Manila Standard - 2019 April 6 - Saturday

Sara, allies, foes buck Rody’s ‘rev gov’ threat

By Rio N. Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Nat Mariano, Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte drew flak Friday for suggesting he would declare a revolutionary government and throw his critics in jail if

Du30 to China: Back off from Pag-asa

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 55 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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ARM THEM. President

Rodrigo Duterte, speaking before the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Thursday, directs the League’s leadership to work with authorities to come up with solutions on how to better protect the prosecutors and their families.

Presidential Photo

By Nat Mariano, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China “touches” it amid rising tensions over the key waterway.

Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijing’s expansive claims to the sea—a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it.

But as the military warned this week that hundreds of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels had “swarmed” the Manila-held Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, Duterte spoke out late Thursday.

“I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pagasa because I have soldiers there,” Duterte said in speech to prosecutors.

“If you touch it, that’s another story. Then I will tell my soldiers ‘prepare for suicide missions,’” he added.

He also said he would park five Navy ships in the area and tell the Chinese that they were well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

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DISPUTED ISLANDS. Map showing claims and major outposts on the

disputed Spratly Islands. On Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte warned Beijing to back off from the disputed islands, warning of possible military action if China ‘touches’ it amid rising tensions over the key waterway, with an aerial view (inset file photo) of the disputed Pag-asa. AFP

Inflation posts slowest pace in 15 months

Pinoys distrust Beijing’s ‘good’ intentions: SWS

By Nat Mariano

FOUR out of 10 Filipinos do not believe China’s intentions for the Philippines are good for them, according to a Social Weather Stations survey released Friday.

The survey, conducted from December 16 to 19 last year, found 44 percent of Filipino adults disagreed with the statement: “Most of what the Chinese government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for the Filipinos.”

There is a net agreement score of a moderately weak -12 (23 percent agree, 35 percent disagree) among those who were undecided about their trust in China, and the very weak -40 (19 percent agree, 60 percent disagree) among those with little trust in China, according to SWS. Only 27 percent agreed with the statement while 29 percent were undecided, equivalent to a net agreement score of -17, “moderately weak,” SWS said.

Of the 44 percent who disagreed, 22 percent “strongly disagree” while the other half “somewhat disagree.”

Recently, concerns have been raised about Manila securing loans from Beijing due to the two nations’ long-standing dispute in the South China Sea.

THE government will still keep a close watch on the prices of goods and commodities despite the continuous drop in the inflation rate over the last five months, Malacañang said on Friday.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the country’s inflation stood at 3.3 percent in March, slower than the 3.8 percent recorded in February.

The latest recorded figure was also the slowest pace in 15 months, topping January 2018’s 3.4 percent.

“The downtrend was primarily due to the slower annual increase in the index of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.4 percent,” the PSA said. (See story on B1) The slowdowns in price increases in alcoholic beverages, tobacco, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels contributed to the inflation’s continued easing, the country’s statistics agency said.

The PSA also noted the deceleration in prices of furnishing, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house, health; communication, and restaurant, and miscellaneous goods and services.

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GMA @72: Good wishes to all, her legacy, future role GLORIA’S LEGACY. House Speaker Gloria Arroyo (inset) talks about her legacy

and becoming a local government consultant during her 72nd birthday party in Lubao, Pampanga on Friday after a Mass at the San Agustin Church, wishing her legacy will be remembered by historians as having the focus around her restoring fiscal stability after the storms of financial crises abroad.

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday said her legacy to the Philippines was financial stability that enabled the country to weather various financial crises that threatened it after she stepped down from the presidency

in 2010.

At the same time, Arroyo thanked the people who stuck with her through thick and thin in her roller coaster lifepolitical career.

Celebrating her 72nd birthday anniversary Friday, Arroyo wished for the good of the Filipino as she talked about

her legacy that she hoped history would remember her for.

Arroyo, while her legacy may not be as dramatic as those of other world leaders, said she would like to be remembered as the President who brought fiscal stability to her country after a global crisis that dramatically reduced

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Poll campaigning shifts to high gear

By Rio N. Araja

PARTIES GEARING UP. Vice President Leni Robredo (center) endorses Friday local candidates of Bohol and the Otso Deretso senatorial candidates during a political campaign in Tagbilaran City. Norman Cruz

SENATOR Grace Poe has topped a non-commissioned senatorial survey initiated by several educators, data experts and advocates.

In the Kamuning Bakery breakfast forum in Quezon City, Carl Balita, owner of the Carl Balita Review Centers, said Poe would top the polls for senator if the elections were held Friday.

However, Poe ranked just fourth in the awareness of the 4,536 respondents, said Balita, who owns 110 review centers across the country.

Senator Cynthia Villar was No. 1 in Next page

RESTING EASY. President Rodrigo Duterte witnesses the program proper during the Partido Demokratiko-Lakas ng Bayan campaign rally at the Puerto Prtincesa Coliseum in Palawan a day earlier. Presidential Photo

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

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Du30 backs Paolo, nixes drug links

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

WO days after admitting his administration’s war on illegal drugs was a failure because it was a “worldwide problem,” President Rodrigo Duterte assured Filipinos on Thursday night his family was not into the drug trade themselves.

“gay.”

“That’s why I said you gay people.

I do not have to give the name. You should ask the critics who am I referring to and they know who it is,” Duterte said.

On Tuesday, the Facebook page “Metro Balita” posted a six-minute video showing a list of alleged drug lords and the kickbacks deposited in their bank accounts. The resigned Davao City vice mayor, the video said, topped the said list.

The Palace shrugged off the video as propaganda, while Paolo Duterte said it was Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, an administration critic, who was behind the campaign against him.

Trillanes denied the accusation.

“Having said that, I really wish I was part of the making of the videos so I could relish these moments but sadly I am not. In the meantime, I am looking forward, like everyone else, to the next episode,” Trillanes said.

“My challenge to you [President Duterte] is this, sign a bank secrecy waiver to show that you are not corrupt and the billions of money that you have did not come from drugs,” he said.

He also dared the former vice mayor to bare his back to prove he did not have a tattoo marking him as part of a drug syndicate.

The younger Duterte is currently gunning a seat in Congress as representative of Davao’s 1st District in the May elections.

He also defended his eldest son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, against alleged links to a syndicate.

This was after the Dangerous Drugs Board, which is under the Office of the President, said it was ready to undertake a study to determine the real nature and extent of the country’s drug problem.

In a chance interview on the sidelines of the annual convention of the

League of Prosecutors in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, the President said his talk linking his family to narcotics was propaganda.

He said his political enemies were behind the video that linked the younger Duterte and Agriculture Assistant Secretary Waldo Carpio, the President’s son-in-law, to illegal drugs.

Though he did not say who was behind the video, he said one of them was

Rody’s...

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House to Senate: Stop ‘striptease act’ with budget

they push him to the wall.

However, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Friday her father cannot suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus as he planned to do.

“If you go by it legally, the President cannot... only the Congress can do that under the Constitution,” the mayor — like her father a lawyer by profession — told reporters in Cagayan de Oro City.

“If the President has announcements about that, I have yet to read on what basis [he would suspend the writ],” she added.

Speaking before the 31st annual convention of the Prosecutor’s League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Thursday, the President was clearly irked by the advice of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon that the administration should tread carefully or risk being sued, after Duterte had ordered a review of all government contracts.

“F*** you, how dare you say that to me, Mr. Drilon?” the President said.

“I have enough problems with criminality, drugs, rebellion and all but if you pushed me to the wall, I will declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and I will arrest all of you. You are with the rebels, the criminals and the drug addicts. Then, you burden me? I will declare a revolutionary war until the end of my term,” Duterte said.

Reacting to the threat, Vice President Leni Robredo said Friday the President would be violating the Constitution and abandoning his post as Chief Executive if he declares a revolutionary government.

She described the President’s comments as irresponsible.

“Holding public office calls for officials to be prudent with their pronouncements, and not to resort to tantrums in the face of criticisms,” Robredo said.

Robredo’s lawyer and opposition Senate bet Romulo Macalintal said that declaring a revolutionary government would be tantamount to Duterte abandoning his post, paving the way for Robredo to become President.

“To declare a revolutionary government would mean that the President becomes its leader, while Robredo becomes the leader as president of a duly constituted government,” he said.

GMA...

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“I like to think that my legacy will center around restoring our country’s fiscal stability after the storms on financial crisis here and abroad.

“The restoration of fiscal stability was the platform for my program that built more and better infrastructures, and that reduced our poverty from 39 percent when I assumed the presidency, to 26 percent when I left the presidency,” Arroyo said, speaking after the 8 a.m. Mass celebrated in her honor at the San Agustin Church in her hometown Lubao in Pampanga.

When asked what was her birthday wish, she said it “is the good of the Filipino people always.”

Arroyo also repeated her earlier statement that she would concentrate on writing her memoirs after she steps down as speaker on June 30, 2019.

But she declared she planned to be consultant of the Pampanga provincial government so she could continue helping her home province. “ Pampanga Governor [Lilia] Pineda asked me to tell you that I will serve as consultant of the province after I have stepped down from the speakership,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo was joined by her family, husband lawyer Mike Arroyo, children, former Reps. Mikey and Dato and their children, several members of the House of Representatives, Pineda, local officials of Pampanga as well as friends and families.

THE chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations on Friday called on the Senate to itemize in public the changes that the senators did on the proposed 2019 budget after the bicameral committee had approved it.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., the panel’s chairman, said the senators should stop the “striptease act now.”

He made his statement even as the Senate said President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority projects, including his flagship “Build, Build, Build” program, had not been compromised despite the cuts in the 2019 national budget.

The Senate’s Legislative Budget Re-

search and Monitoring Office said the P549.390 billion in new appropriations for the Department of Public Works and Highways approved by Congress was even P4.869 billion higher than the proposal presented by Malacañang.

Data showed that the bill transmitted to the President reflected an increase of P32.923 billion compared to the P516.467 approved by the House of Representatives.

Andaya said the senators should bare all.

“I do not know why [the senators are] so afraid of making public their individual realignments. We have nothing to hide from the public. As responsible

officials tasked with budget authorization, we must all be ready to defend our positions and decisions,” Andaya said in a statement on Friday.

“In the spirit of transparency and accountability, I have repeatedly asked the senators to give us full details of their realignments in the 2019 national budget.

They kept us in the dark in the bicameral meetings, informal meetings, and even in our meeting with the President.”

Andaya’s statement came after Senate President Vicente Sotto III denied on Thursday that they made post-ratification realignments to their “pet projects” amounting to P83.9 billion. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

President open to arming state prosecutors

By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte favors arming government prosecutors as part of their safety and protection amid the killings that targeted members of the National Prosecution Service.

“I’m ready for any suggestion. Op-

Du30...

From A1 Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process.

His words came after his Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling the Chinese ships’ presence an “illegal” violation of Philippine sovereignty.

China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all staked claims to various islands and reefs as well as waterways in the sea, with rich petroleum reserves thought to sit deep beneath the waters.

In a major victory for Manila, an international maritime tribunal ruled early in Duterte’s presidency in 2016 that China’s claims to the area have no legal basis.

However, he has largely set aside that ruling and backed off on their once tense territorial dispute over the sea.

He has been criticized at home for taking too soft a stance on China and getting little of the billions of dollars in investment promised by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

For its part, Beijing has played down the rising tension over Pag-asa, saying on Thursday that both sides had “exchanged views frankly, amicably and constructively” on the issue.

The United States, long-time Philippine ally and former colonial master, has moved to oppose any Chinese expansion in the sea.

For the first time, the US said in March that it would come to Manila’s aid in case of an “armed attack” in the South China Sea. The US navy has also forcefully asserted its right to freedom of navigation in the area, repeatedly sailing close to the man-made islands and drawing Chinese protests.

In his campaign speech, Duterte said his remarks were not a warning, but advice to a friend.

“I’m trying to tell China: That Pag-

Pinoys...

From A1 The Philippines and China have long figured in a maritime dispute as Beijing refuses to recognize an international arbitral court’s ruling that invalidated the

Poll...

From A1 the respondents’ awareness, but ranked just seventh as far as probable preference was concerned, he added.

As the campaign period for the midterm elections hit its seventh week, several senatorial candidates barnstormed different towns and cities across the country.

tions all are on the table. What do you want? Gun? I will allow it,” Duterte said in his speech during the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa City.

President Duterte, a government prosecutor-turned politician in 1986,

recalled that he himself could not go around without a gun as he was handling cases against alleged scalawags in the police and military.

“In my time, you ask those in my age, I carried a gun. I cannot go out without a gun. I was not comfortable without it.

Like I was nude and naked,” he said.

DOH raises heatstroke warning anew THE Department of Health on Friday again warned against heatstroke as the dry season continued and advised the public to stay out of the sun.

“Heatstroke is bad. It can lead to death but it’s easy to avoid,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told Unang Balita.

“Stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water.”

Duque made his statement even as Grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines declared the Luzon grid on yellow alert for the fifth consecutive day, starting from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday on the back of high demand and low reserves.

NGCP said the available capacity was 11,292 megawatts against the peak demand of 10,097 MW. The yellow alert was lifted at 3:22 p.m.

NGCP raised the yellow alert status for the Luzon grid due to insufficient operating reserves brought about by the high system demand and forced/ unplanned outage of the following plants: Malaya Unit 2 (350 MW), Pagbilao Unit 3 (420 MW), SLTEC Unit 1 (135MW), Makban Unit 7 (20 MW) and Tiwi Unit 1 (60 MW), with total capacity of 985 MW. Earlier, the weather bureau said heat cramps and heat exhaustion were likely due to the hot weather.

Duque said the public should not do physical exercises from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as that was the hottest period of the day.

He said heatstroke could also cause multiple organ failure.

The Health department said the symptoms of heatstroke were dizziness, headache, high fever, increased heart rate and unconsciousness. Alena Mae S. Flores

Inflation...

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asa [Island] is ours. We have been there since 1974. If that’s yours, why didn’t you drive us away? So, let us be friends but do not touch Pag-asa Island and the rest.

Otherwise… things would be different,” Duterte said.

In interviews after the speech, however, the President returned to his normal rhetoric, saying war with China would be suicide, and that Beijing could launch a missile that could hit Manila in seven minutes.

“I am sure that it has something to do with the greater game of geopolitics and it is not directed to us. And I assure you that if they kill or arrest people there who are Filipinos, then that would be the time that we will have to decide on what to do,” he added.

The country’s military earlier said about 275 ships have swarmed the vicinity of Pag-asa Island from January to March this year.

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua claimed the Chinese ships were fishing vessels and were unarmed.

However, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday labeled as “illegal” the presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels swarming around the Kalayaan Island Group.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said Friday he will join President Duterte if he decides to visit Pag-asa Island, which is surrounded by Chinese vessels.

“I volunteer to join him in my capacity as an elected senator of the republic and as a freedom-loving Filipino,” Lacson said.

In a Twitter post, Lacson said that Pag-asa is part of the Philippines as he quoted lines from the Philippine national anthem stating that Filipinos would not allow any invaders and will die fighting for the country.

He said China should not be allowed to encircle, much less occupy Pag-asa Island.

Duterte said Thursday that he would not allow China to seize Pag-asa Island even as he maintained that the country must not go to war with the Chinese.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, then Davao City Mayor Duterte said if

China will refuse to honor the decision of the Arbitral Court, he would personally go to the disputed territory to jet ski to the disputed areas and plant the Philippine flag.

Months after he won the elections, Duterte said the “jet ski” reference was only a hyperbole to drive home the point that he would uphold the Philippines’ claims in the South China Sea. “You cannot expect me to ride [on a jet ski], I don’t even know how to swim,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera in October 2016. “If it overturns, you lose a president.”

In the House, Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza welcomed the rebuke issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and appealed to the Chinese government to stop their purported “fishing operations” in Philippine territory.

“We are appealing to the Chinese leadership to refrain from any action that may deprive our Filipino fishermen from earning their living and benefiting from our natural resources. Pag-asa Island, as part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), is included in the official demarcation of Philippine territory as defined by no less than the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“The mere presence of Chinese vessels in the area should have required Philippine permission. But for them to shoo away Filipino fishermen in an area clearly defined as within our territory is a violation of Philippine sovereignty,” he said.

In an interview on radio dzMM, the director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Laws of the Seas Jay Batongbacal said the Philippines should seek help from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“We have to unify within the region and come up with a single ASEAN position against China’s fishing fleet because we are not the only country receiving this kind of treatment,” he said in Filipino.

With AFP

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace is pleased with the latest figures.

“The administration’s resolve to cushion the impact of inflation has resulted in the downward path of inflation for five straight months,” Panelo said.

“We are confident that this slide would continue further for the rest of the year as President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Republic Act No. 11203 [Rice Tariffication Law] last February is expected to further ease inflation,” he added.

According to the Palace official, the administration’s economic managers expect rice prices to go down and even cut inflation by 0.5 to 0.7 percentage point this year.

Amid the decrease, Panelo said the government will not stop to monitor the prices of goods.

“The government, however, would not be complacent and has been vigilant in keeping a close watch on the prices of goods and commodities with the onslaught of El Nino, which may hamper food production,” Panelo said.

“The Palace calls on everyone to participate in water preservation not only in agriculture but also in our daily consumption to increase our resiliency against this extreme weather phenomenon,” he said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Friday said the El Niño phenomenon and the rise in world oil prices could push consumer prices up.

“The possibility of a stronger and prolonged El Niño episode together with the continued rise in global crude oil prices provide upside price pressures over the near term,” the BSP said in a statement.

“Meanwhile, the potential slowdown in domestic economic activity due to the budget impasse as well as continued uncertainty in the global economic environment could present downside risks to inflation,” it said.

latter’s sweeping 9-dash line claim over the South China Sea. Reports of Chinese personnel harassing Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, the country’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, have also made headlines several times.

But relations between Manila and Bei-

jing have considerably improved under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte who has chosen to forge closer ties with Asia’s largest economy, setting aside Manila’s maritime dispute with Beijing.

Philippine authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over China’s activities in the disputed waters, particularly its

rampant militarization efforts in recent years, which Beijing has denied.

In a speech on Thursday, Duterte warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China “touches” it amid rising tensions over the key waterway.

Otso Diretso candidates Chel Diokno and Romy Macalintal were also in Quezon City, as reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino toured Cagayan de Oro and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas campaigned in Dagupan.

Likewise, Otso Diretso bets Gary Alejano and Pilo Hilbay were in Manila, attending a forum with former Rep. Neri Colmenares.

The administration’s Hugpong ng

Pagbabago slate swooped down on Pagadian City with former police chief Ronald dela Rosa, journalist Jiggy Manicad, and presidential consultant Francis Tolentino.

Other Hugpong bets barnstormed alone. Senator Sonny Angara visited in Tangub City; Senator JV Ejercito was in Palawan; and former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla were in Dipolog City and Pasay City, respectively.

Senator Nancy Binay toured Maguindanao, while former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile joined a local proclamation rally in Sorsogon and independent bet Leody de Guzman was in Oriental Mindoro.

Balita said his survey initiative was a “purely academic survey, [was] non-commissioned, non-sponsored, non-revenue earning, [was] not politically motivated, non-partisan and [was] objective, research-based and statistically valid.”

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MMDA: 60-kph speed limit on EDSA could be up by April 9

By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz AUTHORITIES will enforce the 60-kilometers-per-hour speed limit on Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares in a bid to reduce road accidents in the metropolis.

All vehicles, except buses and trucks, traveling along radial and circumferential roads will be covered by the new policy. Violators will be slapped with a P1,000 fine for every offense.

Metro Manila Development Authority spokesperson Assistant Secretary Pircelyn Pialago said concerned local government units in Metro Manila “shall ensure the full implementation of this regulation.”

“The regulation shall be effective five days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation and submission of a copy thereof with the office of the national administrative register, UP Law Center,” she said.

Pialago said the supposed date of the policy’s actual implementation was Dec. 19 last year.

“It could be April 9 or not. We will update you. So far, we have no instruction. At least now we have basis on the technicalities/specifics of the policy,” she said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Friday asked the Senate to act on the bill it has approved, enhancing the effectiveness of the Metropolitan Manila Council in formulating policies, rules, regulations, and enacting ordinances.

4 Abu Sayyaf, 3 soldiers slain in Patikul battle FOUR Abu Sayyaf Group members and three soldiers were killed, while 22 others were wounded in a clash in Patikul, Sulu, on Friday.

Troops from the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were patrolling at around 6:50 a.m. when they encountered around 80 Abu Sayyaf members in Sitio Atol, Barangay Latih, Western Mindanao Command spokesman Colonel Gerry Besana said.

The Abu Sayyaf encountered by the soldiers were under sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who allegedly masterminded the twin explosions at Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on January 27. At least 23 people were killed and over a hundred others were injured in that attack The same group were also behind the April 2 attack on teachers in Patikul, leaving two of the police escorts injured, Besana added.

“The 30-minute fierce firefight resulted to four killed and nine wounded on the enemy (Abu Sayyaf) side while the AFP troops suffered three killed-in-action and 13 others wounded,” he said.

Troops under the Joint Task Force Sulu were pursuing the remaining members of the group encountered by the government forces, Besana noted The injured soldiers were airlifted via helicopter to a military hospital in Jolo, he said.

“Most of the wounded soldiers suffered slight injury due to shrapnel wounds and are now in stable condition,” said Besana. Francisco Tuyay

MISSING HUSBAND. Noreen Amor Fajardo, wife of missing businessman Allan Fajardo, cries as she faces the media with lawyer Ferdinand Topacio (left) on Friday at the Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila. Fajardo and his aide, Ricky Atienza, were kidnapped inside the Misto restaurant at the Seda Nuvali Hotel in Sta. Rosa, Laguna at around 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday. The family has offered a P1-million reward for information on the trader’s whereabouts. Lino Santos

Pag-IBIG mulls doubling savings chip-in to P200 T

HE Pag-IBIG Fund is considering doubling the decades-old P100 monthly savings contribution of its members in 2021 to answer the increasing demand for its low-interest housing and calamity loans.

Top executives of the agency, however, said they will hold consultations first, and vowed improved members’ benefits if the savings hike is to proceed.

“We might have to increase the P100 monthly savings to continue providing the low interest rates. But because President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has standing orders to consider the plight of the Filipino workers, this will not happen immediately,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

“If we have to increase, the increase will happen in two, maybe three years, from now because we have to consult our stakeholders first,” he added.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti reiterated that

if the increase is needed, “this will be implemented in 2021 at the earliest.”

“But as early as now, we want to assure our members that the benefits will definitely improve if the monthly savings is raised from the current levels,” he added.

“In order to sustain our low housing loan and calamity loan interest rates, we may have to raise the monthly contributions to P200. We can also borrow money from other institutions to raise more funds, but doing this will affect our low interest rates,” Moti said.

He explained that the monthly savings mandatory contribution has remained unchanged since 1986, which means that the P100 from each Filipino worker has never been adjusted despite inflation over 32 years.

Del Rosario said the Fund achieved

Paulate bucks Sandiganbayan suspension

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed its preventive suspension order against Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate pending the resolution of criminal cases leveled against him, in connection with his alleged hiring of 30 ghost employees in 2010.

The anti-graft court’s Seventh Division, in a resolution dated March 29, denied the motion for reconsideration of Paulate to set aside his 90-day suspension for lack of merit.

Paulate, who shot to fame as an actor and is running for vice mayor in the May elections, has remained unfazed over the new Sandiganbayan order.

Anette Cabalquinto, a staffer of the councilor, told the Manila Standard on Friday: “We understand your situation, but we do not want to distract the momentum of his campaign.”

She said Paulate went house-to-house to campaign yesterday.

Joyce Fernandez, a legislative staff assistant at the District 2 councilor’s office, said Paulate has not stopped meeting city residents to seek their support.

“He continues campaigning. He is well-received by the people,” she told the Standard.

Paulate, in his motion, said his suspension should have been done before his arraignment, when he can still challenge the validity of the charges against him.

‘LE CORDON’ OPENS. Andre J. Cointreau (left), president and CEO of L’Ecole de Cuisine et de Patisserie, makes his opening speech to launch the Le Cordon Bleu Ateneo de Manila culinary institute on Friday. Chef Thiery Le Baut, technical director of Le Cordon Bleu, also demonstrated the prestigious school’s cooking methods during the blue-ribbon affair. Sonny Espiritu

another banner year in 2018 as the agency earned P33.17 billion in net income.

The increase in the demand for loans, however, may soon outpace the growth in collections derived mostly from the mandatory P100 monthly savings of its members.

In the Pag-IBIG Fund Chairman’s Report, Del Rosario said Pag-IBIG plays a major role in the government’s housing efforts because the Fund is recognized as the single largest source of housing loans in the country.

In 2018 alone, the Fund released P75.31 billion in housing loans.

“We offer the lowest housing loan and calamity loan interest rates. The demand for housing loans alone has seen consistent double-digit growth over the recent years, as it averaged 19.8 percent growth since 2016. So we’re exploring all sources of additional funding,” Del Rosario said.

The availment of housing loans has been growing at a faster pace, Moti said, as the Fund expects the upward trend to continue and projects the demand to increase by 10 percent every year.

If the growth exceeds their projection, only then will they consider raising the monthly savings, he added.

Ombudsman nixes graft rap vs Ecoglobal THE Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed a graft complaint against the chief executive of Ecoglobal Inc. and former Environment Secretary Ma. Regina Lopez for lack of probable cause.

In a ruling penned by Bonifacio G. Mandrilla, Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III, the Ombudsman found no probable cause for the complaint filed on March 16, 2017 by Viena P. Tañada against Lopez and Ecoglobal founder and CEO Jean-Philippe Albert Guy Henry.

This was related to a sponsored trip taken by the former environment boss to Paris in October 2016, which Tañada said violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.

However, the decision noted that Lopez’s trip to France could not qualify as “receiving any gift” within the meaning of the law under Section 2(c) of RA 3019.

“Mr. Henry and Ms. Lopez are known as environmentalists who have worked together in order to aid the country’s needs for renewable energy and waste management to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people,” Ecoglobal said in a statement sent to the Manila Standard.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved the ruling on Jan. 22, 2018, documents showed.

Lopez had been charged with graft and corruption before the Ombudsman for, Tañada alleged in her complaint, accepting gifts from the private company in exchange for a favor that secured for the firm a multimillion-peso government contract.

Lopez was accused of graft for receiving an all-expense paid trip to Paris amounting to €38,380 or P2.05 million and for allegedly misusing her powers to speed the approval of Ecoglobal’s solar farm project in Zamboanga.

ICC starts examining NUPL raps on Du30 THE International Criminal Court has started examining the complaint of alleged crimes against humanity against President Rodrigo Duterte filed by the National Union of People’s Lawyers.

“It appears that your communication relates to a situation already under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor,” the court said in a letter to the NUPL dated April 4.

“Accordingly, your communication will be analyzed in this context, with the assistance of other related communications and other available information,” the ICC added.

Analysis will be carried out “as expeditiously as possible” but the “meaningful analysis” of the factors “can take some time,” the court told the local lawyers.

‘Revise Housing Law Development Act’ PARTIDO ng Bayan ang Bida nominee lawyer Imelda Cruz will push for the revision of the Urban Development Housing Act to ensure affordable and decent housing programs for homeless Filipinos.

The amendments made to the UDHA are outdated, Cruz said, and “needs revision to fit the present need for the government’s housing program.”

“During the census in 2016, there is a 6.2 million backlog in housing, and at present it could reach around eight million,” she added.

The government’s projects should also be properly distributed nationwide, “to benefit the true beneficiaries and not the politicians,” the nominee told a National Press Club forum last week.

The PBB leader also expressed support for the creation of Department of Housing, which would focus on housing programs and not a mere clustering of different housing agencies.

She stressed that government, in dealing housing loans to applicants, should impose a much lower interest rate and not inflict too much requirements in filing a loan.

“Let’s not make it hard for Filipinos who want to have their own homes,” Cruz added.

Red tide still up in several areas SHELLFISHES collected at San Pedro Bay in Western Samar, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, and the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

This is based on the latest laboratory results of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and local government units.

Moreover, Balite Bay, Mati City in Davao Oriental, and the coastal waters of Santa Maria in Davao Occidental are now positive for red tide toxin.

All types of shellfish and shrimp fry from these areas are not safe for human consumption, BFAR warned.

Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe, provided these are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs are removed before cooking, the agency added. Othel V. Campos

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Casting the first stone THE Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent is about the woman caught in adultery. If the woman has defiled herself by entering into an adulterous relationship with another man, under the law she is committing a most grievous sin punishable by stoning to death. Characteristic of the Pharisees and Scribes, they brought the woman to Jesus in order to lay a trap on him. This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. It is also entirely in keeping with the character of the scribes and Pharisees. They attempt at testing Jesus in an attempt to discredit him.

In this regard, I stand

by Jim Paredes and every private or public person who has made mistakes in his or her life.

But Jesus ignored them. He stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. They knew that under the law the woman should be condemned.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Palestine, being a very rocky country, had an abundance of stones. Stoning was thus an acceptable and practical form of inflicting punishment for serious offenses under Judaism. However, Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and Scribes was revolutionary for the time. His answer gave his enemies added ammunition to accuse him of blasphemy, also punishable by death. For his enemies, Jesus had the penchant for violating the law by consorting with sinners. He dined with tax collectors, fraternized with Samaritans, and now an adulteress. It is entirely in keeping with Jesus’ relationship to sinners.

Surely, the man who calls himself the Messiah is violating the sacred laws of Moses for which he should be condemned to death.

The law of Moses which is founded on the

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” cannot let an adulterous woman go unpunished? But the Messiah would not be forced to condemn her. Instead, the Lord utters a most unusual and unexpected words in the situation. , 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,' . . . By his words and actions, Jesus extends mercy and compassion to the woman.

When the woman was left alone and they had all gone, he lifted up his eyes to the woman and gently asks her, 'Has no one condemned you?' She replies, 'No one, Lord.' And he says, 'Neither do I condemn you; I who perhaps you feared would punish you, because in me you have found no sin.' Does the Lord favors sinners? Certainly not! See what follows: 'Go and sin no more.' Therefore, the Lord also condemned sin, but not the sinner, the woman in this case. Jesus does not condemn the woman; whereas these people are sinners, yet they pass sentence of death. God's infinite mercy should move us always to have compassion on those who commit sins, because we ourselves are sinners and in need of God's forgiveness.

This incident in the scripture once again reminds us of the contemporaneity of Jesus’ teachings. Two thousand years ago, people were also too eager to condemn and cast judgment upon those who do not follow acceptable behavior. Much like today, people take so much pleasure in condemning those who do not conform to their beliefs, norms and acceptable social behavior.

People easily judge and condemn. The vitriol displayed in social media will attest to this. The comments are so virulent such that one can only get the impression that people are so obsessed with condemning others. Yet, the Lord, as if speaking to us today and in this age, is telling us not to condemn and judge easily because we are all sinners, and no one is perfect.

In this regard, I stand by Jim Paredes and every private or public person who has made mistakes in his or her life. Jim should be praised even more for coming out clean and not lying. Only those who have never made such mistakes can condemn others. So yes, everyone needs a strong dose of humility. It is important to be aware and acknowledge one’s own faults, as Jim has done.

In the same way, while I am struck at the details of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of the Dutertes and praise the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for the brilliant and rigorous report it has done, I am conscious that SALNs were not taken seriously in the past. I still think that the way the SALN has Turn to A5

T

Now this is scandal

HIS week a singer who happened to be identified with the political opposition was pilloried over social media for a leaked video showing him engaged in a sexual act while in a video call with another. After denying that he was the man in the video, the singer eventually said it was he.

Expect the nasty jokes and condemnation to continue a few more days.

Filipinos are no stranger to scandals. It appears we relish them, even.

Perhaps it is good old schadenfraude—the joy or satisfaction derived from the misfortune and humiliation of others. This might especially be true since said singer is a known critic of this administration. How dare he portray himself as clean, his bashers say, when the evidence of the opposite is just a “share” button away? Now the hypocrite has had what he deserves.

Who isn’t a hypocrite, indeed?

How many of us are actually paragons of virtue, are free of indiscretion and, more importantly, inclined to admit to folly when denying or lying would be more convenient for all?

Meanwhile, the rest of us are sidetracked again, failing to see the

truly scandalous things that we are embroiled in, as a nation.

For instance, Facebook this week announced it had removed some 200 pages and accounts that were used to spread false information in favor of some personalities and against others during the campaign period in 2016.

The social media giant said it had traced the accounts to an individual linked to the current administration.

Three years after the elections, this administration has yet to successfully combat accusations that it relied —relies—heavily on disinformation to sway public opinion to its favor.

We are certain any self-respecting, truth-seeking, freedom-loving leader such as President Duterte would not want this notoriety attached to his name.

Another scandal we are mired in is the inability—refusal—to assert

our own rights in our own territory.

Even an international arbitral court has ruled in our favor, but for reasons we may be too simple to comprehend, it appears that our own national leaders are too feeble to stand up to our giant neighbor, China. But if China were really as fair and reasonable and decent as we are told it is, why is it doing all the things it is doing?

Finally, the campaign against illegal drugs will soon enter its fourth year. Curiously, even the President has said—we don’t think he was being figurative—the problem is getting worse.

The Supreme Court has recently ordered the Philippine National Police to release its records on at least 3,800 deaths related to the drug war.

The Solicitor General quite predictably, is resisting this, saying it would compromise police operations. But what is there to be compromised when thousands of families remain in the dark about the circumstances surrounding their loved ones’ death?

This is sensitive information indeed—but not in the sense that the Solicitor General insists.

If we’re looking for scandal, we don’t have to look too far. Unfortunately, these are not the misfortunes of others. They are ours.

Order in the house THE past days have been quite eventful to say the least. Fourteen people, mostly farmers, were killed in a police operation in Negros Oriental.

Reports said that those who carried out the operation were wearing masks, or had their faces covered. Human rights groups said that the killings could have been part of this administration’s anti-communist drive.

A Chinese-manned dredging ship was found docked in Barangay Lagadlarin in the coastal town of Lobo, Batangas. This vessel was set to gather two million cubic meters of sand from Lobo River but the Local Government Unit did not allow the ship to do any dredging alleging that the ship did not have the necessary permits from the LGU. There were also reports of the presence of Chinese dredging and quarrying ships in Zambales.

Chinese ships’ presence was also reported near the Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. Journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and the other members of the company’s 2016 Board of Directors had to go to Court to post bail TWICE in one week due to cases filed against them by this administration. Presently, Rappler and Ressa are facing 11 or 12 cases filed in succession within a period of only a little over a year. This kind of government action against a media firm is unprecedented in the country.

Two videos tagging President Rodrigo Duterte’s children as principals in an elaborate big-time drug dealing syndicate surfaced one after another. The ‘revelations’ were narrated by an alias “Bikoy” who said that he was an operative of the syndicate for many years. The first video named the president’s son, Paolo Duterte as a drug lord who received big chunks of money for drug trafficking. Bikoy also said he has seen Paolo Duterte’s dragon tattoo on his back and that this proves the younger Duterte’s being part of a drug trafficking triad.

The second video of “Bikoy” alleged that the name of Duterte’s daughter with partner Honeylet Avanceña, Kitty, is being used by another big drug lord who has amassed many millions of pesos through the illegal drug activities of the same syndicate. The second video said that there is a third video that will be released soon.

As expected, President Duterte claimed that the videos are nothing but black propaganda against his family. Paolo Duterte has tagged op-

position Senator Antonio Trillanes as the mastermind behind the videos, which, Trillanes of course denied.

At about the same time that these videos on the Dutertes surfaced, another video trended online and was hotly debated by netizens.

This time, it was a sex video of popular singer/ songwriter Jim Paredes, a known critic of this administration. Paredes, in a statement admitted that he was the man in the video. He said that it was private and that he did not know how it was made public. It would appear that Paredes was set up.

No one likes to live in a messy dwelling.

Towards the end of the week, President Duterte spoke in a PDP-Laban campaign rally in Malabon. It should not have been a big deal because after all, it is campaign season. What roused people’s curiosity was the fact that the President used a bullet-proof glass in front of him as he spoke to the people. He said that the Presidential Security group required him to use the special glass.

To my knowledge, this is the first time that a bullet-proof glass was used by a sitting President when addressing the Filipino people. Is there a threat to the life of Duterte that extra security measures were needed? This was the question asked by people when news about this broke out.

During another speech in Puerto Princesa on April 4, Duterte threatened to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus, arrest all his critics, and wage a revolutionary war until the end of his term if critics do not stop. These are very serious threats that are not made lightly by any official, especially the President.

All these happened in just a little over a week. Such is the present political life in the country.

People continue to get killed daily and it seems that nothing is done to bring murderers to justice. Worse, it is those tasked to keep the peace and secure the people that are often tagged as the perpetrators of these killings.

China is aggressively claiming our territory and getting our natural resources right under our Turn to A5

The President’s adviser HE MAY no longer be the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs having thrown his hat in the senatorial race, but still, lawyer Francis “Tol” Tolentino has the ear of President Rodrigo Duterte every time he speaks.

Even when he is on the campaign trail.

Just the other day, the Duterte administration expressed openness to the idea of creating a Department of Water to address supply issues involving the resource, which just happens to be what Tolentino has been

This man had been advocating the creation of the Department of Water even before the crisis was felt. saying since last year when he warned of an impending water crisis.

Backtracking on his earlier pronouncement when he arbitrarily declared there is

no need for a water department, Presidential Spokesman Sal Panelo said: “A roadmap was presented, which included immediate, medium and long-term interventions, such as making an intensive campaign for the conservation of water and energy, creating a Department of Water and a Department of Disaster Resilience, dredging of waterways, replacing tunnels and aqueducts, installing water tank systems in all Department of Health hospitals and providing funding for the establishment of water treatment plants.”

Actually, it was Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia who pushed for creating a water department during a Cabinet meeting, months after Tol broached the idea of creating the said agency.

Last year, Tol warned of an impending Turn to A5

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Impunity in the South China Sea

By Val Abelgas WITH the government either defending, justifying or simply doing nothing about China’s aggressive actions, the country’s giant neighbor has become even bolder to pursue its “creeping invasion” of the disputed territories in the South China Sea. After occupying, reclaiming and building virtual military bases with airstrips, radar equipment and other installations on several disputed islands in the last few years, the Chinese recently built an alleged maritime rescue center on the Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross Reef), which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group that the Philippines rightfully claims sovereignty over. Instead of lodging a protest, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo ironically says we should be thankful for the Chinese facility because it would help Filipino fishermen in distress.

Recently, US Indo-Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Philip Davidson reported that the China Coast Guard continues to harass and intimidate Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).

Based on this and the complaints of Filipino fishermen, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jin-ping for “crimes against humanity” for the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen.

But President Rodrigo Duterte and Presidential Spokesman Salvador ignored the complaint, saying ICC had no jurisdiction and it was a futile exercise, and reassuring their Chinese friends that relations with China would continue to be warm despite the complaint.

And just last week, the country’s Western Command reported that a flotilla of Chinese vessels, described in news reports as Chinese militia, has been swarming around Pag-asa Island, which is very close to Palawan and is, in fact, officially considered part of the province’s Kalayaan town and home to a small Philippine military contingent and to about 100 Filipino residents, mostly fishermen.

On the previous Chinese transgressions in the disputed islands, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed the DFA had filed “dozens, 50 or even 100 protests” with China, but never released a single copy of the supposed protests. How can Cayetano produce a copy when it was obvious he was lying and couldn’t even remember if dozens or 100 protests had been filed?

On the latest report that hundreds of Chinese vessels are swarmed around Pag-asa

Island, Foreign Affairs Secretary Toedoro Locsin also claimed to have filed a “salvo of diplomatic notes” with the Chinese government, but when pressed to present a copy, Locsin, who has taken on his boss’ penchant for “colorful” language, merely said: “You have my word for it, and that is all you get.

Manigas na kayo na nagda-doubt pa!”

(Drop dead, you doubters.)

Panelo later thumbed down the request to make the protest public and urged the people to just “take the word of the public officials,” which unfortunately is not easy to do considering the track record of this administration on transparency.

Take for example the case of the “Operation Tokhang” reports. The Philippine National Police and the Office of the Solicitor General Jose Calida has been asked to present the official reports on the illegal drug operations for a long time now. Calida first promised to present the report to the Supreme Court but reneged on the offer citing national security.

The high tribunal had to order Calida and PNP last Tuesday to submit to the court the police reports on the killings of more than 4,000 people in Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.

But back to China. Before Locsin claimed that he had sent a “salvo of diplomatic notes” to China, Panelo said the government would “ask politely” why the Chinese vessels were in the area of Pag-asa Island. On the same breath, he downplayed the presence of the Chinese militia, first claiming that there were only 275 ships and not 600 as claimed by the military, and then saying that the Chinese were perhaps merely watching the area.

But based on how the Chinese slowly, but gradually took over the disputed islets in the South China Sea, it is not farfetched to suspect that the Chinese are eyeing the island, which is not just an islet or reef, but a big and inhabitable island.

Their presence seems to send a clear signal to the Philippine military, which is in the process of repairing military installations there, to back off.

“This is a straightforward intimidation tactic—to interrupt Filipino maritime traffic in very close proximity to Thitu (Pag-asa Island),” said Alexander Neill, Shangri-la Dialogue Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Neill said China’s aggressive action on Pag-asa is because of the “inability of Filipino forces to react to probing tactics by

Chinese vessels, and on the political front by President Duterte who has warmed to China and is prepared to dismiss the threat by China to Philippines territory.”

He said the maritime militia serves as “eyes and ears” for the People’s Liberation Army.

“It is also a warning that China has the potential to take the islands with little difficulty, should they choose to,” he added.

Another report that should be a cause for Filipinos is the sudden appearance of a Chinese-manned dredging ship near the coastal town of Lobo in Batangas. Apparently, the ship had no prior authority to sail into the Batangas coast, but its appearance revealed a plan by a private company to dredge sand from the Lobo river to build a runway of the Hongkong International Airport, according to the Inquirer. But one wonders if the sand is not going to be used to reclaim more islands in the South China Sea. Lulutuin tayo sa sarili nating mantika, as they say in Pilipino.

The dredging ship’s appearance also stresses the impunity with which the Chinese, including private companies, are violating Philippine laws and sovereignty obviously because of the way the Duterte administration are coddling up to the Chinese. Chinese companies have been found to be bringing in illegal Chinese workers to the detriment of Filipino workers but the government merely shrugged it off.

In the wake of all these continuing aggressive actions by the Chinese in the South China Sea, the Philippine government continues to reassure Beijing that everything’s okay and that our relations with China continue to be warm. In a campaign rally in Malabon on Tuesday, Duterte said China just wants to become a friend of the Philippines, as he downplayed Chinese aggressions in the South China Sea. Even Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was very “friendly” with China during her presidency, chimed in last week during a forum in that developing countries like the Philippines should look to China as partner, not a threat.

All these developments make us wonder why it appears that this administration is so beholden to China. If we look at Duterte’s key supporters in the presidential campaign—the Marcos family and Arroyo—it should not surprise us that they, too, are known friends of China during their reign. Just wondering. valabelgas@aol.com

Down the sewers the iconic Apo Hiking Society.

Paredes had helped draw audience to the elitist cause of Yellow oligarchy but his perversion has reduced these Yellow mascots to the mere laughingstocks that they are.

Truth hurts, just like what Paredes himTHE despicable Yellow Opposition propa- self said when he confronted a group of ganda machine is in a quandary for damage Duterte supporters during the 2017 EDSA control in the wake of the devastating sex- People Power commemoration. video scandal starring Jim Paredes, poster “What is truth? Truth is truth whether boy and prominent fixture in the Yellows’ it hurts you or it hurts me,” spewed Pareanti-government activities. des, as his group of Yellow rallyists tried to There goes Otso Diretso’s 2019 elec- drive the Dutertards away. tions bid—down the drain. Thus, they are Here we are two years later, Paredes’ finding the need for a new propaganda ploy words blew up in his face bigtime. against the Duterte administration.

At first, he dismissed the viral sex video Reeling from the debacle, they swiftly as fake news but realized he had no choice, targeted presidential son Paolo Duterte and later admitted it’s actually him doing with a recycled allegation of involvement a “private concert.” Some dude at my TV in illegal drugs, even as Paredes conse- network thinks it is an apt music video for quently admitted to his obscene escapade. his single, “Libog Lang Yan.” They, too, have not spared 14-year-old Still, he has the temerity to blame some Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the President’s Duterte supporters for exposing his utterly daughter with Honeylet Avanceña in their disgusting sex-video, recorded during a social media onslaught, recycling again video call with still-unidentified individual. rumors about Manong Digong’s hidden He has the option to go after those who wealth. leaked nasty material that went viral as an The Yellows’ propapaganda machine invasion of privacy and a violation of the must come up with something juicier than Cyber Law. Paredes’ sex-video scandal that sent masTrue he has the right to privacy and sive shockwaves over the obscenity of the whatever he does in his house, whether to known singer-songwriter and member of satisfy his fetish for video-recorded sex or

ingesting shabu may be nobody else’s business.

But when any video material gets streamed online, allowing another person the access to it is a completely different matter.

So much for “protection of privacy” in the digital world where almost nothing is impossible. There have been numerous reports of data breach involving the social media like Facebook and websites of government institutions. Somewhere out there, somebody can possibly be watching you anytime.

Obviously, Paredes did not learn a lesson from the same sex-video scandals previously exposed involving other celebrities, actors, singers, entertainers and news media personalities.

After all has been said of Jim Paredes, we all must learn the only way of protecting our privacy in this cyber age—never ever go online or post photographs, video or any materials that are not intended for public consumption.

As alleged tax evader and foreign dummy Maria Ressa, Leah Navarro and Risa Hontiveros would say, “This is a free country and we have the right to free speech and free press.” Yeah, just as Jim has the right to do whatever he wants.

I won’t be surprised if a Part 2 to this scandal comes out.

corruption or criticize wrong policies. But we must refrain from being personal.

In these times, the best person to emulate in this his ability to be prophetic in a loving way is Bishop Ambo David. I have listened to this pastor of Caloocan many times and he has never attacked the President personally. What Bishop David does is to call for an end to violence and extrajudicial killing in his diocese and the President should not be angry with the bishop for that. In calling David a son of a whore, Duterte crossed the line again. Those senatorial and local candidates or officials in the stage with him in Malabon when he attacked Mrs. David should also be condemned.

As the saying goes, hate the sin but not the sinner. To give a concrete example—we condemn the crime, but justice must be tempered with mercy upon the criminal. To be more specific, we have all the reason to hate the proliferation of drugs, but we must not kill and instead rehabilitate the drug addict. One cannot condemn those whose opinions, ideas and persuasions differ from us, even those

who intimidate and threaten. Instead, we try to respect those who criticize and differ because, in the marketplace of ideas, diversity is an integral and essential feature of a democratic, civilized and free society.

In the lectures I give on the national situation, I always highlight what I think is one sad reality that brought this country on the road to perdition. It’s the sense of self-righteousness of people who divided the country, applying a black and white dichotomy.

This self-righteousness in turn resulted into an even more dangerous sense of self-entitlement: because we are the only good ones and everyone else is corrupt, we are the only ones that can reform or govern the country.

We are a country of sinners. We need national repentance—from the President to our bishops to the ordinary citizen. Let us not cast stones against each other. Instead, let’s help each other be forgiving, better, and kinder.

streets.

Journalists and media outfits critical to this administration continue to be harassed are under threat. Anti-Duterte personalities are targeted.

We have a President who threatens to go to war against the very people he is supposed to serve. The father of the nation is lost, it seems.

Our country is our house. And our house is in such a disarray that we urgently need some

order. No one likes to live in a messy house. No one wants to have a dictator of a father where the family is always under threat and no one is allowed to speak her/his mind or suffer the consequences.

In this country, we need checks and balances.

We need people who will stand up and earnestly clean this mess. We cannot just shrug our shoulders and let our house continue to deteriorate. We

Casting...

From A4 evolved from the Corona to Sereno controversies is wrong. Corona should not have been impeached for a SALN discrepancy; Sereno should not have been ousted because of her alleged failure to submit some SALNS during her days as UP law professor. The Dutertes should be given the change to explain and if necessary to correct their SALNs. Indeed, nobody, just like the Pharisees and scribes, is any position to cast the first stone.

This is true especially for politics. But are we then to condone sinners? Does this mean we cannot criticize public figures?

By no means. We should not tolerate wrongdoing or sin; in fact, responsible and well-meaning people should fight it. But just like Christ, it should be done with mercy and compassion. In fact, I dare say that one must always speak with love. It’s OK to condemn

Order...

From A4 noses. Jobs that should benefit poor Filipinos are given to Chinese nationals. Drug syndicates continue to proliferate and drug lords, just like the killers of innocent lives, are freely roaming our

Facebook Page: Professor Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Indo-Pacific: A US-concocted geo-political equation to the Chinese economy which is essential to their own economic development and prosperity. They all realize that the US can never fill up this vacuum should they decide to forego their current economic link in favor of what many see as a rehash of the Cold War. This explains why the Philippines like THE emergence of China as an economic power has given impetus for the US to the rest of the ASEAN has slowly been counteract what it sees as a new threat to its economically tilting towards China. The dominance in the eastern side of the Pacific US to this date has failed to analyze that rim. The Indo-Pacific as a geo-political con- its continued sponsorship of military allicept is now frequently used by the Trump ances is a dissipating its resources while the administration to differentiate it from Presi- continued building up of economic ties is always productive investment. This is the dent Obama’s pivot-to-Asia policy.

Geographically, the Indo-Pacific cov- hard reality that the US refuses to accept; ers a much wider area as that includes the that it is only the US arms industry that is Pacific and Indian Ocean, and the littoral benefiting from the proxy war. China as their new trading states surrounding partner has delivdeliv that great body of ered the goods they water. Unlike the needed while the pivot-to-Asia policy, US despite years of the US has to rely on What does India’s presence and domiits allies. The connance has failed. cept of Indo-Pacific presence mean?

How could the is slowly being reUS promote the Incast as an emerging do-Pacific as a form security arrangeof geo-political ment stretching from groupings? India for the South China Sea to the Andaman Sea onward to the Indian Ocean. US military instance cannot openly endorse this rather strategists envision it as a way to check outlandish strategy for objectively it has no direct interest to protect in the SCS. StationChina’s influence.

The US now sees the Indo-Pacific to ing naval ships, conducting regular naval serve as foundation to future military alli- patrol or holding joint naval military exerance by commingling countries with dif- cise with other countries could only be inferent political allegiances and perceptions terpreted as endorsing the US policy which of the regional and international problems. in the long run is economically consuming However, taken collectively, it is devoid of to India. On the contrary, China and many ideological substance. Countries that may countries in Southeast Asia could view their be covered are less cohesive and symmetri- presence as an unwarranted provocation.

While China and the Asean concede that cal in their perception of China. As a counterbalance to China’s increasing economic freedom navigation in the SCS should be and political influence, it would be less firmly maintained, which in fact is about to effective and would expose the purpose of ratify the Code of Conduct for navigation, only wanting to insulate them from China. that certainly could raise questions about This is the same strategy of desper- the presence of naval ships alien to the reately promoting a proxy war. By creating gion or do not share the same coastline in a wedge, the US hopes that countries in the the SCS. If the US navy is seen as neceswidened geo-political equation would seek sary to provide security and stability to to formalize their military alliance with the countries with umbilical dependence on its US. It is principally eyeing India as the presence, that does not hold true for other most eligible to take the cudgels of alterna- countries like India. For Asean to acquiesce to the regular presence of foreign navies not tive force.

Possibly the US may establish a liaison littoral to the SCS is to bestow in them right with countries outside of the South China to treat SCS their lake, the way the US navy Sea to coordinate the conduct of joint treats it as its own lake.

Instead of the US navy dangerously military exercise that has for its objective instilling in India the responsibility of se- stretching its responsibility, it seems the curing stability in the SCS, it being a co- new strategy is to encourage the sharing of terminous to the Indian Ocean. That would that responsibility with other countries by then give India the leverage to assert in the allowing them to deploy their naval forces SCS alongside countries that have a formal in the SCS. Many suspect this is to lay the military alliance with the US like Japan, groundwork for the future formation of a South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and new military bloc. While the central operation would still be in the SCS, the new bloc New Zealand.

Should India decide to endorse the US would include the navies coming from the proposal, there is the great possibility it Indian Ocean. One must constantly bear in would be carrying out the greater burden mind that the Indo-Pacific as a new geoponow being undertaken by the US navy now litical term came on the heels of the intenbadly divided among securing the Straits sifying rivalry between the US and China.

In which case, India’s possible deof Taiwan, safeguarding the Sea of Japan to prevent surprised incursion from North ployment of a naval task force in the SCS Korea, and keeping an eye on the power- would require no formal military alliance ful Russian Navy based in Sakhalin Island. with the US but nonetheless would herald Should such unexpected turn of events hap- to the world the US is not alone patrolling pen, India would be forced to defend US the area. Invariably, India will be more interest without that country being formally preoccupied in patrolling SCS than in the Indian Ocean which encompasses the Bay inducted to join the alliance.

The presence of the Indian navy in the of Bengal in the West, Arabian Sea in the SCS may not drastically alter the military East and Sri Lanka to the South where there balance in the region, but it certainly it are more political hotspots than in the SCS. Many observers believe that should the would deliver the much-needed propaganda boost, that the US still has the clout to Indian presence in the SCS become regular, rally behind it in containing China. In fact, it would now be following the footsteps of some politicians in India adhere to the be- the US navy, a role it should not play for the lief that China remains its rival not to say fact that its interest is only limited to transof their dormant but unresolved border dis- porting goods to and from China through the South China Sea which all countries pute.

Even if we take it that isolating China in the region guarantee to remain open to is next to impossible, most countries in all ships. Neither will Asean allow India to SCS even those situated in the India Ocean usurp its primordial role as principal arbiter cannot wholly distance themselves from to any dispute that may arise in the SCS. China. Through the years their economy has become integrated and complimentary rpkapunan@gmail.com

The...

From A4 water crisis with the projected onset of the El Niño phenomenon this year.

“We are already experiencing water rationing and yet PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration) hasn’t even announced the onset of El Niño,” said Tolentino, who issued a warning of the looming water crisis as early as last year.

The former Cabinet secretary cited the current situation in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

“Parched lands are now already visible in Pagudpud and this could only attest that the threat of a water crisis more severe than the one we are presently experiencing is real,” Tolentino averred.

“And the threat that this water crisis can do to affect the development of the country and the health of the Filipinos is really bothersome,” he stressed.

Aggravating the situation, Tolentino said, is the destruction of natural sources of water due to pollution and reclamation.

cannot close our eyes in the hope that others will come and clean our house for us. We need to act.

It will not be easy to do the cleanup operation.

We need to shoo away those who illegally occupy parts of our house. We need to fix things so peace reigns and our families are safe. We need to make the father respect, not threaten his family.

We can begin by responsibly exercising our

Under Tolentino’s proposal, the proposed agency will consolidate the functions of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Local Water Utilities Administration, the National Water Resources Board and National Irrigation Administration in order that all government resources will target solutions to the impending water shortage.

“This will be similar to the Department of Water in Pakistan and Thailand,” he said.

Included in Tol’s proposals are the use of water desalination equipment to recycle and reuse water, and further, adopting the policy of water recycling as part of the National Building Code, which should be amended for this purpose.

The former MMDA chairman fears that an even greater catastrophic drought will hit the country in 2025. Still, there is enough time for Duterte and the next Congress to act on preparatory legislation to avert another major water crisis.

And hopefully, the former President’s adviser will be part of that roster to give deeper insights on how the water situation could be addressed.

right to vote on May 13. And not only that, we should vote into office those who have the capability to work and stand up to power. We should choose those whose integrity cannot be bought by drug, or any kind of money.

It is time to put order in this house. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Education top priority, says Makati’s Binay

By Joel E. Zurbano

E

DUCATION will remain the top priority of the Makati City government under the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay.

Binay made this assurance during the 2nd Commencement Exercises of the K to 12 Senior High School Program last Thursday at the Marquis Events Place, Bonifacio Global City where she was invited as guest speaker.

“Almost majority of my projects are for kids because my philosophy is, if you kids are happy, your parents are happy as well,” said Binay The city chief executive assured the more than 1,200 graduates from the seven public senior high schools that the city government would continue to improve the quality of education in the city’s public schools, noting that they should be proud of being products of the city’s public education system.

“We have levelled up with the standards of private schools and dispelled the connotation of ‘substandard education’ attached to public schools,” she said.

Binay also exhorted the graduates to have a vision of what they want to become in the future, and to make a plan on how to achieve it.

“You should learn to dream. You should learn to plan to get that dream,” she told the graduates, who included 531 honor graduates.

Saying that the graduates should already know what they want to be in the next five years, the mayor assured them that the city government, along with their parents, would help them reach their dreams.

The mayor underscored her thrust of inclusive education by sharing her vision of all public schools in Makati, and not just Makati Science High School, showing excellent academic performance, particularly in Math and Science.

She cited Project MILES (Mathematics Intensive Learning Enhancement for Students), which was launched in September last year, as an initiative of her administration to address the disparity between regular public schools and MakSci.

Former labor attaché sued for abusing woman staffer A COMPLAINT has been filed with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Batangas against a farm owner and former labor attache by his female administrative staffer, who claims she was sexually abused and ridiculed publicly by her boss.

Jeffrey Cortazar, who owns and operates Dream Farm Victories Corp., was charged on April 1 with alleged violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act

by Mary Grace Florence Gamez, 30, a native of Lian, Batangas, official documents showed.

Cortazar, 63, had served as a labor attaché in Beirut, Lebanon during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The Manila Standard could not reach him for comment at press time despite requests coursed through his farm company and

their social media accounts.

Gamez, the complainant, said she started working as Cortazar’s staff in August 2018.

Her work required her to accompany the respondent to the seminars of DV Boer Farm, handle corporate books, and other bookkeeping tasks.

However, weeks after Gamez started her work, she said Cortazar allegedly began making advances, professing his love for her, and telling her that the way she took care of his business made him fall in love with her.

The complainant dismissed his advances and told Cortazar that she does not want to have a relationship with her employer.

Gamez said when Cortazar celebrated his birthday in a resort in Matabungkay, the latter drank too much and asked her to bring him to his apartment in Barangay Quatro, Lian, Batangas.

Du30 rallies newsmen PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called on the country’s agricultural journalists to work together with the government in maintaining the momentum towards a brighter and greener future”for every Filipino.”

The President made the call in a message to the Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc. on the occasion of its presentation of winners of the 2018 PAJ-San Miguel Corporation Binhi Awards for excellence in agricultural and environmental journalism and induction of its officers and directors at the Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City.

Duterte recognized how PAJ, founded in 1976, had “over the years been advocating for (sic) sustainable agriculture and countryside development through balanced reporting on agro-based industries.” he PAJ members, according to Duterte, have raised public awareness, “ensuring that our farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders in this sector are given a voice and are empowered to participate in the national discourse.”

“Excellent journalism promotes nation-building through your stories,” Duterte told the PAJ officers and members.

Duterte congratulated the PAJ and the SMC for jointly holding the annual Binhi Awards contest in agricultural and environmental journalism.

Manicad lauds Malacañang INDEPENDENT senatorial candidate Jiggy Manicad lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to create an inter-agency task force that would drastically reduce hunger in the country by 2030, eight years after he steps down from the presidency.

Manicad said the measure jived with his advocacy to ensure food security particularly for underprivileged Filipinos.

“Hunger is the root cause of a lot of problems in our society. Why do people resort to theft, prostitution, and even drugs? Many times, it’s because of the desperation of not being able to put food on the table,” Manicad said in a press statement.

The neophyte candidate is at present campaigning to bring for-

ward sweeping reforms and more investments in agriculture to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods for farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers.

The task force, he said, would be “instrumental” for this objective.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on Tuesday that President Duterte approved the creation of the Zero Hunger InterAgency Task Force.

According to Nograles, the move was in response to data showing that 2.4-million families suffered from moderate to extreme hunger in 2018.

Around 13.7-million Filipino children are undernourished while about 20 percent of kids aged five and below are underweight.

Sports

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6 , 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Petron, F2 take on separate foes in PSL

Malixi, Chan clinch PH Jr titles AIDRIC Chan outslugged Sean Ramos in a fierce frontside duel then held sway at the back to card a 74 and pound out a two-stroke victory while younger class campaigner Rianne Malixi snatched the overall crown over Junia Gabasa in the girls’ side of the Philippine Junior Amateur Open Golf Championships at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martires, Cavite yesterday.

Tied with Ramos after 54 holes, Chan surged ahead with back-toback birdies from No. 3 then went 4-up on a par and birdie from No. 6.

But a double-bogey mishap on the par-5 No. 8 enabled Ramos to close within two before the latter drew level again as Chan dropped two strokes on the par-5 No. 10.

But just when Ramos thought he had seized the momentum and put the pressure on his fancied rival, he failed to match Chan’s birdie on No. 12, bogeyed No. 14 and fell by four again on a two-shot swing on the 15th (bogey-birdie).

That enabled Chan to scoot home to victory despite a double-bogey on the final hole, claiming the overall crown on a 298 total in his final year in the event which served as the third leg of this year’s PLDT Group National Amateur Tour.

Ramos, one of the country’s leading junior players, finished with a 300 after a 76 and bagged the Albatross (15-18) title while halfway leader Paolo Barro also shot a 74 and a 303 for second with Josh Jorge, another future star, carding a 77 for joint third at 309 with Carl Corpus, who hobbled with a 79, in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

But Malixi, vying in the 12-14 age bracket, took the overall crown in the distaff side with a 302 after a 78, edging Gabasa, who pooled a 303 after a 74, in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Best Center sets deadline for cage, volleyball listup THE Best Center will only accept enrollees for its volleyball summer clinics until today at the St. Patrick School and for its basketball clinics until Tuesday at the Starmall Alabang and at the Our Lady of Guadelupe Minor Seminary in Edsa.

This was announced yesterday by Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center founder and president Nic Jorge. The Best Center is sponsored

by MILO supported by Rain or Shine, Chris Sports and SKLZ. Classes in basketball will start today at the Malate Catholic School and the Ateneo college covered courts (morning and afternoon sessions); and at the King Seminary at E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City (afternoon sessions).

Classes in volleyball fires off at the Ateneo college covered courts (morning sessions) and at the Malate Catholic School (afternoon sessions) on Tuesday.

Afternoon volleyball classes will also be held at the Ateneo college covered courts starting Wednesday.

Games Today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 4 p.m. – Petron vs Sta. Lucia 6 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Foton

Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball against Joel Embiid (21) of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AFP

Bucks turn back Sixers, secure top seed in East

L

OS ANGELES—Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 45 points and had 13 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference with a 128-122 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

It is the first time in franchise history that the Bucks head into the playoffs as the top seed in the East.

“I was just trying to make plays and trying to find the opportunity to attack,” Antetokounmpo said.

Khris Middleton finished with 22 points for Milwaukee, who locked up home court advantage in the playoffs and won the season series over the 76ers after the teams split their first two games.

“It’s been a really special year,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I’m very proud of the team.”

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid recorded his second career tripledouble with 34 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in his return from a three-game absence due to a sore left knee.

JJ Redick added 29 points and Mike Scott scored 22 for Philadelphia, who failed to solidify their hold on the number three seed in the East by losing their third straight game. Philadelphia dropped to 49-30 on the season.

The game got heated in the early stages as less than three minutes in Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe was ejected after receiving two technical fouls. Bledsoe got tangled up with Philadelphia’s Embiid and was thrown out by the officials after he fired the ball at Embiid, hitting him in the stomach.

Tiger heads back to Augusta, resumes pursuit of 15th major championship

WNBL tourney begins Sunday FILIPINA women’s basketball players will be on the spotlight as the first season of the Women’s National Basketball League begins on Sunday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig City.

Seven teams will be seeing action in the inaugural season of the league organized by the National Basketball League with the Parañaque Lady Aces battling the Laguna Lady Pistons in the opener at 1 p.m.

Also playing in the first season are the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Taguig Lady Generals, Pampanga Delta Amazons, and the Cleon and Clyde Lady Snipers.

Players will also get an opportunity to show their skills through a worldwide audience as the games will be shown live on Solar Sports, NBL Philippines Facebook page, and Net 25 Facebook page, and on a delayed basis on GMA News TV International.

Following the formation of the men’s league catered to homegrown talents in different provinces, cities, and municipalities, the NBL is now organizing a women’s league in order to help the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in honing the talents of female players.

Embiid and Philadelphia’s Mike Scott also received technicals.

Antetokounmpo scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Bucks took a 30-26 lead into the second. Milwaukee looked like they would take the lead into halftime but Philadelphia erased a six-point deficit over the final four minutes of the second quarter to jump ahead 58-56.

In the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo made a free throw to cap a 6-0 run with 6:27 left to tie it 104-104.

It is the 42nd time this season Antetokounmpo has scored 25 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in a game.

“He’s been doing it all for us this whole season,” Middleton said.

George Hill finished with 20 points, Sterling Brown scored 12 and D.J. Wilson had 11 for Milwaukee, while Ben Simmons dished out 13 assists for Philadelphia.

“We struggled guarding them,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “We gotta do better.”

Now that they have clinched the top spot, the Bucks will likely rest Antetokounmpo for a game. The league MVP candidate missed Milwaukee’s Sunday game at Atlanta because of a sore right ankle.

Elsewhere, DeMarcus Cousins scored 21 points as the Golden State Warriors boosted their chances of securing the top seed in the Western Conference by clobbering the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90.

The West-leading Golden State improved to 54-24 on the season with just four regular season games left. The twotime defending NBA champion Warriors have a two-game lead over the idle second place Denver Nuggets, who host Portland on Friday. AFP

THE real battle begins as heavyweights Petron and F2 Logistics tackle separate foes in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Blaze Spikers clash with lowly Sta. Lucia at 4 p.m. while the Cargo Movers confront Foton in the 6 p.m. featured battle of this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Asics, Mueller, Mikasa, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Cocolife, Hotel Sogo and Data Project.

After sweeping the 14-game preliminaries, the Blaze Spikers emerged on top, giving them the right to face eighth seed Lady Realtors armed with a twiceto-beat edge in the quarterfinals.

On the same note, the Cargo Movers will face the Tornadoes with a similar incentive after wrapping up the preliminaries at the second spot with an 11-3 win-loss record in this battle that also has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners.

Still, it isn’t enough for F2 Logistics to be confident heading into the quarterfinals.

“I must admit that I really don’t want to face Foton in the quarterfinals. Foton is a very dangerous team. You can’t take them lightly,” said F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus, wary of what the Tornadoes can do now that ace opposite Jaja Santiago and middle blocker Dindin Manabat are back from a long stint in the V.Premier League in Japan.

“With Dindin and Jaja back, Foton surely gained confidence. We have to go back to the drawing board and be ready for them.”

True enough, the Tornadoes displayed tremendous improvement with both Manabat and Santiago getting into the groove.

In fact, after suffering a long 11-game drought, the Tornadoes closed the preliminaries with a bang as they clobbered Sta. Lucia and Generika-Ayala in four sets to avoid facing Petron in the next round.

Foton coach Aaron Velez said finishing strong was part of the plan.

“We really wanted to come up with a strong finish,” he said, adding that beating the Cargo Movers twice will be easier said than done.

“We feel that by winning our last couple of games, we will have the momentum going into the next round. I just hope that we can translate that confidence into a victory in the quarterfinals.

Tiger Woods

AUGUSTA—Tiger Woods heads back to Augusta National to resume his pursuit of a 15th major championship with a firmer grip on the realities of his game and fitness than he could claim in his long-awaited Masters return last year.

“This year, to be able to ramp up a schedule and be able to know what I can and can’t do going into the event, is a lot more comforting than this has been in the previous years because it’s been kind of an unknown going into that event,” said Woods, who played 18 tournaments in his 2018 comeback season along with the Ryder Cup and has teed it up in five events this season.

“I’m right there where I need to be,” Woods said in March. “I’ve gotten a little bit more consistent with my play, and I think that everything is headed

on track toward April.”

For Woods, April is virtually synonymous with the Masters.

He won the first of his four Green Jackets there in historic style in 1997, completed the “Tiger Slam” there in 2001, successfully defended the crown in 2002 and won in dramatic style in 2005 with a chip-in to force a playoff in which he beat Chris DiMarco.

Reason to be optimistic In 2010, Woods chose the Masters for his return to action five months after humiliating revelations of infidelity that ended his marriage.

But his appearance last year was his first since 2015, a return that followed questions whether debilitating back trouble and multiple surgeries would allow him ever to compete again at a high level.

Such was the hype surrounding

Woods’s comeback last year, fuelled by top-five finishes in two tuneup events, he went into the 2018 Masters a betting favourite—but didn’t manage to post a round under par until Sunday.

He would go on to win the PGA Tour Championship last September, and has been in contention in the last two majors he played.

Nevertheless, expectations are more moderate this year as Woods comes off a quarter-final exit at the WGC-Match Play that left him irked -- but lifted him two places to 12th in the world rankings.

Rory McIlroy—chasing a career Grand Slam—and world number one Dustin Johnson are favoured ahead of Woods—the 43-year-old superstar trying to become just the fourth player to win a major title 11 years on from a Grand Slam victory. AFP

PH basketball body appoints Arespacochaga as Batang Gilas coach SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio has named Sandy Arespacochaga as the new head coach of Batang Gilas that will see action in the FIBA World Cup under-19 tournament this June as well as the FIBA Asia Championships under-16 slated this year.

Arespacochaga isn’t new in handling a team as chief bench tactician since he coached the Ateneo Blue Eaglets that won the UAAP juniors championship in 1999 and 2000.

Over the years, Areapacochaga has developed a reputation as one of the best motivators and teachers among young players. A soft spoken and mild mannered person, his style of coaching is expected to provide great impact on the Batang Gilas players as the un-

der-19 team, which include Kai Sotto, is set to compete in the World Cup 2019 in Heraklion, Greece.

“Sandy has proven his worth as a youth basketball coach. He has won championships in the high-school level and has been an active member of the highly successful Ateneo college basketball program,” said Panlilio.

“Batang Gilas U-19 has performed well. It is important that we give them a great fighting chance to win games and get the valuable experience necessary to be competitive in that age group consistently. Sandy’s demeanor is perfect for our young players. He is a natural teacher whose method of teaching is what our young players will embrace and appreciate. He uses his strong com-

munication skills and low key personality to get the best out of his personnel,” he added.

Arespacochaga joined Ateneo’s men’s team as part of the coaching staff of coach Joel Banal in 2002 that won the UAAP title, and with coach Norman Black that bagged five straight UAAP crowns from 2008 to 2012, and

the school’s back-to-back titles so far in 2017 and 2018 under coach Tab Baldwin.

Arespacochaga also worked with different PBA teams as part of the coaching staff of Black at TNT, coach Yeng Guiao at NLEX and at the moment with coach Bong Ravena of TNT. “It is important that we teach our young players to not only play good basketball but more importantly, conduct themselves positively inside and outside the basketball court. With his focus on a strong and wholistic values enrichment program, we in the SBP are confident that the success of the Batang Gilas program will be sustained and will eventually benefit even our Gilas Men’s program,” Panlilio concluded.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

Sports

Phoenix seeks a different result

By Jeric Lopez WHOEVER it faces in the quarterfinals, Phoenix is determined not to make the same mistake it did the last time out.

The Fuel Masters are already looking forward to finally breaking through as they head to the playoffs of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup as the top seed.

Armed with a twice-to-beat incentive for the second straight conference, Phoenix looks to turn the tides this time around in the hopes of making the semifinals.

It awaits the victor between NLEX and Alaska, who are currently in a dog fight to determine the last team that will punch the last ticket in the quarterfinals and the No. 8 seed.

Either way, Phoenix coach Louie Alas is focus on his team’s progression ahead as he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened in the Governors’ Cup of last season.

“We’re able to get our first goal, which is to be in the top two, nag-top pa nga,” said the Fuel Masters’ tactician. “But this time, we don’t want what happened last conference. We also had a twice-to-beat advantage but we still lost. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Phoenix was the No. 2 seed last Governors’ Cup, but still did not make the semifinals, losing to Meralco twice in the quarters.

Now, the Fuel Masters are hoping that holding the top seed and playing consistently well can get them over to the next level.

Phoenix finished with a remarkable 9-2 slate to claim the top spot.

It also has victories over NLEX and Alaska in the eliminations.

Santo Tomas, Far Eastern, UP to boost bids Games today

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 8 a.m. – AdU vs UST (Men) 10 a.m. – Ateneo vs UP (Men) 2 p.m. – UST vs UE (Women) 4 p.m. – UP vs FEU (Women)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University go for crucial wins to boost their respective Final Four bids today (Saturday) in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigresses play University of the East at 2 p.m., while the Lady Maroons and the Lady Tamaraws collide in the day’s other match at 4 p.m.

UST, UP and FEU are not only seeking victories to stay within the top four range but to also stay within reach of defending champion De La Salle. Locked in a threeway tie at 6-4, the Tigresses, the Lady Maroons and the Lady Tamaraws are trailing the second-running Lady Spikers (7-3) by just a game in the race for the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four.

“All games are must-win games.

That’s the only thing I’ll say,” said UP coach Godfrey Okumu. “As a coach even if we make it to the Final Four, which I believe we have very high chances of being in the Final Four, I would not want to lose anymore,” he added.

UST’s two second-round losses came against the league’s top two teams -Ateneo and De La Salle.

Ranged against a hard-luck Lady Warriors’ side that could not get the needed breaks especially in five-set matches, the Tigresses hope to deliver the killer instinct to get back on the winning track.

Whether Isa Molde will return against FEU after sitting out in UP’s narrow 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 24-26, 1511 victory over UE last Wednesday remains to be seen.

“It depends. We still have another three or four days. Hopefully she (Molde) will maybe dress up and come in, maybe as a sub. We don’t know but we’re hoping against hope that she’ll be able to play,” said Okumu.

Solid iron play, clutch putts push Clyde Mondilla nearer to Open crown.

Mondilla finds form, overtakes Thai leader

By Peter Atencio

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ANLUBANG, Laguna— As the winds slowed down, cautious Filipino golfer Clyde Mondilla found his form and grabbed the lead in Round 3 of the Solaire Philippine Open Golf Tournament 2019 at the The Country Club course in here.

Mondilla quickly recovered from a bogey in the first hole with four birdies to finish with a 3-under par 69 at the end of 18 holes.

The 25-year-old Mondilla tallied a 215 to overtake two-day leader Tawit Polthai, who faltered with four of six bogeys in the first nine holes.

Despite his error-prone game, Polthai recovered with two par scores in the last two holes to settle for a four over par 76 and a 219 aggregate in second place.

“Pace, pace lang ako nu’ng dalawang araw. Hindi ko akalain na magli-leader

ako ngayon,” said Mondilla.

Thai golfers Nirun Sae-Ueng and Namchok Tantiphokakul were third and fourth, respectively, with a total of 220, followed by Chuenboomgam Chonlatit in fifth (221).

Mondilla almost ruined his day when he bogeyed the first hole as he mis-drove his first shot, with the ball veering to the right.

But after he recovered with a six-foot birdie in the second hole, Mondilla said his confidence quickly returned.

His game picked up following a sevenfoot birdie in the seventh hole and a short

putt from the fringe in the 14th.

A 15-foot birdie on the 17th was something that gave Mondilla reason to be more confident.

“Pinalapit ko lang, pumasok na,” added Mondilla.

Mondilla said the winds were not that strong since Thursday. But a cautious stance allowed him to enjoy his game.

Filipino bet Angelo Que is now in sixth at 222, with Fil-American Nicolas who came through with a 73 while Thai Poom Saksansin pooled a 223 after a 74 and compatriot Kasidit Lepkurte turned in a 73 for a 224 in a tie with young Korean and PGT leg winner Kim Joo Hyung, who rallied with a backside 34 for a 74, and Macedonia’s Peter Stojanovski, who limped with a 78.

The event is backed by ICTSI, PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High.

Team Pass for Gilas’ Fiba games now on sale GILAS Pilipinas takes on the world’s best nations in the coming 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, and fans can make their voices heard at the venue by purchasing tickets through the official FIBA website.

Fans can follow each of the Philippine national team’s first steps in FIBA’s flagship competition by purchasing the Team Pass.

The Team Pass allows the holder to secure a ticket to games of the selected team during the competition.

The “Group Phase” Team Pass guarantees tickets to all five games of the selected team during the Group Phase.

The Group Phase consists of all three first-round games and two secondround games.

Results in the first round of the Group Phase will determine whether or not a team advances in the tournament or proceeds to the classification round Fans can follow each of the Philippine national team’s first steps in FIBA’s flagship in the second round.

For the Philippines, a “Group Phase” competition by purchasing the Team Pass. Fiba.basketball Team Pass will allow the holder to catch all three games of Gilas Pilipinas in Foshan in the first round and two games in either Wuhan (if qualified) or Beijing (for classification round) in the second round.

PERPETUAL Help’s John Marx mar Mendiogarin, who trounced NueFirst Round—FOSHAN: August 31 Anastacio downed Intug School of Bu- va Ecija’s Romulo Curioso, Zambales’ vs. Italy; September 2 vs. Serbia; Seplacan’s Jeremiah Cruz in 32 moves of a Lou Anton Rivera and University of tember 4 vs. Angola Queen’s Pawn London System to seize the Philippines’ Brent Lenard Alanan, Second Round—WUHAN (if qualian early share of the lead with three respectively, at the helm. fied)/BEIJING (classification round): others at the start of the premier boys’ Anastacio, Dorog, Ocsan and MenSeptember 6 vs. TBD; September 8 vs.

Under-20 division of the Gov. Amor diogarin are eyeing to finish in the TBD Deloso National Age Group Chess top three in this six-day event sponA “Group Phase” Team Pass can be Championships at the Zambales Sports sored by Gov. Deloso and Congresspurchased for as little as Chinese Yuan Complex in Iba, Zambales Thursday man Cheryl Deloso, the Philippine (CNY) ¥1,530 or US$ 228. night.

Sports Commission and National An “All Games” Team Pass is also Anastacio, who qualified via the Chess Federation of the Phl’s Butch offered under the “Group Phase” Team Calabarzon qualifiers last week, was Pichay will represent the country in Pass, which gives to option to secure tickjoined by Cebu’s Jeffu Dorog, Manila’s the ASEAN Age Group tilt in Myanets for three additional games of the Final Melito Ocsan, Jr. and Laguna’s Jhoe- mar in June.

Phase—in the event that the selected nation makes it beyond the group stage.

Davao, Manila gun for MPBL Datu Cup division titles DAVAO Occidental and Manila gun for division crowns and the national finals when they tackle Batangas City and San Juan, respectively, in separate venues in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup on Saturday.

The Davao Occidental Tigers battered the Batangas City Athletics, 6648, in the South division best-of-three finals opener at Almendras Gymnasium in Davao on Thursday and will clinch the title with another victory at De La Salle Lipa.

The Manila Stars, on the other hand, survived the San Juan Knights’ tough challenge at FilOIl Flying V Centre, 91-88, also on Thursday, and need only to repeat their conquest at their home court, San Andres Sports Complex, to rule the North division.

A victory by either the Tanduay-backed Athletics or the Go for Gold-supported Knights will force a deciding Game 3 for the division titles.

If the Cocolife-backed Tigers and the Robust-supported Stars prevail anew, they will dispute the Datu Cup national title in a best-of-five series.

Employing a choking defense throughout, the Tigers forced the Athletics to commit 20 turnovers and shoot 31 percent on field goals en route to a franchise low output of 48.

The Tigers will again lean on veterans Mark Yee, Leo Najorda, Bonbon Custodio, Joseph Terso, Billy Robles and Joseph Terso to live up to their top-billing in the South division.

For the Athletics to stay afloat, Jeff Viernes, Jhaymo Eguilos and Val Acuna must come up with superb plays to neutralize the Tigers’ manpower advantage.

The Stars will be powered anew

by Aris Dionisio, Chris Bitoon, Marvin Hayes, Reil Cervantes and Mafrk Lopez in their bid to upstage the Knights, being led by John Wilson, Ryan Ayonayon, Mac Cardo.

Anastacio seizes share of Gov. Deloso chessfest lead There, they will be eyeing outright International Master and FIDE Master titles and possibly Grandmaster norms.

In the girls’ 20-under, Bulacan’s May Ann Alcantara edged Cebu’s Angel Mae Orijuela in 63 moves of a Reti Opening to spearhead her division alongside five others.

Also coming through in the same division were Pampanga’s Viona Nepascua, Misamis Oriental’s Bhea Buen Ecal, Rizalyn Tejada, Davao City’s Frince Ezra Ocliasa and Perpetual Help’s Maria Angelica Illustre.

IN BRIEF

DBP’s ‘18 net income up by 4.2% to P5.7b STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, said net income in 2018 rose 4.2 percent to P5.72 billion from P5.49 billion in 2017 due mainly to the sustained strength of its loan portfolio.

DBP president and chief executive Emmanuel Herbosa in a statement Friday attributed the increase to the expansion of its deposit-generation activities, especially in the countryside.

“DBP ramped up its lending activities last year in support of the administration’s goal of increasing investments in infrastructure to boost the economy and promote inclusive growth especially in areas outside of traditional urban centers,” Herbosa said.

DBP has been designated earlier as the infrastructure bank by the national government, providing loans to four key sectors of the economy—infrastructure and logistics, micro, small and medium enterprises, social services and community development and the environment.

Julito G. Rada

Business

BPI bullish on hiking green energy loans BANK of the Philippine Islands is optimistic of more than doubling its loans for green energy projects in the next 10 years after disbursing P52.6 billion in loans from 2008 to 2018.

BPI has a total disbursement of more than P52.6 billion in loans for more than 300 energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resiliency projects. About 20 percent of the loan disbursements were for Green Building projects.

“Definitely, the momentum for green building will grow much faster than regular loans,” said BPI head of sustainable energy finance Jo Ann Eala.

BPI said businesses that continue to fuel the growth of the real estate sector with their demand for buildings and office spaces could be more profitable by thinking green.

“Going green can be very profitable.

It should be part of long-term planning not only for the environment, but also for businesses that want to be around for generations. Green building innovations generate notable savings in energy and water consumption, promote good health and well-being among employees, and lower operating and maintenance costs,” Eala said. Alena Mae S. Flores

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

B1

By Darwin G. Amojelar

MARKET EXPANSION. The Chamber of Thrift Banks holds its annual convention at the Rizal Ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel Makati with the theme “Expanding to New Markets.” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno graced the event as keynote speaker. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier (third from left) led the ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony that formally opened the convention’s IT exhibit. Joining her (from left) are CTB executive director Suzanne Felix, CTB and Sterling Bank of Asia president Cecilio San Pedro, CTB first vic president/convention chair and China Bank Savings president Alberto Emilio Ramos; and CTB secretary and BPI Family Savings Bank president Ma. Cristina Go.

March inflation rate fell to 15-month low of 3.3% T

By Julito G. Rada

HE inflation rate in March 2019 further eased to a 15-month low of 3.3 percent from 3.8 percent a month ago on slower annual increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday.

The March figure brought the average inflation in the first quarter to 3.8 percent, now within the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

The March inflation was the slowest since 2.9 percent in December 2017. It was significantly slower than 4.3 percent in March last year and within the 3.1 percent to 3.9 percent range projected by the

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Department of Economic Research a week ago.

“The downtrend was primarily due to slower annual increase in the index of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.4 percent,” the PSA said.

It said annual rates also decelerated in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 10.8 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, both at 3.4 percent; health, 3.9 percent; communication, 0.3 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.7 percent.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the latest data was consistent with its expectations that inflation would continue to settle within the target range for 2019 and 2020.

“However, the possibility of a stronger and prolonged El Niño episode together with the continued rise in global crude oil prices provide upside price pressures over the near term,” it said.

Meanwhile, the potential slowdown in domestic economic activity due to

the budget impasse as well as continued uncertainty in the global economic environment could present downside risks to inflation.

“Against this backdrop, the BSP continues to keep a close watch over price developments in the country and shall consider all relevant information at its next monetary policy meeting on May 9, 2019 to ensure that the monetary policy stance remains consistent with the BSP’s primary mandate of price stability,” it said.

The annual inflation in the National Capital Region decelerated further to 3.2 percent in March from 3.8 percent a month ago and 5.2 percent a year ago.

All the commodity groups posted slower annual mark-ups, except for transport, recreation and culture and education. The annual hike of the transport index was higher at 6.3 percent during the month, while the indices of recreation and culture and education retained their previous month’s annual rates of 2.5 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.

February factory output decreased 8.5% in February

FACTORY output declined in February, a reversal of the double-digit increase a year ago, pulled down by slowdown in eight major sectors led by food manufacturing, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday.

The Volume of Production Index in the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries declined 8.5 percent in February, a turnaround from the annual two-digit growth of VoPI at 15.2 percent a year ago.

“The decrement in February 2019 of VoPI was mainly influenced by the decreases in eight major sectors led by food manufacturing (-19.5 percent), and nonmetallic mineral products (-12 percent).

The Value of Production Index also dropped at an annual rate of 5.5 percent in February, a reversal of the 15.5-percent growth a year ago.

The PSA attributed the decline of VaPI in February to the decreases in the indices of four major sectors led by food manufacturing (-21.9 percent).

The average capacity utilization rate in February for total manufacturing was recorded at 84.3 percent. Fiftyfive percent or 11 of the 20 major industries had at least 80 percent capacity utilization rates.

These were petroleum products (89.6 percent); basic metals (88.7 percent); non-metallic mineral products (86.4 percent); machinery except electrical (86.1 percent); food manufacturing (85.2 percent); chemical products (85.0 percent); electrical machinery (84.9 percent); paper and paper products (83.7 percent); rubber and plastic products (83.2 percent); wood and wood products (82.0 percent), and textiles(80.3 percent). Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

ABS-CBN wins case vs 17 US pirate site operators

Clark airport posted 1m passengers in Q1 CLARK International Airport Corp. said it handled over one million passengers in the first quarter of the year.

CIAC president Jaime Melo said Clark handled 1,019,671 passengers during the first quarter from both international and domestic flights.

“Six years ago, it was a record number if you hit the one million passenger mark in a year. Clark had 1.3 million and 1.2 million passengers in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Now, we broke that mark in just three months, so far the highest quarterly figure in the airport’s 24-year history,” Melo said.

Clark in January registered 364,171 passengers, who traveled via Clark, the highest count of passengers in one month.

“More travelers choose Clark because of congestion in Metro Manila. There are also improvements of terminal facilities here (at Clark) and a more focused and precise operational direction from CIAC management,” Melo said.

With a monthly average of 340,000 travelers, CIAC was poised to breach the four million passenger mark by the year’s end, he added.

Darwin G. Amojelar

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

DIGITAL SUPPORT TO DOT. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat talks before tourism stakeholders at the Breakthroughs Conference of Globe myBusiness. Globe Telecom Inc. is working closely with the Department of Tourism in promoting sustainable Philippine tourism through digital technology by providing the necessary digital technology infrastructure, tools and solutions that will empower businesses from various sectors, such as hotels, food and restaurant, airlines and retail.

DoE order to refine retail competition and open access

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy is set to come out with a circular to assure further the smooth implementation of the retail competition and open access, where customers are given the choice to use their own supplier.

The DoE in the draft circular directed the lifting of the mandatory registration of contestable customers or those with a demand of one megawatt and below to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity.

“The mandatory registration to the WESM... is hereby lifted. For this purpose, CCs, on its choice, may register with the WESM, directly or indirectly,” the DoE said.

The DoE on November 29, 2017 is-

sued a policy providing for the timeline of lowering the demand threshold level in voluntary participation of the contestable customer on the retail market to 750 kilowatts.

With the lowering of the threshold, the DoE expected the number of eligible contestable customers to increase.

But the mandatory registration of CCs to the WESM had posed barrier to the entry of lower threshold of customers to the retail market.

The DoE, however, said all CCs should register with the Central Registration Body for energy accounting and settlement purposes of suppliers, distribution utilities and other entities that may be affected on the implementation of the policy.

The DoE designated the independent

market operator as the CRB for RCOA. “The D-E is hereby designating the IMO as the new CRB in view of the transfer of PEMC’s market operations functions. For this purpose, IEMOP as the designated IMO, shall assume all the functions and responsibilities of the CRB,” it said.

The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines is now the independent market operator, or IMO, that assumed the operation of Philippine Electricity Market Corp.

“Likewise, IEMOP shall upgrade, modify or develop its registration systems, processes and guidelines for the registration of the RCOA participants. IEMOP shall likewise recommend changes to the WESM rules, retail rules and market manuals that may be affected by the implementation of this circular,” the DoE said.

ABS-CBN Corp. said a US Federal District Court in Florida has ordered 27 pirate site operators to each pay $1 million in damages to the local broadcasting company.

ABS-CBN has scored several victories in US courts this year.

The lawsuit, filed in December, covered over three dozen domain names, including dramaofw.ch, vidco.su, pinoyflixtv.com, pinoytvlovershd.com and tambayand.com.

The sites in question are streaming portals that offer access to Filipino content in the US and abroad. These sites attract visitors from all over the world, including the United States, where they target people of Filipino origin.

Elisha Lawrence, ABS-CBN’s assistant vice president of Global AntiPiracy, said “defendants’ websites are operating in blatant disregard of the rights of ABS-CBN and willfully infringing ABS-CBN’s intellectual property.”

She said the “pirates will be stopped wherever they are in the world.”

ABS-CBN’s most recent legal victory follows a pattern of similar verdicts in recent years. With the lawsuits, the company has managed to score dozens of millions of dollars in damages from a wide variety of streaming sites.

As part of the judgment, any advertising revenue gained by these pirate websites must be handed over to ABSCBN. The permanent injunction in the ruling also requires the domain name registrars and registries of the pirate sites to transfer the domain names to ABS-CBN. “It is another great legal victory for ABS-CBN. This substantial award by the US federal court sends the strong message that the content owner has the legal right to protect its content from being given away for free by pirates,” Lawrence added.

Forex reserves rose to $83.2b at the end of March THE country’s gross international reserves rose to $83.2 billion as of end-March from $82.78 billion as of end-February, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Friday.

“The GIR level rose due mainly to inflows arising from the national government’s net foreign currency deposits, BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from its investments abroad,” Diokno said in a statement.

However, the increase in reserves was tempered partially by payments made by the government for servicing its foreign exchange obligations, as well as revaluation losses from the BSP’s gold holdings, resulting from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market.

“The end-March 2019 level of GIR serves as an ample external liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income,” he said.

The reserves were also equivalent to five times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.4 times based on residual maturity.

Net international reserves, which refers to the difference between the BSP’s GIR and total short-term liabilities, also increased by $0.42 billion to $83.19 billion as of end-March 2019 from the end-February 2019 level of $82.77 billion.

Reserves hit an all-time high of $86.139 billion in end-September 2016.

The Bangko Sentral sees the country’s gross international reserves settling at $77 billion in 2019 due to weak balance of payments numbers.

Current account, one of the main components of the BoP, posted a record deficit of $7.9 billion in 2018.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo earlier said the all-time high deficit was about 2 percent of the gross national income and 2.4 percent of the gross domestic product. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain on lower inflation rate T HE stock market rose Friday after the inflation rate in March eased to a 15-month low of 3.3 percent from 3.8 percent in February.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 19.05 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,873.18 on a value turnover of P5 billion. Gainers beat losers, 117 to 81, with 49 issues unchanged.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that slower annual increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages pulled down the March inflation rate. The inflation rate averaged 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2019, now within the government’s official target range of 2 to 4 percent for the year.

LT Group Inc., the holding company

of airline and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, climbed 2.9 percent to P16.50, while casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. gained 2.1 percent to P12.84.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. rose 1.1 percent to P45, while Phinma Energy Corp. advanced 5.8 percent to P1.64.

Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose in holiday-thinned trade Friday on hopes that China and the United States will hammer out a trade deal after both sides sounded notes of optimism.

With top negotiators from the world’s top two economies huddled down in Washington for three days of talks, there has been a growing sense they are close to an agreement to end a stand-off that battered global equities last year.

Donald Trump on Thursday added to the sense of hope when he said the two sides were nearing a successful conclusion.

“We will probably know over the

next four weeks. It may take two weeks after that,” he told reporters following a meeting with Beijing’s top trade envoy and Vice Premier Liu He. “It’s looking very good.”

Later Liu said they had “reached a new consensus on important issues,” according to China’s Xinhua. The news agency also reported that President Xi Jinping had called for the “early conclusion of negotiations.”

Both camps have been cautiously optimistic for months, but the last mile is proving to be the hardest as they tussle over whether and when Washington should remove the painful tariffs it imposed on Chinese goods last year.

While the news was once again upbeat, Asian markets were unable to press ahead with the rally that has characterized the past two weeks, with Hong Kong and Shanghai closed for holidays.

Tokyo ended 0.4 percent higher, Singapore added 0.4 percent and Seoul put on 0.2 percent.

There were also advances in Mumbai and Bangkok with Jakarta flat.

However, Sydney shed 0.8 percent and Wellington slipped 0.4 percent.

“There’s a little bit of a risk that it’s a sell-on-the-news event,” Ann Miletti, at Wells Fargo Asset Management, told Bloomberg News.

“The devil is really in the details— how good is this deal going to look?”

Dealers are now awaiting the release of US jobs data later in the day for an idea about the state of the world’s top economy.

In forex trade, the pound edged up as traders keep tabs on the Brexit saga, with Prime Minister Theresa May set to hold a third day of talks with opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to find a way to avert a no-deal divorce.

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.6 25,830 81.05 1,982,660 131.3 2,112,080 27.1 38,200 19.14 23,500 12.2 426,100 4.4 209,000 1.48 294,000 800 140 0.44 30,000 79.9 1,813,330 0.94 221,000 13.8 3,100 58 559,190 196.8 7,160 111.1 150 58 1,530 26.1 18,200 178.3 133,150 1,800 10 61 3,960 1.13 20,000

1,511,865 161,272,256.50 277,533,292 1,031,745 450,580 5,118,864 917,990 427,360 113,800 13,200 144,630,594 212,060 42,780 32,481,728 1,407,046 18,118 87,610.50 476,840 23,666,091 18,000 243,317 22,660

1,462,917.50 -52,556,744.50 94,383,658 414,050 -485,514 -40,917,672.50 -19,909,049.50 -86,175 7,341,884 -119,341 -

35.5 15.98 0.94 1.4 0.235 1.96 15.28 28.8 14.7 43.1 68.05 1.9 5.25 6 11.4 15.8 9.6 7.24 21.1 79 28.25 2.49 10.98 12.68 1.77 319 53 3.93 3.5 10.26 23.3 14.9 22 377 0.19 6.51 1.38 4.3 6.37 9 1.55 11.68 46 5.35 1.7 2.4 1.28 12.62 103.1 7 0.13 1.06 151.6 2.5 1.69 16.98 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 36 1,011,900 16.5 646,300 0.95 1,151,000 1.43 306,000 0.24 420,000 2.02 56,884,000 15.6 2,768,400 28.8 31,600 15 2,000 43.1 600 72.95 70 1.91 1,040,000 5.87 80,300 6.19 500 11.5 1,547,100 15.94 53,800 9.79 2,364,300 7.25 134,300 21.45 1,231,700 79.4 119,170 29 90,100 2.67 14,129,000 11.1 2,293,500 12.8 1,167,000 1.77 484,000 320 1,390,800 53 100 3.93 197,000 3.52 11,000 10.3 7,100 23.65 2,896,500 15.38 2,791,700 22.1 1,644,700 378.8 206,890 0.19 90,000 6.78 48,600 1.4 10,087,000 4.34 138,000 6.37 1,861,400 9.25 1,200 1.64 74,039,000 12.06 157,500 46 130,300 5.48 62,000 1.7 70,000 2.42 39,000 1.33 165,000 13.3 1,759,400 105 103,220 7.2 636,500 0.13 460,000 1.1 2,398,000 151.6 275,530 2.5 63,000 1.7 1,402,000 16.98 3,000 1.2 15,044,000

36,317,335 10,567,160 1,085,690 430,230 99,950 116,077,640 42,734,632 910,100 29,684 25,860 4,812.50 1,982,800 423,173 3,068 17,743,942 853,344 23,154,449 975,965 26,181,655 9,482,730 2,612,460 37,061,280 25,535,098 14,850,016 867,670 445,013,356 5,300 784,480 38,620 73,174 68,396,350 42,357,842 36,376,065 78,323,582 17,100 329,703 14,117,640 597,480 11,902,537 10,850 120,231,880 1,894,238 6,089,005 333,377 119,000 94,280 211,970 23,035,118 10,812,629 4,572,514 59,810 2,679,740 41,996,994 157,500 2,387,940 50,940 17,497,320

3,073,335 3,480,540 -11,374,380 -2,553,160 25,860 -24,690 3,348,194 22,216 -9,833,252 -266,807 4,305,615 -1,677,958.50 2,470,800 -463,070.00 -1,120,820 5,398,368 235,974,576 -6,999,730 20,146,406 12,560,495 -3,494,778 6,628,400 -1,422,274 254,970 71,280 2,586,135 -331,743 -4,113,328 432,390 122,400 -2,862,355 137,500 -21,970 -343,920

0.58 60.6 16.1 0.83 6.35 20.7 1.39 1.39 922 7.81 11.94 15.18 4.5 0.244 919 7.1 64.65 5.08 0.52 5.45 16.52 0.56 4.65 0.04 1.13 2.96 176 948.5 1.07 1.35 419.8 273 0.247 0.385

0.56 59 15.84 0.8 6.35 20.15 1.37 1.37 907 7.64 11.7 14.92 4.49 0.236 891 6.8 64 5.08 0.5 5.11 16.1 0.55 4.56 0.039 1.13 2.85 173 940 1 1.33 344 261.6 0.231 0.36

HOLDING FIRMS 0.56 11,583,000 59.95 342,130 15.96 7,091,900 0.82 1,404,000 6.35 41,800 20.3 26,200 1.38 943,000 1.39 413,000 922 207,340 7.64 2,228,700 11.74 4,625,200 15.14 578,500 4.5 15,000 0.244 540,000 896 31,260 6.9 146,200 64.65 562,850 5.08 500 0.52 56,000 5.22 757,700 16.5 5,178,200 0.55 53,000 4.58 33,586,000 0.039 2,800,000 1.13 11,000 2.91 1,602,000 176 214,020 944 70,570 1.04 1,444,000 1.35 51,000 419.8 2,770 273 1,830 0.24 1,870,000 0.365 24,490,000

6,549,960 20,540,367 113,184,824 1,136,850 265,430 532,310 1,299,760 568,890 189,532,030 17,194,727 54,456,704 8,711,776 67,450 128,610 28,021,630 1,018,290 36,272,459 2,540 28,060 3,964,251 85,375,168 29,200 154,519,300 109,500 12,430 4,664,840 37,548,018 66,634,065 1,503,810 67,850 985,338 492,884 440,710 9,068,600

-101,970.00 -10,114,973.50 45,721,140 -122,000 -10,150 -100,690 -89,852,700 -1,755,196 -4,961,300 101,462 -17,617,650 659,284 18,789,936 -79,231 -13,157,884 17,050 -85,838,190.00 832,200 17,267,848 19,131,975 -10,400 -692,690 -115,128 24,000 -881,000

13.58 0.8 10.92 0.8 45.1 2.37 4.25 6.5 0.54 0.94 0.243 0.41 11.7 22.8 0.52 1.54 1.36 5.7 0.365 0.5 1.7 0.425 2.59 53.9

13.28 0.79 10.9 0.78 44.5 2.34 4.08 6.5 0.52 0.94 0.241 0.41 11.36 22.35 0.5 1.5 1.32 5.59 0.355 0.49 1.63 0.42 2.5 45

58,054,256 283,840 13,090 269,470 315,374,940 1,552,480 8,393,030 39,000 3,012,710 195,520 1,321,560 57,400 16,958,204 23,956,450 1,923,640 44,206,560 2,974,790 74,136,401 5,075,750 1,189,245 2,104,980 139,400 2,343,500 78,257.50

-1,197,372 7,630 83,238,750 -16,690 -39,000 187,110 92,280 -10,406,260 -593,850 -2,480,290 11,444,558 64,800 365,035 144,550 60,990 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.25 81.5 130.5 26.95 19.14 12.04 4.25 1.43 820 0.44 79 0.92 13.8 57.8 195 121.9 57.15 26.25 177.4 1,800 61 1.16

58.6 82.8 132.1 27.1 19.2 12.3 4.55 1.56 820 0.44 79.9 0.98 13.8 58.8 197 121.9 58 26.4 178.5 1,800 62 1.16

58.25 81 130.5 26.9 19.14 11.94 4.25 1.38 800 0.44 78.85 0.92 13.8 57.8 195 111.1 57 26.1 177.4 1,800 61 1.13

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

35.7 15.98 0.95 1.4 0.235 2 15.28 28.8 14.7 43.1 68.05 1.92 5.32 6.2 11.5 15.86 9.6 7.27 21.3 79.6 28.25 2.52 11.2 12.78 1.81 319 53 4.02 3.5 10.32 23.6 15.1 22.05 379.8 0.19 6.6 1.44 4.3 6.38 9 1.56 12.08 46.85 5.38 1.7 2.41 1.29 12.62 104.9 7.15 0.131 1.09 153.5 2.5 1.71 16.98 1.06

36.15 16.54 0.96 1.43 0.24 2.11 15.6 29 15.06 43.1 72.95 1.92 5.87 6.2 11.56 15.94 9.95 7.38 21.5 79.9 29.1 2.67 11.28 12.86 1.84 321 53 4.02 3.52 10.78 23.75 15.38 22.2 379.8 0.19 6.89 1.44 4.42 6.43 9.25 1.67 12.08 47 5.5 1.7 2.42 1.33 13.3 105 7.25 0.131 1.18 153.5 2.5 1.71 16.98 1.24

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

0.58 60.25 16 0.82 6.35 20.25 1.38 1.38 910.5 7.67 11.92 15.18 4.49 0.239 892 6.89 64.45 5.08 0.52 5.38 16.1 0.56 4.56 0.04 1.13 2.9 173.9 947 1.03 1.33 390 261.8 0.24 0.385

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP

13.28 0.79 10.9 0.78 44.5 2.36 4.09 6.5 0.53 0.94 0.241 0.41 11.44 22.8 0.51 1.53 1.32 5.65 0.365 0.5 1.65 0.42 2.57 45

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

24.5 2 3.06 39.5 1.57 6.65 0.75 7.2

24.5 2.02 3.07 39.65 1.63 7.03 0.75 7.25

24.2 1.98 3.05 38.95 1.54 6.65 0.75 7.17

24.25 2 3.06 38.95 1.63 6.85 0.75 7.24

1,667,800 338,000 37,000 2,111,700 2,073,000 683,800 136,000 9,940,100

40,507,170 676,010 113,200 82,845,365 3,314,320 4,714,863 102,000 71,590,572

6,362,030 -402,290 3,060 -24,569,365 675,818 -55,096,854

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG 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

12.76 20 0.43 0.042 16 2.49 12.6 0.071 83.5 7.51 5.35 6.73 2.22 10.62 895 1,943 5.85 393 3.01 1.87 125 10.8 7.09 0.133 4.89 3.25 3.9 0.97 22.1 0.64 3.12 1.73 1.6 15.42 2.55 4.5 10.2 4.72 121 2.75 1,145 0.83 0.96 48 80.35 8.97 2.43 0.69 0.4 5.63 0.7 15.48

12.8 20 0.44 0.043 16.7 2.54 12.92 0.072 86 7.51 5.4 6.88 2.22 10.64 895 1,943 5.85 417 3.06 1.87 126.3 10.8 7.09 0.133 5.07 3.25 3.92 1.05 22.8 0.68 3.31 1.79 1.88 17.3 2.59 4.5 10.58 4.73 121 2.81 1,154 0.87 1.02 48.4 80.35 9 2.46 0.72 0.4 5.66 0.73 15.48

12.7 19.5 0.43 0.042 16 2.49 12.58 0.07 83 7.5 5.34 6.5 2.22 10.32 895 1,908 5.8 385.2 2.99 1.87 123.1 10.8 7.08 0.129 4.85 3.06 3.77 0.96 22.1 0.63 3.1 1.69 1.6 15.42 2.5 4.42 10.2 4.72 120.9 2.73 1,140 0.83 0.94 47.9 79.85 8.9 2.41 0.67 0.38 5.62 0.7 15.3

SERVICES 12.7 19.8 0.44 0.043 16 2.5 12.84 0.071 86 7.5 5.36 6.8 2.22 10.5 895 1,908 5.8 399.8 3.01 1.87 123.5 10.8 7.08 0.129 4.91 3.15 3.91 0.97 22.8 0.65 3.27 1.77 1.88 17.3 2.54 4.5 10.2 4.73 121 2.74 1,145 0.85 0.96 48.2 80 8.99 2.45 0.68 0.39 5.64 0.71 15.32

31,500 196,200 460,000 2,200,000 16,400 417,000 9,571,500 19,760,000 261,430 5,000 324,900 327,900 5,000 91,500 20 15,565 731,500 6,160 610,000 19,000 743,170 600 14,000 170,000 2,086,000 66,000 1,918,000 5,705,000 1,608,800 5,273,000 3,112,000 59,000 9,000 300 616,000 29,000 32,000 3,000 1,270 1,032,000 84,205 5,933,000 50,740,000 3,044,200 45,690 712,300 5,863,000 4,718,000 9,380,000 5,256,300 3,396,000 1,001,900

400,970 3,870,386 201,100 93,000 270,158 1,042,340 122,113,984 1,407,940 22,293,898.50 37,511 1,744,046 2,145,725 11,100 958,700 17,900 29,875,125 4,258,057 2,474,816 1,843,250 35,530 92,096,580 6,480 99,200 22,290 10,330,260 203,980 7,432,240 5,733,410 36,387,625 3,420,200 10,123,970 101,480 14,680 4,814 1,548,580 129,020 332,352 14,170 153,667 2,840,960 96,699,950 5,080,080 49,407,150 146,865,305 3,656,525.50 6,403,460 14,312,320 3,211,030 3,662,850 29,617,598 2,417,840 15,403,160

25,400 -5,010 -30,000 12,051,396 464,420.00 1,644,503.50 595,502 -2,092,597 -21,280 279,530 -63,440 20,882,769 10,320 83,640 1,699,880 -5,960,080 494,730 37,830 -12,098 -1,429,540 -32,119,305 -479,370 514,980 23,337,675 -2,910,998.50 2,485,840 654,470.00 3,700 -15,075,914 -6,957,386

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATOK BENGUET A BENGUET B 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

0.002 1.39 12.5 1.43 1.45 2.7 0.295 8.05 1.57 0.26 0.116 0.13 0.0083 1.07 2.58 1.04 0.61 0.9 0.012 0.013 0.011 2.99 3.45 9.37 21.9 0.007

0.0021 1.39 12.96 1.44 1.45 2.7 0.3 8.38 1.63 0.26 0.118 0.13 0.0086 1.07 2.64 1.04 0.61 0.92 0.013 0.013 0.011 3.19 3.54 9.64 22 0.007

0.002 1.36 12.5 1.4 1.4 2.66 0.295 8 1.57 0.25 0.111 0.13 0.0078 1.06 2.56 1 0.61 0.9 0.012 0.012 0.011 2.96 3.36 9.37 21.75 0.007

MINING & OIL 0.002 1,274,000,000 1.37 367,000 12.92 3,900 1.44 16,000 1.4 22,000 2.69 601,000 0.3 90,000 8.26 22,900 1.61 6,279,000 0.26 1,220,000 0.118 3,320,000 0.13 10,000 0.0086 45,000,000 1.06 38,000 2.56 2,046,000 1.04 173,000 0.61 23,000 0.9 400,000 0.013 3,800,000 0.012 2,200,000 0.011 47,100,000 3.16 195,000 3.37 458,000 9.48 1,141,100 21.85 241,500 0.007 39,000,000

2,548,100 503,700 50,318 22,770 31,060 1,612,110 26,900 189,869 10,100,900 310,850 377,800 1,300 364,000 40,430 5,307,830 174,120 14,030 360,040 47,200 26,600 518,100 587,610 1,559,700 10,866,513 5,281,180 273,000

-184,550.00 1,410 -77,280 -304,750 -24,000 -20,900 -3,480 -1,417,338 -1,482,215 -

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

19.08 485 98 450.6 5.65 924 1 102.7 100.4 106 1.5 970.5 75.2 76 71.85 74.5 74.35 72.9 72.15

19.56 485 98.5 450.6 5.66 925 1 102.7 100.5 106 1.5 971 75.2 76 73.8 74.5 74.35 72.9 72.15

19.08 480 96.5 450.6 5.6 923.5 0.98 102.7 100.4 106 1.5 970 74.8 75.75 71.75 74.5 74.35 72.9 72.15

PREFERRED 19.56 4,900 485 370 98.5 5,030 450.6 430 5.61 371,300 925 1,090 1 1,449,000 102.7 10 100.5 1,010 106 30 1.5 35,000 971 1,030 74.8 81,610 75.75 37,890 73.8 3,000 74.5 10,000 74.35 2,080 72.9 106,000 72.15 4,250

93,540 179,220 485,500 193,758 2,086,647 1,007,450 1,448,680 1,027 101,405 3,180 52,500 999,480 6,104,644 2,877,530 217,225 745,000 154,648 7,727,400 306,637.50

-91,584.00 14,400 168,600 20,080 15,040 15,190 -

LR WARRANT

1.9

1.96

1.9

WARRANTS 1.96 72,000

137,890

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.93 1.19

4.93 1.2

4.85 1.16

4.86 1.19

82,670 2,109,490

-134,160

FIRST METRO ETF

117.5

117.7

117.1

209,241

-

USD DMPL A1

10.1

10.1

10

117,793

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 13.58 0.8 10.92 0.79 45 2.36 4.14 6.5 0.53 0.94 0.241 0.41 11.46 22.4 0.51 1.5 1.34 5.68 0.355 0.49 1.67 0.42 2.5 50

4,312,300 357,000 1,200 343,000 7,025,000 660,000 2,017,000 6,000 5,692,000 208,000 5,440,000 140,000 1,477,300 1,065,800 3,792,000 29,090,000 2,213,000 13,080,200 14,170,000 2,413,000 1,264,000 330,000 928,000 1,690

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,692,261

INDUSTRIAL

208,328,383

HOLDING FIRMS

105,269,239

PROPERTY

118,467,191

SERVICES

150,013,854

MINING & OIL

1,428,786,716

GRAND TOTAL

2,023,368,529

SME

17,000 1,790,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.6 1,780 10

DDS

11,730

VALUE 1,742.17 (up) 9.82 942,172,565.78 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,740.98 (up) 6.20 1,358,391,166.906 HOLDING FIRMS 7,732.86 (up) 34.50 896,216,903.987 PROPERTY 4,075.07 (down) 6.20 1,591.47 (up) 5.00 1,009,848,038.49 SERVICES MINING & OIL 7,734.29 (up) 9.11 790,887,544.00 PSEI 7,873.18 (up) 19.05 41,218,283.4167 All Shares Index 4,846.99 (up) 14.37 5,041,143,567.71 Gainers: 117; Losers: 81; Unchanged: 49; Total: 247

BDO raises P7.3b from offering of debt paper

By Julito G. Rada BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in the country controlled by the Sy family, raised P7.3 billion through the offering of long-term negotiable certificates of deposits, or LTNCDs. The bank said in a statement Friday it had to raise the offer amount to P7.3 billion from the original P5 billion, and shortened the offering period by one day due to strong demand from investors.

“BDO Unibank Inc.’s offering of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit was driven by solid demand from retail and institutional investors, resulting in total subscriptions of P7.3 billion, almost 1.5 times the original offer,” it said.

“As a result, the issue was upsized from the original offer of P5.0 billion, and the offer period was shortened to April 4, 2019 (from April 5). This latest tranche of LTNCDs has a term of five and a half years with interest rate set at 5.375 percent per annum,” it said.

The issue date is scheduled on April 12, 2019, while the maturity date will be on Oct. 12, 2024.

Other features of the LTNCD include tax exemption on interest income for individual investors if held for at least five years, quarterly interest payments, deposit insurance coverage with Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. up to a maximum of P500,000 per depositor, and negotiability subject to market conditions.

“The LTNCD issuance is part of the bank’s efforts to lengthen the maturity of its funding sources and support business expansion plans,” it said.

Deutsche Bank AG, Manila branch acted as the sole lead arranger and selling agent for the issue, while BDO and BDO Private Bank are the other selling agents. BDO Capital and Investment Corp. served as BDO’s financial advisor.

Meanwhile, the bank announced it would launch the next phase of its system upgrade this coming Holy Week, following last month’s successful implementation of key improvements involving its electronic banking services.

SEC revokes registration of religious firm

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission has revoked the certificate of registration of independent religious corporation Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc., which has been found soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license.

The cancellation of its certificate of registration came after the SEC earlier issued a cease-and-desist order stopping the company as well as its officers and agents from promoting an investment scheme through the internet.

The SEC in a decision on April 3 said it was obligated to revoke the certificate of registration of Kapa, citing that it had been been using its registration with the regulatory body as a religious backdrop to solicit investments from the public.

“Such act is indicative of Kapa’s intent to deceive the public of what it is doing to the damage and prejudice of the investing public,” the SEC said.

The SEC also noted that Kapa’s juridical existence was a mere privilege granted to it by the state that could be withdrawn.

“Kapa misrepresented itself to the public by concealing this investment scheme in the guide of a donation to entice the public to ‘donating’ when truth and in fact they are investing,” the SEC said.

“It is by these acts that Kapa’s certificate of corporate registration should be revoked so that it can no longer perpetrate its fraudulent and misleading acts through the privilege granted to it by the State,” the SEC added.

Kapa was registered with the SEC on March 3, 2017. The company, however, was not authorized to undertake business activities requiring a secondary license, such as acting as broker or dealer in securities, investment house and closeend or open-end investment company.

Despite the lack of authority to offer and sell securities, Kapa led by president and chairman Pastor Joel Apolinario, recruited and encouraged members to “donate” any amount in exchange for a 30-percent monthly return, based on the “Certificate of Membership with Deed of Donation” that they received upon joining.

World

B3

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

China a threat to the world, says ‘Chinese Solzhenitsyn’

IN BRIEF 5G phone released in South Korea SEOUL―Telecom giant Samsung Electronics on Friday released the Galaxy S10 5G, the world’s first available smartphone with built-in fifth-generation communications, as South Korea seeks to build a lead in the transformative technology.

On Wednesday the South became the first country to launch nationwide 5G services, with three superfast networks going live offering data speeds that allow users to download entire movies in less than a second.

Hours later US giant Verizon began commercial services in Chicago and Minneapolis, after rival AT&T made a 5G-based system available to selected users in parts of 12 cities in December.

South Korea’s three mobile carriers—SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus—held launch events across Seoul for the Galaxy S10 5G, whose base version costs 1.39 million won ($1,200).

Interactive virtual-reality displays and robot demonstrations were on show to tout the capabilities of the latest iteration of mobile internet speed, and new users were excited about the possibilities, especially live streaming of sports games and university lectures.

“I watch a lot of videos often, movies and lectures,” said buyer Shim Ji-hye, 38. “I hope faster speeds will help me manage my time better.”

Another user said he was most excited about virtual reality content -- which includes games and even “celebrity VR dating” apps according to the country’s mobile carriers.

With 5G, said researcher Lee Sang-yoon, VR content “can be enjoyed in real time with no delay... I’ll be able to enjoy it in better resolution and speed.” AFP

Seoul declares national disaster SEOUL―A giant forest fire swept across swathes of South Korea Friday, as authorities declared a rare national disaster, deploying 900 fire engines and tens of thousands of personnel to bring it under control.

Apocalyptic images on television and social media showed walls of flame lighting up the night, buildings engulfed in flames, and clouds of smoke billowing across hillsides during the day.

The blaze broke out late Thursday alongside a road in the town of Goseong, in the far northeast of the country and only around 45 kilometers from the border with the nucleararmed North.

Fanned by strong winds it quickly spread through the mountainous area, incinerating 400 homes and 500 hectares of land, according to the government.

Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated and one person died, authorities said, while 11 were injured.

More than 870 fire engines and some 10,000 emergency personnel were dispatched to fight the blaze, the National Fire Agency said.

The military sent 32 helicopters, along with fire engines of its own and 16,500 soldiers, to help.

“Fortunately, the main fire has been brought under control,” provincial governor Choi Moon-soon said in a radio interview with YTN, but added that others were still burning.

The central government declared a state of national disaster, entitling affected areas to special assistance including goods and equipment, and banning entry to dangerous zones. AFP

Japan probe seeks clues to life’s origins TOKYO―A Japanese probe on Friday launched an explosive device at an asteroid, aiming to blast a crater in the surface and scoop up material that could shed light on how the solar system evolved.

The explosive mission is the riskiest yet attempted by the Japanese space agency’s Hayabusa2 probe that aims to reveal more about the origins of life on Earth.

Hayabusa2 successfully released the so-called “small carry-on impactor”—a cone-shaped device capped with a copper bottom—as scheduled, as the probe hovered just 500 meters above the asteroid Ryugu.

The impactor was programmed to explode 40 minutes later, propelling the copper bottom towards Ryugu, where it should gouge a crater into the surface of the asteroid that spins 300 million kilometers from Earth.

Hayabusa2 moved smartly away from the area to avoid being damaged by debris from the explosion or colliding with Ryugu while also releasing a camera to capture images of the event.

Images from a different camera at the bottom of the probe showed the impactor was released at the right position and the right angle.

Control Mission could not immediately confirm the detonation but assumes “the impactor certainly reached the surface,” said Takashi Kubota, engineering researcher at the Japanese space agency.

Kubota said the probe’s use of explosives and its “acrobatic” evasive maneuverswere “unprecedented” and he hoped the mission would give scientists a rare peek inside an asteroid. AFP

THEATRICAL PLAY. A dancer performs during a dance theatrical play entitled 'Minaret' by choreographer and Dancer Omar Rajeh in Beirut on April 4, 2019. The play revolves around the 1,000 years that the minaret of the Great Mosque of Aleppo soared above Syria's largest city. It now lies in ruins. The once existing 'monument' represented the city's soul. AFP

Psychiatric test ordered for Christchurch suspect C HRISTCHURCH―The man accused of shooting dead 50 Muslim worshipers in a Christchurch mosque sat impassively Friday as a New Zealand judge ordered him to undergo tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial for murder.

The survivors and relatives of those killed in the March 15 attacks packed into a Christchurch courtroom as the alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant appeared via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland.

The 28-year-old Australian faces 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges over the shootings at two mosques, which shocked the world and rattled normally peaceful New Zealand.

High Court judge Cameron Mander ruled during the brief hearing that Tarrant would be examined by two health assessors to determine “whether he is fit to stand trial or insane”.

The suspect—a self-avowed white supremacist—sat motionless throughout the hearing, listening intently to proceedings.

He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on June 14.

About 50 people were in the court’s public gallery to catch a glimpse of the man charged with the deadliest massacre in modern New Zealand history.

While the public gallery could see Tarrant on screen, the position of the camera in court ensured his view from prison was restricted to the judge and lawyers.

For most, Tarrant’s appearance on screen was the first chance to see the

face of the man accused of gunning down their loved ones in cold blood.

Yama Nabi, whose 71-year-old father was killed, went to bear witness on behalf of his “heartbroken” family.

“I just wanted to see his face... it’s not going to bring the loved ones back.

I was like [he’s a] coward,” he told reporters outside the court.

Survivor Tofazzal Alam lay down in the Linwood mosque to avoid being shot during the attack and never saw the gunman up close.

“I wanted to see him because he killed so many of my friends. He looks crazy and it was very upsetting,” he said after the hearing.

“I’m very upset to see him. He killed 50 people and he doesn’t look like he’s bothered. I didn’t see any emotion on his face.”

Ahead of the shooting, Tarrant posted a rambling manifesto on social media in which he identified himself by name and described himself as a white supremacist out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims.

He live-streamed himself as he opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque.

Tarrant was initially charged with one murder count as a holding measure

when he made his first court appearance a day after the killings.

However, the charges were updated Friday to include the names of all 50 who were killed in the attack and 39 others who were wounded.

Tarrant had sacked a court-appointed lawyer after the initial court appearance, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a right-wing propaganda platform.

However, two Auckland lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, appeared in court Friday on his behalf.

Judge Mander barred media from filming or photographing proceedings and reiterated an existing ruling that Tarrant’s face must be pixillated in images taken during his previous court appearance.

He also ordered the names of the 39 attempted murder victims to be suppressed, saying identifying them could hinder their recovery, and ruled a summary of the prosecution’s allegations would not be made public as it contained sensitive information.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called the mosque killings a well-planned “terrorist attack” and taken immediate steps to tighten the country’s gun laws.

The government has also said it will review laws dealing with hate speech and called for social media giants to do more to combat online extremism.

The latest update from health authorities earlier this week said 24 people remained in hospital after the attacks, four of them critical, including a four-year-old girl. AFP

PARIS―A dissident writer dubbed the “Chinese Solzhenitsyn” said Friday that his homeland is a “threat for the whole world”.

Liao Yiwu, who was jailed for writing a poem called “Massacre” about the Tiananmen Square protests, told AFP that it would be better for mankind if the economic superpower “splits up”.

“My dream is that China splits up into 10 or so countries. Because China as it is today is a threat for the whole world,” he said as his latest book, “Balls of Opium”, was published in France.

The book, which has been banned in China, recounts the stories of dozens of victims of the Tiananmen massacre, when troops killed thousands of pro-democracy protesters in Beijing in 1989.

The massacre, which is also known as the “June Fourth Incident”, is a major taboo in China.

Liao, who has been living in exile in Berlin since 2011, said, “Returning to China is not a big concern for me.

I would like to go back to my native Sichuan—when it’s independent. Then I would be delighted to return.”

Liao, a poet and musician who also reported on the lives of the Chinese poor, was tortured in prison, according to human rights groups, and harassed by the police on his release.

He told AFP that he was “very pessimistic” about his country under the increasing authoritarian rule of President Xi Jinping.

“Thirty years ago we thought we might develop towards democracy. Today it is all about making money.

“Every one of the Western countries which criticised China after the (Tiananmen) massacre fight with each other now to do business with the executioners even as they continue to arrest and kill people,” Liao added.

He poured scorn on the fact that Xi Jinping’s daughter studied at Harvard along with the children of other Communist Party leaders. “Even the leaders’ mistresses are getting grants to study” at the US university, he claimed.

“Those who have scruples are marginalised while those who make money without criticising the party can do what they want,” said the 60-year-old.

But Liao insisted that Tiananmen is the major turning point in recent Chinese history.

“For me, as for all Chinese people, it was a cataclysmic moment,” he said.

“You cannot mention the massacre in China, it’s taboo. My struggle is to make the truth of what happened known to as many people as I can.”

The writer said that three decades on “we still don’t know the exact number of victims”.

Human rights groups believe that between 2,600 and 3,000 people died after 200,000 soldiers were brought in to encircle the Chinese capital.

British diplomatic cables declassified in 2017 put initial estimates of the death toll at around 10,000. AFP

Australia PM open to the return of IS fighters’ orphaned children

LAUNCHING. Christen Dominique attends the Patrick Ta Beauty Launch on April 4, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.

AFP

CANBERRA―Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday he was open to allowing the return of orphaned children of an Australian jihadist in a Syrian refugee camp following their desperate plea for help.

Morrison said his government was working with the Red Cross so the children could leave the Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria and Australian officials could assess them.

“Where they might be in a position to return to Australia, we will cooperate with that process,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

“Where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation, particularly as innocent children, we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf.”

The PM added that he would not put “any Australian life at risk to extract people from these conflict zones”, a stance he has taken in recent weeks despite pleas from their grandmother Karen Nettleton.

Morrison’s comments came as Hoda Sharrouf—the 16-year-old daughter of Australian Islamic State fighter Khaled Sharrouf—said she was worried about her siblings’ health, including 17-year-

old sister Zaynab who is seven months pregnant and “very sick”.

“What about the children? What about the people that didn’t want to come here? What about the people that are stuck here and never wanted to be here in the first place? They don’t deserve this kind of treatment,” she told The Sydney Morning Herald from the camp.

“We’re Australians too. Australia needs to do something about it. They need to step up,” she said in an interview published Friday.

The Sydney Morning Herald said there were five children in the family seeking help—Hoda, Zaynab, their eight-year-old brother Hamzeh, and Zaynab’s two young children—Ayesha, 3, and Fatima, 2.

Sharrouf—the first Australian to have his citizenship stripped under anti-terrorism laws—left the country for Syria in 2013 with his wife Tara Nettleton, two daughters and three sons.

He made international headlines in 2014 when he posted an image on Twitter of another son holding a severed head.

He is believed to have died in a 2017 American air strike alongside his then pre-teen sons, while Nettleton reportedly died in 2015. AFP

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Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

ALLURE OF ART DECO

Love of jewelry inspires this chic, functionally-designed BGC condo

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R. JIGS Adefuin of Adefuin Design Studio, recently gave a glimpse into his client’s psyche when he designed her 170-square meter condominium unit at Meranti Two Serendra, Bonifacio Globe City.

The expansive unit exhibits an art deco style inspired from the pieces of jewelry the lady of the house wears.

It is consistent with Jigs’ belief that a home is not just where you sleep and live; it is who you are.

Dose of drama Gray, brown, and beige hues dominate the interior, with small doses of black, adding some drama. For the flooring, the natural beauty of walnut wood enhances the elegance of the interiors, and matches the silk wallpaper.

Marbled surfaces create a sense of light, emphasized by mirrors and decor with metallic details.

Artwork from the couple’s collection, among them paintings from Joya, Alcuaz, and Nuyda, are displayed around the interiors.

An Italian leather sofa serves as the focal point of the living room, with accent chairs that blend with the overall look of the space.

Coupled with other furniture pieces that are proportional to the size of the room, the space doesn’t look too crowded.

A mid-century chandelier greets visitors to the dining area. The piece warms up the whole space, from the chic dining table and chairs, to the the accent pieces.

A narrow hallway leads to the master bedroom. The bed, with its padded leather headboard, is at the center, with a small office to one side and a bathroom and walk-in closet on the other.

Art deco elements abound —a night stand with sunburst and

For every space, a purpose The two remaining bedrooms are for the couple’s two children. Each one is laid out according to the specifications of its user, like how the girl’s room was designed with more storage space for her bags and clothes.

Jigs maximized the space by transforming the space under the bunk-style bed into additional storage. “As their designer, I made sure that every area is functional.

Every space would serve a purpose,” he said.

All rooms feature the same wood veneer with solid trimming and fluted glass, but each room reflects the personality of each family member. The boy’s room has blue and light bronze wallpape, which the son personally picked.

The girl’s room has a blue and gold wall paper with geometric patterns.

vintage handles, cabinet doors with fluted glass painted black, textured wallpaper from London, and wooden floors with chevron patterns.

The master bedroom is just one of three bedrooms in the unit. The couple actually bought two units in the residential building (a one-bedroom and three-bedroom unit), which Jigs had to reorganize to create a layout that would suit their lifestyle.

RIDE LIKE THE WIND. Home

LAS PIÑAS HOSTS MAYNILAD’S BIGGEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT. Engineering conglomerate Megawide and the MUL

consortium (MUL), comprised of Toshiba Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and LinkENERGIE, recently started the construction of Maynilad’s Las Piñas water reclamation facility (WRF). This is Maynilad’s largest wastewater treatment plant at 88 MLD (million liters per day) capacity. The facility will serve around 660,000 customers once completed in 2021. At the ground-breaking for the project were (from left to right): Albert Saringo, MUL consortium project director; Koichi Matsui, Toshiba Water Solutions chairperson and managing director; Rosabella Bantog, Las Piñas City engineer; Henry Medina, Las Piñas city councilor; Frederick Tan, Megawide deputy head for construction; April Aguilar, representative of Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar; Ramoncito Fernandez, Maynilad president; Randolph Estrellado, Maynilad COO; Mark Anthony Santos, city councilor; Yolanda Lucas, Maynilad program management head; Antonio Garcia, Maynilad wastewater management head; and Francisco Matias, LinkENERGIE CEO.

improvement and construction supply retailer Wilcon Depot, recently launched “Wilcon win your dream ride “ promo. Customers get a chance to win a Toyota Fortuner for every one electronic raffle entry worth P5,000 of online, or in-store purchases from Wilcon.

Along the way, discover the range of products Wilcon offers ranging from tiles, sanitary wares, plumbing, tools and hardware, paints and sundries, automotives, building materials, electrical, furniture, outdoor living, appliances and home interiors. “Wilcon always comes up with promotions such as this to thank our loyal customers,” said Wilcon SEVP-chief operating officer Rosemarie Ong. “We will continue to elevate customer experience by bringing the the best promotions we can offer to our growing number of customers,” added Wilcon CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan. Shop now at any Wilcon branch nationwide and earn an electronic raffle entry. Deadline for submissions is July 5. The grand raffle draw is on July 9.

Prime lots in a thriving city LOCATED in what is dubbed as the “Tagaytay of Davao,” Sta. Lucia Land is developing a 98-ha residential and leisure project in Brgy. Eden, Toril, Davao City, geared for those looking for a peaceful sanctuary, and a good investment.

A home in Las Colinas enables a resident to be as close to nature as possible, what with unobstructed views

of Davao Gulf, cool and refreshing weather, as well as an enviable proximity to Eden Nature Park. Close to 800 residential leisure farm lots, which are classified to be either lakefront, lakeview and non-lakeview, are being offered.

“Davao Region holds so much potential for businesses that have yet to be fully tapped,” said Sta. Lucia Land

president Exequiel Robles.

“It’s a potential that Sta. Lucia has long recognized, as evident in our early presence in this area, particularly in Davao City.”

Sta. Lucia Land currently has 18 different projects spanning more than 700 hectares within Davao City alone.

Las Colinas is the latest venture of the company in the province.

Life

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

YOUNG LIFE

@MStandardLIFE SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

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Youthful summer

SUMMER FEELING. SM Youth welcomes GTW to its roster of fashion-forward clothing for young men and women, offering more selection this season.

T

HE warm shades of summer take center stage in the latest releases of SM Youth’s line of fashion-forward clothing.

It’s all about casual cool for men with illustrated tees and swim shorts best for an easygoing day at the beach. Meanwhile, unconventional prints that can be worn in tandem will push the boys to get their style on for the season.

Nautical-themed athleisure will surely make waves at the mall, mountains, or even at the beach.

Women are afforded more styles as GTW, SM’s line of hip clothing for girls, joins SM Youth, thereby strengthening the latter’s stance as a champion of style and youth culture.

The dynamic duo will house a bigger number of trend-forward retail pieces for the young set: SM Youth will continue its signa-

ture menswear and streetwear aesthetic, while GTW will cater to the trendsetting young woman.

GTW kicks off at its new home with a colorful embrace to summer. Its summer 2019 collection takes the season’s most punchy hues and injects it into modern cuts and combinations for a refreshed summer wardrobe. On deck: pastel stripes in flirty cuts, structured casual co-ords perfect for wearing together or individually, wallpaper florals, and swimwear with look-twice details.

GTW, Tee Culture, SMYTH, Coco Republic Teens present casual cool pieces in shades of summer, perfect for an easygoing day on the street or at the beach.

Safe ventures Pacsafe’s bestselling bag is made for the adventurous spirit.

Venturesafe 3 allows travelers to explore with peace of mind with the help of its safety features and anti-theft technology.

WANTING to see and experience more of life through travel has been an endless battle cry for millennials. Apart from creating and sharing Instagram-worthy content, this generation travels because of their need to connect to others and the world in an authentic way by immersing themselves in the local scene.

This infectious culture of “traveling like a local” has fueled the desire of people to be more intrepid when it comes to trying out new things, such as traveling solo; a fast-growing trend among young people of today.

And helping millennials explore the world while keeping their belongings

safe is global lifestyle and adventure brand Pacsafe.

To date, Venturesafe G3 is Pacsafe’s bestselling line. This well-rounded bag adapts well to varied lifestyle and active pursuits.

Now, imagine having a backpack that allows you to bring your work essentials such as your laptop or tablet to keep you mobile but productive, with bigger space for some clothes, a few snacks, a water bottle, and more—life would be so much easier. This is where Venturesafe enters.

Its innovation-focused anti-theft technology keeps travelers organized

and protected throughout their travels.

In short, it’s a bag made for the adventurous spirit.

Its smart features include an attachment point for bicycle light, system for hydration pack, external attachment points for small items, an RFID safe blocking system, and PopNLock Security clip for optimum security against intrusion.

Pacsafe stores are located at Glorietta 5, SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Bacolod, SM Lanang Premier, SM Seaside Cebu, Ayala Centrio, Robinsons Ermita, Lucky Chinatown.

Venturesafe G3 has room for laptop or tablet, water bottles, clothes, and other essentials.

Life

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SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

5 things to help you survive adulthood

“ADULTING” can be intimidating, especially after spending so much time in the comfort of being at home with a mom and dad around. It’s not easy being the adult who has to take full responsibility for everything at home.

There are many things that could help yuppies survive the independent life, here are five to help them get started.

Winter is here, drink up!

Storage containers and organizers Here’s the thing about these items: you’ll never realize you need storage containers and organizers until you need them. Having one’s own place to live in means being responsible for cleaning the entire house. Storage containers and organizers will help you keep things in order at all times.

and yogurt maker so one doesn’t have to eat the same thing over and over.

A reliable washer-dryer If you have the space, invest in a good washer-dryer. Samsung Combo Washer and Dryer helps keep clothes clean, thus saving you the hassle of bringing load of dirty clothes to the laundromat, and possibly losing some of them.

A good air conditioner When the going gets tough and the heat becomes unbearable, you might lose the will to go through your day and just throw the towel. While buying this can be put off for when you’ve already settled in, it is incredibly helpful in keeping your place comfortable. Samsung Wind-Free Air Conditioner, for instance, maintains A multi-tasking oven the preferred temperature by gently disAdulting entails the ability to cook or persing cool air without direct wind. at least make yourself a decent meal. A smart oven is useful regardless of the An investment account level of kitchen skills. For instance, Taking full responsibility means taking Samsung Smart Oven’s 15 cook with full responsibility: your present and your ease presets makes kitchen-time easier future. Trusted companies grow their cusfor those on-the-go. It also works as a tomers’ assets while offering other bengrill, steamer, fryer, oven, microwave, efits like health and life insurance.

Created in collaboration with HBO and ‘Game of Thrones,’White Walker by Johnnie Walker is an easy-drinking whisky best served cold.

A

Substance over selfies: How to spark a summer romance

S THE world eagerly await the eighth and final season of the hit TV show Game of Thrones, Johnnie Walker kicked off the celebration with a party featuring its limited edition blend inspired by the chilling White Walkers.

On March 28, just a few weeks before the premiere of the first episode of GoT’s final season, Johnnie Walker created a massive White Walker pop-up at Whitespace Manila.

The different areas put the spotlight on the flavors and textures of the different Johnnie Walker variants—the fire and zest of Red Label, the darkness and smoke of Black Label, the celebratory vibe and honey taste of Gold Label, and the richness and opulence of Blue La-

Sam YG embodies the opulence of Gold Label.

bel. Shortly after, guests were sent into a halt before a colossal ice wall. The giant structure soon met a chilling collapse to reveal an ice bar: a shrine for White Walker by Johnnie Walker.

White Walker by Johnnie Walker is created in collaboration with HBO and Game of Thrones. It is created by whisky specialist George Harper alongside the small team of expert blenders at Johnnie Walker.

This innovative whisky is best served directly from the freezer at 1.5 degrees, echoing the chilling presence of the White Walkers. It’s a great, easy-drinking whisky featuring notes of caramelized sugar and vanilla and fresh red berries with a touch of orchard fruit— creating a polished, sweet taste with a fruity twist.

The event brought together celebrities and personalities who are also some of the show’s biggest fans in the country, namely Nico Bolzico, Tim Yap, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Sam YG, Patty Tiu, and Myrrh Lao To, to help bring to life the immersive journey to the Frozen North.

“We are culminating the Johnnie Flavor Festival, a month-long celebration of the many labels of Johnnie Walker, and White Walker by Johnnie Walker has become our final showcase,” shared Cesar Gangoso, marketing director of Diageo Philippines.

He added, “Game of Thrones has

Alodia Gosiengfiao for Black Label

made such a mark in pop culture, and we are positive that White Walker by Johnnie Walker will give fans a taste of Frozen North.”

Following the epic event, White Walker by Johnnie Walker will march to Poblacion, Makati for a series of pre-season events, as well as Season 8 viewing parties for fans to enjoy.

White Walker by Johnnie Walker is available at leading supermarkets and at www.spiritsbyjohnnie.com for P1,299.

WHEN we think about summer lovin’, we imagine walking along the shore and watching the sunset hand-in-hand with the guy or girl of our dreams.

However, real life isn’t like the movies; great summer love usually just becomes a one-time summer fling, or sometimes nothing.

Dating app OkCupid believes in “substance over selfies”—connecting people based on what truly matters. It is where people looking for more than summer fling go. Here are its top tips on how to get the most from your dating profile and grab that summer romance of a lifetime:

Start it right

“Hey” is a popular conversation starter, but here’s a fun fact: saying “hey” in a first message gives you an 84 percent chance of being completely ignored. Instead look at their profile and comment something specific that you like. Keep it short and sweet. Try something along the lines of “I love halo-halo, too! It’s the one thing keeping me from melting in this summer heat,” or other engaging lines you can connect over.

Upload a variety of photos (more than just selfies!)

Share photos that show what makes you, you—whether that’s bumming by the beach, volunteering, running marathons, or just hanging out with friends. Here’s the

secret—you want to make it easy for that person to reach out to that photo and say, “Hey, I went to Siargao last month and I loved it! Do you surf, too?”

Show, don’t tell!

Instead of describing yourself with a long list of adjectives, talk about the things you love doing. If you love to go windsurfing, show some of your best action photos; if you love dogs, show a picture of you and your puppy walking along the park; if humor is your strong suit, show off some of your best oneliners and funny anecdotes. Show your potential summer love that you’re a catch.

Update, update, update!

An estimated one in three dating app users doesn’t update their dating profile app once they upload it, but if you add a new photo or a new story, most dating apps treat you like a new person and the algorithm kicks into gear, showing you more people.

Put time and energy into it

How often have we heard “It’s so hard to find someone! I guess I’ll be single forever,” and other hugot lines? But when you ask them how much time and effort they put into their profiles, they’ll probably say none. Remind yourself that dating is supposed to be fun. You really get out of it what you give, so put some more energy into finding that summer love of your dreams.

Dating app OKCupid sugests keeping one’s profile updated with relevant information to help users meet someone special.

White Walker by Johnnie Walker kicked off the celebration in anticipation of the premiere of the eighth and final season of ‘Game of Thrones.’

Entertainment

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘BORN BEAUTIFUL’ now a 12-part series on Cignal Play

Marcel Ruiz and Dennis Haysbert in a scene from 'Breakthrough,' a film produced by basketball superstar Stephen Curry.

‘BREAKTHROUGH’ unspools

in PH ahead of worldwide release

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HE adage “love and prayers can move mountains” once again proves true in the upcoming faith-based movie which is also based on true events.

Considered by its filmmakers a “modern-day resurrection story,” Breakthrough puts the power of prayer and a mother’s undying love for her son at the core of the movie when a boy was pronounced dead but defied experts when he miraculously came back to life after her mother uttered an earnest prayer.

Also produced by basketball star Stephen Curry, Breakhtrough is based on a true story of a mother, Joyce Smith (from whose book initially published as The Impossible the movie was based), who prayed her son back to life after he fell through a frozen lake and died and how this miracle impacted an entire community. John Smith was underneath the ice for 15 minutes, with no oxygen.

When EMS workers rescued him, he had no pulse. They rushed him to the emergency room and worked on him for another 45 minutes. The doctors

could not bring him back to life.

When they brought Joyce (Chrissy Metz) into the emergency room and she saw her son John (Marcus Ruiz) laid out on the table, dead, instead of saying goodbye, she grabbed his feet and said, ‘Holy Spirit please bring back my son right now!’ Immediately, the EKG machine began going off. Written in the medical record: ‘Patient dead, mother prayed, patient came back to life.’

Producer DeVon Franklin explains, “When you’re underwater for that amount of time with no oxygen, the chances of medically recovering are slim to none. And so, for John to have no brain damage, no eye damage, no lung damage, for everything to have been healed, it’s medically unheard of. For these reasons, they called it a medical miracle.”

The first doctor at the local hospital, Dr. Sutterer, who happened to be the

father of a friend of John’s, spent 45 minutes--an unusually long time--trying to revive him. He told the others on his team, “We’re going to work on him until his mom can get here.” “ Miraculous,” declares Franklin.

Then Dr. Garrett, a world renown specialist, tells John’s mother, “Okay, Joyce, I’ll do what we can do, and we’re going to let God do the rest.” Franklin says, “He really believed that was going to happen. So miraculous.”

He continues, “The thing that was so powerful to me and one of the reasons why I wanted to do the film is because of how the community rallied around John.

This is a modern-day resurrection story.

God is operating in miracles every day, but sometimes we’re so focused in our day-to-day that we don’t see them. This movie, and the story of John Smith and Joyce Smith and Pastor Jason, I believe will remind people that miracles are still happening. It will remind us of the power of prayer.”

Ahead of worldwide release, Breakthrough opens April 10 in Philipine cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox.

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO NO! THIS is not is not a tourism kind of piece. However, the forthcoming movie billed Culion, will allow its prospective audiences the flora and fauna of the place, and of course its beautiful people—their smiles and their stories of survival and hope.

With director Alvin Yapan and producer Shandii Bacolod teaming up anew in a period film, we can expect the unexpected. We all know the fact that the dynamic duo are the personalities behind the controversial motion picture that was Oro. The tandem are artistic collaborators in what I believe, as their most ambitious film project. Yapan and Bacolod are mounting a period film, set in the 1940s, to be shot in bucolic Culion, as they

Screenwriter Ricky Lee (left) and director Alvin Yapan

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, April 6, 2019

ACROSS 1 Queen’s truck 6 Paramedic’s skill 9 Marching band composer 14 Dodge 15 Outback jumper 16 Trapped (2 wds.)

17 Take back due to nonpayment 19 Cellular device 20 Remnant 21 Unlucky time 22 Main roles 23 Vegas alternative 25 Smudged 26 Go ashore 29 Examine 31 Bullrings 32 Yearns for 36 Weeded 37 Chart 38 Roulette color 40 Furtiveness 43 Fairy 45 Ca++ and Cl46 Chimed 47 Raises crops or animals 50 Rain protector 51 Sheet of plywood 52 Valley

54 Ike Turner’s ex 58 Get the suds out 59 Comforts 61 Ram constellation 62 Ventilate 63 Fragrance 64 Gets to know 65 Express an opinion 66 Inert gas DOWN 1 Pantry item 2 Higher in authority 3 Strong, braided cord 4 El Paso’s river (2 wds.)

5 Fabric meas.

6 Tenet 7 Ask a question 8 “ER” medic 9 Forest growth 10 Additional 11 WWII sea menace (hyph.)

12 Like the Sahara 13 Votes in favor 18 Plummets 24 Memorable time 25 Marino or Rather 26 Morse syllable

27 Mythical archer 28 Root vegetable 29 Bygone rulers 30 Piece of china 33 Fill with delight 34 Stir up 35 Venue 37 Map abbr.

39 Sunburned 41 Without a goal 42 Part of UCLA 43 Stretches across 44 — annum 47 Laissez- — 48 Lennox or Oak-

ley 49 Adjust, as a timer 50 All choked up 51 Tot’s wheels 52 Pate de foie — 53 “Star Wars” princess 55 Remove wrinkles 56 Fictional captain 57 Slippery — — eel 60 Jazz instrument

IT ALL started with the multi-awarded movie Die Beautiful starring Paolo Ballesteros as the transgender woman Trisha, whose death came right after she was finally crowned as a beauty queen.

During Trisha’s wake, her best friend Barbs would grant the latter’s wish to be presented as a different Hollywood star each night of the wake.

Barbs, played by award-winning actor Martin del Rosario, continued her journey in Die Beautiful’s spinoff movie, Born Beautiful, shown in cinemas in January.

In Born Beautiful, Barbs would go on with her life as a mortuary beautician, where her life would take interesting turns including an overwhelming identity crisis, which would have her questioning her gender preference and would see her attempting to go back to her born identity, that of a straight man.

If you couldn’t have enough of Del Rosario’s portrayal of Barbs, and, yes, even of Trisha who still appears in the series as an imaginary ghost, then you are in for a great treat as Cignal Entertainment has just added the series adaptation of Born Beautiful in its roster of original, must-watch videos.

The series is the full-length—uncut and unfiltered—version of the movie hailed as one of the bravest and funniest Filipino films ever.

“Born Beautiful was originally planned as a series, before Cignal Entertainment and our partners decided to launch it as a movie. Now, the audience could have the best of both worlds as they had the movie first, and now the series where they can watch never-before-seen scenes, and thus have better appreciation of the story and its characters,” said Cignal Entertainment President and CEO Jane Basas.

Follow Barbs’ journey and “immerse” in the colorful life of members of the LGBT community in each 30 minuteor-so episode of the series. Cignal Entertaiment has started serving the first two episodes, which you can now stream on demand at Cignal Play. One episode each of the 12-part series will be dropped every Monday until the last episode on June 10.

Directed by Perci Intalan, Born Beautiful is produced by Cignal Entertainment, the original content division of Cignal TV, the country’s largest pay-TV platform; Octobertrain Films and The IdeaFirst Company, which produced Die Beautiful, among other acclaimed films and series.

Very Wang...

will battle it out to see who will be named second runner-up, first runner-up and Miss Bikining Pilipinas 2019. This year’s titleholder will receive a management contract from RV International, P100,000 in cash, and be first in line for certain opportunities to make it big in showbiz.

Naynes hopes Bikining Pilipinas 2019 will become a success. He hopes that Filipino pageant fans will embrace the new kid on the pageant block so they can give one fun, fearless female the opportunity of a lifetime, year after year.

“If Bikining Pilipinas 2019 becomes successful, we plan to do it again and again,” he said.

The Bikining Pilipinas 2019 Coronation Night will take place on May 1. It will be held at The Island, Uptown BGC at 6:00 p.m.. For ticket inquiries, call 0923-9989479 or 0945-8440658.

From C4

Details of what will happen on the coronation night are being kept under wraps, but Naynes said the program will be similar to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. However, the Bikining Pilipinas 2019 girls will wear elaborate costumes built around swimsuits, not underwear.

The panel of judges will be composed of Direk Bobot, actress Jenny Miller and some of the sponsors. One of the Kapamilya network’s top leading men is also in talks to be a judge.

The 28 aspirants will be whittled down to a Top 15. After that first cut, 10 more will be eliminated, leaving five girls in the running. From the Top 5, only three will move on to the final round. The Top 3

Martin del Rosario as Bards in 'Born Beautiful,' a 12-part series available on Cignal Play.

Culion’s offensive charm transport cinematically the lives of people with Hansen’s Disease (the politically correct and appropriate medical term for leprosy) at the time there was still no cure for the affliction and Culion was a secluded colony.

Adding more gravitas to the project are its director of photography Neil Daza and the most genius of them all, the Jedi Master of screenplay writing, Ricky Lee. Living legend Lee says, “Culion’s story centers on three friends, Anna, Doris and Ditas. All these ladies carry the disease. Their lives will of course, unravel in the film and the people they are connected to and how they face their daily struggles, loneliness, desperation, depression pero at that same time,

we will all witness the triumph of the human spirit, the amazing manner of acceptance, and the tenacity and resilience of a community.”

Lee’s dream cast for Culion are, “On the top of my head, I want Nora Aunor to be one of the leads. I hope that Bea Alonzo and Iza Calzado be part of our film as well kasi napapanood ko ang mga pelikula nila at mahuhusay sila. I think the Curtis sisters, Anne and Jasmine, they can also portray the characters I created well.”

The director, comes clean, “Hindi madali ang pelikula pero I am taking the challenge. My prayer and wish is that, once the movie is finally shown, it will be able to somehow erase the stigma associated with Hansen’s disease and that regular folks will see individuals who had Hansen’s disease in a different and more compassionate light.”

He carries on, “We are excited and nervous about this project. It is a happy kind of nervousness of course, as director, it is not every day you get to do a period film with a subject such as this. Kahit of Cecil de Mille ang casting requirements namin, we are passionate about Culion, we know we will be doing a gem of a film.”

Yapan, wishing out loud cast are, “Angel Aquino, kasi magaling at maganda. Oh, I like to work with Angeli Bayani, Ana Luna. Gusto I also love to work with Judy Ann Santos, Mylene Dizon, and Agot Isidro. The women in the movie are all empowered.

Hindi sila mga super women, they are all vulnerable and in their vulnerability, they not only find, they assert their strengths.”

A Culion casting call is slated on April 11 and 12 at the Sikat Studio (305 Tomas Morato Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City) from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m..

The major roles of Anna, Doris, Ditas, Julia, and Greg are up for grabs.

French, American, Japanese, Spanish and Filipino actors are all invited to audition for supporting roles.

All those who will pass the audition will be locked in Culion, Palawan the whole month of July.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

Big Dome lit in blue to mark world autism awareness day

DARLING OF THE PRESS.

'My Special Tatay' lead star Ken Chan joins in the event that advocates autism awareness.

By Eton Concepcion KAPUSO actor Ken Chan and the 40 Binibining Pilipinas 2019 candidates marked the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) at the main entrance of Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.

Chan, lead star of the GMA-7 hit soap My Special Tatay, a tale of a young man with autism who learned he has a child, rendered songs dedicated to some autistic students from the Open Hand School, in the event commemorating the 12th WAAD, in cooperation with the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), and hosted by Bb. Pilipinas-Globe 2018 Michele Gumabao.

The Big Dome was lit in blue to symbolize the campaign to raise awareness and promote acceptance and appreciation of people living with autism.

The aspirants for Bb. Pilipinas, who have their own advocacies, got the opportunity to spend time and show concern for persons with autism.

“I’m lucky and it’s rewarding to have been a part of My Special Tatay, which taught me to understand the plight of people with autism. The reception of the people to the teleserye showed that they

Dheza Rose Asis, one of the frontrunners in the maiden edition of Bikining Pilipinas, won the hearts of the members of the media during the tilt’s press presentation.

are sympathetic to special people like the autistics,” said Chan.

The rising dramatic actor urged the crowd to help spread awareness about autism.

Others who graced the special event were Vico Cham, a 27-year-old graphic artist and co-owner of Vico’s Artism (art + autism) gallery which offers art classes for autistic children and adults; and Lloyd Niguidula, a special education expert.

Cham, with her mother Cathy, spoke about the struggles and successes of people with autism, while Niguidula talked on tapping and realizing the potential of persons with autism.

The WAAD celebration was followed by the presentation of the Autism Advocate Awards 2019, at the Gateway Gallery, spearheaded by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation and the Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disablitities, Inc., in recognition of select individuals for their contribution to advancing the cause of people living with autism.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

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VERYONE knows the Philippines is home to some of the most ardent pageant fans in the world. So, when the people behind Bikining Pilipinas 2019 decided to put up a pageant that would celebrate women with beauty, brains and “sex appeal,” they hoped the Filipino people would embrace it like the way they did to other pageants.

According to organizers Victor G. Naynes, President and CEO of RV International Talent Management, Events & Productions and Romeo Martin, Co-Founder & Managing Director of RV International Talent Management, Events & Productions, the goal of this pageant is to find a woman who isn’t the least bit shy about strutting her stuff in a swimsuit.

They explain there’s a space right now in the Philippine showbiz scene for someone like that.

“We have a talent agency and people who produce teleseryes would call us up asking if we have sexy talents.

So, we thought, they are in demand, might as well gather a pool of talents so we could meet the demand,” Naynes started.

“But we can’t rely on pictures, some of them are photoshopped. So, we decided to stage a pageant to discover new female talents,” he carried on.

When he says “we,” he’s referring to the triumvirate composed of himself, his business partner Romeo Martin and showbiz legend Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz.

“This is the concept of Direk

Binibining Pilipinas beauties take time to interact with the students of Open Hand School during the World Autism Awareness Day.

INTERNATIONAL

Smartphone moviemakers take the limelight at African festival “IT’S not because you don’t have the means that you don’t dream,” says Guy-Serge Namane, a director at the second Bushman Film Festival, a cornucopia of global smartphone cinema.

The three-day festival, which ended Sunday and followed an inaugural event in 2017, received more than 5,000 entries, of which organizers said they retained 3,694 submissions that met the required format.

The Bushman Cafe, a verdant venue with hotel and restaurant, provided several movie theaters. Entries were submitted from all over the world, of which 350 were selected and a shorter list established to compete for five prizes.

“We want to show people that we can make films even if we unfortunately lack the means,” Namane said.

“Should we stop? We’ve found ways to be able to express our dreams while waiting on God to give us the means to attract investors.”

The overarching aim of the festival, amply covered on social media, is to promote new talent.

The event included workshops

for students and master classes with professional directors and conferences, but the main purpose was simply to show films.

One of the movies portrayed a crafty, streetwise hustler who used social media to boost the faltering career of a star, even as he divests her of her ... smartphone.

People like Namane went right on filming. His actress Berenice Irie weeps over the broken body of her lover near the swimming pool.

Just a few meters (yards) away an evangelical pastor dressed entirely in white with an enormous cross on his chest stared inquisitively at the art gallery on another set.

Irie has already acted in several films made with smartphones and hopes she might be recognized. “For an actress, the work doesn’t change. You even get used to the mobile phone. At home we practice making scenes with the phone.”

Inside the cinemas, audiences laughed loudly and cried out when startled and surprised by the ingenuity of the smartphone film directors. AFP

Could your phone make you the next Spielberg? A film festival in Abidjan showcases directors whose movies are made by a smartphone.

Bobot. They were also looking for sexy actresses to be part of the gag show, Banana Sundae. Our original plan was to do a small-scale bikini contest in Boracay. But sponsors came in so nag-evolve na ito into a legitimate national pageant,” Naynes explained.

“Kaya pinanindigan na namin. Bikining Pilipinas 2019 even has a theme song of its own, composed by the same musician who composed the Binibining Pilipinas one. We were inspired by other pageants, but the elements that we borrowed from them, nilagayan pa namin ng sarili naming twist.”

Naynes and his team were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of the girls who auditioned for Bikining Pilipinas 2019. During the auditions, he said they were on the lookout for girls who were more than just pretty faces.

“Some of the girls who are part of the Bikining Pilipinas even joined Binibining Pilipinas, Mutya ng Pilipinas, and Century Tuna Superbods, to name a few. These candidates don’t just have beauty, they have brains and the sexiness we are looking for -- the total package.” Continued on C3

Maureen Catangay, a dead ringer for Miss Universe Vietnam 2018, hopes to be in the military force in the future.

Radio GMA ’Pera Sorpresa 9’ grand winner announced PERA Sorpresa 9, Radio GMA (RGMA)’s nationwide proof-of-purchase promo, added Barangay FM 93.5 Dagupan listener Mechellie Cabrera to its growing list of instant millionaires.

Cabrera, together with her husband Renato, received the P1 million grand prize from RGMA President Mike Enriquez recently in Quezon City.

Enriquez expressed how equally happy they are to award the grand prize to one of RGMA’s avid listeners.

“Hindi lang ang mga nananalo ang tuwang tuwa. Pati kami sa RGMA tuwang tuwa rin dahil bukod sa pagpapasaya sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mga programa ng iba’t ibang himpilan ng radyo sa buong Pilipinas.”

A sari-sari store owner from Calasiao, Pangasinan, Cabrera shared that she submitted proof-of-purchase entries equivalent to two sacks in order to increase her chances of winning.

The couple also said that they will use their prize to save up for their children’s needs and to buy a multi-cab for their

livelihood.

Pera Sorpresa’s 9th season was made possible by participating sponsors Petron, Bear Brand, Nescafé, Rexona, Carbocistene Solmux, MultiVitamins Minerals Plus Amino Acids Revicon Forte, King Cup Sardines and

Nature’s Spring.

For the next season of Pera Sorpresa, stay tuned to Radio GMA’s Barangay FM and Super Radyo AM stations nationwide, or listen online via live audio stream at https://www.gmanetwork.com/radio.

(Right to left) RGMA President Mike Enriquez awards the Pera Sorpresa 9 grand prize to Mechellie Cabrera and her husband Renato.