Manila Standard - 2019 April 22 - Monday

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160 KILLED IN SRI LANKA BLASTS

PEACE.

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Sunday mass on April 21 at St. Peter’s square in the Vatican. Christians around the world are marking the Holy Week, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, leading up to his resurrection on Easter. AFP

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 67 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Choose what’s good, uplifting’ Pope asks world leaders to bring peace to ME

Rody hopes May polls ‘reflect true will of the people’

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis on Sunday urged world leaders to try again to bring peace to Libya and in Syria where millions of refugees and people displaced by conflict should be helped to return home.

In his traditional Easter Sunday address to the faithful at the Vatican, where some 70,000 were gathered in Saint Peter’s square, the pope also expressed his “sadness” at news of the deadly bomb attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

Francis noted how in Libya violence has flared up again as strongman Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army attacked Tripoli, seat of the UN-backed government.

“May conflict and bloodshed cease in Libya, where defenseless people are once more dying in recent weeks,” Francis said.

“I urge the parties involved to choose dialogue over force and to avoid reopening wounds left by a decade of conflicts and political instability.”

In Syria, where President Bashar AlAssad has steadily recovered territory lost to rebel groups, the pope lamented the fate of “the beloved Syrian people, victims of an ongoing conflict to which we risk becoming ever more resigned and even indifferent.”

“Now is instead the time for a renewed commitment for a political solution able to respond to people’s legitimate

By Nat Mariano

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday used his Easter Sunday message to call on Filipinos to “choose what is good and uplifting” during the May 13 elections

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It’s done: House rests case on 2019 budget

By Rio N. Araja

CARNAGE IN COLOMBO. Sri Lankan security personnel walk past dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St. Anthony’s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo on April 21. A string of blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on April 21, killing at least 160 people, including 35 foreigners. AFP

“It is truly an occasion of hope and inspiration for all of us as we commemorate the narrative of the Savior’s sacrifice on the cross and how He restored us to the fullness of life,” he said in his message.

“May this time of new beginnings inspire us to always choose what is good and uplifting,” he said. “I trust that this season of Easter will be a blessed time for us to rekindle our shared commitment in nation-building, especially in the upcoming midterm elections.”

“May it become an exercise of integrity and reflect the true will of the people,” he added. “It is my hope that the evil caused by the societal ills we are confronting today will be swept away by our strong faith in the Almighty.”

Meanwhile, the election transparency watchdog Mata sa Balota petitioned the Commission on Elections to use the Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT to ensure clean polls on May 13 and avoid widespread cheating as was alleged for the 2016 elections.

Melchor Magdamo, one of Mata sa Balota’s lawyers, also asked the Comelec to enforce the Supreme Court ruling on the VVPAT. He said the law allows a voter’s VVPAT to be photographed to be used as proof of potential cheating on the Next page

HOUSE Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Sunday she respects the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to veto P95.3 billion worth of budgets under the 2019 national budget.

“It’s done and we trust the President’s judgment,” she said.

The President earlier signed the national budget into law as Republic Act No. 11260 or the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019 on April 15, but vetoed several appropriations under the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Labor and Employment-National Labor Relations Commission, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry.

“Even me, I used to line veto. Every year I partially vetoed the budget,” Arroyo, a former president, said.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., House committee on appropriations

EDSA ban dry run begins—MMDA

PNP: 30 drowning cases during Lent

PROVINCIAL buses will be banned from loading and unloading passengers on EDSA starting April 22 as part of the dry run for a ban on provincial buses, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Sunday.

MMDA spokesman Celine Pialago said the authorities hoped to close all provincial bus terminals on EDSA by June.

There will be “no apprehensions” during the dry run but the authorities will “strictly implement... the rule prohibiting provincial buses from loading and unloading commuters on EDSA, “ Pialago told ANC. The franchise of provincial buses is “terminal-to-terminal,” which bars them from stopping on EDSA and other major

POLICE have recorded at least 30 deaths from drowning during the Lenten season, but said Sunday the observance of Holy Week has been generally peaceful.

In an interview with GMA News TV, Philippine National Police spokesman Police Col. Bernard Banac said the 30 drowning incidents were recorded from April 5 to April 19, 2019.

Banac said police have also recorded several road accidents over the last week, including one in Tabuk, Kalinga, which claimed several lives when a truck fell off a ravine.

Despite these incidents, Banac said the observance of Holy week has been generally peaceful and orderly.

The National Capital Region Police Office, meanwhile, has enhanced its

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RIVERSIDE PICNIC. Tourists and residents flock to a river in Kanyakan, Norzagaray, Bulacan to take a dip, beat the summer heat and partake of food on Easter Sunday. Norman Cruz

Oldest monarch: Queen turns 93

Weed festival on a high note

LONDON—Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her birthday on Sunday, marking 93 years in the public glare.

Here are five facts about Britain’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch.

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BURIRAM, Thailand—A Buddhist monk fishes out a vial of cannabis oil from his robe and puts a drop under his tongue—one of many people flocking to a weed festival in northeastern Thailand, where excitement is building over a mediNext page cal marijuana boom.

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Comic relief in Ukrainian polls

KIEV, Ukraine—Ukrainians went to polls Sunday in the second round of an extraordinary election with a comedian who plays a president on TV expected to win in a stunning rebuke to the political establishment.

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MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 twitter.com/ MlaStandard mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tobacco farmers demand share of tax proceeds

By Abe Almirol GAMU, Isabela-Tobacco farmers here are complaining about the long-delayed benefits from their share of the excise tax through Republic Act 8420 as amended by Republic Act 10351.

The planters of Burley and native tobacco in Barangay Furao here say that, as in the past years, they have been expecting a P12,000 annual financial aid from the local government’s share of the excise tax collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“The last time we were given only P2,500 at first. When the LGU paid the remaining balance, which is supposed to be P9,500, they deducted P1,200 from it,” said Mely Martinez, a mother of a tobacco farmer from Barangay Furao.

“When we asked what the deduction was for, they said it was an interest from the amount advanced,” said Gil Molano, who heads the Committee on Ways and Means of the Sangguniang Bayan of Gamu.

He says he does not recall any single instance that the municipal council discussed the LGU share from the tobacco excise tax.

Asked to comment on the farmers’ complaint, Molano said, “We were never consulted or asked by the executive to approve a resolution regarding that matter.”

Local Budget Circular 76 of the Department of Management, dated Oct. 6, 2017, says Gamu received its share from the tobacco excise tax for 2014 (PhP5,355,320) and for 2015 (PhP8,432,283).

It was not clear in which fiscal year the local government accounted for the amount received by farmers. No records were available on the 2016 and 2017 shares were found online.

The Supreme Court ordered the prompt release of the LGU’s “just share” from national taxes in July 2018.

The tobacco excise tax is one of the national taxes referred to by the high court.

In Barangay Furao, 60 farmers were listed under the name of two farmer leaders―Joey Lauria, 47, and Darwin Martinez, 43.

Martinez died of a stroke on March 2, 2019. Before his death, he had been complaining of the long delays in the release of the financial assistance to tobacco farmers that comes from the local government’s share of the excise tax.

Universal Leaf Philippines Inc., the Philippine subsidiary of the Singapore-based Universal Corporation, has emerged as the sole business engaged in tobacco farming in this part of the country.

The company enters into a production agreement with farmers through its socalled “farmer leaders.”

All production expenses are provided for by the company, including land rental, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides and other inputs.

The boxes used in the transport of dried tobacco leaves to the Universal Leaf warehouse in Cauayan City is also provided by the company.

After the harvest of dried tobacco leaves, those are brought to the Cauayan City warehouse for grading, weighing and pricing. A farmer’s net income is determined after deducting all the expenses shouldered by the company.

A tobacco farmer has no say on the price of inputs and other expenses charged in his account.

“We were shown our statement of accounts, but they will just give us figures to know how much net income is due to us. Two copies of the SOA will be retained in the company office and the other one, they say, will be given to the Mayor’’ office, Lauria said.

A farmer from the nearby Barangay Banquero in Reina Mercedes town said a sack of fertilizer supplied to them costs way more than the price of similar fertilizers sold locally. my son Darwin died last month, I took charge of his responsibilities as a farmer leader. We asked help from the company but helped arrived when he was already buried―a meager P2,000, Mely Martinez said.

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Pump prices swing low, this time “Expect fuel prices to go down next World oil prices traded lower last week week. Diesel should go down by P0.10 and amid reports of a reduction in the drill gasoline should remain the same,” Unioil rigs of US oil drillers and a drop in the Philippines said in its weekly advisory. crude exports of Saudi Arabia.

On April 16, domestic pump prices rose

by P1.05 per liter of gasoline, P0.75 per liter of diesel and P0.60 per liter of kerosene amid reports of a tight global supply.

The oil firms also increased pump prices by P0.25 per liter of gasoline, P0.20 per liter of diesel and P0.10 per liter of kerosene on April 9.

The year-to-date adjustments stood at a net increase of P7.95 per liter of gasoline, P5.40 per liter of diesel and P4.05 per liter of kerosene.

Luis Ray Villafuerte called on his fellow lawmakers to get their act together to further strengthen their support to the President’s anti-corruption campaign and inclusive development agenda following the Chief Executive’s line veto of the General Appropriations Act. “In his veto message, the President made it clear that the national budget must be well spent and used to improve the people’s welfare. He also made it clear that he will not tolerate corruption in his administration and that our positions in government should not be used for personal gain,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the passage of the national budget ensures the P30-billion seed funding to bankroll development projects and rehabilitation of war-torn areas in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The amount was initially allocated for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which was replaced by BARMM. “This is in fulfillment of the promise to give the Bangsamoro government full fiscal autonomy to achieve economic selfsufficiency and genuine development,” said Angara.

The senator is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, and co-sponsored Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law creating the BARMM. “With this spending package, we pin our hopes on the leaders of the new autonomous political entity to change the lives of our Mindanaon brothers and sisters who equally deserve opportunities to be employed, educated and cared for by the government,” said the senator, who is running for reelection. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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IL prices are expected to go down slightly this week to end two consecutive weeks of price increases, an oil company said over the weekend.

It’s done:...

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chairman also said he respected the President’s decision.

“The President knows what is best for the country and our people,” he said.

“In support of President Duterte’s legislative agenda, the House of Representatives has approved all of the President’s priority bills in record time,” he said.

“We eventually passed a national budget that will pass the test of constitutionality and legality, but also of transparency and accountability. All appropriations for government programs and projects are itemized, in full compliance with the laws of the land and recent Supreme Court decisions,” he added.

On the other hand, Camarines Sur Rep.

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results of the vote counting machine or VCM. Magdamo said according to Section 179 of the Omnibus Election Code, poll watchers and even the public are allowed to take photographs of the proceedings or any incident inside a voting precinct.

In reviewing the results of the 2016 national elections, Mata sa Balota said a lot of irregularities in the voting process were uncovered.

One of these was the early transmittal of results from a voting precinct in Camarines Sur using a different Internet Protocol address than what was registered for it, Magdamo said.

Weed...

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Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marijuana for medical purposes last year, joining a growing list of governments including Canada, Australia, Israel and more than half the US states.

The global market is forecast to reach tens of billions in under a decade, but slowmoving implementation of the Thai law has lagged behind a wave of local enthusiasm.

A political party has endorsed the plant’s benefits while marijuana-themed

Comic...

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Forty-one-year-old Volodymyr Zelensky’s bid to lead the country was initially dismissed as a joke when he announced his candidacy on New Year’s Eve. But now all opinion polls suggest incumbent President Petro Poroshenko is heading for defeat amid widespread anger over poverty, corruption and war with Moscow-backed separatists.

Voting began at 0500 GMT, with exit poll results expected at 1700 GMT and the first preliminary results several hours later.

Zelensky’s victory is expected to open a new chapter in the history of a country that has gone through two popular uprisings in two decades and is mired in a fiveyear conflict with separatists in the east.

Ukraine is dependent on international aid and Russian energy and the next president will have to deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the International Monetary Fund.

Poroshenko, 53, has argued Zelensky is

Oldest...

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roads, but this has not been implemented “for the longest period of time,” MMDA Command Center head Bong Nebrija said earlier.

Pialago said the provincial bus ban will not adversely affect the commuters returning to Metro Manila from their Holy Week vacation in the provinces.

“Some of our commuters have arrived in Metro Manila since Friday, and so far we are not expecting heavy traffic for Sunday. By Monday, it’s a regular day for everyone,” he said.

S

Longevity Over 80 percent of Britons have not experienced life under any other monarch, having not been born when Elizabeth ascended the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, according to the UK Office of National Statistics.

She has reigned over 14 prime ministers, coming to the throne during the tenure of Winston Churchill.

She has also met with 11 of the 12 US presidents in office and signed more than 3,500 bills into law.

On her birthday, the Queen will be 11 years and four months older than any

Traders, meanwhile, are waiting for the results of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ meeting on June 25 in Vienna to discuss extending an agreement to cut output by 1.2 million barrels per barrel around the end of June.

The Energy department’s latest monitoring showed that gasoline prices in Metro Manila ranged from P51.39 to P63.62 per liter, diesel from P41.94 to P49.70 per liter and kerosene from P45.49 to P55.70 per liter.

More PAGCOR execs linked to graft raps

By Rio N. Araja

PNP...

Pope...

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security coverage to include tourist destinations, malls and shopping centers in Metro Manila.

NCRPO director, Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the redeployment of the bulk of their personnel is to make sure tourists and the public in general will not be victimized by criminals this summer season.

“With the end of the Holy Week break, we are expecting many tourists coming in to Metro Manila, especially to shopping malls and other places. That’s why we shall introduce the enhanced security coverage, including the deployment of additional policemen,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar said the full alert status will remain in Metro Manila until all those who left the metropolis are back. PNA

hopes for freedom, peace and justice, confront the humanitarian crisis and favor the secure reentry of the homeless, along with all those who have taken refuge in neighboring countries, especially Lebanon and Jordan.”

The pope noted how Easter, the holiest Christian festival, “makes us keep our eyes fixed on the Middle East, torn by continuing divisions and tensions.”

Turning to South Sudan, Pope Francis urged rival leaders President Salva Kiir and rebel chief Riek Machar—who met recently at the Vatican—to sink their differences to pursue national reconciliation.

On Saturday, Kiir called on Machar to return home “urgently” to help form a government of national unity. AFP

conferences and panels have sprung up across Thailand, with the three-day festival in Buriram town being the latest showcase for the drug’s uses.

The “Pan Buriram” (Buriram Strain) festival, ending Sunday, is a first for the sleepy town located about five hours northeast of Bangkok and known mainly for its football and motorsports competitions.

Monk Chaivisit Visitvekin, 67, was one of thousands who showed up and stood in line to file documents with the Ministry of Health as part of an amnesty for those already using cannabis for pain relief.

He said he was taking it for shoulder pain among other ailments.

“I used it before and had no side effects,” he said.

The atmosphere on the festival’s opening day reflected the mix of caution and excitement over the legalization of medical marijuana in junta-run Thailand.

Armed police lingered as Bob Marley songs pumped out over stereos, vendors sold rolling papers and pipes, and the pungent whiff of marijuana filled the outer fringes of the grounds.

Lecturers addressed attendees on everything from “the four cannabis varieties” to “quality control” in air-conditioned tents that displayed large marijuana plants. AFP

FIVE other former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. have been named co-respondents in plunder and malversation complaints earlier filed against former Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. with the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a March 26 complaint-in-intervention, broadcast journalist Angelo Palmones identified the additional respondents as Pagcor vice president for the finance and treasury department Estela Ramos, assistant VP for accounting Vidal Cabigon Jr., assistant vice president for inance and treasury department Talavera Virginia, assistant vice president for the security department Byron Tabangay and security department officerin-charge Michael Bailey.

Several unidentified respondents were included in the complaint, he said, adding the participation of other officials could surface later during the investigation.

The complaint stemmed from allegations of questionable disbursements of agency funds of P254.85 million in 2012 and P62.82 million in 2013 allegedly drawn from Pagcor’s confidential and intelligence funds and used for its Save The House Project.

According to the original complainant, Valente Custodio, also a former Pagcor official, a total of 48 checks were drawn from Pagcor’s deposit accounts with the Land Bank of the Philippines and Philippine National Bank over a period of 13 months totaling P317.7 million.

Based on the breakdown of withdrawals included in the complaint, the first 30 checks were drawn from March 20, 2012 to Dec. 14, 2012 and 18 more from Jan. 3, 2013 to April 10, 2013.

On June 17, 2013, the Commission on Audit issued a notice of suspension against the disbursements, saying the project descriptions were not submitted.

The Pagcor management failed to satisfy the documentary requirements for the said fund releases, prompting COA to issue a notice of disallowance on Oct. 23, 2013.

a political novice unfit to be a war-time commander-in-chief.

But the consummate showman has tapped into widespread frustration over graft, poverty and a conflict that has claimed some 13,000 lives.

“There is a hope that a simple man will better understand us and dismantle the system that we have in our country,” said Yuliya Lykhota, 29, a Zelensky supporter.

“It is very important to raise our people’s spirits.”

Others doubted whether Zelensky, best known for playing the president on TV show “Servant of the People,” would be able to take on the country’s vested interests.

“I do not believe he will last long once he’s elected,” said Sergiy Fedorets, 62.

“He has no support in parliament. He’ll be eaten alive.”

‘Not a comedy’ A survey by the Rating pollster this week showed Zelensky winning 73 percent of the vote against 27 percent for Poroshenko.

Poroshenko came to power after a bloody 2014 uprising ousted a Kremlin-

backed regime, triggering Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.

But many in the country of 45-million people feel the promises of the pro-Western revolution have not been fulfilled.

Zelensky has shunned campaign rallies in favor of comedy gigs and used social media to share political messages, including to 3.7-million followers on Instagram.

His brand of outsider politics and unorthodox style have earned him comparisons to Italy’s comedian-turned-politician Beppe Grillo and US President Donald Trump.

But questions have been raised over his links to controversial oligarch Igor Kolomoysky, whose TV channel broadcasts the entertainer’s shows.

Analysts say Zelensky’s political program is vague at best and it remains unclear who will fill key positions in his government.

On Saturday, Poroshenko made a lastditch plea to voters, begging Ukrainians to think twice before backing his rival.

“A five-year presidential term is not a comedy that you can easily switch off if it

is no longer funny,” he said on Facebook.

“Neither is it a horror movie that can be easily stopped.”

Poroshenko supporters credit him with rebuilding the army and securing an Orthodox Church independent of Russia.

But in the first round of the election last month he won only half of Zelensky’s vote share.

‘All eyes on Ukraine’ The West has closely watched the race amid concern a new government might undo years of economic reforms.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called both Zelensky and Poroshenko on the eve of the run-off vote.

Pompeo “reiterated our commitment to working with whomever the Ukrainian people choose to ensure the success of a secure, prosperous, democratic, and free [country],” Washington’s special envoy Kurt Volker wrote on Twitter.

William Taylor, a former US ambassador to Ukraine who co-leads a National Democratic Institute delegation of international observers, said the election result would have an impact around the world.

AFP

British monarch in history, and at 67 years and 74 days, will be the longest serving by three years and 224 days.

Birth The Queen was born on April 21, 1926, at 17 Bruton Street in London’s upmarket Mayfair neighborhood, which is now a high-end Chinese restaurant whose signature dishes include “Roasted silver cod with Champagne.”

She has another official birthday on the second Saturday in June, to celebrate the landmark publicly.

The double birthday tradition was started by King George II in 1748, who wanted to have a summer celebration.

Animals The monarch has been an animal lover

all her life, and is particularly fond of horses and dogs.

She has owned more than 30 corgi dogs, her favorite breed, and even invented a new breed, the dorgi—a cross between a corgi and a dachshund.

She inherited several thoroughbred racing horses after her father King George VI died in 1952 and her rides have won more than 1,600 races.

The 93-year-old has also owned an elephant, black jaguars and a crocodile—all gifts that were looked after in zoos—and due to archaic laws, still owns all unmarked mute swans and “royal fish” in Britain, including dolphins and sturgeons.

Tax Although not legally obliged to pay

tax, Elizabeth chose in 1992 to start voluntarily paying income tax on her private earnings amid public grumblings about the cost of restoring the family’s firedamaged Windsor Castle.

Tech savvy Despite the tradition and pomp of the family, the Queen has been comfortable with developing technologies ever since serving as a truck mechanic in World War II. She sent her first email in 1976, sent a message taken to the moon by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969, first tweeted in 2014 and made her first Instagram post last month.

Her 1953 coronation was the first to be televised and, in 2012, her annual Christmas speech was made available on podcast. AFP

News ‘Manila Bay establishments must set up own sewerage plants’

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is now requiring all establishments within the Manila Bay area to connect to existing sewer lines or set up their own sewerage treatment plants to ensure that wastewater is properly collected and treated.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, chairperson of the inter-agency Manila Bay task force, issued Memorandum Circular 2019-01 covering all government facilities, subdivisions, condominiums, commercial centers, hotels, sports and recreational facilities, hospitals, marketplaces, public buildings, industrial complex and other similar establishments.

“The Manila Bay region covered by the circular encompasses the entire bay coastline of 190 kilometers and the total drainage area of about 17,540 square kilometers across Regions III, IV-A and the National Capital Region,” Cimatu said.

In January, the DENR kicked off a three-phase rehabilitation program, dubbed Battle for Manila Bay, where over 10,000 people joined a massive cleanup activity on Roxas Boulevard in Manila and other parts of the bay.

More than two months since the launch, the DENR and the Laguna Lake Development Authority have already issued hundreds of notices of violation and cease and desist orders to establishments found to have violated pertinent environmental laws.

The DENR seeks to restore the quality of waters of Manila Bay to Class SB level to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving and other forms of contact recreation.

Meanwhile, the agency had removed an illegal drain pipe found along El Nido’s beachfront.

The pipe, which was found discharging black and foul-smelling liquid directly into Bacuit Bay, was traced to Outpost Beach Hostel located in Barangay Corong-Corong.

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

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Arrest warrant out vs. Sycip’s son T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Makati City Regional Trial Court has ordered the arrest of a son of the late business tycoon Washington Sycip and several officers and members of tuna canning firm, Alliance International Inc., after the Department of Justice indicted them for estafa.

In seven separate warrants of arrest, Judge Honorio Guanlao Jr. of Makati City RTC Branch 57, directed law enforcers to arrest Alliance chairman of the board George Sycip and board of directors Jonathan Dee, Alvin Dee, Joanna Dee-Laurel, Teresita Ladanga, Grace

Dogillo and Arak Ratborihan.

The court set the bail at P120,000 for each of the accused for their temporary liberty during the trial of the case.

The warrants of arrest were issued after the lower court denied the motion to quash the warrant of arrest and to dis-

miss the case for lack of merit filed by the accused.

Earlier, the DOJ found probable cause against Sycip and other Alliance officers for estafa under Article 315 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code.

Alliance’s foreign shareholders, Harvest All Investment Limited, Victory Fund Limited and Bondeast Private Limited and Hedy S.C. Yap Chua, filed the case against the respondents for allegedly using their investments in the company to engage in illegal activities and transactions.

The victims claimed they were enticed to invest their money—amounting to more than P75 million, more

than $65,000 and another P4 million—in January 2009, saying Jonathan Dee made it appear, among others, that Alliance was a financially rewarding company.

Alliance was created for the purpose of manufacturing, canning, sale, importing and exporting of tuna and salmon.

The complainants, however, described the management of Alliance as a “wire and shut out scheme” because the money infused in the company as corporate funds were siphoned and misappropriated by the mismanagement for the benefit of the Dee companies.

Angat Dam water for irrigation to be reduced next month

HE IS RISEN. Catholic faithfuls attend the ‘Salubong’ where Mother Mary and the Risen Christ meet during Easter Sunday at the San Vicente De Paul Parish in Ermita, Manila. Norman Cruz

THE allocation for irrigation from the Angat Dam will be reduced starting May as the harvest season kicks in, the National Water Resources Board said.

In a radio interview, NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. said the allocation for irrigation will be decreased from 35 cubic meters to only 10 cubic meters on May 1.

“The irrigation requirements for our palay have already been met. Since the harvest season is fast approaching, our farmers will no longer need as much irrigation allocation,” he said.

“Because of this, we can already reduce the allocation for irrigation from Angat Dam. This will also help us ensure our dam’s water supply level,” David added.

Angat Dam’s water level was at 183.55 meters, or 28.45 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters, as of Sunday morning.

David said the critical level of 180 meters may be reached by the end of the month given the prolonged dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

“We believe the critical level will be hit before the end of April. Once that level reaches 180 meters, we have to prioritize our domestic water requirements,” he said. BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Manila

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Office of the President

PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE Sun Plaza Building, 1507 Shaw Boulevard cor Princeton St., Mandaluyong City 1552 www.pcso.gov.ph

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Please be informed that the operation of “Peryahan Games or Peryahan ng Bayan” run by Globaltech Mobile Online Corporation is UNAUTHORIZED and ILLEGAL for the following reasons: 1. Deed of Authority (DOA) already expired on March 31, 2016; 2. There is no longer an entity or individual authorized by PCSO to operate Peryahan ng Bayan in any part of the country after the expiration of Globaltech’s Deed of Authority; 3. Under-remittance of sales due to PCSO during the experimental test run which ballooned to P506 Million1 including penalties, as of January 23,2019; 4. Peryahan games tickets/receipts are NOT generated using mobile handheld terminals as agreed upon with PCSO under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the DOA; 5. Only the following games were approved by PCSO only during the experimental test run: a. Hulog Holen b. Lucky Tres-Standard & Sum Side Bet c. Throw Coins Main Game However, these games are no longer being played. Instead, Peryahan games are now similar to Small Town Lottery (STL) games and bets are taken using paper betslips contrary to the IRR and therefore illegal.

6. These games should be played through localized draws at respective PCSO designated draw courts. Draws should be conducted by PCSO personnel with the assistance of Globaltech personnel. Instead, Globaltech now conducts Peryahan draws without the supervision of PCSO personnel.

Any person caught participating in these Illegal activities by financing, operating, betting, and conducting Peryahan Games or any other act directly or Indirectly related therefrom shall be held criminally liable under Republic Act 9287 “An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, And For Other Purposes” and other applicable laws.

Mandaluyong City, 10 April 2019 (Sgd.) ANSELMO SIMEON P. PINILI Chairperson and OIC-General Manager 1

PHP 506,193,974.26 (MS-APR. 22, 2019)

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Opinion

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Fire at Notre Dame CATHOLICS all over the world are one with the French people in their grief over the Notre Dame cathedral fire that almost brought down the iconic landmark that to historians was the symbol of France itself.

Next to or at par with the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame cathedral is the most visited place in Paris registering 13-million visitors a year. French President Emmanuel Macron was at the scene as firefighters worked feverishly to save the 800-year-old Gothic architcture landmark. Many of the historic artifacts were saved and deposited at the Louvre for safekeeping.

“I share your sadness, I share your

Even non-Catholics go to see it.

hope,” said President Macron in his address to the nation even as he vowed that Notre Dame will be rebuilt to be even more beautiful. Funds of contributions estimated at millions of dollars and euros have started to pour in for the church’s rehabilitation. France’s wealthy businessmen right after the fire Monday have committed $700 million for the cathedral’s restoration.

The cause of the blaze which started at the rooftop where a church spire was destroyed has yet to be determined.

Fire marshals and officials said the fire was likely accidental as the centuriesold cathedral was undergoing repair

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

and rehabilitation for its decaying parts wrought by the elements of weather.

The Cathedral was built in 1603 under the reign of King Louis XIV in honor of the Virgin Mary. Notre Dame in French means Mother Mary, Other interesting historical facts about Notre Dame.This is the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned king and Joan of Arc was beatified as a saint. She was the quintessential French heroine remembered for waging battle against the British.

The classic novel “ The Hunchback of Notre Dame” written by Victor Hugo added to the lore of the world famous cathedral. I was never posted in Paris but postings in Brussels and London, two great cities nearby, allowed me whenever possible to make frequent trips to the City of Lights. From Brussels, Paris over land is a mere threehour drive while the English Channel crossing was slightly longer. Crossing the Channel with your car in the hull and watching the White Cliffs of Dover disappearing in the distance as you stand on the deck of the ferry gave the water crossing a sense of romance. At the other side of the channel was the French port of Calais where the cars on board the ferry are released for the continued short drive to Paris. But the aura of romance in the crossing itself is gone with the construction of a modern rail link called the Chunnel which commuters prefer because of the speed of travel between London and Paris.

The Notre Dame, like the Eiffel Tower, was a symbol of France. Located on an island on the Seine River called the Ille de Cite, my wife Maridel and I, during trips to France, had attended Mass at Notre Dame at least thrice.

From Notre Dame we would cross on foot on one of several bridges to walk around and explore to look for some bargain price relics or souvenirs on the other side. That side also has some of the finest restaurants for French cuisine.

A

Not worth keeping

T LEAST 10 people—including a woman—were nailed onto crosses this year, in a blood-soaked display of religious fervor over the Holy Week.

Even more devotees, as part of a yearly tradition, flogged themselves with bamboo strips as they walked along roads in the sweltering heat.

Sadly, these extreme acts of penance have become a major tourist attraction, with international visitors watching in morbid fascination as believers allow themselves to be nailed to crosses in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The spectacles—now streamed on the Internet and social media as well—merely reinforce the country’s image as a backwater in which superstition and barbarism still hold sway.

A far less violent, but far more common and damaging “tradition” is the strewing of garbage by the thousands of worshipers and devotees who go on Lenten pilgrimages.

“Despite the repeated announcement aired over the public address system, some devotees who went to popular Lenten pilgrimage sites on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday chose

to leave a trail of garbage behind,” the group EcoWaste Coalition said in a statement.

Littering, the group lamented, has become a “tradition” that tarnishes the annual journey of the faithful to favorite pilgrimage destinations in the provinces of Bulacan and Rizal.

Littering was rampant at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine in San Jose del Monte City and the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, both in Bulacan; and at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Cathedral in Antipolo City, Rizal, the group said.

“Among the most littered items reported were paper and plastic materials used by visitors for picnicking, resting and sleeping, plastic bags, food packaging, food leftovers, and lots of plastic bottles,” the group said.

“It’s apparent that many

devotees have yet to appreciate the connection between the expression of our faith and our responsibility to take good care of our shared environment.

Environmental apathy, sad to say, is still very prevalent,” the group added.

The Catholic Church, which officially frowns upon extreme displays of devotion, says the faithful should spend Lent in quiet prayer and reflection.

"The crucifixion and death of Jesus are more than enough to redeem humanity from the effects of sins. They are once in a lifetime events that need not be repeated," Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines official Fr. Jerome Secillano said.

"Holy Week.... is not the time to showcase man's propensity for entertainment and Pharisaical tendencies," he added.

Nor, we must add, is it a time to pollute our surroundings with mountains of garbage that tarnish the solemnity of the occasion and the sites that the Catholic faithful deem sacred.

There are some traditions worth keeping. Others are clearly not.

Turn to A5

The political landscape after 13 May SO MANY who have written about the fast-approaching midterm elections have predicted, largely on the basis of pre-election surveys, that President Rodrigo Duterte will have a co-opted Senate.

In most surveys, it would seem that only one or two of the Ocho Diretso have a chance of making it to the Magic 12. But that narrowly and mistakenly defines the opposition in terms of the Gang of Eight.

The post-May 13 Senate will be composed of the following senators who will seek either re-election or another office come 2022: Senate President Tito Sotto, Senators Ralph Recto, Migs Zubiri, Ping Lacson, Dick Gordon, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao, Frank Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan and Leila de Lima.

The last four ran (and remain) under the Liberal Party, with De Lima unable to attend sessions due to detention, and the three others classified with the opposition. For the remainder of President Duterte’s term, they are likely to remain oppositionist, in varying degrees of ferocity. Senator Drilon is serving the second term of his second round in the Senate, having served from 1995-2007, thence from 2010, reelected in 2016. He, therefore, will not qualify for reelection in 2022. Senators Pangilinan and Hontiveros, even De Lima qualify for reelection three years hence.

All the others can seek reelection for another term, except for Manny Pacquiao, who is likely to toe the administration line whenever for the next three years. The rest however are basically “free agents” in a polity where there are no real political parties. Their support for the Duterte leg-

islative agenda will depend on One, their 2022 personal ambition; Two, their assessment of political opportunity versus political risk (dependent on Duterte’s approval and trust ratings); Three, their principled stand on issues.

Not necessarily in said order. Some will put a premium on one or the other raison politique in defining their stand on legislation.

Assume that only one or two from Ocho Diretso will make it. Whether it is Bam or Mar, they are likely to remain oppositionist.

The clear survey leaders are a mixed bag: Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano and Bong Go. The last will be Duterte’s

President Duterte will hold the trump card in 20121.

alter ego in the Senate, and is proud of being so. Pia Cayetano and Cynthia Villar will likely be very supportive of the President, until the last months of 2021 when the presidential elections draw near, and they will have to be drawn to their presidential candidates. Grace Poe, if she tops the election, might try for a second time to be president come 2022. Sonny Angara would probably see if he has chances for the presidency or vice presidency come 2022.

Bato de la Rosa and Francis Tolentino will remain very supportive of the President to whom they will largely owe their election. Lito Lapid, like Manny Pacquiao will sit on the sidelines and be supportive most if not all of the time. Nancy Binay will be independently constructive, except on issues close to her heart which may or may not coincide with the administraTurn to A5

Resurrected THAT’S what the victims of Eastern Samar Acting Gov. Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal’s fascistic governance must be feeling after the Civil Service Commission Regional Office VIII declared that at least three of the “Detail Orders” issued in January this year, assigning provincial employees to farflung areas, were not in order.

In her Decision to their Joint Ap-

The commission has spoken. peal, CSCRO-8 Director Victoria Esber even lambasted Picardal for ordering the transfer of Helen Cadalin, Rowel Moscosa and Vivian Lavado without their consent.

Esber said Cadalin, Moscosa and Lavado occupy station-specific as-

signments; hence, they cannot be reassigned to other station or workplace for more than one year, unless consent is given, which the CSC director said “is clearly violative of appellants’ appointments.”

Moreover, Esber said Picardal failed to prove existence of an urgent necessity to augment the manpower in the hospitals where Cadalin, Moscosa and Lavado were transferred, even as Picardal invoked exigency of service was used as basis for the transfer.

Also, Esber said the transfer orders Turn to A5

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Opinion Political dynasty dynamics explained the subject from “what is a good political dynasty?” to “What is a less destructive to a very destructive dynasty?”

To close his presentation, he ofAMONG the most contentious fered a challenge to the audience: changes that the draft federal char- “We should not only be thinking ter aims to introduce is the lifting of about how to remove political dynasterm limits for elective government posts. The argument is that term limits supposedly perpetuate the growth of political dynasties in the country Roughly 100 families because the politician in the family, exert significant barred from running after a certain political control over number of terms, will field in his or her unexperienced relative—spouse much of the country. or child or sibling—to the detriment of the post. As a result, roughly 100 families exert significant political ties but also what exactly to replace it control over much of the country.

“Term limits were introduced in with?” he said.

Pulse Asia President Ronnie the 1987 Constitution, which also included an anti-dynasty provision,” Holmes agreed that a simple lifting said Dindo Manhit, president of in- of terms wouldn’t offer a clear-cut dependent think tank Stratbase ADR solution to and wouldn’t have any Institute (ADRi). “However, a corre- impact on reducing dynasties. Refsponding law was never passed. This ormation, he said, should be done to comes as no surprise as both houses increase competition among candiof congress are filled with members dates and dynasties. For instance, he of dynasties, with up to 75 percent of observed that development expendilawmakers in the 16th congress com- ture increases when there is competiing from one. Who would vote for a tion among political elites in the area.

This way, the reforms will be coming bill against their own interest?”

This was the subject of the roundta- from the electoral system and the poble discussion organized by Stratbase litical party system.

Will a bigger middle class translate ADR Institute. In particular, it looked at a special paper on term limits and to democratized political space? The political dynasties by Ateneo School jury is still out on that one, he said.

For University of Santo Tomas Poof Government Dean Dr. Ronald Mendoza, Mian Banaag, and Michael litical Science Department’s Edmund Yusingco. The presentation, led by Dr. Tayao, the issue of political dynasties Mendoza, provided a picture of the has become frustrating because it has current political dynasty landscape been an ongoing debate for so long with special attention to local govern- and the issue of timing has delayed any radical changes. It should be poment units and the provinces.

Political dynasties, Dr. Mendoza litical agenda, not timing, that ought said, had existed even before the to steer the change, he said.

Tayao further stated, “It’s the inimplementation of term limits; politicians belonging to these dynasties tensely fragmented nature of the counhave circumvented term limits and try’s local government system that has thus expanded their hold in power. As been hospitable to political dynasties symptomatic of a broader inequality and therefore requires the reformation then, ending or lessening fat politi- of the political party system and the cal dynasties, he stressed, will need electoral system to change.”

Political science professor Jean the implementation of the rest of the reform agenda in order to level the Franco from the University of the political playing field in our political Philippines also emphasized the need to restructure or even recreate the and economic systems.

Dr. Mendoza thus sought to re- institutional design of the political frame the question of a “good fat landscape since the reign of dynasties political dynasty.” It’s impossible has limited the choices of voters and to look at the question in black and proliferated a vote-buying culture.

There is a need, she said, to reform white and instead he wants to shift

the electoral system and change the very outdated “de-Marcos-ified” constitution as it’s the lack of competition in the institutional design that has led to the abuse of the political space by these dynasties. An interesting aspect that can be pursued is a study on women in politics and how dynasties have contributed to their reign.

Reacting to the comments, Dr. Mendoza agreed that the system itself is “anomalous.” In thinking about dynasties, there is a need to align an alternative type of politics with a similarly progressive economic trajectory—producing a strong middle class, having a strong economic growth, and awarding good politics with good economic outcomes.

Sharing most people’s frustration with the seemingly endless abuse of the political system, he said his greatest fear is that the country would become worst before it becomes better.

The forecast is that local government units will be 70 percent dynastic by 2040. The problem is that the key to the change we want is dependent on the very people we want to change and remove.

Dr. Mendoza sees two possible trajectories given this background.

On the pessimistic side, a big malfunction in the democratic system may force the country to swing either far left or far right, as in the case of Thailand. This is because out of all the political institutions, the national security sector remains to be the only merit-based system left, so there is a chance that it may be entrusted with more power.

On the positive side, the continued push for political party reform and anti-dynasty initiatives can still happen if more people are informed and can unite under the cause. Whatever the direction we pursue, Dr. Mendoza is not confident that this administration provides the right environment for any much-needed radical change in the political system, including its much-vaunted federalism and charter change agenda.

“This administration has eroded every semblance of trust I have put on it. The agenda it has pushed is very divisive. Even if we have a constitution meant to unite us, if our environment is very divided, the constitution would be poison from the very beginning. And once this administration steps down, what happens to us?”

and even in the first few Congresses after 1987. Not necessarily so after our people elected entertainers and celebrities who are seen less often in the halls of the “august” and heard almost never.

Second, political positioning for the all-crucial 2022 elections.

And Third, how the Duterte administration is able to perform in the last three years, and the legislative agenda it will pursue in earnest.

Whether the president will preside over a “lameduck” period or a “legacy” period matters most. Which means whatever the results come May 13, pursuit of his vision, his “legacy” and political adroitness especially in determining succession three years hence will be most important.

Remember also that the Senate has traditionally been the spawning ground of future presidents from Quezon to Marcos to Aquino III. As we write, speculation swirls around senators like Senate President Sotto, Senators Ping Lacson, Cynthia Villar,

Grace Poe, Dick Gordon, even the less veteran Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao, who may have longing eyes for higher positions, either for themselves or their family.

The political Sphinx looming larger than usual as speculations over 2022 have begun is Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, who has zoomed into the national consciousness especially when she chose candidates to endorse under her “regional” Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

All these however will be mere speculations and grist for observers keenly interested in political events and developments.

Still and all, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, unlike his predecessors Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, even Fidel Valdez Ramos, at this stage of his term, will hold the trump card by 2021, when the politics of this nation goes into the usual ululations over supreme leadership.

never whimsically, capriciously and arbitrarily, in accordance with civil service rules and regulations.

Director Esber also said detail or reassignment powers cannot be “used as a convenient shield for the appointing or disciplining authority to harass or oppress a subordinate on the pretext of advancing and promoting public interest.”

Moscosa holds the post of Local Revenue Collection Officer III stationed at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, in Borongan City, Eastern Samar when he was transferred to Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital, in Guiuan, which is 112 kilometers from his original station.

Cadalin has been appointed Provincial Planning and Development Officer III, stationed at the Provincial Planning and Development Office, while Lavado occupies an Adminis-

trative Aide II position at the Human Resource Management Office, both at the Provincial Capitol in Borongan City, Eastern Samar. They were transferred to Albino Duran Memorial Hospital, in Balangiga town, which is around 108 kilometers from their original station.

Last January, Picardal ordered their reassignment to satellite offices located more than a hundred kilometers from the provincial office, which according to sources, arose not from urgency, but from their identification with Eastern Samar Congressman Ben Evardone, who is gunning for the gubernatorial post this coming May against Picardal.

And if this indeed is Picardal’s brand of leadership, it might be better for the Eastern Samareños give him a dose of his own medicine by dumping him in an isolated island thousands of

The political...

From A4

tion. Koko Pimentel, though head of the PDP-Laban, cannot be expected to toe the administration line all of the time, this time around.

Imee Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito and Bong Revilla are likely to be more supportive than not of the administration, for personal reasons or even future ambitions.

If Serge Osmeña makes it, he will be independent, as usual. So too Juan Ponce Enrile. And if a last-minute blitzkrieg gets Dong Mangudadatu squeaking in to the magic 12, he is expected to toe the administration line.

So the oft-written and oft-said conclusion that President Duterte will “control” the Senate of the 18th Congress is not cast in stone.

First, there is the tradition of 24 senators being 24 independent republics. That was so before martial law,

Resurrected From A4

failed to consider circumstances relative to the place of work and status of affected employees, including financial burden and dislocation.

The Decision said Moscosa would spend some P7,000 in monthly transportation expenses—36 percent of his salary—to and from his new assignment and his residence. Lavado would incur around P6,300 in monthly transport expenses, P900 more than her net take home pay of P5,400. Cadalin would spend about P6,300 in monthly fare, which is about 65 percent of her P9,400 net take home pay.

While Esber said the Civil Service recognizes Picardal’s discretion as head of agency to reassign his employees, she stressed that such discretion should be exercised prudently,

MONDAY, ARPIL 22, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Western civilization is burning!

ACCORDING to Dennis Prager, a US syndicated radio talk show host, columnist, and friend, the symbolism of the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the most renowned building in Western civilization, the iconic symbol of Western Christendom, is hard to miss.

He continues: It is as if God Himself wanted to warn us in the most unmistakable way that Western Christianity is burning— and with it, Western civilization.

Every major Western (and one major non-Western) social and intellectual force has conspired to rid Europe of Christianity and the civilization it produced.

Within the Western world, the French Enlightenment—the intellectual basis of the French Revolution and the modern West—sought to replace Christianity, and religion in general, with secularism rooted in reason. No God, Bible, or Ten Commandments is necessary for morality or meaning: reason (and science) will replace them.

The two final deathblows to Christianity in Europe were the world wars.

World War I ended most Westerners' belief in the nation-state and the West.

Christianity, already weakened by the Enlightenment, was further weakened

by World War I. German Christians were killing millions of French and English Christians, and French and English Christians were killing millions of German Christians. So the argument and sentiment against Christianity went. Then World War II saw even more death on the Christian continent as well as the failure of Catholic and Protestant churches in Nazi Germany to offer even minimal noncompliance with the Nazis' Jew-hatred.

With the end of World War II, every internal Western intellectual doctrine was secular. God, the Bible, and religion were regarded at best as innocuous nonsense and at worst as noxious nonsense.

Meanwhile, Europeans brought a non-European ideology into Europe, an ideology that, for more than a thousand years, sought to replace Christianity as the world's dominant religion. The Europeans, believing in nothing distinctly Christian or Western and believing in the moral and intellectual nonsense known as "multiculturalism"—a doctrine that asserts that all cultures are morally equivalent—saw nothing problematic in bringing millions of Muslims into Europe. They had no idea that most of these people actually wanted to replace Christianity with their religion.

They had no idea because, in their ignorance and arrogance, they assumed that because they were secular multiculturalists, everybody else was, too—

Fire at...

or would be, once they lived in Europe.

They were wrong, of course. And as a result, the two dominant forces in Europe—secular leftism and Islamism— sought the end of Christianity and the West. (The left believes that protecting Western civilization is equivalent to protecting white supremacy.)

This is not producing a pretty picture. Generally speaking, Islam has not been nearly as kind, tolerant, open, medically or scientifically innovative, or intellectually curious as Western civilization (and yes, Nazism and communism were born in the West, but they were anti-Western).

Even without tens of millions of Muslims, post-Christian Europe has not produced a pretty picture. This was pre-

What matters is the omen.

dicted in 1834, 100 years before Hitler's rise, by the great German poet Heinrich Heine, a secular Jew (who later converted to Protestantism, "the ticket of admission into European culture"): "Christianity—and that is its greatest merit—has somewhat mitigated that brutal German love of war, but it could not destroy it. Should that subduing talisman, the cross, be shattered, the frenzied madness of the ancient warriors, that insane Berserk rage of which Nordic bards have spoken and sung so often, will once more burst into flame.

This talisman [the cross] is fragile, and the day will come when it will collapse miserably. Then ... a play will be performed in Germany which will make the French Revolution look like an innocent idyll."

European Christians persecuted European Jews, often brutally. But it took a post-Christian ideology, secular Nazism, to produce Auschwitz—just as it took post-Christian communism to produce the Gulag, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and the Ukrainian and Cambodian genocides.

Moreover, Nazism and communism aside, the left's belief that secular reason can replace God and the Bible turns out to be completely wrong. The alleged citadels of secular reason—the universities—are the most irrational and morally confused institutions in the West.

It is not known if a worker accident or a radical Muslim set fire to Notre Dame Cathedral (as they have scores of other churches around Europe). In terms of what the fire represented, it doesn't much matter. What matters is the omen: Europe is burning, just as Notre Dame was. eric.jurado@gmail.com

Diplomatic assignments in Hungary, Poland and Belgium which are Europe’s Catholic countries have given me my share of seeing the world’s most beautiful churches like Saint Matthias church and St. Stephen’s cathedral in Budapest. St. Mary’s church in Krakow is a sight to behold with its stained glass windows and its masterpiece painted ceiling But it is Notre Dame in Paris which is the mother of all these Catholic churches in Europe. Even non-Catholics like those of the Islamic faith go into the Notre Dame which is open to the public.

People who have gone into the Notre Dame can relate to what happened to the Cathedral as they watched via CNN television, from the comfort of their living room, how flames ate up the roof of

the historic landmark.

There is an adage that you have not been to Paris if you have been remiss in not going to the Notre Dame cathedral.

This cannot be said of the Eiffel Tower where the locals and foreign tourists have to line up and pay for the elevator ride to the topmost part. Besides, the just-as-iconic tower can be seen from afar in most places in Paris particularly the Trocadero where if you are lucky you can get a table at the several sidewalk cafés. This is the beauty of life in the City of Lights—sipping wine or an expresso while watching people from all walks of life go by.

A friendly piece of advice to the men: Don’t strain your eyes too much watching only Paris pulchritude sashay on the street. That guy with the beret on his head could be just as interesting as he might be a famous writer or painter.

Ah, Paree!

kilometers away from civilzation.

Who’s winning in Metro Manila’s premier cities?

While different polling firms are coming up with different figures relative to the May 13 polls, it seems they agree that incumbents and familiar names are leading the way in forthcoming elections. This is epspecially true in Metro Manila’s premier cities.

A survey conducted by the RPMission and Development Foundation Inc. released on Saturday showed that in Taguig, former Rep. Lino Cayetano, brother-in-law of incumbent Mayor Lani Cayetano, is leading by miles against his opponent, Rep. Arnel Cerafica, 70 percent to 27 percent.

In the City of Manila, former vice mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is still leading at 47 percent against incumbent Mayor Erap Estrada with 30 percent, and former

Mayor Alfredo Lim, 15 percent.

In Pasig City Mayor Roberto “Bobby Eusebio” maintained a strong lead of 68 percent against City Councilor Vico Sotto, son of television host Vic Sotto, who scored 29 percent only.

In San Juan City, former Vice Mayor Francis Zamora is ahead of the race with 55 percent against Vice Mayor Janella Estrada with 43 percent.

In Makati, it’s Binay against Binay as Abigail leads her brother, Junjun, 67 percent to 36 percent.

In Quezon City, Vice Mayor Belmonte is ahead by 26 percent over Rep. Bingbong Crisologo (36 percent) and former Rep. Chuck Mathay (1 percent).

With only three weeks to go, it might be safe to say these early leaders would eventually end up winners unless something dramatic happens in the campaign’s final turn.

From A4

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TODAY MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

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2,890 Filipino nurses take US licensure exam—Bertiz A

By Rio N. Araja

T LEAST 2,890 Filipino nurses hoping to practice their profession abroad took the United States licensure examination for the first time from January to March.

ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said the figure is 46 percent higher than the number of Filipino nurses who took the US National Council Licensure Examination during the same three-month period in 2018, excluding repeaters.

“It is evident that many Filipino nurses are still raring to move into America’s highly lucrative labor market,” he said.

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Filipino nurses in American hospitals receive an average of $6,292 or P327,870 in monthly wages.

Even Filipino nurses already gainfully employed in the Middle East are steadily relocating to America, he said.

“Drawn by superior pay and their strong sense of connection to the Western culture, many Filipino nurses in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are now going to Texas and California,” Bertiz said.

The number of Filipinos taking the test for the first time is considered a good indicator as to how many of them are trying to enter the profession in America, he said.

Some 10,302 Filipino nurses took the NCLEX for the first time in the whole of 2018, up 32 percent from the 7,791 who took the test in 2017.

Unofficial estimates peg at 150,000 the number of active Filipino registered nurses in America.

Despite a huge national surplus, Bertiz said the Philippines continues to produce a large number of new nurses, many of whom end up working overseas.

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

5.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAM FOR YEARS 2015 TO 2017, WITH MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. 2019-007 RC ISABELA COOPERATIVE, (ISELCO I),

I

INC.

ELECTRIC

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 01 February 2019, Isabela I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ISELCO I) filed an Application dated 10 October 2018 (Application), seeking the Commission’s approval of its capital expenditure program for years 2015 to 2017, with motion for provisional authority.

In the said Application, ISELCO I alleged the following, among others: 1. ISELCO I is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Brgy. Victoria, Alicia, Isabela; 2. It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in the cities of Santiago and Cauayan and municipalities of Alicia, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Cordon, Echague, Jones, Luna, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Isidro and San Mateo, all in the province of Isabela; LEGAL BASIS FOR THE APPLICATION 3. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 and other laws and rules, and in line with its mandate to provide safe, quality, efficient and reliable electric service to its consumers, ISELCO I seeks approval, confirmation and authority from this Honorable Commission to implement its Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Program for Years 2015 to 2017; THE PROPOSED PROJECTS 4. ISELCO I’s proposed CAPEX Projects subject of the instant Application are summarized hereunder, as follows: PROPOSED NETWORK PROJECTS No. 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9

10

11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20

21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Project Title

Project Cost 2015

PROJECT COST TO BE FINANCED

RFSC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

2016

2017

Total

Upgrading of over extended service drop wire into Primary 8,651,931.88 8,872,856.68 7,477,714.37 25,002,502.93 and Secondary Lines Replacement of rotten pole/cross-arm and poles 7,323,559.60 9,245,324.00 9,200,627.10 25,769,510.70 insertion Relocation of Line Affected

by Road Widening Project 409,512.99 4,283,454.40 1,198,029.77 5,890,997.16 of DPWH Relocation of 1.0 Km Three Phase Line at Dalibubun, 384,016.83 384,016.83 Jones Replacement of defective substation equipment -protection 1. Replacement of 3 units Defective Current 960,000.00 960,000.00 Transformer 2. Replacement of 4 Units defective and 4 units 1,951,073.00 1,327,382.00 2,051,073.00 5,329,528.00 dilapidated Circuit Recloser 3. Replacement of 3 units Defective Protection 360,000.00 360,000.00 Relay 4. Replacement of 1 unit Defective 69 KV Breaker 3,800,000.00 3,800,000.00 of Cauayan Substation Installation of New 20 MVA San Fermin Cauayan - 56,995,960.00 - 56,995,960.00 Substation Uprating of 10 MVA Cordon - 29,083,500.00 29,083,500.00 Substation into 20MVA Installation of 10 MVA Garit - 50,759,300.00 50,759,300.00 Substation, Construction 1.52kms 3 Phase line using 336 ACSR 1,326,765.99 1,326,765.99 conductor from Pequeno to Tagaran Construction of 5.8 kms three phase line at Minante, Cauayan City, Installa5,779,395.75 5,779,395.75 tion of Electronics Circuit Recloser a Reconductoring of 3-Phase Line fromt Research to 1,419,396.75 1,419,396.75 Nagrumbuan Reconductoring of Feeder 3,015,631.11 3,015,631.11 2 Cordon Conversion of line at 1,016,422.79 1,016,422.79 Kaquilingan Cordon Conversion of line at La 97,748.82 97,748.82 Salette Conversion of line at Patul 607,773.48 607,773.48 Conversion of line from Vee-phase to three phase 1,219,890.02 1,219,890.02 and installation of capacitor at San Isidro Conversion of line from Silawan to Anafunan and 854,216.06 854,216.06 installation of capacitor Conversion of line from 445,500.46 445,500.46 Malini to Nabuan Conversion of line from Vee phase to three phase at 433,112.63 433,112.63 Buenavista, Santiago City Conversion of line from single phase to three phase 726,151.48 726,151.48 at Burgos Conversion of line from single phase to three phase 1,690,327.94 1,690,327.94 and installation of capacitor at San Pablo Conversion of line from single phase to three phase 137,239.67 137,239.67 at Centro, Cabatuan Installation of capacitor 356,139.96 356,139.96 Expansion of Distribution 22,545,434.52 - 34,866,460.91 57,411,895.43 Line at Far Flung areas New Member Consumer’s Kwhr Meters and Connec1,760,214.72 2,895,606.00 3,336,360.48 7,992,181.20 tion Accessories Distribution Transformer 20,664,313.06 13,857,547.44 12,955,583.74 47,477,444.23 Requirements Expansion of Primary 945,724.21 11,461,515.67 7,030,588.69 19,437,828.57 Distribution Lines Expansion of Secondary 597,617.53 175,911.03 773,528.55 Distribution Lines Replacement of Old and Defective Kilowatt-hour 8,633,139.80 7,435,333.68 9,692,548.60 25,761,022.08 Meters Total Network Project 94,839,004.35 118,722,984.47 168,752,939.76 382,314,928.58

GMA leads Boao Forum in Manila today

CAPEX EXPENDITURE PLAN The proposed projects together with justifications are discussed in detail in ISELCO I’s CAPEX Plan for Years 2015 to 2017, with technical and financial analysis and supporting data presented in ERC-specified templates; FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION [5.] Financing Plan. The proposed projects will be financed partly with funds to be acquired through loans from the National Electrification Administration (NEA), Rural Electrification Financing Corporation (REFC) and banks, and partly with its Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditure (RFSC). Presented in the Table below are the CAPEX plan financiers to be pursued, to wit:

SOURCE OF FUNDS

Applicant. x----------------------------------------------------------x

HOT IN THE CITY. Beach lovers take a cool dip on Easter Sunday along the Pasay City portion of Manila Bay despite the strict implementation of a swimming ban by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Ey Acasio

2015

2016

2017

169,327,728.65

47,172,205.31

53,944,094.49

68,211,428.85

Bank Loans

92,326,645.83

29,250,629.79

22,242,933.04

40,833,083.00

REFC

105,661,827.94

6,113,000.00

27,979,527.94

71,569,300.00

NEA

124,660,534.56

32,798,113.65

56,995,960.00

34,866,460.91

491,976,736.98

115,333,948.75

161,162,515.47

215,480,272.76

[6.] Cash Flow and Rate Impact. As shown in the following table, ISELCO I’s cash flow shows that it is able to pursue and implement the 3-year CAPEX Plan without causing a significant increase in its electricity rates. For years 2015, 2016 and 2017, there is a minimal indicative additional rate requirement to cover the cost of the projects, new loan amortizations and permit fee, as follows, to wit: Indicative Rate Impact of the Project 2015 Forecasted energy sales, kWh

321,424,479

Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/(shortfall)

2016

2017

340,119,224

Total

376,368,193 1,037,911,896

(19,200,037.61) (105,121,830.32) (124,321,868)

CASH INFLOWS

-

current year collection @ PhP0.2178/kWh

70,006,251.61

annual income on leased properties

1,730,237.82

74,077,966.89

81,972,992.44

226,057,211 1,730,238

loan proceeds from financial institutions (SEP), PhP

23,000,000.00

-

34,000,000.00

57,000,000

loan proceeds from financial institutions REFC, PhP

25,000,000.00

2,601,080.00

8,551,781.00

36,152,861

loan proceeds from financial institutions (hilux), PhP

1,938,000.00

loan proceeds from financial institutions (Fleet), PhP

1,938,000 27,319,200.00

loan proceeds from financial institutions (SS), PhP

27,319,200 67,387,781.00

67,387,781

Total Cash Inflows, PhP

121,674,489.43

103,998,246.89

191,912,554.44

417,585,291

Available cash for disbursment

121,674,489.43

84,798,209.29

86,790,724.11

293,263,423

115,333,948.75

161,162,515.47

215,042,147.67

491,538,612

CAPEX debt service (old amortization)

19,608,656.72

17,863,880.72

13,604,836.72

51,077,374

CAPEX debt service (new amortization)

4,919,852.03

9,550,945.45

20,825,943.38

35,296,741

1,714,852.38

4,069,620

CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement

ERC Permit Fee, PhP Total Cash Outflows, PhP Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall) Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

-

1,012,069.54

1,342,697.97

140,874,527.03

189,920,039.61

251,187,780.14 581,982,346.8

(19,200,037.61) (105,121,830.32) (164,397,056.03) (288,718,924) (0.0597)

(0.3091)

(0.4368)

(0.1584)

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY [7.] Applicant repleads the foregoing allegations as may be material herein; [8.] Due to unforeseen situations or occurrences coupled with delays attributable to the filing of CAPEX applications, the cooperative has been constrained to implement the foregoing projects pending the filing of the instant application; [9.] In view thereof, Applicant respectfully moves of the Honorable Commission to permit the implementation of those projects pending approval of the instant application, said implementation having enabled the cooperative to deliver a safe, efficient and more reliable electric service to its consumers; SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTARY AND PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS [10.] Finally, in compliance with the documentary requirements under ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 and pre-filing requirements under the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, ISELCO I is submitting herewith the following documents which are being made as integral parts hereof, to wit: Annex Nature of Document Markings A Capital Expenditure Plan for Years 2015 to 2017 with supporting data in ERC-specified templates B Affidavit of Posting B-1 Notice on the Proposed Projects C Affidavit of Undertaking that the corresponding application for approval of concerned agencies shall be filed, when required D Judicial Affidavit in Support of the Motion for Provisional Authority E and Proof of furnishing copies of the application to the Sangguniang Bayan of Alicia and series Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Isabela F and Publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in ISELCO I’s franseries chise area or where it principally operates PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, ISELCO I respectfully prays of this Honorable Commission that the cooperative’s implementation of the proposed projects pending evaluation thereof be permitted and after due notice and hearing, the proposed projects be approved accordingly.

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises, are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 9 May 2019 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.), at ISELCO I’s Principal Office, Brgy. Victoria, Alicia, Isabela.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1) The petitioner’s name and address; 2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3) A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

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

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 18th day of February 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal M-Standard- April 15 & 22, 2019

By Rio N. Araja HOUSE Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will spearhead today the first-ever two-day Boao Forum for Asia in Manila.

Arroyo, who extended the invitation to hold the conference in the Philippines, is a member of the BFA Board.

The event, with the theme "Concerted Action for Common Development in the New Era," shall bring together some of the country's business leaders and their Chinese counterparts to explore the possibility of investing in both the Philippines and China.

It also aims to foster closer ties and create goodwill between the two countries, building on the momentum for cooperation created by President Rodrigo Duterte and President Xi Jinping during the latter's state visit in Manila in November.

President Duterte and forum secretarygeneral Li Badong will deliver the keynote speeches to open the conference, which is expected to convene at least 300 participants The BFA is currently being chaired by former UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon of South Korea.

Gordon: Craft IRR of motorcycle law CITING the unabated killings across the nation perpetrated by riding-in-tandem shooters, Senator Richard Gordon has called for the immediate implementation of the controversial Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019.

Gordon, principal author of the law, said the measure seeks to deter such crimes.

“We really have to do something to stop these killings with impunity. That is why I am calling on the LTO [Land Transportation Office] to craft the IRR [Implementing Rules and Regulations] of Republic Act No. 11235 as soon as possible so we could immediately implement it,” he said.

Last week, award-winning homegrown barista John Michael Hermoso, 29, and Kis Tryvl Ramos, 21, who was set to graduate with a degree in psychology from the University of the Philippines-Cebu this June, were killed in a shooting incident at the coffee shop in Cebu City where they both worked.

Two assailants wearing helmets entered the shop and opened fire, killing the two victims and injuring two other employees. The suspects fled on board a motorcycle.

Last Sunday, Fraldine Kate Ramayla Canes, 24, and her husband, Michael Canes, 27, were shot dead by two men on board a motorcycle at the corner of SB Cabahug Street and AC Cortes Avenue in Barangay Ibabao in Mandaue City. Their eight-year-old daughter survived the attack.

The couple, who were into the ready-towear clothes business, were on their way home after coming from the North Bus terminal to send some of their products to Bantayan Island in northern Cebu when they were attacked.

Gordon said while the use of a motor vehicle is an aggravating circumstance under the Revised Penal Code, the current plate number of motorcycles is too small for witnesses to take note of it.

“Now, if would be NOTICE easier for the culprits to escape using the moTaiyo Sangyo torcycle. They will just Trading and remove the motorcycle Marine Service plate, which is just very Ltd. Philippine small to be seen by witbranch.

WIll nesses,” he said. close effective February 20, Once the new law is 2019 and will implemented, drivers of operate as motorcycle traversing Headquarter the road without plates instead. would be arrested.

(MS-APR. 5, 13 & 22, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A7

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senators make strong pitch for Earth Day

By Macon Araneta

Wine store raided in Binondo

C

ITING estimates by scientists that the world is losing plants and animals species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the normal rate, Senator Loren Legarda on Sunday joined calls to protect the species, which is the theme for this year’s Earth Day celebration today.

Reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara echoed the call and urged Filipinos to make a conscious effort to live a more environment-friendly lifestyle as the Philippines joins the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day. Angara said the annual event to spread awareness about the environment does not have to be limited to one single day, believing that “Earth Day must be observed every day of the year.”

“Raising awareness about the importance of protecting the only planet we have and the need to take action should be more than an annual activity,” said the lawmaker. “It doesn’t need to end after April 22. It should continue every day and become a regular part of our lifestyle.”

With a few easy lifestyle changes, Angara said people can help save the planet for future generations.

“We can start by eliminating the need for plastic bags and other single-use plastic products that end up in landfills or polluting our rivers and oceans,” he said.

Angara said it is high time to think positively about reducing plastics and take effective action to tackle plastic pollution, which has devastating effects on the environment and marine life.

For her part, Legarda cited the warning of the Earth Day Network that normally, between one and five species will go extinct annually.

The senator, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, said that stronger biodiversity protection efforts must be put in place to prevent loss of species especially since thousands of species are becoming extinct every year.

She related that the biodiversity loss, which is mainly caused by habitat destruction and wildlife trade, is heightened because of climate change.

Studies indicate that 30 percent of species would be at risk of extinction due to the warming climate.

“We need to take greater action to protect the delicate ecological balance.

It is incumbent upon us humans, who are the stewards of the Earth, to be more responsible as most of our actions are the very threats to other species,” said Legarda, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment.

She underscored the need for a stronger convergence among government agencies and local government units and collaboration with the private sector, civil society and all our citizens, to protect our species and conserve our biodiversity,” she stressed.

The government, Legarda said, must strictly enforce laws that protect biodiversity, such as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, and the Expanded NIPAS of 2018, which she principally authored.

By Vito Barcelo

POWER CREW. Maintenance men from Meralco install new transformers at electric posts in Barangay Mapulang Lupa in

Valenzuela City. Meralco has announced a series of power interrruptions in Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal from April 22 to 28 to make way for maintenance and repairs. Andrew Rabulan

Muslims mark 15-day countdown to Ramadan

By Nash B. Maulana WHILE the Catholic faithful celebrate Easter Sunday, the world’s Muslims silently fete the weekend with thanksgiving for the Nisfu Sa’aban—the start of a 15-day countdown to the first day of Ramadan.

Sa’aban is the eighth of the 12-month lunar-based Hijra Calendar, followed

by Ramadan when Muslims fast dawnto-dusk daily in 30 days—absolutely abstaining in day time from food, drink and marital sex.

The last 15 days of Sa’aban are devoted to supplications and charity among Muslims in prayers for renewed lease in life improved in more aspects in the coming year.

Mayor Zam Ampatuan of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao said in Islam’s history, a descendant of the Prophet

Muhammad named Mahdi was born on this day.

From a state of “occultation, Mahdi shall rise before the end of time” and “together with Christ, the Messiah, shall reign in peace to establish justice everywhere,” and it will be a “fulfillment of God’s Kingdom on Earth,” Ampatuan said referring to the Second Coming which is foretold in both the Bible and in the Qur’an.

Great Prophet Ampatuan said not many local Muslims share the belief on the advent of Mahdi, but what is common to every Muslim is the belief that Jesus was a great Prophet of God. He said people can find non-Muslims insulting the Prophet Muhammad, but not Muslims insulting Jesus or Mary. In the Qur’an Jesus is referred to with much reverence as Eesa Ibnu Mariam (Jesus

son of Mary).

Substitution But Muslims reject the story of the Crucifixion, believing instead that a substitution took place when the Roman soldiers executed the arrest at dark in the Garden of Gethsemani, and that apparently, they did not know Jesus of Nazareth (John 18: 4-8).

In the Qur’an, the Romans arrested and later slew a man that God made to appear like Jesus of Nazareth in an ensuing commotion during the dark night arrest in the Garden of Gethsemani. God instead raises Jesus to the Third Heavens to save him from the atrocities of the Romans and the colluding Pharisees.

According to the Gospel of John, the arrest was resisted by Peter with a “sword [drawn] and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear” (John 18:10).

Filipino sailors sent home $1b in Jan-Feb

STRAWBERRY FIELDS. THE BSU Strawberry Farm attracts crowds of pickers, one of the frequently visited sites in Benguet.

Strawberry picking is a seasonal boost for the town of La Trinidad which expects at least 50,000 visitors throughout the Holy Week.

The thriving Tourism industry benefits 180 pasalubong shops, 75 other shops, 117 wine and jam processors, over 400 farmers, 250 ice cream and ambulant vendors, parking facilities and thousands of transportation service units, among others.

FILIPINO sailors on foreign ocean-going vessels wired home a total of $1.05 billion in cash via the banking system from January to February this year, up 10.5 percent from $956.15 million in the same two-month period in 2018, according to a party-list group.

“We are cautiously optimistic about the future growth in the cash remittances from Filipino sailors, in light of assurances regarding their continued employability,” said ACTS-OFW Party-List Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III. The group also clarified that the Maritime Industry Authority has affirmed that the Philippines remained in the “White List” of nations deemed fully compliant with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

MARINA also pledged to keep the country in the “White List” of the International Maritime Organization.

Continued inclusion in the list means that all IMO member-countries should accept as valid the certificates possessed by Filipino sailors and issued by Philippine authorities.

THE National Bureau of Investigation seized 153 bottles of expensive Chilean wines valued at P600,000 in a raid at a wine store in Binondo, Manila.

The NBI -Intellectual Property Rights Division raided the Solid White Marketing located at Soler Street, Binondo, and confiscated several crates of Los Vascos Le Dix wines along with other expensive French wines.

A bottle of Los Vasco wine costs P5,000, but the raided store is found to be selling the expensive Chilean and French wines at lower prices, violating the law against unfair competition, according to the NBI report.

Armed with a search warrant issued by a Quezon City court, the NBI conducted the raid based on a complaint from the French winemaker Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) which was supposed to be the partner o Solid White Marketing as the exclusive distributor.

However, the owner of the wine store was selling the wines at a lower price in violation of unfair competition under Sec. 168 of Republic Act No. 8283 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

“Unfair competition consists in employing deception or any other means contrary to good faith by which any person shall pass off the goods manufactured by him or in which he deals, or his business, or services for those of the one having established goodwill, or committing any acts calculated to produce such result, according to the NBI. Other wines seized were Los Vascos Grand Reserve, Los Vasco Cabarnet Sauvignon and Blason d’ Aussieres, the NBI said.

“Domaines Barons de Rothschild is the owner of Chateau Lafite, the top Bordeaux First Growth. With the LafiteSpirit of producing high quality wines, full of finesse and elegance, Domaines Baron Rothschild acquired various vineyards in Chile [Los Vascos], Argentina [Bodegas Caro], Languedoc, France [Domaine d’ Aussieres] & Bordeaux [Lafite Legende, Reserve Speciale & Saga] and crafted wines to be distributed as daily drinking wines via exclusive country distributor,” the NBI report said..

These wines have earned high accolades with the international media and connoisseurs alike, NBI said.

Bangsamoro to invest in ‘cash crops’ COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will invest in long-term cropping of initially high value, fruitbearing trees in boosting the region’s agricultural potentials.

Efforts to steer the region’s economy towards developing its fruits industry potentials took off with more than 300 mango farmers completing a fourmonth School-on-the Air training on Mango Production in a Maundy Monday graduation rites here.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform in BARMM has continued the early morning Schoolon-the Air radio program for farmers, started in the 1970s by Maguindanao agriculture information officers.

Dr. Mohammad Yacob, MAFAR minister said farmers from the towns of Datu Paglas, Midtimbang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Unsay Ampatuan, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Mastura, and Talayan successfully completed the course on mango flower induction technology, as well as on processing and marketing.

Yacob said his agency has the mandates among other things to help educate farmers, adding that: “Education is one of the keys to development. It is a way among many others to achieve our development goals.”

Dr. Kadiguia Rakman Abdullah, head of the MAFAR Regional Agriculture and Fishery Information Division, said over the years local farmers have reaped much from both traditional knowledge and modern technology discussed on radio to improve production performance in terms of quality and quantity.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@manilastandard.net; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

Embiid fuels 76ers past Brooklyn NEW YORK—Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid returned from injury to score a game-high 31 points and grab 16 rebounds, powering the 76ers to a 112108 NBA playoff victory at Brooklyn on Saturday.

Despite a third-quarter incident that saw two players ejected, the 76ers seized a 3-1 lead in the first-round series against the Nets and could advance in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven matchup with a home victory Tuesday.

In the other Eastern Conference game, Khris Middleton finished with 20 points and nine rebounds as the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks put the Detroit Pistons on the brink of elimination with a 119-103 win. The victory give the Bucks a 3-0 lead and they can wrap up the series with a win on the road in the Motor City on Monday.

Philadelphia, down by 10 points early in the third quarter, battled back most of the second half before taking the lead on a run of eight points by Embiid, who missed game three with a sore left knee.

A slam dunk and layup by Embiid gave the 76ers their first late lead at 102-101 but, after an exchange of layups and three-pointers as well as turnovers, fell behind 108-107 on a basket by Brooklyn’s Joe Harris with 25 seconds remaining.

On the next 76er possession, Embiid flipped the last of his seven assists to Mike Scott, whose corner threepointer put Philadelphia ahead to stay 110-108 with 19 seconds remaining.

Australian Ben Simmons—who added 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the 76ers—stole the ball from Brooklyn’s Jarett Allen and Tobias Harris sank two free throws for the last of his 24 points to clinch the triumph.

‘Stay cool and not react’ Caris LeVert led the Nets with 25 points while Brooklyn had 21 points each from Allen and D’Angelo Russell.

Cameroon star center Embiid was issued a flagrant foul in touching off an altercation 4:18 into the third quarter that saw Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler Brooklyn’s Jared Dudley ejected.

Martirez bucks Idjao, scores PPS twin-kill ALTHEA Rose Martirez pulled off a pair of thrillers over France Lorin Idjao to clinch the MVP plum while Allen Rombawa and Benedict Santiago shared top honors in the boys’ side of the PPSPEPP Gov. Alfonso Umali Cup national age-grouper at the Pinamalayan Tennis Courts in Oriental Mindoro recently.

Martirez thwarted Idjao, 6-4, 6-4, in the girls’ singles 16-U finals then the rising star from Central Philippine U in Iloilo rallied from a set down to hack out a 3-6, 6-3, 10-5 decision in the 18-U championship and emerge the lone “double” winner in the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Gov. Alfonso Umali and the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.

Rombawa, from Lipa, Batangas, overpowered Jann Guillano from Roxas City, Capiz, 6-0, 6-2, to bag the 16-U title while Santiago, also from Iloilo, survived Jeff Jimenea, 6-4, 7-5, for the 14-U plum in the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Up next is the PPS-PEPP juniors meet in Pulilan, Bulacan on April 22-27 while Zamboanga del Norte will host another age-grouper on April 24-27. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Other winners in the event which also served as prelude to the Umali Cup Open, which featured the country’s top male players, were Margaurette Mejos from Semirara (10-unisex), Guillano (boys’ 12U), Angelo Mates from Lipa, Batangas (boys’ 18-U), local bet Diana Jalbay and Ma. Sophia Moreno, also from Lipa.

Mejos trounced Reden Escultor in a duel of unfancied bets, 4-0, 4-1; Guillano toppled Nidrick Luara, 6-4, 6-0; the unranked Mates wore down No. 3 Leyton Portin, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8; the unseeded Jalbay stunned top seed Moreno, 4-2, 4-1, in the semis then held off Myzel Dumaplin, 6-0, 6-4, for the girls’ 12-U crown; and Moreno got back at Jalbay, 6-4, 6-4, in the 14-U finals.

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during Game 4 of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. AFP

Elasto Painters try to near finals; Hotshots eye 2-2 tie

By Jeric Lopez

A

FTER a week off, Rain or Shine and Magnolia resume hostilities as they plunge back to action in a critical Game 4 in their best-of-seven semifinals showdown in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup playoffs.

Still ahead, 2-1, the Elasto Painters chances moving forward. want to move closer to the finals, while “We really believed that all it takes the Hotshots are looking to equalize as is for us to win a game to be in the sethey are set to ries and be face off again in a fair poat 7 p.m. at the sition,” said Smart Araneta Vi c t o l e r o .

Coliseum to“We’re back day. in the series Now back now and in the series, we’re hoping Magnolia we can concoach Chito tinue what Victolero is we started.” optimistic of The HotVictolero his team’s Garcia shots were

finally able to show up in Game 3, listing an 85-74 triumph last Apr. 16 before the Holy Week break to put one up on the series scoreboard.

Ian Sangalang broke through, leading Magnolia with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds to help get his team back in the series.

Sangalang’s steady performance most certainly drew the attention of Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

According to the Painters’ coach, containing Sangalang inside will be a big key for Rain or Shine as it looks to be on the brink of the finals.

“We need to find ways to stop Ian Sangalang,” said Garcia. “He is starting to be more and more effective and we need to counter that.”

Meanwhile, four-time defending champion San Miguel Beer is looking to push Phoenix on the brink as it is currently shooting for a 3-0 lead in the other semis clash.

Koronadal, CdO bets win boxing opener BANGKOK—Ramel Macado, 23, a promising light flyweight from Koronadal City, started off for the Philippine team in the Asian Boxing Championships here with a convincing 4-1 win over Ahmadisafa Omid of Iran on Good Friday in the very first bout of the tournament, which drew 313 boxers from 34 nations in the region.

Fate, however, put a sudden damper on the team’s opening-day efforts as Sugar Ray Ocana suffered a bloody gash over his right eyebrow in an accidental clash of heads with Japan’s Daisuke Narimatsu in the first round of their light welterweight bout. The Japanese boy was declared

winner by Referee Stopped Contest due to injury (RSC-I).

On the distaff side, multi-awarded Nesthy Petecio had her hands full against another Japanese, 2018 world youth championships bronze medalist Irie Sena,19, and lost a close 3-2 split decision. Petecio just graduated her HRM course at the University of Baguio last month.

Another close match was that of Marvin Tabamo and 2017 SEA Games flyweight gold medalist Aldoms Suguro of Indonesia. This time, the Cagayan de Oro native got the 3-2 edge.

The Philippine Sports Commission

funds the boxers’ participation here.

Meanwhile, ABAP Secretary-General and Philippine Olympic Committee Communications Director Ed Picson was elected to the Asian Boxing Confederation Executive Committee with 36 voting countries in attendance.

In the first Executive Committee meeting the following day, ASBC President Anas Al-Otaiba of UAE nominated Picson to be the official spokesperson of the association and the nomination was unanimously approved by the Board.

Picson’s wife Karina is a deputy here to Technical Delegate Pat Fiacco of Canada.

Japanese Asiad champ banners SuBIT JAPANESE Jumpei Furuya, 2018 Asian Games triathlon gold medalist, banners a large field of foreign hopefuls vying for qualifying points in the 2019 NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) Asian Cup set on April 27 and 28.

Furuya, currently ranked no. 43 in the world and champion of last January’s NTT ASTC Asian Cup event in Rayong, Thailand, will be backstopped by 13 other Japanese triathletes.

Poised to crowd out the Japanese are China’s sextet and Hong Kong’s large contingent--33 entries spread over the Elite, Junior and Super Sprint Distance Categories.

Supported by Philippine Sports Commission, NTT, Philippine Olympic Committee, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines and Pocari Sweat, SUBIT lured over a hundred foreign entries.

Chinese Taipei had entered 18, Korea 16, Macao 10, Singapore nine, Syria six and Thailand four.

Not to be discounted in the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run Elite competition are both the pair of Australians and Palestinians and a sole Canadian.

According to Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president, John Chicano will spearhead the Philippine challenge along with Kim Remolino even as FilipinoSpanish Fer Caseres is seen to spring a surprise in his quest for a slot in the Team Philippines for the SEA Games in December.

In the distaff side, 2017 SEA Games medalist Claire Adorna, Asia Games veteran Kim Kilgroe and fast rising JC Abad are the country’s best bets.

Retired pro cager pays it forward with own basketball camp

By Peter Atencio RETIRED cager Cholo Villanueva, influenced by four great coaches during his 16-year career as a player, is paying it forward.

A basketball camp that’s named after him, is developing the next generation of young players, who could someday do well in the sport.

The drills and the practices that the camp conducts every summer for the last five years, help kids aged 4 to 16 years old develop their game.

“The discipline of practice makes everything perfect. Doing things again and again for you to get better at it. Those are the things that I have learned from the coaches,” said Villanueva, during a break in the drills held at the CholoCamp one

Friday afternoon at the Colegio de San Agustin covered courts in Dasmarinas Village, Makati City.

During his time in college, Villanueva played under Franz Pumaren when he was in La Salle, under Nestor Lee while with Colegio San Agustin in his high school days, and under Yeng Guiao with Air21 during his time as a professional in the Philippine Basketball Association.

When he retired, he became an assistant coach for the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers as Vergel Meneses took him under his wings.

Now, there are 12 coaches helping run his camp, which he started in a small village court back in 2010. Called Archers’ Camp, the classes only had 50 students, with Villanueva managing it during his spare time.

Pagunsan, Que seek record TCC victory JUVIC Pagunsan hopes to snap a two-tournament slump while Angelo Que tries to rebound from a missed cut abroad as they resume their chase for a record fourth crown in The Country Club Invitational which unwraps tomorrow (April 23, Tuesday) in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The smooth-swinging Pagunsan lost momentum after dominating the PGT (Philippine Golf Tour) Asia Riviera leg last month, missing the cut in the Solaire Philippine Open the following week and ending up tied at 22nd in the ICTSI Luisita Championship last weekend.

The power-hitting Que, on the other hand, finished joint third in the Phl Open but failed to advance in the Token Homemate Cup of

the Japan PGA Tour last Friday, his abbreviated stint giving him more time to figure out his game in time for the TCC Invitational also known as the Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup. Pagunsan and Que share the most number of titles at three apiece in what has long been regarded as one of the country’s major championships for its prize fund (P5 million) and stellar cast (featuring the top 30 of the 2018 PGT Order of Merit ranking) with the demanding Tom Weiskoph-designed layout providing a fitting challenge for the best of the best.

But the rest are also coming into the event brimming with confidence and armed with games honed by stints in the last two big-time tournaments, guaranteeing four days of battle

of shotmaking, iron play, short game, putting and wits at one of the country’s toughest courses.

Micah Shin, for one, sets out for a rare back-to-back feat after the young KoreanAmerican stunned fancied and 2017 champion Miguel Tabuena in last year’s finale to become the first non-Filipino winner of the event put up by ICTSI chairman Ricky Razon to honor the memory of his father and ICTSI founder Don Pocholo.

Former champions Tony Lascuña and Frankie Miñoza are also in the fold with the former out to end a long title spell and duplicate his romp in 2004 and the latter hoping to re-display the vintage form he dished out in Juvic Pagunsan ruling the event in 2013.

IN BRIEF Zambo co-op allots P680m for upgrade THE new investors of Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative plan to spend P670 million in the next 18 months to replace equipment and rehabilitate substations to improve service to customers.

“For now, we’ve estimated capex requirement of P670 million for approval of the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission). If we file, we will be implementing this. The submission is 2019 to end of 2020 although we have to finalize and submit this to the ERC,” said Joseph Omar Castillo, representative of the joint venture of Crown Investments Holdings Inc. and Desco Inc. The joint venture won the investment and management contract for Zamcelco with a bid of P2.5 billion in an auction last year. The joint venture has since performed a financial and technical audit of the electric cooperative when it took over in January.

The joint venture has paid out P1.2 billion worth of Zamcelco’s debts to power suppliers, including the National Electrification Administration and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. out of the P2.5-billion bid.

Alena Mae S. Flores

BDO Private Bank is best bank in PH BDO Private Bank is one of Asia’s best according to Asian Private Banker, which named it the Best Private Bank in the Philippines Domestic for the fourth straight year.

The Hong Kong-based publication’s annual Awards for Distinction recognizes private banks for their commitment to clients and for providing best-inbreed ideas, opportunities, service and performance.

“We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients and providing them with the financial solutions they need to succeed in reaching their goals. Through our open architecture model, we offer products that have been designed and personalized to deliver the highest possible returns to our clients,” said BDOPB president Albert Yeo. “To be at par with the region’s best private banks inspires us to take our performance to the next level, also as a way to thank our clients for their trust and loyalty over the years,” he added.

Business Razon offers to invest $300m in Wawa project P

By Jenniffer B. Austria

RIME Metroline Infrastructure Holdings Corp., the infrastructure company led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr., offered to invest $250 million to $300 million to develop the Wawa water supply project in Rizal province.

Razon said in a recent interview the project would address the current water supply deficit and ensure future water supply for Metro Manila. He said Angat Dam in Bulacan province would not be able to adequately meet the rising water demand in the metropolis.

“If you look at one thing that is going to be short in the future unless something has been done, [it] is water. When was Angat Dam built? Obviously, the population is

growing. Metro Manila will double its size by 2040. You need water. It’s the one thing you need the most. So it doesn’t take a lot of thinking to know it’s the business you should get into,” Razon said.

Razon confirmed that his group would team up with Manila Water Co. Inc. as the off-taker for the project.

“We’re proposing to develop the Wawa bulk water supply, and Manila Water is the off-taker. In other words, they’ll buy the water that we produce,” Razon said.

Prime Water earlier said it presented the results of the joint technical study on the Wawa water supply project to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator Reynaldo Velasco.

The technical study aimed to sort out the best technical scheme, considering the cost, risks, timeline and maximization of water supply source.

Prime Infra laid down an aggressive plan to ensure water supply security in Manila Water’s service area with more than 500 million liters per day of the new water source, accelerate water

availability by immediately delivering 80 MLD by 2021 and provide operational flexibility and reliability to bring water where it is needed most.

The company said that once it secured the government’s approval, it was hoping to break ground on the project by 2020 and deliver water as early as 2021.

MWSS earlier asked Razon’s group to withdraw the pending case on water rights filed against the state agency by businessman Oscar Violago, who previously owned the franchise for the project.

Razon said the group was willing to drop the case once an agreement was finalized.

“Of course if all the parties have compromised and come to an agreement,” Razon said.

Razon acquired an 82-percent stake in the project, leaving Violago with 18 percent.

Prime Infra was established in 2017 to focus on the rapid growth in infrastructure spending in the Philippines. It now has a strong focus on bulk water projects.

Satish Pillai appointed TransUnion president TRANSUNION, a leading global information solutions provider, announced the appointment of Satish Pillai to the newlycreated role of president of TransUnion Asia.

He will have accountability for operations in the Asia Pacific and India regions, the latter of which is TransUnion’s fastest-growing market. The appointment is effective August 1, 2019.

Pillai has served as managing director and chief executive officer of TransUnion CIBIL, India’s leading credit information company, since July 2015, where he has helped grow TransUnion CIBIL by 30.4 percent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) over the last four years. In his new role, he will continue to drive TransUnion’s International strategy across Asia Pacific markets and extend our global solutions to consumers and businesses across the region.

NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT. National Irrigation Administration administrator Ricardo Visaya (fourth from right) leads the unveiling of the marker during the inauguration of P993.3-million Barotac Viejo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project on April 16, 2019 in Nueva Invencion Village, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. The project includes the generation of 265 hectares of newly-irrigable areas, 459 hectares of rehabilitated areas and 1,326 hectares of restored areas for the benefit of 1,171 farmers and their families.

29 transmission projects worth P90b declared as important for the nation

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Investment Coordinating Council declared 29 transmission projects of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines with a combined investment cost of P90.291 billion as energy projects of national significance.

The declaration came after NGCP successfully energized the expanded substation and transmission lines of the P3.3-billion Bataan 230kV Grid Reinforcement Project, one of the EPNS projects approved.

“The issuance of EPNS by the EICC is critical for the on-time completion of these projects. This will enable us to expedite our plans and programs and efficiently cater to the needs of our stakeholders to provide a more resilient power grid,” NGCP said.

Projects declared under Executive Order No. 30 are given expedited issuance from local and national government agen-

cies. These include the application of permits and requirements within 30 days and the immediate and automatic approval of all applications within five working days if no action of the said agency was made after 30 days.

The 29 approved projects include the following: Hermosa-San Jose 500kV Transmission Line, Western Luzon 500kV Backbone, Pagbilao-Tayabas 500kV Transmission Line, San Jose-Quezon 230kV Transmission Line and Bataan 230kV Grid Reinforcement.

Others in the list are Ambuklao-BingaSan Manuel 230kV Transmission Line, San Manuel-Nagsaag 230kV Transmission Line, Pinili 230kV Substation, Tuguegarao-Magapit 230kV Transmission Line, Navotas-Dona Imelda 230kV Transmission Line, Taguig-Taytay 230kV Transmission Line, San Manuel-Nagsaag 230kV Transmission Line, Calaca-Dasmarinas 230kV Transmission Line and the San Simon 230kV Substation.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

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Mondelez taps EDC to supply clean energy to Sucat factory

By Alena Mae S. Flores MONDELEZ Philippines, the local unit of global snack manufacturer Mondelēz International Inc., tapped geothermal producer Energy Development Corp. to supply power to the former’s manufacturing plant in Sucat, Parañaque City.

Under the agreement, EDC will supply 100-percent geothermal energy to Mondelez from the 150-megawatt Bacon-Manito Geothermal Project in the Bicol region.

“We are proud to source our power from 100-percent renewable energy.

Sustainability for our company is about preserving our world and its people. We all depend on just one planet. The smart and sustainable use of natural resources to reduce our environmental footprint is necessary now more than ever. This latest initiative complements our other sustainable projects in the Philippines,” said Mondelez Philippines plant lead Atul Kulkarni.

Mondelez Philippines is best known for providing Filipinos with snack products such as Eden cheese, Cheez Whiz, Tang powdered beverage, Oreo cookies, Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate.

Aside from its goal of being a snacks leader in the country, Mondelez wants to set the benchmark in being a responsible business and contributing to the community where it operates in.

Globally, the company has declared its 2020 sustainability goals, which include the 15-percent reduction of its absolute carbon dioxide emissions in its manufacturing worldwide by 2020. The shift of its Sucat plant to 100-percent renewable power is Mondelez Philippines’ contribution towards achieving this goal.

“We have a biomass boiler which uses biodegradable sources of fuel, a rainwater treatment facility in our plant to lessen water waste, plastic waste recycling projects and solar power systems, which all contribute to the achievement of our sustainability goals,” Kulkarni said.

EDC head of business development, marketing and trading Marvin Kenneth Bailon said the company is honored to have a global company such as Mondelez Philippines sharing the same values with them.

PH to be ‘upper-middle-income’ nation this year

By Julito G. Rada THE Philippines is set to become an ‘upper-middle-income’ economy this year, thanks to the assistance of multilateral lenders such as the World Bank, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

Dominguez said the World Bank’s generous support for the Philippines’ sustainable development programs was a key factor in helping it secure an upper middle-income economy status in 2019, three years ahead of its targeted schedule.

“For many decades, the World Bank helped many emerging economies achieve sustainable development. This year, as the bank celebrates its 75th year, we are proud to announce that the Philippines will achieve the status of an ‘upper middle-income’ nation ahead of schedule. The bank shares much credit for this achievement,” Dominguez said during the Philippine Day Forum held last week at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington D.C. The event was organized by the World

Bank with support from Citi, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS to share with leaders of the American business community the Philippines’ growth story and the progress that the country achieved over the recent years of implementing reforms to power its economy.

Under the Duterte administration, the government had targeted to achieve the upper middle-income status by 2022 and become a high-income economy by 2040.

It also aimed to bring down poverty incidence from 21.6 percent in 2015 to just 14 percent by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term three years from now.

Based on the World Bank’s criteria for the fiscal year 2019, an upper middle-income country should have a gross national income per capita of $3,896 to $12,055.

The Philippines is currently classified as a lower middle-income country with GNI per capita of $996 to $3,895. High-income economies are those with a GNI per capita of $12,056 or more.

Dominguez said with the resilience it

had displayed under an inclusive economy which posted a GDP growth rate of 6.2 percent last year despite uncertainties of a looming trade war, a sharp spike in oil prices and an elevated domestic inflation rate, the Philippines was poised to reach upper-middle-income status ahead of target this year.

“Today, the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Reaching this milestone in our development story is attributable to many years of hard work—especially in building a strong fiscal position and a bureaucracy honed to the task of catalyzing growth,” he said.

He said that over the last three years, President Duterte had “delivered resoundingly” on his socioeconomic reform agenda that emphasized continuation of pro-market macroeconomic policies, a progressive tax reform program, improvement in the ease of doing business, a more transparent and responsive government, increased investments in our human capital and enhancement of peace and order.

El Niño dry spell seen to trigger higher inflation THE El Niño dry spell is one of the risks that may trigger faster inflation rate this year, the policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.

The board said in the highlights of its March 21 policy meeting the risks to future inflation were expected to remain evenly balanced for 2019, while downside risks to the outlook were projected to dominate in 2020.

“Petitions for electricity rates and transport fare adjustments, the proposed increase in the excise taxes on alcohol beverages and the potential impact of a weak El Niño episode are the main upside risks to inflation,” the board said.

“Meanwhile, slower global economic growth due to protectionist policies in advanced economies as well as geopolitical tensions and the potential renegotiation for lower tariff rates on meat products continue to be the main downside risks to inflation,” it said.

Latest government data showed that as of April 14, agricultural losses due to El Niño dry spell reached P5.7 billion.

The Monetary Board’s latest baseline inflation forecasts showed that inflation would continue to ease, with average inflation for 2019 and 2020 projected to settle within the 2 to 4 percent target range.

Meanwhile, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo asked bank economists and market analysts to become more careful in suggesting monetary policy easing after inflation slowed to 3.8 percent in the first quarter.

“I hope the banks and market analysts will be able to enhance their assessment before they ask the BSP to immediately ease monetary policy when the JanuaryMarch 2019 inflation at 3.8 percent has barely found itself in the target groove again,” Guinigundo said in a message to reporters.

Guinigundo said that despite the slowdown, inflation expectations were still close to the upper end of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

He said that any tightness in liquidity situation was temporary and would soon normalize after the Holy Week and the tax season. Julito G. Rada

BUSINESS FORUM. Dr. Jose P. Leviste Jr., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry director-in-charge for environment, climate change and urban development, addresses the opening session of the two-day International Conference on Evolving Security Landscape of Protect 2019 of Leverage International at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

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Business

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market looks for signals overseas

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

RADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to take its cue from developments overseas following last week’s shortened trading week.

With the lack of developments in the local front, analysts said the index might continue to trade below the 8,000-point level on strong selling pressure.

Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com, however, noted that foreign funds were expected to flow into the emerging markets like the Philippines due to a tamer inflation rate and possibilities of a US Fed rate cut.

“Given expectations of tamer inflation rate and possibilities for widely followed Fed rate to be trimmed at least for the first semester stretch, liquidity would find its way back into the equities and select corporate bond issuances,” 2TradeAsia.com said “Such has been manifested in daily net

foreign buying, averaging P489 million from January to April 17, 2019 compared to foreign selling of P463 million for the same period in 2018,” it added.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week fell 0.6 percent to 7,835.15 while the broader All Shares Index slipped 0.5 percent to 4,836.68.

Except for holding firms and industrial which declined 2.21 percent and 1.123 percent, respectively, all other sub-indices posted weekon-week gains led by property, which rose 1.1 percent, mining and oil, which added 0.8 percent, financials which climbed 0.5 percent, and services which inched up 0.2 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the

week by 608.5 million, while the average daily value traded stood at P6.8 billion from the previous week’s average of P7.38 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Semirara Mining and Power Corp., which rose 4.1 percent to P24.30; PLDT Inc., which climbed 3.8 percent to P1,224; and Manila Water Co Inc., which increased 3 percent to P23.95.

Weekly top price losers, meanwhile, were Puregold Price Club Inc., which declined 6.9 percent to P44; Philex Mining Corp., which dropped 6.8 percent to P3.12; and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which lost 6.7 percent to P55.

Tokyo and Shanghai stocks, meanwhile, closed higher Friday but trade lacked direction with several major markets closed for Easter holidays.

In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 0.50 percent, or 110.44 points, to 22,200.56, while the broader Topix index climbed 0.12 percent, or 1.96 points, to 1,616.93.

The market’s main gainer was Nintendo, which jumped more than 14 percent on reports its games and popular Switch console will soon be available in China.

Meanwhile, Chinese stocks managed to claw higher despite some early wobbles over concerns that China’s slowing economy could hit soon-to-be-released corporate earnings.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.63 percent, or 20.62 points, to close at 3,270.80.

The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, added 0.94 percent, or 16.51 points, to end the day at 1,778.81.

The Japanese market stayed comfortably in positive territory throughout the day, initially lifted by strong gains in overseas markets.

With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

APRIL 15-17, 2019 Close Volume

Value

APRIL 8-12, 2019 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ RCBC B Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

58.65 132.00 83.00 2.22 1.28 26.5 19 11.6 4.52 0.61 1.43 820.00 0.470 78 0.97 13.56 21.95 50.95 58.5 110.1 183.5 26.3 25.85 180 1810.00 61.50 1.13

22,110 4,279,290 5,887,420 306,000 34,000 467,700 81,600 1,718,300 325,000 13,000 66,000 250 700,000 4,788,450 1,633,000 276,700 635,800 5,981,030 3,600 30 4,780 9,200 7,800 464,740 610 24,880 31,000

FINANCIAL 1,295,941.00 563,421,832.00 479,120,046.00 676,980.00 43,900.00 12,466,635.00 1,546,114.00 20,233,176.00 1,482,840.00 7,930.00 91,680.00 205,085.00 325,650.00 373,120,543.50 1,493,160.00 3,767,134.00 13,924,140.00 309,073,952.50 208,812.50 3,303.00 864,369.00 239,885.00 202,605.00 82,811,656.00 1,098,500.00 1,533,795.00 35,050.00

58.65 132.00 81.50 2.26 1.30 26.6 18.5 12.1 4.56 0.61 1.39 800.00 0.465 77.9 0.92 13.72 21.40 56.65 57.8 110.1 184 25.85

137,530 5,670,620 10,924,260 346,000 144,000 710,900 1,834,100 666,100 368,000 331,000 262,000 350 60,000 13,079,950 482,000 384,800 9,700 1,259,760 3,990 80 18,180 97,600

8,039,463.50 743,713,630.00 897,697,385.50 759,390.00 187,060.00 19,146,480.00 35,197,988.00 8,087,662.00 1,630,870.00 196,810.00 372,330.00 280,000.00 27,350.00 1,025,221,746.50 441,460.00 5,285,616.00 207,675.00 71,738,994.00 229,578.50 8,808.00 3,389,245.00 2,544,265.00

176 1800.00 60.90 1.13

792,460 565 14,770 222,000

142,525,664.00 1,017,000.00 904,869.50 250,860.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

35.95 16.4 0.95 1.42 0.248 97 15.90 1.88 16.1 108.2 28.8 46 1.96 5.25 5.5 11.240 15.9 9.53 7.38 1.68 22.3 80.35 29.85 2.9000 11.34 12.66 1.820 304.00 3.84 3.73 10.68 23.95 14.78 21.3 0.200 379.00 6.35 1.25 4.55 6.54 9.04 1.54 12.00 45.6 5.19 4.79 1.7 2.18 1.35 12.8 113.8 7.1 0.128 1.04 152 2.6 1.46 17.00 1.18

2,070,500 1,215,200 25,019,000 1,100,000 2,900,000 50 21,400 47,887,000 6,012,600 100 122,000 291,300 620,000 7,800 71,900 3,397,800 4,211,000 7,610,400 233,700 5,000 3,726,600 160,570 73,000 28,186,000 7,371,800 1,825,300 585,000 2,520,110 105,000 175,000 13,000 1,296,200 2,469,100 6,851,200 1,870,000 443,670 32,500 41,978,000 573,000 4,502,100 8,300 202,680,000 783,200 2,348,500 574,300 207,000 381,000 571,000 1,876,000 879,400 4,850,250 1,237,000 1,030,000 2,209,000 1,734,870 28,000 24,027,000 100 5,077,000

INDUSTRIAL 74,366,285.00 19,860,274.00 24,762,590.00 1,553,360.00 709,780.00 4,546.00 341,818.00 89,223,360.00 94,580,476.00 10,820.00 3,557,200.00 13,565,850.00 1,203,520.00 40,902.00 411,735.00 39,215,126.00 67,311,338.00 74,125,566.00 1,698,069.00 8,380.00 82,299,080.00 13,008,215.50 2,190,225.00 79,731,720.00 82,557,128.00 23,086,704.00 1,055,950.00 774,120,300.00 403,200.00 639,790.00 133,752.00 30,377,700.00 36,685,878.00 145,226,970.00 358,160.00 167,636,834.00 202,211.00 53,400,900.00 2,584,870.00 29,299,034.00 75,151.00 308,656,800.00 9,308,404.00 108,682,140.00 2,990,282.00 991,070.00 625,010.00 1,247,720.00 2,538,690.00 11,254,360.00 543,332,768.00 9,061,726.00 131,880.00 2,248,220.00 264,823,565.00 72,500.00 36,914,870.00 1,700.00 5,946,780.00

36.3 16.1 0.97 1.43 0.244 97.35 15.94 1.94 15.7 108.1 29.4 46.25 1.95 5.25 6 11.600 15.96 9.78 7.28 1.59 21.8 82.25 29.80 2.8100 11.00 13.06 1.800 310.00 3.85 3.7 10.28 23.25 15.02 21 0.190 378.40 6.30 1.4 4.40 6.42 9.03 1.62 11.98 45.95 5.2 4.70 1.69 2.26 1.3 12.8 112 7.5 0.130 1.03 157 2.5 1.75 16.98 1.21

6,515,500 1,705,200 6,250,000 1,559,000 7,630,000 140 14,600 90,333,000 5,569,900 40 212,600 237,000 3,961,000 103,700 137,300 9,550,100 1,199,600 1,829,700 4,436,000 55,000 3,103,700 325,540 345,700 36,187,000 9,251,100 1,419,000 1,555,000 3,290,980 509,000 67,000 25,400 11,053,500 6,092,700 29,099,000 880,000 987,760 2,211,200 11,821,000 3,020,000 5,771,400 42,900 85,474,000 369,600 1,132,000 351,600 5,524,000 189,000 277,000 116,000 2,342,500 1,664,560 1,296,300 230,000 2,654,000 4,931,980 65,000 9,322,000 1,000 15,712,000

237,026,510.00 27,918,554.00 5,999,330.00 2,205,080.00 1,871,040.00 12,576.00 226,836.00 182,637,570.00 88,145,220.00 4,324.00 6,215,225.00 10,681,610.00 7,858,130.00 543,545.00 818,777.00 110,907,934.00 19,130,362.00 17,634,897.00 32,165,562.00 88,030.00 67,697,455.00 26,361,532.50 10,304,045.00 98,901,230.00 100,794,784.00 18,496,732.00 2,743,090.00 1,045,413,754.00 1,972,780.00 243,980.00 262,726.00 259,947,070.00 92,876,434.00 622,360,280.00 169,080.00 375,904,794.00 15,385,285.00 16,448,200.00 12,698,220.00 37,101,900.00 398,333.00 137,801,840.00 4,350,312.00 52,248,830.00 1,853,469.00 24,892,280.00 320,350.00 647,170.00 149,100.00 30,934,730.00 180,928,008.00 9,733,118.00 29,860.00 2,784,190.00 775,110,919.00 164,030.00 16,054,780.00 16,980.00 19,374,940.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.570 55.00 14.98 0.79 6.50 19 1.400 1.430 900 7.6 12.00 14.98 0.240 862 6.80 61.35 5.07 0.51 5.19 15.44 0.580 4.48 2.75 0.0390 1.110 2.920 175.90 930.00 1.36 0.97 269.000 440.20 0.2430 0.330

7,610,000 2,304,670 39,949,400 1,364,000 488,000 156,200 4,826,000 1,838,000 977,220 1,591,800 8,021,500 1,247,700 640,000 442,170 193,100 2,663,220 3,000 994,000 2,090,000 8,457,000 725,000 124,530,000 10,000 27,400,000 197,000 3,054,000 1,080,910 396,030 20,000 7,521,000 5,690 7,690 1,440,000 74,550,000

HOLDING FIRMS 4,221,850.00 130,829,345.50 597,124,042.00 1,045,820.00 3,172,000.00 2,969,990.00 6,776,440.00 2,619,810.00 884,253,250.00 12,118,617.00 96,007,454.00 18,630,210.00 153,020.00 380,710,940.00 1,349,460.00 165,683,996.50 15,210.00 497,380.00 10,864,675.00 132,766,384.00 401,070.00 558,910,250.00 27,500.00 1,056,100.00 219,130.00 9,054,840.00 190,773,251.00 368,966,995.00 26,840.00 7,280,390.00 1,511,092.00 4,362,818.00 345,880.00 25,984,100.00

0.540 59.00 15.40 0.79 6.50 19.6 1.440 1.460 913 7.67 12.08 15.08 0.242 870 6.95 62.35 5.07 0.52 5.25 16.3 0.550 4.6

37,248,000 2,014,700 69,673,300 2,155,000 713,200 126,300 24,478,000 1,668,000 1,193,060 6,806,800 22,231,900 1,649,700 980,000 533,290 189,500 5,206,810 6,700 1,777,000 1,537,300 5,969,500 933,000 68,902,000

20,420,790.00 121,215,524.00 1,121,955,658.00 1,695,340.00 4,633,305.00 2,521,245.00 34,890,290.00 2,362,450.00 1,091,191,015.00 52,425,458.00 269,000,756.00 25,010,916.00 227,820.00 473,218,400.00 1,316,150.00 338,454,559.50 34,108.00 892,480.00 8,000,633.00 99,281,614.00 532,540.00 321,933,440.00

0.0390 1.120 2.930 181.40 943.00 1.36 0.93 268.000 569.00 0.2450 0.365

40,400,000 75,000 6,638,000 3,120,750 844,940 1,378,000 12,494,000 18,800 8,310 4,370,000 37,110,000

1,577,300.00 84,180.00 19,917,680.00 559,063,290.00 809,186,110.00 1,821,570.00 12,153,070.00 5,061,902.00 4,192,242.00 1,051,810.00 13,690,350.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp.

13.200 0.78 11.10 1.950 0.780 47.000 2.49 4.26 6.5 0.510 0.85 0.920 0.240 0.385 11.060 24.85 0.510 0.124 1.51 1.35 4.86 5.69 0.350 1.9200 0.5100

11,415,000 486,000 29,400 111,000 6,855,000 69,483,200 4,213,000 578,000 24,200 65,217,000 231,000 263,000 7,170,000 1,850,000 4,257,000 4,656,300 3,986,000 10,000 25,323,000 6,543,000 35,000 49,423,200 65,420,000 20,240,000 1,604,000

12.960 0.78 11.80 1.920 0.780 46.600 2.47 4.31 6.5 0.530 0.85 0.900 0.241 0.395 11.700 23.25 0.520 0.124 1.53 1.38 4.82 5.77 0.360 1.8000 0.5300

3,723,400 2,031,000 120,400 331,000 3,084,000 73,205,220 31,981,000 3,769,000 103,900 40,483,000 145,000 1,396,000 7,630,000 2,750,000 2,454,600 2,553,900 10,853,000 430,000 44,876,000 8,859,000 100,000 83,247,600 28,500,000 8,709,000 30,088,000

48,571,376.00 1,576,600.00 1,401,598.00 637,770.00 2,356,930.00 3,992,785,755.00 77,394,510.00 15,952,670.00 670,865.00 21,586,220.00 123,250.00 1,244,020.00 1,833,710.00 1,081,050.00 28,203,704.00 59,898,480.00 5,563,330.00 53,720.00 68,419,490.00 12,318,470.00 482,290.00 480,490,123.00 10,306,000.00 15,619,250.00 15,761,415.00

PROPERTY 148,751,188.00 371,360.00 330,488.00 209,680.00 5,557,140.00 3,263,828,760.00 10,397,440.00 2,476,370.00 153,751.00 32,863,720.00 188,450.00 236,480.00 1,741,550.00 712,350.00 46,601,226.00 114,065,250.00 1,999,455.00 1,240.00 38,427,430.00 8,854,650.00 169,960.00 285,188,697.00 22,219,800.00 37,975,040.00 808,905.00

STOCKS

APRIL 15-17, 2019 Close Volume

APRIL 8-12, 2019 Close Volume

Value

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.415 2.45 24.30 2 3.06 39.60 1.66 6.96 0.780 7.230

350,000 3,773,000 7,872,500 470,000 236,000 14,700,000 1,087,000 486,800 71,000 27,410,400

146,800.00 9,276,710.00 184,260,145.00 936,630.00 713,710.00 579,227,845.00 1,800,280.00 3,342,887.00 52,650.00 198,569,798.00

Apollo Global Boulevard Holdings Island Info Transpacific Broadcast APC Group, Inc. Manila Bulletin STI Holdings Waterfront Phils.

Premium Leisure Lorenzo Shipping PremiereHorizon Acesite Hotel MetroAlliance B MetroAlliance A Berjaya Phils. Inc. NOW Corp.

SSI Group Harbor Star Philweb.Com Inc. Jackstones Metro Retail Leisure & Resorts Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PH Resorts Group Manila Jockey ISM Communications Chelsea GMA Network Inc. Travellers DFNN Inc. Centro Esc. Univ.

IPM Holdings SBS Phil. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Easy Call “Common” IPeople Inc. `A’ 2GO Group’ Bloomberry LBC Express Wilcon Depot Asian Terminals Inc. ABS-CBN Macroasia Corp.

Puregold Robinsons RTL Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Phil. Seven Corp.

I.C.T.S.I. Golden Haven FEUI PLDT Common Globe Telecom

0.040 0.0730 0.128 0.38 0.430 0.600 0.670 0.720 0.810 0.84 1.000 1.29 1.70 1.78 2.4 2.440 2.68 2.85 2.87 2.98 3.41 3.69 4.38 4.58 4.79 4.9500 5.16 5.29 5.68 6.80 7.03 7.05 9.00 10.06 10.12 10.40 11.76 12.3 12.60 15.2 16.140 16.66 19.48 21.70 44.40 78.90 83 119.80 129 400.00 890 1224.00 1865

45,400,000 156,050,000 7,360,000 18,020,000 710,000 7,259,000 2,380,000 10,468,000 21,057,000 6,780,000 52,622,000 49,000 3,000 96,000 1,138,000 21,009,000 68,789,000 4,395,000 1,858,000 87,000 3,795,000 2,024,000 262,000 69,000 11,000 2,967,100 1,460,400 1,670,300 2,354,500 2,000 1,000 38,600 381,700 62,200 100 146,000 600 69,900 37,603,100 86,700 7,304,800 200 339,100 1,727,400 9,391,000 627,240 674,910 85,010 7,128,900 6,340 150 362,935 59,640

SERVICES 1,809,500.00 11,558,930.00 934,110.00 6,870,800.00 300,050.00 4,406,310.00 1,613,680.00 7,614,100.00 17,167,510.00 5,902,600.00 52,264,410.00 64,250.00 5,100.00 165,900.00 2,656,880.00 50,442,500.00 180,932,830.00 12,576,800.00 5,279,770.00 259,910.00 13,010,680.00 7,439,440.00 1,123,230.00 306,050.00 52,310.00 14,702,449.00 7,567,965.00 8,863,323.00 13,252,175.00 13,600.00 8,008.00 272,612.00 3,433,460.00 621,983.00 1,012.00 1,495,822.00 7,052.00 883,988.00 453,920,352.00 1,326,892.00 118,545,814.00 3,332.00 6,635,960.00 37,594,040.00 422,781,850.00 49,771,629.00 55,830,822.00 10,200,944.00 908,940,279.00 8,777,892.00 133,500.00 434,596,480.00 112,088,600.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0019 1.29 2.81 11.00 1.4200 1.5900 2.7 0.290 8.18 1.530 0.255 0.118 0.123 0.008 0.0083 1.08 2.44 1.04 0.5800 0.9100 0.0120 3.12 7.00 0.0110 3.1000 24.30 0.0075

939,000,000 6,186,000 845,000 6,500 29,000 51,000 2,290,000 420,000 10,700 13,329,000 10,990,000 4,930,000 40,000 4,000,000 20,000,000 383,000 6,975,000 125,000 510,000 3,785,000 16,100,000 4,734,000 11,938,200 441,800,000 37,000 6,474,300 18,000,000

MINING & OIL 1,789,500.00 8,067,760.00 2,406,590.00 73,662.00 37,150.00 64,090.00 6,210,420.00 121,950.00 86,467.00 20,248,630.00 2,806,710.00 582,190.00 4,830.00 32,800.00 166,000.00 417,800.00 16,802,850.00 127,690.00 295,490.00 3,408,420.00 193,800.00 15,134,430.00 84,190,153.00 4,860,100.00 115,150.00 155,754,165.00 131,500.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ DD PREF First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

18.7 101.8 467.2 98 100.7 494 5.3 900 950 94.95 1 103 973 100.9 971 74.75 76 73 72.55 74.75 73.55 71.5 61.2 1.45

162,700 160 1,970 3,390 18,000 500 163,800 1,240 4,230 640 224,000 5,790 910 10,400 1,780 7,130 32,450 39,190 43,250 48,760 1,350 13,770 65,020 1,000

LR Warrant

1.920

237,000

PREFERRED 3,057,134.00 16,288.00 919,790.00 332,202.50 1,812,693.00 247,000.00 887,057.00 1,115,970.00 3,996,450.00 60,051.50 224,070.00 595,495.00 885,680.00 1,049,160.00 1,728,065.00 533,656.00 2,464,417.00 2,816,241.00 3,139,061.50 3,631,665.00 99,332.50 990,231.00 4,143,104.50 1,450.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 447,500.00 SME 3,384,980.00 11,355,010.00

Value

0.420 2.5 23.70 1.99 3 39.00 1.66 6.85 0.730 7.250

620,000 3,242,000 5,558,200 419,000 602,000 25,751,600 4,420,000 1,449,600 252,000 18,924,000

262,550.00 8,276,730.00 134,310,780.00 834,090.00 1,809,470.00 1,017,202,030.00 7,266,750.00 10,177,634.00 187,770.00 136,857,472.00

0.041 0.0710 0.130 0.385 0.425 0.670 0.690 0.710 0.860 0.91 1.020 1.35 1.70 1.75 2.41 2.420 2.51 2.94 2.95 2.98 3.50 3.70 4.46 4.50 4.78 5.0200 5.31 5.80 5.66 6.80

24,500,000 120,200,000 4,570,000 24,460,000 3,050,000 29,374,000 10,560,000 5,916,000 19,494,000 5,129,000 217,275,000 37,000 19,000 143,000 707,000 3,739,000 18,716,000 3,802,000 3,925,000 218,000 14,309,000 11,816,000 275,000 93,000 122,000 7,504,100 1,479,700 13,642,300 8,002,900 156,200

1,017,100.00 8,552,880.00 585,150.00 9,695,350.00 1,308,650.00 20,401,380.00 7,098,530.00 4,196,960.00 16,621,330.00 4,753,070.00 220,141,680.00 49,560.00 32,400.00 245,490.00 1,742,260.00 9,230,120.00 46,480,080.00 11,444,250.00 11,416,640.00 663,060.00 49,299,360.00 45,810,480.00 1,213,160.00 425,270.00 547,940.00 38,198,692.00 7,960,402.00 79,194,993.00 45,033,258.00 1,032,227.00

7.06 8.70 10.14 9.92 10.36 11.04 12.7 12.42 15.78 16.000 16.66 19.98 22.00 47.70 79.90 84 119.60 127.3 399.60 890 1179.00 1890

47,000 298,300 70,300 100 556,400 186,700 119,600 57,777,900 53,500 12,147,900 4,900 657,500 3,428,800 9,523,100 1,710,940 2,433,480 105,190 9,829,730 5,510 440 807,565 101,440

333,120.00 2,667,770.00 716,234.00 992.00 5,855,820.00 2,118,638.00 1,489,390.00 740,269,466.00 825,676.00 190,007,152.00 79,756.00 13,167,628.00 77,133,200.00 467,181,650.00 136,928,044.50 211,783,720.50 12,608,009.00 1,283,768,785.00 2,195,890.00 392,030.00 938,114,675.00 193,498,505.00

0.0020 1.30 2.87 12.88 1.2900 1.3000 2.69 0.290 8.17 1.490 0.270 0.117 0.124 0.008 0.0083 1.09 2.42 1.04 0.6200 0.9000 0.0120 3.35 7.62 0.0110 3.1300 23.35 0.0070

1,725,000,000 9,261,000 1,522,000 28,200 196,000 81,000 2,979,000 1,300,000 23,700 34,031,000 18,250,000 4,310,000 1,110,000 26,000,000 13,000,000 644,000 13,711,000 546,000 346,000 1,077,000 6,400,000 5,268,000 27,805,700 148,300,000 24,000 7,910,900 74,000,000

3,447,900.00 12,143,100.00 4,446,620.00 362,364.00 255,970.00 106,470.00 8,031,660.00 384,250.00 193,574.00 54,026,290.00 4,790,900.00 505,670.00 134,820.00 215,600.00 107,900.00 698,980.00 34,976,480.00 551,020.00 204,870.00 974,600.00 79,600.00 18,029,050.00 227,359,873.00 1,633,400.00 72,650.00 179,688,975.00 526,300.00

19 97 467 98 103 494 5.68 880 925 91 1.01 100 990

1,037,500 10,000 1,370 10,960 46,020 20 2,599,700 2,830 4,130 2,860 703,000 20,030 760

20,018,844.00 973,630.00 643,456.00 1,059,696.00 4,739,640.00 9,880.00 14,641,932.00 2,529,000.00 3,819,930.00 269,214.50 708,230.00 2,005,370.00 748,160.00

980 75.9 75.8 72.5 72.65 74 73.5 72.25 73.9

330 28,990 90,580 101,490 11,230 41,640 23,730 10,700 9,260

323,500.00 2,175,329.00 6,876,689.50 7,360,505.00 815,384.50 3,090,787.00 1,736,621.50 788,842.50 671,227.00

1.900

1,491,000

2,971,800.00

4.72 1.2

942,000 86,723,000

4,513,360.00 110,303,420.00

Italpinas Xurpas

4.96 1.21

686,000 9,532,000

First Metro ETF

117.6

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 40,930 4,811,311.00

117.6

47,430

5,614,893.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.02 10 1

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 19,600 197,160.00 3,160 31,600.00 156,000 156,000.00

10.02 10

18,420 22,630

185,032.00 224,808.80

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ I.C.T.S.I. Ayala Corp `A’ Jollibee Foods Corp.

Alliance Global Inc. SM Prime Holdings Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

SMC Food and Beverage Bank of PI

VOLUME 3,263,828,760.00 908,940,279.00 884,253,250.00 774,120,300.00 597,124,042.00 579,227,845.00 563,421,832.00 558,910,250.00 543,332,768.00 479,120,046.00

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ I.C.T.S.I. Ayala Corp `A’ Jollibee Foods Corp.

Alliance Global Inc. SM Prime Holdings Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

SMC Food and Beverage Bank of PI

VALUE 3,263,828,760.00 908,940,279.00 884,253,250.00 774,120,300.00 597,124,042.00 579,227,845.00 563,421,832.00 558,910,250.00 543,332,768.00 479,120,046.00

RLC allots P27b in capex to fund 2019 expansion

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROBINSONS Land Corp., the property unit of the Gokongwei Group, earmarked P27 billion in capital expenditures for 2019, mainly to support the expansion of residential, malls and office spaces.

RLC said in a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange this year’s programmed capital spending would be funded through internally generated cash from operations and borrowings.

“The earmarked amount is for the continuing capital expenditures of the company for subdivision land, condominium, residential units and other real estate properties for sale, development and expansion of investment properties and property and equipment,” RLC said.

The capital spending program is 15.8 percent higher than the actual expenditures of P23.4 billion in 2018, which went to the development of malls, offices, hotels and warehouse facilities, and the acquisition of land.

RLC said the hotels and resorts group would add 635 rooms to its portfolio. The five new hotels that will open are Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, Summit Hotel Greenhills, Summit Hotel Naga, Go Hotel Naga and Go Hotel Tuguegarao.

“Robinsons Hotels and Resorts will continue to build hotels in key locations aiming to become the largest hospitality group with the widest variety of brands and formats in the country,” the property company said.

The company plans to complete six office buildings located in key cities across the country over the next two years. RLC as of end 2018 completed 20 office developments.

RLC said the company had four new shopping malls and three expansion projects in the planning and development stage for completion in the next two years.

“The company’s business plan for the Commercial Centers Division over the next five years, subject to market conditions, is to sustain its growth momentum via development of new shopping malls and expansion of existing ones,” RLC said.

Cebu Pacific hikes capacity in key hubs

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific said it is adding capacity in key hubs to address the increasing demand from tourists and business travellers.

The airline, owned by industrialist John Gokongwei, said the increases were a combination of additional flights and the upgrade of aircraft with more seats.

In its Cebu hub, Cebu Pacific has increased the weekly frequency of flights to and from Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan), Dumaguete, Siargao, Iloilo, Caticlan (Boracay), Ozamiz and Zamboanga by an average 63 percent starting on April 15.

Flights between Manila and Cebu also expanded 24 percent.

The increase in flights from the Cebu hub is on top of its six-timesweekly Cebu-Shanghai and ShanghaiCebu routes, which began on April 15.

Cebu Pacific earlier said it would expand capacity in the Cebu hub by as much as 20 percent in 2019.

The carrier is positioning Cebu as its beach hub—with strategic connections to foremost vacation destinations, such as Siargao, Camiguin, Puerto Princesa and Caticlan (Boracay). From Cebu, CEB also mounts direct flights to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Clark, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Kalibo, Legazpi, Pagadian, Surigao, Tacloban, Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo (Narita), Singapore and Incheon.

For the Clark hub, Cebu Pacific also increased the capacity of flights to and from Caticlan (Boracay) by 231 percent—shifting from the 78-seat ATR 72-600 aircraft to the Airbus A320.

The carrier earlier announced it would launch daily flights between Clark and Iloilo; Clark and Bacolod; as well as Clark and Narita, starting August 9, 2019; and daily flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa starting October 9, 2019.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World/Business

TODAY

B3

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Inflation nightmare returns to Zimbabwe

IN BRIEF Macron’s popularity still weak, poll says PARIS―The popularity of French President Emmanuel Macron remains stuck at under 30 percent as he battles a series of political troubles, with no major change reported after the Notre-Dame fire, a poll said Sunday.

According to the Ifop poll for the Journal du Dimanche just 29 percent of people polled said they are satisfied with the job Macron is doing, with 69 percent dissatisfied.

This April reading was unchanged from the last poll in March, the newspaper said.

The poll, carried out up until April 20, was published at the end of a dramatic week for Macron which saw him address the nation over the damage to the NotreDame cathedral in Monday’s devastating fire.

The president vowed to rebuild the Paris landmark in just five years, a target some observers see as over ambitious.

The fire also prompted him to shelve a speech planed for Monday outlining his response to the “yellow vest” protests against social inequality that have shaken his young presidency. AFP

Concern over spate of dingo attacks SYDNEY―Australia on Sunday ordered an urgent review of the management of dingoes on a popular tourist island after a spate of attacks by the wild dogs this year.

The Queensland state government announced the review three days after a father rescued his toddler from a dingo’s jaws. The boy had been dragged from a parked campervan in a remote part of Fraser Island off the Queensland coast.

The 14-month-old’s skull was fractured and he suffered multiple puncture wounds to his neck and head, his parents told national broadcaster ABC. Queensland’s Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said she was bringing forward a review into dingo management on the island.

“The management of dingoes on K’gari [Fraser Island] is complex, and the government is committed to supporting a sustainable and healthy dingo population, while minimizing the risks to human safety and dingo welfare,” she said in a statement. AFP

SAD DAY. Sri Lankan security personnel stand next to an ambulance outside St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade in Colombo on April 21, 2019, following a blast at the church. At least 160 people were killed in a string of blasts at hotels and churches in Sri Lanka as worshipers attended Easter services. AFP

160 die as 8 explosions rip through Sri Lanka C OLOMBO―A string of blasts ripped through highend hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing at least 160 people, including 35 foreigners.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the attacks as “cowardly” and said the government was working to “contain the situation.”

Images circulating on social media and local news stations showed extensive damage at one of three churches targeted in the near simultaneous blasts on Sunday morning.

Much of the church roof was blown out in the explosion, with roof tiles and splintered wood littering the floor and pools of blood in between wounded worshipers.

The injured flooded into local hospitals, where officials reported hundreds

of wounded were being admitted.

The nature of the blasts was not immediately clear and there were no immediate claims of responsibility.

But documents seen by AFP show that Sri Lanka’s police chief Pujuth Jayasundara issued an intelligence alert to top officers 10 days ago, warning that suicide bombers planned to hit “prominent churches.”

“A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ [National Thowheeth Jama’ath] is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo,” the alert said.

The NTJ is a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka that was linked last year to the vandalisation of Buddhist statues.

Sports-minded employees in the workplace FEDELIS MARIE G. PANGANIBAN

Green LiGht

IMAGINE that you are an athlete who enters the corporate world where an eighthour work day has to be successfully accomplished in order to reach the finish line.

Can the same discipline, attitudes and values she learns in sports be applied at work and serve as a key to success?

Being an athlete requires discipline and passion. From school tryouts up to tedious trainings, these exercises can be mentally and physically challenging to these individuals.

There are a lot of trainings, formal or informal, that every sporty person should undergo to get high on this competitive endeavor. But then, what about in the corporate world? What is it in life that awaits her in the workplace?

Passionately trained through hard-work and determination, athletes can tend to be more assertive and ambitious at work to reach their desired goals. However, there is no such thing as overnight success. It takes months and even years of preparation to reach a certain competitive level. As Malcolm Gladwell says in his book Outliers, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill.

But for me, the attitude of a person is equally important. If an individual has a strong mind to handle distractions and temptations that might creep into one’s focus, then it can be a key factor for a person to succeed.

Athletes also learn from their mistakes and understand their weaknesses to rectify them. This enables them to release their full potentials, making them better versions of themselves. For every bit of success, it cannot be avoided that they will face failures along the way. But they must have the guts to prepare for the next battle. As basketball legend Michael Jordan said: “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” Fall seven times, stand up eight.

Athletes play to win. This means that if the company accepts sports-minded individuals in the workplace, they are likely to exert effort to become champions at work. They are committed to success. Also, disciplined athletes are always present during practices— no excuses. These individuals always find a way to learn more, to be better, and to look for ways to do things. Imagine what these individuals can possibly accomplish with their continuous pursuit of success.

Sports-minded employees can be great team players and leaders, too. These individuals understand the importance of collaboration and cooperation within teams.

They also welcome constructive criticism.

The first blast was reported at St Anthony’s Shrine, a well-known Catholic church in the capital Colombo.

A second deadly explosion was then confirmed at St Sebastian’s, a church in the town of Negombo, north of the capital.

“A bomb attack to our church, please come and help if your family members are there,” read a post in English on the church’s Facebook page.

Soon after, police confirmed that a third church in the town of Batticaloa had been hit, along with three high-end hotels in the capital.

Hospital sources said British, Dutch and American citizens were among the dead, with Britons and Japanese among those injured in the attacks.

President Maithripala Sirisena said in an address that he was shocked by the explosions and appealed for calm, and the prime minister was expected to speak to the media shortly.

On Twitter, Wickremesinghe wrote: “I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today.” AFP

HARARE―The price of bread almost doubled for Zimbabweans last week, as the inflation nightmare that marked the rule of long-time authoritarian leader Robert Mugabe returns to haunt his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa.

There have been warnings of the mental and physical toll the rampant price increases will have on Zimbabweans after the cost of a loaf of bread rose from $1.80 to $3.50, and a tub of butter shot up to $17 from $8.50.

Mnangagwa pledged to revive his country’s moribund economy when Mugabe was toppled in 2017 after 37 years in power.

But after the central bank unveiled a new monetary policy in February, introducing a new local currency, prices of goods and services have skyrocketed at rates unseen in a decade.

The disparity between the official and parallel market exchange rates has been rapidly widening, triggering price hikes of up to 300 percent.

The chief of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Japhet Moyo, recalls meeting a man who saw the price of medicine for his chronic illness rise so much in two months that it now costs almost his entire salary.

In February, the man bought a month’s supply of the drugs for $95.

This month he forked out $300. His monthly salary is $320.

“I asked him how he managed to meet the rest of his monthly expenses and he broke down weeping,” Moyo told AFP. Moyo is angry at the government for “putting on a brave face and giving the impression that the economy is on a rebound but on the ground things are going in the opposite direction.”

The crisis has brought back memories of a decade ago when hyperinflation peaked at a grotesque 500 billion percent, wiping out the Zimbabwean dollar.

“We are back to 2008,” said Tonderai Chitsvari, a resident in the Kuwadzana township of the capital Harare.

“It’s a miracle how people are surviving.” AFP

They are used to receiving feedback on their performance. They do not blame others for their mistakes; they take responsibility for their errors. Through these constructive criticism, athletes are able to improve their future performance.

Needless to say, efforts must be undertaken to utilize sportsmanship and professionalism at work. The workplace can be a big playing arena, and healthy competition should be welcomed. Human resource practitioners, however, must guide these individuals, and remind them not to be overcome with pride if they succeed; and not to lose hope if they don’t immediately climb up the corporate ladder. In the corporate world, the objective of the organization is to win as one team and as one company.

Are you ready to be like an athlete in the workplace?

Fedelis Marie Panganiban is a Master of Business Administration student at the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. She welcomes comments at fedelis_panganiban@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 115, PASAY CITY IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN JUDGMENT OF JOYCE PEREZ CASTANARES, Petitioner, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. R-PSY-19-00415-CV FOR: Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgment

DAIYU IKEDA and PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, Respondent.

x-----------------------------------------x

ORDER

A verified petition for “Recognition of Foreign Judgment between Joyce Perez Castanares and Daiyu Ikeda” filed by petitioner, through counsel, praying that an Order be issued granting the petition and recognize the Foreign Judgment of Divorce between Joyce Perez Castanares and Daiyu Ikeda, a Japanese National and directing the Philippine Statistics Office (PSA) to annotate the Recognition of Divorce on the National Indices of Marriages or in the Certificate of Marriage between the parties if the same was registered in the PSA. In her petition, petitioner alleges that she is a Filipino and with resident address at #71 St. Joseph, Barangay 201, Pasay City; that on January 22, 2013, she was married to Daiyu Ikeda in Ota Ku, Japan; that their union was not blessed with any children; that on June 14, 2016, Ikeda obtained a decree of divorce which was approved and certified by the City Government of Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan; that the report of divorce Ikeda obtained effectively rendered their marriage terminated and capacitating Ikeda to remarry; thus, petitioner prays for that, the foreign divorce validly obtained by Daiyu Ikeda be judicially recognized in the Philippines, petitioner can remarry under Article 26, 2nd paragraph of the Family Code.

Finding the petition sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that the hearing of the petition is on May 16, 2019 at 2 p.m. All parties interested may appear and show cause why the said petition should not be granted. Let the copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioner.

Likewise, let copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, the trial prosecutor of this court, and the Civil Registrar, National Statistics Office.

SO ORDERED. Pasay City, Metro Manila, March 27, 2019.

(Sgd.) FRANCISCO G. MENDIOLA (MStandard - Apr. 15, 22 & 29, 2019) Presiding Judge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

PLDT-Smart arm, PECCI turn over learning tools to Quezon kids THE PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative Inc. recently turned over a Schoolin-a-Bag to the Pamampangin Elementary School in Lopez, Quezon, done in partnership with PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications.

The School-in-a-Bag benefited over 290 students and 12 teachers of Pamampangin Elementary.

“Our partnership with Smart, through the School-in-a-Bag, is our way of going beyond work and doing what we can to provide better quality education to underserved communities. In PECCI, we believe that technology is an enabler that allows every generation to embrace and adapt in the digital age,” said PECCI Director and Social Community Development Oversight Committee Head Miguel Dawis.

School-in-a-Bag is a portable digital classroom designed to facilitate basic education even in far-flung and underserved areas without access to electricity. School-in-a-Bag utilizes technology coupled with innovative, 21st-century teaching pedagogy, and K-12 content to enable learning.

Each digital learning package contains a projector, DVD player, pocket Wi-Fi, solar panels, an LED TV, a teacher’s laptop, and student tablets preloaded with Learn Smart literacy apps with the Dynamic Learning Program module, teacher training courses, and regular monitoring, and evaluation from Smart.

Apart from the School-in-a-Bag, PECCI also nominated Pamampangin ES to be the recipients of the PLDT-Smart Foundation’s PLDT Sack of Joy bags. These were distributed to 150 students.

PSF also distributed over 180 PLDT Sack of Joy bags to the students of Guihay Elementary School in Lopez, Quezon. The PLDT Sack of Joy bag includes school supplies such as PLDT-Smart Foundation Composition notebook, pencil, ballpen, a Crayola set, ruler, pencil sharpener, paste, and eraser.

Through PSF, PECCI also distributed 120 PLDT Sack of Joy bags to the children of Lubid ng Buhay in Gumaca, Quezon.

A PSF representative distributes a PLDT Sack of Joy bag that contains school supplies to children at an elementary school in Lopez, Quezon.

QC allots P3.11 billion for ‘19 investment plan

T

HE Quezon City Council has approved a resolution adopting the Annual Investment Plan for 2019 to fund various programs and projects of the city, and the local government’s maintenance and other operating expenses.

According to City Resolution 77472019, introduced by Councilors Raquel Malañgen, Franz Pumaren, Godofredo Liban II, and Alexis Herrera, the City Council allotted the amount of P3.11 billion for the city’s AIP. The AIP is a legal instrument by which a local government unit annually manages and financially supports its Local Development Plan (LDP) and Local Development Investment Plan (LDIP).

The AIP constitutes the total resource

requirements for all programs, projects, and activities for the Fiscal Year 2019, including the annual capital expenditures and the regular operating requirements of the city government.

“It is imperative for the Sangguniang Panlungsod to adopt the Annual Investment Plan of Supplement Appropriation No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2019 of Quezon City,” the resolution reads.

The city government under Mayor Herbert Bautista proposed a budget of

TOURISM CONFAB.

The Tourism Educators and Movers of the Philippines Calabarzon Chapter recently held its first Students Convention (above) at the Lyceum of the Philippines in Lipa City, Batangas. Themed ‘Connecting the Dots and Borders in Hospitality and Tourism,’ the one-day confab discussed the latest trends and issues in the industry today, particularly on MICE, medical and health tourism, and industry workforce attitude and values. Ms. Angel Bognot, MICE Expert and Premier Travel Entrepreneur (top photo) discussed ‘MICE Outlook Into the Millennium’ to over 600 students from Calabarzon, Central and Northern Luzon universities. Dr Robert Lim Joseph, TEAM national president, also addressed the participating students.

Other resources speakers were former Tourism Undersecretaries Oscar Palabyab and Alma Jimenez; events, convention and exhibition expert Ms. Deedee Ledonio; Norelyn Baviera, vice president of Fiera de Manila Philippines; and Zander Kim Sigua, Founding President of the League of Tourism Students of the Philippines.

Munti to build columbarium, viewing chapel THE City Government of Muntinlupa is set to construct a public crematorium, columbarium, and viewing chapel in the Muntinlupa City Public Cemetery for indigent residents.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi recently led the groundbreaking ceremony for the three-story columbarium worth P39.7 million together with other local officials.

A viewing chapel and crematorium will also be constructed in the 6,705 sq.m facility.

Initially, the columbarium will have at least 7,200 slots. Fresnedi said the columbarium will improve the burial assistance of the local government.

The project aims to provide an opportunity for indigent Muntinlupa residents to have a decent burial for their dead, the mayor added.

Fresnedi noted that the City Government’s thrust is to deliver services from “womb to tomb” as public programs address concerns from infancy to death.

Dennis Ilagan (third from right), who represents the residents of Barangay San Diego in Lian, Batangas explains to the media why they are opposing the collection of the P25 environment user’s fee in Barangay Matabungkay in a press conference in Pasay City last Wednesday.

P21.5 billion for fiscal year 2019.

Meanwhile, to help ensure the safety and well-being of Metro Manila residents, the Quezon City government has committed to donating more funds to the Regional Peace and Order Council.

The Quezon City Council, through Resolution No. 7766-2019 introduced

by Councilor Malangen, has authorized Mayor Bautista to grant P10 million in financial aid to RPOC-National Capital Region.

The grant is to help the council perform its mandate of crafting policies that promote peace and order in Metro Manila and provide venues for the convergence of stakeholders to address public safety concerns.

Bataan vice gov seeks continuity of Garcias’ plans

By Butch Gunio ORANI, Bataan—Vice Governor Cris Garcia (National Unity Party), who is running unchallenged for reelection, is seeking to continue the gains of the Garcias’ administration of the province.

“Governor Abet [Garcia] wants

Bataan not just to be rank 1 in the Human Development Index in the region, but the entire country,” the vice governor told family leaders in a meeting here, as she campaigned for the 1Bataan1Orani slate.

“The province now boasts of outstanding achievements in education, health, investment, and other areas of develop-

ment,” she added, as she urged Orani to vote straight for their lineup.

“There is high employment opportunity in our province. Only lazy people will not find job,” the vice governor said.

“Let us reelect Gov. Abet. Garcia for the continuity of the gains of the present administration,” she exhorted local leaders.

Estrada remains top Manila pick in latest survey INCUMBENT Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who is seeking reelection, is leading in the latest poll survey against his two mayoralty rivals by a wide margin, raising his hopes of winning a third and last term as the capital city’s chief executive.

Estrada, who instituted various fiscal reforms and made Manila totally debt-free, garnered 46.3-percent votes compared to his closest rival, former Manila Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who received 31.

Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim got 9.6 percent in the survey, while 13.1% remained undecided.

This was based on a non-commissioned survey with 1,800 respondents done from April 12 to 15, almost a month before the May 13 midterm elections conducted by Media Trend Setter.

According to Rolando Luna, Executive Director of MTS, Estrada leads in all five districts of Manila, getting a high 56.8 percent in District III and 48.2 percent in District IV. The former president, who inherited a bankrupt mayoral administration with P5 billion in unpaid debts in 2013, vows to continue to undertake infrastructure projects that would renew the city’s position as a prime financial, business and tourism hub before leaving office.

With the positive news of the survey, Estrada said it would make it possible for him to move ahead with his programs that would help thousands of poor Manilenos, including senior citizens and poor but deserving students.

Estrada’s running mate, former Rep. Amado Bagatsing, is also leading in the same survey with 47 percent, against incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, who garnered 33 percent. Former police officer Elmer Jamias got 8 percent in the survey with 12 percent still undecided.

Bataan Vice Governor Cris Garcia is shown on a video screen exhorting voters in Orani, Bataan.

Butch Gunio

Lian residents hit environment fee collection RESIDENTS of Lian town in Batangas are protesting the local government’s collection of environment user’s fee in Barangay Matabungkay, which allegedly did not go through the process of public consultation.

Dennis Ilagan, who represents the residents in Barangay San Diego in Lian, said they have already asked Lian Mayor Isagani Bolompo for a copy of the public hearings and meetings conducted before the collection of the P25 environment user’s fee was implemented.

The local government has yet to comply with their requests. Mayor Bolompo could not be reached for comment at press time.

Ilagan said the residents have been asking the LGU to stop collecting the fee since 2016, as they said the

fund does not go where it is intended to be, such as keeping areas clean and green. Instead, he said, the pollution in the area worsened.

Matabungkay is famed for its white-sand beach, which is just 120 kilometers from Manila. It was a favored destination by both locals and foreigners starting in the 1950s, until the beach’s quality suffered from misuse. The environmental fee was intended to pay for the barangay’s cleanup.

“We have objected to the collection of the environmental users fee because, we said, ‘You are ruining tourism for Lian.’ They [LGU officials] do not believe us, and in their desire to collect more fees, they have railroaded the system to pass [an ordinance for] it,” Ilagan said.

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

C1

Food venture

serves familiar flavor

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD. Chef Sean McSavaney brings familiar flavor to Filipinos through 1Sycamore Food Ventures’ brands and other food services and products.

By Robbie Pangilinan

A

T FOOD Choices Alabang Town Center and Food Court Robinsons Place Las Piñas, a simple fast food stall serves delectable dishes cooked up by a culinary master.

Chef Sean McSavaney from Canada has been working in the food service industry in one capacity or another since he was 14. He came to the Philippines in 2008, after two years of discussing possible employment opportunities with an international culinary school.

“I really felt at the time that I wanted to try something new and the prospect of moving across the world seemed very exciting,” recalls Chef Sean.

As president of 1Sycamore Food Ventures, the chef is proud of its brands— Manna Bakery Café, The Coffee Republic, and Elephant Express—as well as its canteen and pantry management services, airline lounge and in-flight supply products, catering service, breads and pastries, customized cakes, coffee booths, party trays, and packed meals.

“Our Manna bakery has delicious breads and pastries, and the coffee in Coffee Republic does not need to hide

behind any big brand coffee shop in terms of quality,” he proudly shares.

Elephant Express, on the other hand, evolved from a large seated restaurant to a place with quick service and more accessible menu that everyone can enjoy. Chef Sean says all the menu of the brands are developed by the 1Sycamore team, tested within, and then made into reality when plugged into their operations system.

“Our biggest developers are our clients. The menu is customer-driven in that we hear our customers’ feedback and respond with adjustments and new products based on their needs,” he says.

What makes Elephant Express special is its commitment to authenticity. Chef Sean knows that flavors get changed and diluted through adaptation, and the honest representation of Thai and Vietnamese flavors gives Elephant’s menu an integrity.

Its bestsellers are Tom Yum Soup, Pad

Dessert spread by 1Sycamore Food Ventures catering services Thai, and fried rice dishes, but Chef Sean says that “everything are must-tries.”

After more than 10 years here, Chef Sean does not see a reason to leave. He says he loves the Filipino people who have made him feel welcome from day 1. The simple eater likes inasal, pancit

bihon, monggo, tortang talong, humba, and adobo.

With his experience cooking for and dining with Filipinos, he describes them as social diners.

“I think dining out here is a social activity as much as it is an eating ex-

From left: Manna Bakery Cafe’s lemon bars, Elephant Express’ mango sticky rice, Elephant Express’ pad thai, and Coffee Republic’s matcha drink

Free buffet for fresh graduates AS A treat to a job well done, graduates of class 2019 get to eat for free at DADS World Buffet until July 31.

Graduates simply need to come with two full-paying guests on their graduation day or up until seven days after, and present their school ID with either a diploma, a graduation photo, or a graduation invitation.

During the summer season, the buffet restaurant serves Sinugba Festival, featuring Usok Niyog sa Manok, Kinulob na Isda, Sinugbang Bangus sa Pakbet, Laing Barbecue, Sitsaron Bisaya, Bangus Sisig Inihaw, and many more.

In addition to these grilled dishes, DADS serves a variety of world cuisines including European, Mediterranean, American, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Filipino.

For inquiries, reservations, and take-out, contact DADS World Buffet branches: SM Megamall at 636-3785, 633-1758, or 0917-8961757; Glorietta 3 Ayala Center at 892-8897, 892-8898, 0917-8978896; EDSA 705-1807, 722812, 0917-8988124; West Avenue at 3728845, 374-3767, 0917-8988844; and Manila at 528-1723 to 24, or 0917-8971722.

Sinugbang Isda at Gulay

US Roast Beef

perience. Around the country, the most successful places give people what they want—a familiar flavor with good value for money,” says Chef Sean.

It is this very concept to which the chef anchors 1Sycamore—familiar flavor and value for money.

Life

C2

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Chef-approved summer recipes

SIP

C Chef Kristine Pascua Perez

HEF and educator Kristine Pascua Perez shares two recipes ideal for intimate family meals and summer gatherings. The current Program Chairperson of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Hospitality Industry Professional Education offers certificate or diploma programs and short courses for those who wish to explore their culinary skills.

Black tea-based Teajitos

Summertime tea

Grilled Chicken and Tomato Salsa Bruschetta

Grilled Chicken and Tomato Salsa Bruschetta Ingredients: For the baguette 4 slices toasted baguette or French bread 1 pc. whole garlic clove olive oil For the chicken breast marinade 100g skinless chicken breast 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. ground pepper 1/8 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. olive oil For the salsa 2 pcs. tomatoes, deseeded and diced 1 tbsp. red onion, diced 1 tsp. fresh coriander (wansuy) 4 pcs. fresh basil, chiffonade salt and pepper to taste For the lemon and mint vinaigrette 1 tbsp. lemon juice

2 tbsp.

Garnish

olive oil sprig of mint leaves, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste parsley, finely chopped sprigs of fresh coriander

Procedure: 1. For the baguette: Rub garlic on one side of the toasted baguette slices and drizzle olive oil on top. Set aside.

2. For the chicken: Marinate chicken breast in garlic, salt, ground pepper, cumin, and olive oil for 30 minutes in the chiller. Grill on both sides till cooked. Dice and set aside.

3. For the salsa: Mix tomatoes, red onion, fresh coriander, basil and seasoning in a bowl. Chill for 15 minutes to let the flavors set.

4. Assembly: Lay out baguette slices on a platter or wooden board. Evenly spoon tomato salsa on each slice. Top with diced grilled chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley and sprig of coriander.

Pan seared Dorado fillet with Spinach Vichyssoise and Mixed Greens

Pan-seared Dorado fillet with Spinach Vichyssoise and Mixed Greens Ingredients: For the Dorado fillet 150g Dorado fillet 1/4 tsp. dried or fresh thyme 1/8 tsp. lemon zest 1 tsp. olive oil salt and pepper to taste For the spinach vichyssoise 3 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. onions 2 tbsp. leeks 2 pcs. small potatoes, peeled and diced 1 1/2 cups chicken stock 1/3 cup all-purpose cream ½ cup spinach, blanched salt and pepper to taste For the mixed greens and basil salad mixed greens red radish, sliced thinly fresh basil leaves

For the lemon and mint vinaigrette 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2 tbsp. olive oil sprig of mint leaves, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste Procedure: 1. To make the vichyssoise: Melt butter and sauté the onions, leeks, diced potatoes, and add salt and pepper. Pour chicken stock and let it boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender. Finish with cream and let it simmer until slightly thick. Remove from heat and transfer in a blender.

Puree vichyssoise with blanched spinach.

2. Season Dorado fillet with thyme, lemon zest, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Using a non-stick pan, sear skin side first and then the flesh side of the fish. Set aside.

3. To make the mixed greens and basil salad: Mix all ingredients for the lemon and mint vinaigrette. Toss the mixed greens, red radish, and basil in the vinaigrette. Set aside 4. To assemble: Pour the spinach vichyssoise in shallow bowl. Place the seared Dorado fillet in the middle. Top with mixed greens and basil salad.

CANADIAN coffeehouse Tim Hortons serves cold tea beverages perfect for the sizzling summer days.

Teajito is a black tea-based drink with different fruity flavors. It comes in three invigorating flavors: Peach Garden Teajito (chilled black tea with sugar and a shot of Peach Garden syrup combined with a shot of Mentha Cubano), Passion Fruit Teajito (chilled black tea with sugar and a shot of Tropical Passion fruit syrup

combined with a shot of Mentha Cubano), and Green Apple Teajito (chilled black tea with sugar and a shot of Green Apple Syrup combined with Mentha Cubano).

Teajitos come in small, medium, and large.

As a special treat today, customers get a free Sausage and Cheese Biscuit for every purchase of a large coffee or iced coffee beverage in all Tim Hortons restaurants.

Game of Thrones-themed cocktails

Fire up your Game of Thrones viewing parties with these ice cold White Walker by Johnnie Walker cocktails.

White Walker High Ball • Fill a frozen highball with ice cubes • Add 50ml White Walker by Johnnie Walker • Add 150ml ginger ale or soda • Garnish with fresh mint and a lemon twist

White Walker Old Fashioned • Fill a frozen tumbler with ice • Add 50ml White Walker by Johnnie Walker • Add 10ml simple syrup • 1 dash Angostura bitters • 1 dash orange bitters • Garnish with frozen rosemary

BITES

A great kind of white SOME people like their coffee black, others like it white. And for the latter, Great Taste has two new variants of creamy white coffee.

Fans of sweet and aromatic coffee can find themselves enjoying Great Taste White Caramel. It offers the perfect mix of roasted coffee and cream with hints of luscious caramel, blending a sweet linamnam for everyday coffee fix.

For a more flavorful and full-bodied coffee experience, Great Taste White Crema combines the real coffee taste with rich vanilla cream for a creamy linamnam that is reminiscent of everyone’s favorite latte.

These two new variants, and the original Great Taste White coffee mix, come in a fresh and attractive new packaging.

Coinciding with the launch of the new white coffee variants is the introduction of singer-actress, Janella Salvador as Great Taste White ambassador Janella Salvador Great Taste White’s newest ambassador.

She shares, “I am absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this big family. It feels good to endorse a product you enjoy and perThe two new variants come in 30g and 50g sachets, and sonally, I love Great Taste White Caramel because it is sweet are available in sari-sari stores, groceries, and supermarand creamy—just like how I prefer having my cup of coffee!” kets nationwide.

The return of Aloha JUST in time for summer, Jollibee brings back the Amazing Aloha Yumburger.

Every bite of this limited edition burger is packed with explosive flavors courtesy of a sweet and juicy pineapple ring, crispy bacon, honey mustard dressing, fresh lettuce, and a slice of cheddar cheese on top of a 100 percent pure beef patty. It’s like a tropical getaway.

“Since its first launch in 1996 and its much-requested return in 2013, the legendary Amazing Aloha Yumburger has always been one of our most popular limited-time offerings,” said Cathleen Capati, Jollibee assistant vice president for marketing. “The perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors in a burger, plus the varying textures, truly fit the Pinoy palate.”

The Amazing Aloha Yumburger is available in single-patty and doublepatty sandwiches.

Entertainment

Twitter unveils list of top TV series in PH

T

HE Philippine entertainment scene always keeps Twitter buzzing, with Tweeps, not only from the Philippines but all over the world, talking about their favorite celebrities, their beloved loveteams or seryes they love to watch.

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

2. PlayHouse Ending just last March 22, PlayHouse became a daytime television hit because of the kilig that viewers felt while watching the show. #PlayHouseFinallyHome, the show’s official hashtag for the finale, became a top trending topic as it aired, with fans expressing how much they will miss the show.

3. The General’s Daughter Top-billed by Angel Locsin, The General’s Daughter never fails to make it to the top trending list. After years of being on hold and when it finally aired, the action-packed show earned the title as the “biggest teleserye of 2019” dominating the Twitter trends with such hashtags as #TGDWanted and #TGDImpormasyon.

Being the preferred platform for updates on the entertainment industry, Twitter re leases the most talked-about television series for the first three months of 2019.

Here they are: 1. Daddy’s Gurl 4. TODA One I Love The political romantic comedy is not your typical TV show. Starring Kylie Padilla and Ruru Madrid, it dwells on political culture but with a kilig and comedic twist, winning the hearts of many Tweeps. Fans have been expressing their wish to extend the show along with #TODAProtesta.

Wherever Maine Mendoza goes, Tweeps follow. Daddy’s Gurl isn’t an exception as the sitcom continues to trend regularly on Twitter with hashtags such as #DaddysGurlFirstCrush and #DaddysGurlBlindDate. Banking on Vic Sotto’s seasoned comedic chops and Maine’s natural wit, this show will definitely enjoy more time here in the top list.

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5. Onanay The series’ stellar lineup and production team made it one of the most sought-after shows in the Kapuso network. Lead by veterans Nora Aunor and Cherie Gil, Onanay’s touching story about a mother’s love tugged the heartstrings of Tweeps all over the country.

CCP restages ‘Baka Naman Hindi’ A CLASSIC farce filled with innuendo, physical comedy and snappy dialogue, Baka Naman Hindi, the Filipino adaptation of Georges Feydeau’s play La Puce L’Oreille (A Flea in Her Ear) returns onstage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) from April 25 to 28 (3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.).

The production features Ricky Davao and Rina Reyes, together with other notable names in Philippine theater, television and film including RafaSiguion Reyna, Tex Ordoñez-De Leon, Nazer Salcedo, Randy Villarama, Raffy Tejada, Wenah Nagales, Lao Rodriguez, Mosang, Jonathan “Tad” Tadioan, Marco Viaña, Jef Henson Dee, Felipe “Ronnie” Martinez, Kathlyn Castillo, and Aldo Glenn Vencilao.

Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear is known for being an archetype of the well-made play. First staged at the CCP in the 1970s under the direction of CCP President Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, this new production brings back the rollicking sexual comedy popular during the period.

Set in 1907, this humorous tale deals with jealousy, love, and lust between longtime couples and friends. In this play, set during the “belle epoque,” a woman, suspecting her lawyer husband of having an affair, plots to catch him in the act.

A presentation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines with CCP President Arsenio J. Lizaso as producer, Baka Naman Hindi was adapted by Virgilio Beer Flores. Ohm Daviddesigned the sets, James Reyes is costume designer, TJ Ramos is sound designer, and Dennis Marasigan is director and lighting designer.

Tickets at P1000 and P1200 (with discounts for students, senior citizens, PWDs, government employees and groups) are available through the CCP Box Office (832-3704) and TicketWorld (891-9999).

ABS-CBN showcases digital shift in PMC Year 13 BROADCAST giant ABS-CBN showcased its digital shift from a being a broadcast company to more than 1,500 student delegates at the

Elaine Uy-Casipit talks about how iWant keeps up with audiences at the Pinoy Media Congress Year 13.

ABS-CBN Pinoy Media Congress Year 13 (PMC13) mounted in partnership with the Philippine Association for Communication Educators (PACE). iWant head Elaine Uy-Casipit shared how ABS-CBN’s online streaming service iWant, which began the year with 11.3 million subscribers, is meeting the demands of an online audience by offering ABS-CBN shows, digital concerts, films, sports, music, and originals like Glorious and Bagman. “iWant has become a playground for creators—we want to keep offering new content that our digital audiences will enjoy watching,” said Uy-Casipit.

Ginny Ocampo, who is the content head of iWant, shared how the company is collaborating with various content creators to deliver fresh, new content for a new generation of viewers.

“The biggest strength of iWant is that we have access to divisions like Dreamscape Productions, Star Cinema, and Black Sheep Films which already create content for TV, film, and iWant, but we work with a lot of new, independent producers,” she said, adding that iWant is open to co-producing content with

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, April 22, 2019

ACROSS 1 Ism 6 Decreases gradually 10 Jeepers!

14 “Great blue” bird 15 Memsahib’s servant 16 Asian princess 17 Witless one 18 Ocean motion 19 Baroness Karen 20 Gave credit 22 Raiment 24 Blend 25 Made before taxes 26 Trounced 30 Place under arrest 31 Soft mud 32 Closeout 34 Popular pie 39 Unimaginative 41 “Law & Order” figs.

42 Virginia caverns 43 Canvas covers 44 Golden Rule word 46 Paddy crop 47 Luxury fabric 49 Borders on 51 Set straight 55 Skillet 56 Galvanize

57 Fail completely (2 wds.)

62 Robins’ bills 63 Woeful cry 65 From Dublin 66 Secluded corner 67 Well-bred chap 68 Hear or smell 69 Diligent insects 70 Inch forward 71 Lilliputian DOWN 1 Minty Mexican plant 2 Barn colors 3 Clapton of “Layla” 4 Kind of prize 5 Prompt (2 wds.)

6 Rubber-tree sap 7 At the center of 8 Traipse 9 Fleeces 10 Breakfast food 11 Watering place 12 Catch 13 Went backpacking 21 Proposals 23 Completely wreck 25 Visitor 26 Finished last 27 Minute amount 28 Movie mogul 29 Brown seaweed

30 Unwritten on 33 Fully grown 35 Kitty’s feedback 36 Fuddy-duddy 37 Blouse trim 38 Gazes at 40 Feminine endings 45 Cameo shape 48 When mammoths roamed (2 wds.)

50 Sign on 51 Huge blossom 52 Rigel’s constel-

lation 53 Mars Rover 54 Zwiebacks 55 Tomato product 57 Strikes out 58 Being at liberty 59 Finish a jacket 60 Part of NBA 61 Not we 64 Grassy field

students and aspiring filmmakers, writers, and more.

Star Music head Roxy Liquigan told the journey of Star Music from an analog to a digital company, how it successfully met the audiences’ needs, and how artists like Moira dela Torre and Inigo Pascual became successful.

Meanwhile, students were also shown how the film industry is expanding to offer movies for the millennial and Gen Z market and how ABS-CBN is also helping Philippine cinema through preserving and restoring classic Filipino films in the talks of Black Sheep Films creative director Kriz Gazmen and ABS-CBN Film Restoration project head Leo Katigbak.

Students were also encouraged to harness their creativity and passion while working hard for their future careers in the sessions with ABS-CBN creative communications head Robert Labayen and TV production business unit head Peter Edward Dizon.

Meanwhile, student and faculty delegates also got a rare chance to speak and discuss various topics in media today with ABS-CBN president and CEO

Carlo Katigbak, COO of broadcast Cory Vidanes, and head of Integrated News and Current Affairs Ging Reyes in a dialogue.

Media executives from other fields also lent their expertise to students and professors at the media congress like Bea Atienza of DENTSU Aegis Network, Sherwin Dela Cruz of iFlix, and Arline Adeva of Jollibee Studios, while Kapamilya host and superstar vlogger Alex Gonzaga shared how to be successful in making videos.

The ABS-CBN Pinoy Media Congress took place on March 7 and 8 at the College of Holy Spirit Manila and University of San Agustin in Iloilo City through an interactive live broadcast and had Robi Domingo as host and ABS-CBN reporter MJ Felipe as guest moderator on the second day.

The yearly media conference, which has served over 10,000 students since its launch, brings together leading media practitioners, subject matter experts, communication professors, and students to help students gain a critical understanding of media and help them prepare them for a career in the industry.

‘Baka Naman Hindi,’ the Filipino adaptation of Georges Feydeau’s play, returns to CCP from April 25 to 28.

The King of Talk stans a gay PH president in new book MORE than just a TV host, King of Talk Boy Abunda also proves he is a loving Filipino son as he divulges his early life in Samar, his precious time with parents, as well as his aspirations for the Philippines in the book Nanay’s Gay Boy

by ABS-CBN Books.

Boy recalls his early life as a young child residing in Borongan, Eastern Samar, where he merrily participated in fiestas, went caroling during Christmas, and waited for his Tatay to finish his “bulangan” (sabong). A happy kid loved by both his parents, the author has always been driven and outspoken as he entered various declamation contests. His Nanay would always be excited to pin ribbons on his shirt every school year.

The now renowned talk show host shared that he was bullied by “normal boys” during the days.

“I fought back by facing the bullies head-on or I’d run away fast. Running was my weapon. It was not perfect, but it was a wonderful childhood,” he shared.

The multi-awarded television personality, who is celebrating his silver anniversary as a host this year, also disclosed an inspiring rhetoric on “Why can’t we have a gay president?” in this latest read.

“If gays were accepted long ago, the world would be a better, kinder place,” he said.

In the book, Boy discussed how being gay is not an ailment. He referred to it as a power that should be embraced.

With new generations being more open minded, he also believes that the Philippines will be ready for their first gay president very soon.

When asked if he was willing to run for the post, he simply replied, “No. I would much rather work for the first gay president.”

Nanay’s Gay Boy is available in National Book Store and Powerbooks branches for only P395.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019

VERY WANG

YouTube sensation

Troye Sivan comes to

Manila in May SOUTH African-born Australian singer, songwriter, actor, and YouTuber Troye Sivan is bringing his worldwide hits to Manila as part of his seven-city The Bloom Tour that kicked off in Japan in December.

The “Youth” singer will perform on 1 May at the Mall Of Asia Arena, as confirmed by concert promoters MMI Live and Live Nation, together with Smart as presenter. The concert tour is in support of the release of his critically acclaimed sophomore album, Bloom.

Sivan’s Asian tour will have other stops in South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1995, Sivan was a celebrated child star in his adopted hometown of Perth, Australia.

Home-schooled, he began singing and acting at a young age, but his biggest break came when he appeared as a young Wolverine in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

As a child of the digital age, Sivan launched his YouTube channel with videos of musical performances, originals, and cover songs and later began to upload weekly video blogs documenting the minutia of his teenage life in Perth which quickly garnered a loyal international audience.

Sivan also showcases his acting talents in the 2018 film, Boy Erased, alongside award-winning stars Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.

His debut album, 2015’s Blue Neighbourhood, introduced him to the pop mainstream, landing in the Billboard Top 10 with the singles “Wild” and “Youth.”

In early 2018, he issued the single “My My My!,” which soon went platinum in Australia and entered the U.S. Top 100. Additional singles “Bloom” and the Ariana Grande-assisted “Dance to This” followed.

Tickets to Sivan’s Manila concert went on sale for the general public in January through SM Tickets outlets, smtickets. com. For more show information, follow MMI Live (in Facebook), and @mmilive (in Instagram, and Twitter), or visit www.mmilive. com for details.

South African-born Australian singer Troye Sivan is staging a concert in Manila on May 1.

NICKIE WANG

F

ROM playing an emotionally and physically challenging role in The Cure, actress Jennylyn Mercado is back to her comfort zone and she has nothing but excitement to share about this familiar experience.

“I’m really happy to be doing a romcom again because it’s my comfort zone as an actress,” she told Manila Standard in an interview.

“Even in movies, I have done a lot of romcoms. But I must admit that during the start of our taping for Love You Two, I was really nervous,” she carried on.

Beginning today, Kapuso viewers are in for a delightful time as the 31-year-old actress stars in the heartwarming romantic comedy, Love You Two, opposite senior actor Gabby Concepcion.

“It’s my first time to work with my leading man, and let’s face it, Gabby Concepcion yan, ano? I was starstrucked at first during our pictorial, parang nahihiya ako sa kanya. Sa taping naman, nabubulol ako, nalilimutan ko ang lines ko sa first few scenes namin,” Jennylyn admitted.

In the series, Jennylyn breathes life to Raffy, a woman who has a thriving career and is happily in a relationship.

Gabby is Jake, the charming businessman and Kalayaan Hotel owner who remains to be a dashing debonair even in his 40s.

Joining them in Love You Two are: Solenn Heussaff as Lianne, Jake’s free-spirited ex-fiancée who remained friends with him even after their breakup; Shaira Diaz as Sam, Raffy’s spunky and pretty younger sister and a true-blue millennial who wants to experience everything at once; Sheena Halili as Nina, Jake’s caring executive assistant who’s always on top of things; Jerald Napoles as Harrison, Raffy and Sam’s amusing and protective older brother; Kiray Celis as Darling, Raffy and Sam’s childhood friend who is secretly in love with Harrison; Nar Cabico as Migs, resident manager of Kalayaan Hotel who becomes Raffy’s confidante; Yasser Marta as Edison, Jake’s nephew who also works at the Sales and Marketing Team of Kalayaan Hotel; and Michelle Dee as Mochi, Sam’s close friend since their college days; Introducing in Love You Two is newest Kapuso Clint Bondad as Theo, Raffy’s exboyfriend who will seize a career opportunity abroad and leave her behind.

Also featuring in this primetime soap are Freddie Webb, Madeleine Nicolas, and Joshua Zamora.

The show’s creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan, creative consultant Agnes Gagelonia-Uligan,

concept creator Glaiza Ramirez, headwriter Rona Lean Sales, writers Renei Dimla and Glaiza Ramirez, and brainstormers John Borgy Danao and Patrick Ilagan.

Helmed by the award-winning director Irene Villamor, the ground-breaking program promises to give Filipino audiences a film-like experience on the small screen, complete with stunning cinematography that elevates the usual primetime viewing. Pao Orendain is the director of photography.

Love You Two airs after Sahaya on GMA Telebabad. Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International.

For the program guide, visit www. gmapinoytv.com.

Jerald Napoles

Kiray Celis

Solenn Heussaff

Shaira Diaz

Clint Bondad

Concluding season of ‘Game of Thrones’ premieres on HBO via SKY

Arya and Jon Snow in one of the iconic scenes in the premiere episode of the concluding season of the highly popular HBO series, ‘Game of Thrones.’

ENDING with a stare down that was literally years in the making, Game of Thrones kicked off its final season on Monday morning in the Philippines.

The wait is over for the fans of the Emmy-winning fantasy series as the premiere episode of the final season aired on Monday on HBO and its online streaming service HBO GO on SKY. The epic start of the highly-talked about series was telecast on HBO (ch 54 SD | 168 HD) in Metro Manila and (ch 402 SD | 710 HD) in regional areas, and on HBO GO at the same time as the U.S. airing.

In the first episode, Jon Snow has returned to Winterfell with Daenerys after they called a truce with Cersei in

the season seven finale.

Further clues of what will happen in the final run also surfaced especially about Jon Snow’s true parentage and if Bran Stark could finally reveal it to Daenerys. Viewers also anticipate the Night King’s next steps after he destroyed the Wall.

But all eyes are on who will take the Iron Throne in the end.

Besides an exclusive season premiere watch party in the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion, Makati for SKY subscribers and the media, SKY also has a treat for its subscribers as one of them will have the chance to win a four-day trip for two to Northern Ireland with accommodation. Also

included in the trip is a Game of Thrones package tour.

To join SKY’s flyway promo, visit mysky.com.ph/gotflyaway to fill out an entry form. Answer the question: “Who do you think is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and why?” and earn one e-raffle coupon.

HBO GO subscribers earn an extra point.The promo is open to new and existing SKYcable, SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV bundle, and SKYdirect residential subscribers with HBO as part of their channel lineup, who have an active account with good credit standing during the promo period and upon claiming of the prize.

The announcement of winners

is on May 6 via mysky.com.ph/ gotflyaway page. Subscribe now to HBO GO for as low as P150/month to get the extra point for the promo. Visitmysky. com.ph/hbogo for more details.

HBO GO is HBO’s online streaming service that enables subscribers to watch and enjoy the world’s best movies, HBO Originals and more anytime and anywhere through the website or the mobile app.

Subscription to HBO GO also gives SKY subscribers free online and cable TV access to channels HBO Hits, HBO Family, and HBO Signature.

For more exciting updates on Game of Thrones, log on to mysky.com.ph/ got.