Manila Standard - 2019 February 23 - Saturday

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heading head TRANSITION BODY MURAD HEADS BANGSAMORO

By Nat Mariano

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 13 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the country had reached its “endpoint” with the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

An “overwhelmingly proud” Duterte made the comment as he announced the appointment of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim as the interim Chief Minister of the BTA, urging the 80-member council to

“never waver” in building an institution founded on the rule of law.

In his speech after the oath-taking ceremony of the members of the BTA, the President formalized Murad’s appointment, hoping that the 80-member BTA would lead the newly-created BARMM towards “a brighter tomorrow.”

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim as Interim Chief Minister of the BTA,” Duterte said in his speech.

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PEACE SYMBOL. President Rodrigo Duterte (front center) gives a peace sign with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Murad Ebrahim (front 3rd right) during the Ceremonial Confirmation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law Plebiscite Law Canvass Results and Oath-taking of Transition Authority at Malacañang on Friday. AFP

Measles scourge persists DOH records 11,000 cases, 189 deaths in less than 2 months ‘Tagle validates Du30’s flak vs. clergy’ THE Palace on Friday said the “pained admission” by Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle about the problem of child abuse validated President Rodrigo Duterte’s previous criticism of the church and clerics.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo expressed Duterte’s optimism that the church would “reform itself” and be rid of child abuse.

“Cardinal Tagle’s pained admission on the clergy’s long kept secret abomination is part of the wrenching and cleansing process that the Church is undergoing,” Panelo added.

In his presentation on the first day of the summit convened by Pope Francis, Tagle weighed in on the cases of sex abuse committed by erring priests to the children. Next page

Año: Suicide bomber still lurks about

Gov’t releases updated SRP of basic goods

By Francisco Tuyay

By Othel V. Campos THE Trade and Industry Department released the updated Suggested Retail Price list of basic necessities and prime commodities dated as of Feb. 13, for guidance of consumers.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said about 23 percent of the total number of stock keeping units increased.

“We should remember that many of these brands were those that cooperated

ANOTHER potential suicide bomber, a Yemeni, is currently in Mindanao, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday, and has been living in the country for over a year now along with other foreign terrorists.

Indonesian, Pakistani, Egyptian and Malaysian terrorists are also

in Basilan and Maguindanao apart from the Yemeni—who the secretary did not name—and other local anarchists, Año said in a UNTV report.

“The trained suicide bomber we are referring is a Yemeni national. There are foreign terrorists who are also living in other parts of Mindanao, but we cannot say that he is

The agency said it recorded 11,459 confirmed cases of measles with 189 fatalities from Jan. 1 to Feb. 20 this year, and that the latest figure was 2,000 cases higher than its last measles surveillance on Feb. 18.

In other developments: • The Department of Health in Region 4A is rushing to get children vaccinated against measles as the number of confirmed deaths in the Calabarzon area due to the infection has risen to 73.

A report from Region 4A showed that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 22, 2019, 3,077 cases of measles infection were recorded in the region. Rizal had the highest number with 1,586 cases and 51 deaths, followed by Cavite with 437 cases and eight deaths.

Meanwhile, Laguna had 427 cases, Batangas 329 and Quezon 298.

• With at least one Filipino dying every hour from measles and more than 2,000 new cases being recorded every two days, the Anakalusugan party-list urged the Department of Health and local government

THE Makati Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the indictment of a retired ad executive for estafa.

In a resolution dated Oct. 3, 2018 but only obtained this week, Assistant City Prosecutor Cherrylin Go-Ortiz said that based on the complaint filed by FCB Manila Inc., there is probable cause to indict Arnold C. Liong for estafa under the Revised Penal Code for false pre-

Hollywood all set for Oscars night LOS ANGELES— The ballots are in, the red carpet gowns are chosen and the golden statuettes are being polished: Sunday (Monday in Manila) is Oscars night, Hollywood’s biggest gala of the year, and the end of a

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WEATHER A TROPICAL cyclone outside the Philippine area of responsibility has intensified into a typhoon, the state weather bureau said Friday. Next page

Thursday. units to step up its information dissemination and immunization campaign to arrest the spread of the measles outbreak across the country.

Based on the department’s latest measles surveillance on Feb. 20, the number of confirmed cases reached 11,459 with 189 fatalities from only 8,000 cases and 136 deaths on Feb. 18.

“The measles outbreak is seen to last until June. At the rate the number of cases and fatalities is increasing, we might surpass the total number of measles cases recorded last year at 18,407 by March,” Anakalusugan nominee Mike Defensor said.

The National Capital Region recorded the highest number of cases with 2,936 and 52 deaths, followed by Calabarzon with 2,635 cases and 61 deaths.

Most of the fatalities had no immunization against measles.

The Health department earlier declared an outbreak of measles in Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Western Visayas Next page and Central Visayas.

Ex-ad executive faces estafa charge

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Typhoon ‘Wutip’ gains strength

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M

ORE than 11,000 people have contracted measles while 189 have died of the disease in less than two months, the Health department said

SEIZED IGUANA.

The Bureau of Customs has seized 56 iguana, a genus of the herbivorous lizards native to tropical areas, from a Filipino passenger Niel Ryan Kho Dysoco on his arrival Friday from Bangkok. The endangered species had been found inside his luggage—immediately turned over to DENR personnel. (See story on A3) Norman Cruz

LIONG

tenses, fraudulent acts and machinations that have financially damaged FCB. Case records showed that on Sept. 1, 2011, Liong was hired as consultant with the title of president and CEO to handle the overall operational management of FCB. According to the complaint, Liong requested 55 expense reimbursements totaling P2.81 million for 2015, and made it appear that the expenses were business-related and Next page

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News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH kids suffer most from Web sex rings ONLINE sexual exploitation remains prevalent in the Philippines with the victims, mostly minors, beiang lured into the trade by their own relatives, according to the case files from the Philippine National Police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Filipino victims fall prey to sexual predators from around the world, with the cybersex trade becoming a livelihood for poor families as the fees range from $20 to $50 (about P1,000 to P2,600) per session or per week.

Some 80 percent of the victims are minors, and half of then are 12 years or younger, data from the International Justice Mission-Philippines showed.

Chief Inspector Michael Virtudazo, team leader of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, says the PNP, in cooperation with non-government organizations, has recorded 80 cases with 287 trafficked victims, while 113 individuals have been arrested.

Virtudazo says his unit continues to receive tips about child exploitation online, with the trade known to be going on in different parts of the country.

“OSEC (online sexual exploitation of children) is prevalent in the Philippines because of the accessibility of the internet. Family members act as facilitators, there is fluency in English... and access to remittance centers,” Virtudazo said in a forum organized by NGO Philippines Against Child Trafficking.

Among the “hot spots” of the trade is Taguig City, while Iligan City, Cebu, Pampanga and Tarlac are areas with the most recorded cases.

Vitudazo says the victims are made to believe by their own parents or guardians that their sexual acts shown online are harmless as there is no physical contact.

Special Agent Michael Van Aelstyn of the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Unit said online sexual exploitation in the Philippines mostly happen in cybersex dens.

Measles...

From A1 Duque earlier said the outbreak in the regions might wane in April.

Measles, caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract, can be passed on through direct contact and through the air.

Its complications include severe diarrhea, pneumonia, blindness and even death.

The symptoms include fever, reddening of the eyes, cough and colds and red rashes.

Unvaccinated children aged five and below are at the highest risk from the disease, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said earlier. The measles vaccine is usually given to children aged six months and above, and their parents must be extra cautious.

Free vaccines against measles are available in government hospitals and health centers.

Ex-ad...

From A1 used for the advertising business of FCB. Liong, as president and CEO, also approved the 55 check vouchers that disbursed funds to cover his expense reimbursements.

In his response, Liong asserted that the amounts disbursed to him are his and thus, not subject to liquidation or return. In his rejoinder affidavit, Liong claimed that the amounts were not liquidated advances but reimbursements for various costs and expenses incurred on behalf of the company.

However, an internal audit showed that the receipts submitted by the respondent covered “personal items and imaginary transactions,” the complaint said, As a result of the pretenses and schemes, Liong was able to cause the release of FCB funds and amass for himself money amounting to at least P6.72 million, with various receipts showing that on 55 occasions, Liong requested payment of reimbursements that had no relation with FCB business.

“False pretense and deceit [were] employed by Liong prior to or simultaneous with the actual defraudation of complainant FCB. The accounting department of FCB would not have released company funds in favor of Liong had it not been for the latter’s misrepresentation that the funds to be disbursed, reimbursed and then released were to be used in relation with the business of FCB and in connection to the duties of Liong as president and CEO,” the prosecutor said.

“Liong presented various receipts and approved the release of funds pertaining to transactions which obviously did not inure to the benefit of FCB, thus giving him a semblance of authority in the disbursement of funds. Consequently, FCB took as gospel truth Liong’s false pretenses and was misled and swayed to release funds to the latter,” the resolution read.

“Undoubtedly, Liong’s act of misrepresenting that his expenses were businessrelated and in connection with the performance of his functions as president and CEO of FCB in order to obtain company funds speaks strongly of fraud and deceit,” the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office ruled.

Labor: Firms won’t shun women

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

L

ABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday said employers will not be discouraged from hiring women with the signing of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bello noted that companies should be encouraged to hire women because when employees are happy, they are more productive.

“When you are a happy employee, you work well... It’s for the good of everybody especially for our women workers,” he said in an interview.

He added that they are looking to release the implementing rules and regulations within 45 days.

“Usually we are given 90 days but we don’t

intend to fully utilize the 90 days,” he said.

Following new legislation extending to 105 days the paid maternity leave benefit for working mothers, a leader of the House of Representatives on Friday batted for the passage of a bill lengthening the paid leave credits for new fathers.

“We have to be more supportive of both mother and father during childbirth, so it is just a matter of time before Congress also raises the paternity leave benefit,” said

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

“We want to allow husbands to physically and emotionally support their wives during childbirth, and to experience early child-father bonding for a longer time,” Pimentel, a father of five, said.

Pimentel is author of House Bill 3401, which proposes to bump up to 15 days the existing seven-day paternity leave benefit payable to every working husband for each of the first four childbirths of his lawful wife with whom he is cohabiting.

“We have to give fathers at least half a month off work, with full pay, for them to be able to lend ample support to their wives in nursing their newborns, and to help mothers recuperate from childbirth,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel cited studies showing that hus-

Tobacco tax to fund universal health care—DOH INCREASING the tax on tobacco products will help implement the newly signed Universal Health Care Act in the long term, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Universal Health Care Act earlier this week, and it will need about P257 billion in its first year of implementation, Duque said.

That will consist of money from membership contributions, the budget of the Department of Health, government subsidies and revenues from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Sin taxes, including those coming from tobacco products, will boost the government’s subsidy.

Duque believes the Senate will soon pass a measure increasing

cigarette duties as proposed by Senators JV Ejercito and Manny Pacquiao.

In other developments: • The new Universal Health Care Act can shield Filipinos from financial risks due to illness as it guarantees equal access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, the National Economic and Development Authority said Friday.

• Reelectionist Senator JV Ejercito said Friday the Implementing Rules and Regulations to be formulated for the Universal Health Care Act and the Creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act laws should be “faithful” to their noble intentions.

Ejercito issued the statement following Duterte’s signing into law the UHC (Republic Act 11223) and DHSUD (Republic

Act No. 11201), two landmark measures that he spearheaded.

• Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros said the country’s goal of “healthier Pinoys and Pinays” is now closer to reality with the UHC. Hontiveros, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and co-sponsor of the law in the Senate, said the measure is a “key milestone in the efforts to make health services equally accessible, effective and affordable for all Filipinos.”

Ejercito proposed to increase to P90 the tax on each pack of cigarettes, while Pacquiao proposed P60.

Increasing the price of cigarettes could help save lives of some 780,000 sick individuals and decrease the number of smokers by about 3.8 million within the next four years, he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Murad...

From A1

as indigenous peoples and settlers who will consider Mindanao as their home.”

As the government and the newly-formed BTA welcomed a new era of peace and development in the war-torn region, Duterte then posed a challenge to the members of the BTA. “I pose this challenge to the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority: Always embody the dreams and aspirations of the great men and women who came before you and fought for the recognition of your right to determine your future,” he said.

“I ask you never to waver in your commitment to building an institution that is founded on the rule of law, the promotion of good governance, and the defense [of] our most cherished democratic values,” he continued.

The President also reminded them to always work for the “best interest and welfare” of the people, regardless of ethnicity and religion.

“I trust that you will oversee the transition period to the best of your abilities, especially in the decommissioning of firearms and former combatants,” Duterte said.

“My only hope is that we put to rest the bitter memories of the past so that we can build a new region that is bound, not by ethnic or religious affiliation, but by a common aspiration for peaceful coexistence among our fellow Filipinos,” he said, asking them to “put to rest” the bitter memories of the past.

With the creation of the BTA, the President said he would like to see an end of the violence that has rocked the war-torn region, costing the lives of many for nothing.

Duterte then assured the BTA, which will be an interim government of the BARMM until 2022, that he will abide by the law for the remaining years of his presidency.

“I will always do what the law says, what is yours, and what extent that we can give you, not only comfort but happiness to the Muslims of Mindanao,” he said.

“Your courage and determination will never be put to waste. I guarantee that you and this administration will use all the resources within its disposal to ensure better governance and inclusive political empowerment in this new Bangsamoro region,” he added.

The President also announced the certification from the Commission on Elections declaring the ratification of the Organic Act for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“I am elated to accept the certification from COMELEC declaring the ratification of the Organic Act for the BARMM and the expansion of its territory to include Cotabato City and 63 barangays from the Province of North Cotabato,” he added.

According to the President, the establishment of the BARMM was the realization of the government and the MILF’s collective desire.

“It will be the realization of all our dreams [to] end long decades of armed struggle that hindered the growth of the region and I also consider my home,” he said. “[It will] enable us to create an environment that will be conducive to the peaceful coexistence between the Muslims, Christians, Lumads, and all tribes of this planet

Año:...

From A1 a suicide bomber because they are foreign tourists providing support and advice to the local Abu Sayyaf, except for this Arab-looking national inside the Sawadjaan camp,” he added.

Año said the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which has control over the Philippine National Police, currently has no intelligence reports on any plans the Yemeni terrorist has.

Authorities continue to be on their guard against terrorist bombers after an Abu Sayyaf cell led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan bombed the Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu during a Mass last Jan. 27, killing 23 and injuring over 100.

The twin blasts prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to call an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf, the communist New People’s Army, and other terrorist groups in the country.

Meanwhile, government troops on Friday launched wide-scale search and rescue operations to save three foreign hostages from being beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf.

A video posted online by the ASG, showed the hostages—believed to be Indonesians Heri Adiansyah, 19 and Hariadin, 45— blindfolded and with their hands tied behind their back, under guard by armed bandits.

One bandit held a bolo to Hariadin’s neck as he made an emotional appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to save them.

The other hostage, Malaysian Jari Abdullah, 24, was not shown in the video.

The video was posted online after the bandits contacted Jari’s wife, who made a futile appeal to the Malaysian government.

The ASG demanded an undetermined amount for their ransom.

Duterte on Friday said he would appeal to Moro National Liberation Front chair Nur Misuari to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf to end the hostaging.

Gov’t...

From A1 last year with DTI’s call not to increase prices for three months. The list contains only about one to two brands—many other brands in their respective categories did not increase prices. So there’s competition and consumers have choices of cheaper brands,” he said Friday.

He noted the Department had cost structure model per product that makes it aware what is reasonable increase per product.

Trade undersecretary for consumer protec-

“I would appeal to Nur Misuari to stop it.

And tell the Abu Sayyaf that, ‘Look we’re talking. Don’t make it hard for us to seek peace in our land’,” the President said in a chance interview with Palace reporters.

A spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, however, rejected any talks with the bandits.

“We never negotiate with the terrorists or kidnappers,” said AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato. “We will just continue with our ongoing combat operations,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf are still holding eight hostages including the two Indonesians and the Malaysian, Netherlands bird watcher Ewol Horn and four others.

The Palace said it is doing all it can to guarantee the safe release of the hostages.

The three were in their Sandakan-based fishing boats in eastern Sabah waters, which is near Tawi-Tawi, when the ASG abducted them.

“We are doing our best to secure the release of hostages from the evil hands of the ASG, but we stand firm on our no ransom policy,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“To give in to the demands of terrorists and other lawless groups would embolden them to engage in more abductions that would allow them to conduct extremist and other criminal activities as they could buy more arms and weapons,” he added.

According to the Palace official, the ASG “continues to be on the run” after President Duterte declared an “all-out war” against the them, ordering the country’s armed forces to pulverize the terrorist group.

“Our security forces are hunting them in the wild forests of Mindanao to unleash their might and blow them to kingdom come,” Panelo said.

On Wednesday, the President urged Indonesia and Malaysia to work together with the country in combating crime across the seas. tion Ruth Castelo said the three-month price hold-off implemented in the last quarter of 2018 ensured that no price increase was effected despite peak in inflation, oil price hike, peso devaluation, and increase in the prices of raw materials in the world market.

Among the commodities that raised prices were several canned sardines of 155g cans, that increased by P0.40 to P1.30.

According to one manufacturer, the continuous spike in the prices of tamban, tin can, tomato paste, fuel, and other miscellaneous fees contributed to the rise in price of the said commodity.

‘Tagle...

From A1 “The abuse of minors by ordained ministers has inflicted wounds not only on the victims but also on their families, the clergy, the church, the wider society, the perpetrators themselves, and the bishops,” Tagle said in his speech.

The Catholic leader admitted that bishops like himself, in one way or another, inflict wounds on sex abuse victims by allowing a culture of cover-up to protect priests, bishops, and the church from criticisms.

Pope Francis on Thursday opened a landmark Vatican summit on fighting child sex abuse, calling for concrete measures and handing top Catholic bishops a roadmap to tackling pedophilia in the church.

Also, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the number of priests involved in consensual but prohibited relations outnumbered those engaged in child abuse.

In an interview with GMA-7, Fr. Jerome Secillano, the executive secretary of the CBCP’s Committee on Public Affairs, said cases of child abuse by priests in the Philippines were not too common, unlike in the United States and Europe.

“The holy people of God look to us, and expect from us not simple and predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken. We need to be concrete,” the Pope said as the summit opened, the first of its kind.

“Hear the cry of the little ones who plead for justice,” he said as the three-and-a-half day meeting began.

During the conference in Rome, Tagle was two seats away from Pope Francis at the Vatican’s Aula Nuova del Sinodo. He was also the only Filipino chosen to deliver a speech along with eight others during the conference.

In the same summit, the Bishop of Rome called those who constantly criticize the Church “friends, cousins, and relatives of the devil,” but Panelo said the President did not feel alluded to in that remark. Nat Mariano with AFP The price of tamban, in particular, increased by 33 percent in December due to the close of fishing season which began last November 2018 up to February 2019.

Aside from canned sardines, prices of processed meat and canned beef also increased due to escalating cost of raw materials and packaging materials.

Prices of evaporated and condensed milk products also increased with a range of P0.50 to P1.10 and P0.50 to P1.20, respectively, due to significant increases in the cost of skimmed milk powder and anhydrous milk fat, and the weakening of Philippine peso.

bands who took longer paternity leaves were more involved with their children and child care activities, thus reinforcing the long-term bond between father and child.

“There’s no question a lengthier paternity leave will go a long way in improving the Filipino family’s overall work-life balance,” he said.

In other countries, Pimentel said fathers get up to 90 days of paternity leave with 80 percent of their regular pay.

Pimentel’s bill seeks to amend the Paternity Leave Benefit Law of 1996, or Republic Act 8187.

The 23-year-old law, authored by the late Senator Ernesto Herrera, grants a statutory minimum paternity leave of seven days with full pay to all married male employees in the private and public sectors.

Jail time for 4 Aussie ‘Tinnie Terrorists’ SYDNEY―Four Australians with almost no seafaring experience were jailed on Friday for hatching a “foredoomed” plot to sail a boat to the southern Philippines and overthrow the local government.

The four men—and two other Australians who have yet to be sentenced—were arrested in 2016 by police after buying a seven-metre (23-foot) boat and moving it overland 2,840 kilometres (1,765 miles) from the southern city of Melbourne to the northeastern tip of Australia.

Despite having almost zero sailing experience, the “Tinnie Terrorists”, as the Australian media have dubbed them, planned to reach the southern Philippines and join up with Muslim separatists.

“The whole venture was poorly planned and, I fear, foredoomed to failure,” Justice Michael Croucher wrote in his judgement.

“Given the ill-suited vessel they had and their lack of serious boating experience, it is hard to imagine that they would have made it very far past the breakers off far north of Queensland.”

Paul James Dacre, Antonino Granata and Kadir Kaya were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment in the Supreme Court of Victoria, while Murat Kaya was sentenced to three years and eight months behind bars.

The two other men, Shayden Thorne and notorious Australian Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, have pleaded guilty to the charges but have yet to be sentenced.

In handing down his sentence in Melbourne, Justice Michael Croucher said the four men would not have been involved in the plot if not for the “charismatic and persuasive Mr Cerantonio”. AFP

Typhoon...

From A1 Weather specialist Loriedin De La Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the disturbance with international name “Wutip” was last spotted at 2,185 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 2 p.m. Friday.

The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 180 kph. It continues to move northwest at a speed of 20 kph.

De La Cruz said current forecast models show that the typhoon is not likely to enter the PAR. Meanwhile, the northeasterly surface wind flow is currently affecting Luzon and the Visayas.

Metro Manila will experience partly cloudy skies. Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will have isolated light rains.

Hollywood...

From A1 topsy-turvy awards season.

Can Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” be the first foreign language film, and the first Netflix feature, to win best picture? Can Glenn Close finally win her first Academy Award? And what will a host-free Oscars look like?

Voting among some 7,900 Academy members ended Tuesday, so the die is cast.

All will be revealed at the Dolby Theatre, in a ceremony beamed around the world to millions of showbiz fans.

While it has sometimes seemed easy to guess the winners before the big night, this year looks to feature a few surprises, with the industry’s other top awards going to a variety of films and performers.

“With eight best picture nominees, every film has passionate supporters, but no film has a consensus,” Tim Gray, awards editor for showbiz trade publication Variety, told AFP. “Roma,” Cuaron’s cinematic ode to his childhood in Mexico City and the women who raised him, led the nominations with 10 overall, tied with offbeat royal romp “The Favourite,” about Britain’s tragic Queen Anne.

But civil rights dramedy “Green Book” has overcome controversy to remain on the radar, and could benefit from the Academy’s complex preferential voting system to snatch the top prize. AFP

News German gov’t quizzes PH envoy on ‘Hitler’ remark

By Rey E. Requejo

THE acting Philippine ambassador to Germany has been summoned by the German foreign ministry after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on Adolf Hitler in an interview in that country.

In a tweet, Berlin-based ARDHauptstadtstudio journalist Arnd Henze said: “Philippine acting Ambassador has been summoned by Germany’s Foreign Ministry. It has been made very clear that the remarks by [Locsin] were totally unacceptable.”

Lilibeth Pono is currently serving as acting Philippine Chargé d’Affaires to Germany.

Locsin attended the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, last week where he also led the formal inauguration of the new chancery in Berlin on Monday, February 18.

During the interview with ARD, the Philippine top diplomat defended Duterte’s comparison of himself as the “cousin of Hitler.”

Last year, Duterte drew parallels between Hilter’s annihilation of 3 million Jews and his controversial campaign against illegal drugs.

“No. This is how he expresses himself. Remember his policy, according to surveys, inspire greater confidence.

Why would he give up on that?” Locsin told the federal broadcasting network.

“I tell you, I said the same thing. I myself said the same thing before he even said it,” Locsin added.

President Duterte’s 2018 remark on Hitler trigged condemnation, with the German government calling it “unacceptable.” The German foreign ministry also summoned the Philippine ambassador then to explain the matter.

Henze also posted screenshots of Locsin’s remarks that “some of the things Hitler did were right.”

Locsin has been tweeting such remarks even before he was appointed Foreign Affairs chief in October 2018.

“I believe that the drug menace is so big it needs a final solution like the Nazis adopted. That I believe. No [rehabilitation],” Locsin said, in a tweet that went viral in August 2016.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Palace can campaign for admin bets’

By Nat Mariano and Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday admitted that he gave his blessing to Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to represent former presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go in campaign sorties despite prohibiting Cabinet members from rallying support for administration bets in the May elections.

Even though the law says Cabinet officials are allowed to speak out about candidates in the 2019 midterm polls, the President revealed he still ordered them not to campaign for or against the candidacy of others, as he wanted to remove the issue of high government officials using administration resources for the elections.

“The will be campaigning if they want to and they will be using government cars (and) government fuel, and I wanted to remove that kind of issue just to be fair,” Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview.

Andanar, according to the President, “was an exception.”

“He was an exception... I did not allow the other members... He’s an ideo-

logue. His guidance is very important to all of the PDP-Laban members,” the President said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections said on Friday that there is no prohibition for Cabinet officials, including Andanar, if they want to campaign for the Senate bets of the administration.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez issued the statement after Andanar represented former Special Assistant to the and Senate bet Christopher “Bong” Go in a PDP-Laban campaign rally in San Juan City.

“Meron kasing ruling ‘yung CSC [in a joint circular with Comelec] na political officials, including Cabinet members, are given a lot of leeway in participating in partisan political activities,” Jimenez said.

“So, pasok diyan si Secretary Andanar,” Jimenez added.

According to Jimenez, the Joint Circular of Comelec and Civil Service Commission issued in March 2016 states that the following persons are excluded from the coverage of the prohibition against engaging in any electioneering or partisan political activities, for as long as they do not solicit contributions from their subordinates or subject them to any of the acts prohibited in the Omnibus Election Code: President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, other elective public officials except barangay officials and personal and confidential staff of the abovementioned officials.

Andanar spoke for over a minute in campaigning for Go, saying that if Go is elected as senator, he would establish Malasakit centers which would serve as a one stop shop for citizens seeking Government assistance for social services.

Lacson backs new classification system

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PARTY DRUGS. The Bureau of Customs turns over to the PDEA some 1, 269 pieces of ecstasy tablets seized at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City with an estimated street value of P2.157 million yesterday. The party drugs came from the Netherlands through a certain G. Voorthuzen and declared as light boxes. Norman Cruz

BOC seizes P2m worth of ecstasy

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano THE Bureau of Customs seized more than 1,000 ecstasy tablets worth more than P2 million and 56 iguanas at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The confiscated illegal drugs came from the Netherlands through a certain G. Voorthuzen.

They were declared as light boxes.

In a separate incident, the BOC intercepted 56 iguanas from Filipino passenger Niel Ryan Kho Dysoco who arrived at the NAIA from Bangkok, Thailand.

The iguanas, which had no proper documentation, were discovered hidden inside Dysoco’s luggage. Authorities said the iguanas were already placed under ‘inhumane conditions” inside black socks while others were put in a bottled water container in an attempt to mislead the authorities.

The seized animals were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Dysoco arrived early morning Friday on board Philippine Airlines PR737 at NAIA Terminal 2.

Dysoco, whose luggages yielded the iguanas, five of which were already dead,

will be charged for violating Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. The iguanas will be brought to animal rescue center based in Quezon city for rehabilitation.

In October 2018, Airport and Customs authorities also intercepted a smuggled shipment of at least 12 juvenile (pythons) snakes at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

The snakes were brought into the country concealed inside a package and “were misdeclared as Taro chips from Indonesia.”

The authorities made the apprehension a day after Customs NAIA officials turned over a shipment of confiscated 250 heads geckos to the Bureau of Animal Industry at the Paircargo warehouse, also in Pasay City.

The market price of newly-hatched snakes ranges from P5,000 to P20,000, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

It added that a full-grown reticulated python snake, which is considered the world’s longest and heaviest snake that usually constrict its prey, can weigh as much as 30-40 kilograms and grow as much as 17 to 18 feet on an average.

‘Use RB funds for Bicol flood project’

By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE leader on Friday backed the Budget department’s plan to use the funds of the would-be abolished Road Board to partly bankroll the cleanup of Manila Bay even as he called on the DBM to similarly consider setting aside a portion of this same outlay for flood mitigation projects, as earlier committed by President Rodrigo Duterte himself.

“While we welcome a DBM plan to tap the unused Road Board budget to partly bankroll the Manila Bay rehabilitation program, we are also appealing to the DBM to consider allocating a share of the same funds collected from the MVUC (Motor Vehicle Users’/User’s Charge) to solve the problem of perennial flooding, particularly in Bicol, as committed last January by President Duterte no less,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said.

Villafuerte made the appeal to the DBM in response to earlier media reports in which Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno as saying that the government could pos-

sibly use for the Manila Bay cleanup the MVUC collections, which would revert to the national treasury once the Road Board is abolished.

“So we will see if we can tap that,” Diokno was quoted as saying in a recent media forum of the idle MVUC funds.

Villafuerte recalled that during President Duterte’s visit to Camarines Sur last January following the onslaught of tropical depression ‘Usman,” the Chief Executive had reiterated his desire for the Congress to abolish the Road Board and committed the use of its MVUC funds to solve the perennial flooding in Bicol.

The Senate had adopted the House bill abolishing the Road Board, and the enrolled bill was eventually transmitted to Malacañang for President Duterte’s signing into law. Earlier reports bared that the available MVUC collections total P45 billion.

Villafuerte said solving Bicol’s chronic flooding problem will give a tremendous boost to farm productivity in CamSur, which is among the country’s top rice-producing provinces.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

REPUBLIC Act 11200 or the law which standardizes the way PNP officers are called, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte into law, would eliminate confusion on how our law enforcers must be addressed, said Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson, who served as PNP chief under the Estrada administration from 1999 to 2001, said this would also bring our policemen closer to the populace.

“More importantly, this allows for better coordination between the PNP and other law enforcement units in countering terrorism and other threats to national security,” said Lacson.

Under the new law, the PNP’s rank classification system will be distinct from that of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, with ranks used in addressing PNP personnel preceded by the word “Police.” The PNP rank classification shall be as follows: Director-General to Police General; Deputy DirectorGeneral to Police Lieutenant General; Director to Police Major General; Chief Superintendent to Police Brigadier General; Senior Superintendent to Police Colonel; Superintendent to Police Lieutenant Colonel; Chief Inspector to Police Major; Senior Inspector to Police Captain; Inspector to Police Lieutenant; SPO4 to Police Executive Master Sergeant; SPO3 to Police Chief Master Sergeant; SPO2 to Police Senior Master Sergeant; SPO1 to Police Master Sergeant; PO3 to Police Staff Sergeant; PO2 to Police Corporal; and PO1 to Patrolman/Patrolwoman.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The unjust detention of Leila de Lima

IN THE last column, I observed how the rule of law diminished through the actions of the Duterte government in the case of Senator Leila de Lima. No less than the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that her arrest and detention are illegal.

At the outset, the Working Group said that it reaffirms the obligation of the Government to respect, protect and fulfill the right to liberty of person and that any national law allowing deprivation of liberty should be made in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other applicable international or regional instruments. As such, according to the Working Group, even if the detention is in conformity with national legislation, regulations and practices, the Working Group is entitled and obliged to assess the judicial proceedings and the law itself to determine whether such detention is also consistent with the relevant rules and standards of international human rights law.

In its opinion, the Working Group stated that despite the fact that the Philippine courts denied Ms. De Lima bail in accordance with its national laws and procedure, this does not prevent the detention from being arbitrary. According to the Working Group, pretrial detention without an individualized determination of the risk of flight, interference with the evidence or the recurrence of the crime, as well as consideration of less intrusive alternatives, such as bail, electronic bracelets or other conditions in accordance with the principle of ne-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

cessity and proportionality, is devoid of legal basis.” Ms. De Lima’s pretrial detention shows the importance of this Ms. De Lima’s pretrial detention, is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the Covenant, lacks a legal basis and falls under Category I. As to the charges under Category 11, the Working Group is of the opinion that Ms. De Lima’s deprivation of liberty is a consequence of her personal conviction and public statements regarding extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. According to the Working

Widespread or systematic imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty in violation of the rules of international law may constitute crimes against humanity.

Group, De Lima’s statements on the widespread and systematic campaign of extrajudicial killings in the context of the war on drugs have triggered measures of reprisals against her that included a criminal investigation conducted by the Department of Justice and her detention. Moreover, she has been subjected to detention as a result of the exercise of her right to take part in government and the conduct of public affairs under article 21 of the Universal Declaration and article 25

I

Not a sterling example T TURNS out that the chairman of the National Youth Commission isn’t such a great example to the youth.

This week, Ronald Cardema urged President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order removing the government scholarships of all anti-government scholars.

Cardema’s earlier statement on Tuesday also “reminded” the scholars that “the Filipino people formed the government to govern, to regulate, to discipline, to collect taxes and to allocate the Filipino people’s funds into government scholarships and programs. Fighting the government means fighting the majority of the Filipino people and also not fulfilling their roles as the expected breadwinners who will uplift their families and as our hope in strengthening our country.”

Later on, when the Palace and lawmakers alike rejected his notion, he qualified his statement, saying he referred only those scholars found to have taken up arms against the government. He said he only wanted the revocation

of the scholarships of “very very few” anti-government students who have joined or are supporting the New People’s Army.

Cardema also later said in a television interview that dissent was a healthy element in any democracy.

Of course by this time he had enough time to think about how he should correct his earlier pronouncement, likely made in his eagerness to show loyalty to the powers-that-be. He is, after all, chairman of the party-list group Duterte Youth that is seeking a post in the coming polls; his wife is first nominee.

As head of the commission that is supposed to champion the interests of and empower the youth, Cardema cannot afford to be vague, confusing or ambiguous. What he says reflects not his sentiments but the government position with regard to the youth.

For example, discouraging

the youth from being critical of the government is outright wrong. It is, after all, not any one administration or politician who is enabling them to get an education.

Second, to be learned is to be critical of anything and everything that is heard. We do not succeed when we produce a generation of “yes” men and women who do not question the actions of their leaders. Questioning what they see and hear does not make young people automatically rebellious or anti-government. They do so always with what they think best serves the interest of the country and its people.

A bigger question is whether Cardema truly espouses the interest of the Filipino youth when the conflict of interest is so flagrant.

Then again, it is useless to point out that all this would be in violation of election laws.

The Commission on Elections, a constitutional agency that is ideally independent of any branch of government, has shown itself to be only able to selectively implement the law.

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Senior citizens commission POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE THE House and the Senate passed last month their versions of a soonto-be enacted law creating a National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) that will be under the Office of the President.

In July 2018, the Department of Budget and Management’s lawyer Avvy Christabelle Alba was against the creation of such a body, citing the cost and duplication of functions of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“It will cost the government about P500 million or more, especially if provincial offices will be established,” she said at the time at a joint hearing of the House Committee on Government Reorganization and the House Committee on Population and Family Relations.

Atty. Alba hit it on the nose with her estimate. Funds of P520 million were allocated for the commission’s establishment in this year’s national budget under the OP, in anticipation of the law’s enactment.

As for her other concerns, the new agency will absorb the functions of the DSWD related to senior citizens.

It also has the power to put up regional offices under the guidance of its six commissioners who are to come from the various regions of the country.

The bill’s authors in the House, among them its principal author, Senior Citizens partylist Rep. Francisco Datol, argued that the Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs, which is under the local government units, is functionally ineffective.

From the explanatory note to an earlier version of the bill: “In reality, OSCA currently functions merely as a liaison center for senior citizens, concerned mainly with maintaining a regular update on the list of senior citizens and issuing national

individual identification cards.

“Across local government units, it has been observed that there is a lack of cohesiveness in terms of services rendered and implementation of these laws by the various OSCA.” There is more of such criticism, equally scathing.

The creation of a single nationwide agency that will implement and enforce senior citizen-related laws and monitor compliance is expected to benefit the more than 8 million senior citizens we are calculated to have at present. That’s 8.2 percent of the population, as estimated by the Commission on Population in January 2018. Of this group, a little over 5 million are 65 and older.

Our country’s seniors deserve no less.

The number of seniors is expected to grow to 11.5 percent of the total population by 2030, according to the National Statistics Office in 2017.

The Philippines is not the only country with an aging population (defined as 7 percent of a nation’s population). The entire world’s population is becoming older, according to the United Nations.

“Population ageing,” goes a report on their website, “is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society, including labor and financial markets, the demand for goods and services such as housing, transportation, and social protection…”

“Globally, population aged 60 or over is growing faster than all younger age groups.”

Datol said last week that the NCSC should be up and running Turn to A5

The Aguinaldo ‘confession’ Where is the ethic of doing business here?

AGAIN, the Leon Gallery is about to auction historical documents. This time, included in the lot is a letter presumed to be addressed to historian Jose P. Santos, from and in the penmanship of General and First President Emilio Aguinaldo.

Perhaps to create more excitement, and thus, more interest, and higher bids, the letter is dubbed as Aguinaldo’s CONFESSION on the issue of the

execution of Katipunan co-founder Andres Bonifacio. (I say co-founder because Bonifacio was with others when they established the Katipunan and he was not the first, or second, but the third President of the clandestine revolutionary organization. This in itself is an interesting story that could be the subject of another piece.)

Calling the letter a confession is fake news. It is misleading. This is sensationalism in the name of big bucks.

If people care to read the so-called “explosive” letter, they will realize that it is NOT a confession. Rather, it gives the bigger context of the execution. It is a narration of what happened the way the General remembered it. Aguinaldo DID NOT confess to anything but relayed the story about Bonifacio’s tragic end.

Confession is a loaded word. It is an admission that one committed a wrongdoing, even a crime. It is an admission of guilt. It will not take a minute to find out the word’s meaning, and certainly, those who labeled it as such

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Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Firestorm of misplaced opposition

A chilling trip PRESIDENT Duterte doed have a way with words. It simply causes his critics and enemies to go really crazy.

A few months ago, he reaffirmed his leadership’s war against illegal drugs.

He said it would be relentless and chilling.

Of course, relentless means no letup.

It continues no matter what the opposition says.

Chilling is an adjective that really struck some nerves among the selfrighteous “human rights advocates.”

The word means horrifying or frightening.

And since they have a fertile imagination such as to create their own ghosts, Manong Digong’s words instantly have a chilling effect on them.

And then again, Manong Digong yes-

terday vowed that the government’s war against illegal drugs will be “harsher in the days to come.”

In other words, the anti-drugs campaign will be ruthless, merciless and pitiless.

And, we already know where he’s coming from. We’ve heard it many times before.

“I will not allow my country to be destroyed by drugs. I will not allow my country to end up a failed state because of drugs. And I am declaring war and I said I will kill anybody who stands in the way,” he has said time and again.

He also threatens to kill those responsible for smuggling of illegal drugs into the country.

“And also for those guys who keep on with their business of importing—be they Mexicans or Chinese or Filipino. If you continue to feed our children with drugs, there’s no way that… talagang maaabutan ko kayo at papatayin ko kayo,” he said.

This means the “Batasan Express

Bus” will be boarding soon for special trips to hell.

The “Batasan Express Bus” is a make-believe transit among Quezon City cops and the media to describe the horrible ending of those drug dealers or criminals who chose to allegedly shoot it out with the authorities rather than surrender.

Immediately following these pronouncements, the President added he is now convinced more than ever that this businessman Peter Lim engaged in massive illegal drugs activities.

His message to Lim: “Peter Lim if I were you I will commit suicide. Never ever surrender to me alive.”

Peter Lim must have gotten the message by now, and knows it’s going to be a chilling trip on board “Batasan Express Bus” if he does not heed Manong Digong’s advice.

So for those who continue to make their living in illegal drug trade, and even those involve in criminal activities...may God have mercy on your souls.

MAIL MATTERS

Manalo should get his facts straight THIS is in reaction to an article published in the Manila Standard titled “A Tribute to Whom?” written by Charlie Manalo.

Allow me to go straight to the point, The most critical issue in the article is the unfair accusation that Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte deliberately approved and signed the Certificate of Exception denominated as Resolution 7716 Series of 2017.

Perhaps Mr. Manalo should first try to get his facts straight before putting out such piece—unless the mistake in his article was deliberate. If he had taken the time to at least look at the copy of the said Resolution, he would have written his article differently.

But we are in a democracy and Mr. Manalo can very well cite press freedom for his article. Our only hope is for Mr. Manalo to understand a few very important facts. I hope he would be clear that Resolution 7176 was passed unanimously by the Quezon City Council and

The unjust...

From A4

of the Covenant. The Working Group expressed its grave concerns about the unfavorable remarks made publicly by the President and his allies against her after she expressed her intention to investigate the extrajudicial killings under the so-called war on drugs. By way of conclusion, the Working Group said that Ms. De Lima’s deprivation of liberty is arbitrary under category II, as it resulted from her exercise of the rights and freedoms guaranteed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Opinion stated that the Secretary of Justice prejudged Ms. De Lima’s guilt in a trial by publicity during the congressional hearing on the Bilibid drug trade before the Department of Justice, which must decide independently and impartially when acting as a preliminary investigator.

The Aguinaldo...

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purposely used that word to increase the letter’s value in pesos. After all, theirs is a business, and like many businesses, they want huge profit.

Never mind if it comes at the expense of one of the most important persons in the country’s history. Never mind if such profit is brought about by peddling falsehoods, “fake news.” Where is the ethic of doing business here?

It does not help any that Leon Gallery’s marketing person, Lisa Nakpil, seems to harbor an acute hatred of Aguinaldo.

This is evident in her postings on social media and her description of the recently auctioned “smoking telegram” purportedly from Gen. Aguinaldo to Gen. Antonio Luna that led to the killing of the latter. The bomb was a dud because it was NOT what it was trumpeted to be as also written by Ambeth Ocampo.

The Aguinaldo papers that will be auctioned are, by themselves, quite important and there is no need to create controversies surrounding them.

These were written by a person whose contributions to the country’s quest for independence are difficult to match.

These are in the hand of one of the most important personalities in Philippine history, a leading revolutionary, and the first President.

The alleged “confession” letter is very similar to a document I have studied and transcribed. Entitled, “Ang pagka patay kay Andres Bonifacio,” (The killing of Andres Bonifacio) was also fully in the handwriting of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

This is one of those he wrote after keeping mum for more than forty years about the controversies involving him, primarily

the presiding officer at that time was Councilor Mayen Juico.

The key word is “unanimously.” So why is Vice Mayor Joy being singled out by Charlie Manalo? Where did Mr. Manalo base his attacks and his malicious accusation that Vice Mayor Joy, by herself alone, approved and signed the resolution? I will no more justify the other allegations in Mr. Manalo’s article. I will just take exception to his last sentence.

Fortunately, his article will have no negative effect on the mayoralty candidacy of Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte who is the overwhelming favorite of the Quezon City residents to win the election.

ATTY ANTONIO ARIEL ENRILE-INTON JR Lawyer for Joy Belmonte Unit 4-A Greenhills Garden Square Condominium Santolan Avenue Bagong Lipunan ng Crame Quezon City

The Working Group also expressed its concerns over the attacks on the independence of the judiciary. It concluded that the violations of Ms. De Lima’s rights to a fair trial are of such gravity as to render her deprivation of liberty arbitrary, falling within Category III. Category IV is inapplicable as it relates to asylum seekers, immigrants or refugees subjected to prolonged administrative custody without the possibility of administrative or judicial review or remedy.

As to whether Ms. De Lima’s deprivation of liberty constitutes illegal discrimination under international law for the purpose of category V, the Working Group concluded that this constitutes a violation of articles 2 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2, 3 and 26 of the Covenant24 on the grounds of discrimination based on political or other opinion, as well as her status as a human rights defender and as a woman. Her deprivation of

liberty therefore falls under category V. In this respect, the Working Group pointed out that Ms. De Lima’s political views and convictions are clearly at the center of the case and that the authorities have displayed an attitude towards her that can only be characterized as targeted and discriminatory. Indeed, she has been the target of partisan persecution and there is no explanation for this other than her exercise of the right to express such views and convictions as a human rights defender.

Finally, the Opinion observed that Ms. De Lima’s case is not an isolated incident as thousands have been killed for reasons related to their alleged involvement in illegal drug use or dealing” and that “many of the reported incidents involved extrajudicial killings in the course of police anti-drug operations. It observed that widespread or systematic imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty in violation of the rules of international law may constitute crimes against humanity.

the ones of Bonifacio and Luna. Like the one that is to be owned by the highest bidder, the document I transcribed narrated the events involving Bonifacio based on what Aguinaldo knew. THERE WAS NO CONFESSION. The document is mostly written in old Tagalog. Aguinaldo’s exact words were, “…ang sanhi o causa ng pagkapabaril kay Supremo Andres Bonifacio at kapatid pa nitong Procopio, na walang iba kung di sa hatol ng Tribunal Militar…” Indeed, for launching two failed coups d’ etat (Acta de Tejeros and Acta de Naik) against the elected officials by the Tejeros Convention, and for threatening to burn the town of Indang down, Bonifacio was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to be executed for treason by the Council of War (Military Tribunal).

I believe that this is the correct framing of what happened to Bonifacio. He was found guilty of crimes against the very revolution he was not only part of, but was also leading.

General Aguinaldo continued, “Kung napaurong man ang aking pakanang indultuhan sana, sapagka’t noong malaman ng mga bumubuu ng nasabing Tribunal Militar na pinangungunahan ng Heneral Mariano Noriel na sinamahan pa ng bagong Heneral Pio del Pilar, ay pagdaka natawag agad ang pansing ko, na dapat ko ngang iurong ang nasabing indulto, kung ibig ko pa dao magtagal ang buhay at huag masira ang Pinag-isang Pamahalaan ng Himagsikan, sa Tejeros, na ayao kilalanin ng Supremo Andres Bonifacio…” (emphasis, mine) These words speak of the fact that Gen. Aguinaldo actually commuted the sentence of the Bonifacio brothers from execution to exile, something that not many know. However, members of the Council of War (Generals Noriel and Pio Del Pilar) pleaded with him to allow

the carrying out of the original sentence to preserve his own life and the unity of the revolution. For the Council of War, Bonifacio would not stop creating problems and divisions that could spell failure for the revolution.

Aguinaldo relented with a heavy heart.

He did not shirk from or deny this. He acknowledged that in the end, he gave in to the Council of War and ordered the carrying out of the sentence. Is this what Aguinaldo bashers call as “confession”?

Far from it because he was not the one found guilty of committing crimes. It was Bonifacio. Aguinaldo listened to the Council, and chose the revolution. It must have been a very difficult decision for him.

We need to understand these things within the bigger context that they happened. It was a time of war. Battles were raging left and right. In fact, after the success of freeing Cavite, the province was about to fall again in the hands of the Spaniards. During his time in Cavite, Bonifacio was uncompromising in his refusal to help the Magdalo in fighting the war. He was with the Magdiwang. He was fostering division as proven by Acta de Tejeros and Acta de Naik, his attempts at wrestling authority from those elected during the Tejeros Convention. The last straw was when he threatened to burn down Indang because townsfolk refused to give him food and arms. He contributed to the fall of the revolution in Cavite. This was the backdrop of his tragic end.

Leon gallery should stop this disservice to our history and our country.

Instead of propagating “hate history” by misrepresenting historical documents, it should use its clout so Filipinos better understand and appreciate our story as a nation. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

R. Marcos, who was also a member of the Batasang Pambansa, did not vote or even exhibited enthusiasm to support the bill.

This is why many wonder where President Duterte got the idea that it was Marcos who first conceived the WHEN President Duterte suggested idea of changing the name of the Rechanging the name of the Republic to public. Maybe Marcos had his senti“Maharlika,” he was met with a fire- ment of changing the country’s name storm of opposition. Verily, the Presi- to Maharlika. But he was aware of the dent’s suggestion is intended to erase backlash and was not prepared to creour branding like cattle inhabiting in ate a firestorm, especially at that time this particular ranch of the Spanish co- when he was preoccupied in securing lonial empire. political stability for the country.

The opposition came mostly from the Changing the name of the republic conservative clergy and horde of pre- would greatly divide the nation, and the tending intelligentsia class who always wedge could be exploited by the opposistyle themselves as the keepers of the tion not because the idea is wrong but to moral order. Their reason has no logic, purposely destabilize the government. except to denounce it because they atAfter more than 40 years since that tribute the idea of changing the name proposal, the reactionary conservatives of the Republic to Maharlika as an idea and the clerical zealots remain adamant first suggested by President Marcos. and stupid in their opposition to changThey began calling Duterte epithets ing of the name Felipe to Maharlika to like a dictator, a strongman, abuser of emphasize that we are a nation with a human rights, etc., which has no valid civilization of our own and desirous to basis on whether or not to retain that synchronize our history with the present, colonial branding. free from the barriers in what Karl Marx There is no record that Marcos sug- would say “alienation of ourselves”. gested the idea of renaming this counMany historians point out that King try Maharlika. Rather, they justify Philip II did not even know where their denunciation as when he named that archipelago named in his honor his famous guerby Spanish rilla unit “Macolonizer Ruy harlika” that Lopez de Villafiercely fought lobos is. In the the Japanese imbook written Changing the name perial forces in Eddie Ilarde, of the republic would World War II as a Maharlika: The manifestation of Road to Renasgreatly divide the a megalomaniac cence, he quotnation. ambition. When ed British hishe became Presitorian William dent, he named Thomas Walsh the longest highthat Philip II way Maharlika is the child of Highway, which he finally finished and incestuous marriage. His parents were improved with supporting bridges. first cousins, a forbidden practice in Marcos knew what maharlika means, the Catholic religion. He had four wives but was farsighted and intelligent enough despite being staunchly anti-Muslim. to know how those obfuscated people Three of them were his first cousins will react should the renaming took place and the fourth was his niece. during his administration. Nonetheless, He practically lived an immoral life, the simmering issue continues to linger, having several mistresses and bore sevfor aside from the visible marking of our eral children even while he was still a past colonial enslavement, the person prince. His son by his first wife, Don upon whom we impressed the name of Carlos, became insane and attempted our archipelago did not really live up to several times to kill him. Don Carlos the political, moral and religious stand- died under mysterious circumstance. ards that are supposed to epitomize our Many suspecting it was his own father, values and idealism as a nation.

Philip II, who ordered him killed.

Philip II lived an outrageously scanDespite living an immoral life, Philip dalous immoral life. He ordered the was still patronized by the Church, not killing and execution of his own sub- for his faith to which he assiduously dejects suspected of heresy. His did not fended but for his unparalleled ruthlesseven stand as a true defender of his ness against heretics. He burned many faith. He and his father Charles V ran- at the stake, and executed Muslims and sacked the Vatican, partly burning the Jews in Spain. Remember, it was during Sistine Chapel and looted its treasures. his reign when the Spanish Inquisition For that, the two were excommunicated was at its height. Thousands were torby Pope Paul IV in 1552. tured using macabre instruments to inLong before that, people knowl- flict the maximum pain but slow death. edgeable of our history have been adDisemboweling the heretics to exvocating the changing of the name of tract confession was routine. Philip the country to Maharlika, principally was also responsible for beheading to erase from the minds of our people thousands of Protestants in Netherlands and to the world the unwanted colonial and in other parts of Europe under the branding of being called Filipino, in control of the Spanish monarchy honor of a monarch who was neither Philip II died ignominiously of honorable nor had a glorious career. sexually transmitted disease known The advocacy to change the name of as syphilis. In describing his last mothe Republic became formal when as- ments, Walsh wrote: “The wounds besemblymen Eddie Ilarde and Benjamin came foul, and emitted pestilent odor…

V. Bautista filed Parliamentary Bill No. His head and eyes ached. He was un195 on August 22, 1978 titled, “AN able to sleep. His stomach was swollen ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF and dropsy, the rest of him so wasted by THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIP- sickness that he seemed almost a skelPINES TO MAHARLIKA.” eton. The foot that loved to dance was Our people who initially called them- paralyzed…his hands were nothing but selves Filipinos think they have been skin and bones and stinking sores …. liberated for getting rid of the term Philip II, lord of all Spain, lay in accu“indio,” a derisive term used by our mulating filth of his own excrements. It early colonizers, which is wrong for we seems incredible, but all the accounts are not from India or natives of South mention it. The monks could only atAmerica which the early Spanish colo- tribute it to God’s desire to prepare nizers mistook as Hindus of India. his servant for cleanliness and neatThe misguided opposition should ness. Nothing could try his proverbial have known better that Marcos could patience like a streak on the wall or a have exerted pressure to assure the pas- spot on the floor…Now to have lie week sage of that bill if he wanted to. They after week [in his own excrement…His constitute the majority of the members bed was crawling with vermin (insects of the Batasang Pambansa. This ex- of all kinds) when he summoned his son, plains why the proposed parliamentary the Prince and the Infanta to bear his last bill failed to reach the second reading. farewell on August twenty eight.” ‘ Assemblyman Edddie Ilarde himself lamented that then First Lady Imelda rpkapunan@gmail.com

Senior...

From A4

by the third or fourth quarter of the year. Meanwhile, “the search for appointees to the commission can begin now,” he said.

The Commission can play a vital role in the welfare of the nation’s seniors if it is staffed with intelligent, hardworking, and caring people who will take this opportunity to deliver essential frontline services to one of the most vulnerable sectors of our society.

In line with that, here’s a question: with the establishment of this new commission, as with other newly-

created agencies, how do people know where to apply for jobs? Where do they send their CVs and PDSs (personal data sheet)?

Government offices everywhere are staffed with the incompetent and the inept, their more capable officemates doing the heavy lifting.

An organization in this situation can only render half the services it ought at twice the time.

As it is starting from scratch, the NCSC has the amazing chance to do it right from the start. Our country’s seniors deserve no less.

On one hand you have ‘senior citizen’, on the other you have ‘Juan Ponce Enrile.’ #immortal / FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF NHA employees hit creation of new dep’t EMPLOYEES of the National Housing Authority have denounced the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, saying it would only bring about a mass layoff.

Evangeline Javier, NHA-Consolidated Union of Employees president, said the DHSUD would only create a mass layoff.

NHA-CUE, along with the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees, condemned the signing of Republic Act 11201 or the creation of the DHSUD by President Rodrigo Duterte last Feb. 14.

Javier said the new housing agency would only dissolve and merge the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board “which would create a mass layoff of government employees.”

While the NHA, along with the Home Guaranty Corp., Social Housing Finance Corp. (formerly the National Home Mortgage and Finance Corp., and Home Mutual Development Fund of Pag-IBIG would also face another mass layoff after two years of the passage of DHSUD since it would recommend a restructuring plan. Rio N. Araja

PNP officer nabbed for extortion A POLICE senior officer was nabbed by operatives of the Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force for alleged extortion in Tanza, Cavite Friday morning.

CITF agents and PNP Intelligence Group arrested Supt. Armandy Dimabuyo, chief of the 402nd Cavite Maritime Police Station in Barangay Julugan V, in an entrapment operation inside the police facility at 7 a.m.

In a report to PNP Chief, Director

General Oscar Albayalde, CITF Commander Senior Supt Romeo Caramat said the operation stemmed from complaints of several owners of motorized banca regarding the suspect’s alleged demand for money amounting from P19,000 to P21,000 a month from the

fishermen association.

CITF operatives pounced on Dimabuyo, now in police custody, while in the act of receiving the marked money from the complainant amounting to P18,000, Caramat said.

Caramat added the filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases was underway against the PNP official.

Caramat said Dimabuyo would be facing criminal and administrative cases.

Caramat said the unwavering efforts by the CITF to arrest erring police per-

Japan OKs P1.8-b addt’l aid to PH

Ex-solon lauds signing of ‘new’ Corporate Code THE original author of the new Corporation Code of the Philippines on Friday hailed President Rodrigo Duterte’s enactment of the new law which he said would finally update archaic and outdated corporate laws and keep it abreast with the changing corporate environment.

Former Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento of Samar and the original author of the measure which was refiled by his brother Edgar Mary Sarmiento said the Revised Corporation Code introduced several substantial innovations that seek to streamline the entry of new industries and corporations.

At the same time, this law would benefit already existing corporations as it already allows meetings of the board through electronic means, Sarmiento, former Interior and Local Government Secretary, said.

The new law also removes the minimum number of incorporators, allows one-man corporations and lifts the 50-year corporate term limit which was imposed in the old code.

“This law aims to improve ease of doing business in the country by allowing a oneperson corporation, removing the minimum capital requirement and providing for perpetual existence of a corporation,” Sarmiento said. Maricel V. Cruz

ERRATUM Billion, not million IN THE article “Pag-IBIG members saved over P40m” that came out on page A6 in the Friday, Feb. 22, issue of the Manila Standard, the “P40m” (million) in the headline should have read “P40b” (billion). The article has likewise been corrected in our online edition. We regret the error.

BOOK LAUNCH. (from left) Retired Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco and MWSS Administrator, former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III and Melandrew Velasco, president and CEO, Media Touchstone Inc., during the book launching of ‘The Continuing Saga of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution’ at Club Filipino in Greenhills San Juan City. Manny Palmero

Zambales town mayor jailed for stopping mining operations

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has sentenced to six years imprisonment Mayor Luisito Marty of Sta Cruz, Zambales for graft and usurpation of legislative powers for stopping the operations of two licensed mining firms in his municipality.

The anti-graft court sentenced Marty to a minimum of six years, five months, and 21 days in jail.

In its 42-page decision dated Feb.15, the Sandiganbayan said Marty had no authority to halt the operations of Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. and the Zambales Chromite Mining Co. since they had secured licenses from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines

and Geosciences Bureau.

Based on court records, ZDMC and ZCMC filed the complaint against the mayor after the mining firms had a hard time securing business permits following a memorandum issued by Marty that required them to first secure a mayor’s permit before they can pay their occupation fees to the municipal treasurer.

As far as the court is concerned, Marty “acted with evident bad faith when he issued the memorandum directing the municipal treasurer not to accept payment of occupation fees by the mining firms.”

“In sum, the Court holds that accused Marty’s unilateral issuance of a mere memorandum, which effectively prevented the ZDMC and

In The Name Of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

In The Name Of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BASILAN

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BASILAN

ZCMC from paying their occupation fees, and his inaction on the business permit application…without any sufficient legal basis and/or justification unquestionably manifest evident bad faith on his part,” the court said.

The court added the two mining firms had secured valid mineral production sharing agreements from the national government, and that a business permit was not even required for companies to operate under Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

In addition, the municipality accepted in the past occupation fee payments from ZDMC without demanding the submission of additional requirement.

BIDS AND AWARDSCOMMITTEE

BIDS AND AWARDSCOMMITTEE

Provincial Capitol Bldg., Isabela City, Basilan Province, 7300

Provincial Capitol Bldg., Isabela City, Basilan Province, 7300

INVITATION TO BID FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND FACILITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RUBBER PROCESSING PLANT AT BASAK, SUMISIP BASILAN UNDeR BAC PUBLICATION 02-015-2019

INVITATION TO BID FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND FACILITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RUBBER PROCESSING PLANT AT ISABELA CITY BASILAN UNDeR BAC PUBLICATION 02-017-2019

1.

The Provincial Government of Basilan, with Memorandum of Agreement with ARMM HELP1 intends to apply the sum of Thirty Seven Million Three Hundred Sixteen Thousand and Eight Hundred Sixty pesos and 80/centavos (₱37,316,830.80) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Construction Materials and Facilities for the Construction of Rubber Processing Plant at Basak, Sumisip, Basilan. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

The Provincial Government of Basilan, thru its 20% Development Fund1 intends to apply the sum of Forty Million Seven Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Six Hundred Seventy One pesos and 40/100 centavos (₱40,735,671.40) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Construction Materials and Facilities for the Construction of Rubber Processing Plant at Isabela City, Basilan. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Provincial Government of Basilan, now invites bids for Supply and Delivery of Construction Materials and Facilities for the Construction of Rubber Processing Plant at Basak, Sumisip,2 Delivery of the Goods is required [within the required delivery date or expected contract duration]. Bidders should have completed, within 10 years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

2.

The Provincial Government of Basilan, now invites bids for Supply and Delivery of Construction Materials and Facilities for the Construction of Rubber Processing Plant at Isabela City, Basilan,2 Delivery of the Goods is required [within the required delivery date or expected contract duration]. Bidders should have completed, within 10 years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

3.

3.

(i)

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

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. (i) Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Provincial Government of Basilan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (during Office hours).

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Provincial Government of Basilan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (during Office hours).

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 16, 2019 to March 21, 2019 from the address below on the amount of Twenty Five thousand Pesos (₱ 25,000,00) and another One thousand pesos (₱ 1,000.00) for the letter of intent. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 16, 2019 to March 21, 2019 from the address below on the amount of Twenty Five thousand Pesos (₱ 25,000,00) and another One thousand pesos (₱ 1,000.00) for the letter of intent. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Provincial Government of Basilan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference3 on 10:00 am, March 8, 2019 at BAC Office, Provincial Hostel, Isabela City, Basilan, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

6.

The Provincial Government of Basilan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference3 on 10:00 am, March 8, 2019 at BAC Office, Provincial Hostel, Isabela City, Basilan, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 10:00 am, March 21, 2019. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Claused. Opening shall be on 10:00 am, March 21, 2019 at BAC Office, Provincial Hostel, PEO compound Eastside, Isabela City, Basilan Province. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 10:00 am, March 21, 2019. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Claused. Opening shall be on 10:00 am, March 21, 2019 at BAC Office, Provincial Hostel, PEO compound Eastside, Isabela City, Basilan Province. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

8.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

9.

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

10. For further information, please refer to: The BAC CHAIRPERSON LGU- BASILAN Bids and Award Committee C/O BAC Secretariat 2nd Floor, Provincial Capitol Building, Isabela City, Basilan Province, 7300 Fax No.: 062 200 3416 & 062 200 3417

10. For further information, please refer to: The BAC CHAIRPERSON LGU- BASILAN Bids and Award Committee C/O BAC Secretariat 2nd Floor, Provincial Capitol Building, Isabela City, Basilan Province, 7300 Fax No.: 062 200 3416 & 062 200 3417

(SGD) INTAN GORDANA A. ABUBAKAR Chairperson, Bids and Award Committee (MS-FEB. 23, 2019)

sonnel was part of the PNP internal reform program of Albayalde.

He urged the public to report any complaints involving improper acts of all personnel in their respective areas.

This developed as Chief Supt Rodelio Jocson, director of the PNP Maritime Group, relieved all personnel of the Cavite Maritime Station and subsequently replaced them with the Special Operations Unit of the Maritime Group under Supt. Gaylord Tamayo.

Francisco Tuyay with PNA

(SGD) INTAN GORDANA A. ABUBAKAR Chairperson, Bids and Award Committee (MS-FEB. 23, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

THE Japanese and Philippine governments on Thursday signed exchanges of notes worth JPY3.56 billion (about P1.8 billion) composed of two grants for additional support in Mindanao and one grant for the provision of train simulators in the country.

The signing ceremony was led by Ambassador Koji Haneda and Ambassador Jose Laurel V during the 7th Japan-Philippines High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation in Osaka.

Of the JPY3.56 billion-worth of grants, at least JPY2.36 billion (P1.18 billion) will be allocated for the improvement of socioeconomic infrastructures and water supply in the Bangsamoro region.

The remaining is earmarked for the procurement of the Philippine Railway Institute’s railway simulator equipment.

On top of its commitment to develop high quality railway systems in Mega Manila, Tokyo supports the establishment of a railway training school in the country through yen loan and technical assistance.

The signing ceremony was witnessed

by Dr. Hiroto Izumi, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Also present were Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vivencio Dizon.

Japan recently signed an Exchange of Notes to provide JPY22 billion (about P11 billion) of loan to support the development of the road network in Mindanao.

According to the Japanese Embassy in Manila, an Exchange of Notes worth JPY500 million (P250 million) for agricultural training and further development of water supply in the Bangsamoro area will also be signed “soon.” PNA

HISTORIC EXHIBIT. Free lance photojournalist Sonny Camarillo (left), with EPPC Commissioner Pastor Saycon; NHCP executive director Ludovico Badoy and Spirit of Edsa Foundation chairman Chris Carrion, during preparations for Camarillo’s one-man photo exhibit, open to the public at various centers in Metro Manila, has been calendared by the National Historical Commission as part of the 33rd commemoration of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. Camarillo, past president and Lifetime Member of the Press Photographers of the Philippines and the 90-year-old Camera Club of the Philippines, will showcase “Edsa 1986 Before and Beyond— Makabuluhan Pagbabago Para Sa Sambayanan,” is presented by Ayala Land Inc., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. and the Fil-Estate Management Corp. The visual presentation supported by Camerahaus, JRS Express, CWC International and Osmundo Antique can be viewed from Feb. 21 to March 1, 2019 during mall hours.

Kris seeks dismissal of raps

By Rio N. Araja ACTRESS-television host Kris Aquino on Friday filed a counter-affidavit for grave threats hurled against her by her former project manager and former managing director Nicko Falcis before the QC prosecutor’s office.

Aquino, accompanied by her lawyers from the Divina Law firm, sister Balsy, and sons Bimby and Joshua filed her plea before Senior State Prosecutor Rolando Ramirez, seeking the dismissal of the grave threat case filed by Falcis and his brother, lawyer Jesus Falcis.

She said the case against her was a “mere afterthought, a measly ploy to retaliate and to respond” to the qualified theft she filed against Nicko Falcis, former managing director of Kris Cojuangco Aquino Productions.

She denied threatening to kill Nicko, saying “the supposed audio recording was not also submitted to the prosecutor,” and that such allegation was just “hearsay and inadmissible in any proceeding.”

She said on Sept. 27 last year, she called up Nicko, demanded an accounting of her P45-million investment entrusted to him, and threatened to file a legal action.

The phone conversation was just between her and Nicko, and not between her and Jesus, she claimed.

“Ms. Kris believes that this case against her will be dismissed because her defense is the TRUTH,” the statement of Divina Law firm read.

“I was hoping to see them [Falcis brothers] face-to-face, but they were not here,” Aquino told reporters.

Sports

A7

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Benosa rules 7-Eleven Trail 2019 at Timberland Heights

By Ram Christian Agustin THE 7-Eleven Trail 2019 concluded last Sunday at Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, with Alvin Benosa conquering challenging trails of what is known as the “mountain biking capital” of the Philippines.

The 38-year-old cyclist submitted an official time of 1:50:08 in ruling the 3,000-rider field that joined the biggest single-loop, cross-country mountain biking race in the country.

The top 3 finishers will join the two top racers from the Enduro Alliance on May 24 to 26 in an all-expense paid Red Bull Holy Bike Race in Barcelona, Spain.

Finishing runner-up to Benosa in the 40KM race was 20-year-old Archie Duran (1:51:28), while 28-year-old Jericho Rivera grabbed third spot (1:55:17).

Philippine Seven Corporation President and CEO Jose Victor Paterno also participated in the event and even bagged second place in the 40KM Male Age 50-and-up category with an official time of 2:34:02.

Paterno said new trail features have been incorporated in the latest iteration

Participants answer the starting gun. Lorraine Alberto

PAL Interclub to be played over 4 Cebu golf courses IN A very rare instance, this year’s staging of the prestigious Philippine Airlines Interclub championships will be played over four courses in the Queen City of the South starting with Senior play on Feb. 27.

Canlubang will be shooting for yet another title in the 55-and-over division by bringing back the multititled Tommy Manotoc, and the Sugar Barons will be contending with perennial rival Luisita in two layouts that are very similar in character.

Alta Vista and Club Filipino de Cebu in Danao will be the site of Senior action, with both courses carved out of mountains where precision off the tees and accurate approaches will be the premium.

The Barons won coming from behind in Bacolod last year even with Manotoc not in the team for the second straight year because of family commitments in the United States.

Manila Southwoods will be shooting to equal an Interclub record fifth Championship Division title in Men’s play starting Mar. 6.

Cebu Country Club, that exclusive layout in the heart of the city, and Mactan, an air force layout very near the city’s modern international airport, will be the host clubs for the centerpiece division.

The CCC and Mactan are traditional courses, with CCC again to determine the champion owing to its difficulty.

This year’s Interclub is sponsored by Asian Air Safari and Radio Mindanao Network. Also extending support are ABS-CBN Global Ltd. (The Filipino Channel), Rolls Royce, Primax Broadcasting Network, UM Broadcasting Network (Mindanao), Fox Sports, GECAS, Boeing, Lufthansa Technik AG and Manila Standard. Official hotel is Quest Hotel Conference Center Cebu.

Park headlines TCC Invitational

W

ORLD No. 2 Sung Hyun Park brings her class act here in three weeks time as she top-bills the first $100,000 The Country Club Ladies Invitational on March 6-8 at the TCC course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Sung Hyun Park

A two-time Major champion and only the second player to win the Rookie and Player of the Year honors on the LPGA Tour in 2017, Park is expected to set the standard in the 54-hole championship which will also feature the leading players on the LPGA of Taiwan and the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and top shotmakers in the region.

Meanwhile, for details and reservations for tickets to the TCC Ladies, also serving as the third leg of this year’s Taiwan LPGA and fifth stop of the LPGT 2018-19 season, contact Jocelyn Duque at 09157974751 or email lpgtinvitational@gmail.com.

The talented 26-year-old Park is going all-out to claim the world top

ranking this year, her confidence boosted by her recent link-up with Solaire Resort & Casino, now her chief backer on the LPGA and other premier events all over the world in the next two years.

Park, whose contract with Solaire is said to be the richest in Korean women’s golf history, has started playing with Solaire in her cap in the ongoing Honda LPGA in Thailand.

She’ll next vie in the Women’s World Championship in Singapore before headlining the inaugural The Country Club Ladies Invitational.

“I will head to the LPGA with a sense of responsibility to the solid support of my main sponsor. Now I now have the composure to take a step back and oversee my play and at the same time setting my goals and reaching for them one step at a time.

By giving all my focus on every competition and winning them is my way of giving back to all my supporters

who have supported, cheered and cared for me,” said Park during the contract signing which drew a jampacked crowd in Korea last week.

But the 26-year-old Seoul expects a tough challenge in the TCC Ladies, which features five of the top 15 players on the TLPGA, including Babe Liu, Hsin Lee, Tzu Chi Lin, Chia Pei Lee and Yu Ning Huang, along with the cream of the country’s pro crop, headed by Dottie Ardina, Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario.

The elite field also includes a slew of top players in the region and other parts of the world, guaranteeing the strongest cast ever to play in the country’s seven-year premier women’s circuit put up by ICTSI. “We expect nothing but three days of world class golf not only from Park but also from the rest of the elite cast,” said Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

MOA Happiness Run on March 20 ACCORDING to a global survey, the Philippines has emerged as one of the happiest countries in the world.

The United Nations celebrates the International Day of Happiness on March 20 as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.

The SM Mall of Asia, pioneer and one of the largest malls in Asia, recognizes its influence on promoting the happiness of every Filipino.

Now on its third year, the MOA Happiness Campaign brings it to the next level of sharing happiness like no other to every Filipino mall-goer.

To kick-start the International Day of Happiness, SM Mall of Asia in partnership with SMDC and Runrio Events, Inc is organizing the very first and happiest run in the country—the MOA Happiness Run on March 17 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

Everyone can come together to feel happy vibes through running, with runners experiencing a day of extra happiness through our Happiness Bubble Station, Happiness Inflatable Station, Happiness Wall and Happiness Photo Stations.

Upon registration, runners will receive

PSA remembers the departed

ATHLETES and sports leaders who joined the great beyond last year will be remembered in the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night on Feb. 26 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Olympians Ian Lariba, Danny Florencio, and Leopoldo Cantacio along with former PBA Commissioner and Chairman Rey Marquez are among those to be paid homage by the country’s sportswriting fraternity in the special event presented by MILO, Cignal TV, and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Lariba was the country’s first female table tennis player to qualify in the Olympics, representing the Philippines during the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games, while Florencio, the electrifying, high-flying guard from University of Santo Tomas, was part of the last men’s basketball team to compete in the Olympiad during the

of the race to produce an even more challenging course, while the first 5KM of the course was made to undergo numerous trail improvements.

“One of the improvements is the new 1.5KM that we included right after the steep road climbs,” said Paterno. “When we created this race, it was all about the terrain. The most important thing was the terrain. The terrain here is among the best in the Philippines, but it also has the best trails.”

The single loop race course, which consists of both 30k and 40k tracks, is summarized as a mix of 10% road climbs, 30% fire road, and 60% single-track.

“We started with 900 and we kept going. This year we closed two weeks earlier in registration because we already hit 3,000 participants. Every year we make the trails better, we try to up the game in organizing and we take it as a challenge.

Next year we’re going to cut the 30K division, it’s going to be 40 kilometers only,” said Paterno.

Meanwhile, the 40KM female category was dominated by Ariana Dormitori, followed by Nicole Quinones and Melissa Jane Jaroda.

1972 Games in Munich.

Cantancio, from the boxing hotbed of Bago, Negros Occidental, was a two-time Olympian who saw action in the 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul, South Korea) Summer Games.

Marquez, meanwhile, was the fourth commissioner of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league, who also served as a chairman of the PBA Board representing Formula Shell.

Others who passed away in 2018, but certainly won’t be forgotten were national players Johnny Revilla and Jerome Cueto, PBA players Joey Mente and Ulysses Tanigue, basketball coach Jun Tiongco, college cage player Rutger Acidre, former boxing association president Roilo Golez, sportswriter and broadcaster Barry Pascua, sports Rolly Manlapaz, volleyball player Maria Josefina Referente-Palad, and young wushu training pool member Rastafari Daraliay.

their own Happiness Kit containing a singlet from which you can choose from two happy emotions, loot bag with lots of happy treats and goodies, happiness medal and race bib, which are specially designed to hype the happiness feeling.

The racecourse will include fun obstacles and the event itself will have activities that runners of all ages will enjoy. After the run is a Happiness Concert and a segment wherein the event will give away big prizes such as cameras, phones and gift certificates along with more exciting prizes that people should watch out for.

After the MOA Happiness Run, SM Mall of Asia has its own unique efforts of building the mall itself as the hub for happy moments and memorable experiences.

It will be a day full of extra happiness on March 20 as we celebrate the International Day of Happiness. There will be a shower of discounts and promotions from the mall wide Happiness Sale and surprises from our Happiness Squad who will roam around the mall to give away free hugs and treats to customers.

At night, mall goers will have something to look forward to capturing the iconic MOA Globe transform into our favorite emojis starting March 1.

LADY ALTAS OUTSMART LADY PIRATES IN 3 SETS. Dana Presa of Perpetual Help Lady Altas dives to save the drop ball of Bien Elaine Juanillo of the LPU Lady Pirates in the opening of the NCAA Season 94 Beach Volleyball Tournament at The Sands SM by the Bay in Mall of Asia Grounds, Pasay City. Perpetual won, 21-16, 20-22, 16-14. Dennis Abrina

Petron spikers shoot for solo PSL lead In fact, after Foton won back-to-back crowns BACOOR CITY—Petron shoots for the solo lead against an old nemesis when the Philippine Games Today (Bacoor Strike Gym) in 2015 and 2016, Petron hired its import, Lind2:00 p.m. – Cignal vs Sta. Lucia Superliga Grand Prix rolls back to the Bacoor 4:00 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs PLDT say Stalzer, to come up with a runner-up finish. The following year, Stalzer conspired with Strike Gym in Bacoor City Saturday.

6:00 p.m. – Petron vs Foton Katherine Bell to finally nail the crown and After racing to a pair of victories, the Blaze Spikers will be tested against a strong Foton squad in the 6 p.m. cement her reputation as the most successful guest player in the featured encounter of this prestigious women’s club tourney that league with three titles.

But Stalzer had already crossed the enemy lines and joined anhas ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners.

In the first game, Cignal seeks to sustain its momentum when it other powerhouse team – F2 Logistics – in its quest for the title in collides with struggling Sta. Lucia at 2 p.m. while Generika-Ayala this import-flavored conference.

With Stalzer no longer around, Bell and fellow import Stephaand PLDT seek to finally barge into the win column when they clash nie Niemer worked doubly hard to deliver a flawless performance in the 4 p.m. second game of this explosive weekend triple-header.

Billed as the most feared club team in the country today, the in the Blaze Spikers’ first two matches against PLDT Home Fibr Blaze Spikers are sharing the lead with bitter nemesis F2 Lo- and Generika-Ayala.

Niemer fired 24 points while Bell registered 21 markers in Petron’s gistics while the Tornadoes are not far behind after prevailing over United VC in the opening salvo of this tourney that also has convincing 25-16, 25-23, 25-15 win over a Generika-Ayala squad Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, that was missing the services of import Nikolle del Rio late Thursday.

“I believe that we haven’t seen their best,” said Petron coach UCPB Gen, Hotel Sogo and Data Project as sponsors.

But what makes this match doubly interesting is the intense Shaq Delos Santos, referring to his imports who hardly broke a sweat in their 73-minute demolition of the Lifesavers. rivalry between the Blaze Spikers and Tornadoes.

Sports

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

A8

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Harden extends streak, Rockets lose to Lakers LOS ANGELES, United States— James Harden passed Wilt Chamberlain for the second longest 30-pointplus streak in NBA history, but the Houston star fouled out in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 111-106.

Harden has now scored 30 points or more in 32 consecutive games but his early exit was followed moments later by Chris Paul’s sixth foul of the game as the Rockets imploded down the stretch to hand the Lakers the win.

Chamberlain previously had the second longest streak at 31 games and also holds the outright record with a streak of 65 30-point-plus games.

LeBron James scored 29 points, Brandon Ingram added 27 as Los Angeles rallied from a 19-point deficit midway through the third quarter in front of a crowd of 18,900 at Staples Center.

Elsewhere, Chris Middleton nailed a three pointer in the final seconds and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points as the league leading Milwaukee Bucks edged the Boston Celtics 98-97.

Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.2 points a game this season, scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter for the Bucks, who also won the season series over the Celtics two games to one.

Antetokounmpo added 13 rebounds and Middleton had 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon had 15 points for the Bucks, who have won 15 of the last 17 games, including nine of the last 10.

This was the first game back from the all-star break for both teams as Milwaukee improved to 44-14 on the season.

Antetokounmpo’s hand-picked all-star team lost to one selected by LeBron James. But he scored 38 of his team’s 164 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out five assists.

Meanwhile, disgruntled NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, who demanded a trade earlier in the season but didn’t get it, will have his playing time cut by the New Orleans Pelicans, interim general manager Danny Ferry said.

“You will see a reduction in Anthony’s minutes,” Ferry said as the Pelicans get set to visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday. It will be the first game back from the All-Star break for both teams. AFP

Yulo makes finals of world gymnastics FILIPINO gymnast Carlos Yulo made it to the floor exercise finals of the 2019 World Cup of Gymnastics in Melbourne, Australia.

The 19-year-old Yulo placed third in the men’s artistic gymnastics qualifying round of the floor exercises, according to results provided by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

He finished his routines with a score of 14.133 to join seven others in the medal round.

Turkey’s Ahmet Onder topped the routines with 14.266 points. Following in second by Rayderley Zapata of Spain with 14.225 points.

Yulo shared third and fourth with Korea’s Hansel Kim, who also scored 14.133 points.

Japan’s Hibiki Ayarasshiki is also a contender for a podium finish with a score close to Yulo’s at 14.100.

British gymnast Dominick Cunningham is also close in sixth at 14.066.

Dutch entry Cassimir Schmidt also reached the finals with Australian Christopher Remke.

Last month, Yulo returned to Japan to start preparing for a series of Olympic qualifiers.

His coach Munehiro Kugimiya brought him back to Tokyo to see action in the first qualifier in Melbourne The qualifiers for men’s artistic gymnastics is set from February 21 to 24.

This the first tournament, where the podium finishers will get points that will count towards 2020 Olympic qualification.

This is part of the International Gymnastics Federation’s new World Cup format for the 2017-2020 Olympic Cycle. Peter Atencio

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Blatche key to Gilas victory

By Peter Atencio

G

ILAS Pilipinas welcomed back Andray Blatche with an 84-46 beating of Qatar, and his great game drew praises from national coach Yeng Guiao.

“Andray just created a lot of opportunities for us, both on offense and defense. He changed the whole team and the guys just felt good playing with him,” said Guiao.

Blatche topscored for 17 points for Team Pilipinas which overcame its first stumbling block in its FIBA World

Cup campaign on Thursday at the AlGharafa Sports Club Multi-purpose Hall in Doha (Friday in Manila).

Gilas claimed its first win following a two-game slide to start the sixth and final window of the 2019 Asian Qualifiers, improving to 6-5 in the standings in Group F.

The Philippine team kept its World Cup hopes alive even if it is behind both Japan and Iran in Group F. Japan beat Iran, 89-77, and both teams are tied with identical 7-4 cards.

The Japanese hold the tiebreaker.

The return of Blatche inspired the Filipinos to play the way they did before.

The 32-year-old Blatche missed out on the action in the previous two windows of play in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. He missed a total of four games.

Against Qatar he also had 15 re-

Belingon wants to redeem Team Lakay FILIPINO firebrand Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon is dedicating his ONE bantamweight world title defense against rival Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes on March 31 at ONE: A New Era to his teammates and fans of Team Lakay.

The Baguio City-based martial arts gym started 2019 out on the wrong foot when both Joshua Pacio and Geje Eustaquio lost their world titles in close encounters earlier this year.

It was difficult for Belingon to see his team down, so when ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced that he would become the fourth World Champion to defend his title in Japan, Belingon was exhilarated.

Alongside ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, who competes against Shinya Aoki in the main event, the two Team Lakay brothers are looking to boost their team’s morale.

“There’s a lot of pressure for the team this 2019,” Belingon said.

“We just lost two belts this year, so it is up to us to relieve some of that pressure.”

Both Pacio and Eustaquio’s heartbreaking setbacks were a huge blow to Team Lakay, which had an exceptional 2018. However, the experience has made Belingon even more determined to successfully defend his world title for both his team and his country.

Kevin Belingon (right) faces off against Bibiano Fernandes. Belingon is dedicating his title defense to his teammates and fans of Team Lakay. ONE Championship

“Me and kuya Edward are determined to defend our world titles so that we can go back home as champions,” Belingon said.

“We are going to do this for Team Lakay and the Philippines.”

It will be easier said than done, as Belingon faces a hungry former titleholder in Fernandes, who is intent on getting the title back. The Baguio Citynative will reserve his prediction for

the contest, but mentioned that he will avoid committing the same mistakes he and his team made in the past, even in his title-winning performance last November.

“Bibiano Fernandes is the toughest opponent of my career, and surely I am the same for him. I don’t expect this third fight to be easy, that is why I am preparing hard in training,” said Belingon.

Fabian joins 29th Winter Universiade

Misha Fabian

FILIPINA figure skater Misha Fabian is the Philippines’ lone representative in the 29th Winter Universiade.

The Philippines is sending its first ever Winter Universiade athlete in Fabian, a senior student of the Ateneo de Manila University to compete in Ladies’ Figure Skating. She will be accompanied by her Filipino coach Ronan Jay Capili.

Siberia hosts the youth version of the Olympics. The World Sport Games or simply the Universiade has been the second biggest international event in the world’s sports arena for more than 50 years.

The Winter Universiade, its

winter version, celebrates its 29th year this year in Krasnoyarsk, the geographical center of Siberia, Russian Federation on March 2 to 12.

The competitions are held every two years unlike the fouryear Olympic events. Students from the age of 17 to 25 years and graduates who have received an academic degree or a diploma in the year preceding the competition are allowed to participate in competitions.

More than 3,000 sports delegates from over 50 countries are expected to vie for 76 sets of medals. The Games will be covered by close to 100 tv stations worldwide.

bounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

“He draws a lot of attention from the defense which creates the openings.

That’s why we shot a lot of three point shots. We got the good looks and the openings,” said Guiao.

The Philippines started the second half with four straight triples from Paul Lee and Blatche, breaking the game wide open in favor of the Filipinos.

The Philippine team, which posted its best shooting performance in these Asian Qualifiers, went on stretch a 3121 lead into a 62-30 spread.

Bullpups regain hoop title THE Nazareth School-National University Bullpups are champions again after three seasons.

As the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eaglets began misfiring, the Bullpups stepped on the gas, and trounced the Loyola dribblers, 6453, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.

Terrence Fortea knocked in 15 points and grabbed two rebounds for the Bullpups, who completed a two-game sweep of the best-of-three finals series in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.

The Bullpups hardly missed one of their key players in Gerry Abadiano who went out in the last three seconds of the third period.

“Masaya. This is my first title as a coach of NU. Isang taon na inabangan ng mga players ito,” said Bullpups coach Goldwin Monteverde, who took over from Jeff Napa two years ago. He came over from the Adamson University Baby Falcons.

The Blue Eaglets, powered by Kai Sotto with 26 points, were enjoying a 51-50 edge in the fourth period when they turned the ball over four times.

Taking advantage of Ateneo’s miscues, the Bullpups scored twice after Carl Tamayo’s penetration and after Reyland Torres drove past the 7’1” Kai Sotto, 54-51, with 3:38 to go.

The Bullpups won their fourth crown after reaching the finals in eight consecutive seasons.

The absence of Gerry Abadiano in the fourth period somehow slowed down the Bullpups offense, and Ateneo took charge, 47-45, off Sotto’s drive.

Abadiano left the court in the last three seconds of the third following unsportsmanlike foul on Sotto.

But a split freebie, followed by Cyril Gonzales’ trey kept the Bullpups ahead, 50-47, with 8:06 to go.

Padrigao, who had eight points with Geoff Chiu, managed to give the Blue Eaglets the upperhand, 51-50. Then, they began missing their attempts.

The 6’7” Tamayo, who outworked Sotto in the shaded lane totaled 13 points and 10 rebounds, and he is one of two Bullpups who had double-double outputs that afternoon. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

New health care law expands coverage THE National Economic and Development Authority said the newly-enacted Universal Health Care Act will improve the people’s quality of living through expanded healthcare coverage for all Filipinos. “... Through this law, we are making history in truly reforming the Philippine health care system,” Neda officerin-charge Adoracion Navarro said in a statement Friday.

Navarro said the new law would increase the level of protection from the financial risks of getting ill and reduce the burden of health expenditure on individuals and families.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 20, 2019, the law will ensure all Filipinos have access to a comprehensive set of quality, cost-effective, promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services without suffering financial hardships.

It will enable every Filipino to be automatically enrolled in PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program with full access to various health care services including reproductive health and family planning benefit packages. Julito G. Rada

Business

AF Payments bares easy reloading plan AF PAYMENTS Inc., a consortium led

by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., teamed up with Justpayto Philippines Corp. to create a simple to use web platform for the reloading of beep of cards.

The partnership aims to help MRT, LRT and other commuters save time by launching a new innovation that lets commuters reload their tap-and-go beep cards online.

Instead of waiting in long lines to top up their beep cards with cash, beep cardholders can load their cards by simply going to https://justpay.to/beep JUSTPAY.TO/BEEP will allow commuters to load their cards using credit cards, debit cards, bank account, cash and even digital currency.

“We are constantly looking for ways to make reloading convenient for our cardholders. www.justpay.to/beep is a simple and easy to use reloading system that I am positive our cardholders will welcome,” said AF Payments chief executive of Peter Maher Darwin G. Amojelar

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

B1

By Othel V . Campos

METRO DEPARTMENT IN PASIG. Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. continues its expansion with the recent opening of Metro Department Store and Supermarket at Ayala Mall Feliz in Pasig City. The new store strengthens MRSGI’s business foothold in the highly competitive retail market within the National Capital Region. Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony to signal the opening of the outlet are MRSGI president and chief operating officer Manuel Alberto (second from left) and (from left) Ayala Malls president Yeng Tupaz, Pasig City’s City Administrator Dianeth Valencia and Dela Paz, Pasig Barangay Captain Isidro Mariano.

New charter allows BSP to sell own debt papers

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will avoid competing with the national government in the issuance of debt papers after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the BSP Charter amendments into law.

“We’ll deliberately work on the operational details so that there will be no competition between the national government and the BSP,” Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Cyd Tuano Amador said in a briefing Friday on the amendments to the BSP Charter.

Amador said the BSP wanted to have an expanded toolkit, an arsenal of policy instrument that could be used to fine-tune monetary aggregates in the economy.

“We have the current instruments and

you very know about that already. But this one, particularly, the restoration of the authority to issue central bank debt papers... it’s a structural surplus liquidity absorption tool. So as to when it will be used it will be dictated by the times,” Amador said.

“In the past when you have considerable capital inflows, what we did is to use the SDAs [special deposit account facility] and then also right now we’re using the interest rate corridor. But when we have significant structural liquidity surplus, then we can start thinking about using in the central bank debt papers,” Amador said.

Amador said the operational details of the issuance of the central bank debt papers would be carefully coordinated with the national government, particularly in terms of tenor.

“As you know, the central bank is fine-tuning monetary policies and that speaks that kind of tenor we will be using to make sure that the money supply that is available, sloshing around the system is just enough to lubricate the functioning of the economy,” she said.

President Duterte signed into law

“Republic Act No. 11211, or An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7653, Otherwise Known as the ‘New Central Bank Act’, and for Other Purposes.”

“The BSP appreciates the support of the Office of the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives in passing the law that bolsters the BSP’s capability to promote the stability of prices and the financial system,” said BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. “The amendments to the BSP Charter are both timely and attuned to a fast-evolving market landscape.”

“We also recognize the efforts of central bankers who began spade work on this legislative initiative some 20 years ago.

Under our new Charter, we will continue to build on the central bank’s rich institutional experience under BSP’s Continuity Plus-Plus program,” said Espenilla.

The new BSP Charter embodies a package of reforms that will further align its operations with global best practices, improve the central bank’s corporate viability, and enhance its capacity for crafting proactive policies amid rising interlinkages in the financial markets and the broader economy.

Japan extends another yen loan to aid Mindanao THE Japanese government is extending 3.2 billion yen in grant assistance to the Philippines for peace and development projects in Mindanao, the Department of Finance said Friday.

The grant is on top of its $202-million loan for the Road Network Development Project in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. Japan announced the assistance during the 7th meeting of the JapanPhilippines Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation held in Osaka on Thursday.

Philippine officials led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III discussed with their Japanese counterparts ways to further expand their cooperation and address “implementation bottlenecks” in the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects and in supporting peace-building initiatives in Mindanao following the recent ratification of the organic law establishing a new Bangsamoro region in the South.

The 3.2 billion yen grant includes 1.8 billion yen for the construction of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training centers in the damaged city of Marawi, and the provinces of Basilan and Sultan Kudarat under the Program for the Urgent Improvement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in the Bangsamoro Region.

Another 560 million yen will fund the purchase of well-drilling machines and underground water detecting machines under the Economic and Social Development Program and 200 million yen for the provision of livelihood assistance in agriculture and for fishers through the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

DA readying measures to cushion influx of rice imports

AA Japan, Filanka forge partnership JAPANESE used machinery supplier AA Japan on Friday teamed up with Filanka Subic Corp. to help address the country’s development requirements in infrastructure, agriculture and energy by providing heavy-duty trucks and machinery.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority director Julius Escalona said during an inauguration ceremony the partnership would provide local entrepreneurs with much-needed heavy equipment units and related services.

AA Japan president and chief executive officer Hameed Ramzan said the Japanese supplier teamed up with Filanka because they “believe in Filanka’s proven track record in this industry.”

He said the partnership “will allow us to adapt our services and products to a broad customer base and develop multiple service offerings.”

“We aim to boost our network here, which may, in turn, strengthen the industry in this part of the country, as well as provide livelihood opportunities to nearby communities,” he added.

The project is a $15-million partnership. Othel V. Campos

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

THE Department of Agriculture Department and its attached agencies are drafting several measures to help cushion the adverse effect of cheap imported rice to farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol pooled together rice-related agencies to develop a strategy that will protect farmers from unfair competition from imported rice.

The measures aim to strengthen support to the rice farmers through free seeds, fertilizers, solar irrigation, equipment and credit to increase production by at least 2 metric tons per hectare per harvest.

The support is expected to cushion the effect of low buying price by private traders ranging from P16 to a high of P18 per kilo.

The department also plans to iIntensify the National Food Authority Procurement Program, which buys clean and dry palay at P17 per kilo, plus an additional incentive P3.70 a kilo.

The department and NFA would also offer incentives, such as loan programs, fertilizer and equipment use to those who will sell their produce to the NFA. Rice farmers are being encouraged to use rice seed varieties that yield better quality so that their produce will fetch a better price. Some of the suggested varieties are RC 160, RC 218 and RC 300, which are being bought by rice millers and traders at P22 to P25 a kilo.

Pinol stressed that the law allowed the export of local rice without restrictions, a window for rice farmers to increase the production of organic rice, heirloom rice and upland fancy rice which command a higher price in foreign markets.

“The Philippine population is growing at a rate of 1.7 percent while our rice-exporting neighbors also have increasing population. Five to 10 years from now, there will not be enough rice for everybody. If we abandon rice farming now, we will be guilty of abandoning our responsibility to ensure food security for the next generation,” Piñol said.

Century-Mitsubishi venture unveils 2nd project in Laguna

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ABOITIZ ADVOCACY. The Department of Education recognizes the Aboitiz Group’s outstanding contribution in pursuing the development of basic quality education in the Philippines. Seventeen Aboitiz business units and two foundations received DepEd Certificates of Appreciation during its Partners’ Appreciation ceremony held in Pasig City for the long-standing commitment to promoting education and collaboration under the Adopt-A-School Program. Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones (second from left) hands out the certificates to officials of the Abpitiz Group.

Smart, Globe, Mislatel back DICT’s infrastructure policy

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE country’s two largest telecommunication companies and an incoming one have expressed their support to a market-driven common and shared passive infrastructure policy by the government, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Representatives from Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. and the Mislatel consortium stated their willingness to collaborate with the initiative in front of the interested tower providers, including the 12 companies which already signed an agreement with the DICT. The support of telco operators will be pivotal to the smooth implementation

of the common tower policy, which is expected to improve telecommunication services while lowering down its cost.

“Shared [passive] facilities through this policy would cut back unnecessary expenses from the telco operators and subscribers will benefit from this,” Acting DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said.

During the consultation Monday, the DICT requested the telcos to submit a list of areas and number of cell sites that their respective operations will need as guide for the policy.

The department since December has signed agreements with ISOC Infrastructures, Singapore’s ISON ECP Tower, IHS Towers, Edotco Group, RT Telecom of Malaysia, China Energy Engineering Corp, Aboitiz InfraCapital

and MGS Construction.

American Towers, Frontier Tower Associates Management, Phil Tower Consortium (Global Networks Inc. and JTower Inc.) and J.S. Cruz Construction and Development Inc. were the three new signees this week.

The tower firms must first secure a business contract from the telcos for the government to provide assistance through facilitation of permits, rightof-way, and other government requirements for infrastructure.

The DICT is set to finalize the common tower policy by the second quarter of 2019.

The Philippine needs at least around 50,000 cellular towers to be able to have the proper coverage and provide adequate service to the Philippine people.

PHIRST Park Homes Inc., the joint venture company of Century Properties Group Inc. and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. for affordable housing, is launching its second community project in Laguna province.

PPHI said in a statement it is unveiling PHirst Park Homes San Pablo Laguna in March. Located in Maharlika Highway, Barangay San Ignacio, the 18.5-hectare community will offer 1,640 homes.

The launching of PHirst Park Homes San Pablo Laguna comes after the strong take-up of the 20-hectare PHirst Park Homes Lipa, Batangas.

“These two projects mark an auspicious start of the year for PPHI and cement our commitment to provide first time homebuyers with superior housing in the best locations. We look forward to rolling out more communities under the PHirst Park Homes brand very soon,” said PPHI president Ricky Celis.

Celis said two additional communities were also scheduled for launching within 2019.

PPHI earlier announced plans to roll out 15 residential projects offering 33,000 units in the next four years.

Total investment for the 15 projects is expected to reach P28 billion, while total sales value is expected to reach P57 billion.

PPHI said the first residential project PHirst Park Homes Lipa Batangas was well-received by the market. It sold more than half of the total inventory as early as September last year.

Net sales for 900 out of a total of 1,846 homes posted a total value of P1.16 billion. The second phase of the project inventory with more than 300 units will be launched soon.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market gains; PLDT,Vista Land rise

S

TOCKS rose Friday in mixed trading, with select blue chips lifting the benchmark index toward the close.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 30.83 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,962.13 on a value turnover of P8 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 97 to 89, with 54 issues unchanged.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 3.1 percent to P1,113, while JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei also gained 3 percent to P68.50.

Vista land & Lifescapes Inc. of the Villar Group rose 2.9 percent to P7.50, while San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc., the food unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., increased 5 percent to P104.

The rest of the Asian markets were mixed Friday following losses on Wall Street as optimism over the ChinaUS trade talks was trumped by a weak round of US data that revived concerns about economic growth.

With high-level negotiations between the world’s top economies still taking place in Washington there has been little concrete news about their progress, though some reports have said the two are heading towards an eventual deal.

The lack of information on the crunch talks led dealers in New York to take their cue from figures showing home sales at a three-year low, while sales of durable goods missed expectations. All three main indexes on Wall Street ended lower.

The data, coupled with disappointing readings from the eurozone and Japan, reminded investors that while China and the US are showing signs of reaching a deal, the world economy continues to stutter.

“Trade talks remain on track, but with little details on what the next moves are as the March 1 deadline approaches, the market paid more attention to the lowerthan-expected US data on Thursday,” said OANDA senior market analyst Alfonso Esparza.

The losses on Wall Street filtered through to Asia, where markets dropped in the morning before seeing some recoveries in the afternoon.

Tokyo was down 0.2 percent and Singapore shed 0.3 percent, though Hong Kong rose 0.3 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai rallied 1.9 percent on hopes for fresh stimulus by Chinese authorities.

Seoul and Wellington both edged up 0.1 percent and Taipei was flat. Mumbai, Jakarta and Bangkok were all lower.

And Richard Turnill, global chief investment strategist at BlackRock, warned that the stellar gains seen so far this year were unlikely to continue for

the next 10 months.

“Don’t chase the rally,” he told Bloomberg TV. “Don’t extrapolate the double-digit gains we’ve seen in the first six weeks of this year.”

On Thursday China’s Commerce Ministry said the two sides would “go a step further in deepening their communication” regarding the trade talks but despite Donald Trump’s tweets that things are going well, there is skepticism among observers.

“I think the consensus of people that have been following this thing is that they’re not making nearly as much progress as the president tweets that they’ve been making,” said William Reinsch, a former US trade official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

With the March 1 deadline approaching, China’s top negotiator and Xi Jinping’s top economics envoy Liu He is due to meet Trump on Friday. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.3 110 86.05 4,907,790 2.24 3,000 129 1,925,340 1.47 10,000 27.45 65,900 17.96 33,300 12.56 371,800 4.5 217,000 0.66 39,000 1.49 76,000 800 30 81.4 802,700 1.05 2,250,000 13.98 120,900 48.3 504,900 185.6 720 59.2 5,500 26.5 152,800 173 230,250 1,800 75 62 2,580 1.16 31,000

6,523 425,153,396 6,720 248,143,013 14,700 1,805,560 597,154 4,669,080 959,950 25,740 107,810 24,000 65,333,909.50 2,366,290 1,691,584 24,380,740 133,956 323,278.50 4,052,885 39,777,736 135,100 159,887.50 35,360

-145,348,452.50 -46,453,044 -632,940 147,184 -1,482,498 8,810 -1,193,141 -93,980 -379,200 -8,433,480 1,160,065 -1,988,008 -

35.9 16.6 1.05 1.52 0.246 90.15 2.35 15.62 120.1 28.65 39 71 1.89 6.15 6.4 11.38 16.06 8.06 7.62 1.65 20.95 72.85 27.2 3.21 9.4 12.44 1.76 307.4 55 3.43 11.32 26.9 12.18 18.76 368.2 0.202 1.38 3.75 6.73 9.3 1.31 11.5 47.9 5.98 4.73 1.9 1.38 12.46 99.95 6.34 0.136 1.13 146 2.74 1.7 1.36

INDUSTRIAL 36.9 949,600 16.7 504,400 1.05 1,078,000 1.53 694,000 0.247 31,470,000 98.3 110 2.39 6,272,000 16.2 419,800 120.2 320 29.9 90,100 39.45 19,000 71 140 1.94 532,000 6.15 12,000 6.5 28,000 11.5 2,837,800 16.1 2,861,800 8.1 137,500 7.68 199,600 1.65 20,000 20.95 288,500 74.6 768,240 27.2 500 3.26 17,944,000 9.43 653,500 12.6 1,059,500 1.77 72,000 313.2 454,250 55 1,440 3.69 17,000 12.08 37,900 27.3 82,000 12.2 409,700 18.9 3,854,400 375 169,610 0.204 410,000 1.43 16,657,000 3.75 93,000 6.74 5,362,500 9.3 3,800 1.33 5,301,000 11.7 105,600 48 163,600 6 1,098,100 4.73 2,000 1.9 271,000 1.39 44,000 12.48 12,500 104 1,246,370 6.4 34,900 0.136 70,000 1.15 1,870,000 149 499,050 2.95 246,000 1.72 2,038,000 1.37 369,000

34,719,485 8,414,550 1,135,740 1,066,620 8,166,610 9,998 14,941,000 6,693,742 38,433 2,679,820 766,695 9,970 1,025,850 73,820 179,700 32,616,986 46,023,206 1,115,561 1,526,323 33,000 6,094,305 58,117,192 13,600 58,774,140 6,172,423 13,356,914 126,790 141,249,422 83,321 60,700 444,284 2,228,560 5,008,892 72,704,552 63,401,932 83,380 23,586,360 348,950 36,775,367 35,358 7,009,460 1,230,204 7,854,805 6,589,534 9,470 528,670 60,830 156,576 128,662,024 222,100 9,520 2,228,790 74,161,259 737,110 3,492,120 506,660

9,958,810 5,120,454 -1,085,600 2,283,420 -746,812 -389,800 -7,885 870,480 19,200 -15,250,218 -39,652,552.00 26,080 1,062 2,696,225 -4,965,583 4,520,670.00 2,259,796 -1,542,144 -16,505,184 -4,640 1,333,330 32,206 62,681,418 29,590,666 -590,190 8,261,225 5,280 -23,040 -3,619,500 -5,879,780 -70,560 -62,888 41,631,546.50 -126,800 19,664,085 133,620 -

0.71 62.7 13.86 0.79 6.51 22.2 1.34 1.38 929 7.78 12.2 13.72 0.233 990 6.1 67.1 0.59 5.29 15.5 0.57 4.75 0.041 1.2 2.98 174.5 955 0.8 452 0.25 0.325

HOLDING FIRMS 0.71 10,890,000 64.5 663,630 14 4,124,600 0.82 252,000 6.58 15,300 23.05 50,500 1.37 4,814,000 1.39 1,778,000 942 250,830 7.78 1,153,000 12.28 3,984,200 14.02 1,900,300 0.244 410,000 1,002 58,455 6.1 8,600 68.5 3,048,150 0.61 244,000 5.37 1,090,800 15.6 2,398,800 0.57 118,000 4.78 5,308,000 0.042 11,300,000 1.2 13,000 3 4,226,000 179 1,779,850 980 264,500 0.8 1,000 452 200 0.25 2,680,000 0.355 62,120,000

7,904,550 42,096,232.50 58,036,840 200,850 100,043 1,153,820 6,556,700 2,470,300 235,582,875 9,010,973 48,987,406 26,818,686 96,520 58,638,040 52,541 208,083,330 144,030 5,876,794 37,408,558 67,340 25,414,770 464,400 15,600 12,717,950 316,688,294 255,360,760 800 90,860 671,200 21,379,550

-479,560 34,877,876.50 -11,916,748 1,185,150 18,971,035 -1,896,514 -7,598,884 1,796,094 -3,096,082.50 12,260 36,676,943 -530,664 -20,071,124 -4,651,630 -115,600 92,926,395 -46,069,500 -2,337,950

383,579,412 331,740 55,110 177,100 1,278,900 352,464,830 3,333,970 1,433,290 463,559 8,203,800 227,840 105,830 1,233,100 63,650 7,846,668 3,944,025 993,760 133,620 4,466,040 12,315,410 81,190,877 2,449,350 119,900 17,305,640

-90,614 24,000 8,900 82,089,155 -8,650 252,361 -321,300 22,500 -3,162.00 7,140 -887,760 1,320 1,499,450 43,902,407 43,000 115,760

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.3 89 2.24 128.9 1.47 27 17.88 12.56 4.5 0.66 1.42 800 82.3 1.08 14 48 186 59.05 26.5 174 1,820 62 1.14

59.3 89.05 2.24 129.2 1.47 27.5 17.98 12.62 4.5 0.66 1.49 800 82.45 1.1 14 48.5 186.2 59.2 26.6 174.4 1,820 62 1.16

59.3 85.7 2.24 128.5 1.47 27 17.88 12.54 4.39 0.66 1.4 800 81.05 1.04 13.98 48 185.6 58.7 26.45 171.8 1,800 61.85 1.14

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

36.95 16.68 1.08 1.56 0.25 90.15 2.41 15.62 120.1 29.9 40.45 74 1.94 6.16 6.42 11.54 16.1 8.12 7.7 1.65 21.35 72.85 27.2 3.25 9.5 12.82 1.76 307.4 58.5 3.65 11.32 27 12.46 19 374.4 0.202 1.38 3.76 6.99 9.36 1.33 11.68 47.9 6.05 4.74 1.96 1.4 12.72 100 6.4 0.136 1.21 149 2.74 1.72 1.36

37 16.72 1.08 1.56 0.275 98.3 2.42 16.2 120.2 30 40.5 74 1.94 6.16 6.5 11.54 16.12 8.24 7.7 1.65 21.35 79 27.2 3.37 9.5 12.82 1.77 313.2 58.5 3.69 12.5 27.3 12.46 19 375 0.205 1.45 3.76 7 9.36 1.33 11.8 48.2 6.06 4.74 1.97 1.4 12.72 104.5 6.4 0.136 1.24 149 3.2 1.72 1.38

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 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SYNERGY GRID WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.72 63.5 14.3 0.79 6.6 23.45 1.37 1.43 944 7.84 12.46 13.8 0.233 1,035 6.13 67.1 0.62 5.37 15.6 0.58 4.77 0.042 1.2 3.03 174.5 984 0.8 460 0.26 0.325

0.75 64.5 14.3 0.83 6.61 23.5 1.38 1.43 947 7.85 12.46 14.38 0.244 1,038 6.13 68.95 0.62 5.47 15.76 0.58 4.83 0.042 1.2 3.1 179.5 984 0.8 460 0.26 0.355

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

12.46 0.81 10.4 1.9 0.9 44 2.55 4.25 6.49 0.5 0.91 0.92 0.255 0.415 10.64 22.35 0.53 0.134 1.53 1.25 5.31 0.43 0.47 2.14

12.48 0.81 10.4 1.93 0.92 44.5 2.55 4.25 6.6 0.52 0.94 0.92 0.255 0.425 10.66 22.75 0.54 0.134 1.54 1.3 5.31 0.44 0.47 2.16

12.1 0.8 10.3 1.83 0.88 43.9 2.54 4.15 6.49 0.495 0.88 0.9 0.25 0.415 10.42 22.35 0.53 0.132 1.51 1.24 5.25 0.43 0.46 2.1

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.485 2.97 47.85 23.5 2.01 3.15 38.15 1.42 6.79 7.2

0.485 2.97 47.85 23.9 2.01 3.15 39.1 1.47 6.8 7.5

0.485 2.87 47.85 23.4 2 3.1 38.15 1.42 6.57 7.16

0.485 2.93 47.85 23.9 2.01 3.1 39.1 1.47 6.65 7.5

150,000 187,000 300 1,737,400 48,000 4,245,000 5,361,600 2,160,000 362,300 258,872,000

72,750 546,910 14,355 41,087,690 96,440 13,218,470 208,143,365 3,133,910 2,431,421 1,937,613,322

14,400 5,735,915 12,457,500 104,232,420 10,035 -189,802,418

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

12.72 22.3 0.45 0.048 2.95 12.56 0.068 86.6 6.25 7.21 15.22 900 1,889 5.73 3 1.97 119 11.18 7.14 0.135 5.98 15.22 3.34 0.94 19.6 0.72 5.24 3.08 2.04 2.01 3.15 9.28 11.4 3.22 5.17 129.2 3.13 1,090 0.97 1.4 48.75 88 8.98 2.23 0.73 0.445 5.54 0.7 14.46

12.88 23 0.45 0.05 3 12.56 0.072 86.6 6.25 7.4 15.34 900 1,907 5.74 3.06 1.97 119.9 11.18 7.14 0.135 6.04 15.26 3.34 0.94 19.96 0.72 5.24 3.1 2.1 2.01 3.18 9.3 11.52 3.22 5.17 129.2 3.24 1,123 0.99 1.45 48.8 88 8.98 2.27 0.75 0.455 5.63 0.71 14.6

12.7 22.15 0.445 0.047 2.9 12.16 0.068 84.8 6.1 7.19 14.92 900 1,889 5.71 2.9 1.95 119 11.14 7.14 0.131 5.91 15.22 3.29 0.94 19.42 0.69 5 3.01 2.03 2 3.08 9.26 11.24 3.21 4.99 129.2 3.1 1,083 0.97 1.37 47.55 86.9 8.4 2.19 0.73 0.445 5.54 0.69 14.2

SERVICES 12.86 22.85 0.445 0.05 2.95 12.18 0.071 85.75 6.19 7.35 14.94 900 1,901 5.73 2.95 1.95 119.4 11.14 7.14 0.131 5.92 15.26 3.3 0.94 19.58 0.69 5 3.06 2.09 2 3.11 9.26 11.48 3.21 5.17 129.2 3.22 1,113 0.98 1.41 48.7 87 8.9 2.26 0.73 0.445 5.63 0.69 14.2

13,700 100,700 900,000 76,400,000 533,000 6,282,500 299,340,000 48,120 668,600 15,400 164,700 10 19,350 220,300 2,576,000 30,000 1,996,820 1,000 8,000 2,910,000 2,326,500 2,700 273,000 1,000 1,304,200 2,465,000 22,100 1,719,000 53,000 70,000 721,000 12,000 14,000 17,000 141,600 80 708,000 279,075 10,205,000 22,512,000 2,676,500 1,025,810 113,300 3,141,000 2,518,000 12,450,000 193,900 6,072,000 3,673,500

174,640 2,272,305 400,650 3,705,300 1,561,610 76,740,320 20,994,230 4,120,609.50 4,123,755 111,103 2,471,782 9,000 36,769,595 1,262,488 7,610,190 58,920 238,633,932 11,158 57,120 383,770 13,832,754 41,134 899,010 940 25,481,426 1,714,550 114,764 5,253,200 108,560 140,100 2,248,960 111,360 158,286 54,660 715,490 10,336 2,215,490 307,863,000 10,048,220 31,855,840 129,769,505 89,261,382.50 979,334 7,052,360 1,850,050 5,553,700 1,084,051 4,219,280 52,787,442

44,500 -44,230 -40,882,958 67,320 2,314,254.50 -30,820 36,050 2,915,620 44,350 20,491,990 -377,939 6,610 141,894 2,569,410 -140,100.00 9,660 2,584 -139,380 -5,009,785 -15,740 -1,839,150 819,035 -15,507,786 398,700 3,503,870 -368,760 -111,650 -187,791 -2,157,970 -18,442,382

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

0.0021 1.52 3.08 13 2.22 0.3 7.9 1.5 0.285 0.13 0.128 0.0092 1.1 2.86 1.08 0.69 0.99 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.25 4.23 14.66 22.75 0.0084

0.0022 1.54 3.08 13.4 2.22 0.315 8.13 1.52 0.295 0.131 0.133 0.0096 1.1 2.88 1.09 0.69 1.01 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.44 4.23 14.7 22.85 0.0084

0.002 1.5 2.95 13 2.16 0.3 7.77 1.48 0.265 0.125 0.128 0.0088 1.08 2.79 1.06 0.66 0.99 0.012 0.013 0.012 3.22 4.15 14.42 22.65 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0021 234,000,000 1.5 6,108,000 2.95 157,000 13.4 3,100 2.19 327,000 0.315 350,000 8 1,700 1.5 1,686,000 0.28 2,720,000 0.126 3,950,000 0.133 320,000 0.0088 57,000,000 1.09 477,000 2.84 2,432,000 1.09 57,000 0.68 74,000 1 176,000 0.013 52,700,000 0.013 500,000 0.012 17,600,000 3.44 76,000 4.22 1,386,000 14.7 616,100 22.75 1,047,800 0.008 2,000,000

489,800 9,351,120 464,450 40,620 710,850 107,100 13,475 2,542,330 743,800 509,130 41,160 518,000 519,080 6,886,670 61,170 49,120 175,320 660,500 6,500 211,200 246,150 5,787,810 8,980,318 23,821,905 16,400

2,000 -1,655,600 50,350 -2,220 2,868,420 529,020 -677,160 -7,271,235 -

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

20.1 100 97 103 450.2 5.8 0.99 100 1,001 1.75 981 75.45 76.2 73.8 73.35 74.55 72.25 72.35

20.65 100 97 103 450.2 5.82 1 100 1,001 1.75 981 75.45 76.5 73.8 73.35 74.55 72.25 73

20.1 100 97 102 450.2 5.8 0.99 100 1,000 1.75 980 75.1 76 71.4 73.35 74.2 72.25 72.3

PREFERRED 20.1 49,100 100 8,000 97 250 102 1,340 450.2 480 5.82 24,200 1 541,000 100 2,000 1,000 2,100 1.75 13,000 980 1,310 75.45 1,290 76 34,290 71.4 82,100 73.35 20 74.5 17,460 72.25 10 73 43,330

998,320 800,000 24,250 137,810 216,096 140,584 535,990 200,000 2,100,010 22,750 1,284,800 96,896.50 2,612,887 5,925,873 1,467 1,299,773 722.5 3,162,440

-50,425.00 20,400 140,584 79,200 981,000 -

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.91 1.51

4.93 1.53

4.8 1.44

4.88 1.51

2,344,860 19,433,660

-289,910

FIRST METRO ETF

118.2

118.2

117.3

1,396,239

-

502 136,720

-

MS

PROPERTY 12.1 0.81 10.3 1.92 0.9 44.5 2.55 4.23 6.6 0.51 0.91 0.91 0.25 0.425 10.42 22.4 0.53 0.132 1.53 1.27 5.3 0.43 0.47 2.12

31,385,500 414,000 5,300 94,000 1,425,000 7,967,400 1,309,000 341,000 70,700 16,260,000 247,000 117,000 4,920,000 150,000 743,800 175,500 1,875,000 1,010,000 2,923,000 9,781,000 15,347,100 5,680,000 260,000 8,199,000

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.04 10

TRADING SUMMARY

10.04 10.2

SHARES

FINANCIAL

12,590,108

INDUSTRIAL

114,946,115

HOLDING FIRMS

127,700,895

PROPERTY

385,931,757

SERVICES

467,877,688

MINING & OIL

386,274,089

GRAND TOTAL

1,508,856,842

10.04 10

SME

483,000 13,041,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118 11,890 DDS 10.04 10.2

50 13,600

VALUE 1,754.68 (down) 17.49 902,422,773.95 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,678.17 (up) 54.25 1,291,547,760.42 HOLDING FIRMS 8,020.92 (up) 48.15 1,429,487,810.29 PROPERTY 4,045.68 (up) 44.86 1,578.39 (up) 4.01 3,176,578,637.32 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,609,85 (down) 16.27 1,128,631,245.74 PSEI 7,962.13 (up) 30.83 62,973,193.02 All Shares Index 4,883.83 (up) 26.83 8,014,816,626.71 Gainers: 89; Losers: 97; Unchanged: 54; Total: 240

Basic Energy completes 15% acquisition of Thai company

By Alena Mae S. Flores BASIC Energy Corp. completed the acquisition of a 15-percent stake in VTE International Co. Ltd. (Thailand), or Vinter.

Basic Energy said it bought 2,521.865 shares representing 15 percent of the total equity of Vinter.

Vinter and Vintage EPC Company Ltd., in which Basic Energy has another 15 percent equity participation, are the engineering contractors of the 220-megawatt solar power plant project in Minbu, Magway Region, Myanmar.

“Last February 13, 2019, Vinter effected the last increase of its capital by 712,432 shares, of which Basic Energy agreed to acquire 15 percent thereof equivalent to 106,865 shares. Payment thereof in the amount $34,362.07 was received by META (Meta Corporation Public Company Ltd.) on February 15, 2019,” Basic Energy said.

Vinter’s total capital now stands 168,124,320 Thai baht consisting of 16,812,432 shares at a par value of 10 baht. Basic Energy now owns 2,521,865 shares equivalent to 15 percent.

Basic Energy signed the share purchase and shareholders agreements with Meta, formerly Vintage Engineering Public Co. Ltd., covering the purchase of 15 percent of Vintage EPC and Vinter in June last year.

The company remitted $2.622 million as earnest money deposit, which will be converted to paid-in capital in the companies on the closing dates stipulated in the share purchase agreements.

Vintage and Vinter are the EPC suppliers and the EPC construction service contractor, respectively, for the 220-MW Myanmar solar project.

The owner-developer of the project is Green Earth Power (Myanmar), which is the holder of the power purchase agreement with the Myanmar government’s energy and power ministry.

The plan, design and construction of the project started in 2016. It will be completed in three phases of 50 MW each and 70 MW for the fourth stage.

Greenergy okays more investments in Winsun Green THE board of listed Greenergy Holdings Inc. approved the additional investment of P100 million in Winsun Green Ventures Inc. to finance its foray into solar and liquefied natural gas projects.

“The company wishes to inform the Exchange and the investing public that its Board of Directors approved the Company’s additional investment of up to P100 million in its subsidiary, Winsun Green Ventures Incorporated, to finance the latter’s “green” projects involving solar power and liquefied natural gas (LNG),” Greenergy said.

The company did not disclose further details. An official of the Department of Energy said Winsun had not submitted any LNG project proposal to date.

Greenergy decided to explore business opportunities in renewable energy in 2010.

The company agreed to the establishment of a $1.3-billion joint venture project with Tianjin Tianbao Investment and Development Corp. of China in 2011.

The partnership plans to engage in wind energy projects amounting to $200 million as priority, and other subsequent renewable energy projects such as bio-mass, solar, hydro and geothermal energy.

The company has also agreed to acquire 51 percent of Total Waste Management Recovery System Inc., a domestic company engaged in the business of building, operating and managing waste recovery facilities and waste management systems within the Philippines.

In 2012, the company established certain subsidiaries to further mark its venture into the field of renewable energy. These are Winsun and the 60 percent-owned Biomass Holdings, Inc. Biomass Holdings is the product of the company’s partnership with Cleantech Projektgesellschaft mbH, a German fund managed by the ThomasLloyd Global Asset Management (Switzerland) AG of Zurich. It serves as the joint venture vehicle of the parties in their investment transactions in the biomass power plant of San Carlos BioPower Inc. in Negros Occidental province. Alena Mae S. Flores

Manila

Standard

TODAY

World

B3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Police claim actor staged racist attack to lift career

IN BRIEF Monkees’ Peter Turk dies of cancer at 77

NEW YORK―Peter Tork, the offbeat folk artist who found fame with the 1960s pop band the Monkees, has died, his team announced Thursday. He was 77 years old.

“It is with beyond-heavy and broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our friend, mentor, teacher, and amazing soul, Peter Tork, has passed from this world,” the team posted on his official Facebook page, without specifying a cause of death.

The musician in 2009 had been diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare form of cancer that affected his tongue.

“There are no words right now...heart broken over the loss of my Monkee brother,” tweeted drummer-singer Micky Dolenz, one of the band’s two surviving members.

A classic teeny-bopper band, the Monkees were the original reality TV stars, whose four-piece group was first conceived as a show in 1965 that went on to win two Emmy awards and in 1967 outsell the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Songs like “Daydream Believer,” “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville” all topped the charts—but the wisecracking foursome drew criticism by some who considered them a rip-off of the Beatles, who had rushed onto the American pop culture scene a few years prior.

The band released nine albums between 1966 and 1970, after which they disbanded, but they have come back together in various combinations over the years.

“As I write this my tears are awash, and my heart is broken,” wrote band member Michael Nesmith.

“I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever -- that special sparkle that was the Monkees.”

Tork, the group’s keyboardist and bass guitarist, crafted a persona as the Monkees’ lovable “dummy” -- but later began to resent the band as his musical ambitions grew. AFP

200 US troops to remain in Syria

WASHINGTON―The US military will keep around 200 troops in Syria after President Donald Trump’s pullout from the war-torn country, the White House said Thursday.

“A small peace-keeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a period of time,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

The announcement comes amid fierce criticism of Trump’s decision to withdraw America’s 2,000 or so troops from Syria

by April 30, with members of his own Republican Party blasting the move.

In December, Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group in Syria, even though thousands of jihadists remain and fighting continues around their last holdout.

Critics have decried a number of possible outcomes from a precipitous withdrawal, including a Turkish attack on USbacked Kurdish forces and a resurgence of IS. Sanders did not provide additional details, but the troops’ “peace-keeping” designation could pave the way for European allies to commit forces for such a mission.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited Europe last week where he attempted to convince allies to maintain a troop presence in Syria after the US pulls out.

But he struggled to persuade other countries why they should risk their forces with America gone.

Trump earlier Thursday spoke with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, and the two men discussed Syria, according to a White House summary.

“The two presidents agreed to continue coordinating on the creation of a potential safe zone” in Syria, the readout said.

At the height of its rule, IS imposed its brutal ideology on a territory roughly the size of the United Kingdom, attracting thousands of supporters from abroad.AFP

AT THE DUMP. Egrets gather at a garbage dump in Blang Bintang, near Banda Aceh, on February 22, 2019. AFP

Afghans say the Taliban remain ruthless as ever K ANDAHAR―Ali Ahmad Alizai has no choice but to obey when the Taliban come knocking on his door demanding food, shelter or a slice of his hard-earned harvest to fund their insurgency.

“The Taliban run a dictatorship here. They have their own laws. We have some security, but no freedom,” the farmer told AFP by telephone from a militant-controlled district of Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province.

Alizai is one of millions living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, where the group controls more territory than at any time since being toppled in 2001 by US-led forces.

As momentum for peace talks builds, with a fresh round of negotiations between the Taliban and Washington set to begin in Doha on Monday, testimonies from Afghans like him paint a picture of what life might be like should the militants return to power if the US exits its longest war.

In some ways Taliban governance appears to have evolved, with the insurgents open to some small compromises as Afghans refuse to part with their hard-won freedoms.

But zeal for the harsh brand of Islamic justice that defined their former regime is unwavering, and remains pivotal to enforcing obedience today in countryside under its influence.

Abdul Bari, who abandoned his home in an insurgent fiefdom in Uruzgan province three months ago, spoke darkly of life under the white flag of the Taliban.

“They would stage public executions from time to time,” the 66-year-old told AFP in Kandahar, where he fled with his family.

“Their fighters would decide the fate of people.”

Taliban courts preside over justice in huge swathes of the country—even areas ostensibly under government control, said Ashley Jackson, a research associate with the Overseas Development Institute.

Verdicts under their own strict interpretation of Sharia law are swift, and punishments severe, from limbs amputated for theft to condemned prisoners hung by roadsides as a warning.

“People are terrified of them,” said Sayed Omar, who escaped Taliban brutality in Uruzgan.

A battle to save orcas, beluga whales MOSCOW―Dozens of orcas and beluga whales captured for sale to oceanariums have brought Russia’s murky trade into the spotlight, but efforts to free them are blocked by government infighting.

Russia is the only country where orcas, or killer whales, and belugas can be caught in the ocean for the purpose of “education”. The legal loophole has been used to export them, especially to satisfy demand in China’s growing network of ocean theme parks.

The practice sparked a global outcry after pictures surfaced of an unprecedented number of the marine mammals -- a total of 11 orcas and 87 belugas -- crammed into small enclosures at a secure facility in the Far Eastern town of Nakhodka.

“There have never been that many animals caught in one season and kept in the same facility before anywhere in the world,” said Dmitry Lisitsyn, head of the Sakhalin Environmental Watch group who has emerged as a point person in the campaign to release the whales captured last summer back into the wild.

Under public pressure, Russian investigators launched two probes into poaching and cruel treatment of the whales, while Russia’s environmental watchdog said it has refused to issue permits to export them.

But the investigations and any potential court case could drag on for months.

And a major hurdle remains in the Rus-

sian government which is split between the environment ministry that says the animals must be urgently released, and the fisheries agency that defends their capture as part of a legitimate industry.

The captured killer whales belong to the rarer seal-eating, or transient, population of the species, which does not interbreed or interact with fish-eating orcas.

The environment ministry has tried to list the seal-eating type as endangered, ministry representative Olga Krever said.

“This population has only 200 adult animals” in Russian waters, she said.

But the agriculture ministry, which controls the fisheries agency and oversees nonprotected sea species, views orcas as a dangerous competitor for Russia’s fish stocks and doesn’t believe they are under threat, Krever said, calling the dispute a “big problem.”

The heads of the two ministries could sit down and decide the fate of the Nakhodka animals quickly as “this needs a political solution,” she said.

But while marine mammal researchers say there are good chances of a successful release, the fisheries agency told AFP that releasing the captured animals “carries high risks of their mass death”.

“Neither orcas nor belugas are endangered,” and are simply a resource that can be used according to existing legislation, agency representative Sergei Golovinov said. AFP

CHICAGO―An American TV actor was criminally charged Thursday for allegedly masterminding an elaborate “publicity stunt” that sought to exploit the “pain and anger of racism” with a staged assault on the streets of Chicago.

It was the latest twist in a weeks-long saga that has seen 36-year-old Jussie Smollett, the gay, African-American actor who stars on Fox music industry drama “Empire,” go from victim to suspect after he reported an assault late last month.

An incredulous Chicago police chief accused Smollett of first sending himself a fake threatening letter and then staging an attack to tap into Americans’ anxieties over political and racial divisions, because he was allegedly “dissatisfied with his salary.”

In a sign of the national attention the case has drawn, President Donald Trump weighed in Thursday, taking issue with the fact Smollett claimed his assailants invoked the president’s “Make America Great Again” slogan along with homophobic and racist slurs during the purported attack. “’Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told an emotionally-charged news conference -- during which he lashed out angrily at the actor for sullying the city’s image.

“Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago’s reputation through the mud in the process,” he said. “This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn’t earn and certainly didn’t deserve.”

Smollett turned himself in early Thursday morning, was arrested and charged with a felony count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, and was granted $100,000 bond.

He was freed from jail late in the afternoon, and said nothing to the throng of media. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison. AFP

“They have not changed, they are the same as they were during their rule.”

Mohammad Qasem, a shopkeeper who spoke to AFP by phone from another Taliban bastion in Kandahar, said the militants had banned smartphones and confined women to the home—effectively reversing the clock to 1996, when they stormed to power.

But they were “a bit easier” on men having shorter beards— a floggable offence under their former regime.

The Taliban have told AFP they want to establish “an Islamic system” as opposed to the democracy built since 2001, but that they have modified their stance on some issues including dropping a ban on the education of women and girls.

AFP was unable to speak to any women currently living under Taliban rule.

Human Rights Watch senior researcher Heather Barr said in some areas the militants now allow girls to attend primary school, “if it was segregated by gender, the teachers were female, and the Taliban controlled the curriculum”.

However, it was “ridiculous and harmful” to suggest that Republic of the Philippines proved the Taliban had softened Department of Education REGION IV-A CALABARZON their stance on women, she said.

Gate 2, Karangalan Village “Limiting girls to primary eduCainta, Rizal cation is an extreme form of miINVITATION TO BID sogyny—Too many men are in a SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EQUIPMENT PACKAGES FOR PUBLIC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS GRADES 7 TO 10 AND PUBLIC rush to argue that a Taliban deal SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS GRADES 11 & 12 will be fine for women. Women I . The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON, through the downloaded fund of the Central know better—but is anyone lisOffice under SARO Nos. OSEC-4A-18-15 180 and OSEC 4-A-18- 1596 intends to apply the sum of Four Million Ninety Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Pesos tening to them?”

Only (Php4,097,738.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Science and Mathematics Equipment for Qasem said the restrictions Junior and Senior High Schools (Grades 7 to 10 and Grades 11 & 12). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. were unpopular. Times have changed since the Taliban were Lot No. Description Approved Budget deposed, he added.

I SME for Grades 7 to 10 consists of: Php2,446,897.00 “This time, if they don’t -Science Equipment, Supplies and Consumables change, it might create a back-Mathematics Equipment lash,” he told AFP. -Glasswares, Plastic Wares & Porcelain Wares There are some signs the insur-Chemicals gents are listening.

II SME Grades for Grades 11 & 12 consists of: Php 1,651,841.00 Phone use is permitted during the -Science Equipment day and televisions watched without -3D Models and globes fear of punishment, a far cry from the -Glass and Plastic Wares violent Taliban purges against tech-Chemicals nology in the past. AFP The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON now invites bids for the Procurement of Science and Mathematics Equipment packages for public Junior High Schools Grades 7 to 10 and public Senior High Schools Grades 11 & 12. Delivery of the Services is expected for the Contract duration of sixty (60) calendar days.

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) MEDICAL CENTER – GENSAN, INC. (Registrant) x-----------------------------------------x

: REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES : Initial Public Offering : : : :

Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

2.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise Known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. (i)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 30 January 2019, a sworn Registration Statement (“RS) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on behalf of ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) MEDICAL CENTER – GENSAN, INC. (the “Company”) for the registration of Two Hundred Twenty Thousand (228,000) shares with par. Value of one thousand pesos (Php1000.00) per share, broken down as follows: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering Issued and Outstanding Founder’s Shares (Not included in the Offer) Issued and Outstanding Common Shares (Not included in the offer) Issued and Outstanding Preferred Shares (Not included in the Offer) Total

3.

NATIVIDAD M. TORRE JOCELYN S. FRIAL MELANNIE MARIE C. ARIAS MARIETTA T. SAMOY FERJENEL G. BIRON GEANIE A. CERNA-LOPEZ FERNANDO P. CARLOS MA. EDITHA LOU C. PACIS DANILO C. REGOZO STEPHEN D. SALVILLA ANGELITO YAT L. BALAY DARWIN P. CORPUZ ELMER Z. SAMORO

POSITION Chairman Director / Vice Chairman / Medical Director Director / President / Chief Executive Officer Director / Executive VP / Hospital Administrator Director / Corporate Secretary Director / Treasurer Director Director Director Director Director Director Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director Chief Accounting Officer

The Registration Statement, its attachment and any amendments therein (collectively referred to as “RS”) are open for inspection by interested parties during business hours. Copies thereof, photo static or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party upon request at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. Said RS and its updated version may be downloaded from the company’s website: www.acemcgensan.com.

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director (MS-FEB. 23 & MAR. 2, 2019)

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON (BAC Secretariat) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hour at 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 25, 2019 to March 18, 20 19 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) Only .

Equivalent to 3,600 blocks 36,000 or 10 shares per block at common an offer price ranging from shares Php200,000 up to Php400,000 per block par value of 600 With PhP1,000.00 per share With par value of 131,400 PhP1,000.00 per share With par value of PhP1000.00 60,000 per share 228,000

Note: (For lot procurement, the maximum fee for the Bidding Documents for each lot shall be based on its ABC, in accordance with the Guidelines issued by the GPPB; provided that the total fees for the Bidding Documents of all lots shall not exceed the maximum fee prescribed in the Guidelines for the sum of the ABC of all lots.).

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

According to the documents presented, the following persons are the directors and executive officers of the Company: NAME AMADO MANUEL C. ENRIQUEZ JR. FRANCISCO N. LORENZO FREDILYN G. SAMORO

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

4.

The DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON will hold a Pre-Bid Conference2 on March 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. to be held at the Bulwagan ng Karangalan, DepEd IV-A Cainta, Rizal which shall be open to prospective bidders.

5.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on March 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bulwagan ng Karangalan.

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

6.

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

7.

For further information, please refer to:

Virginia O. Bagacay DepED Region IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal 6477487 & 6474914 www.depedcalabarzon.ph (SGD) CARLITO D. ROCAFORT BAC Chairman

2May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a Pre-Bid Conference.

(MS-FEB. 23, 2019)

B4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

TOURISM LANDMARK IN PASIG.

From PREDATORS To PROTECTORS RP Energy moves to save endangered ‘pawikans’ in Zambales

Megaworld recently unveiled a 19-meter tall monument dubbed ‘Arco de Emperador’ in Arcovia City, the property developer’s 12.3-hectare township along C-5 Road in Pasig City. The imposing structure —composed of a victorious Emperor, three horses pulling his chariot, two lions named Pride and Passion, and two trumpeting angels coated in 24K gold — was done by Spanish sculptor Gines Serran Pagan. “We created this as a tourism landmark for Metro Manila that brings out the message of how hard work, passion and perseverance can create a self-made successful man,” explained Kevin L. Tan, EVP and chief strategy officer, Megaworld. The arch monument will be also be highlighted by cascading waterfalls leading to the water feature at the basement area where a museum will be built. It will be surrounded by a landscaped plaza with benches. At night, the monument will be illuminated in colors, making it a vibrant centerpiece of Arcovia City as seen along C-5 Road.

Arcovia City will be composed of residential towers, office towers, a lifestyle mall, open parks and gardens, and Landers Superstore. At the monument’s unveiling were (from left to right): Tan, Serran-Pagan and William Co, president, Megaworld Resort Estates, Inc.

ACT OF FAITH. Volunteers, together with Pawicare rangers, in Brgy. La Paz, San Narciso, Zambales, watch as turtle hatchlings touch their flippers on the sand for the first time, and begin their long crawl to their home, the sea.

S

AN NARCISO, Zambales—It used to be that these delicate eggs hatched by gentle creatures from the sea ended up in fisherfolk’s household pots. They were a delicacy, and also a source of livelihood. Back in the 1990s, even earlier, marine turtle, or pawikan, eggs would sell for double the price of chicken eggs, making them a prize catch for poachers.

LOW-COST HOUSING TO RISE IN MEYCAUAYAN. Listed property developer 8990 Holdings Inc. recently signed a contract with Megawide Construction Corporation to build a low cost residential project in Meycauayan, Bulacan comprising some 5,178 housing units. 8990 Hodings and Megawide have been building high quality residential projects under the Urban Deca Homes brand over the past two years. These include the 22- and the 13-building Urban Deca Homes projects in Ortigas and Tondo, respectively. “Our Filipino team is working with Japanese and German technical engineers to create a structurally resilient design, using precast elements such as bearing and shear walls and slabs,” said Einstein Chiu, Megawide construction assistant vice president - precast. Megawide president Edgar Saavedra explained that precast technology enables higher standardization from production to installation. “We plan to custom build the precast units to the exact specifications of 8990 in our plant in Taytay, Rizal which has a tightly-controlled manufacturing environment,” he revealed. “This will be complementary to our use of architectural components such as façade walls, unit partition walls, and stairs among others.” At the contract signing were (From left to right): Andrew Entote, 8990 Holdings Inc. acting GM-Luzon; Einstein Chiu, Megawide AVP - precast; Willibaldo Uy, 8990 Holdings president and CEO; Alexander Ace Sotto, 8990 Holdings COO. RESIDENTIAL and industrial park developer Cathay Land Inc. is launching the second phase of its first industrial park project in the South.

The new phase, at 20 hectares, expands the Cavite Light Industrial Park or CLIP into 70 hectares. Located along Maguyam Road in Silang, Cavite, CLIP has attracted players in the pharmaceutical, packaging, technology, trucking, glass and aluminum industries, among others.

“The continued growth in the local manufacturing industry entails that new business parks must be developed to help this crucial component of the economy foster in the years ahead,” explained Cathay Land President Jeffrey Ng. “Our facility addresses this need.” CLIP Phase 2 offers lot sizes starting at 1,600 sq.m. up to about 2,600 sq.m. to locators. With a starting price of about P9,300 per sq.m., CLIP gives locators a strong proposition, as the lot price averages at about P16 million. Meanwhile, the simultaneous launch of Phase 2 of CLIP’s adjacent mid-cost residential subdivision, Mallorca Villas, guarantees the rebranding of the whole industrial-commercial-residential complex into Mallorca City. “The integration of CLIP into Mallorca City promises a better quality of life to locators, and definitely worth the investment.

And the prevailing cool weather year-round due to the site’s proximity to Tagaytay City is a big bonus,” Ng added.

GATEWAY TO EXPANSION

Today, alarmed by the drastically declining numbers of pawikans, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its private sector partners, have come up with laws, and complementary efforts to stop their capture.

Meralco PowerGen, through the initiative of its power development arm, Redondo Peninsula Energy (RP Energy), is one of these partners. The company has been strengthening its marine turtle, or pawikan conservation efforts over the past few years at the Pawicare hatchery, a sea turtle conservation site in San Narcoso, Zambales.

Community rangers Earlier this month, RP Energy volunteers, together with the local government of San Narciso and the local fisherfolk dubbed the “La Paz rangers”, converged on the seaside facility, and released some 60 new hatchlings, and in the process, learned more about the local sustainability efforts for these fascinating sea creatures.

The PawiCare hatchery is currently managed by Katimpuyog Zambales, an environmental organization that has partnered with the San Narciso Local Government Unit (LGU) and the La Paz rangers.

The rescue and hatchery facility has a temporary shelter and other facilities for the rescue, rehabilitation, conservation, protection, and care of pawikans in Zambales.

It is considered necessary and crucial for the conservation of pawikans. The facility also takes

care of wounded and rescued pawikans that will be released to the ocean when it has completely healed, and it is already healthy.

“Malasakit” and education “We admire the malasakit of the Pawicare volunteers to help preserve our rich biodiversity,” said Litz Santana, vice president and head of external affairs at Meralco PowerGen. “Every Filipino, especially kids, should experience a pawikan-releasing activity at least once in their lifetime,” added Jason Gavina, corporate social responsibility officer of RP Energy.

“This is how we can effectively teach them the value of protecting our environment while at the same time, learning more about our rich biodiversity.”

Besides regular releases of new pawikan hatchlings, RP Energy has been promoting other efforts to save them, including a partnership las year with Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines in a forum titled “Lessons from Pawicare”.

Protect the Bay is RP Energy’s program for the protection, and conservation of Subic Bay. Its members include partners from the Subic Bay Management Authority (SBMA), Local Government Units (LGUs), as well as private sector organizations such as JCI Olongapo, Kabalikat Civicom, and the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs. The group organizes coastal clean-up activities, recycled art competitions, river clean-ups, information drives, environmental forums and other related programs.

TRANQUIL ESCAPE IN SUBIC. Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII), a local hospitality management company, recently took

over the management and operations of ACEA Subic Bay Resort. HII has 20 properties in its portfolio, and another 5 in the pipeline.

ACEA Subic Bay offers a quiet beachfront in Subic together with views of crystal-clear waters, exciting activities, and facilities to accommodate individual travelers and big families. “We are glad to have HII on board, and we are excited to see how we can work together to propel ACEA to greater heights starting this summer,” said resort owner Kenneth Sytin. The resort is located along the former Dungaree Beach, San Bernardino Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

SEAS THE DAY! The baby turtles, each usually no bigger than a fist, are released with care and reverence. The pawikans, once small eggs, crawl unsteadily to meet the sea, and swim energetically once they reach it.

Life YOUNG LIFE

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Anne Curtis and Daphne OseñaPaez (inset) have been conferred the formal title of UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador. (Additional photos from @annecurtissmith/ Instagram)

Anne Curtis’ Anne Curtis has been actively involved in projects that address issues concerning children. UNICEF Philippine Representative Lotta Sylwander (middle) says Curtis will help spread the messages of the organization and help in fundraising.

biggest

dream for children

By Bernadette Lunas

H

ELPING children has become second nature to Anne Curtis. In fact, she said, it’s in her and in everyone.

“You won’t think twice about helping a child; even if it’s as simple as when they scraped their knees, it’s an immediate reaction for every adult to want to help them,” the 33-year-old actress and TV host told Manila Standard.

Having a “very happy childhood” further inspires Curtis to stand up and do something for the children.

“I had a childhood surrounded with love. I got to ride my bike to school, things like that. And these are the things you hope every child gets to experience as well, but sadly that’s not the case,” she lamented.

Curtis has long been actively involved in projects and organizations that address issues concerning young individuals. In 2009, she became a major donor to UNICEF, then in 2014 she was appointed as a celebrity advocate.

Her special projects with the non-profit organization include the Heroes for Children runs to support children’s First 1,000 Days, fundraising through international marathons, and a children’s book that encourages reading and instilling confidence in one’s self.

Working closely with UNICEF, she said, has allowed her to “learn more about the different issues children are facing in our country: not every child has a safe home, not every child has a safe environment; they don’t feel the love.”

With this knowledge, the actress and social media “queen” has been resolved to use her voice and her reach to make a difference. Curtis currently has nearly 14 million followers on Facebook, 11 million on Instagram, and nearly 11 million on Twitter.

“I want to be part of making a difference and raising

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awareness and funds so that there would be more people reaching out and helping these children,” Curtis fervently said.

Earlier this year, Curtis, together with TV host and mother of three Daphne Oseña-Paez, were conferred the formal title of UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador.

The two Filipino celebrities join ambassadors Gary Valenciano, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Millie Bobby Brown, Jackie Chan, Priyanka Chopra, Ricky Martin, Leo Messi, Liam Neeson, Shakira, and Lilly Singh.

“UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors are well-known personalities who lend their influence for the well-being of children, who are willing to do their utmost to mobilize support for children,” said UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander.

Sylwander said Curtis and OseñaPaez were conferred the title because of their long engagement with and support for the organization. “They’re really good at what they’re doing, and now is the right time [to formally bestow upon them the title]. The stars have aligned, so to speak,” she said.

As UNICEF envoys, Curtis and Oseña-Paez will help spread the message of the organization, reach out to people, and help in fundraising.

Following her recent appointment, Curtis shared she will be focusing on projects for adolescence.

“In my first four years [with UNICEF] I worked with young children. This year I will be focusing on working with those on their way to adulthood because there’s a lot of issues with them today such as HIV, teen pregnancy, bullying, and

cyberbul- lying,” said Curtis.

Curtis is one of the first celebrities to speak out against the legislative proposal to lower the age of criminal liability in the country from 15 to 9 years old.

“At that age (9 years old), they are still very much children. They still have a chance to change their ways if they happen to cause or get into any trouble,” she said in the now viral tweet.

The actress said she stands with UNICEF. She reiterated that there’s no need to lower the criminal age of responsibility, and instead fully implement the current law.

“Children should be our priority and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they have a bright future ahead of them. There is still much more to be done but I believe we all can play our part to bring smiles to children’s faces,” emphasized Curtis.

Because at the end of the day, her biggest dream is for every child in the world to be happy and safe.

Why go to

Wanderland 2019 ON MARCH 9-10, all roads lead to the Filinvest City Open Grounds in Alabang as Globe Telecom and Karpos Multimedia once again stage the much-awaited music and arts festival Wanderland.

Wonder what sets Wanderland apart from other music festivals?

A great set of music by local and international talent This festival always showcases a unique set of performers every year. This year, the Wanderland community gears up for another great set as both local and international acts make their respective debuts with some returning to the Wanderland stage. International talents including indie rock bands Two Door Cinema Club and The Kooks, Jamaican-American rapper Masego, British EDM artist SG Lewis, and electronic duo Honne along with homegrown acts such as Sandwich, Unique, Reese Lansangan, and Clara Benin will grace the stage.

Awe-inspiring live art installations Apart from the rich musical experience, expect more inspiration as local street artists unleash their creative talents through world-class live art installations and graf-

fiti. Wanderartist winners Venazir Martinez, Frances Dandan, Raco Ruiz, and Josh Panaligan are set to perform live art.

Eye-catching festival fashion Wanderland has become not just a showcase of premier talents but also an annual avenue for eye-catching festival fashion. Expect to see the Wanderland community from all walks of life express themselves with their own preferred fashion styles such as floral, hippie, and hypebeast streetwear style.

Wide selection of exciting booths and activities At Wanderland Jungle 2017, festivalgoers enjoyed getting glitter tattoos of different animals and designs, making their own postcards and stickers, and even wall climbing. During Wanderland Pixels 2018, there was an Art Market, Arcade, F21’s Pixel Playhouse, and Hope’s Up-cycling booth. With this year’s Magic theme, the festival promises another interesting set of exciting booths and activities.

Haven’t got your tickets yet? Go to globe.com.ph/go/events/globewanderland to know more.

The 7th installment of the much-awaited music and arts festival Wanderland will feature local and international acts, new live art installations, and a wide selection of exciting booths and activities. (Photos from Wanderland/Facebook)

Life

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

New co-working space opens in BGC

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EW YORKbased collaborative workspace WeWork opens its first Philippine location at Uptown Bonifacio Tower Three in Bonifacio Global City on the heels of strengthening its reach in Southeast Asia.

The co-working space, on the 9th and 10th floors of Uptown Bonifacio Tower Three Building, can accommodate over 800 WeWork members, bringing the network’s total members in the region to over 13,000.

WeWork currently has 425 physical locations in 100 cities in 27 countries.

Driven by its expansions in 2018, its Southeast Asia stronghold has seen its footprint grow to 17 locations. Freelancers, startups, MSMEs, and enterprises on the lookout for enhancing their work environment and elevating their businesses to the next stage will be further empowered by its global network.

“With Philippines a rising economy in Southeast Asia, there is no better time to be here than now. As our footprint continues to grow in Manila, we are committed to helping Philippinebased enterprises, freelancers, startups, and MSMEs by harnessing the power of WeWork’s global network and community,” said WeWork Southeast Asia managing director Turochas “T” Fuad.

Testament to its local commitment to further accelerate the future of work in the dynamic Filipino market, WeWork Uptown Bonifacio boasts thoughtfully curated elements such as a games and karaoke room and an indoor garden area on the 10th floor among its signature features. The indoor garden is inspired by the Philippine islands, where artificial turf mounds with planters and swings cover the length of the corridor, while also showcasing the vivid mural

by Bitto.

“WeWork is not just about the space, but also the value that we create by providing an inclusive member-driven experience that fosters an environment of creativity and collaboration across a vibrant global community of individuals,” enthused Fuad.

The indoor garden on the 10th floor provides ample space for contemplation and relaxation.

DYNAMIC. WeWork opens its first Philippine location at Uptown Bonifacio Tower Three, offering members a workspace that fosters creativity and collaboration.

The pantry is filled with various beverages and snacks for members.

The co-working space harnesses ample natural light and various open-air meeting places. A healthy dose of greenery brings life to the space. Pops of color, as in the mint-colored ceiling feature and mural made by WeWork’s arts and graphics team and Bitto, complement the dynamic environment.

“Apart from creating habitats for creativity and focus, our goal is to shape truly dynamic environments that aim to create better experiences where our members are inspired to go to work everyday,” said Fuad.

He continued, “By transforming spaces into beautiful multipurpose and responsive environments that function like an office but feel like a home for our members, we are very much rooted in our values that demonstrate how every design element and corner in WeWork was considered with the member in mind.”

WeWork bridges the gap between physical spaces and digital platforms by utilizing software and data to ensure its spaces are designed and built efficiently and that its communities are connected, productive and, ultimately, happy. Members are connected through the WeWork Members Network App, WeWork’s inhouse mobile technology.

WeWork welcomes members ranging from global enterprises to organizations such as education technology enterprise Edukasyon.ph, activities booking

FEU unveils Centennial Tree to acknowledge donors

WeWork’s Gaming and Karaoke Room is one of the highlights of the dynamic co-working space.

platform Klook, and cashback reward startup Shopback.

“We were looking for an efficient and productive working space that would enable us to continuously optimize, innovate, and up our game, so WeWork became a natural fit for us,” said Judge Calimbahin, chief of strategy at Edukasyon.ph.

Klook Philippines market lead Michelle Cruz chimed in, “With Klook, also a member in Seoul and Japan, partnering with WeWork gives us the flexibility and peace of mind to be dynamic with our growth, without worrying about real estate needs and costs.”

Filipina graphic designer wins global Valentine’s Day contest A RECENT advertising arts graduate from Far Eastern University has been named among winners in Freelancer.com’s global Valentine’s Day contest, beating more than 1,300 entries from around the world.

Devon Harrah (left) and Toni Freebairn’s (right) entries to Freelancer.com’s contest

Riva Louise Vicente’s ‘I Love You Bear-y Much’ Valentine’s Day card

Riva Louise Vicente, 22, “can’t believe” she is the sole winner from the Philippines, who rose to the top as one of the runners-up in designing the “The World’s Greatest Valentine’s Day Greeting Card,” a crowdsourcing contest held by the freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Vicente’s “I Love You Bear-y Much” entry

From left: Edukasyon.ph chief of strategy Judge Calimbahin, Klook Philippines market lead Michelle Cruz, WeWork director of engineering Beverly Dolor, Taguig City deputy chief of staff Maricar LoinazSarmiento, WeWork managing director for Southeast Asia Turochas Fuad, Megaworld senior vice president Jericho Go, and Megaworld vice president JP Balboa.

caught the eye of Freelancer.com for its adorable pun and original illustration.

“I came up with my idea by looking at what trend is in style nowadays, which is modern but witty: saying ‘I love you’ in a different way. I only used Adobe Photoshop and drawing tablet to create it,” she shared.

The Pinay layout artist said she will send her winning card to her dad, who works abroad. “This is one of the few ways I can say how much I love him.”

Riva shares her runner-up win with Toni Freebairn, a neophyte graphic designer from New Zealand, with her “You’re The Only Bun For Me” entry. They each took home $100.

Devon Harrah from the United States took the top spot and the $200 cash prize. The recently married man’s win came just in time for his wife to receive his “Love, You Octopi My Thoughts” Valentine’s Day card.

IN LINE with the culminating celebration of the 90th founding anniversary of Far Eastern University, the Alumni Relations Office, in partnership with the Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, recently unveiled the FEU Centennial Tree.

Prominently placed on the ground floor of the Admission Building, the tree aims to acknowledge and give recognition to donors of the OneFEUfund campaign.

This initiative also provides an avenue for members of the FEU community, its friends, and partners to help lay down the foundation for future Tamaraws until the 100th founding anniversary of the university in 2028.

The launch of the Centennial Tree was led by Chair Emeritus Dr. Lourdes R. Montinola, Chairman Aurelio R. Montinola, and Dr. Rosalind Wee. Present during the event were FEU Board of Trustee members Sherisa Nuesa, Gianna Montinola, Ramon Fererros (president of IAS Alumni Asso-

From left: FEU vice president for corporate affairs Dr. Karen Remo, Gianna Montinola, Dr. Rosalind Wee, Chair Emeritus Dr. Lourdes R. Montinola, Board of Trustee member Sherisa Nuesa, Chair Aurelio R. Montinola, Ramon Fererros, and Alumni Relations director Celmer Santos unveil the Centennial Tree.

ciation); and FEU Green and Gold Outstanding Alumni awardees Victoriano Cruz (president of the FEU Alumni Foundation), Dr. Karen Remo, Architect Hernando Advento, and Angel Bautista, to name a few.

Dr. Wee, an Outstanding Alumna and the very first donor, gave the response on behalf of the first set of donors.

Through the program, OneFEUfund channels its proceeds to support the following programs: Scholarships and Financial Aid - FEU funds an average of over 3,500 scholars every year, or about 11 percent of the total student population, with future-ready skills to help them achieve their academic and career goals.

Faculty Development and Research - The university has programs to support faculty members in their doctoral studies abroad. It also funds research in areas such as biodiversity, urban renewal, public health, genetics, sociolinguistics, and indigenous cultures.

Sports Development - FEU supports student-athletes through international training and competition, coaches’ development, academic support, and allowances.

Artistic Development - It creates opportunities for student-artists to compete abroad, internationalize their education, and further develop their artistry.

Community Service - It continues to lead the conservation of endangered tamaraws in Mindoro, build homes for the homeless, provide entrepreneurial programs, give hope to those in prisons, and provide assistance to victims of calamities. These projects are supported by the Volunteerism Services and Tamaraw Volunteers, a university-wide student volunteer organization.

“Through OneFEUfund and the Centennial Tree, the road to supporting future Tamaraws becomes participative. Together with the alumni, we can uphold the university’s mission of producing the next generation of well-rounded and future-ready students,” said FEU president Dr. Michael Alba.

Entertainment

Ariana Grande makes music history P OP princess Ariana Grande is the first act in more than 50 years to claim simultaneously the top three spots on the US singles chart, industry tracker Billboard said Monday.

The 25-year-old star is the second act in the Billboard Hot 100 chart’s six-decade history to accomplish the feat, after The Beatles in 1964.

Grande’s “7 Rings,” “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” and “Thank U, Next” monopolized the top hits chart following her fifth album’s debut on Billboard’s top albums tally.

The Beatles nabbed the same spots in April 1964, with “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Twist and Shout” and “Do You Want to Know a Secret” reigning atop the chart.

The all-genre Hot 100 blends US streaming, radio airplay and digital sales data to rank the top hits.

Grande also broke the record for most simultaneous top 40 hits by a female artist with 11 tracks, beating rapper Cardi B’s previous record of nine.

The pop star has seen runaway success over the past 12 months, with Billboard naming her its 2018 Woman of the Year.

This month she scored her first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for “Sweetener,” beating out tough competition including perennial favorite Taylor Swift.

Grande was notably absent from the gala amid a spat with the show’s producer—but the social media maven commanded attention throughout the evening anyway with relentless posts, including of a satin Zac Posen ball gown she had planned to wear to the show.

The superstar’s latest album—entitled “Thank U, Next,” like its lead single—sees the star sharpen her brand of bubblegum pop with a biting personal edge.

Several songs allude to a tumultuous past year that saw Grande break up with rapper Mac Miller—who died at age 26 in September—and end a brief but heavily publicized engagement with comedian Pete Davidson. AFP

World's number 1 music artist Ariana Grande surprises the Philippines' TNT Boys during the group's live performance on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’ on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

to his detention for nearly three years at Camp Crame Detention Center along with Revilla, Estrada’s likely to be back in the Senate in July, if we base it on the surveys of Social Weather Station and Pulse on candidates that have the chances to win in the coming elections.

Consistently, Estrada’s name has always been in the winning circle. And he is glad that he is because it somehow makes him feel vindicated of the negative impact of the charges hurled at him by the previous administration.

In his visits in Albay, Negros Occidental, Tacloban City, Leyte, Nueva Ecija, and Iloilo, the actor could only think how much the people has loved him, giving him the warmest reception possible for a candidate whose reputation has been smeared many times before. “Nakakatuwa at talagang nakakataba ng puso and ipinakikitang suporta ng taumbayan sa akin at sa pamilya Estrada (It’s heartening to see how the people have been very supportive of me and the Estrada family),” he says.

He says he’ll pay forward (as “Anak ng Masa”) to ensure the greater masses of the Filipino population will benefit from all the bills he is going to propose when he takes his seat in the Senate.

Estrada celebrated his 56th birthday on Feb. 17 with a vow to make his office accessible to everyone, especially those that need help the most. ** * Spring Films marks 10th year So, it has been 10 years since filmmaker

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, February 23, 2019

ACROSS 1 Clairvoyant’s card 6 Makes a hole in one 11 Gamble 14 Trounces 15 Kapitan’s command (hyph.)

16 Emma in “The Avengers” 17 Collision 18 Like river bottoms 19 Veto 20 Computer-chip maker 22 Big spoon 24 Eel 28 Deposed 29 Circumvents 30 Like a good cake 32 From memory 33 Embezzle 35 — Minor 39 Competes for 40 Adherent 41 Insect eater 42 Sums up 43 World-weary 45 Red “Sesame Street” character 46 Some vines 48 Mashed potato serving 50 Put on

53 Minded a kid (hyph.)

54 Snapshot 55 1836 battle site 57 Feeling low 58 Exactness 60 Infuse 65 Ernesto Guevara 66 Eliminate entirely 67 Dive, as a whale 68 Dory mover 69 Had the boldness to try 70 Warming drink DOWN 1 Comforting ltrs.

2 Diver’s need 3 Color TV pioneer 4 Signs off on 5 Casual wear (hyph.)

6 Windy 7 NYC theater award 8 Slouch 9 Diet no-no 10 Drawing stick 11 Type of cake 12 Rousseau opus 13 Took a toll on 21 Monster’s loch 23 Shrewdly 24 Cocoon dweller 25 Steer clear of

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Alden Richards joins Kapuso Bloodletting Day for the second consecutive year.

GMA Network’s nationwide blood drive a success

No movies for Jinggoy Estrada yet ACTOR and senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada is definite about his plans on the movie scene. “No movies on the drawing board,” he said when he met with entertainment press a couple of weeks ago, before he launched his nationwide campaign for his candidacy in the coming elections.

The 56-year-old former Senator, unlike his longtime buddy former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla who said he would be back to his first love, that is the movies, is not even thinking of putting on the act to get back before the cameras.

He said, “I am grateful to the industry.

I was born in that world, as you all know.

My father, President Mayor Joseph Estrada, was once a very popular actor and we benefited from what he earned as an actor. I’ve been an actor myself and I enjoyed every bit of it. Yes, I’ll come back to making movies, but not soon. I have many things in my mind and I’m going to settle things first.”

He is on bail granted to him on Sept.

16, 2017 by the Sandiganbayan on the plunder charge he is facing at the Ombudsman.

In an interview, he said “Kahit ideklara pa na legal nag Korte Suprema ang PDAF o pork barrel, ayoko na.

Minsan, nag e-endorso lang ako sa pork barrel, sumabit pa (Even if the Supreme Court would declare the PDAF or pork barrerl as legal, I wouldn’t want to have anything to do with it. One, I merely endorsed, I got burned).”

Despite the plunder charge that led

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

26 Gave out sparingly 27 Urgent 28 Fossil fuel 30 Flat-topped hills 31 Feedbag filler 34 Roofing piece 36 Coffee-break treats 37 Pago Pago locale 38 Take in a stray 43 Command 44 Gouda cousin 47 Turned sharply 49 Wind player

50 1970s music 51 Buffett’s city 52 Public Citizen founder 53 Unveiled 55 Culture medium 56 Not win 59 S&L offering 61 Cow utterance 62 Sprout 63 Berlin conjunction 64 Ben & Jerry rival

Joyce Bernal, actor Piolo Pascual, and entertainment businessman Erickson Raymunod put up Spring Films, a film production company, out of their common love for making films.

It all started with Kimmy Dora with an unlikely leading lady Eugene Domingo. The film was a sleeper and it made Domingo an unlikely star.

Perhaps it was just a fairly abundant season for the three and Kimmy Dora was merely a seed they had recklessly strewn on what happened to be a fertile ground. After all, recent times have been increasingly conducive for independent content production. “I believe we’re in the renaissance of Philippine cinema, coinciding with its centennial this year,” muses Pascual. “We’re adapting to the

times and anybody can be a producer.

However you look at this, it can be lucrative. There’s a big chance of breaking out internationally because’ the access is already global.”

Raymundo, however, wants to make it clear that their efforts to nurture the growth of local filmmaking aren’t a messianic advocacy, but rather a collaborative one. Although the entertainment landscape has already lent itself to a more competitiveness, the producer and Cornerstone Entertainment founder says, “We work with almost everyone. We offer possibilities. We want to give opportunities to filmmakers and actors na pinaniniwalaan naming tatlo na magagaling at may magagandang materyal pera hindi siguro bibigyan ng pagkakataon ng iba.”

For now, the independent production outfit is wasting no time to showcase the vibrancy of its 13-fiIm repertoire, kicking off with the commercial release of James Robin Mayo’s Kuya Wes that features previously unseen edits.

The promise of spring is the promise of growth, and there will always be Spring Films. Come join the festivities and bask in the glory of a blooming Philippine cinema.

Watch out for the rest of the projects of Spring Films for this year as well as the coming year. *** Visit www.isah.red for more stories.

Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@ isahvred). ΙR

GMA Network successfully turned over a total of 1,136 (511,200cc) blood bags to the Philippine Red Cross during its annual “Kapuso Bloodletting Day” held simultaneously in various parts of the country last Feb. 8.

Kapuso employees, along with their families and friends, at the GMA headquarters in Quezon City were able to donate a record high of 317 blood bags while the bloodletting activities in Dagupan, Ilocos, Naga, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro produced a total of 819 blood bags.

Notably, Kapuso star Alden Richards, who is now a second-time donor, also participated in this year along with other GMA personalities.

Organized by the GMA Corporate Affairs and Communications Department for over a decade now, the ”Kapuso Bloodletting Day” is in coordination with GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), GMA Regional TV, and the Philippine Red Cross.

“Seeing fellow Kapuso employees wholeheartedly giving a part of themselves to help save other people’s lives is incredibly touching and inspiring.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who supported this meaningful project,” said GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz.

Also present during the Kapuso Bloodletting Day in GMA’s Quezon City compound were GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel Tiangco, GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki EscuderoCatibog, PRC National Blood Services Director Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta, and PRC Quezon City Chapter Administrator Amparo Perez.

JED MADELA soars high with new record

Power balladeer Jed Madela's album cover

MULTI-AWARDED recording artist Jed Madela has finally introduced his newest and much-awaited album Superhero under Star Music, now available on digital platforms—iTunes, Amazon, Apple Music, and Spotify.

The “Tawag ng Tanghalan” judge’s latest offering has multiple tracks, including “Superman,” “Superhero,” “I Got Your Back,” “You Were Mine,” and “Di Matitinag.”

Also part of his Superhero album is the single “Be With You Again,” his exciting collaboration with BoybandPH. “It’s about two people who had a relationship that didn’t work. One of them is hoping to get another chance at love,” Jed shared. “Be With You Again” is now part of the MYX Daily Top 10 (as of Feb. 18).

The highly anticipated album launch, held last Saturday at Eastwood Open Park with Six Part Invention, also featured guest performers JMKO and Lara. It was led by musical director Rey Cantong and hosted by MYX VJ Ai dela Cruz.

Aside from the recording project, the World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) hall of famer is also set to have his 15th anniversary concert tour all over the Philippines and also in the US and Canada this year.

Download Jed’s Superhero album on digital stores and watch out for his nationwide mall tours to promote his latest songs. For more details, like Star Music on facebook.com/starmusicph, and follow it on Twitter and Instagram @ StarMusicPH.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Entertainment

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Nation welcomes

CATRIONA

GRAY M

NICKIE WANG

ISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray was an image of a modern Filipina when she arrived at the ballroom of Novotel Manila in Quezon City for her grand homecoming press conference on Wednesday.

Wearing a coral jumpsuit—a creation of Mak Tumang, the designer who created her now iconic lava gown and the Ibong Adarna inspired ensemble she wore during the Miss Universe preliminaries —with the diamond-and-pearl-studded Mikimoto crown on her head, the statuesque beauty turned emotional when delivering her welcome speech.

“The last time I was here, it was my send-off and that was in November. To come back here as Miss Universe 2018, it looks like a fast journey but that happened over the course of two years. This is my first opportunity to celebrate winning Miss Universe with my home country and the people that I love,” Catriona, who was crowned as the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe, told the press.

The Fil-Australian model and singer has been residing in New York since she was crowned in Bangkok on Dec. 17. Since then, she said her life has changed so much. If prior to the pageant she felt driven, now she feels like she has more responsibilities on her shoulders carrying the flag of the Philippines and representing modern women across the globe.

“Since that crown was placed on my head, I would say that in an instant my life was changed. I went from being a voice to the Philippines to a voice to an international audience. With that does come a little bit of pressure but also an amazing opportunity,” she enthused.

“But I also realize that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

A year will go by so fast so I really have been busy making plans about the things I’m going to do during my reign and I really hope to make a positive impact as Miss Universe,” she added.

The 25-year-old stunner further said that it brings her so much pride and honor to be able to bring so much joy to her country. She thanked her supporters, her team, and the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. for supporting her Miss Universe journey every step of the way.

“It is always giving back to the community and to the country as a whole that anchored me throughout this whole process and it is something I have drawn strength from every step of the way,” she said.

Grand homecoming In gratitude to the millions of Filipinos who supported her at Miss Universe, Catriona immediately feted with victory parades upon her official homecoming—in Makati and Manila (on Thursday, Feb. 21) and in Araneta Center, Quezon City (today, Feb. 23).

“I don’t know if I’m ready. I always tell people when I was getting ready for the coronation night, ako lang ang gumawa ng makeup ko. I made sure extra waterproof siya kasi I really felt that if I were to be announced, I would cry. And it never happened.

So I feel like my crying moment is going to be during my homecoming parade,” Catriona shared.

A “Homecoming Special” in her honor will also be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tomorrow Feb. 24.

Dubbed “Raise Your Flag for Catriona Gray,” it will be aired exclusively on ABS-CBN and will feature special guests including Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach,

Maymay Entrata, Bamboo, KZ Tandingan, Morissette Amon, Jed Madela, TNT Boys and Vice Ganda, among others.

A queenly ambassador The ever compassionate Catriona also made it a priority in the list of her activities a visit to the charitable organizations she heartily supports such as Love Yourself (an HIV/AIDS education awareness group) and Smile Train (for underprivileged children).

Yesterday, Feb. 22, employees and officials of PLDT were one with the Miss Universe in celebrating her victory as she paid PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan a courtesy visit at his offices in Makati City, a tradition that has been carried on since 2014, when PLDT HOME and Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. first forged their fruitful partnership in support of outstanding and inspiring women who make an impact in the international stage like the Miss Universe pageant.

Andrew L. Santos, PLDT First Vice President and Head, Consumer Marketing, said “PLDT supports worldclass Filipino talents and we take pride in the achievements of outstanding Filipinas like Miss Universe Catriona Gray.

Together with Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., we continue to support them in their mission to bring pride to the country and help uplift the lives of Filipinos through service and nation-building.”

In 2017 when the Miss Universe pageant was held in the Philippines, PLDT HOME Fibr was at the forefront of the international event.

PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan was an undeniable force that made the

Miss Universe Catriona Gray in a Mak Tumang sampaguita-inspired jumpsuit (a modern Filipiniana) aboard her lava themed float that traversed the major roads of Manila and Makati on Thursday afternoon. Lino Santos

prestigious beauty pageant happen on Philippine shores and PLDT was a huge proponent of that effort. As a result, the leading and most powerful broadband network in the country, and leading mobile brand Smart, provided fixed broadband and mobile connectivity to power up the Miss Universe pageant.

Filipina beauty queens have always been at HOME with PLDT. Their rich history together started with MJ Lastimosa in 2014, continuing on successively with Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, Maxine Medina in 2016, Rachel Peters in 2017 and Catriona Gray who won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title in 2018.

PLDT has made it their commitment to sponsor major Binibining Pilipinas events and has been engaging most of the beauty queens and their respective courts as PLDT HOME brand ambassadors. As such, PLDT and the queens have both been reaching out to Filipinos from all walks of life spreading cheers and goodwill all over the country.

These ladies have also managed to endear themselves to the hearts of those they work with in PLDT. These men and women uphold their admiration and respect for the ladies even outside of the boundaries of work. For one, Catriona Gray has impressed PLDT officers and staff when she graced the PLDT HOME Fibr event in Davao last June. Above and beyond what was expected of her, Catriona spent precious time with a PLDT subscriber and her family, even shared a meal with them because she said, “I wanted to get to know them.” Catriona is naturally sweet and generous to everyone she works with and is diligent in her preparation for the work ahead of her.

And who would forget her answer to a question about whether she would bring a glam team to an out-of-town event or not? Catriona, without batting an eyelash, said there’s no need because she could take care of herself and do her own hair and make-up as part of her Miss Universe pageant training.

PLDT Home ambassador and former Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves Cordoves, a close friend and one of Catriona’s mentors, can attest to the hard work and perseverance of the Queen through her Miss Universe journey. Nicole and Catriona met again as this week as she joined the activities as the PLDT Home Insider gave exclusive access, interviews and sneak peak of all the happenings at the Miss Universe Homecoming.

PLDT believes that the true markings of a real Miss Universe is showcased not just in the excellence of her physical attributes, but more so in the inner workings of her soul. For this, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is a real beauty inside and out.

Catch the Miss Universe Homecoming through live coverages of PLDT Home on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

UNIVERSAL BEAUTY. The Philippines' fourth Miss Universe met with the press ahead of her grand homecoming parade, a traditional motorcade organized by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.