo “Fred” De Veyra III Cup Open Chess Team Tournament on Sunday, January 20 at the third floor of Alphaland Southgate Mall, Edsa Magallanes in Makati City.

Aquino, head coach of the multi-tilted National University chess team under the watchful eye of team manager Samson Go, will led the BES Patrol move chess team backed up by Engineer/National Master Robert Arellano and Rolly Yongco. Apart from Aquino, the team is made up of National Master and United States Chess Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. and Joshua Michael Yongco.

Also competing are 3 pawns Attack Chess Team of Fide Master David Elorta, Christopher Megino and Genghis Katipunan Imperial as well the Team Cavite Chess Expert League of Laurence Wilfred “Larry” Dumadag, Sherwin Tiu and Jaymarc Gutierrez.

“Each team composed of three players must only have an average rating of 2100.” said Davao del Norte district 1 board member Hon. Alfredo “Fred” De Veyra III who teaming up with International Master Oliver Dimakiling and Jason Rojo.

They will be playing a seven round Swiss system format according to tournament director Fide Master Nelson “Elo” Mariano III, younger brother of Grandmaster Nelson Mariano II and Woman International Master Cristine Rose Mariano-Wågman.

The team champion will earn P50,000. The second placer will get P40,000, third P30,000, fourth P20,000, fifth P10,000 and sixth P7,000. Seventh to Tenth placers will get P4,000 each.

The one-day event is supported by Davao del Norte district 1 board member Hon. Alfredo “Fred” De Veyra III in coordination with the En Passant Chess Association, Alphaland Southgate and officiated by the Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines led by chief arbiter FNA Alexander “Alex” Dinoy and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Canelo defends world crowns LOS ANGELES, United States — Mexican star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Danny Jacobs will put their world middleweight titles on the line in a May 4 unification bout, the fighters confirmed on Thursday.

Alvarez, who defeated Gennady Golovkin in a rematch last September, is the reigning WBC and WBA middleweight champion. Jacobs holds the IBF version of the 160-pound title.

Both fighters confirmed the unification bout via statements on social media.

Although Jacobs said the fight would take place in Las Vegas, the venue had not been officially confirmed, US media reports said.

Confirmation of the fight leaves former champion Golovkin facing a wait until the second half of 2019 before there is any chance of a third fight with Alvarez.

Alvarez (51-1-2, 35 knockouts) said in a statement the fight against Jacobs will leave him one step closer to becoming the undisputed king of the middleweight division.

If Alvarez defeats Jacobs, it will only leave WBO champion Demetrius Andrade standing between him and his goal of taking all four belts.

“I have no doubt that I will be victorious and that I’ll be one step away from becoming the undisputed middleweight world champion,” Alvarez said in a statement to ESPN. Alvarez has already fought once since wresting away Golovkin’s titles with a narrow decision last September, beating super-middleweight Rocky Fielding in New York in December. AFP

Banario faces tough Tynanes in ONE bout

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) glides to the hoop to convert a layup against the Indiana Pacers on January 17, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

Injured Embiid powers 76ers past Pacers, 120-96

L

OS ANGELES, United States—Joel Embiid played through the pain of a sore back to finish with 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 120-96 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Embiid winced and grabbed his back several times during the contest but still managed to post his 12th double-double in the past 13 games. He also has 38 double-doubles this season.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and JJ Redick added 20, including a half dozen from beyond the arc in the win.

Mike Muscala also contributed 11 while Ben Simmons had 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Thaddeus Young scored 27 points while Victor Oladipo added 15 on sixof-20 shooting for Indiana, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Tyreke Evans had 13 in the loss.

Elsewhere, Pascal Siakam banked in

the winning shot at the final buzzer as the Toronto Raptors won their eighth consecutive home game with a 111-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Siakam’s basket, which was upheld by a video review, bounced off the backboard and went in after Suns’ Mikal Bridges had tied it 109-109 with 13 seconds to go.

“To be honest I didn’t know what I was going to do. I just wanted to take the last shot, whatever shot that was,” Siakam said.

“We came out early and had lead and let them get back in the game. We knew they were going to fight. We just had to make the big plays and we did.”

Siakam finished with 10 points and 12

rebounds, Serge Ibaka scored 22 points and Kyle Lowry had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who have won six of their last seven contests.

“We call him P-Skills for a reason,” said CJ Miles. “He’s got a lot of skills.

There’s a lot of things he can do with the basketball.”

In Oklahoma City, Kyle Kuzma scored 32 points as the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers held on to beat the mistake-prone Oklahoma City Thunder 138128 in overtime.

Ivica Zubac came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Lonzo Ball tallied 18 points and had 10 assists as the Lakers played their 12th straight game without James and Rajon Rondo. They are 5-7 with James and Rondo out of the lineup.

Paul George scored a team-high 27 points, Russell Westbrook had 26 points and 13 assists for the struggling Thunder, who lost for the fifth time in their last six. AFP

Ageless Federer blasts overmatched Fritz MELBOURNE, Australia—Ageless Roger Federer marked his 100th Rod Laver Arena match Friday by storming past Taylor Fritz, then looked forward to a “high quality” last-16 clash against another young gun, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion continued his quest for a record seventh Australian Open title with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 thirdround demolition of 21-year-old American Fritz in just 88 minutes of flawless tennis.

The up-and-coming world number 50 was given a lesson by the precision and finesse of the Swiss master, who extended his Open-era record for the most appearances in the last 16 of a Grand Slam to 63.

Next up is 14th seed Tsitsipas. And the 37-year-old Federer is looking forward to taking on the fiery young Greek, who is 17 years his junior.

Federer played him in the recent mixed teams Hopman Cup, winning a closely contested singles 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), and said he was impressed.

“I think he played really well there. I actually did too. I thought it was really high quality tennis,” Federer said.

“This is obviously a different type of match, it being best of five, it being a fourth round of a Slam.”

Tsitsipas was docked a serve for a time

Switzerland’s Roger Federer hits a return against Taylor Fritz of the US during their men’s singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 18, 2019. AFP

violation and slapped with a code violation for swearing as he fought past 18th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in four sets.

“I think he had to work extremely hard against Basilashvili,” said Federer.

‘Attacking tennis’ “I’m happy for him. He’s playing so well, and I’m looking forward to the match-up

with him. I think it’s going to be a good one.

“I like how he mixes up his game and also comes to the net. So will I. I think we will see some athletic attacking tennis being played.”

Federer blitzed Fritz from the start, barrelling through the first set in just 20 minutes. AFP

Chua leads SMC sweep of PBA titles

SMC Sports Director Alfrancis Chua and former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach wave to fans during the recent PBA Opening Ceremonies.

IT was grand slam scored the San Miguel Corporation’s way.

The 43rd season of the PBA saw the three teams under the SMC umbrella each winning a championship to complete a sweep to remember.

San Miguel Beer retained the Philippine Cup title, Barangay Ginebra captured the Commissioner’s Cup championship, and Magnolia Pambansang Manok won the Governors’ Cup crown in a dominant show of force for the proud organization.

It marked the first time in PBA history SMC teams swept all three conferences of the season, a feat many credited largely to the handiwork of sports director Alfrancis Chua, under whose watch all three ballclubs fall under.

For the impressive job he did with the three popular squads, Chua will be conferred by the

PBA Press Corps with the Danny Floro Executive Award on Jan. 21 when it observes the 25th anniversary of its Annual Awards Night presented by Cignal TV at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

In winning the award named after the amiable and generous late Crispa Redmanizers team owner, Chua joins the ranks of such esteemed personalities like Manny V. Pangilinan, Ramon S. Ang, Wilfred S. Uytengsu, Danding Cojuangco, Raymund Yu and Terry Que, Ricky Vargas, Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios, Rene Pardo, Buddy Encarnado, Elmer Yanga, Simon Mossesgeld, George Chua, and the late Jun Bernardino and Henry Cojuangco, who were all past recipient of the honor handed out by the group of print and online writers covering the PBA beat.

HONORIO “The Rock” Banario is gearing up for what could be the toughest outing in his career when he takes on Lowen Tynanes of the United States in the opening round of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

They will be locking horns at ONE: Hero’s Ascent, which takes places at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on January 25.

Banario, a former ONE Featherweight World Champion, wanted to test his improvement against some of the best lightweight athletes in the world.

“The Rock” will certainly get his wish when he takes on the 28-year-old Hawaiian State Wrestling Champion.

“This will be a good fight because this will test if I have really improved my wrestling. Lowen Tynanes is something else, he has good wrestling and a high-level athlete. He’s a very wellrounded martial artist,” Banario said.

“It’s a big challenge for me to get in the cage with him. My team was surprised when we found out that he will be my first opponent for the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

But we have a lot of time for training so we came up with a game plan to beat him.”

Hailing from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Tynanes is an unbeaten lightweight mixed martial artist who holds an unblemished record of 9-0 with four wins by submission and two by knockout.

His most notable win came back in 2012 when he scored a stoppage victory over current ONE Lightweight World Title Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.

“I have huge respect for him as a mixed martial artist,” Banario said.

“I think Tynanes will attempt to take me down, so I have to defend his takedowns and do my best to keep it standing.”

The Team Lakay representative knows that this will be far from an easy far as he is up against a young, hungry athlete in Tynanes.

Banario has nothing but praise for his upcoming foe, but he firmly believes that a properly-executed game plan will get his hand raised after their fight.

NBA takes Kanter’s fears seriously LONDON, United Kingdom—NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insisted he takes the issue of player safety “very seriously” following New York Knicks star Enes Kanter’s decision to miss his team’s game in London amid fears he would be killed for his political views.

Turkey-born Kanter was due to play for the Knicks against the Washington Wizards in the NBA’s annual regularseason showcase at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday.

But the 26-year-old refused to travel to England with his Knicks teammates due to his belief he would be targeted following his controversial feud with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Kanter is a close ally of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is wanted in Turkey on suspicion of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016.

Kanter claimed Erdogan might have him kidnapped or killed and, while the Knicks were en route to London, an Istanbul prosecutor applied for an Interpol “red notice” to be issued against the player.

An Interpol red notice informs the police agency’s member states about a suspected criminal wanted in one country.

Silver, speaking ahead of the Knicks game, made it clear he would do everything in his power to ensure Kanter’s safety wasn’t in doubt.

“I will say that there is nothing more important to me than the security of our players and we take very seriously the threat that he received even if it was just on social media,” Silver told reporters in London.

“My stance is I think it is very unfortunate that Enes is not here. I absolutely understand why he elected not to come.”

Kanter’s Turkish passport was cancelled in 2017, which he said was because of his political beliefs.

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

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

Sports

PSC budget will need Senate nod

By Peter Atencio

San Miguel Beer guard Terrence Romeo tries to dribble past Columbian Dyip defender Rashawn McCarthy. Romeo joins a star-studded SMB lineup making the defending champion Beermen the oddsmakers favorite to retain their crown. PBA Media

Rookie Perez lifts Dyip over San Miguel Beermen

By Jeric Lopez

N

UMBER ONE overall pick CJ Perez lived up to his lofty billing by leading the Columbian Dyip to a shocking upset of defending champion San Miguel Beer.

Player June Mar Fajardo split his charities to make it 114-113 for Columbian, with under two minutes left, the Dyip closed it out.

Columbian racked up six consecutive points to make it 120-113 in the final minute, sealing the astonishing victory.

While Perez already showed his worth right away, he wasn’t alone in doing damage.

The Dyip also drew 21 markers from Jackson Corpuz and 15 from Reden Celda.

It was a nip-and-tuck battle throughout with the game being decided in the final two minutes.

Perez’s solid debut overshadowed

PBA star Terrence Romeo’s underwhelming first game as a Beermen.

Romeo, formerly a PBA scoring champion, only scored two points in just 12 minutes of action as he was evidently still finding his way in the San Miguel system.

Arwind Santos’ explosive game went to waste as his game-high 34 points and seven rebounds weren’t enough to lift the heavily-favored Beermen.

Fajardo was neutralized as he only managed 16 markers for the Beermen.

Columbian joined Phoenix, Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort as the early winners.

DETAILS of the proposed budget of P7.5 billion for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be submitted to the Senate by the Philippine Sports Commission.

PSC chairman William Ramirez said this will be done as the government sports agency takes a more active role in the organization and preparations of the biennial games.

The Senate has asked the agency to provide them with details of how the budget will be spent for the Games.

With seven months to go, the budget for the Games has not yet been released, and executive director Merly Ibay has been asked to prepare documents, which have been provided earlier by the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee.

“This is subject to evaluation by the PSC. Requirements ito para maging maayos. When the money goes to the PSC, this becomes PSC’s responsibility and government accounting rules,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez, who is the vice chairman of the PHISGOC, said many things need to be done now that the date of the Games is drawing closer.

Equipment for events during the Games need to be procured.

He said the agency has received requests for equipment amounting to around P100-million after PSC made inquiries since November.

“I don’t know how fast (this will be). How can you proceed with the hosting,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez disclosed that the venues in New Clark City and in Subic need to be ready by August in order for the Games to run smoothly.

On the other hand, there are no problems with venues that are being readied in Metro Manila since most of them are just undergoing rehabilitation.

So far, Ramirez feels that preparations are going on as planned.

Late last year, current Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. sought the transfer of funds to the government sports agency after the Senate questioned the DFA’s P27.4-billion proposed budget for 2019.

The PHISGOC budget was included in the DFA’s budget when organizing committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano was still the secretary.

At the moment, many committees of the PHISGOC are having meetings at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, and tackling the many aspects involved in organizing the Games.

Led by rookie Perez, the Dyip stunned the Beermen, 124-116, to start its campaign in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on a high note with the victory at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last night.

Expected to carry a heavy load right away, Perez did not disappoint

as he justified all the hype by leading his team in crunch time and scoring a team-high 26 points with five rebounds to lead the way for the surprising Columbian uprising.

Perez’s layup with 2:40 remaining broke the deadlock and gave the Dyip a key 114-112 advantage.

After reigning Most Valuable

Zamboanga edges past Valenzuela

Sharapova upsets defending champion Wozniacki

ZAMBOANGA and Caloocan boosted their respective MPBL Datu Cup bids on Thursday night following similar hard-earned wins at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

The Family’s Brand Sardines-backed squad turned to frontliners Allan Santos and Harold Arboleda as the team from the Mindanao region upstaged the Valenzuela Classic, 79-71.

Santos had a double-double performance for Zamboanga as he ended up with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He and Arboleda combined for 27 caroms as they provided the strength on both ends of the court, allowing the squad to pick up its eighth win in 19 games.

Zamboanga is now tied for ninth to 10th spots with the Paranaque Patriots in the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Offensively, it was Robin Rono who presided over Zamboanga as the deadly shooting guard finished with 19 markers, built around four triples.

Defense also played a big role for Zamboanga, which clamped down on its rival in the second period. The team allowed Valenzuela to only 15 points in the second period and outscored its counterpart by 10 more points.

Caloocan survived Mandaluyong, 83-77, to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth in the tough northern division of this tournament.

The win enabled the Longrich-backed Supremos, who were hit by injury bug, to improve their win-loss record to 8-13 and climbed to eighth spot up north.

There were some scary moments though as the Supremos lost the services of center Rene Pacquiao, who landed on the wrong foot and injured his ankle.

The team had earlier lost Mar Villahermosa due to a vehicular accident and the player was ruled out of the season.

Russia’s Maria Sharapova celebrates her victory against Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki during their women’s singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 18, 2019. AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia—Maria Sharapova stunned defending champion Caroline Wozniacki to sweep into the Australian Open last 16 Friday and join ice man Roger Federer, who clinically disposed of his opponent.

The Russian five-time Grand Slam winner, who has struggled since returning from a drugs ban in 2017, was as at full throttle in ending the Dane’s dream of a second major title.

Sharapova won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 with the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena and will next play in-form local hope Ashleigh Barty, who bounced Greece’s Maria Sakkari, for a berth in the quarter-finals.

“I thought the level was quite high. I knew it would be a tough match,” said the 2008 champion, who has been in sizzling form at the tournament as she chases her first Slam title since Roland Garros in 2014.

“These types of matches are what I train for and it was really rewarding to win that last point,” added the 30th seed.

Germany’s second seed Angelique Kerber, the 2016 title holder takes on Australian youngster Kimberley Birrell.

No Australian woman has won the seasonopening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park since Christine O’Neill in 1978.

Meanwhile, unseeded American Amanda Anisimova continued her dream run, ousting 11th seed Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.

The 17-year-old, who models herself on Sharapova, will play either eighth seed Petra Kvitova or Swiss Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarter-finals.

Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also advanced, crushing Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-0, 6-3 for a last 16 showdown with fifth seed Sloane Stephens, who beat Petra Martic in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal plays a night match against a player he calls “one of the best in the world”, referring to Australian teenager Alex de Minaur who won the Sydney International last week and is on seven-match win streak.

“He’s young, very young. He is winning a lot of matches. So let’s see. Going to be a tough one,” said Nadal, the 2009 champion who is searching for an 18th Grand Slam title.

The winner will face Tomas Berdych, who rallied to beat Argentine 18th seed Diego Schwartzman 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

The Czech veteran reached the semi-finals in 2014 and 2015 but is unseeded this year as he returns from a back injury that almost forced his retirement last year. AFP

Four forge ahead in crowded Pradera board LUBAO, Pampanga—Thai Tawit Polthai birdied the last hole to card a 71 and force a four-way tie for the lead with Aussie Andrew Campbell, Jhonnel Ababa and Keanu Jahns while six others stood just two strokes behind, setting up a wild, wooly finish in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic here.

Polthai checked a shaky midround game with a closing birdie, catching Campbell, who shot the day’s best 66, Ababa, who fired a 69, and Jahns, who also put in a 71, at six-under 210 after three rounds of play in exacting conditions at the tough Pradera layout yesterday.

With David Gleeson (68), also of Australia, first round leader Andreas Gronkvist (72) of Sweden, Thais Piya Swangarunporn (71) and Namchok Tantipokhakul (72) and Tony Lascuña (70) and Clyde Mondilla (71) assembling identical 212s and halfway leader Guido Van der Valk staying in the hunt at 213 despite a 75, expect the title chase to go down to the last putt in one of the most crowded third round leaderboards in the two-year old regional circuit put up by ICTSI. Polthai, who with Jahns started the day just one shot behind Van

der Valk, birdied two of the first three holes to wrest control but fell back with five bogeys against three birdies in a 10-hole stretch from No. 5. He needed to birdie the par-5 closing hole to save a 3536 and keep Thailand’s bid for a breakthrough PGTA win alive.

Jahns took charge at seven-under overall on a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 12 but the 25-year-old FilGerman bogeyed No. 16 and barely held on to a share of the lead with a par-save on the 18th to remain in pursuit of an elusive maiden victory in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Aussie Andrew Campbell blasts out of a bunker. He gets shot at redemption with an early round of four straight birdies.

IN BRIEF DPWH to complete Mindanao Ave. road THE Department of Public Works and Highways on Friday said it is set to complete the 1.8-kilometer section of Mindanao Avenue Extension from P. Dela Cruz Street to Gen. Luis Avenue in Caloocan City.

Pubic Works Secretary Mark Villar said the ongoing road project dubbed as Mindanao Avenue Extension Segment 2C is now 90 percent completed.

“Our target is to accomplish this section by second quarter of 2019.

We are also closely coordinating with the National Housing Authority and local government units for the prompt relocation of informal settler families along the alignment to make the entire 8-lane road accessible soon,” Villar said.

He said the opening of the entire Mindanao Avenue Extension was significant as it could reduce travel time from Quezon City in NLEX to North of Caloocan City “The Mindanao Avenue Extension Project has been halted for years due to road right-of-way issues. From 1980 to 2014, only a total of 1.4-kilometers of the road from Mindanao Avenue to P. Dela Cruz Street was completed and opened,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

NGCP completes Ormoc power line NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines has completed the P697.6million Line 2 of the Ormoc-Babatngon 138-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line, delivering its commitment to improve the transmission of electricity in the Eastern Visayas region before the end of 2018.

National Grid, operator of the country’s transmission network, said in a statement that Line 2 of OrmocBabatngon 138kV line was successfully energized in December, reinforcing power transmission delivery in the Leyte and Samar provinces.

“With the energization of the second circuit, transmission services in the area will now become more reliable and prolonged power interruptions will be minimized or avoided altogether,” said NGCP. Before the second circuit was energized, the line was originally only a single circuit and outages along the line, planned or unplanned, result in a loss of power for the all the Samar provinces, which rely heavily on power supply from other islands. Alena Mae S. Flores

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

B1

By Jenniffer B. Austria

REHAU TAPS WILCON. REHAU Philippines, a premier German polymer manufacturing brand, taps Wilcon Depot, a retailer of construction materials in the country, as its exclusive modern retail partner in a bid to expand its distribution areas. Shown during the formalization of the partnership are (from left) Dexter Condisido; Eden Godino, Wilcon vice president for purchasing; Wilcon executive vice president and chief product officer Careen Belo; REHAU Southeast Asia, building solutions head David Herensperger; REHAU Philippines country manager Christopher delos Reyes; and REHAU sales manager for building solutions Victoria Mercado.

DoE, ERC allow Peco to keep Iloilo service T

By Alena Mae S. Flores

he Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday jointly allowed Panay Electric Co. to continue serving the electricity requirements of Iloilo City after its franchise expired.

“Given the crucial role of regional economies in the overall economic progress of the country, uninterrupted energy services in Iloilo is of utmost importance.

We are reassuring our kababayans in Iloilo City, La Paz, Jaro, and Arevalo that there will be no power disruptions. In the interim, Peco will remain the power service provider in the area,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“We are in close coordination with all concerned stakeholders to ensure that Iloilo will not be left in the dark. The entire energy family remains committed to seeking innovative solutions that would make energy services more reliable and sustainable throughout the country,” the energy chief said.

Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola said the DoE met with Peco, its suppliers, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines and the ERC to discuss the power situation in Iloilo City.

“DoE would like to assure kababayans in Iloilo… that there would be no power disruption and Peco remains to be the power service providers. Their (operations) will continue even after the expiration of their franchise,” Delola said.

Peco’s franchise expired Friday. Both houses of Congress granted the franchise to More Electric Power Corp., owned by businessman Enrique Razon Jr. Delola said Peco agreed to continue its service and affirmed its commitment

to honor its obligations to suppliers, NGCP and the Iloilo consumers.

“We’re awaiting the approval of the franchise for the service area of Peco.

The DOoE would like to call on the cooperation of all the concerned power players,” he said.

Delola said the certificate of public convenience and necessity of Peco was valid until May 25, which served as the legal basis of ERC and DOE in allowing the distributor to continue operating in Iloilo.

“We consider this as an extraordinary situation, so the ERC must ensure the continuous provision of electricity within Peco’s franchise area” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said.

The ERB issued the franchise to PECO on May 31, 1996, or effective until May 25, 2019.

Peco’s certificate of public convenience and necessity was anchored on the franchise granted by the National Electrification Administration’s National Electrification Commission to Peco which expired Friday.

PREMIERE Horizon Alliance Corp. said obtained a €250- million (P15 billion) fund facility from Sama Global Investment, a global investment fund headquartered in Doha, Qatar.

PHA said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would use proceeds from the funding facility to finance the company’s foray into real estate, tourism hospitality, tourism and infrastructure construction, power generation, financial services and other allied projects.

The €250-million facility will have a term of nine years with a fixed interest of 1.25 percent a year and payable yearly.

Under an agreement signed on Thursday in Qatar, Sama Global will have the right to convert, in whole or in part, the Euro funding into an ownership of up to 60 percent in PHA by 2021.

PHA voluntary requested the Philippine Stock Exchange for a suspension of trading of the company’s shares as the development may affect market activity and could lead to speculation.

“The company is still in the process of finalizing some of the details in the agreement. The trading suspension will enable the company to provide its shareholders and the investing public with equal opportunity to evaluate the salient and relevant features of the partnership agreement and fully appraise their investment position in PHA shares in light of such results,” PHA said.

The trading of PHA shares will resume on January 22. Prior to the trading suspension, share price of PHA closed at P0.40 on Thursday.

Sama Global Investment is a global investment management company that provides a range of investment strategies to serve a broad spectrum of client needs.

PHA chairman, president and chief executive Augusto Antonio Serafica Jr. and Sama Global chairman Abdulla Al-Mutawaa signed the agreement.

PHA is currently undertaking major projects in the real estate and tourism sectors. It is developing a masterplanned tourism estate in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in partnership with the Dusit Group.

Unit Redstone Construction and

Chinese company to earmark $4.4b for 50,000 towers

Inflation declined to an average of 5.9% in Q4—BSP INFLATION eased to an average of 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter 2018 from 6.2 percent a quarter ago, due mainly to the moderation in food prices as supply conditions improved for key food items, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a Fourth-Quarter Inflation Report Friday.

The figure brought the full-year average inflation rate to 5.2 percent, which is above the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Aside from food items, non-food inflation also eased in the fourth quarter, as lower international oil prices exerted downward pressure on transport inflation through lower gasoline and diesel prices.

“By contrast, core inflation rose to 4.9 percent in Q4 2018, higher than the rates posted in the previous quarter and a year ago. Similarly, the BSP’s three alternative measures for core inflation were higher during the quarter,” Bangko Sentral said.

The Monetary Board decided to raise the policy rate anew by 25 basis points during a monetary policy meeting on Nov. 15, 2018, given the assessment that the balance of risks to inflation were still weighted to the upside and inflation expectations have remained elevated.

The Monetary Board believed that favorable prospects for the domestic economy allowed some scope for a measured adjustment in the policy rate to rein in inflation expectations and preempt further second-round effects.

The board deemed it necessary to respond with proactive policy action to help temper the risks to the inflation outlook, including those emanating from the continued uncertainty in the external environment amid tighter global financial conditions and trade tensions among major economies. Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH tourism firm obtains P15-b loan from Qatar

Sub-standard steel bars in South Luzon THE Philippine Iron and Steel Institute found several hardware stores in the southern Luzon provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Mindoro Occidental that are selling substandard reinforcing steel bars during a recent market monitoring operation.

The industry group submitted the findings of its “test buy” operations in southern Luzon to the Trade Department-Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) and requested the government agency to conduct market monitoring and standards enforcement in these provinces.

“We have also recommended to the Bureau of Product Standards to conduct an immediate audit and issue show-cause order on the manufacturers that produced and sold the substandard rebars,” said PISI president Roberto Cola.

Pampanga-based induction furnace steelmaker Wan Chiong Steel in the PISI report had the most number of infraction with six hardware stores selling its mostly underweight or rebars with low elongation. Othel V. Campos

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

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CLARK MARATHON. Clark Development Corp. is supporting to the staging of the 10th TCS Clark Animo International Marathon in the Clark Freeport on March 10 this year. CDC president and chief executive Noel Manankil (center) presides as one of the panelists during the press conference for the marathon event. With him are Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and CEO Vivencio Dizon, De La Salle Alumni Association–Pampanga Chapter president Melvin Panlilio, TCS Philippines country head Shiju Varghese and TCS marketing and communications manager Michelle Bautista.

Balance of payments deficit widened to $2.31b in 2018 THE country’s balance of payments’ position ended 2018 with a deficit of $2.31 billion, driven mainly by the widening trade deficit, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

The deficit was better than the government target of a $5.5-billion gap for the year. But it was significantly bigger than the deficit of $863 million posted in 2017. “... The higher cumulative BoP deficit for the period may be attributed partly to the widening merchandise trade deficit (based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s preliminary data) for the first 11 months of the year that was brought about by the sustained rise in imports of raw materials and intermediate goods as well as capital goods to support domestic economic expansion,” the Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

The country’s trade-in-goods deficit in November 2018 increased 19 percent to $3.9 billion from a $3.28-billion shortfall a year ago, as imports continued growing while exports declined.

Total exports were valued at $5.57 billion in November, representing a decrease of 0.3 percent, from $5.58 billion in November 2017. Total imports, meanwhile, rose to $9.47 billion in November from $8.86 billion a year ago, or a growth rate of 6.8 percent.

The figure brought the year-to-date trade deficit to $37.69 billion in the first 11 months of 2018.

The BoP posted a surplus of $2.44 billion in December, significantly higher than the $917-million surplus in the same month of the previous year.

Inflows in December 2018 stemmed mainly from the central bank’s foreign ex-

change operations, the government’s net foreign currency deposits and the bank’s income from its investments abroad during the month.

These were partially offset, however, by the payments made by the government for its foreign exchange obligations during the month in review.

The BoP position in 2018 reflected the final gross international reserves level of $79.19 billion as of end December.

“At this level, the GIR represents a more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to seven months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to six times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.1 times based on residual maturity,” the Bangko Sentral said. Julito G. Rada

CHINA Energy Engineering Corp. on Friday said it plans to spend $4.4 billion to build 50,000 common cellular towers nationwide.

“We have no problem in building these 50,000 towers, we will deploy it based on the demand of the telcos,” Huang Fei, vice president of CEEC, said.

“In China, we have experience in construction and maintaining 100,000 towers,” he added.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier signed separate memorandum of understandings with SOC Infrastructures Inc. and Singapore’s ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd., Nigeria’s IHS Towers and Malaysia’s Edotco Group for the construction of cellular towers nationwide.

The DICT will support the five companies in facilitating permits, right of way, and provide other government support for infrastructure once they secure a contract with any of the telco operators.

The development came at the heels of the DICT opting for a marketdriven approach in accelerating the build-up of more cell sites.

Acting DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio said the Philippines, with less than 20,000 towers, has the smallest number of towers considering its land area and population compared with other countries in the neighboring region.

The agency said the maximum rollout of one tower company is 25,000 for a seven-year period. Each tower company is projected to invest $2 billion.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rallies; Cemex advances T HE stock market rallied Friday in step with the rest of Asia, with investors cheered by a report that the US was considering lifting tariffs on China as officials look to hammer out a trade deal.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 119.92 points, or 1.5 percent, to 8,047.12 on a value turnover of P8.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 111 to 76, with 59 issues unchanged.

Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. jumped 18 percent to P2.49 after the government imposed a provisional safeguard duty of P8.40 per 40-kilogram bag of imported cement to protect the local industry amid the surge of imports.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, advanced 3.8 percent to P108, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, also climbed 3.8 percent to P324.80.

GT Capital Holdings Inc., which has interests in banking, automotive manufacturing, property development, utilities and infrastructure, gained 3.1 percent to P1,050.

The rest of Asian markets advanced Friday as another broadly positive week drew to a close.

Optimism that the world’s top two economies are on course to reach a deal ending their long-running trade row has helped boost equities across the world this year.

And while news that the US was carrying out a criminal probe into Chinese tech giant Huawei caused a wobble Thursday, the rally resumed after the

Sydney added 0.5 percent, Seoul gained 0.2 percent and Singapore put on 0.8 percent, while there were also advances in Wellington and Taipei.

“The US government has said that there have been no formal talks to scale back tariffs, but the market saw the half glass full as the reports signal that concessions are in the works,” said Alfonso Esparza, senior market analyst at OANDA. However, there was still skepticism among analysts, with the two sides still far apart on a number of issues, particularly regarding intellectual property.

“Certainly evidence that the administration is approaching a deal would be good news,” Laura Rosner, senior economist at MacroPolicy Perspectives, said.

“We’ve heard noise around trade policy before though, so I would want to make sure the progress happens and sticks.”

With AFP

Wall Street Journal story on tariff-lifting broke.

The paper reported Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had raised the idea with Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer of removing some or all levies on Beijing in return for structural reforms.

It said the move was part of a bid to reassure markets and bolster the odds of a bigger trade deal, ending a monthslong saga that is beginning to impact economies around the world, particularly China.

However, Treasury Department told AFP that no formal recommendation had been made by either Mnuchin or Lighthizer in the talks, which were “nowhere near completion.”

Still, investors remained upbeat.

Hong Kong rose more than one percent and Shanghai ended 1.4 percent higher while Tokyo jumped 1.3 percent.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.7 93 2.37 131.5 1.47 27.7 12.42 4.85 0.66 825 0.45 82.45 1 12.2 23.4 44.75 183.1 60.3 27 178.5 1,800 64.5 1.15

59.9 94.85 2.37 135 1.48 27.95 12.78 4.85 0.67 825 0.48 82.5 1.04 12.4 23.4 44.75 183.1 60.3 27 181.4 1,800 64.95 1.15

59 92.75 2.36 131.4 1.45 27.7 12.42 4.59 0.61 825 0.44 81.9 0.99 12.02 22 44.3 180 58.85 26.05 177.5 1,800 64.5 1.15

FINANCIALS 59.9 9,360 93.1 1,925,090 2.37 4,000 132 7,037,250 1.47 9,000 27.75 275,200 12.66 2,126,100 4.61 404,000 0.66 76,000 825 20 0.45 790,000 82.5 2,381,890 1.01 962,000 12.4 9,400 22 1,200 44.3 73,600 180 780 58.85 68,520 27 85,600 179.7 892,350 1,800 65 64.6 11,800 1.15 16,000

559,424 180,657,358 9,470 937,774,427 13,180 7,625,670 26,880,008 1,896,880 50,080 16,500 353,250 196,199,469 976,800 115,092 26,670 3,274,370 142,542 4,050,112.50 2,292,775 160,338,379 117,000 761,763.50 18,400

253,828 9,654,074.50 16,961,361 -71,450 -5,651,374 94,111,338.50 53,635 486,098 134,000 21,065,632 -372,943 -

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

36 16.38 1.07 1.38 0.249 90 2.2 15.6 140 31.3 17.94 1.79 6.45 6.62 11.76 15.46 8.02 7.25 19.98 73.1 26.2 2.19 6.15 12.74 1.9 315 3.15 10.2 27 12.08 17.2 380 0.177 5.7 1.35 3.76 7.7 6.84 9.3 1.32 10.92 47.7 5.8 1.87 1.45 12.08 87.55 6.35 0.132 0.88 139.9 2.33 2.06 1.58

38 16.38 1.1 1.4 0.249 90 2.57 15.88 140 31.3 17.94 1.8 6.67 6.64 11.8 16.26 8.2 7.4 20.2 74 26.9 2.19 6.48 13 1.9 324.8 3.15 10.22 27.5 12.5 17.32 380 0.183 5.7 1.39 3.77 7.8 6.84 9.3 1.33 11 47.95 5.81 1.87 1.51 12.08 91 6.7 0.132 0.92 143 2.33 2.12 1.58

35.9 16 1.06 1.38 0.238 90 2.2 15.06 140 31 16.52 1.75 6.45 6.3 11.68 15.46 8 7.25 19.98 73.1 26.2 2.14 6.15 12.22 1.86 314.2 3.02 10.1 27 12.08 17.12 369 0.177 5.7 1.33 3.76 7.7 6.52 9.1 1.26 10.9 47.55 5.8 1.83 1.45 11.8 87.55 6.35 0.132 0.88 138.9 2.32 2.06 1.53

INDUSTRIAL 37.95 2,921,900 16.22 641,700 1.09 11,067,000 1.4 270,000 0.248 1,760,000 90 140 2.49 128,824,000 15.14 456,900 140 50 31.3 68,700 16.52 3,400 1.75 96,000 6.66 7,700 6.64 53,400 11.76 3,831,200 15.88 3,970,800 8.2 163,300 7.29 2,258,300 20 1,397,700 73.4 211,580 26.35 28,200 2.17 3,310,000 6.35 2,653,000 12.8 1,690,900 1.86 256,000 324.8 944,340 3.14 11,000 10.1 3,800 27.5 729,100 12.42 2,169,700 17.18 340,300 369.2 673,240 0.183 20,000 5.7 1,500 1.38 5,876,000 3.76 148,000 7.73 3,369,000 6.67 646,200 9.1 5,000 1.3 24,344,000 11 24,000 47.6 502,100 5.8 13,900 1.84 422,000 1.51 116,000 11.8 2,226,300 90.15 1,069,340 6.4 800,900 0.132 20,000 0.92 19,000 142.9 1,137,450 2.32 38,000 2.12 6,104,000 1.55 3,071,000

109,511,670 10,374,616 11,902,050 376,290 424,850 12,600 309,030,690 7,025,874 7,000 2,139,450 59,734 171,620 51,036 344,424 44,941,304 63,236,254 1,322,890 16,495,164 28,124,846 15,545,220.50 746,240 7,143,730 16,905,609 21,416,014 477,290 303,655,046 34,220 38,578 20,036,795 26,891,322 5,865,638 249,217,156 3,600 8,550 8,000,300 556,510 26,096,450 4,306,324 45,719 31,197,040 262,108 23,955,005 80,688 779,190 171,700 26,718,868 95,233,945 5,193,825 2,640 17,360 160,672,003 88,260 12,795,730 4,768,180

58,704,050 2,426,512 76,470 -76,737,690.00 -2,682,016 80,720 -253,842 3,228,962 -6,880,446 -313,644 -11,673,194 1,800,794 688,038 264,000 272,480 -1,734,736 3,546,172 -7,510 119,064,368 -12,560 -3,666,620 -1,390,318 -174,946.00 -3,115,130 3,600 259,540 -3,272,171 -6,690 -4,785,710 -13,853,260 1,840 -1,428,146 3,945,322 -1,348,215 -4,914,327 -1,093,270.00 143,590

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

0.68 66 13.96 0.77 6.5 25.25 1.43 1.43 925 7.15 12.48 12.78 4.3 0.213 1,017 5.91 65.3 0.62 5.75 15.3 0.64 4.99 0.038 1.16 2.56 2.55 150.8 956 0.74 1.38 480 250 0.26 0.224

0.7 68.65 14.28 0.8 6.5 27 1.43 1.43 942 7.24 12.5 12.8 4.3 0.239 1,059 5.91 66.95 0.62 5.88 15.34 0.64 5.05 0.038 1.16 2.65 2.55 156 979 0.74 1.43 480 260 0.26 0.224

0.68 65.95 13.74 0.77 6.5 25.25 1.39 1.41 925 7.14 12.12 12.26 4.3 0.213 1,003 5.91 65.3 0.6 5.49 15.06 0.61 4.98 0.037 1.16 2.56 2.55 150 956 0.74 1.37 474 250 0.25 0.224

7,512,500 173,875,947.50 172,261,014 52,540 94,250 2,625,470 4,885,890 3,412,220 377,288,005 23,613,473 62,084,064 5,220,538 430 17,300 187,800,115 36,051 195,704,066 6,710 23,415,817 180,550,624 255,470 118,897,740 52,700 2,320 1,101,720 5,100 92,900,150 278,570,745 2,960 103,600 291,720 25,146,050 491,350 2,240

-73,830 73,734,253 108,317,258 54,600 2,552,910 -32,555,255 1,561,683 -34,401,670 -584,238 81,388,660 96,461,844.50 476,089 -3,766,664 -1,667,940 23,990,358 68,236,865 -65,126 -

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

8.75 0.83 1.67 0.86 44.65 2.42 4.27 6.2 0.435 0.82 0.9 0.265 0.375 8.64 20.85 0.5 0.118 1.46 1.17 5.27 0.44 2.14 0.415 3.55 22.9 2.02 3.12

8.75 0.84 1.71 0.91 45.15 2.58 4.27 6.28 0.44 0.82 0.9 0.265 0.41 8.89 21.5 0.52 0.119 1.57 1.19 5.38 0.44 2.19 0.42 3.55 23.3 2.05 3.12

8.67 0.82 1.66 0.82 44.2 2.42 4.18 6.1 0.43 0.82 0.87 0.255 0.375 8.64 20.65 0.5 0.118 1.46 1.16 5.24 0.42 2.08 0.41 3.51 22.6 2.02 3.12

1,327,789 926,190 993,810 8,089,360 518,801,335 5,932,620 1,107,700 383,618 739,050 15,580 21,470 3,881,900 119,950 25,376,587 14,156,235 891,120 58,030 73,535,590 476,190 296,595,340 22,430,250 20,689,460 474,050 4,005,090 63,027,435 72,750 71,760

920,911 -1,060,710 118,820,730 -561,170.00 20,701,092 2,288,080 -442,580 2,431,650 -62,570 184,347,780.00 -2,017,600 -4,410 357,540 1,339,705 -

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

38.15 1.38 6.26 0.7 5.82

39.4 1.38 6.26 0.7 5.91

38 1.34 6.08 0.7 5.82

39.4 1.36 6.15 0.7 5.87

14,067,400 1,434,000 211,400 100,000 5,224,100

547,153,045 1,946,250 1,298,832 70,000 30,656,427

331,026,610 94,500 -17,661 -70,000 -9,492,568

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

13.9 21.3 1.44 0.435 0.042 3.21 10.62 0.061 80.45 7.99 6.89 7.2 2.12 16.82 2,062 5.88 3.08 106 11.38 0.139 6.41 3.12 14.88 3.31 0.85 17.8 0.345 5 2.73 2.22 2.06 17.96 3.75 9.7 8.99 3.39 9 119.3 3.2 1,237 0.92 46 85.5 7.82 2.4 0.78 0.435 5.54 0.75 13.84

14 22.5 1.44 0.44 0.042 3.21 10.98 0.065 82.3 7.99 6.89 7.45 2.12 16.98 2,096 5.91 3.1 109 11.38 0.14 6.47 3.12 14.88 3.35 0.85 17.98 0.345 5.22 2.8 2.22 2.06 17.96 3.81 9.7 8.99 3.59 9.45 119.4 3.2 1,248 0.95 46.9 86.35 7.82 2.51 0.78 0.435 5.54 0.77 13.84

13.82 21.3 1.43 0.43 0.041 3 10.6 0.056 80 7.99 6.75 7.1 2.1 16.4 2,062 5.87 2.98 104 11.38 0.132 6.2 3.12 14.88 3.21 0.81 17.52 0.345 4.99 2.73 2.03 2.06 17.96 3.57 9.46 8.9 3.39 9 116 3.08 1,237 0.92 46 85 7.6 2.4 0.74 0.425 5.48 0.74 13.26

SERVICES 14 22.5 1.43 0.43 0.041 3.07 10.8 0.057 81.3 7.99 6.76 7.44 2.1 16.4 2,092 5.9 3 108 11.38 0.135 6.26 3.12 14.88 3.3 0.81 17.6 0.345 5.16 2.75 2.07 2.06 17.96 3.78 9.56 8.9 3.59 9.45 116 3.17 1,247 0.92 46 86 7.7 2.47 0.76 0.43 5.5 0.76 13.26

86,100 391,900 12,000 2,290,000 17,700,000 3,736,000 9,302,000 246,570,000 421,360 100 980,100 61,700 13,000 194,800 28,355 381,000 3,752,000 1,231,670 200 5,820,000 5,729,900 6,000 100 1,428,000 181,000 870,300 30,000 95,100 2,559,000 1,388,000 7,000 100 7,041,000 26,000 5,500 15,000 1,000 8,240 1,876,000 48,240 15,747,000 4,597,800 243,990 7,500 16,920,000 16,731,000 11,190,000 246,600 1,372,000 1,342,000

1,196,856 8,550,025 17,170 998,400 731,000 11,436,410 100,048,994 14,703,740 34,279,101 799 6,647,057 452,562 27,340 3,226,044 59,149,670 2,247,406 11,296,450 132,672,639 2,276 783,930 36,010,436 18,720 1,488 4,669,320 146,650 15,404,070 10,350 476,556 7,048,590 2,864,660 14,420 1,796 26,090,240 247,536 49,415 52,350 9,180 983,656 5,880,050 60,076,715 14,691,420 213,584,720 20,891,468.50 57,610 41,687,540 12,632,940 4,772,300 1,358,238 1,030,820 17,934,064

22,208 156,130 70,341,584 4,500 3,585,097.50 146,189 100,872 -16,544 13,677,520 146,840 7,054,152 1,138 -2,650 -1,508,437 297,000 32,640 23,000 -454,380 -166,004 -1,121,890 20,024,895 -107,750 -4,438,630 -109,983.50 -845,810 2,898,170 -38,250 -101,857 3,526,096

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

0.002 1.6 2.68 14.54 2.02 0.3 7.85 1.69 0.218 0.119 0.0074 0.0072 1.24 2.62 1.09 0.62 1.05 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.91 4.16 15.5 24 0.0068

0.0021 1.63 2.88 15.38 2.02 0.3 7.85 1.7 0.223 0.122 0.0075 0.0072 1.25 2.66 1.09 0.68 1.06 0.013 0.013 0.013 3.92 4.17 15.6 24.15 0.0068

0.002 1.6 2.66 14.52 1.99 0.295 7.7 1.67 0.217 0.119 0.0074 0.0072 1.24 2.6 1.05 0.62 0.97 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.56 4.08 15.4 24 0.0067

MINING & OIL 0.0021 219,000,000 1.63 758,000 2.8 1,952,000 15.38 1,100 1.99 1,101,000 0.295 160,000 7.7 1,100 1.67 18,268,000 0.223 490,000 0.121 1,950,000 0.0075 12,000,000 0.0072 1,000,000 1.24 143,000 2.64 4,116,000 1.07 141,000 0.68 481,000 1.02 2,261,000 0.013 1,600,000 0.013 600,100,000 0.013 3,000,000 3.87 36,000 4.17 3,029,000 15.46 462,200 24 1,730,200 0.0068 9,000,000

451,700 1,222,630 5,425,350 16,060 2,204,360 47,450 8,503 30,831,630 108,000 234,980 89,800 7,200 177,400 10,846,750 152,020 318,910 2,298,560 19,500 7,205,000 38,700 135,730 12,520,360 7,154,320 41,669,220 60,600

-19,320 2,660 39,800 822,360 4,882,930 2,400 2,012,030 -972,746 -21,836,645 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

18.68 472 497.8 98.45 104 5.65 918 900 96 1.02 100 998 100.2 105.5 975 75.35 76.2 73.5 74.85 74.25 73.5

18.8 472 497.8 98.45 104 5.78 918 905 96 1.02 100.5 998 100.5 106 975 75.35 76.4 73.5 74.9 74.25 73.5

18.68 472 497.8 98.45 104 5.65 918 900 95.95 1.02 100 995 100.2 105.5 974 75.25 76.2 73 74.85 74 73.5

PREFERRED 18.76 730,800 472 110 497.8 20 98.45 12,250 104 130 5.7 318,400 918 20 905 70 95.95 1,300 1.02 23,000 100.5 210 998 220 100.5 1,730 106 3,000 974 300 75.25 5,330 76.4 2,620 73 9,060 74.9 4,640 74 234,440 73.5 710

13,703,382 51,920 9,956 1,206,012.50 13,520 1,814,201 18,360 63,050 124,795 23,460 21,015 219,500 173,358 317,960 292,210 401,090.50 199,844 665,160 347,436 17,350,495 52,185

-11,786,066 -18,000 21,200 38,150 -

LR WARRANT

1.99

1.99

1.96

WARRANTS 1.98 131,000

258,600

-

4,364,028 11,480 9,359,870

21,540

3,097,417

-

29,348 1,934.20

-

MS

HOLDING FIRMS 0.69 10,877,000 67.9 2,566,800 14.28 12,213,700 0.8 68,000 6.5 14,500 25.75 102,400 1.43 3,464,000 1.42 2,408,000 939 402,130 7.2 3,273,800 12.12 5,045,500 12.26 422,200 4.3 100 0.239 80,000 1,050 181,630 5.91 6,100 66.25 2,957,090 0.61 11,000 5.69 4,103,300 15.1 11,951,100 0.62 408,000 5.01 23,730,000 0.037 1,400,000 1.16 2,000 2.62 421,000 2.55 2,000 155.5 599,810 976 286,650 0.74 4,000 1.43 75,000 474 610 250 100,580 0.255 1,930,000 0.224 10,000 PROPERTY 8.75 0.84 1.71 0.91 45 2.45 4.19 6.28 0.435 0.82 0.9 0.265 0.385 8.7 21.35 0.51 0.119 1.57 1.19 5.38 0.425 2.18 0.42 3.54 23.2 2.02 3.12

151,900 1,119,000 589,000 9,475,000 11,539,200 2,385,000 264,000 62,500 1,700,000 19,000 24,000 14,980,000 310,000 2,929,000 672,900 1,732,000 490,000 48,132,000 405,000 55,530,200 52,710,000 9,747,000 1,150,000 1,135,000 2,733,800 36,000 23,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

5.1 2.87 1.54

5.15 2.87 1.59

4.95 2.87 1.51

FIRST METRO ETF

118.1

119

118.1

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.12 10.18

TRADING SUMMARY

10.12 10.18

SHARES

FINANCIAL

17,616,201

INDUSTRIAL

221,301,757

HOLDING FIRMS

89,635,916

PROPERTY

252,936,582

SERVICES

384,087,967

MINING & OIL

882,855,998

GRAND TOTAL

1,855,366,071

10.12 10.18

5.01 2.87 1.57

SME

870,600 4,000 6,030,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119 26,060 DDS 10.12 10.18

2,900 190

VALUE 1,815.63 (up) 6.40 1,605,900,920.58 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,650.85 (up) 192.61 1,746,313,962.242 HOLDING FIRMS 8,003.19 (up) 151.94 2,155,853,428.81 PROPERTY 4,017.35 (up) 60.12 1,560.13 (up) 19.90 1,708,492,172.75 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,821.77 (up) 18.54 1,078,651,059.665 PSEI 8,047.12 (up) 119.92 123,272,370.43 All Shares Index 4,804.92 (up) 61.08 8,435,318,432.24 Gainers: 111; Losers: 76; Unchanged: 59; Total: 246

Meralco unit starts electric jeep service from Makati

By Darwin G. Amojelar ESAKAY Inc., a unit of Manila Electric Co., on Friday launched an electric jeep service plying between Makati City and Mandaluyong City.

“Meralco has long been an advocate for the wider use of electric vehicles in the country with the EV shuttling service and electric bike sharing program at the Meralco Center in Orgtigas. It soon became clear to us that electric vehicles were indeed a viable transport solution,” eSakay chairman and Meralco senior vice president Alfredo Panlilio said Friday.

“That’s when we partnered with private companies, government institutions and now, public transport operators who expressed keen interest in utilizing EVs for their transport needs,” he added.

Esakay, an end-to-end electric transport solutions provider, helps address the country’s snowballing transportation concerns and answers the Department of Transportation’s gradual but inevitable shift in its massively ambitious 2017 Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

The company has a provisional authority to operate 15 eJeeps from the Buendia MRT Station-Mandaluyong City Hall via Jupier St. developmental route.

“Beyond supporting transport operators by supplying ePUVs and building charging stations, we realized that we could create a greater impact by being one with them. From this, was born our project to operate an electric jeepney route connecting Mandaluyong to the Makati CBD,” eSakay president and chief executive Raymond Ravelo said.

“This project is just one of many steps in our efforts to spur EV adoption, as we work towards a common goal of nation-building, sustainable growth and inclusive development.

With this route, we, at eSakay, hope to prove the viability of electric vehicles and inspire other operators to follow suit,” he added.

The modern eJeeps from eSakay are 100 percent electric and emission free, compliant with PUV innovations for the convenience and safety of the riding public and equipped with side entrances, onboard Wifi and an automated fare collection system.

BDO again wins key awards from The Asset mag BDO Unibank Inc. is again the country’s Best Domestic Bank, according to The Asset Triple A Country Awards 2018.

This is the eighth time that the bank received such recognition and its sixth straight win since first earning the prestigious award in 2013.

BDO won the award due to its strong financial performance, contribution to the domestic markets, capital raising, advisory, transaction banking performance and environment social and governance initiatives.

In addition to the Best Domestic Bank award, BDO and subsidiary BDO Private Bank were recognized for their participation in the P73.5-billion syndicated loan that Bloomberry Resorts & Hotels Inc. secured to refinance obligations and fund investments. The transaction is one of the largest corporate syndications arranged in the Philippine debt market.

BDO’s investment banking arm, BDO Capital & Investment Corp., also won multiple awards signifying its continued leadership in debt and equity transactions and financial advisory deals. Among its major awards were Best Domestic Corporate and Institutional Adviser, Best Equity Adviser and Best Loan Adviser.

BDO Capital was cited for its role in various transactions, including the $690-million acquisition of Clark Global City Corp. by Udenna Corp.

(Best Acquisition Financing-mandated lead arranger, bookrunner, and issue manager), the P73.5-billion syndicated loan of Bloomberry Resorts & Hotels Inc. (Best Syndicated Loan–lead arranger and sole bookrunner), and Ayala Land Inc.’s P10-billion retail bonds (Most innovative deal–lead underwriter and bookrunner).

Prior to its win at the Triple A Country Awards, BDO was given the Platinum Award at The Asset Corporate Awards 2018, which recognizes companies that champion environmental, social and corporate governance industry best practices.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard

TODAY

B3

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trump grounds House speaker

W

ASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump forced the cancellation Thursday of a trip to Afghanistan by his Democratic opponent Nancy Pelosi, and scrapped administration officials’ travel to the Davos forum as a government shutdown plunged Washington deeper into deadlock.

OPENING CEREMONY. The Maslenitsa Ballet from Russia performs during the opening ceremony of the 43rd Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco on January 17, 2019. The festival will run until January 27. AFP

‘Thousands’ more children separated at US border WASHINGTON―Thousands more children were forcibly separated from their parents after illegally crossing the US-Mexico border from 2017-2018 than originally admitted by President Donald Trump’s administration, an official report said Thursday.

The inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which was given responsibility for the children, said the total number separated under the administration’s “zero-tolerance policy” toward illegal immigrants remains unknown.

But the department said that so far it has identified 2,737 separated children placed in its care before the controversial policy was officially declared over in May 2018, a number not previously divulged.

After the zero-tolerance announcement was made, and before the policy was halted under political and legal pressure, another nearly 3,000 minors were separated from their parents or adult guardians who illegally

crossed into the United States.

The policy was declared amid White House frustration over a resurgence of illegal immigration in the first half of 2018 following a decline the previous year.

Border officials were told to strip children from their parents to be sent to camps run by the HHS’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, eventually to be placed in US relatives’ homes.

Meanwhile, their parents were to be arrested and charged with illegal entry into the country.

Many parents spent months searching for their children.

The policy outraged immigrant and children’s advocates and was branded a crime by international rights activists.

Ordered in June 2018 to better account for the children in its care, HHS identified 2,737 it was caring for at that time.

“However, thousands of children may have been separated during an influx that be-

gan in 2017, before the accounting required by the Court, and HHS has faced challenges in identifying separated children,” the department said.

The report added that the Office of Refugee Resettlement had dozens and possibly hundreds of children whom it did not know had been separated from their parents.

The report contradicted statements by administration officials—including Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen—that there was a clear system in place for dealing with the children and that there was not a “policy” of separations.

“The OIG report released today shows that the Trump Administration, with its unique blend of incompetence, cruelty, and disregard for basic decency, misled the American public on one of its most heinous policies to date,” said Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, who heads the House Committee on Homeland Security. AFP

Night watchman still keeps the vigil over Lausanne LAUSANNE―Every evening, the night watchman clambers to the top of the Lausanne cathedral bell tower and gets to work: he shouts out the time each hour, keeping a six-century-old tradition alive.

The night watchman, one of the last in Europe, no longer alerts this Swiss city to fires, but he does help residents to keep track of the time.

“This is the watchman! The bell has tolled 10. The bell has tolled 10.”

On a cold night in December, Marco Carrara, who takes on the job on the permanent watchman’s days off, repeats the message hourly, only changing the number of chimes that have rung.

Cupping his hands around his mouth, he allows his voice to carry across the rooftops, just as his predecessors have done every evening since 1405.

All year round, from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am, the night watchman, wearing a big black hat and carrying a lantern, steps out to the bell tower railing to serve as a living clock for the people of this picturesque city on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The night watchman used to play a far more vital role.

Back when fire constituted a permanent threat to medieval towns and cities built in wood, he was an essential part of a network of watchmen, most of whom patrolled the streets.

IN BRIEF 21 killed in attack on police academy

BOGOTA―Colombia’ s government declared three days of mourning after at least 21 people died in a car bomb at a Bogota police cadet training academy, and 68 were wounded―the worst such incident in the city in 16 years.

Authorities said they identified the bomber and that he had no known links to armed guerrilla groups.

The defense ministry said the “terrorist act” was carried out using a vehicle packed with 80 kilograms of explosives.

“Unfortunately, the preliminary toll is 21 people dead, including the person responsible for the incident, and 68 wounded,” Colombian police said in a statement, adding 58 of those injured had been discharged from hospital.

“All Colombians reject terrorism and we’re united in fighting it,” President Ivan Duque tweeted in the aftermath.

Later in a statement to the nation, he said he had ordered reinforcements to Colombia’s borders and routes in and out of cities.

The bomber—who authorities confirmed was killed in the attack—struck at the General Francisco de Paula Santander Officer’s School in the south of Bogota during a promotion ceremony for cadets.

No group has claimed responsibility, but public prosecutor Nestor Humberto Martinez named suspect Jose Aldemar Rojas Rodriguez as the “material author of this abominable crime.”

Martinez said Rojas Rodriguez entered the school compound at 9:30 am (1430 GMT) driving a grey 1993 Nissan Patrol truck, but gave no details about the explosion.

He said the truck underwent an inspection in July in the Arauco department on the border with Venezuela—a traditional stronghold of ELN Marxist guerrillas. AFP

From his perch, the cathedral watchman was tasked with sounding the alarm at the first whiff of smoke.

Across Europe, there were “thousands, if not tens of thousands” of watchmen protecting urban spaces from fire, said Renato Haeusler, who holds the permanent watchman position in Lausanne.

But as technology advanced, the once ubiquitous position became largely obsolete and the watchmen all but disappeared across the continent.

Today, Lausanne is one of just seven European towns or cities to have maintained the tradition of a year-round watchman, alongside Annaberg, Celle and

Officials meet Venezuela opposition leaders

BRASILIA―Brazilian and US officials met Venezuelan opposition leaders in Brasilia Thursday to discuss the political crisis in the oil-rich country ruled by President Nicolas Maduro, Brazil’s foreign ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement the meetings were to “analyze the situation in Venezuela stemming from the illegitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro’s rule” and to show support for the leader of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled parliament, Juan Guaido.

“There was also the aim of discussing ideas for concrete action to restore democracy in Venezuela,” it added.

The foreign ministry branded Maduro’s regime “a mechanism of organized crime,” which it said was based on “generalized corruption, drug trafficking, trafficking in people, money laundering, and terrorism.”

The gathering was chaired by Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo and took place without figuring on official agendas and with no access for journalists.

Araujo followed up with a separate meeting with former members of Venezuela’s supreme court, one of whom, Miguel Angel Martin, also went on to hold a private meeting with President Jair Bolsonaro.

Among the Venezuelan opposition leaders participating were Julio Borges, the former head of parliament who lives in exile in Colombia, and Antonio Ledezma, a former Caracas mayor now based in Spain.

US embassy officials were present, although the mission was unable to confirm which because of a US government shutdown affecting some services, including media relations.

The foreign ministry said representatives from the “Lima Group,” a grouping of 14 countries in the Americas that views Maduro’s rule as anti-democratic, were also there. So too were representatives of the Organization of American States. AFP

Noerdlingen in Germany, Ripon in Britain, Krakow in Poland and Ystad in Sweden.

In Lausanne, the watchman used to be entrusted with manually ringing the bell on the hour, but in 1950, the task fell to automation.

Haeusler acknowledged to AFP that his position no longer served a true practical purpose.

But “the city is very attached to maintaining this tradition,” stressed the 60-year-old, who served as replacement watchman for 14 years before taking on the permanent position in 2002.

David Payot, a member of Lausanne’s municipal council, agreed. AFP

The mess in the US capital already verged on the surreal as Congress feuds with the White House over how to end an impasse now in its fourth week, with thousands of federal workers left unpaid.

But now it is also getting increasingly personal between the two main antagonists.

In a letter laced with sarcasm, Trump told House Speaker Pelosi: “I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed. We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over.”

“I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is appropriate,” he wrote.

And in a move that appeared aimed at heading off Democratic criticism about non-essential administration travel during the shutdown, the White House announced the cancellation of a trip to the World Economic Forum by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and others “out of consideration for the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay.”

Pelosi and her delegation had planned a non-publicized trip to Afghanistan—an active war zone—and were due to travel aboard a US Air Force plane.

Her office said Egypt was not on the itinerary.

According to a congressional aide, several lawmakers were already loaded onto buses preparing to leave the US Capitol Thursday when Trump pulled

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF IRENEO S. YIM AMONG HEIRS Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late IRENEO S. YIM who died intestate and without any Will or Testament and without any outstanding debts in favor of any person or entity on 1 September 1994 in Antipolo City, Rizal, and whom at the time of his death left real estate property situated in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 1429, has been extrajudicially settled among heirs as per Doc. No. 92; Page 20; Book 1; Series of 2018, before Notary Public.

(Sgd) ATTY. KIM L. RANCES (MS-JAN. 12,19 & 26, 2019)

ORIE NTA L MINDORO E LEC TRIC COOPE R ATIV E , INC. (O R M E C O) Simaron, Calapan Cit y

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch CXI (111), Pasay City IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY INSOLVENCY, Civil Case No. 18-29839-CV

INVITATION TO BID All interested bidders are invited to participate in the actual bidding for these two (2) LOTs detailed as follows: LOT - I

Supply of Labor and Materials for Sitio Electrification Project 2017 - First Batch (72 Sitios of Congressional District 1 and 2) Approved Budget Cost: Php36,445,225.03 (VAT-Inclusive) Source of Funding: NEA SEP 2017 - First Batch Delivery Schedule: To be announced during the pre-bid proper.

AWARDING: PER LOT

LOT - II

Supply of Housewiring Materials for Sitio Electrification Project 2017 - First Batch (72 Sitios of Congressional District 1 and 2) Approved Budget Cost: Php7,307,936.00 (VAT-Inclusive) Source of Funding: NEA SEP 2017 - First Batch Delivery Schedule: To be announced during the pre-bid proper.

AWARDING: PER LOT

GADGETS IN STYLE TRADING CORPORATION, Petitioner. x--------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

the plug.

Rubbing it in, Trump said that Pelosi could still book her own non-government flights.

“Obviously, if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative,” he wrote.

The cancellation followed Pelosi’s suggestion that Trump postpone his January 29 State of the Union address to Congress, or do it from the White House instead.

Although she cited the shutdown’s effect on security, she appeared to want to deny the president one of his chief annual moments in the limelight.

The White House denied that the travel blockage was payback, but few bought the argument.

House Democrats who had been slated for the trip were left fuming, including freshman congresswoman Elaine Luria, a 20-year Navy veteran who said the purpose was to express appreciation to Americans in uniform and gain critical intelligence on the ground.

“Oversight is the responsibility of Congress, and it is inappropriate for the President to interfere with our constitutional duties,” Luria said in a statement.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who for weeks has served as a referee of sorts between Trump and Pelosi, accused the latter of “playing politics with the State of the Union.” AFP

On 04 January 2019, Liquidator Angelito L. Manuel submitted to this court the NOTICE that the Preliminary Registry of Claims is available for inspection and copying by all creditors/claimants.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

He further stated that the Notice of availability was served, by registered mail, to all known creditors.

1

Pursuant to Section 17, Rule 4 of the FLSP Rules, Liquidator Manuel is directed to publish the Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Pasay City, awarded after raffle.

Interested bidders may secure BID DOCUMENTS and obtain further INFORMATIONS from the ORMECO, Inc. Bids and Award Committee (BAC)/Procurement Section, ORMECO, Inc., Simaron, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. A non-refundable fee in the amount of Php25,000.00 for LOT - I and Php10,000.00 for LOT - II and shall be collected as payment for BID DOCUMENTS.

2

Hence, let this case be included in the raffle of accredited newspaper by the Raffle Committee of this Court.

Interested bidders must be accredited as supplier before joining the pre-bidding conference and accreditation will start on January 21, 2019 at 8:00am until 5:00p.m. of January 25, 2019. You can call at telephone numbers 043-2882349/043-2869375 or send an email at ormeco_coop@yahoo.com.

3

PRE-BID CONFERENCE will be held at ORMECO, Inc. Board Room, Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro at 2:00 p.m. of January 28, 2019 for LOT - I and 3:00 p.m. of January 28, 2019 for LOT - II.

4

SEALED PROPOSALS will be received at 2:00 p.m. of February 11, 2019 for LOT - I and 3:00 p.m. of February 11, 2019 for LOT - II, immediately after which, the said proposals will be opened during the actual bidding in the presence of the attending bidders.

On same day, Liquidator Manuel also submitted the Liquidation Plan detailing the assets of the petitionerdebtor and the nature thereof.

Pursuant to Section 23 of the Rules, Liquidator Manuel is directed to revise the Liquidation Plan to include the final list of creditors and their duly proved claims, as well as the proposed mode and schedule of liquidation of petitioner’s assets and proposed mode of payment of all claims.

5

ALL BIDS must be accompanied by a BID BOND payable to ORMECO, Inc. in the form of CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK, MANAGER’S CHECK or BANK DRAFT issued by a reputable bank equivalent to TWO PERCENT (2%) of the Approved Budget Cost (ABC). No Bid Bond in the form of Surety Bond shall be accepted. The bidder with the lowest calculated bid will be considered the winning bidder.

6

Liquidator Manuel is directed to submit the Revised Liquidation Plan within ten (10) days from receipt hereof.

The winning bidder shall issue FIVE PERCENT (5%) in the form of CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK, MANAGER’S CHECK or BANK DRAFT from a reputable bank, representing the PERFORMANCE BOND.

7

If the bidder who submitted the best offer refuses to push through with his / her proposed BID during and after the bidding, his / her Bid Bond shall be forfeited, and failure of bidding shall be declared.

8

ORMECO, Inc. reserves the right to accept or reject any Bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. ORMECO, Inc. also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnity bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

Serve copies hereof to petitioner’s counsel, Liquidator Manuel, and the Office of the Clerk of Court.

SO ORDERED. Pasay City, 09 January 2019.

ORMECO, INC.

(Sgd.) WILHEMINA B. JORGE-WAGAN Presiding Judge (MStandard-Jan. 19, 2019)

(MS-JAN. 19, 2019)

(SND)

RONIE T. MORALES BAC-Chairperson

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. Locations condos in Makati and Bonifacio Global City, as well as the Rockwell Center, embody what condo investors are looking: prime location and proximity to the business district and commercial areas. Shown here are projects by Ayala Land Premier (One Roxas Triangle and Park Central); and Rockwell Land (Joya Lofts & Towers).

Global real estate firm taps PH fast growing market

I

S A CONDOMINIUM a good investment? Sure it is, as long as you keep two things in mind: First: buy your unit from the country’s top property developers.

Next: location, location, location. Stick to these dictums, and you will get a good resale value for your purhase years from now.

Global real estate brokerage RE/ MAX Philippines country manager Kenneth Stern (Seen in photo), shared these tips to Manila Standard just before the end of the year.

“We have some of the most expensive real estate in the world,” Stern said.

“We’ve seen a huge growth in Makati and Taguig, BGC. The two most popular condo markets for foreign buyers, actually. About 30 percent of our condos in RE/MAX have been sold to foreigners.”

RE/MAX is the world’s leading franchisor of real estate brokerage services.

It was founded in 1973 by Dave Liniger. The name stands for “real estate maximus—maximum commission for the agent, maximum credibility for the franchise owner and maximum service for the company’s clients.” RE/MAX was established in the country in 2012 and currently has offices in Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Clark, Iloilo, Palawan and Siargao.

GROWTH APLENTY According to Stern, while there are so many developers out there which all seem to be credible investments and seem very similiar in quality, investors have to base a condo unit’s investment value on the resale market. Ayala Land Premier’s Park Terraces, The Residences at Greenbelt and One Serendra and those by Rockwell Land have performed very well in the secondary market based on how much the properties’ value increased since their launch.

RE/MAX has seen the most growth in Arthaland’s Arya Residences in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The first residential high-rise in the country that is both LEED- and BERDE-certified, capital values of condo apartments in Arya surged to more than 150 percent since the project was launched in 2009.

Ayala Land Premier’s West Tower at One Serendra in BGC is another project that boasts of a high resale value, according to RE/MAX. From P108,000 per sqm in 2008, prices at West Tower are now at P230,000 per sqm, a 113 percent increase in value over a nine-year period.

Capital values of condo units at The Residences in Greenbelt and Park Terraces, also Ayala Land Premier projects but in San Lorenzo, Makati, have gone

up by 112 percent and 50 percent respectively since their launch dates.

Units at Rockwell Land’s Edades Tower sold for P130,000 per sqm when it launched in 2009. Now they’re selling for P250,000 per sqm, a 92 percent increase in the last eight years, according to RE/MAX. “We are seeing a lack of supply in villages and the thing is you can’t build more. There is limited supply in the number of house and lots in the Philippines that is causing an increase in pricing. So if you want to buy a home in Forbes Park, you’ll need about P500 million to afford one, on average,” Stern said.

PROFESSIONALIZING THE MARKETPLACE RE/MAX is working towards changing the real-estate industry into a more professionalized marketplace, explained Stern.

The real estate brand was brought to the Philippines by Elizabeth Dueñas, a Guam-based broker, in 2012, and since then started offering franchises to local brokerages and professionals.

Here’s how the company’s franchise works: an independent broker, an existing real estate brokerage, or an entrepreneur or property specialist from a developer buys a franchise for which they will receive marketing support and other services, ranging from website access and tech support and access to listings database and CRM, to trainings, discounts to partner vendors, blanket accreditation with developers, and access to international RE/MAX conventions, among others.

They also get access to a network of franchise offices and agents with whom they can co-broker with and share listings.

After setting up, the franchise can recruit its own real estate agents. The company’s business model offers a maximum commission concept that allows top producers to earn more of their commission back in exchange for their share of the office expenses. This allows for unlimited earning potential for the agent, and a predictable income model for the franchise owner.

But Stern stressed that their franchising model is more than just selling real estate.

NEW YEAR OFFERINGS. Century Park Hotel (CPH) recently rolled out its salvo of new year offers in the first quarter of 2019. From January 20 to February 18, rooms can be availed from P5,500 net / night (superior room), P6,500 net / night (deluxe) to P7,500 net / night (junior suite superior). Aside from the complimentary breakfast for two, the “new year salvo promo” also includes a set lunch or dinner for two at Century Tsukiji. Café in the Park dares visitors to try the Century Burger, while Century Tsukiji offers its tonkotsu ramen garnished with pork belly, egg and vegetables. For hearty appetites, lunch and dinner buffet is available at P1,495net (adult) and P795net (children 6-10 years old). Deli Snack offers a wide array of pastries and delicatessen treats. Torta Nacciole de Chocolato, a mix of chocolate ganache, Tanduay rhum, coffee flavoring and whipped cream, is the featured cake of the month. “We eagerly welcome 2019 through our attractive promotions and reasonable rates,” said CPH General Manager Anthony Tan. Century Park Hotel is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation.

MORE THAN SELLING REAL ESTATE. “When people watch TV and

see the news, they’d think that they should be in New York, London or Sydney to be a million-dollar-listing broker,” Re/Max country manager Kenneth Stern pointed out. “But we’re proving that now, you can be in the Philippines and be one of them.”

“A real estate broker ,or agent looking for a better opportunity can start their own business using the credibility of a big name in real estate,” he explained. “We specialize in helping entrepreneurs get their business started or help business owners scale up their existing real estate business.”

GO-TO BROKERAGE Over the last five years, RE/MAX has built a name in Metro Manila as being the go-to brokerage for buying or selling homes. “We even have the global awards to show that the system works,” said Stern. One of the company’s broker-owners is ranked second globally in residential brokerage (outside the US and Canada), while the Philippines produced seven Hall of Famers since 2012. A Hall of Famer means that the RE/MAX agent has earned commissions worth $1 million (approximately P53 million) and above.

Stern described the Philippines as a very attractive real-estate market.

“Globally, we at RE/MAX are proving that the Philippines is one of the fastest-moving markets,” he averred. “The country’s economy is robust, English is widely spoken, and it has a highly educated and young work force.”

Stern is also excited about the Philippines’s growing middle class. “With this shift in the economy, we see more and more young people becoming entrepreneurs,” he said. “Most of our franchise owners are between the ages of 25 and 45, the perfect time to build one’s wealth.”

Sumitomo eyes PH construction industry

sources to develop them.

Sumitomo featured its fuel efficient hydraulic excavators, the SH130-6 and SH210-6 and asphalt-paving machines, at the recent Philconstruct Manila Expo 2018 at the World Trade Center Manila.

Shimada explained that Sumitomo excavators offer not just comfort and convenience, but high efficiency in terms of operating costs. “You don’t have to put so much money to maintain the machine. Everybody desires equipment quality and cost efficiency, particularly in construction work,” he pointed out.

RIDING ON “BUILD, BUILD, BUILD” The Philippine market, Shimada, believes, is a highly viable one, but said there are many things that still need to be done, particularly in the field of infrastructure improvement.

He noted that with the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build Program” there is a rising need for construction machineries and supplies in the country. “The future is bright for the infrastructure industry not only here in the Philippines, but globally. The use of artificial intelligence in buildings and infrastructure is on the rise,” he said.

“Take a look at the advanced countries like Japan, Europe, America. In these countries, there is now what is called a machinecontrolled system which is becoming more JOHNNY-COME-LATELY ON A MISSION. popular. It assists machine operators who Sumitomo managing director Ichiro may not even be highly skilled,” he exShimada admits that “we haven’t been here plained. a long time.” But with President Rodrigo “It has become difficult to find skilled Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure operators for the construction industry,” thrust, he believes there is a rising need he said. He cited Japan, which is facing a for construction machineries and supplies shortage of laborers. “This will be an area in the country. “The future is bright for the where all players need to develop responinfrastructure industry not only here in the sive systems to provide more efficient work Philippines, but globally,” he declared. process. We’re gearing for less human control systems,” he noted.

TIMELY ENTRY INTO THE PH TACKLING THE LEARNING CURVE MARKET Shimada admits they are latecomers in The Sumitomo executive shared that the Philippine market, and while they grow progressively “step by step,” they have in the United States, they have just started marketing computer-operated excavators. many things to learn yet.

“We haven’t concentrated on the Philip- “Once you set it—or if you have a threepine market,” Shimada admitted in an inter- dimensional drawing into the machine— the view with the Manila Standard. “We have machine can operate automatically. That’s businesses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, going to be one of the features in the future,” etc., but the Philippines is a very new mar- he predicted.

But Shimada assured that despite the ket for us, so I still haven’t actually figured out what our strengths and weaknesses are, many challenges Sumitomo faces in their relative to our competitors, given that we entry into the Philippine market, their coming to the country has been “timely.” haven’t been here for a long time.”

He revealed to the Manila Standard that Sumitomo is focusing on two products— the excavator and the asphalt-paving ma- Sumitomo expects to sell approximately chine. Shimada feels confident his company 13,000 hydraulic extractors and 300 asphalt has an advantage with these equipment as pavers in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the as the company has focused inordinate re- Middle East, and North America in a year.

SUMITOMO Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. considers itself a latecomer in the Philippine construction industry.

But Sumitomo managing director Ichiro Shimada believes that with proper market positioning, the Japanese global player will seize opportunities presented by the growing Philippine construction industry.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

YOUNG LIFE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

Kendall Jenner in fringe-y ‘70s glamour A

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SHOWCASING SEVENTIES.

American supermodel Kendall Jenner channels ‘70s glamour—with a generous serving of fringe—in Longchamp’s spring/summer 2019 advertising campaign.

MERICAN supermodel and one of this generation’s fashion icons Kendall Jenner channels ‘70s glamour, with a touch of Californian vibe for a fashion house’s latest advertising campaign.

Dressed in suede jacket, mini skirt, and gladiator sandals—topped with ample fringe, animal prints, and ikat motif, the 23-year-old stunner not only proves she can rock almost anything, but also brings a distinct charm to the sensuality of Longchamp’s spring/summer 2019 collection, which was presented at the New York Fashion Week in September, in a series of single- and double-page spreads.

In designing the collection, Longchamp creative director Sophie Delafontaine was inspired by ‘70s glamour, and Jenner’s vibrant silhouettes—fusing Parisian elegance with a laid back Californian vibe, paying tribute to style icons Veruschka and Anita Pallenberg.

Capturing Jenner in dynamic poses, photographer Mikael Jansson made full use of the collection’s statement fringes to evoke the energy and freedom that are fundamental to the active Longchamp woman.

The other star of the campaign is the Amazone bag in padded red leather, which Jenner wears cross-body on a leopard-print shoulder strap. Meanwhile, other visuals feature the extravagant fringed and python-styled versions shown on the runway.

The Longchamp spring/summer 2019 print campaign with Kendall Jenner will break worldwide in February.

Longchamp Amazone hobo bag is inspired by women who defy status quo.

OWNING THE CHAOS:

5 things about Russell Westbrook’s latest shoe OKLAHOMA City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook appears to be in an uncontrollable cycle of chaos as he speeds, spins, and jumps past opposing players and NBA records. He won’t become the NBA player with the most triple-doubles in a season if he wasn’t “chaotic,” he even described it as “owning the chaos.”

Westbrook’s second signature performance sneaker, the Why Not Zer0.2, is a reflection of him owning the chaos: The design may seem chaotic, but West-

brook planned every element of it with a brook’s career. specific purpose in mind.

“Every colorway has a meanHere are five things to know about ing behind it that is special to me,” the shoe. says Westbrook. “With the Why Not Zer0.2, I wanted to take that storytell1. Every colorway has a meaning ing to the next level with an exposed The lead colorway of the Why Not tag that helps illustrate the meaning Zer0.2, dubbed “Future History,” fea- behind the colors used.” tures vibrant color-blocking on different performance materials. At first 2. It honors those close to him glance the design may seem random, The only thing Westbrook loves more but each color is meant to reference a than the game is his family, which is uniform that has helped define West- why he added his family crest on the inAn exposed tag explains the meaning behind the colors used in the Why Not Zer0.2.

ner tongue. He also used a black block on the midsole to honor late best friend, Khelcey Barrs III. “It’s become a tradition for me to honor Khelcey by writing ‘KBIII’ on my game shoes. Each colorway of the Why Not Zer0.2 will have a designated area for me to write that on. I want people who wear my shoe to understand that playing with a purpose bigger than yourself is important,” he says.

NBA player Russell Westbrook designs the new Why Not Zer0.2 in reflection to his ‘owning the chaos.’

3. Tech trumps trends When it came to this design, Westbrook said he wanted a shoe that was created specifically to harness his game rather than follow any current style trends.

“From the first design meeting we had, my number one priority was making the best performance basketball shoe possible. I knew that if it was authentic to me then it would come out great,” he relates. “That’s what the Why Not? mentality is all about: Doing you regardless of what people think and being confident in who you are.”

4. It’s suitable for kids Since entering the league, Westbrook has remained committed to inspiring the youth through his charitable work, and his message to them has always been: “Why not me? Why not follow your dreams?” Hence he pushed the Jordan Brand design team to create a premium performance shoe with an accessible price.

“Being a father, it was important to have my signature shoe available in full family sizing. You don’t see that often with performance shoes, but for me it’s all about inspiring the next generation. That also means making the shoe affordable and accessible to people all around the world,” says Westbrook.

5. It drops this month The Why Not Zer0.2 was released in men’s sizes globally on Jan. 10 and in all sizes later this month.

Learn more about the inspiration behind the “Future History” colorway at air.jordan.com.

Life

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

How to survive daily commute

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OMMUTERS in the concrete jungle of Metro Manila sure know how challenging and downright agonizing it can be to go from one place to another through our roads and public transportation on a daily basis. While there’s much that we can rant about our transport system, there are ways to at least make the experience easier for ourselves, more pleasant, even.

Pack smart

First and foremost, always ensure you bring a bag that can be fully and securely closed such as those with zippers. Tote bags may be convenient, but remember you’re not the only one who will have easy access to it. If you change bags frequently, get a bag organizer to easily transfer all your things from one bag to another. If you’re a gadget junkie, use a cord organizer for tangle-free earphones and chargers while you’re on the go.

Bring a coin purse (with coins, of course)

Wear comfortable shoes

Your daily travel can be a whole lot easier and much less tiring simply by wearing the right shoes. Ditch the heels, obviously. Go for something reliable and tested like Skechers GOWalk—said to be the no. 1 walking shoe in the US and a favorite of travelers in airports. The latest Skechers GOwalk Evolution makes its wearer feel like walking on clouds, giving a bounce in every step regardless of long lines and tiring walks.

Stay hydrated

It helps a lot with both safety and convenience to have a separate coin purse handy on short rides in cabs or UV express or jeepneys so you don’t have to bring out your main wallet which carries your cash and cards each time you have to pay for fare. In this way, you won’t have to worry about not getting enough change back when you can give the exact amount.

Instead of buying bottles of water every day, bring your own water tumbler instead.

This way, you’re not just saving money, but also saving the earth by reducing singleuse plastic waste. The water will help you stay hydrated throughout your commute especially in our typically hot and humid weather. Put it in an easy to reach, outer part of your bag so you it’s easy to hydrate whenever and wherever you are.

Keep your cool —literally

Use Stored Value Cards

If you have a big meeting or event coming up and you don’t have space or time to pack extra clothes, prevent sweat marks by putting liners inside the sleeves of your clothes where your underarms are positioned. Of course, it’s always a good idea to bring a portable battery-operated hand fan for hassle-free cooling to avoid sweating during those jampacked trips on the MRT.

Skip long lines at ticket stations by purchasing Stored Value Cards such as beep. It also saves you money as it comes out cheaper than buying single rides on LRT-1 and LRT-2. This January, Skechers and beep are releasing a limited edition co-branded beep card that can be used on MRT3, LRT-1, LRT-2, P2P buses, BGC Bus, and anywhere beep cards are accepted.

To make commuting a better experience for everyone, Skechers is giving out a P500 discount voucher on GOwalk shoes with each purchase of a Skechers beep card.

Make your daily commute a whole lot easier by knowing the right outfit to wear and the right items to bring.

BULLETIN BOARD

Vatel Manila joins Bangkok immersion

TESDA-NCR reported that 74 percent of scholars of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Aboitiz Scholarship Program have gained employment in 2018.

Scholarship program recorded 74% employment rate in 2018 MAJORITY or around 74 percent of technical-vocational students who were granted certification after availing of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Aboitiz Scholarship Program have successfully gained employment in 2018.

TESDA-NCR Regional Director Conrado Bares reported that out of the 100 trainees who enrolled in the program in 2018, 93 have graduated and secured NC-II certification. Seventyfour percent of the 93 graduates gained immediate employment.

Of the offered courses, TESDA reported a 100 percent employment rate for bartending, food and beverage services, and plumbing; while 50 and 40 percent for housekeeping and food processing, respectively.

“I wish that we will be able to sustain the partnership so that we will be able to reach more trainees, especially the least, the less, and the lost,” Bares said during the turnover of P1 million worth of check from the Aboitiz Foundation in Taguig City on Dec. 18 for the sustained implementation of the scholarship program.

The program commenced in 2016 when a memorandum of agreement was signed for a grant of P1 million to help the marginalized trainees who were enrolled in various courses at the

TESDA Women’s Center.

The grant was used to cover costs of trainees’ medical examination, assessment fees accident insurance, ID, uniform, personal protective equipment, and training supplies and materials.

Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan said the gift of education is probably the best gift that Aboitiz can give this Christmas. “Sa tulong po ng TESDA, sa pagtitiwala na binibigay ninyo sa amin (With the help of TESDA and the trust that you have been giving us), these scholars are given the chance to shine their brightest and help drive change for a better world,” she stressed.

Marasigan also reminded the scholars to stay focused and strong, yet humble and generous: “There will be tough times… sometimes you would want to give up. But just remember the line ‘Kayang-kaya ko ito!’ remember [that] many people are cheering for you and would really work their hardest to help you.”

The Groupwide Aboitiz TechnicalVocational program offers an alternative solution to help high school students who do not have the means to pursue a college education. Since 2005, Aboitiz Foundation has assisted 2,787 trainees under this program.

TEN future hoteliers from Vatel Manila joined over 100 students from 11 other Vatel schools in Asia in a 12-day crosscultural summer exchange program in Bangkok, Thailand.

Vatel is a worldwide network of hospitality and management institution with 43 schools around the world and an enrollment of approximately 7,000 students. Its alumni of 35,000 strong occupy management and leadership positions in hotels and restaurants globally.

For years, the revered institution has an existing partnership with the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to jointly offer Double Bachelors and Master Degree programs. With this collaboration, the college’s culinary and hospitality departments are now known as Vatel Manila.

The Philippine delegation were composed of International Hospitality Management students Carl Jerald Castillejos, Maxine Louise Dawis, Emerson Forte, Luzanne Jee Libarnes, Xueyao Liu, Alyssa Gabrielle Manlangit, Kyle Brent Quintos, Jessika Isabelle Tiu, Anna Danielle Vicente, and Tazia Kate Villanueva.

Other participants included those from Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam.

Assistant professor Dr. Sompid Kattiyapikul, Dean of Silpakorn University International College, guided the participants through an interesting array of activities such as tours around the city’s hotspots like the central province of Nakornpathom, the eco-cultural Sampran Riverside, and the landscaped gardens of the Ancient City.

The attendees likewise immersed themselves in learning how to cook signature Thai dishes. They also experienced some local tradition and culture.

“The summer exchange program has been a great opportunity for young students to be exposed to the world’s diversity,” said Alyssa Manlangit, a Vatel Manila student.

She added, “I hope that there will be more opportunities such as this because it will be helpful for the youth to grow, to meet people and share experiences, to get to know another culture, and see the world outside of our comfort zone.”

Over 100 students from Vatel schools in Asia gathered in Bangkok for a 12-day cross-cultural summer exchange program.

Entertainment Minor-friendly ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ opens in PH theaters REIMAGINED for the younger movie audience, Deadpool 2’s Once Upon a Deadpool is now rated PG by the local censors board (MTRCB) featuring an additional 20 minutes of new footage.

Kids below 13 years old can now watch the world’s favorite disreputable superhero on the big screen and enjoy it with the whole gang.

Fred Savage joins Ryan Reynolds in the movie that pays homage to his starring role in the 1987 film The Princess Bride.

“While my participation in this film was anything but voluntary, I am happy to learn that Fudge Cancer will be the beneficiary of this shameless cash grab,” says Savage of the film’s advocacy.

Deadpool debuted in February 2016 with the biggest R-rated opening of all time and went on to be the highestgrossing R-rated film in history with more than $750-million globally. It was also honored as the first live-action superhero movie to be nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture in the Comedy or Musical category, and Ryan Reynolds was also nominated as Best Actor.

In the film, Reynolds not only stars in the title role, he also co-wrote and produced Deadpool 2.

“Ryan is an incredible comedic talent,” says director David Leitch.

“Deadpool works as a perfect ground for things he really excels at. He took that character from the comic books and made it his own brand. There’s a synergistic effect with Deadpool and Ryan. He really is Deadpool in real life —in terms of the way he talks and sees the world, sometimes. He’s funny and irreverent but also has a huge heart and compassion, like Deadpool.”

A 20th Century Fox film presentation, Once Upon a Deadpool opens in select cinemas nationwide. Check out your favorite cinemas’ listings/schedule.

Actor Ken Chan is the latest artist to join GMA Music’s roster of talents

Actor Ken Chan now a GMA Music artist

Ken Chan with GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, Senior Talent Manager Tracy Garcia, GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta, and GMA Music A&R Manager Kedy Sanchez.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

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HE year is off to a great start for My Special Tatay actor Ken Chan as he becomes the latest artist to join GMA Music’s roster of talents.

On Jan. 8, the 25-year-old actor officially inked a contract and present during the contract signing were GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, Senior Talent Manager Tracy Garcia, GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta, and GMA Music A&R Manager Kedy Sanchez.

Ken, who is lauded for his skillful portrayal in the top-rating afternoon series My Special Tatay, shared that he is thrilled to mark another milestone in his career, “I’m happy because it’s been my wish to be part of GMA Music. I thank them for their continued support and trust. Lahat ng pino-produce nila maganda kaya excited ako na makatrabaho sila.”

He also expressed his excitement over his first song entitled “Almusal,” which is a duet with fellow Kapuso singer and on-screen partner Rita Daniela.

“It’s a simple and feel good music and it’s relatable kasi ‘di ba tayong mga Pinoy, mahilig tayo sa almusal.

And when we are wooing someone, ‘di ba making them breakfast is one of the things that we do? Nag-play na po sa Barangay LS 97.1 and on RGMA provincial radio stations nationwide ‘yung single, and when I first heard it sobrang sarap sa feeling,” he happily said.

Meanwhile, GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta proudly welcomed Ken and revealed that they already have quality projects in store for him, “GMA Music is happy to have Ken Chan on board because he is one of the network’s most prized talents. In fact, meron na siyang naka-ready na next single, it’s coming soon, and we’re also looking forward to shooting the music video for that.”

Fans can now listen to “Almusal” on Spotify and download it on Apple Music, iTunes, and other digital stores worldwide.

Manny Pacquiao, 40, is defending his WBA Welterweight title

PacquiaoBroner bout live on free TV GMA Network, in partnership with Gerry Pens Promotions, Inc., is all set to air the much awaited bout between Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao and Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner as the Philippines’ Pambansang Kamao seeks to defend his WBA Welterweight title against the former four-division world champion tomorrow, Jan. 20.

Pinoy fans can catch Pacquiao versus Broner via satellite on GMA-7 beginning 10:00- a.m. while an exclusive blow-by-blow coverage of the fight will also air on GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594 and in all Super Radyo stations nationwide from 9:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m..

The first big boxing showdown of the year, which is slated to happen at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marks the first time that Pacquiao returns to fight in the United States after two years.

Eight-division world champion Pacquiao, who holds a 60-7 record including 39 knockouts and 2 draws, is determined to defend his title after his knockout victory over Argentinian Lucas Matthysse in his last fight in July last year.

A replay of Pacquiao versus Broner will be aired on the same day at 10:30 p.m. on GMA Sunday Night Box Office (SNBO).

Francis Kong underscores ‘All that Matters’in new book

IN CHARACTER. Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool

“WE ARE constantly motivated with the big picture of success, but we should also pay attention to the small details, because big things happen only when we do the small things right,” shared Francis Kong in his newest book All That Matters: Live. Love.

Learn. Laugh from ABS-CBN Publishing.

The inspirational speaker’s latest offering draws attention to small things that matter— family, character, leadership, business, work, selfimprovement, and life, in general—not only to be successful but ultimately to be happy.

Francis emphasized the need to learn the art of life-map reading. “Going through the process of traveling the road may be full of humps, lumps, and bumps, but in the process, you can also begin to pick up skills, experience, and toughness that will enable you to travel farther and achieve things better,” he said.

On family matters, he stressed that “social media has made it possible for us to communicate and relate with people who are far away from us, but isolate and alienate us from the people beside us. Communicate with your kids. Develop their

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, January 19, 2019

ACROSS 1 Out of shape 6 Watch chain 9 Furry treedweller 14 Daydreams 15 Gorilla or chimp 16 Typo 17 Chances 19 Mandate 20 Flavor enhancer 21 Pioneer’s heading 22 Bothersome 23 Drakes and ganders 24 Becomes a dad 25 Bakery goody 29 Hematite yield 31 Frauds 32 Pumas 36 Plant anchor 37 Max — Sydow 38 Ballad writer 40 Politburo’s place 43 Mouthed off 45 Sudden urges 46 Uses arguments 47 Stable occupant 50 Swab 51 Send payment 52 Bout windup 54 Island off Italy 58 High society 59 Fine (hyph.)

30 Actor — Perlman 33 Domed recess 34 Sub — (secretly) 35 Put in a lawn 37 French wine 39 QB objectives 41 Enigma 42 Remick or TreDOWN vino 1 Safe callers 2 Director — Eph- 43 Ghost 44 Matterhorn ron 47 Word of wel3 Hoodwink come 4 Technical sch.

5 Recipe qty.

6 Meets head-on 7 Makes a decision 8 Most desirable 9 Maintaining in one’s possession 10 Decree 11 Greet the day 12 Secures 13 Dilettantish 18 Big pitchers 23 Scurry 24 Old French coin 25 Codgers’ queries 26 Diner employee 27 Hideout 28 Wagon part 29 Desktop pictures 61 Make different 62 Wheel buy (2 wds.)

63 Follow upon 64 Like a damp rock 65 — degree 66 Power units

48 Neglects 49 Observances 50 Chatty bird 51 Squeeze oranges 52 Genghis — 53 Em, Bee or Polly 54 Millay or Ferber 55 Going around in circles 56 Very dry 57 Nay opposites 60 Hedge shrub

communication skills and don’t let them waste away on their phones.”

Just like in his previous book under ABS-CBN Publishing, Leadership That Matters, the author also touched on managing people in the workplace or business in All That Matters.

He distinguished motivation from inspiration saying, “to motivate is to push them to do something. To inspire is to pull them to the realization that a change or a transformation would be good for them.”

Meanwhile, in order to be happy in life, Francis suggested to maintain distance from whiners.

“If we cannot help and the whiner refused to be helped, then we simply must maintain distance and not allow negativity to poison our healthy minds,” he wrote pointing out that exposure to non-stop negativity may impair brain function.

“Life is 90 percent beautiful with only 10 percent that is not. And there is so much out there to be positive about,” the speaker enthused.

All That Matters is available in National Book Store and Powerbooks branches for only P395.

The book of Francis Kong is about doing small things right and choosing positivity this new year.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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'Cain At Abel' lead stars Dingdong Dantes and Dennis Trillo

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

YUGEL LOSORATA

Bit of sponge IT AIN’T much of a surprise that the wikipedia entry on Sponge Cola original drummer Chris Cantada states he is “best known as the former drummer and backing vocalist” of the popular band.

Interestingly though, those digging his thing as YouTube content creator fulltime for about five years now may argue that he as vlogger and cosplayer already overshadowed that fabulous bit of his run. Last year he was even included in Smart-PLDT’s shortlist of tapped entertainment vloggers to highlight its daily, one-hour free YouTube promo.

Chris, who left his famed band after the recording of its third, self-titled album, seemed to be agreeing with his Chris Cantada Force followers. “Spongecola was a decade a ago. My demographics as vlogger are kids and they don’t have the idea that I was a musician before,” he assessed.

By quick judgment, the pop culture geek is simply being modest of his band’s worth in the public eye or saying such is his kind of analytical style of elevating the impact of his current gig. Besides he has been making waves creating “fun and action-packed videos” or unboxing and reviewing toys when “not making awesome fan films.” To be more precise, he’s a legit fan boy immersed in stuff like Power Rangers, Star Wars, or the Marvel Universe.

Ever into minute details, Chris takes pride in the scriptwriting, directing, and editing of his socmed productions. That should equate to more serious individual work than laying in drum tracks inside a studio or keeping up the beat during live performances, which is another way of saying he’s logging in several hours delivering his new-found content.

During our conversation, he revealed to have not held a pair of drumsticks in two years.

To be fair with his past history, the eyeglass-wearing vlogger parted ways with the rest of Sponge Cola without animosity. He assured, “I’m a big fan of Sponge Cola and being in that band is one of the best times of my life. Growing up I always wanted to be a rock star and I am in another chapter of my life.”

A “worsening health condition” caused by tiresome gigging and recording forced him to leave the group.

He did record a solo album in 2011 called Heartbeat. The move may have led to his heart beating again. Yet, he found real cure in vlogging.

“I always felt I am a geek. I dress up and use cosplay to tell comic stories,” he reiterated.

Formed in 2003, Sponge Cola, which achieved mainstream recognition after performing a highly bootlegged acoustic cover of Madonna’s “Crazy For You,” scored several original hits including “Jeepney,” “Lunes,” “Tuliro”, “Puso,” and “Di Na Mababawi.” The group’s current drummer is Tmac Cruz who had long joined the solid trio of bassist Gosh Dilay, guitarist Armo Armovit, and lead singer Yael Yuzon who is married to singer-TV host Karylle.

Who knows one day someone will suit up in a Sponge Cola gig to sit on the drum stool in Power Ranger outfit.

Former Sponge Cola drummerturned-vlogger and cosplayer Chris Cantada with Aquaman star Jason Momoa whom he had a one-on-one chat for his YouTube site.

‘Cain at Abel’ adds color to Sinulog festivities

PEOPLE

By Nickie Wang

Angel posing for the cameras during The General's Daughter presscon last week

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CTRESS Angel Locsin revealed that a few years ago she thought of quitting showbiz to live an ordinary life. In fact, she submitted a letter to the bosses of ABS-CBN to express her resignation as a television and movie artist.

Angel explained that she felt like she did not satisfy her network and that she was a big disappointment to it. She even shared about the feeling of not fulfilling her obligations and responsibilities as a celebrity of ABSCBN. “I felt I didn’t deserve to be a contract artist because I couldn’t to my job. I was a big disappointment. With my body, the physical challenge, I couldn’t do my responsibility,” Angel told showbiz writers during a press conference held at ABS-CBN’s Restaurant 9501 last Thursday.

“Nahihiya ako kasi I’m paid. I thought it was the proper way to deal with it. But one of the ABS-CBN bosses talked to me. These are the people that I’m going to miss that’s why I need to treasure them. So after that conversation, naisip ko, gaganahana ka talaga magtrabaho,” she continued.

The 33-year-old actress’ spine was damaged in 2015 preventing her to reprise her role in the film adaptation of the iconic Darna, which she trained for five years just to execute the stunts required in the film. In the same year, ABS-CBN and Star Cinema made a statement that Angel would no longer be doing the role as they decided to prioritize the actress’s health.

Now back as a wiser and a stronger person, Angel opens 2019 with ABSCBN’s first new offering, where she plays Rhian Bonifacio, a daughter of a military general who is raised and honed to take down their family’s biggest enemy.

“I want to show people that I can still do it. Here, you will see me do stunts again—kicking and punching people. I studied military drills and spent a few days in a hospital to prepare for the role,” she said.

With the story revolving around the lives of military families, people can expect a braver and fiercer Angel as she does stunts and fight scenes that will once again prove her mettle as the country’s premier action-drama actress.

The series also features an ensemble of seasoned actors such as Maricel Soriano, Tirso Cruz III, and Albert

‘The General’s Daughter’ is no quitter In production as early as April 2018, “The General’s Daughter” unravels a story spanning two generations and three families, with Angel Locsin’s character, Rhian, as the central figure.

Martinez, among others.

Before her much-awaited return to primetime, Angel appeared in several Kapamilya shows. She was part of the hit fantasy series La Luna Sangre and appeared in one of the much-talked about episodes of MMK, where she played a Muslim woman who fought for justice after being mistakenly accused as a kidnapper.

She also sat as one of the judges in the latest two seasons of Pilipinas Got Talent with Vice Ganda, Robin Padilla, and former ABS-CBN executive Freddie M. Garcia as they judged some of the biggest and most impressive talents in the country.

Angel also brought her star power to

the big screen as she starred in the movie Everything About Her with Xian Lim and the Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos.

Her effective portrayal in the movie earned her several recognitions from award-giving bodies, including the KBP Golden Dove Awards, Asia Pacific Film Festival, and Gawad Tanglaw.

Meanwhile, also part of The General’s Daughter are Eula Valdez, Janice De Belen, Paulo Avelino, JC De Vera, Arjo Atayde, Ryza Cenon, Ronnie Alonte, and Loisa Andalio. It is under the direction of Manny Palo and Mervyn Brondial and will premiere on primetime on Jan. 21 on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

KAPUSO stars will be in Cebu City this weekend as part of the network’s participation in one of the country’s grandest and most anticipated festivals.

Today, Cain at Abel’s Dingdong Dantes and Dennis Trillo will be in Gaisano Grand Fiesta Mall Tabunok in Talisay City for a Kapuso Mall Show at 3:00 p.m. Flying in to Cebu as well are their co-stars in the primetime series actress Solenn Heussaff and Sanya Lopez.

The Cain at Abel cast will later head on to Robinsons Galleria Cebu for a fun-filled Kapuso Fiesta at 6:00 p.m.. And tomorrow, Jan. 20, they will board the Kapuso float and tour the major streets of Cebu City during the Sinulog Grand Parade.

GMA Cebu will also have a live coverage of the parade beginning at 7:00 a.m.. The Pit Senyor: The Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage will be hosted by Balitang Bisdak anchors Bobby Nalzaro, Alan Domingo, and Cecile Quibod-Castro, together with Balitang Bisdak correspondents Chona Carreon, Lou Ann Mae Rondina, and Nikko Sereno.

Online, the Pit Senyor: The Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage will be seen via livestream from 7:00 a.m. onwards on GMA Regional TV’s official websitewww.gmanetwork.com.

Yesterday, Jan. 18, the lead stars of the much awaited GMA primetime drama series Kara MiaBarbie Forteza and Mika dela Cruz were at Gaisano Grand Mall Jai Alai Cebu City for a Kapuso Mall Show at 3 p.m. Joining them for back-to-back performances and surprises were their co-stars Jak Roberto and Paul Salas.

Another treat awaited Cebuanos as young actresses Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar of another upcoming drama series, Inagaw na Bituin, joined them in the mall show. Afterwards, the cast of the two shows headed on to Ayala Center Cebu to sing, dance, and party with their fans in a Kapuso Fiesta at 6:00 p.m..

“While 2018 has been a great year for GMA Regional TV, we believe that we can do more,” shares GMA RTV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso.

“And this 2019, we prepared a lot of activities and surprises for our Kapuso all over the country. We are also treating our viewers with various mall shows featuring the most-sought actors of this generation. Even before, we believe our regional viewers play a crucial role in our success as the leading broadcast company in the Philippines. This is why we remain committed to giving them quality shows and activities on ground, on TV, and now even online,” he adds.

Brillante Mendoza’s ‘Alpha’ unreels in theaters nationwide THE Philippine premiere of internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza’s Alpha: The Right to Kill was held recently at the new Director’s Club Cinemas at The Podium. The film, which won the Jury Prize at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain in 2018 is now shown at SM Cinema and theaters nationwide.

The Alpha team led by Director Brillante Mendoza and cast members Allen Dizon, Elijah Filamor, and Baron Geisler came in full force to support the film that had brought so much honor to our country in international film festivals. FDCP Chairperson Liza Dino, Solar Entertainment General Manager Butch Ibanez, SM Cinema VP for Corporate Marketing Ruby Reyes, Senior Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon also graced the event.

Another highlight of the event was the awarding of SM Cinema’s Plaque of Recognition to Director Mendoza for his significant contribution to Philippine Independent Cinema.

A joint project of Solar Entertainment, Centerstage Productions, and SM Cinemas, the event gave guests an exclusive private screening of Director Mendoza’s latest masterpiece. It also gave guests a glimpse of The Podium’s three newly opened Director’s Club cinemas with their luxurious and state-of-the-art

facilities, and premium service that take movie watching to the next level.

Directed by Mendoza and written by Troy Espiritu, Alpha: The Right to Kill is set against the backdrop of the Philippines Government’s crackdown on illegal drugs, a SWAT-led police force launches an operation to arrest Abel, one of the biggest drug lords in Manilla.

Starring Dizon, Filamor and Geisler, the film follows the story of Police Officer Espino (Dizon) and Elijah (Fillamor), a small-time pusher turned informant, provide the intelligence for the operation which quickly escalates into a violent and heavily-armed confrontation in the slums between the SWAT and Abel’s (Geisler) gang.

Before the investigators arrive at the crime scene, Espino and Elijah walk off with Abel’s backpack full of money and methamphetamine.

This gesture of survival for one and corruption for the other will soon set off a dangerous series of events, both of them risking their reputations, families and lives in the process.

Alpha also joined other international film festivals – Official Selection of Warsaw Film Festival in Poland, 2018 Singapore International Film Festival, Tokyo Filmex, Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt, Minsk International Film Festival in Belarus, 36th Torino Film Festival in Italy

and Shaken Aimanov 14th International Film Festival in Kazakhstan.

Enjoy the latest blockbusters at SM Cinema’s latest offering at Director’s Club Cinema The Podium. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!

FDCP Chairperson Liza Dino, SM Cinema VP for Corporate Ruby Reyes, Director Brillante Mendoza, SM SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon and Solar Pictures General Manager Butch Ibañez during the Philippine premiere of "Alpha: TheRight to Kill"