Manila Standard - 2019 May 9 - Thursday

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Expanded matrix: Dark web ‘CALCULATED CONSPIRACY.’

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo presents to media Wednesday what he calls a new set of diagrams (below) alleging a ‘conspiracy’ to discredit the Duterte administration. He accuses members of the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group and some media organizations working together to oust Duterte. RTVM Screenshot

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 84 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace diagram links LP, Magdalo to oust-Rody plot

2019 POLLS: THE FINAL PUSH

INC endorses Romualdez, Tingog, Imee

By Maricel V. Cruz

INC ENDORSEMENT. Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo of the Iglesia ni Cristo is flanked by (from left) Tingog Party-list 1st nominee Rep. Yedda Romualdez, Gov. Imee Marcos, running for senator, and Martin Romualdez, running for the 1st district of Leyte in the House of Representatives.

PHILIPPINE Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez, Tingog party-list first nominee Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Romualdez Marcos on Wednesday thanked the Iglesia ni Cristo, led by Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, for endorsing their candidacies.

The INC endorsed Martin Romualdez in the first congressional district of Leyte, Tingog party-list led by Yedda Romualdez, and Marcos’ senatorial bid.

The Romualdez couple and Marcos credited INC’s support in their past electoral victories, vowing to continue their good brand Next page

SGMA, son go house-to-house

By Maricel V. Cruz ACTING like the doting mother that she is, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday accompanied her son, Mikey Arroyo, in a house-to-house campaign in San Nicolas Village in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

The young Arroyo is running for congressman in the Second District of Pampanga in a bid to GO GOES TO BACOLOR. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda bring senatorial candidate replace his mother, who is on her Lawrence Go to the SUPERL manufacturing hub in Bacolor, Pampanga last term in Congress. on Wednesday. Some 15,000 employees in SUPERL, where luxury Next page handbags are made, welcomed Arroyo, Pineda and Go

Binay gains INC backing

By Nat Mariano, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Iglesia ni Cristo has endorsed the candidacy of Mayor Abigail Binay in the mayoralty race in the City of Makati in the midterm elections this month.

Binay, who is seeking her second term under the United Nationalist Alliance, expressed her gratitude to the INC for endorsing her.

The INC also endorsed reelectionists Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and Makati City 2nd district Rep. Luis Campos, Binay’s father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is running to Next page

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RODUCING a new diagram, the Palace on Wednesday accused members of the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group and some media organizations of working hand in hand in a conspiracy to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

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Gretchen Ho

Hidilyn Diaz

PPCRV deploys Ho, Diaz deny part in plot 300k volunteers

By Vito Barcelo THE poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting said Wednesday it will deploy 300,000 volunteers to monitor, encode and validate the votes in the May 13 midterm elections.

“We are prepared to mobilize our volunteers come the May 13 midterm and deploy them to the more than 87,000 precincts, 81 provinces and 37,000 municipalities,” PPCRV chairman Myla Villanueva said during the group’s launching of its command center at Next page

OLYMPIAN Hidilyn Diaz and former volleyball player and television host Gretchen Ho were linked by Malacañang to an alleged conspiracy against President Rodrigo Duterte.

The names of Diaz and Ho

IBP nixes ‘Bikoy’ bid for legal aid

were part of a series of matrices presented by Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo to the media Wednesday.

They were allegedly among the personalities that had links to Next page

Senate stops video probe

By Rey E. Requejo

By Macon RamosAraneta

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines has rejected the request for legal assistance from a man who surfaced Monday, claiming

THE hooded man behind the “Bikoy” videos linking the family of President Rodrigo

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US proposes bigger ‘games’ with PH army

By Francisco Tuyay THE United States Army has proposed the conduct of large-scale military exercises with their local counterparts in the country to enhance inter-operability in combating the global threat of terrorism.

Maj. Gen. John Johnson, US Army Pacific Command deputy commanding general, made the proposal during a courtesy call on Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City Tuesday afternoon.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the exercises will be part of “Saklaknib 2020.”

Salaknib exercises is an annual army-toarmy drill between Manila and Washington that began in 2015. It is part of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two nations.

“This is all about making us more ready for whatever challenges the future might hold. We are committed to this region.

The design of (Salaknib 2020) exercise is purposeful in demonstrating that commitment,” Johnson said.

Under the plan, the US Army will be committing 1,500 troops, 600 more compared to the 900 troopers it deployed in last year’s exercise.

As for the Philippine Army, Zagala said it will maintain a brigade-size contingent comprising of 1,800 soldiers.

“We need to train and raise our competency for us to be more effective in our counter-terrorism,” Zagala said.

The exercise will be held in March next year in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, the home base of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, and in Crow Valley in Tarlac.

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of public service with a heart and performance in serving the electorate.

“I expressed my gratitude to the well-respected Iglesia Ni Cristo and Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for the endorsement extended to my candidacy and all the support given to me through the years. This will inspire me more to serve the people through my ‘malasakit’ advocacy,” said Martin Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

“The support of the Iglesia Ni Cristo is very significant and will give huge votes for the Tingog party-list. From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” said Yedda Romualdez, the chairman of the House committee on accounts and Leyte’s first district congresswoman.

“We will work harder to show that we are worthy of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s endorsement by fulfilling our duties and responsibilities to provide Filipinos a better economy and better lives,” said Yedda Romualdez, vice chairman of the House committee on government reorganization.

“Our commitment is to ensure that people who are less in life would enjoy more government malasakit under President Rodrigo Duterte through more funding for education, health and other social services.”

Tingog party-list’s other nominees include Jude A. Acidre, Jamie J. Go, Alexis V. Yu and Jennifer C. Padual.

PPCRV...

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the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in United Nations Avenue in Manila.

In other developments: • Manila Electric Co. said Wednesday it is ready for the midterm elections and assured the public that all possible power supply issues are being addressed.

“Barring any unforeseen, unexpected, unscheduled shutdowns, we do not see any problems,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga told reporters.

• The Metro Manila Development Authority said it is suspending the number coding scheme for provincial buses on May 10 and on Tuesday next week in connection with the May 13 midterm polls.

“The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program suspension is to ensure that there will be enough public utility vehicles to ferry commuters who are going to vote in the provinces,” the MMDA said in advisory Wednesday. With Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Earlier in the day, Arroyo joined Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial candidate Christopher “Bong” Go in a visit to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority at the Angeles Industrial Park in Angeles City, where about 15,000 employees greeted them.

The thousands of employees of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority at the Angeles Industrial Park mobbed Arroyo.

Upon their arrival, Mrs. Arroyo was warmly welcomed by the Aeta workers of locator Superl Philippines Inc. While touring the indusrial park, Mrs. Arroyo took the opportunity to endorse the candidacy of HNP senatorial candidates Go, Francis Tolentino, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Cynthia Villar.

Joining Speaker Arroyo and Go were Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, her son gubernatorial candidate Dennis Pineda and officials of Superl Philippines.

More jobs for adults in first quarter

By Nat Mariano

T

HE Duterte administration will continue to create more jobs even as the country’s adult joblessness rate decelerated in the first quarter of 2019, the Palace said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after the Social Weather Stations reported that an estimated 9.4 million Filipino adults or 19.7 percent of the Filipino workforce were unemployed in March 2019.

“This marks the second consecutive quarter where there has been a decrease in the proportion of adults in the labor force who arejobless.

The 19.7 percent in March 2019 is 1.4 points below the 21.1 percent (est. 9.0 million adults) in December 2018, and 2.3 points below the 22 percent (est. 9.8 million adults) in September 2018,” the pollster said.

The SWS said adult joblessness consists

of those seeking jobs for the first time, those who voluntarily left their old jobs, and those who lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control or termed as “retrenched.”

SWS said the 19.7 percent figure consisted of 9.4 percent (est. 4.5 million adults) who voluntarily left their jobs, 7.6 percent (3.6 million adults) retrenched, and 2.7 percent (1.3 million adults) first-time job seekers.

“The 7.6 percent who were retrenched consisted of 5.6 percent (2.7 million adults) whose contracts ended and no longer renewed, 1.4 percent (680,000 adults) who got laid off, and 0.5 percent

(261,000 adults) whose previous employer closed operations,” it said.

In geographical terms, adult joblessness was at 21 percent of the labor force (1.5 million adults) in Metro Manila, 21 percent (4.6 million) in Balance of Luzon, 18 percent (1.5 million adults) in the Visayas, and 17 percent (1.8 million) in Mindanao.

“In Metro Manila, there was a six-point decrease in adult joblessness, from 27 percent in December last year to 21 percent in March 2019. This is the first in five quarters where there has been a decrease in adult joblessness in the capital,” SWS said.

In Mindanao, adult joblessness decreased by nine points, from 26 percent (2.7 million adults) in December to 17 percent in March.

On the other hand, it incresed by two points from 19 percent (3.4 million adults) in December to 21 percent in March.

In the Visayas, adult joblessness increased by

MVP tweet on 5G sparks online buzz BUSINESSMAN Manny Pangilinan created a stir on Twitter Tuesday night when he promoted a Huawei device using his iPhone.

“Got my 5G phone. Huawei. Using it now, on Smart 5G network in central parts of Makati. Wow. Super speed. Exciting.” Pangilinan said in his tweet.

Eagle-eyed Twitter users quickly pointed out, though, that the PLDT chairman post on the microblogging site was marked sent via “Twitter for iPhone.”

Pangilinan In a Twitter post Wednesday, Pangilinan posted a photo showing he was using two devices, indicating one was Huawei and the other was his iPhone.

PLDT has partnered with Huawei in rolling out 5G internet connection in the country.

Expanded...

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Those named in the latest Palace smear denied and ridiculed the allegations, with the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines calling Malacañang’s new matrix “a piece of unadulterated crap.”

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar presented a new diagram purporting to show links in the conspiracy against Duterte.

A first matrix, leaked through the Manila Times on April 22, did not include opposition politicians.

“The President has received intelligence information that has been validated and appears to show that there is deliberate attempt to discredit this administration, as well as to boost the candidacies of the opposition’s senatorial candidates,” Panelo said.

“And it appears that there are certain groups who are working together to achieve this goal.

This group appears to be the Liberal Party. Some personalities identified as advocates or very active in social media, dishing out anti-Duterte statements and sentiments and validated to be allied with the Liberal Party,” Panelo added.

The Palace official said the new diagram was related to the matrix released to the public two weeks ago.

“The other group, by the way, is Magdalo. It appears from this diagram that the Liberal Party, the Magdalo and other groups indicated in the matrix are working hand in hand,” he said.

He said the administration believes the ouster plot was hatched to help opposition senatorial candidates such as former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda were also named in the new diagram.

The Palace also linked journalists Ellen Tordesillas and Inday Espina-Varona to the supposed ouster plot. Rodel Jayme, the owner and web developer of the Metrobalita.net, was also tagged in the same conspiracy.

Panelo denied suggestions that the release of the new diagram was part of a government propaganda effort.

“No, it’s not propaganda. It’s propaganda of

Senate...

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In the wake of this revelation, the Senate called off its investigation of the Bikoy allegations.

At a forum Wednesday, Sotto described as “incredible” the sworn statements and supporting documents given him by Peter Joemel Advincula—who identified himself as “Bikoy” in the latest “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

This was why he did not make the allega-

two points from 16 percent (1.2 million adults) last December to 18 percent in March.

The SWS also found out that adult joblessness has been consistently higher among women than among men.

“In March 2019, it was 30 percent (6.0 million adults) among women members of the labor force while it was 12 percent (est. 3.4 million) among men. The labor force participation rate is also lower among adult women at 59.8 percent, compared to 82.9 percent among adult men,” it said.

It was also consistently highest among the 18 to 24-year-olds compared to other age groups.

“The March 2019 survey found joblessness at 46 percent (2.1 million adults) among this age group, followed by 27 percent (3.0 million adults) among the 25 to 34-year-olds, 18 percent (2.0 million adults) among 35-44-yearolds, and 11percent (2.2 million adults) among those aged 45 years and above,” it added.

IBP...

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represent the city’s first district in the House of Representatives, and six candidates for councilor in each district.

“We thank the Iglesia ni Cristo under the leadership of Brother Eduardo Manalo who is always there to support us,” Mayor Binay said.

The elder Binay also thanked the INC for its endorsement of his candidacy.

The INC has endorsed the following

candidates for City Councilor in District 1: Martin Arenas, VirJhong Hilario, Jojo Javier, Armand Padilla, Joey Villena and Alcine Ichi Yabut.

For the District 2 Councilors, the INC endorsed Dennis Almario, Doris Arayon, Bong Ariones, Bodik Baniqued, Sammy Cruz and Ina Sarosa.

Meanwhile, the Makati City government will enforce a road closure and a traffic rerouting scheme in Barangay Sta. Cruz starting Friday to give way to the miting de avance of Binay’s “Team Performance.”

he is “Bikoy,” the narrator in a series of videos posted online that implicates several members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s family and his associates in the illegal drug trade.

Peter Joemel Advincula went to the IBP for legal assistance, saying he feared for his life.

Earlier, the Davao chapter of the IBP hit the group’s national leadership for allowing its main office as a venue for Advincula to issue statements accusing the President’s family and allies of accepting drug payoffs.

The local chapter said this “reeked of [a] political agenda.”

In a statement, the IBP board of governors maintained that it remains independent and denied keeping Advincula in its custody.

The IBP, through its National Center for Legal Aid, said that after evaluation, the organization denied Advincula’s request.

The IBP said Advincula sought free legal assistance in the filing of charges against certain individuals, including candidates for elective positions for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

“His application was duly processed just like any other request received by the NCLA,” the IBP said.

The lawyers’ group explained that denying Advincula’s request was in line with the NCLA’s Manual of Operations.

“In the pursuit of its mandate to provide access to justice to the poor and the marginalized, the IBP cannot be seen to be siding with or going against any candidate or political party,” the IBP said.

these people mentioned or shown in the diagram against this administration and to boost the candidacies of Otso Diretso,” he said, referring to the opposition coalition that includes the Liberal Party.

“Definitely, we are revealing the black propaganda against the administration... Hopefully, by revealing it to the public, we are preempting their move,” he said.

Panelo could not say, however, how the new diagram was arrived at or the source of the intelligence report, saying only that the public should believe the information because it came from the President.

“He has many sources. Knowing him as one who is a thinking President, he would have validated every information he has received,” he said.

He urged reporters to ask the President directly about his sources.

Panelo said the Palace would let the Justice department investigate the information and file the appropriate charges if the evidence warranted legal action.

On April 22, the Palace first released a matrix tagging media organizations Rappler, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, VERA Files, and even the National Union of People’s Lawyers in an alleged conspiracy.

All of the groups at the time denied the allegations and urged the administration to substantiate its accusations, but Panelo said there was no need to prove their case.

Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan said the administration was doing what it has always done when confronted by controversy—falsely accuse others of being involved in ouster plots.

“It’s all made up,” Pangilinan said in Filipino, referring to the latest diagram linking his party to a move to overthrow the government.

He said instead of making up diagrams, the Palace should explain why it has not arrested a single drug lord or punished any official in the Bureau of Customs over the smuggling in of tons of shabu.

Trillanes assailed the latest attempt to link the Magdalo group and some media organizations to a plot to remove the President.

He said the President has ordered the killing of thousands of Filipinos, accumulated billions in hidden wealth, destroyed democratic institutions, cursed god and invented accusations against his critics.

“Now we are the ones discrediting [the

government],” he said.

The NUJP said it refused to dignify the latest Palace accusations.

“At best, this is yet another badly concocted fiction meant to scare their perceived enemies but which only ends up making them look ridiculous. At worst, and this is a real concern, we cannot imagine what pressures Jayme might have undergone or been made to undergo to underpin this fallacy,” the group said.

“And we stress again this government’s criminal endangerment of people it accuses of serious offenses without an iota of evidence,” the NUJP continued. “But we say let them try their worst.

They cannot scare the community of independent Filipino journalists into silence.”

Opposition congressman Gary Alejano on Wednesday denied having a hand in producing the viral video series “Ang Totoong Narcolist” and questioned the credibility of the Palace in releasing a new diagram.

“I categorically state that I am not involved in the Bikoy videos and have not conspired with anybody to produce such videos. I do not know Bikoy and have not met him ever,” Alejano said in a statement.

“Malacañang has a long history of of releasing unvalidated information to the public. They even backtrack... in the middle of the issue,” Alejano said.

“Their allegations are clearly false, malicious and irresponsible. I do not think the Filipino people believe spokesperson Panelo,” he added.

Alejano said the the matrix was released to “destroy the image of the opposition before the electorate.”

“Do they feel threatened by us to resort to such ludicrous and cowardly acts? The opposition, or any other group, does not have to do anything to discredit or destabilize the administration. They are the ones who are destroying themselves,” he added.

Varona said the latest accusations official verify “the level of idiocy and incompetence in Malacañang.”

“Panelo isn’t just a liar. He’s an IQ-challenged liar,” she said.

The Department of Justice said it would study the new matrix unveiled by the Palace.

“I have not seen this new ouster matrix,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said. “In any event, the DOJ will study this further to determine if there is enough factual basis to refer this new matrix to the National Bureau of Investigation for investigation.”

Guevarra on Wednesday said the Department of Justice can file inciting to sedition charge against Peter Joemel Advincula, who surfaced earlier to own up to being `Bikoy’ in the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” videos that linked members of the Duterte family to the illegal drug trade.

Guevarra said the DOJ might consider filing charges against Advincula if he would not file complaints against the personalities he identified in the videos including President Duterte’s son Paolo, his partner Honeyley Avanceña and their teenage daughter Veronica, or Kitty.

Guevarra said the NBI is waiting for Advincula to file a complaint supported with evidentiary documents.

“Should he fail to do so, the DOJ will consider his possible inclusion in Rodel Jayme’s inciting to sedition case or indictment for other criminal charges after proper investigation,” Guevarra said, in a text message.

Jayme, who was the administrator of a website that shared the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” videos, has already been charged with inciting to sedition in relation with the anti-cybercrime law for allegedly creating the website.

Jayme has denied he had a hand in the production and the circulation of the videos.

Advincula surfaced on Monday to affirm the allegations made by “Bikoy”. He had sought legal assistance from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, but the group’s National Center for Legal Aid rejected his request.

In the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” videos, “Bikoy,” a hooded man claiming to be a former member of a drug syndicate, accused Paolo of being a member of a drug syndicate and receiving millions of pesos in payoffs.

Avanceña, Kitty, and Duterte’s former aide Christopher “Bong” Go were also mentioned in the videos.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said Advincula had previously linked former President Benigno Aquino III, former executive secretary Jojo Ochoa, former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II and and Senator Leila de Lima to illegal drugs.

Sotto said Advincula first approached his office in 2016 and turned in a sworn statement and supporting documents, including 19 pages of bank accounts.

After Sotto’s revelation, Senator Panfilo Lacson, who earlier said a Senate panel can schedule a hearing, said the inquiry will no longer be pursued.

tions public at the time, Sotto said.

“First, the story was incredible. Like for example, I cannot imagine Noynoy (Aquino) going to that underground safe house in Misibis with [then executive secretary Paquito] Ochoa, [then Justice secretary Leila] De Lima exchanging money and exchanging shabu.

I can’t imagine that happening, This kind of story is very difficult to believe,” Sotto said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum held in the Senate building.

As this developed, the scheduled Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing on Bikoy’s set for tommorow, May 10, was canceled.

Committee chairman Senator Panfilo Lacson branded as “nonsense” all the accusations hurled by Bikoy against resigned Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte; Manases Carpio,

husband of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte; Honeylet Avanceña, President Duterte’s longtime partner and their daughter Kitty.

In the videos, Bikoy also tagged former presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go, who is running for senator in Monday’s elections and other allies and close friends of the Duterte family.

“Enough of this nonsense,” said Lacson, adding that “Sotto said it all.”

He said asking Bikoy in the supposed Senate hearing about the people behind his accusations would mean that they believe him.

“It’s quite glaring. We know that he just made this up,” Lacson said as he canceled the hearings and recall the invitation sent to Advincula through the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, where he appeared and gave his statement.

TEAM PERFORMANCE. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay and Mayor Abigail Binay huddle together during a break in campaign sortie.

Binay...

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Ho, Diaz...

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Rodel Jayme, the webmaster accused of spreading the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” series of videos that linked the President and members of his family to the illegal narcotics trade.

“Dami ko pang goals sa life and Pinas para sumali sa ganyang bagay. Nashock lang ako nalink ako sa ganyan,” Diaz said in a tweet.

Ho, likewise, denied knowing Jayme nor the viral videos.

“Regarding being included in the ‘matrix’, I don’t even know who Bikoy is, I have never watched the videos nor shared them, and I have no idea who Rodel Jayme is,” Ho said in a separate tweet.

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Solon seeks to file raps vs. erring ERC execs

By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT legislator on Wednesday called for a probe with the end of filing criminal charges against Energy Regulatory Commission officials who he claimed erred in approving “questionable power-supply agreements.”

“It is important to pursue criminal cases against these corrupt officials to make them accountable. We should not let them go unpunished all the time,” Rep. Carlos Zarate said at a news conference Wednesday.

Zarate cited a recent Supreme Court en banc ruling that rejected several power-supply agreements “for not undergoing the required public bidding or competitive selection process, as proof that the ERC officials were remiss in their duty in ensuring transparency and accountability.”

“They should be punished not only administratively, but also criminally,” he added.

Aya Jallorina, secretary general of petitioner Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Inc., bared the implications of the favorable SC decision on

FINAL INSPECTION. Poll clerks at a designated precinct conduct final tests of the voting machines that will be used for the May 13 elections at the Manuel Araullo High School in Manila on May 8.

Norman Cruz

their criminal charge against the ERC commissioners.

“It could bolster our criminal charge because the Ombudsman found probable cause for violations of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Jallorina told reporters, citing the opinion of the group’s lawyer.

“What’s important is to make these officials accountable and have them serve as a lesson to other officials,” Zarate said.

Referring to the erring ERC commissioners, he said: “Some of them have already retired but I think it’s not enough reason not to pursue the charges.”

The Ombudsman earlier suspended the chairman and all commissioners of the ERC in December 2017.

However, the ERC executives managed to get a temporary restraining order on the suspension from the Court of Appeals.

Since July 2018, however, three of the commissioners left the ERC—two retired while another one resigned for health reasons.

HDO issued vs. Joo murder suspect

By Rey E. Requejo

A

REGIONAL trial court in Angeles City on Wednesday issued a hold departure order against police colonel Rafael Dumlao III who is facing trial for allegedly masterminding the 2016 abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo after he was allowed to post bail for his temporary liberty.

Judge Irin Zenaida Buan of Angeles City RTC, Branch 56, issued the HDO upon the request of the prosecution panel headed

by Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera.

“Acting on the urgent ex parte motion for the issuance of a hold departure order against accused P/Supt, Rafae Dumlao III, and

the same being meritorious, said motion is hereby granted,” the court’s order stated.

The court also ordered the Travel Control Bureau of the Bureau of Immigration “to hold the departure of the accused from the country so as not to escape criminal liabilities pending the final determination of the case.”

On Monday, the court granted Dumlao’s request to be allowed to post bail saying the prosecution failed to prove that the evidence of guilt against him is strong that would warrant the junking of his request.

Buan said none of the prosecution’s witnesses were able to establish that Dumlao conspired with the other accused in killing Jee. However, Buan said that the ruling allowing Dumlao to post bail is without prejudice to its later determination of guilt since more evidence will still be presented by the prosecution during the trial proper of the case.

Dumlao will stand trial starting this June on charges of kid-

napping for ransom with homicide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and carnapping.

Aside from Dumlao, Police Chief Master Sergeant (formerly SPO3) Ricky Sta. Isabel and Gerry Omlang, the Department of Justice also charged Gerardo "Ding" Santiago, owner of the Gream Funeral Services in Caloocan City where the body of the victim was brought, and Police Executive Master Sergeant (formerly SPO4) Roy Villegas in the kidnapping for ransom with homicide case.

The DOJ later tapped Villegas as a state witness, while Santiago’s case was downgraded to accessory.

PH expects Canada to recall trash by May 15

OFF TO THE POLL PRECINCTS. Members of the Manila Police District secure trucks loaded with vote counting machines at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta on Wednesday, May 8. Norman Cruz

Brace for rain Imee pushes for a ‘One Visayas’ development road map as 2 LPAs enter PH—PAGASA

By Rio N. Araja BRACE for rains in some parts of Luzon due to two low pressure areas.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, it is monitoring another LPA outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

The first LPA was located at 195 kilometers per hour southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur. The weather bureau said the LPA would bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms that could trigger floods and landslides.

The other LPA was estimated at 335 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.

PAGASA said another LPA was located at 1,120 kilometers east of Mindanao, or outside PAR. The weather system is forecast to enter country, but all LPAs may not develop into a tropical cyclone.

Junk NUPL amparo plea, Du30 asks SC PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers for protection against what they claimed to be continuing harassment by the administration and military on their members.

In a 35-page comment filed through Solicitor General Jose Calida, the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, sought the dismissal of the petition for writs of amparo and habeas data filed by NUPL last month.

The Solicitor General argued that petitioners failed to prove or provide factual basis in their allegation that the President and other respondents—AFP Chief Of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.—were responsible for the threats, harassment and intimidation against NUPL lawyers. Rey E. Requejo

Law makes Mandaue City a legislative district PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law an act creating the lone legislative district of Mandaue City in Cebu, documents released by the Palace showed on Wednesday.

Under the Republic Act No. 11257, which the President signed on April 5, Mandaue City will be separated from the Sixth Legislative District of the Province of Cebu to constitute the Lone Legislative District of the City of Mandaue, which shall commence in the next national and local elections.

The newly-signed legislation said, “the incumbent representative of the sixth legislative district of Cebu will continue to represent the said district until the new representative of the lone district of Mandaue City has been elected and qualified.”

The Commission on Elections shall then issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the said act within 30 days after its effectivity. Nat Mariano

THE Philippine government expects Canada to take out the 69 container vans of garbage on May 15, the deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Wednesday.

“The deadline is May 15. Period. I don’t give two fucks what the DOF says.

The President expects the garbage to be seaborne by Mat 15. That expectation will be met or else,” Locsin said, in his Twitter.

Locsin made the statement after the Department of Finance said that the garbage may not be returned before the May 15 deadline of the President due to bureaucratic red tape on the part of the Canadian government.

The DOF said the Canadian government remains committed to recall the garbage covering the costs and making other necessary arrangements.

Rey E. Requejo

IN BRIEF

SENATORIAL candidate and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos vowed to spearhead the crafting of a “One Visayas” development masterplan to transform the island group into an economic and techno hub as well as an arts, culture and tourism center for the country.

“The Visayan group of islands has a rich cultural and historical heritage, has abundant natural resources, and its people are hardworking, resilient, adventurous and gifted with a natural flair for entertainment and the arts,” said Marcos, who is running for senator under the administration Hugpong Ng Pagbabago senatorial slate.

“So many of the big names in the cultural scene, creative arts, tourism and entertainment hail from the Visayas—and it is about time that this part of the country be enabled not only to have its fair share in the benefits, but be a dynamic mover of development now going on in the country,” she added.

“We have to carve out a niche for our-

selves because there are things that only the Visayas can offer especially in arts and culture, as well as the leisure and entertainment industries,” Marcos said.

She recalled that in the 1970s, Cebu was branded as the “Milan of Asia”.

While over the years its furniture, garment and manufacturing industries have weakened, these have found new vitality with the rise in recent years of worldclass talents the likes of Kenneth Cobonpoe and Michael Cinco.

“Now is the best time to take stock of what has been accomplished in the Visayas so far, and to lay out a viable unified development roadmap to put the Visayas on track to where it can best develop its potentials. Cebu and Bohol, especially now with their new international airports, lead the way in charting directions for development. Bacolod and Iloilo are now enjoying higher economic growth from better development planning. The circle of economic growth needs to be widened even more to in-

clude the other provinces and benefit many more of our kababayans, “ Marcos stressed.

“One Visayas” is envisioned to align and harmonize the development priorities of the different Visayan provinces and to capitalize on the strengths and resource potentials of every province.

“This requires building the strategic infrastructure needed not only to link the different islands so as to facilitate movement of goods and people, and enable swift delivery of services and development assistance, but also to establish advanced institutional facilities in education, information and communication technology, public health, arts and culture,” Marcos explained.

“We need to make the Visayas a focal infrastructure development arena in the administration’s Build, Build, Build program. Our people should enjoy equitably the benefits of a fast growing economy as much as those in Luzon and in Mindanao,” she said. Rey E. Requejo

‘Schools should teach Muslim, IPs history’ REELECTIONIST Senator Sonny Angara on Wednesday renewed his call for the full implementation of a law requiring all schools nationwide to teach the history of Filipino Muslims and indigenous peoples (IPs), saying a study of Philippine history and culture would be incomplete without their mention.

“As we allow the Bangsamoro people to fulfill their dreams and aspirations through the establishment of a new autonomous political entity, it is especially important to look back on their history and to acknowledge and appreciate Filipino Muslim contributions,” the lawmaker said.

Angara made the call as the nation celebrates May as the National Heritage Month, which aims to promote consciousness, respect and love for the cultural heritage among Filipinos.

This year’s theme, “Mga Pinuno para sa Pamana” (Leaders for Heritage), serves as a challenge to every Filipino to take the lead in preserving and promoting our heritage.

Republic Act 10908, or the Integrated History Act of 2016, which Angara principally authored, mandates the teaching of history, culture and identity of IPs and Filipino Muslims in both basic and higher education in the country.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Why administration bets win I HAVE been saying that midterm elections are some kind of referendum for the sitting president. This is the case with President Rodrigo Duterte and next week’s polls.

Historically, Philippine presidents are judged halfway into their terms.

This is to see whether the public thinks they have delivered on their promises.

If mainstream survey—those of Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations—are to be believed, administration bets are likely to dominate the Senate race. Specifically, the President’s favorite candidates are well within the Magic 12.

Are we to believe the mainstream surveys?

This can only validate the excellent trust and satisfaction ratings of Mr. Duterte.

Despite everything, it appears that the people continue to have high regard for the Duterte administration. And his popularity seems to be transferable to those whom he endorses.

Analysts seem to be dumbfounded, unable to reconcile the fact that Duterte has not stopped his bloody war on drugs and yet Filipinos still believe in him.

Remember that he has also been attacking the Catholic church and cracking misogynistic jokes.

This is why I can’t understand why the President is sensitive about supposed destabilization plots against his administration. The latest alleged plot is described in a so-called matrix involving journalists and lawyers.

Mr. Duterte must know that given his incredible popularity, any destabilization attempts on the administration would be futile.

Recently, a man called Bikoy has surfaced, alleging that the real narcos are in the Duterte family. But this can also be propaganda against Duterte.

My advice to the President: Simply ignore criticism. You remain popular anyway. Besides, any true democracy will have assent and dissent. *** Here is my wish list for the Senate, not necessarily in this order: Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis Tolentino, Jinggoy Estrada, Chel Diokno and Erin Tañada.

I included Enrile in my list because he can still lend to the Senate his experience not only as a legislator but as Senate President. Certainly, the institution will benefit from his insight and experience.

I also included Diokno and Tañada because the Senate should provide check and balance to the executive.

I did not include Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa even though poll surveys say they are in the winning circle. I do not believe the Senate is a place for lackeys and lapdogs. *** I received a letter from former Vice President Jejomar Binay who is now running to represent the first district of Makati.

“I write to you about Sulong Dignidad, a party-list group whose advocacy I share. I hope that through your column, you could share my thoughts on the work of Congress and how party-list groups like Sulong Dignidad deserve public support.

I have always maintained that members of Congress, particularly the House of Representatives, should be able to articulate the sentiments of the people they represent. Personal and political considerations should take a back seat in the greater interest of our constituencies. Foremost is protecting and upholding their inherent dignity through legislation.

This is why we should be discerning in choosing the party-list we vote for.

In most cases, the voters of party-list groups are an afterthought. Some don’t even bother voting for party-list, which is unfortunate since their work is as

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

I

Carrying on T WAS a heartwarming sight—the video of two recently freed Reuters journalists reuniting with their families in Myanmar.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo spent more than 500 days in prison after being convicted under the Official Secrets Act in September last year. They were freed after a presidential amnesty.

The pair had been working on a story on the 2017 murder of 10 Rohingya men by the army in Inn Din village in northern Rakhine. They were arrested even before their story was published, when they were receiving some documents from policemen they were meeting for the first time, according to the BBC. Later, a witness said the restaurant meeting was set up to entrap the journalists.

The report, published in collaboration with other reporters, later won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for internation-

al reporting. Myanmar authorities launched their own probe and sent seven soldiers to prison for their involvement.

But the release was not a case of the government seeing the light on the issue of press freedom. The men were freed along with thousands of other prisoners as part of mass amnesties granted in Myanmar around this time of the year.

Nonetheless, Wa Lone, upon walking out of jail, said: “I can’t wait to go to my newsroom.”

The mother of Kyaw Soe Oo, meanwhile, said she cannot ask her son to stop working as a journalist because he loves his job. “Whatever happens, I will support him to carry on,” she told BBC Burmese.

As they are committed journalists, the freed men are also young husbands and fathers who must balance concerns of personal safety and practical concerns with their zeal in doing their jobs. This is the case of numerous journalists around the world, especially those reporting on challenging environments where press freedom is not a given or is consistently challenged.

Championing press freedom is a choice one embraces with much difficulty and numerous tradeoffs. What is clear, however, is that the primary master has always been, and must always be, the truth. This is a declaration that is easy to make but extremely difficult to balance with pressing, day-today realities.

We celebrate those who consciously and consistently choose to carry on.

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Ranking Filipino food POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE FILIPINOS crave so much to be noticed by the world that when a non-Filipino criticizes our culture, our politics, or our people, we are usually indignant or angry—especially when it comes to our food.

On May 5, Cornell University professor Tom Pepinsky tweeted a ranking of nine Southeast Asian national cuisines. He ranked Vietnamese first and Philippine last. He added, “list is objectively correct, but ignores regional and ethnic sub-cuisines.”

His opinion was seconded by Kate Walton, who describes herself on her Twitter bio as a “queer feminist activist and writer in Jakarta.” She tweeted, “Filipino food is def [definitely] the worst in the region,” and “I’m not really interested in ranking top to bottom, but like I said, sadly I don’t think Filipino food can compete with other Southeast Asia food. For me it’s too bland.”

Predictably, Pepinsky and Walton received hate from Filipino netizens, but the latter seems to have borne the brunt of it. On May 6, she alluded to “death threats and gender-based slurs for insulting a country’s food. Yep, totally fine and normal. Carry on.”

Why did Filipinos react so badly to the comments of Pepinsky and Walton?

Pepinsky and Walton are wypipo (phonetic spelling of ‘white people’; the term has been adopted by people of color and made the subject of online memes). Because of our colonial background, we often resent negative statements from such people, whether mere observation or outright insults; we are tired of being exoticized, of being made to feel inferior.

In the case of these two, the irony is all the more emphasized because it’s a common opinion among PoC, particularly in the U.S., that wypipo food is bland and poorly seasoned.

Walton and Pepinsky, though they have tasted a variety of Asian cuisines, are not the best judges of PoC food because it is not part of their embedded

or internalized experience. Filipinos, who grew up savoring the sour notes in adobo and sinigang and the spicy mouth explosions of Bicolano food, would contest Walton’s description of our food as “bland.”

Moreover, food preferences are highly subjective because they are a matter of taste, which varies among individuals. For Pepinsky to say that his ranking is “objectively correct” is presumptuous and arrogant, as is Walton’s statement that Filipino food is “def the worst in the region.”

Walton later tweeted, “Dear Filipinos: I apologise for offending you. My comment was about food preferences and poorly-phrased. What I meant was that Filipino food is my least favourite in the region. I apologise for my bad wording.”

True decolonization is appreciation of our own without being unduly sensitive about others’ opinions.

If anything, this is proof that the Fili Filipino ‘shame brigade’ has international reach.

The best response to Pepinsky and Walton would have been no response at all. They were sharing their personal opinions; and if these skated close to insult, all the more they should be ignored rather than be given space.

Filipinos, however, still crave recognition from outsiders, and again this stems from our colonial mentality. After being put down for so long as ‘indio’ and ‘little brown brothers,’ we desire praise for our achievements, like kindergartners wanting a gold star from teacher.

But this smacks of insecurity. If we were not, we wouldn’t care less what others think of us, especially when it comes to highly subjective topics like food.

We can call Walton and Pepinsky Turn to A5

Bato’s rock stand WHILE candidates of the Otso Diretso were anticipating an ambush as Hugpong ng Pagbabago contender Bato dela Rosa was all by his lonesome in the recently held CNN Philippines senatorial forum, they were in for a shock as Bato withstood all of their attacks, political, personal and everything in between.

Long mocked for his entry in the senatorial derby by his opponents who claim his inclusion in the administration slate was out of his mere loyalty to President Rodrigo Duterte, Bato showed them why he and not they, belongs in the upper august chamber.

The emotional, candid and outright

How did the former police chief do in the recent senatorial debate?

Bato not only parried every blow thrown at him. He even managed to turn the tables on his opponents especially when they thought they had him cornered on the issue of the President’s war on drugs and the resulting deaths that had come its way.

Bato staunchly defended the administration’s bloody drug war, as well as the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

He even insisted on capital punishment for corrupt government officials, vowing to work for the reinstatement of the death penalty by executing convicted drug

lords through a firing squad in Luneta if he gets elected.

Following the CNN senatorial debate, many voters, who before the event were still undecided on whom to go for come May 13, may have been won to his side.

They saw the determination and humility of the former PNP and Bureau of Correc Corrections chief.

Even former PNP chief, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, for his part, has noth nothing but praises for Bato dela Rosa. In his Twitter post, Lacson said after watching the televised CNN senatorial debate, he believe that Dela Rosa had “singlehandedly” annihilated opposition candidates from Otso Diretso despite being ganged up on over several matters during the discussions.

Lacson said Bato remains one of the top contenders in the coming May polls.

Bato managed to remain cool at the Turn to A5

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

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Opinion Our national anthem TO MANY of us, singing the National Anthem is just one of those chores that we have to perform on certain occasions. School children and government employees sing it every Monday during flag ceremony. Even those of us who like going to late movies have to stand up and sing it before the evening’s last full show.

An anthem usually tells about a country, its people, and describes the character of a nation. It also tells what a people is willing to do for their country. As an example, there is Germany’s Deutschland Uber Alles or Germany Above All. The United States’ National anthem tells us about the land of the free and home of the brave. The United Kingdom of course has its God Save the Queen or King as the case may be, which tells us about the importance of the institution of the monarchy in that country. France’s Marseillaise, borne out of the French revolution, is reputed to be the most famous national anthem in the world. During the Second World War, it was one of the symbols of French resistance as depicted in countless motion pictures.

There are also national anthems without any lyrics like the Spanish anthem and a few other countries. There are also the so-called unofficial national anthems like in Australia. The official anthem is Advance Australia Fair and the unofficial one is the popular Waltzing Matilda.

To a certain degree, we also have a sort of an unofficial anthem in Bayan Ko which was sung by the opponents of President Marcos during the Martial Law period. Anthematology, which is the study of national anthems, could be an interesting field of study. If one does not know anything about a certain country, the national anthem could be a good

start simply because it can tell us some important points about a country.

Our own national anthem has also an interesting history. Although sung only in Pilipino nowadays, it has three versions. The original was in Spanish, played for the first time on June 12, 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo declared our independence from Spain. During the Commonwealth era, the English version was introduced as the Philippine Hymn in 1934. Then in 1956, Lupang Hinirang was introduced which my generation started singing during our elementary years. It has been said that when Aguinaldo was looking for an appropriate piece, to be played on June 12, 1898, he wanted it to evoke the spirit of patriotism that everyone could feel when the music is played. There

It describes the character of a nation. were a number of compositions presented to him until he settled for Julian Felipe’s adaptation of the Spanish poem Filipinas written by Jose Palma. By all accounts, the piece achieved what General Aguinaldo wanted when played for the first time. We can therefore say in all fairness that General Aguinaldo owns our national anthem.

I listened to the three versions recently and noticed subtle differences.

The English versions has a faster tempo than the Spanish and Pilipino versions.

It was basically played as a marching music. The Spanish version has the slowest tempo with the Pilipino being in the middle. If I have to choose which is better suited for us, I would prefer the Pilipino version.

I remember during the term of Former President Fidel V. Ramos when there was a minor controversy on the proper way of singing our national anthem. This came about because of the

way some artists sing the anthem during public gatherings. There were different versions because every artist seems to want to be different. There was a clamor that the anthem should be sung only in one way. The result was an order from the Palace that the anthem should be played as a marching music reminiscent of the English version during the Commonwealth era. This, however, has not stopped people from singing the anthem the way they want it.

The lyrics of the Pilipino version is to me also more appropriate than the two earlier ones. It tells us of our beautiful land and our willingness to die if need be and to defend it from those who might want to trample on or covet our country. Furthermore, it also tells us of our history of continuous struggle for freedom and our fighting various invaders like the Spaniards, the Americans and then the Japanese.

This is why it is painful to see our national leaders being unable to forge a common stand on how to deal with our West Philippine Sea territorial claims.

The issue is important to all of us Filipinos, yet we do not have a united stand.

Right now, our approach is so divided with the current administration blaming the former administration for losing the Scarborough Shoal to the Chinese and some officials of the former administration countering by saying that it is worse now because the Chinese are already here in the country.

If only our current administration can lead by calling for a National Security Council meeting to develop a united stand and avoid being blamed in the future, it will be easier for the people to accept even if the decision is to ditch our current alliances and move closer to China the way the current administration seems to want. But if our current leaders cannot find a united approach, maybe they should go back to our national anthem to find a common ground. Our national anthem must mean something to all of us. If not, maybe it is about time to change our national anthem especially the last two sentences.

EvEryman

Amid impending famine, Pyongyang’s missile launches remind of regime’s true nature, reveal Kim’s frustration

By Ted Gover, Ph.D. PYONGYANG’S May 4 test firing of short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan—the regime’s first missile launch since the Singapore and Hanoi summits—is a clear sign of Kim Jong Un’s disappointment with President Trump’s retention of punishing economic sanctions against North Korea as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign.

The test firings are part and parcel of Kim’s efforts to pressure Trump during denuclearization negotiations following February’s Hanoi summit. It also signals Kim’s increasing desperation, particularly after his much-hyped April 25 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin does not appear likely to yield concrete results towards sanctions relief, as billed.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has yet to visit Kim in North Korea despite pledging in October of last year to do so. A date for the trip has yet to be announced.

The May 4 launch drills also reveal the Kim dynasty’s disregard for the well-being of its people. They occurred a day after the United Nations published a report stating that 40 percent of North Korea’s population (approximately 10.1 million people) face prospects of malnutrition as it encounters a food crisis.

Tragically, this is the latest in a long tradition of the regime prioritizing scarce resources for its military and elites over the feeding of its citizens, all while Kim’s own weight has ballooned to an estimated 287 pounds.

Yet, North Korea has not been above using starvation as a negotiating tactic.

In the past, Pyongyang has appealed to humanitarian concerns as a way to dilute US sanctions. It is likely that Kim will

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vital as the work of elected representatives. They can sway the numbers in key legislation, as has been the case in many bills. In most instances, some party-list groups were perceived as having voted against the interests of the sector or advocacies they represent.

The Commission on Elections places the number of party-list groups in this year’s elections at 181, a significant increase from previous elections. According to reports, there are party-lists backed by political families.

take up this argument again and assert that Washington’s tough stance is contributing to the North’s food insecurity.

Kim is clearly frustrated. Although analysts estimate that the projectiles fired on May 4 were not of the designation of weapons that North Korea pledged to the US to cease testing, the launches indicate Kim’s resentment of Trump’s refusal to grant his regime concessions and that a missile testing regimen will therefore be restarted.

Along these lines, Kim took pains to vent his displeasure during his April 11 speech to his rubber-stamp legislature, the Supreme People’s Assembly, stating that he is only interested in meeting Trump for a third summit if Washington approaches talks with the “right attitude.”

He also announced that he would wait until the end of 2019 for Washington to be more flexible and proclaimed that “it is essential for the US to quit its current calculation method and approach us with a new one.”

Moreover, the missile tests of this past weekend show Pyongyang’s intention of reminding Washington that its weapons program still poses a threat to the US as the 2020 presidential campaign gets underway.

Amid these various signals coming from the North, it can be argued that Trump has not taken Kim’s bait. The President’s response avoided the lifting of sanctions and refrained from personal affronts and threats of war, opting to charm Kim personally, tweeting “He knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me.”

Trump has also dangled prospects for future economic benefits, writing that Kim will not jeopardize “the great economic potential of North Korea.”

This personalized outreach towards

Kim has contrasted with the firmer lines that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton are known to prefer for policy towards Pyongyang. Together, both approaches serve as a good cop, bad cop engagement of Kim. The issue remains that Pyongyang wants desperately for sanctions to be eased. The projectile launches of May 4 is a strategic attempt by Kim to procure US aid prior to his regime taking concrete and verifiable denuclearization measures.

Yet, Trump appears to have no interest in complying with Kim’s wishes until there is progress towards denuclearization. Therein the impasse.

Going forward, Trump has stated an openness to another summit, and U.S. Special Representative For North Korea Stephen Biegun will head to Tokyo and Seoul this week for talks. The Trump administration must be cognizant of the risks and costs to drawn out diplomacy with the North. Over multiple administrations, Pyongyang has mastered the art of watering down demands as discussions drag on over the course of weeks, months and even years.

For the time being, Washington can take away from this weekend’s missile tests that Kim is worried and that his anxiety may lead to further impetuous behavior, if history is any indication. We are also reminded of the regime’s brutal nature and lack of hesitation in steering available provisions to its military complex as its citizens starve.

Sulong Dignidad, on the other hand, is a party-list group whose advocacy is the promotion and protection of dignity through programs that address key concerns such as jobs, education, health and housing. They stand squarely for the promotion of human rights.

Our bishops have decried assaults on the independence of institutions and human dignity. As Christians, we need to bring to Congress a party-list group dedicated to protecting our rights and redeeming the people’s dignity. This group should actively promote the rule of law and the empowerment of citizens.

Sulong Dignidad is that party-list.”

As for Jojo Binay himself, he’s

bound to win, hands down. *** After Tuesday next week. There will be two kinds of candidates: Those who won, and those who claim they were cheated. This always happens.

There are two reasons why losers seldom admit defeat. First, they are too proud to admit reality. Second, admitting defeat would betray their followers—and donors.

The real winners are the also-rans, who filed candidacies knowing they wouldn’t win. They get to keep the money they solicited from the people.

Ted Gover, Ph.D., writes on US-Asian relations and foreign policy, and he is the director of the Tribal Administration Program at Claremont Graduate University.

www.emiljurado.weebly.com

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senate race: Youth vote will be the game changer approximately 2.2 million men and women whose names are appearing in the voter rolls for the first time. These Filipinos have just emerged from many years of being told that Philippine politics is full of imperfections, THERE are several ways of dividing that the vote is a very powerful tool the almost 62 million Filipinos who of society, and that there are no bad are registered to vote in next week’s officials where there are good voters election. One is division according to and that a vote cast for meritorious whether the voters are urban residents candidates can go a long way toward or rural residents. Another way is to di- cleansing society and strengthening vide the prospective voters according democracy. It would be the height to their educational attainment—that is, of cynicism to believe that years of according to whether or not they have instruction in the principles of govreceived secondary or tertiary educa- ernance have had no impact whatsotion. A third way of disaggregating the ever on the psyches and sentiments electorate is to divide the prospective of the young men and women who voters accordwill cast baling to age. lots on May 13.

For purAnd it would poses of the be the supreme They are election the manifestation r e g i s t e r e d - comparatively innocent. of a spirit of voter populahopelessness to tion may be suggest that the divided into young voters three groups. will go from The first group consists of Filipinos their classrooms straight to the cencen 60 years old and above, i.e., the se se- ters of corrupt political activity. niors. At the other end of the age The other reason why it is the youth spectrum are the millennials and oth- vote that the nation—especially the er voters 18 years old and above— opposition—must look to for gamethat is to say, the youth. In-between changing is that the members of the these two groups is the large body of two other age groups have seen it all middle-age Filipinos who are eligible and have become used to this country’s to vote. The youth vote is estimated to political evils and malpractices and comprise one-third of the entire vot- therefore cannot be expected to lead ing population; good estimates of the the charge against the worst elements middle-age voters and the seniors as of Philippine political life. They have percentages of the total voting popu- mostly become inclined to maintain a lation would be 40 percent and 30 business-as-usual attitude to the compercent, respectively. ing political exercise.

Of these three age-oriented groups, It is therefore to the millennials the one that is likely to be the game- and the rest of the youth group that changer is the group of young voters. the nation must look for game-changIt is this group that is most likely to ing of the kind that will place the Otso tilt the balance against the party in Diretso aspirants—Tañada, Diokno, power and in favor of the forces that Hilbay, Alejano, Macalintal, Aquino, are challenging the administration. Gutoc and Roxas—within the 12-perThese forces are led by Otso Diretso. son senatorial winning circle.

There are two basic reasons for this.

Here lies a clear challenge to the The first—and the more power- youthful voters of this country. Will ful—reason is the comparative in- they rise to the challenge on May 13? nocence of the young, especially the One must hope so.

Bato’s...

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height of the heated arguments with the six opposition candidates who belong to Otso Diretso concerning relevant issues in the country.

For her part, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte lauded Bato for outshining opposition rivals during the debate.

While this may sound exaggerated, the presidential daughter said Bato’s performance during the senatorial debate proved that he can be presidential material in the future. He did well in raising points on social issues.

That may or may not happen as there are still those who see him as nothing more than a police officer who has no business in the legislative branch. But not for those he had converted as disciples after the two-hour debate, as they believe Bato could pull some surprises once he gets to sit in the Senate plenary. *** One big push.

With barely a week to go before the elections, who else would best qualify as the best campaigner in vote-rich Leyte other than its most famous daughter, the former First Lady Imelda RomualdezMarcos.

Last week, the former First Lady, now a congresswoman in her late husband’s home province in Ilocos Norte, returned to Tacloban City to push for the candidacy of her daughter, nephews and Tingog party-list.

She was home again, as she declared upon setting foot in her hometown in Tolosa, to campaign for her daughter Imee, nephews Tacloban mayoral candidate Alfred Romualdez, Leyte First District congressional candidate Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Tingog party-list with incumbent Leyte First District Representative Yedda Romualdez as first nominee.

Pushing strongly for Tingog, the lawmaker said she believed that the legislative agenda of Tingog is a boost to the

Ranking...

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regional development in the country.

If elected to the 18th Congress, Tingog intends to file and advocate the following proposed legislation, based on a four-point agenda: 1. Higher family incomes through the creation of more industries which would bring more jobs, particularly the creation and expansion of the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone (LEIZ), in order to ramp rural industrialization and expand the manufacturing sector in the region; sustainable support for small business; increased farm and agribusiness output; 2. Increased social services like the free Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by institutionalizing the implementation of the Alternative Learning System in the basic education and establish at least one ALS learning center in every municipality; 3. Innovative and proactive governance through an enhanced local government autonomy, empowering barangay workers by ensuring a more adequate and stable compensation and benefit structure, including civil service eligibility for long-serving barangay secretaries, treasurers, tanods, and health workers; effective regional governance through the creation of the Eastern Visayas Development Authority (EVDA); and, 4. Sustained economic growth through bigger share in the national budget which can be done by increasing the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of local government units (LGUs) from 40 percent to 50 percent and establish a Local Government Enhancement Fund as separate 10 percent funding for provincial, city and municipal governments in addition to the 50 percent IRA to be used to improve their service delivery performance; better roads and infrastructure like intensifying investments and accelerate the development of infrastructure programs and projects that will facilitate access to agricultural farms and tourism destinations in the region, strengthen disaster resilience capacities and improve social service delivery in fourth to sixth class municipalities.

special ways, just as we can admit that not all Filipino foods are palatable to everyone (Ampalaya? Papaitan? Dishes swimming in rendered pork fat?).

True decolonization is appreciation of our own without being unduly sensitive about others’ opinions.

ethnocentric, and they are. The flipside is that we are, too—it’s inevitable for the majority, given that our sense of identity and frames of reference are grounded in lived experiences.

We can acknowledge Vietnamese, Dr Ortuoste is a Palanca AwardThai, and the other cuisines ranked by winning essayist. FB and Twitter: @ Pepinsky as being delicious in their own DrJennyO

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News

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Customs seizes live python hidden inside speaker

By Vito Barcelo

ON THE ROAD AGAIN. Hundreds of passengers once again raise Wednesday a standing crowd sight at the Araneta Bus Station in Quezon City, as commuters wait for their bus rides in going to their respective provinces to be able to vote on Monday for the midtterm polls. Manny Palmero

Taxi driver arrested by airport men

By Joel E. Zurbano NINOY Aquino International Airport authorities on Wednesday arrested a taxi driver who allegedly conned an Austrian couple engaged in travel video blogging.

The misdeed of Jhumil Bule also resulted in the decision of the Manila International Airport Authority to blacklist or ban all Davis Taxi / Cashman Transport units from lining up and picking up passengers at the airport.

MIAA intelligence and Investigation Division personnel led by Eric Mejia arrested Bule in Taytay, Rizal.

The airport authorities coordinated closely with the local police force in Taytay to locate the suspect.

In their video blog shared on May 5, the couple Mike and Nelly claimed they arrived at the NAIA from Tokyo when they decided to hail the Davis Taxi on their way to Legaspi Village in Makati City.

“Just after leaving, the taxi driver aggressively tried to make us pay a flat rate versus the metered rate shown in the taxi and also wanted to charge us an extra fee for the luggage,” part of their caption in the video reads.

“When he realized we were filming everything for our own protection, he got very aggressive and attacked me, trying to retrieve my phone,” Mike said.

They also claimed that the taxi driver pulled over in “the middle of the Skyway” and told the couple to get off his vehicle.

The suspect is now detained at the MIAA - IID detention cell and will be criminally charged with the Pasay City prosecutors office.

MIAA records showed that another video blogger identified as one Mikey Chen was among the passenger-victims of questionable fare rates of taxi units at the airport.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CATHAY LAND, INC. with office address at South Boulevard, South Forbes Golf City, Brgy. Inchican, Silang, Cavite, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Fullerton Suites 1) with a capacity of 227 residential units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site located at Brgy. Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY.9, 2019)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CATHAY LAND, INC. . with office address at South Boulevard, South Forbes Golf City, Brgy. Inchican, Silang, Cavite, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Stanford Suites 3) with a capacity of 249 residential units on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Brgy. Ichican, Silang, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY. 9, 2019)

Where’s the P450-m Pag-asa seaport project? Atienza asks W HAT happened to the Philippine government’s plan to build a P450million seaport on Pag-asa Island?

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, the House senior deputy minority leader, raised this question Wednesday amid the growing presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels around Pag-asa, which has been occupied by the Philippines since 1970.

Atienza said in the 2017 General Appropriations Act, Congress gave P450 million in capital outlay to the Department of Transportation for the Barangay Pag-asa Port Project.

“We hope the DOTr is still pushing through with the project, which has become absolutely imperative for us to encourage more Filipinos to live on the remote island,” Atienza said.

“Now would be an excellent time for the DOTr to carry out the project, considering that the military is set to complete the construction of a beaching ramp on the island,” Atienza said.

The beaching ramp being built by the Department of National Defense is meant to expedite the delivery of construction equipment and materials after President Rodrigo Duterte in April 2017 ordered the reinforcement of Pag-asa.

The DND is initially focusing its efforts on paving the is-

Gatchalian: Gov’t must act swiftly

By Macon Ramos-Araneta CITING the needs to protect the interest of Filipinos, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said the government must act swiftly to stop the operations of foreign-owned businesses found to be violating laws that prioritize Filipinos in businesses.

“We need to protect the interests of both Filipino consumers and Filipino business owners,” stressed Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs.

If it can be proven that establishments owned by foreigners are violating our laws, he said concerned government agencies should immediately act.

The senator cited laws that safeguard against encroachment of foreigners on the market space, including Republic Act 7042 or the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 and RA 8762 or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000.

He said RA 7042 required small and medium-sized domestic market enterprises—including restaurants— with a paid-in equity capital less than $200,000 are reserved to Philippine nationals.

On the other hand, he said RA 8762 provided that retail businesses like convenience or variety stores with paid-up capital of less than $2,500,000 should be reserved exclusively for Filipino citizens and corporations wholly owned by Filipinos.

“I have always maintained that what should be exclusively for the Filipino should be for the Filipino,” he said.

Gatchalian issued the statement folowing reports on social media posts about a restaurant in Alabang, Muntinlupa City that bars Filipinos from its premises as it only caters to Chinese workers.

land’s crumbling 1.3-kilometer airstrip.

Located 518 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Pag-asa is a low-lying land mass surrounded by shallow coral ranges.

Pag-asa belongs to the Kalayaan Island Group at the western section of the Spratly archipelago.

The entire Spratly archipelago is being claimed by China.

However, a tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in July 2016 that Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea could not be overlapped by any possible entitlement of China.

President Ferdinand Marcos established by presidential decree in 1978 the Municipality of Kalayaan over the Kalayaan Island Group under the Province of Palawan.

Pag-asa is the lone barangay of Kalayaan, the country’s smallest municipality.

At present, Pag-asa has less than 400 residents, mostly fishermen and their families. It also has a one-classroom primary school and a five-bed clinic.

The island is now being guarded by a military detachment led by an officer with the rank of lieutenant.

The Philippine Navy also has the Naval Station Emilio Liwanag on the island.

The government used to run Pag-asa purely as a military installation until civilians were allowed to settle in.

THE Bureau of Customs confiscated a 20-inch long reticulated live python snake concealed inside a bluetooth speaker which was supposed to be brought to Malaysia.

BOC officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport said the Python snake could grow to as long as 32 feet and swallow a human being or a large animal.

The reticulated python snake was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for proper handling and care.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero reminded the public that import, export, and trade of wildlife animals without a necessary permit is a violation of Republic Act 9147 or Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act in relation to R.A. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).

Violators may face imprisonment of one year and one day to two years and a fine of P2,000 to P200,000.

BOC-NAIA has been active in protecting the borders against illegal wildlife trade and stopping the entry and exit of contrabands.

CamSur Rep. tells telcos: Improve

By Maricel V. Cruz

A CONGRESSMAN from the Bicol Region on Wednesday said telecommunications companies must improve their services to encourage employers into trying work-at-home arrangement for their workers whose personal presence in the work place was not critical to their business.

Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said 87 percent of Philippine-based companies polled by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines were open to telecommunication if there would be favorable factors such as better Internet connections.

Telecommuting, Villafuerte said, would drastically cut the expenses of workers as well as contribute to vehicular traffic decongestion in metropolitan areas.

“Disruptive technologies are already around and corporations need to be open to technological advancements for them to survive and gain competitive advantage,” Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House committee on local government, said.

“Telcos could help sharpen these firms’ competitiveness doing a much CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW by BLACK better job of improving their Internet services ASAP.” A co-author of the newly enacted Telecommuting Act, Villafuerte said that Internet speed was crucial to the timely accomplishments by workers of their assigned jobs.

Telecommuting will also help companies address workspace, location and CAMPAIGN CULTURE. Fed up with the dominance of popularity-based, song-andtransport or traffic congestion issues, dance election campaign culture peddled by politicians seeking power over public service, Villafuerte added. many civil society organizations have been making efforts to prioritize the surfacing of issues most pressing to citizens for this year’s election campaign period. The goal is to put the A survey conducted by the Employspotlight on citizens and their needs, rather than on personality politics. Ey Acasio ers Confederation of the Philippines to determine the prevalence of telecommuting practices following the enactment into law of Republic Act 11165, or tbe Telecommuting Act, shows that only 28 percent of Philippine-based compaWITH nearly 4.5-million netizens kilalanin, matatawa po siguro kayo nies are implementing telecommuting reached on Facebook just five days after dahil ibang-iba ang kampanya natin or work at home arrangement, although posting, broadcast journalist and sena- kumpara sa ibang kandidato,” he said a large majority of 87 percent are open torial candidate Jiggy Manicad’s “low- in Filipino in the Facebook post. to the idea of doing so. budget campaign” photos as he tours the Manicad said that, bereft of an army Earlier, Villafuerte called on the DePhilippines in the lead-up to the national of hundreds of coordinators and staff on partment of Labor and Employment to elections have gone viral on social media. ground, he and two associates have been sit down right away with the National In the post which has been shared doing their own postering for the campaign.

Industrial Peace Council and other con26,000 times and liked 70,000 times as The simplicity of his campaign, Manicad cerned stakeholders to formulate the imof Wednesday, Manicad featured photos explained in a press statement, stemmed plementing rules of the new law signed of his lone sports utility vehicle as it plied from his desire not to muddle his objectives

by President Rodrigo Duterte that has different provinces in the country as part with favors owed to other politicians and institutionalized work-at-home arrangeof his campaign. businessmen who may contribute millions ments and, in the long run, would help The award-winning journalist, of pesos into his campaign. ease the worsening traffic congestion in who for 23 years covered various In an interview, Manicad remarked Metro Manila and other urban centers. assignments in nearly every part that he was glad for the “virality” of the Telecommuting allows employees of the Philippines, admitted this was photos. in the private sector to work at home markedly different from the campaigns Apart from boosting his Senate run or any other alternative work enviof most other candidates. less than a week before elections, the ronment with the use of telecommu“Kung alam niyo lang po ang pin- viral photos also show that one need not nications or computer technologies or agdadaanan ko araw-araw upang come from a prominent family or have both, instead of having to go to their maabot ang mga botanteng nais kong millions in funds to put up a good fight. offices on a daily basis.

Manicad’s photos go viral on social media

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PPS net tilt in Oroquieta lures more than 200 bets

Koepka warms up for PGA title defense LOS ANGELES—One week out from his PGA Championship title defense at Bethpage Black, Brooks Koepka is tuning up his game at the US PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson in Dallas, Texas.

Koepka is making his fifth career start in the tournament, but his first since it moved to the course located in the southern outskirts of Dallas last year.

He said he’ll be giving the course his full attention, despite the fact that he’s got a major title defense coming up.

“I’m here to play this golf course,” Koepka said. “You’re not trying to blow this week off just to make sure you got a shot you might hit two, three times for next week. That doesn’t make any sense to me.”

But Koepka admits that Bethpage Black won’t be far from his mind.

He’ll be defending a major title for the second time. His first major defense turned out well—with a second straight US Open title at Shinnecock Hills last year.

“I like building a little bit of rhythm, finding your game, figuring out how to score, to manage your game,” Koepka said of playing the week before a major—when many top players opt to rest and practice.

“We’ve looked at stats and usually my second week out is my best week.”

It’s been only nine months since Koepka hoisted the PGA’s Wanamaker Trophy, after holding off Tiger Woods and Australian Adam Scott to win at Bellerive in St. Louis.

This year the event has moved from August to May, making it the second major of the year after the Masters— where Koepka finished second—just a stroke behind resurgent Tiger Woods.

Shortly before the Masters he went back to former putting coach Jeff Pierce, and he thinks the move is paying off.

“Feel pretty confident,” Koepka said. “Augusta was the first week we started working together. It feels good.

I’m happy.” AFP

Liverpool’s Belgian striker Divock Origi (right) celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the UEFA Champions league semi-final second leg football match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England. AFP

Liverpool stuns Barca, makes Champs’ finale L

IVERPOOL—Liverpool produced one of the most stunning comebacks in Champions League history to beat Barcelona 4-0 and progress to the final for the second consecutive year on Tuesday as stand-in striker Divock Origi and substitute Georginio Wijnaldum both scored twice.

Liverpool went into the match at Anfield trailing 3-0 from the first leg and deprived of injured star attacking duo Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

However, Origi—making a rare start —and substitute Wijnaldum both netted twice as Barca for the second season in succession surrendered a three-goal first-leg lead to exit the Champions League.

“With any other team I wouldn’t think it was possible. They are really mentality giants,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. “It is unbelievable the season we had, the games we had, the injuries we had now.

“Going out there and putting in a performance like this on the pitch is unbelievable. I am really proud to be the manager of this team.

“What they did tonight was really special. I will remember it forever.”

Liverpool will face either Dutch side

Ajax or Premier League rivals Tottenham in the final on June 1 in Madrid and will likely be favourites to be crowned European champions for the sixth time.

The Reds’ stunning victory brought back memories of when they last lifted the trophy in 2005 when they overturned a 3-0 half-time deficit in the final against AC Milan in Istanbul.

However, Klopp underlined the importance of his side writing their own history even if their bid for a first Premier League title for 29 years falls short behind Manchester City this weekend.

“We believed in this chance, we didn’t compare it with Istanbul or whatever,” added Klopp. “We want to create our own history. We need new chapters obviously and the boys did it.”

Despite the despondency of losing Salah and Firmino, Klopp’s men never lost faith and were accompanied by a typically raucous Anfield atmosphere

for a European night.

Origi would almost certainly not have started had Salah and Firmino been fit.

But the 24-year-old Belgian has made a habit of scoring important goals in Liverpool’s title challenge and had his first ever in the Champions League on seven minutes on the rebound after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had denied Jordan Henderson’s initial effort.

“We know this club is the mix of atmosphere, emotion, desire and football quality. You cut off one and it doesn’t work, we know that,” Klopp said.

“This club has a big heart. The heart was pounding like crazy, you could hear it and feel it all over the world. I am so happy we could give the people this experience.”

Barca collapse again Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverdewas left to face up to the second major European embarrassment of his time in charge.

The Spanish champions blew a 4-1 first-leg lead to bow out at the quarterfinals against Roma last year.

“The most hurtful thing is to repeat it,” said Valverde, who may struggle to hold on to his job despite guiding Barca to two La Liga titles. AFP

Pioneer Epoxy opens National Bangkarera Brooks Koepka

Westbrook, George go under knife LOS ANGELES—Oklahoma City Thunder stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George have both undergone successful surgeries to fix injuries ahead of next season, the club announced on Tuesday.

Westbrook went under the knife to repair a ligament in his left hand and had also undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, the club said.

The 2016-2017 NBA MVP is expected to be fit to return to basketball activities in three weeks, the club said.

George meanwhile had elective surgery on his right shoulder to address a tendon tear. He also faces further surgery on his left shoulder to repair a torn labrum, the team said.

No timetable was given for George’s likely return, with the club saying only that an update would be given ahead of the 2019-2020 season.

Westbrook and George were key figures once again for the Thunder this season before the team exited in the opening round of the playoffs.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the third consecutive year (22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists), the first player in NBA history to accomplish the feat.

George meanwhile averaged career highs in points (28), rebounds (8.2), assists (4.1) and steals (2.21). AFP

PIONEER Epoxy, in cooperation with Angat sa Dagat Organization, unveils the Pioneer Epoxy National Bangkarera 2019, which will be held in Naga City, Cebu on May 31 to June 2.

The event will stage four different categories participants can join in: 7-7.5HP Open Category (Gasoline Engine Single Piston), 16-18HP Open Category (Gasoline Engine Single Piston), 13HP-16HP Angat sa Dagat Special Category (Stock Engine Gasoline), and Paddle Boat Open Category (Mixed Doubles).

Last year’s PENB recorded the largest number of participants with 58 teams and 155 boats – a marked increase from the previous year’s turnout.

“This tournament was designed to strengthen the camaraderie among boat racers nationwide, all of whom make a living as fishermen and boat makers,” said Alben B. Manuel, AVP for Philippines and International Market Group of Pioneer Adhesives, Inc..

Register online at www.pioneeradhesives.com/event/bangkarera2019 or visit www.pioneer-adhesives.com

A participant competes in a past staging of the Pioneer Epoxy National

Bangkarera.

for more information. away, start gearing up your engines With over P1 million in cash and and get ready for this year’s biggest product prizes which will be given bangkarera event in the country.

Muay thai fighters, submission artists headline ONE A PAIR of explosive Muay Thai world title fights takes to the grand arena of ONE Championship this Friday when Muay Thai superstars Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Petchdam Petchyindee Academy take on separate foes in ONE Championship’s “Warriors of Light” card that will air LIVE on ABS-CBN S+A, S+A HD, and iWant Sports starting at 9:30 p.m.

The two Thai superstars will be fighting for the ONE Muay Thai Bantamweight World Championship and ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship belts, respectively.

Nong-O will be competing against Japanese warrior Hiroaki Suzuki while Petchdam faces Elias Mahmoudi of Algeria.

The largest fight promotions outfit in Asia also prepared an explosive MMA card for May 17, that will be ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki’s first defense against Singapore’s submission artist, Christian Lee, in “Enter The Dragon,” which will also air LIVE on S+A, S+A HD, and iWant Sports at 8:30 p.m.

Aside from the striking masters, Pinoy MMA fans can also look

forward to the return of Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio to the cage, months after his defeat from Adriano Moraes, in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix against Korean Kim Kyu Sung. Former UFC fighter Sage Northcutt will also make his ONE Championship debut against Brazilian mixed martial artist Cosmo Alexandre.

Fight fans will be able to witness explosive kickboxing and Muay Thai masterclasses from the likes of Italian stallion Giorgio Petrosyan, against Petchmorakot and Dutch striking master Nieky Holzken versus compatriot Regian Eersel, in the successive fightcards.

The names of the fighters lined up may be new to Filipino fight fans’ ears with the exception of Eustaquio and Aoki, who put to sleep Filipino MMA hero Eduard Folayang in Japan, and Lee. But the competing Muay Thai and kickboxing masters have already been introducing themselves via the ONE Super Series that focuses on the art of striking with powerful roundhouse kicks, dangerous elbows, as well as flashy spin attacks.

MORE than 200 entries, led by fancied Sydney Enriquez and Eric Tangub, slug it out in nine age group divisions, each aiming for top honors and ranking points in the PPS-PEPP Oroquieta national age-group tennis tournament which got going yesterday (Wednesdsay) in Misamis Occidental.

But though they have reigned in the 16- and 18-and-under class in past Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala tournaments, Enriquez and Tangub brace for a tougher outing this time with Jalia Elumba, Guia Bandolis, Judy Ann Padilla and Angel Repaja all coming into the Group 2 event in top form and ready to stop the Salug, Zamboanga del Norte ace in the girls’ premier two categories.

So do the likes of Ashton Villanueva, Nash Agustines, Divo Pepito and Nilo Ledama, who are also out to put one over Tangub, from Tucuran, Zambo del Sur, in the boys’ 16- and 18-U play of the event presented by Dunlop and hosted by Gov. Herminia Ramiro.

Four divisions drew 32-player draws each, underscoring the popularity of the sport in this side of the Mindanao swing of the country’s biggest, longrunning talent-search sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. “We thank the host city for helping us put up this huge field where we expect new faces to emerge,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “This should also inspire future hosts to encourage the youth to take part in our continuing effort to help discover future stars.”

Dipolog’s Pete Bandala, meanwhile, tries to re-assert his mastery over the 10-unisex field which includes Cielo Gonzales, Roi Denopol and doubles partner Rose Mesiona with Angel Denopol, Gwen Bandolis, Neach Domiguez and Gonzales leading the cast in the girls’ 12-U play.

Keen competition is also seen in the girls’ 14-U division with Elumba, Padilla, Denopol and Gwen Bandolis tipped to contend for the crown and Agustines, Theo Montano, Andrei Tan and Mikael Jamal fighting it out for the boys’ diadem.

Meanwhlie, listup for the PPS-PEPP Cainta Open, featuring the country’s top players, is ongoing with the event slated May 13-21. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Top pairs start bid for National pro-am crown ONE hundred seven teams tee off in shotgun start in two batches today (Thursday), each seeking to come out strong for the momentum needed in such kind of a duel in the Delimondo National Pro-Am at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas.

Tonton Asistio and Judson Eustaquio are among those kicking off their drive at 6:30 a.m. on No. 9 with the long-time buddies out to reclaim the crown they won in the inaugural staging of the event at Mt. Malarayat in 2017 but lost to absentees Jobim Carlos and DJ Padilla at Splendido last year.

Reigning Phl Open champion Clyde Mondilla and regular partner Jeric Hechanova are also skipping this year’s event due to the former’s bum knee but the rest of the top players on the Philippine Golf Tour are in the fold plus a mix of foreign aces and lady pros out to steal the spotlight from the fancied bets.

A stellar roster of amateurs is also eager to prove their worth in the 54-hole championship held under the alternate shot format with the pro winner to take home P500,000 out of the P2.7 million total pot staked in the event sponsored

by Delimondo. The winning amateur will receive gifts and merchandises.

“It’s good that we have this kind of competition which also showcases the pros’ skills in team play and at the same time help prepare the amateurs gearing up for the pro ranks,” said multi-titled Tony Lascuña.

The former three-time PGT Order of Merit winner is actually in a slump but is confident of contending this week in partnership with Moulay Rhounimi and hopefully snap the spell in the event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Sports

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

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THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

Negros Occidental, Mindoro are Palaro hosts

Enes Kanter of the Portland Trail Blazers takes the ball to the basket against Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap of the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game Five of the Western Conference SemiFinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. AFP

By Peter Atencio THE provinces of Occidental Mindoro and Negros Occidental are getting ready to host the 2020 and 2021 Palarong Pambansa, respectively.

The two provinces won the hosting rights after an intensive deliberation on the proposals of bidding local government units.

The decision was reached by the Palaro board last April 3.

The board, led by DepEd Secretary and Palaro Board Chair Leonor Magtolis Briones, made the decision after the members reviewed the bids and discussed the reports on technical inspection for Occidental Mindoro, Negros Occidental and other local government units.

Officials said that the reports were based on the inspection and validation of the team led by the DepEd Undersecretary andPalarong Pambansa Secretary-General Revsee Escobedo.

Under Palarong Pambansa Resolution No. 2019-002, the board adopted the policies on determining the selection of the venue or the host LGU. The board is now deciding which LGU will play host three years in advance.

The move is being done “in order to give sufficient time for the winning host to prepare for its playing facilities and billeting quarters, and allocate funds in its annual budget appropriation.”

Officials said the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa is determined by bidding and guided by the principle of the “Luzon-Visayas-Luzon-Mindanao” rotation or cycle.

At the earliest time possible, members of the Palaro Board are evaluating the bids based on the sports venues (40%), billeting area (30%), and additional consideration (30%) including peace and order/conducive conduct of the Palaro.

Davao City hosted the recent edition of the Palaro, from April 27 to May 4, with the theme, “Shaping the Future Through Sports.”

Nuggets, Raptors gain NBA series edge

L

OS ANGELES—The Toronto Raptors dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets dominated Portland Tuesday to take commanding leads in their NBA playoff series.

The Raptors overpowered the 76ers 125-89 to take a 3-2 lead in their bestof-seven Eastern Conference secondround series.

With 76ers star center Joel Embiid ailing, Toronto took full advantage on their home floor and can book a place in the Eastern Conference finals with a victory in game six in Philadelphia on Thursday.

The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic’s 25 points and 19 rebounds, defeated the Trail Blazers 124-98 for a 3-2 series lead and will also try to wrap up their Western Conference clash on the road on Thursday.

Six Nuggets players scored in double figures and four scored at least 16 points.

Paul Millsap scored 12 of his 24 in the first quarter as Denver bolted to a 31-25 lead.

Jamal Murray scored 11 of his 18 in the second quarter, helping Denver break open the game with a burst of three straight baskets that pushed the Nuggets’ lead to 61-43 and Denver, who never trailed, were away.

“In this series he’s been phenomenal,” Denver coach Mike Malone said of Murray. “He’s impacted the game in so many ways: scoring, playmaking and rebounding, and I think he’s playing some pretty good defense as well.”

Damian Lillard scored 22 points for the Trail Blazers, who face an elimination game for the first time in this postseason.

Rodney Hood and Zach Collins scored 14 points each off the bench, but CJ McCollum was the only other Portland starter in double figures with 12 points.

Portland missed 12 straight shots in the third, connecting on just seven of 28 from the floor in the period to head into the fourth quarter trailing 93-65.

They couldn’t get the deficit below 20 points in the final frame.

In a hard-fought series between closely matched teams, Malone said, it was a notable achievement.

“For us to come out here tonight and build a 30-point lead and play the defense that we did for three and a half quarters was remarkable,” he said.

Siakam shines In Toronto’s big win, forward Pascal Siakam scored 25 points to lead six Raptors players in double figures.

Star forward Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and was able to rest the majority of the fourth quarter as the Raptors dominated every phase of the contest.

The outcome was enough to make Philadelphia’s center Embiid feel even worse than the upper respiratory infection that appeared to hinder him. AFP

UP booters eye return to finals DEFENDING champion University of the Philippines seeks a return trip to the Finals against De La Salle Thursday in the UAAP Season 81 men’s football Final Four at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kick-off is at 2 p.m.

Ateneo and Far Eastern University, two teams which faced off for the crown two years ago and are determined to reclaim lost glory, clash in the other semifinal at 4 p.m.

The winners of these knockout matches will advance to the one-game final on May 16 at the same Malate venue.

Overcoming first-round struggles where they were at the near bottom of the league table, the Fighting Maroons got into the groove and went undefeated in the second round with six wins and a draw to finish second with 26 points.

The Green Archers, for their part, needed four consecutive wins to end up

Matches today (Rizal Memorial Stadium) 2 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men Semis) 4 p.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (Men Semis)

third with 25 points.

UP and De La Salle, which also met in the Final Four last year, split their head-to-head this season.

The Blue Eagles, who missed the Finals last year, started flat but were able to get their game going behind elimination round top goalscorer Jarvey Gayoso to become the No. 1 side with 26 points, dislodging the Maroons on top by virtue of superior goal difference.

The Tamaraws rebounded from last season’s seventh-place performance by making it to the top four with 24 points.

FEU, though, will carry a twomatch losing streak heading into the semifinals.

PENONG’S Barbecue Seafood & Grill promotes a healthy lifestyle by holding the Penong’s 5150 Triathlon Davao on July 7 at the Waterfront Hotel.

On the same day, the Go For Gold Sunrise Sprint will also be held.

Penong’s Barbecue Seafood & Grill makes its debut on a national stage by teaming up with Sunrise Events.

“We want to introduce Penong’s not just in the food industry but also in sports. I have four kids and two are seriously into triathlon. We want to market Penong’s through triathlon,” said Penong’s co-owner Ma. Teresa Regis on Wednesday at the launch of the event at the Blue Room of Tower 1 of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Makati. “This is an opportunity to show everyone, especially my children, that this event is not just focusing on selling barbecues but also promoting a healthy lifestyle.

This is doing something for the good of everybody.”

Co-owner Vanessa Mae Uy Santos said they want to help the public become more aware of the importance of health and wellness while expanding their business.

“Being part of Penong’s ever growing family I personally

By Jeric Lopez BOBBY Ray Parks is finally set to make his much-awaited debut in the Philippine Basketball Association.

The highly-touted Parks is finally suiting up for Blackwater when it takes on Meralco in the opening game of the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup on May 19.

Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City hosts the opening day of the second conference from 4:30 p.m. onwards.

The No. 2 overall pick has been already practicing with the Elite the past few weeks and has shown flashes of brilliance already.

In the second game of the opening playdate, Alaska battles Columbian in the nightcap at 6:45 p.m.

Before taking his acts to Blackwater, Parks had won three straight local Most Valuable Player awards in the ASEAN Basketball League, while playing for Alab Pilipinas for three seasons there.

Blu Girls place 4th, but earn WBSC berth NEW PSL TEAM. Philippine Superliga chairman Philip Ella Juico welcomes

Marinerang Pilipina team owner Caesar Zurbito to the PSL family during their signing of the memorandum of agreement at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.

Also shown are team captain Ivy Remulla and team manager Jed Montero.

Penong’s joins triathlon rush, holds 5150 race

By Reuel Vidal

Parks makes debut in Commish Cup opener

as well as those who are athletes at heart,” she said.

Other Sunrise Events-organized and produced events this year are the Century IRONMAN 70.3 Subic on June 2, the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines on Aug. 11, the Black Arrow Express 5150 Subic on Oct. 27 and the Sun Life Cycle PH in November.

Sunrise Events also welcomed Big Boss Cement as Presenting Sponsor of the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay. Big Boss Cement VP Ishmael Ordoñez, who is himself a triathlete, said Big Boss Cement represents innovation and environment conservation by producing super strong premier cement that is eco-friendly.

Gracing yesterday’s launch of the first Penong’s “IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay will be a test of human 5150 Triathlon in Ayala Triangle in Makati are (from endurance to be enjoyed in the surrounding nature which left) Penong’s marketing officer Troy Requizo, race Big Boss Cement aspires to preserve through its proddirector Neville Manaois, liaison officer JJ Sarona, ucts. It makes sense to partner Big Boss Cement with Penong’s founder Theresa Regis, Princess Galura, IRONMAN as both brands attest to the human will to general manager of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc., endure and persevere,” said Ordoñez.

Penong’s CEO Vanessa Uy Santos, accounting manager Sunrise Events likewise welcomed Philam Vitality—a Elizabeth Garcia and vice president of operations unique science-obacked wellness program that rewards Henry Mahilom. every individual who take steps towards healthy lifestyle advocate a healthy and active lifestyle. I see this partnership —as Presenting Sponsor of Regent Aguila IRONMAN as an opportunity to show my support to my fellow athletes 70.3 Philippines.

THE Philippine Blu Girls faltered against Chinese Taipei, 10-0, and settled for fourth place on Wednesday in the 2019 Asia Cup Women’s Softball Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Philippines, however, accomplished its goal of gaining a spot to the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania 2019 Qualifying Event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be held in Shanghai, China from Sept. 24 to 29.

Despite failing to book a return trip to the championship round, Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier is proud of what the team has accomplished in the Asia Cup. “I am still happy with the result of our performance as we reached the primary objective of qualifying in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Asia/Oceania later this year, and we still have some time to work on our improvement areas to do better in that event,” said Lhuillier.

The Filipina sofballers are currently ranked 13th in the world and the Chinese Taipei team, which claimed the bronze medal here, is ranked 6th.

World No. 2 Japan, meanwhile, outplayed No. 8 China, 9-2, to capture its fifth straight Asian championship and seventh overall title.

IN BRIEF

Business

ICTSI gets PPA nod to raise harbor stake

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. secured an approval from state-run Philippine Ports Authority to acquire a 15.7-percent stake in Manila North Harbor Philippines Inc. ICTSI, led by businessman Enrique Razon, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the PPA board approved the transfer of 15.7 percent of Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. to ICTSI. ICTSI’s shareholdings in MNHPI as a result of the transaction increased from 34.83 percent to 50 percent.

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp owns a 43.44-percent stake in MNHPI. MNHPI won the 25-year contract to manage, develop and operate the 52-hectare seaport terminal.

The company earlier committed to invest P14.5 billion to develop the port facility.

The company also plans to build a container yard. Darwin G. Amojelar

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

San Miguel Food’s profit reaches P7.4b

SAN Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. said net income in the first quarter of the year rose one percent to P7.4 billion as the strong performance of beer unit was offset by weak results from the food manufacturing business.

SMFB said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues in the first quarter of the year increased 14 percent to P75.7 billion from a year ago.

Revenues rose on the back of strong volume demand across its businesses— beer growing by 18 percent, liquor and spirits by 24 percent and foods by four percent.

While top-line growth remains robust, SMFB said the chicken oversupply and higher raw material costs for some of the products in the food segment led to a decline in our margins.

“We are encouraged by the strong sales volume growth delivered by our businesses in the first quarter,” said SMFB president and chief executive Ramon Ang. Jenniffer B. Austria

First Gen set to award LNG terminal contract

FIRST Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group is weighing the award of the engineering, procurement and construction contract between foreign contractors—Fluor and JGC Corp.--for the $1-billion liquefied natural gas terminal in Batangas with a capacity of five million metric tons.

“We are currently finalizing our EPC tender process. We hope that we will finish that within the next couple of months and after that, we need to make a decision whether continue with more early start works but hopefully leading to an investment decision either late this year or early this year,” First Gen executive vice president and chief operating officer Jon Russel told reporters after the annual stockholders’ meeting. Alena Mae S. Flores

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

B1

Trade deficit hit $9.8b in Q1 as exports fell 3.1%

By Julito G. Rada

Ayala unit investing P2b for cancer center

AYALA Healthcare Holdings Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., is spending P2 billion to build the country’s first dedicated cancer specialty hospital.

AC Health said in a statement the standalone cancer hospital was envisioned to be a fully integrated, 100-bed facility in Metro Manila.

Ayala president and chief executive and AC Health chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala said the hospital aimed to address the prevailing gaps in screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the Philippines.

“Cancer is now the third leading cause of death in the Philippines, and unfortunately, we struggle with poor outcomes. A key pillar of our advocacy is screening and early detection so that we can diagnose patients earlier, and provide them with more affordable high-quality cancer care,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

FIRST GEN RE-ELECTS BOARD. First Gen Corp. chairman and chief executive Federico Lopez (fifth from left) joins other members of the company’s board after stockholders re-elected them during the annual stockholders’ meeting on May 8. With Lopez are (from left) Francis Giles Puno, concurrent president and chief operating officer; Jaime Ayala; Alicia Rita Morales, Eugenio Lopez III, Peter Garrucho Jr., Cielito Habito and Richard Tantoco. Also re-elected was Oscar Lopez (not in photo), the patriarch of the Lopez Group of Companies.

Agriculture growth slowed to 0.67% in the first quarter THE agriculture sector grew 0.67 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, as the strong poultry production offset a decline in rice and corn harvests, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Wednesday.

duction fell 6.4 percent to P235.4 billion.

Livestock production grew 1.25 percent in January to March and contributed 17.11 percent to the total agricultural production. Higher outputs were recorded for cattle, hog and dairy. The gross value of livestock production reached P75.4 billion at current prices or 0.25 percent lower from last year’s level.

Poultry output rebounded 5.41 percent in the first quarter and contributed 16.74 percent to the total agricultural production.

All poultry commodities exhibited production gains. At current prices, the gross value of poultry production amounted to P55.4 billion, down 3.66 percent from a year earlier.

Othel V. Campos

THE trade deficit widened to a record $9.8 billion in the first quarter from $8.1 billion a year ago as exports fell 3.1 percent while imports rose 4.7 percent, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

Exports fell to $16.38 billion in the first three months from $16.91 billion in the same period last year while imports increased to $26.18 billion from $25 billion.

Data showed exports in March dropped 2.5 percent to $5.88 billion while imports gained 7.8 percent to $9 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $3.14 billion during the month.

The PSA said it marked the fourth month of decline in export receipts, dragged down by a dip in sales of electronics (-3.7 percent) and petroleum products (-66.9 percent).

The higher imports were led by cereals and cereal preparations which climbed 97.9 percent; miscellaneous manufactured articles (43.5 percent); telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (37.2 percent); other food and live animals (33.5 percent); plastics in primary and nonprimary forms (14.2 percent); industrial machinery and equipment (11.1 percent); and electronic products (6.5 percent).

The National Economic and Development Authority urged local producers to continue to diversify products and earnestly look for new markets, especially abroad, to ratchet up Philippine exports.

Data showed the first-quarter agriculture growth was slower than 1.7 percent registered in the fourth quarter of 2018 and 1.1 percent a year ago. The sector accounted for just 6.8 percent of the gross domestic product in 2018.

“Production increases were noted for livestock, poultry and fisheries during the period. On the other hand, crops recorded a decrease in output,” the PSA said Manila in a statement.

Standard It said at current prices, the gross value of agriTODAY cultural production dropped 3.12 percent to P429.7 billion because of lower farm gate prices this year.

HEAD OFFICE: PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City Customer Care: (02) 777-2266 or 1-800-10-777-2266 (Domestic Toll Free)*Email: customercare@pbcom.com.ph*Website: www.pbcom.com.ph Crops which accounted for 52.71 percent of the total agricultural output contracted 1.01 percent BALANCE SHEET BALANCE SHEET (Parent Bank and Financial Subsidiaries) (Head Office and Branches) in January to March. Palay and corn production dropped 4.46 percent and 2.07 percent, respecAs of March 31, 2019 Asof December 31, 2018 As of March 31, 2019 Asof December 31, 2018 tively.

ASSETS ASSETS The PSA linked the lower rice production to the Cash and Cash Items P 1,559,925,250.90 P 1,341,507,679.00 Cash and Cash Items P 1,587,409,043.12 P 1,373,620,790.49 12,590,298,553.10 15,224,381,614.03 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 12,533,570,218.37 15,168,301,706.00 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas adverse effects of the dry spell reported in Cagayan Due from Other Banks 2,692,871,648.59 571,082,895.76 Due from Other Banks 2,494,867,566.41 399,405,041.93 Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, 1,565,628,052.50 885,871,047.81 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 1,565,628,052.50 885,871,047.81 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 3,489,419,902.52 6,763,410,651.50 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net 3,489,419,902.52 6,763,410,651.50 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern 15,343,884,501.84 15,503,653,959.54 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 15,343,884,501.84 15,503,653,959.54 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 53,566,060,690.57 56,954,618,758.99 Loans and Receivables - Net 51,807,534,902.99 55,184,414,345.29 Loans and Receivables - Net Mindanao and Soccsksargen. Bicol Region also Interbank Loans Receivable 13,145,000.00 Interbank Loans Receivable 13,145,000.00 Loans and Receivables - Others 54,104,204,286.54 57,481,138,852.35 incurred damage to palay production because of Loans and Receivables - Others 52,289,472,245.19 55,666,216,702.95 General Loan Loss Provision 538,143,595.97 539,665,093.36 General Loan Loss Provision 481,937,342.20 494,947,357.66 flooding brought by typhoon “Usman” in the latter 501,445,311.14 661,241,206.61 Other Financial Assets 442,542,153.24 599,841,569.74 Other Financial Assets 24,801,920.39 25,472,224.45 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net 1,020,329,476.05 1,025,412,554.10 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net part of December 2018.

1,647,028,607.63 1,666,205,471.14 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 1,546,552,984.32 1,566,562,184.69 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 737,045,645.77 636,885,936.27 Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net 668,853,642.31 568,515,486.81 Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net Production decreases were also noted among Other Assets - Net 5,607,676,390.28 5,618,382,752.37 Other Assets - Net 6,214,874,060.26 6,223,716,065.48 the major crops such as banana, pineapple, coffee, TOTAL ASSETS P 98,080,785,041.73 P 104,625,278,978.78 TOTAL ASSETS P 99,960,767,937.43 P 106,490,160,622.07 mango, tobacco, peanut, cassava, garlic and rubber. At current prices, the gross value of crops proLIABILITIES LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

P

71,387,499,942.61 11,353,820,562.67 1,566,827,500.00 9,786,993,062.67 7,888,706.19 688,350,234.15 2,056,686,094.27

P

726,350.64 72,335,327,057.51 17,591,284,307.36 5,070,000,000.00 774,593,000.00 11,746,691,307.36 548,881,294.50 2,000,763,301.37

TOTAL LIABILITIES

P 85,494,245,539.89

P

92,476,982,311.38

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY P 14,278,374,781.56 1,981,314,119.36 -3,673,149,399.08

P

14,278,374,781.56 1,884,346,203.51 -4,014,424,317.67

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P 12,586,539,501.84

P

12,148,306,667.40

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P 98,080,785,041.73

P 104,625,288,978.78

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

P

73,130,619,854.11 11,407,545,636.15 1,620,552,573.48 9,786,993,062.67 7,888,706.19 703,985,943.91 2,187,053,842.13

P

726,350.64 74,059,570,423.44 17,659,083,080.03 5,070,000,000.00 842,391,772.67 11,746,691,307.36 563,903,595.34 2,127,653,619.41

TOTAL LIABILITIES

P 87,437,093,982.50

P

94,410,937,068.86

P

14,278,125,906.49 1,898,279,611.51 -4,097,249,505.66 67,540.86 12,079,223,553.20

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

P 14,278,125,906.49 1,995,247,527.31 -3,749,766,532.88 67,054.01

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P 12,523,673,954.94

P

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P 99,960,767,937.43

P 106,490,160,622.06

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

P 1,036,120,537.22 532,410,857.92 655,924,457.91 63,500,146.55 6,299,182,756.73 5,883,730,637.48 870,543,838.49 5,013,186,798.99 94,912,625.53

P

517,012,296.10 749,806,119.28 534,542,353.57 63,337,246.55 1,038,834,850.96 5,425,824,048.49 1,099,076,676.93 4,326,747,371.56 319,490,027.01

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P 14,565,782,019.34

P

8,648,846,941.96

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

P 1,036,120,537.22 532,410,857.92 655,924,457.91 63,500,146.55 6,299,182,756.73 5,883,730,637.48 870,543,838.49 5,013,186,798.99 94,921,075.53

P

517,012,296.10 749,806,119.28 534,542,353.57 63,337,246.55 1,038,834,850.96 5,425,824,048.49 1,099,076,676.93 4,326,747,371.56 319,499,031.01

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P 14,565,790,469.34

P

8,648,855,945.96

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

LOWER POWER RATES.

Manila Electric Co.’s power rates decreased by P0.27 per kilowatthour this month for a typical household consuming 200 kWh per month. Meralco customers will enjoy a reduction of P55 in their electricity bills. Meralco public information office head Joe Zaldarriaga explains that the overall rate decrease can be attributed to lower cost from power supply agreements and independent power producers following the strengthening of the Philippine peso against the US dollar and lower fuel prices.

Bank, property units boost SMIC’s profit to P10.7b

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. said Wednesday net income grew 26 percent in the first quarter to P10.7 billion from P8.5 billion in the same period last year on the strong performance of core banking, property and retail businesses.

SMIC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-quarter consolidated revenues rose 15 percent to P109 billion from P95 billion a year earlier.

“We continued to deliver double-digit growth to both our top and bottom line in the first quarter.

The performance was strong across our businesses, particularly for our banks,” SMIC president Frederic DyBuncio said.

The conglomerate said banks in the first

quarter accounted for 42 percent of the group’s consolidated net income, followed by property at 40 percent and retail at 18 percent.

Retail operations under SM Retail Inc. reported a 13-percent growth in revenues to P79 billion in the first quarter, while net income rose 5 percent to P2.7 billion.

Revenues from SM Retail’s specialty retail stores rose 13 percent to P19.6 billion.

SM Retail had 2,385 stores comprising of 63 The SM Stores, 1,388 specialty retail stores, 57 SM Supermarkets, 53 SM Hypermarkets, 194 Savemore, 52 WalterMart and 578 Alfamart stores as of end-March.

SMIC’s property unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. earlier reported a net income growth of 16 percent in the first quarter to P8.8 billion as consolidated revenues rose 14 percent to P26.5 billion.

Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) 53,975,399,284.36 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 1,685,927,039.17 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 2,361,092,456.07 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 4.37% c. Net NPLs 737,795,875.13 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 1.37% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 91.82% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 71.40% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses 9,182,681,270.78 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses 4,713,036.77 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 0.01% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 0.79% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 9.55% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 11.75% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 15.87% 13.01% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 13.01%

57,351,921,098.85 1,672,559,395.90 2,204,146,296.88 3.84% 590,461,782.46 1.03% 98.34% 75.88% 9,760,026,451.75 17,530,905.49 0.03% 10,874.41 0.00% 0.79% 10.48% 2.81% 14.50% 11.77% 11.77%

1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

1. List of Financial Allied Subsidiaries (excluding Subsidiary Insurance Companies) 1. PBCom Rural Bank, Inc. 2. List of Subsidiary Insurance Companies 1. PBCom Insurance Services Agency, Inc. 3. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Consolidated Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 15.89% 14.56% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 13.05% 11.85% c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 13.05% 11.85% 1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S. We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 3rd of May 2019 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S. We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 3rd of May 2019 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

Doc. No. 48 Page No. 21 Book No. XV Series of 2019.

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2019 IBP no. 656155 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. V-0006934 Appointment no. M-183 -(2019-2020) PTR no. 7333104 Jan. 3, 2019 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg.

Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

Doc. No. 48 Page No. 21 Book No. XV Series of 2019.

Member: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Maximum Deposit Insurance for each Deposit P500,000.00

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2019 IBP no. 656155 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. V-0006934 Appointment no. M-183 -(2019-2020) PTR no. 7333104 Jan. 3, 2019 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg.

Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

B2

Business

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks up slightly; JG Summit rises T HE stock market rose slightly Wednesday ahead of the release of the gross domestic product figures and the policy meeting of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas today.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 16.06 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,926.69 on a value turnover of P7.1 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 133 to 63, with 46 issues unchanged.

The inflation rate in April eased to a 16-month low of 3 percent from 3.3 percent in March, prompting economists to believe the Bangko Sentral may consider cutting the benchmark interest rates in the policy meeting.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei advanced 3.5 percent to P65.80, while BDO Unibank

Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 2.9 percent to P139.90.

Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., a major cement producer, fell 4.4 percent to P2.36 on profit-taking, while casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. declined 3.8 percent to P11.70.

A red wave, meanwhile, swept across Asia trading floors Wednesday as investors grew increasingly concerned that the China-US trade deal, which appeared all but ready to sign, could fall through.

After months of healthy gains across markets this year, Donald Trump’s threat to hike tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports from Friday caused shockwaves and rekindled the specter of a trade war between the planet’s two biggest economies.

And while Beijing insisted it would still send its top negotiator to planned talks in the US on Thursday and Friday,

observers said confidence has been shattered, with uncertainty reigning ahead of the high-stakes meeting.

“The two largest economic powerhouses, the US and China, either will be at a trade war or a trade peace and in reality there’s only a couple of people who know the answer to that and it isn’t those of us on Wall Street,” said Larry Robbins, CEO of Glenview Capital Management.

“It’s to be expected that there’s some volatility into this critical week,” he told Bloomberg TV. Asian markets staged a minor recovery Tuesday following the previous day’s pummeling, which came in response to Trump’s warning. But a blowout on Wall Street continued in Asia, with investors running for the hills.

Shanghai and Hong Kong each tanked more than one percent, with investors also spooked by weaker-than-forecast export data out of Beijing that highlight-

ed the impact of the trade war on China and the global economy.

Tokyo shed 1.5 percent by the close while Sydney and Seoul each fell 0.4 percent. Singapore dropped one percent.

Taipei, Bangkok, Mumbai and Jakarta also sank.

However, a first New Zealand interest rate cut since late 2016―and a signal of further reductions―helped Wellington reverse course to end 0.4 percent higher.

And Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management warned there could be worse to come.

“With the possibility of the trade deal in tatters, markets could turn upside down,” he said in a note.

“Indeed, the relentless bull market seemed impervious to risk, but (that) spawned a high degree of complacency that leaves most market participants illprepared for the inevitable reversal.”

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.1 1,110 85.45 1,758,580 2.2 1,000 139.9 2,817,350 1.23 15,000 27.5 272,000 18.92 141,300 11.3 635,400 0.475 590,000 74.1 2,407,690 0.9 350,000 21.35 500 54.05 545,630 183 500 110.4 50 58 1,640 26 2,000 172.5 340,900 59.8 3,890 1.12 15,000

64,216 146,679,360 2,200 380,613,726 18,450 7,478,475 2,675,936 7,221,830 280,600 176,308,766.50 315,700 10,675 29,537,127 90,080 5,520 95,243 52,560 59,000,444 232,350.50 16,800

58,100 -52367116.5 34,034,121 209,445 1,385,724 -484,890 -63509680.5 -20,020 13,413,734.50 -80,930 -2,600 -4,908,277 -11,357.50 -

34.25 15.58 0.77 1.38 0.246 2.33 14.76 25.5 14.52 45.45 1.9 5.55 5.4 10.5 15.8 9.15 7.51 1.57 19.72 76 34.8 2.51 13.12 10.12 1.7 302 3.9 3.21 9.8 22.05 14.3 21.95 377.2 0.19 5.99 1.22 4.55 5.94 9.4 1.62 11.72 44.2 4.9 1.6 2.11 1.25 13.6 114.6 6.75 0.128 0.91 159.3 2.51 1.34 1.07

INDUSTRIAL 35.6 1,653,800 15.74 223,500 0.79 1,110,000 1.38 34,000 0.248 9,760,000 2.36 55,031,000 15.06 506,000 26.6 155,300 16.94 1,800 45.45 100 1.9 10,000 5.55 1,900 5.4 29,700 10.54 10,239,400 15.9 580,500 9.15 368,600 7.59 1,546,500 1.57 20,000 20 3,371,600 76.45 49,340 35.35 466,800 2.57 4,699,000 13.54 710,500 10.16 797,100 1.7 93,000 303 947,300 3.91 22,000 3.39 19,000 9.8 2,100 22.05 1,213,000 14.6 2,131,700 22 3,800,200 380 252,450 0.19 320,000 5.99 200 1.24 731,000 4.6 36,000 6.04 9,604,500 9.4 100 1.67 14,328,000 12.02 85,400 44.6 322,500 4.9 108,000 1.6 31,000 2.11 36,000 1.28 70,000 13.72 3,867,400 116.4 94,920 6.83 266,400 0.128 290,000 0.91 408,000 165 1,149,750 2.64 1,596,000 1.34 4,096,000 1.09 1,355,000

57,772,075 3,521,474 866,230 46,920 2,428,710 132,128,800 7,604,888 4,161,525 27,800 4,545 19,000 10,545 162,497 108,744,746 9,210,332 3,374,310 11,665,511 31,580 68,067,346 3,778,081 16,330,160 12,024,560 9,565,298 8,116,526 158,740 286,891,396 86,000 62,570 20,590 26,865,640 31,259,188 83,584,545 95,793,196 60,800 1,198 903,900 165,030 58,088,804 940 23,797,960 1,017,512 14,337,530 529,200 51,400 75,960 88,490 53,112,396 11,003,255 1,813,307 37,120 375,000 185,959,346 4,377,610 5,538,680 1,468,350

-34692980.0004 1,367,942 -15,400 123,000 38,142,540 -4,557,822 -259,140 -123,152 10,841,052 -9,440 2,141,884 -3,644,346 72,119 5,526,700 683,140 -1,077,042 1,122,820 -42,863,836 0 -14,329,325 314,260 -11,074,770 -19,817,456 144,030 -6,238,056 22,950.00 -6,529,170 -509,600 -9,210,792 -6,186,521 62,091 7,169,552 -21,600 -1,346,540 7,560

0.64 53.05 14.8 0.76 6.5 17.04 1.37 1.39 904 7.47 11.38 15.56 5.18 0.28 891 6.2 65.8 5.75 0.5 4.5 17.1 0.56 4.32 0.04 1.11 3.01 188 966 0.86 1.38 455 276 0.243 0.345

0.6 50.8 14.4 0.73 6.4 16.5 1.35 1.36 887 7.21 10.8 13.5 4.95 0.246 855 6.17 61.35 5.72 0.49 4.37 16.54 0.55 4.22 0.039 1.11 3 182 928 0.8 1.32 455 270 0.236 0.335

HOLDING FIRMS 0.62 12,684,000 53.05 1,519,110 14.4 12,025,000 0.76 127,000 6.4 102,700 16.54 34,300 1.35 4,412,000 1.37 828,000 901 340,900 7.4 754,200 10.8 4,704,600 14.24 1,221,500 4.95 300 0.275 180,000 855 105,560 6.17 75,100 65.8 3,056,360 5.75 8,000 0.495 146,000 4.41 9,926,000 17 1,543,300 0.55 257,000 4.23 28,381,000 0.039 3,200,000 1.11 1,000 3 1,112,000 188 343,440 966 274,680 0.82 1,331,000 1.38 130,000 455 50 276 520 0.236 1,980,000 0.335 11,350,000

7,814,690 78,880,429.50 174,450,830 94,020 657,326 573,774 5,978,490 1,132,240 305,401,000 5,499,447 51,624,506 18,070,160 1,508 48,570 90,902,480 464,481 192,373,682 45,890 71,770 43,839,920 25,907,534 141,580 120,673,440 125,000 1,110 3,336,020 63,641,557 260,651,195 1,085,430 172,090 22,750 143,440 468,790 3,851,200

-14,570 -25448540.5 -73,411,872 313,600 256,190 -42,528,880 695,121 -25,150,266 696,106 -55,157,300 -12,012,303 -5,125,180 6352172.0001 105,600 -53,246,290 -120,000 4,811,020 -48,296,575 13,300 -2,760 666,400

14.48 0.75 11.2 2.29 0.76 47 2.42 4.75 6.4 0.54 0.78 0.87 0.242 0.385 11.2 26.45 0.49 0.125 1.58 1.34 5.82 0.37 0.52 1.71 0.465 2.87

14.02 0.74 11.2 2.21 0.76 45.95 2.31 4.6 6.32 0.52 0.78 0.87 0.234 0.38 10.62 25.25 0.485 0.125 1.54 1.32 5.56 0.345 0.49 1.66 0.46 2.65

21,949,588 853,850 56,000 665,530 126,160 990,462,030 2,159,790 5,307,900 6,360 7,490,820 7,800 17,400 328,270 737,850 3,267,978 23,854,975 122,100 113,750 29,096,650 2,643,200 143,649,701 7,724,350 6,933,160 1,619,730 250,550 1,795,970

-852,134 56,000 124,212,615 58,570 2,870,390 34,610 17,400 -5,423,825 -329,820 -5986490.0003 -28,300 -871,400 653,700 -2,820

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

55.6 84.85 2.2 134.9 1.23 27.7 18.96 11.5 0.48 73.5 0.92 21.35 54 181 110.4 58.8 26 177.9 60 1.12

58.1 85.45 2.2 139.9 1.23 27.75 18.96 11.5 0.48 74.1 0.92 21.35 54.4 183 110.4 58.8 26.4 177.9 60 1.12

55.6 82.55 2.2 131.9 1.23 27.3 18.9 11.28 0.475 72.5 0.9 21.35 53.95 179 110.4 57.95 26 172.5 59.5 1.12

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

35 15.76 0.79 1.38 0.246 2.47 15.22 27.9 16 45.45 1.9 5.55 5.65 10.8 15.96 9.2 7.57 1.59 21.2 76.8 35 2.56 13.56 10.32 1.77 303.8 3.9 3.3 9.9 22.45 15.5 22.5 381.8 0.19 5.99 1.26 4.64 6.2 9.4 1.67 12 44.5 4.9 1.66 2.11 1.3 13.68 117.5 6.9 0.128 0.93 160.7 2.63 1.37 1.14

35.6 15.8 0.79 1.38 0.255 2.47 15.22 28 16.94 45.45 1.9 5.55 5.65 10.8 15.96 9.44 7.59 1.59 21.2 76.8 35.45 2.6 13.6 10.32 1.77 305 3.91 3.47 9.9 22.45 15.5 22.5 381.8 0.19 5.99 1.26 4.64 6.22 9.4 1.7 12.02 45.2 4.9 1.66 2.11 1.3 13.78 117.5 6.98 0.128 0.93 165 2.98 1.38 1.14

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

0.64 52 14.52 0.74 6.5 16.7 1.37 1.39 904 7.47 11.38 15.3 5.18 0.27 890 6.2 63.5 5.72 0.5 4.5 17.1 0.55 4.29 0.04 1.11 3 185 948 0.86 1.33 455 274 0.24 0.345

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

14.3 0.75 11.2 2.29 0.76 46.9 2.35 4.74 6.32 0.53 0.78 0.87 0.235 0.385 11.08 26.45 0.49 0.125 1.57 1.34 5.77 0.37 0.5 1.71 0.465 2.84

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

24.45 1.98 3 40.05 1.78 6.8 0.72 7.18

24.45 1.98 3 40.05 1.82 6.8 0.72 7.18

23.1 1.97 2.96 38.9 1.71 6.74 0.72 7.05

23.85 1.97 3 39.5 1.78 6.8 0.72 7.1

1,558,700 26,000 102,000 10,024,600 4,973,000 236,200 157,000 4,417,800

36,912,025 51,470 303,270 394,237,030 8,724,020 1,596,348 113,040 31,365,196

-485,040 -9,000 -201,947,610 -4,282,766

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

12.6 19.38 1.26 0.4 0.043 15.7 2.63 12.04 0.069 81.05 7.01 5.8 6.5 2.05 10.98 1,999 5.2 413.4 10.04 2.72 1.91 138.5 11.4 6.97 0.123 5.58 3.99 0.8 21.6 0.58 5.34 2.96 1.69 2.11 3.32 9.7 4.43 114 3.08 1,230 0.74 0.93 44.9 73 8.95 3.26 0.67 0.35 5.61 0.71 16.88

12.6 19.38 1.26 0.4 0.044 15.88 2.63 12.04 0.07 81.1 7.67 5.88 6.51 2.05 11.32 2,000 5.2 414.4 10.04 2.72 1.91 138.5 11.4 6.97 0.125 5.59 4 0.8 21.6 0.58 5.49 2.96 1.69 2.11 3.41 10 4.48 114 3.08 1,248 0.74 0.93 44.95 73 9.24 3.26 0.68 0.35 5.65 0.71 16.96

12.3 19.14 1.26 0.4 0.042 15.7 2.47 11.58 0.068 80.9 6.96 5.66 6.4 2.05 10.8 1,961 5.13 397.2 10.04 2.57 1.91 131.5 10.94 6.97 0.123 5.48 3.77 0.72 21.2 0.53 5.08 2.7 1.68 2.06 3.27 9.7 4.32 110 2.95 1,220 0.69 0.88 44 70.6 8.95 3.12 0.65 0.33 5.61 0.69 16.24

SERVICES 12.4 19.14 1.26 0.4 0.044 15.88 2.57 11.7 0.07 81.05 7 5.79 6.5 2.05 11 1,999 5.16 408 10.04 2.6 1.91 135 11.38 6.97 0.125 5.56 3.79 0.79 21.2 0.55 5.35 2.76 1.68 2.08 3.38 9.8 4.48 114 2.95 1,245 0.7 0.9 44.75 70.65 9.24 3.22 0.67 0.335 5.63 0.7 16.48

7,400 48,800 5,000 40,000 14,400,000 2,500 716,000 14,364,200 25,690,000 83,060 15,400 315,300 125,000 3,000 98,000 130,400 119,600 3,040 100 4,594,000 4,000 2,836,710 2,500 10,000 380,000 1,312,300 1,638,000 540,000 648,800 1,794,000 290,800 38,567,000 11,000 1,442,000 155,000 9,400 23,000 5,950 1,980,000 91,700 21,160,000 27,337,000 753,000 1,707,390 40,200 12,535,000 6,230,000 7,000,000 3,630,400 1,874,000 2,995,300

92,530 939,974 6,300 16,000 625,900 39,340 1,788,600 167,899,504 1,776,520 6,729,561.50 107,855 1,816,176 811,370 6,150 1,078,378 259,904,305 617,105 1,227,280 1,004 12,076,890 7,640 381,671,324 28,340 69,700 47,270 7,247,127 6,341,680 408,770 13,787,090 984,630 1,538,335 107,134,320 18,520 3,009,710 516,130 93,262 101,830 677,060 5,938,970 113,324,505 14,908,890 24,565,620 33,376,385 120,953,139 362,655 40,092,560 4,128,240 2,348,350 20,484,336 1,305,200 49,817,592

-2,520 -12,810 -21693490.0003 -173,915 -57,300 -650,020 189,751,380 -55,608 840,500 41,937,228 481,778 35,220 -120,900 698,110 -25,825,750 129,320 -33,590 -13,000 4,800 30,550,925 -456,090 -1,865,230 -6,549,055 31414863.9999 268,775.00 13,166,050 -3,272,400 -5,878,546 7,092,528

53,300 2,990,330 131,130 15,740 26,250 5,218,990 14,500 19,722 104,504,990 266,280 68,600 4,480 7,900 1,209,850 2,404,310 80,960 53,760 45,410 581,000 133,200 28,600 75,610 1,552,060 9,006,803 76,769,365

-2,591,240 -117,180 307,100 14,500 414,220 -1,134,490 -330,800 -910 12,000 -61,840 -341340.0001 33,698,340

MS

PROPERTY 14.4 0.75 11.2 2.22 0.76 47 2.38 4.74 6.4 0.53 0.78 0.87 0.24 0.38 10.82 25.6 0.49 0.125 1.56 1.32 5.56 0.345 0.5 1.7 0.46 2.77

1,549,200 1,150,000 5,000 298,000 166,000 21,210,700 906,000 1,130,000 1,000 14,302,000 10,000 20,000 1,400,000 1,940,000 302,400 932,000 250,000 910,000 18,722,000 1,993,000 25,254,400 21,840,000 13,712,000 956,000 540,000 658,000

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

0.0019 1.26 2.79 12.1 1.25 2.88 0.29 7.9 1.61 0.243 0.111 0.112 0.0079 1.05 2.4 1.01 0.56 0.89 0.011 0.012 0.011 3.57 3.1 8.15 23.65

0.002 1.28 2.79 12.2 1.25 2.88 0.29 8 1.62 0.243 0.113 0.112 0.0079 1.05 2.4 1.01 0.56 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.67 3.13 8.3 23.65

0.0019 1.25 2.79 12.1 1.25 2.69 0.29 7.76 1.56 0.234 0.11 0.112 0.0079 1.02 2.37 0.98 0.56 0.89 0.011 0.012 0.011 3.56 3.07 7.8 22.1

MINING & OIL 0.0019 28,000,000 1.25 2,375,000 2.79 47,000 12.2 1,300 1.25 21,000 2.8 1,905,000 0.29 50,000 7.98 2,500 1.61 65,967,000 0.239 1,130,000 0.111 620,000 0.112 40,000 0.0079 1,000,000 1.02 1,176,000 2.37 1,010,000 1 81,000 0.56 96,000 0.91 51,000 0.012 52,500,000 0.012 11,100,000 0.011 2,600,000 3.67 21,000 3.08 503,000 7.85 1,127,300 23 3,390,400

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

18.7 98.2 102 5.27 955 0.98 970 100 106 1.32 967 75.5 76 71.2 73.75 72.9 74.45

18.7 98.2 102 5.27 955 0.98 970 100.4 106 1.32 975 75.5 76.1 71.2 73.75 72.9 74.45

18.6 96.2 102 5.27 955 0.98 970 99.55 106 1.32 966 75 76 71.2 73.75 71.8 74.45

PREFERRED 18.6 295,600 96.2 19,380 102 2,420 5.27 200 955 3,010 0.98 141,000 970 2,720 100.4 12,700 106 230 1.32 67,000 975 570 75 110 76.1 2,010 71.2 55,430 73.75 3,460 72 62,090 74.45 150

5,527,670 1,865,669 246,840 1,054 2,874,550 138,180 2,638,400 1,269,635 24,380 88,440 550,810 8,260 152,762 3,946,616 255,175 4,514,311 11,167.50

4,329,100 -980 -

LR WARRANT

1.98

1.98

1.9

WARRANTS 1.9 256,000

490,600

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.8 1.06

5.81 1.08

5.1 1.04

5.11 1.04

26,671,645 6,957,610

103,528 -3,076,830

FIRST METRO ETF

118.3

118.4

116.5

928,665

5,849

420,072 78,100

-

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.2 1

10.4 1

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,549,868

INDUSTRIAL

138,856,919

HOLDING FIRMS

104,132,851

PROPERTY

151,712,328

SERVICES

198,496,937

MINING & OIL

175,029,492

GRAND TOTAL

790,414,678

10.2 1

SME

5,021,200 6,607,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.4 7,920 10.4 1

DDS

41,000 78,100

VALUE 1,768.30 (up) 18.61 866,605,339.91 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,655.01 (down) 4.69 1,377,898,472.86 HOLDING FIRMS 7,620.22 (up) 51.57 1,490,917,487.60 PROPERTY 4,174.75 (down) 35.15 1,613.73 (down) 19.88 1,726,456,596.085 SERVICES MINING & OIL 7,570.08 (down) 158.57 1,419,0581,139.81 PSEI 7,926.69 (up) 16.06 205,277,416.01 All Shares Index 4,876.98 (down) 9.57 7,120,771,882.38 Gainers: 63; Losers: 133; Unchanged: 46; Total: 242

Bloomberry, Melco posted lower profits in 1st quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria CASINO operators Bloomberry Resorts Corp.and Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. posted lower net profits in the first three months of the year on weak gaming revenues.

Bloomberry, which owns and operates Solaire Resorts and Casino, said net income declined 40 percent in the first quarter of the year to P2.203 billion as Solaire’s gross gaming revenues fell one percent to P13.61 billion.

Bloomberry said the robust mass table games and electronic gaming machine grew by 23 percent and nine percent, respectively, in the first quarter of the year but these were offset by the 16 percent drop in VIP revenues.

The casino’s mass gaming segments in the Philippines continued to be supported by robust property visitation with about 1.6 million people setting foot in Solaire within the first quarter.

“We kicked off 2019 with a solid set of results. Our net revenues and EBITDA were driven by our highly profitable mass gaming segments where our innovative customer experience and engagement programs continue to reward us with a database of loyal patrons,” said Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. Non-gaming revenues at Solaire were up by 27 percent to P1.90 billion.

Meanwhile, Melco Resorts, which operates City of Dream Manila, reported a net income of ₱286.8 million in the three months, down 46 percent from ₱532 million year-on-year.

Melco said in a regulatory filing casino revenues in the three months ending March 31, 2019 rose three percent to nearly P6 billion on year, as lower commissions were offset by decreased gross gaming revenues as a result of declining business volumes.

Both companies are experiencing stiff competition following opening of Okada Manila, the third integrated resort and casino to open within Pagcor Entertainment City.

RCBC’s income climbed by 15% to P1.3b in 3 months

By Julito G. Rada RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp., the 10th largest lender in terms of assets, said unaudited consolidated net income in the first quarter rose 15 percent to P1.3 billion from P1.1 billion year-onyear on the strength of core businesses.

Net interest income increased 10 percent, while fee-based income grew 31 percent.

“We have continued to build on balance sheet strength, with assets of P665 billion supported by P83 billion of capital, as we focus on growing our business,” bank president and chief executive Gil Buenaventura said in a statement.

He said the strategy of building on its core business led to a growth in net interest income of 10 percent to P5.3 billion in the first quarter of 2019.

Horacio Cebrero III, senior executive vice president and head of treasury group, said in a briefing in Makati on Wednesday the bank’s net profit was in line with the industry. “We see more opportunities going forward for improvement,” he said.

Loans to small and medium enterprises rose 12 percent to P53.8 billion. Unit Rizal Microbank improved its loans to micro and small business enterprises by 20 percent from a year-ago to P1 billion.

Loans to consumers, which includes mortgage loans, automobile loans, and credit cards, increased 12 percent to P106.9 billion. Gross outstanding credit card receivables climbed 31 percent to P22.3 billion for the quarter with an active card base of 733,000, up by 22 percent year on year.

Non-interest income in the quarter jumped 71 percent to P2.9 billion, mainly coming from stronger contributions in treasury-related and fee-based income.

RCBC booked P1.4 billion in trading and FX gains and P1.1 billion in fee-based income, which includes cardrelated fees, both credit and debit cards.

Total operating expenses rose 13 percent to P5.2 billion in the first quarter due to the significant growth in volume of business as gross revenues jumped 26 percent on year.

World

B3

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Venezuela to prosecute 7 lawmakers

C

ARACAS―Venezuela will prosecute seven lawmakers who backed last week’s failed uprising orchestrated by opposition leader Juan Guaido, the country’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, as Washington removed the sanctions against Caracas’ sacked spy chief for backing the revolt.

AT THE MARKET. This picture taken on May 7, 2019, shows the Shuk HaCarmel, or the Carmel market, in Tel Aviv. The Mediterranean Israeli city will host an international song contest EuroVision on May 18. AFP

South Africans vote in a test for the ruling ANC JOHANNESBURG―South Africans began voting on Wednesday in national elections that the ruling ANC, in power since 1994, is a favorite to win despite corruption scandals, sluggish economic growth and record unemployment.

The ANC has won all five previous elections, and is tipped to come out on top again albeit with a reduced majority.

But the vote will be a test of whether its new leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa, can reverse a growing dissatisfaction among South African voters.

“This is the first time that I am voting so I am happy to vote. Most of the people are not voting because they are afraid,” said Lala Rosetta Ramaoka, 21, before she cast her ballot at the Mponegele Primary School in Seshego, eastern Limpopo province.

Ramaphosa took over from corruption-accused Jacob Zuma who oversaw the ANC’s most significant drop in support since 1994.

He acknowledged on the eve of the election that “we are humble enough to admit our mistakes. We have taken decisive steps to fight corruption.”

The election comes 25 years after

Nelson Mandela led the African National Congress to power in the country’s first multi-racial vote which marked the end of apartheid.

Support for the ANC has fallen in every election since 2004 with the party winning 54 percent in 2016 local elections, compared with 62 percent in 2014’s national vote.

Ramaphosa, 66, took office last year when Zuma was forced to resign as president by the ANC after nine years dominated by corruption allegations and economic problems.

Most opinion surveys suggest the ANC will secure nearly 60 percent of the vote on Wednesday, thanks to Ramaphosa’s appeal and a fractured opposition.

“It reflects the weakness of the opposition, more than it does reflect the achievements of the ANC,” said political scientist Collette Schulz-Herzenberg from Stellenbosch University.

The ANC has been confronted by deepening public anger over its failure to tackle poverty and inequality in postapartheid South Africa.

“People are not happy with the ANC

Iran says it will end curbs on nuke activities

World awaits first glimpse of Meghan’s royal baby son

TEHRAN―Iran said Wednesday it will stop respecting the limits on its nuclear activities agreed under a landmark 2015 deal unless other powers help Tehran bypass the renewed US sanctions, amid the rising tensions with Washington.

The move was part of a package of measures announced by Iran in response to the sweeping unilateral sanctions reimposed by Washington in the 12 months since it quit the agreement, which have had a severe effect on the Iranian economy.

They came as Washington stepped up its war of words against Tehran, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo making a hastily organized visit to neighboring Iraq where he accused Iran of planning “imminent” attacks.

Adding to the tensions, Washington announced it was deploying an aircraft carrier strike group with several nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East and national security adviser John Bolton warned Washington would respond with “unrelenting force” to any attack by Tehran.

Under the landmark deal agreed by US President Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, the six parties to the agreement were supposed to lift nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in return for it reining in its nuclear activities to ease fears it was seeking the capability to produce an atomic bomb.

But the promised sanctions relief has failed to materialize as European and Asian banks and oil companies have moved swiftly to abide by the renewed US sanctions for fear of financial or commercial repercussions.Iran warned that if the five other parties to the agreement - Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia—failed to deliver on their commitments within 60 days to help Tehran benefit from the deal despite the US sanctions, it would suspend other key limits set by the deal.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the measures were necessary to “secure its rights and bring back balance” after the unilateral moves by the Trump administration. AFP

LONDON-Britain’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan will show their baby son off to the world on Wednesday amid the fevered suspense for British royal watchers desperate for a glimpse.

A visibly relieved Harry, 34, announced on Monday the arrival of the couple’s firstborn, who will be seventh in line to the British throne.

The mother and proud father, who said his son was “absolutely to-die-for”, will release a photograph of their new arrival later Wednesday.

The couple announced the birth of the seven-pound, three-ounce baby―”It’s a BOY!”―to their 6.5 million followers on Instagram.

Prince Charles, on a visit to Germany on Tuesday, said he was “obviously delighted”and “impatient” to see his fourth grandchild.

The heir to the British throne, speaking in German, said he would see the baby “in the coming days when things are calmer”.

Crowds gathered outside Windsor Castle, west of London, on Monday and Tuesday to wish them well.

It was a rare piece of good news for a nation consumed by the endless Brexit

—but they are still voting for them,” retired teacher Lockie Mans, 65, told AFP in Coligny in the North West province.

The economy grew just 0.8 percent in 2018 and unemployment hovers around 27 percent—and over 50 percent among young people.

Of the 47 opposition parties in the race, only the main opposition centrist Democratic Alliance (DA) and the radical-left Economic Freedom Fighters are major players.

The DA hopes to shed its image as a white, middle-class party. Its first black leader Mmusi Maimane is contesting his first general election since taking the helm in 2015, and is expected to make modest gains on 2014’s 22 percent vote share.

“Vote for the future of this country and the South Africans who are unemployed,” said Maimane after voting in Soweto, insisting the poll was not “a beauty pageant but a contract” between voters and their representatives.

“This vote is about competence... so we can clean up this country,” added Maimane who wore a suit in the DA’s signature blue and posed for selfies with voters. AFP

drama, giving a chance to celebrate royal traditions—this time with a young American twist.

“I want to see how he’ll look. As Meghan is mixed race, I’m curious”, said Zahra Kibue, 34, who lived in Kenya before moving to England a few years ago.

Former US TV star Meghan, 37, has created a fresh buzz around the century-old House of Windsor, but has also made waves with her modernising ways.

She raised eyebrows by closing her own car door—a task usually performed by aides—and has ignored tradition by keeping the birth private and well away from the prying media’s eyes.

Most UK media assumed that Meghan had opted for a home delivery, but The Daily Mail reported that those plans were “dashed as she was secretly whisked to a London hospital on Sunday by Harry and his Scotland Yard security team”.

The Sun, a competing tabloid, said Meghan ended up being secretly rushed to a 15,000-a-night ($20,000, 17,500euro) London hospital before giving birth “at exactly sunrise”. AFP

The court, which announced the ruling in a statement, said it asked Attorney General Tarek William Saab to handle the “criminal investigation” into opposition deputies for “high treason” and “conspiracy.”

Soon after the announcement, the Constituent Assembly―which effectively acts as a regime rubber stamp― stripped the seven lawmakers of their parliamentary immunity.

“What comes now? A trial,” said Constituent Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, the regime’s second most powerful figure after President Nicolas Maduro.

Cabello ominously added that three unnamed other lawmakers had been identified and would undergo the same process.

The list includes Henry Ramos Allup, the former speaker of the oppositioncontrolled National Assembly.

Guaido, who is recognized as Venezuela’s interim president by more than 50 countries and was himself stripped of his immunity on April 2, denounced the decision.

The government’s “only response... is to persecute, because they no longer govern, because they no longer have command,” he said.

“Today, this parliament offers the solutions that the regime cannot and will not be able to give, and that is why it is already defeated,” Guaido said during a session of the opposition-controlled National Assembly legislature, which journalists were not allowed to attend by order of the military.

In Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence kept up the pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s shaken regime by announcing that sanctions against his sacked intelligence chief General Christopher Figuera were being lifted.

Pence, speaking at the State Department, said he hoped that Figuera’s defection would inspire other senior Ven-

ezuelans to break ranks with Maduro.

Washington “will consider sanctions relief for all those who step up for the constitution and support the rule of law,” Pence said.

“I hope the actions our nation is taking today will encourage others to follow the example of General Cristopher Figuera.”

However, Mexico rejected that approach, as well as Washington’s refrain that “all options are on the table” to remove Maduro from power—a euphemism understood as hinting to military intervention.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard warned that pursuing a military intervention would be a “big mistake.”

“We have a different point of view from those who support the idea of a military intervention, which would be a big mistake, or from the people who expect that the regime is going to be defeated only by sanctions, or who just wait for a division to occur there in Venezuela,” he said, speaking after Pence.

“We need a democratic and peaceful solution.”

Pence hinted that the United States could impose sanctions on the Venezuelan judges if they use the court as “a political tool for a regime that usurps democracy, indicts political prisoners and promotes authoritarianism.”

“If the Supreme Court in Venezuela does not return to its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law, the United States of America will hold all 25 of its magistrates accountable for their actions,” Pence said.

In his speech, Pence also announced that a US Navy hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, will return to the area in June for a five-month mission aimed at assisting neighboring countries that are caring for some of the millions of Venezuelans who have fled their country’s crumbling economy. AFP

RITUAL. This handout photo

taken and released by Japan’s Imperial Household Agency on May 8, 2019, shows new Emperor Naruhito attending a ritual called ‘Chokushi-Hakkenno-gi’, a ceremony of dispatching imperial envoys to the Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine) and Mausolea of Emperor Jinmu and the four recent emperors, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 8, 2019.

AFP

In Jerusalem, the residents worry over the city’s hordes of stray cats JERUSALEM―A dozen cats wake up in cages stacked on top of one another, a pungent odor in the air, while in a room next door two vets work diligently.

Captured in the streets of Jerusalem by city workers or brought in by residents, at least 15 cats a day are sterilized at the municipal veterinary center.

But experts say that is far too few to stabilize the city’s burgeoning street cat population and allay fears about the impact on its environment and ecosystem from the felines.

The concentration of stray cats in the Holy City is among the highest in the Middle East or even the world, experts say.

With nearly 2,000 cats per square kilometer, it has a total of some 240,000, in a city of more than 900,000 residents,

the Israeli official in charge of its veterinarian services, Asaf Bril, said.

Only a large-scale, rapid program to sterilize some 80 percent of the cats within a six-month period would be capable of bringing the population under control, he said.

“To achieve that result, 25 clinics like mine would be needed to sterilize 500 cats per day,” he said, at the veterinary services center, a collection of fading buildings on the edge of Jerusalem.

Reducing the cats’ access to their main source of food is another option for bringing the stray population under control.

The hordes of cats find most of their food in rubbish bins that sometimes overflow, especially in the mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem, which Israel oc-

cupied in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed.

Israel considers the entire city its capital, though public services in parts of east Jerusalem are noticeably poorer than in the mainly Jewish western sector.

The city council recently launched a plan to modernize rubbish collection, moving some bins underground and therefore depriving the cats of the food source.

“Ultimately, underground rubbish bins that reduce the availability of food for cats are the only solution to control the size of the population,” Amir Balaban, of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, said.

But not everyone backs the idea of food deprivation.

Jerusalem’s newly elected mayor, Moshe Lion, announced in January the creation of feeding stations around the city, with the food in granule form notably, and budgeted 100,000 shekels ($28,000, 24,000 euros) a year for the scheme.

The decision aims to provide a transition that is clean and more controlled between the current, free-for-all access to the bins and their eventual removal.

For Inbal Keidar, a lawyer specializing in animal welfare issues, it is merely a cosmetic measure and fails to adequately address the problem.

“What is needed is a real political decision to solve the problem with a massive sterilisation campaign for cats while mobilising associations and public authorities,” she said. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

BARMM office rewards Palaro Moro athletes COTABATO CITY—The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has rewarded cash gifts to the region’s athletes who brought home a total of 19 medals from the recent Palarong Pambansa.

BARMM athletes of various sports brought home 19 medals as the 2019 Palarong Pambansa ended Saturday in Davao City, which hosted the event from April 27 to May 4.

BARMM MBHTE Minister Mohaguer Iqbal hailed the athletes as he led a welcome ceremony for the returning Moro athletes.

“You have fought a great fight; you have surpassed the expectations,” he told the athletes. “You brought honor to BARMM. Thank you very much.”

Iqbal said: “This region has been in the bottom rank in 2017 with nine medals in total. In 2018 we won just three medals, all bronze. This year you have brought home an amazing 19 medals.”

Director Taya Aplal of the region’s Bureau of Physical Education and Special Events said Iqbal and Deputy Executive Secretary Abdullah Cusain handed over P20,000 in cash gifts to each of the gold medalists, P15,000 each to recipients of silver medal, and P10,000 to each of the bronze medalists.

Lawyer Haron Meling, executive assistant to the Office of Minister Iqbal, said the region has garnered a total of three gold medals, ten silver medals, and six bronze medals.

The Bangsamoro region ranks 16th place of the country’s 17 regions, which participated in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa. Nash B. Maulana with MBHTE Information Office

574 graduate from QC drug rehab program

MANDALUYONG’S BETS. Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos, Rep. Neptali Gonzales and other city officials raise their hands as they introduced the PDP-Laban administration candidates for senator to residents during their campaign meeting on Tuesday night. With them are former police chief Ronald ‘Bato’ de la Rosa, former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, Senator Koko Pimentel, and Rep. Dong Mangudadatu. Manny Palmero

Adiong blasts poll bashing

By Nash B. Maulana

M

ARAWI CITY―The Maranao people should be united by efforts to revive this city in renewed trade links with neighboring provinces, instead of trying to win the attention of President Rodrigo Duterte in a bid for local political support.

Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr. said this days before the May 13 elections, adding his province has its share of modern-day development with the opening of news roads that connect its people to major markets of other provinces.

Adiong says his works as head of the province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan is not being compromised by time he spends campaigning for the gubernatorial seat, one day at a time in Lanao del Sur’s 40 towns and more interior barangays.

During the opening of the Sagonsongan-GMA Terminal Diversion Road,

an alternative route from Marawi City to Iligan City, Adiong said connecting people is improving not only trade relations but also cultural ties amid growing biases on the Muslims, resulting from some misguided declaration of misdeeds by extremists claiming to fight for Islam.

He noted that Wao, the only Christiandominated town of Lanao del Sur, used to be secluded from the rest of the province being only accessible via Bukidnon.

But now, a new road has just been opened, directly connecting Marawi and Wao, a World War II settlement granted

by Senator Sultan Alawiya Alonto, the vice governor’s great grandfather, to Christians from the north.

He said he had lobbied for such projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2014 and its construction began in 2015.

Adiong has been accused of votebuying by Lanao del Sur lawyer Salic Dumarpa, bringing along affidavits of 700 alleged residents of the province to Malacañang and the Manila media.

Dumarpa is a perennial political rival of Adiong.

“Although this is a serious allegation, it should be noted that this smear campaign is headed by a political rival from way before,” the vice governor said.

“Black propaganda is inherent or a usual activity in all political campaigns during election period. Allegations such as these should be discussed at a proper and legal forum, and not via social media or trial by publicity,” he added.

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council on Wednesday announced the graduation of 574 participants from the fourth batch of its community-based drug rehabilitation program.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, the council head, congratulated the graduates for completing the program, saying a total of 2,800 have already completed the community rehabilitation modules and prescribed counseling since it started in 2016.

“We will do our best to help everyone change. But the commitment for you to change must come from you,” she said.

Belmonte promised to support the graduates in terms of their livelihood, citing the city’s integrated drug abuse profiling system that lack of employment usually causes illegal drug abuse.

“The next step for us is to provide assistance on how they can attain jobs and livelihood so that they can have something to do to distract themselves from going back to drugs,” she said.

Belmonte expressed confidence that Quezon City has already improved in the alleviation in the number of drug users and pushers with the intensified government intervention on rehabilitation and prevention among communities.

SUMMER JOB.

Student employees help with daily tasks at the Councilor’s Office as part of their Special Program for the Employment of Students on Wednesday at the General Trias City Hall in Barangay Bagumbayan.

READY TO PLAY. Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco (in red shirt), Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo, and other city officials lead the opening of the 9th Mayor’s Cup NavotaAs Badminton Tournament at the RS Badminton Court. Some 80 players will vie for titles in the men’s or women’s doubles levels A to E. Jun David

Koko condemns killing of Zambo village officials SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has strongly denounced the twin killings of village officials in Mindanao in what he described as “incidents that are apparently politically motivated, occurring as they are very close to the May 13 elections.”

The Mindanao-born lawmaker was reacting to separate fatal shooting incidents of two local barangay heads from the Zamboanga peninsula over the weekend.

Barangay Chief Edgardo Podpod Viñas of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte was shot close to noon last Saturday by a motorcycle-riding gunman.

Later on the same day, Ibrahim Ungad, chairman of Barangay New Labangan in Zamboanga del Sur, was shot as he was going out of his house.

Two men were reported to have approached Ungad and killed him with a shotgun. The assailants fled using a motorcycle.

“We should all be scandalized and outraged by these brazen acts of violence and intimidation. The targets are clearly local officials. There’s a sad and troubling pattern here,” the senator said.

Pimentel, who is up for reelection, expressed sympathies to the families of the victims of these “senseless killings,” saying that after years in public service, he still cannot fathom why people resort to violence, especially in local politics.

“No one needs to mourn loved ones who are merely doing their jobs for their constituents,” he said.

Jones mayor denies using senior citizens fund for election expenses

By Brenda Jocson JONES, Isabela—Mayor Leticia Sebastian on Wednesday strongly denied allegations of using the town’s Senior Citizens Fund for election expenditures.

In a phone interview, Sebastian told Manila Standard: “We are under Comelec Control. The Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office

had withheld the allocations as per memorandum given to me and the P2,400 annual social pension of our senior citizens would be distributed after elections.”

“The fund is intact and it is not used for my campaign for my last-term bid,” she added.

The senior citizens’ pension fund is still intact and would be ready for release, according to the provincial social welfare

and development office of Isabela.

According to Provincial Social Welfare Officer Lillia Ambatali, the funds are from the National Government “and it would not be downloaded as of these time to LGUs yet.”

“Our central office [DSWD] had intentionally stopped the release of these social pensions so that it would not be used by unscrupulous politicians for

their personal funds during the campaign period,” she said.

However, Ambatali said in towns and cities under Commission on Elections control, any financial allocations from the Nationals Government are stopped, except its monthly and quarterly Internal Revenue Allotment “because those monies are intended for the operations of the LGUs.”

Color Fun Run, ‘Zumbaile’ in Marinduque THE Mogpog Central School Alumni Association Inc. promises a day of fun-filled activities as it kicks off the Marinduque Family Color Fun Run, Zumba and Baile de Mogpog on Saturday, May 25 at the Mogpog Covered Court in Mogpog, Marinduque.

The whole-day event is expected to bring together families and friends seeking a muchneeded local getaway, at the same time opening their hearts for a great cause.

Activities are lined up from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m., promising moments of fun and laughter, and great opportunities for bonding.

The event is one of the alumni’s fundraisers to help Mogpog Central Schoo improve its level of education. Proceeds will be used to assist the school’s teachers in honing their skills

and to extend support to students by providing them with experiential educational tools, materials and infrastructure.

This one-day event also seeks to get parents actively involved in guiding the next-generation kids in this town, known as the original home of the Moriones Festival.

The most important beneficiary of the oneday event is the Green Building, an ambitious project of the alumni to rise within the premises of MCS, envisioned to be the first in the entire province.

Registration for all the events is ongoing, while onsite registration for the Color Fun Run will start at 4 a.m., with the starting gun firing off at 5 a.m. For Zumba, registration will start at 6:30 a.m. and for the Baile de Mogpog at 7 p.m.

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

C1

The linchpin of our lives

By Diana B. Noche

S

HE is the Earth goddess, she with the pure, unconflicted selflessness, a woman of iron and silk. Mother: the heart and soul of the family machine.

She has made conducting the family affairs her entire life, almost criticproof, pursuing the task with singleminded, blow-torch intensity—a task quite simple in its complexity; providing all she touches with an extraordinary impact which strengthens all invisible filaments that make up our own adult lives.

She makes nurturing her children her purpose, with a kind of love that acknowledges neither restraint nor qualifications. Such is the world she orbits.

It will be utterly unthinkable and quite naïve to picture a mother’s life in a fairy tale setting. For mothers, such dreamy stuff easily leaves off and reality creeps in. Once a mother, always a mother. It’s as irreversible as that.

A mother’s life is like a rose; beautiful but replete with thorns.

A mother is made of super strength, capable—no, more than capable—of doing

anything that has to be done. She fights the hardest when all seemed lost up to the last possible moment of a martyr act.

Mothers have the grace of elasticity coupled with a masterly grasp of things that surpass her physical and emotional carrying capacity.

Never mind that, of course, some women do not see motherhood as a life-changing move but those are probably one-off cases. They see mothers as women trapped, bored, and in a hopeless daily rut, with frayed nerves smearing their sanity.

A mother’s life is one of leisure scarcity. On a good night, she gets five or less hours of sleep. When a child is sick, she gets much lesser. There’s all that laundry to get done and ketchup stains to erase. Endless meals to serve on time. Early morning lifts with earsplitting shrill, instead of an uplifting cup of coffee, because the baby’s dia-

per is wet and heavy. The kids forever at sword’s point. The years of tiny commotions. Teenagers night-owling somewhere past Cinderella hours. And at times, dealing with overripe infants.

But guess what? When you leave home to have a life of your own, your suitcase will be packed with a heavy load, an existential debt, but none of the actual money debts that are paid out.

Gratitude, memories of love your o w n mothering in-

stincts will have learned from her such as those hallmark, all-time mother lines: “I told you so!” Those finger-waggings to remind you time and again: “Do not play ball inside the house!” The parting words when you went out on dates: “Guard those hormonal stirrings, my dear. Save something for the wedding day.” Old-fashioned morality, you thought, but it ought to work out well.

And the meals! The thousand meals she did! The feasts she did with all the left-over food!

The kisses that bandaged the knee scrapes—always predictably sweet, always predictably reassuring. And you know she will be there with you with her I-love-youno-matter-what resolve.

Nothing like a woman who’s ten-

der but can apply vicious karate chops at bullies in the neighborhood. You know she’ll walk through fire for you.

And at the restful end of her life, there’s nothing corny about giving her a bunch of flowers on Mother’s Day. With her, your world has become bigger.

Additional photos by Diana B. Noche

NOTHING LIKE A MOM’S LOVE. No matter what we do, it is true that our mothers is the only person who will be there for us.

Samsung launches its ‘best TV yet’

By Bernadette Lunas IN MANY households, a television serves as the centerpiece of the living room, drawing the family together when their favorite show is on or the movie is playing.

Over the years, the demand for shinier, bigger, smarter TV has grown stronger that manufacturers bent on keeping a hold of the market continuously roll out shinier, bigger, smarter TVs. Since its entry into the television business 13 years ago, Samsung has been changing the field.

“Over the years, what we watch, Lauro Guevara, Samsung Philippines’ head of product marketing for TV and audio

when we watch, and how we watch have changed. And Samsung has been pushing the boundaries for quality and innovation,” said Lauro Guevara, head of product marketing for TV and audio at Samsung Philippines.

A few years ago, the South Korean tech giant introduced quantum dot LCD TV—which it branded SUHD and later renamed QLED. It addressed changing consumer expectations with seamless connectivity, smart capabilities, and cutting-edge design “that looks beautiful in any space.”

As the market opts for larger screens, as Guevara reported that “in

Samsung QLED 8K introduces a new kind of picture quality with its Quantum Processor 8K, which can produce unparalleled detail and depth in images—almost true-to-life.

the last year, demand has doubled in the Philippines for ultra large TV (75 inches, that is),” Samsung has finally brought to the country its “best TV yet,” the QLED 8K TV. “We want you to experience Samsung’s greatest offering to Filipino homes,” enthused James Jung, president of Samsung Philippines. “The QLED 8K TV is a giant leap into a world of incredible picture quality and adaptive intelligence technology, showing de-

tails so refined that you feel right into the center of each scene.”

The brand achieved its real 8K resolution visuals thanks to its Quantum Processor 8K, which it said can produce unparalleled detail and depth in images seen on large screens boasting over 33 million pixels, and four times the resolution of 4K UHD TVs. “8K resolution results in true-to-life images—you can see up to intricate details of a raindrop,” said Mahir Al-

Rubah, product marketing manager for audio.

Its AI Upscaling technology automatically enhances people, objects, textures, and colors, depicting scenes of films and shows as close to perfect reality, or exactly as their directors intended.

In addition, the AI Upscaling function can transform any content resolution, from any source, to Turn to C2

C2

Life

T

Vicki Belo and Scarlet Snow

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

HE relationship between a mother and her daughter is one of the powerful bonds in the world— it impacts the way the latter brings up her own children.

Spending time together is vital in strengthening such bond.

bond on the Mama Chair

Doctor to the stars Vicki Belo is a big believer of the importance of spending time with her kids and doing things together daily. Fortunately for her, she can do it with her youngest, Scarlet Snow.

She had Quark at 23 when she was too young to be a mom, and two years later she gave birth to Cristalle while she was busy in med school.

“With Scarlet, I’m already settled, my career is okay. I have more time,” shared Dr. Belo.

Over the years, Dr. Belo’s parenting style has evolved, with the help of constant prayer that she will be a good mother who can balance discipline with a lot of love.

During a shoot for B & B Italia’s iconic Serie Up Armchair (fondly known as Mama Chair), which marks its 50 years, Dr. Belo shared the fulfilling journey of motherhood and how she’s going through it with her rising star daughter.

“Scarlet is a combination of an adult and a child. Her thinking process is so advanced; she picks up on things quickly and is very observant. In fact, upon seeing the iconic Mama Chair at the Dr. Vicki Belo with her daughter Scarlet Snow bonding on the Mama Chair.

B&B Italia BGC showroom, Scarlet immediately exclaimed that her Tita Virgie For Dr. Belo and her husband, why we’re sending her to a Christian she comes out the most intelligent per(Ramos of Swatch) has the same chair,” Hayden, character formation is more school, even if logic would dictate to son, a summa cum laude and her charshe related. important than anything else. “This is send her to an international school. If acter is not kind, loving, and God-

BEING a mother or an entrepreneur are two of the hardest jobs in the world, but many people are managing to do both at the same time thanks to eCommerce platforms that allow entrepreneurs to sell products and services anytime and anywhere.

Deciding to make the jump in juggling multiple roles is not an easy feat.

But these mompreneurs prove that it can be done with amazing devotion, passion, and pure determination.

fearing, it would be again not worth it,” she shared.

Like a mother’s hug

As she plans to spend more quality time with her daughter, Dr. Viki Belo shared she plans on putting the Mama Chair in Scarlet’s playroom.

She said fell in love with the Mama Chair because it reminds her of her mother-daughter bond with Scarlet. “I also like its shape which is so round, I feel that it wraps around me, making me feel secure.

It has no edges,” she explained.

Dr. Belo added, “I love the way that the ball is attached to the chair because the ball cannot go far away so the baby would always be attached to the mom. They can roll around but not too far away.”

Created by avant-garde Italian architect Gaetano Pesce, the Mama Chair was the designer’s abstract depiction of a mother and child and a critique of women’s oppression when it was first introduced in Italy in 1969. Fifty years later, it has become a work of art and a symbol of women empowerment.

Pondering on the chair’s history, Dr. Belo said she believes that all women are empowered differently. “The trick is, you find what it is that you’re really good at. Always search why God put you here. Find something that will contribute to people’s lives and that will enrich and empower you as a woman in the process.”

To view the Mama Chair and other premiere B&B Italia items, visit the Twenty Four Seven showroom at Bonifacio Global City or log on to www. bebitaliamanila.com.

From mommies to mompreneurs

From a full-time working mother, to a self-sufficient business owner

OFWs celebrate Mother’s Day by sending money to their moms.

How OFWs honor their mothers

ACCORDING to a data from a digital international remittance service, money transfers to the Philippines during the week leading up to Mother’s Day increased by 13 percent last year.

The number highlighted how overseas Filipino workers show their love and appreciation for their mothers.

In WorldRemit’s survey of its customers, 62 percent of those who send money said they send money to their moms in the Philippines.

While majority or 82 percent of the total 2,384 respondents said sending money was their way of celebrating the occasion.

Of those who send their moms money on Mother’s Day, 78 percent also give their mom a call, and 52 percent send her a gift.

“Mother’s Day is an important time for the 10 million Filipinos living and working abroad to show their moms that they’re thinking of them,” says Michael Liu, managing director for Asia-Pacific at WorldRemit.

To celebrate Mother’s Day this year, WorldRemit is offering new customers zero fees on their first transfer if they use the code MDAYWR when making payment.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Shake Shack BGC will be serving Ube Shake and other Manila-exclusive items.

Shake Shack 1st PH store opens tomorrow THE wait is finally over as US burger joint Shake Shack opens its first Philippine branch May 10.

In addition to its signature items ShackBurger, Shack-cago Dog, and classic crinkle cut fries, Shake Shack’s BGC store will be serving Manila-exclusive menu.

“We’re thrilled to introduce our Manila-exclusive menu that features just a few of the flavors and ingredients we fell in love with, and are humbled to become part of this vibrant community,” said Shake Shack culinary director Mark Rosati, who was in the country recently to introduce the brand.

The Manila-exclusive menu includes Ube Shake (vanilla frozen custard ice cream blended with ube), Calamansi Limeade (a local twist on Shack’s classic lemonade), Uuuube-by baby (vanilla custard mixed with ube, coconut marshmallow, ube cookie, toasted coconut, and crispy pinipig), Shack Attack (chocolate custard with Bucky’s original brownie and Auro chocolate), Calamansi Pie Oh My (vanilla custard mixed with Wildflour Bakery’s calamansi pie).

Shake Shack Philippines is at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City along Fifth Avenue. The first 100 guests in line will get cool Shack swag. Fun activities are happening starting at 9:00 a.m. before the restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m.

The advent of eCommerce has allowed Anna Liza Dinco-Dime, a fulltime virtual assistant and a single mom of two, to finally put up her own business and start selling without a huge amount of capital. She started selling via social media but decided to quit and explore other platforms since she spent so much on ads yet it did not translate Anna Liza Dinco-Dime of MustHavePH into sales.

Once her Lazada store was already setup and orders were already coming But with the high cost and low traffic, in, she found out there were no pickups their earnings were not enough to break in their area, so she did her research and even, so they decided to pull out after signed up for Lazada’s FBL (Fulfill- two months.

With no means of providing for their ment by Lazada) service wherein seller ships its items to Lazada’s warehouse growing family and barely paying their and from thereon, Lazada is responsi- monthly rent and utilities, Mommy ble in processing, packing, and shipping Maylyn needed a plan B. So she used the printers on hand to sell custom shirts, these items out to customers.

In the recent 11.11 sale, she sold bags, and backpacks on Lazada. From more orders than she expected and didn’t encounter any problems since a drop off point was already available in her area.

“As a single mom, I always want to be able to provide the best future for my kids, and with the help of Lazada, I am able to save more money for myself and for my family,” she shares. Her store, MustHavePH on Lazada sells turmeric teas, serums, and body scrubs.

MustHavePH, selling turmeric tea, serums, and body scrubs have, at then on, their business continued to take present, far surpassed her initial capital. off—able to send their four children to private schools, invest in mutual funds, Fostering quality family time and pay their monthly bills on time.

Beyond generating additional inTo provide for her family, Maylyn Bartolome had to move to China as come for Maylyn, Lazada has allowed an overseas Filipino worker tutoring their family to be together. To this day, the children of her employer and do- DesignPlus on Lazada is the Bartolome ing household chores. She was earning family’s bread and butter. enough money but could not bear being Former graphic designer away from her family. turned big beauty brand After a year, she decided to move back owner home and used their family’s savings to Selling was innate for Nina Dizon, a set up their own customer printing business at a shopping mall in Quezon City. proud mom of two and a former graphic

Samsung...

From C1

8K quality. This means, any content from any source—a streaming service, cable TV, USB, HDMI, or screen mirroring—will immediately be detected and “upscaled.”

“With its Direct Full Array Technol-

ogy, the color is crisper and better contrast than QLED 4K,” added Al-Rubah.

Viewers can sit back and relax as the unit also comes with Bixby on TV, which takes care of searching through channels and selecting content for solo or family movie nights at home. Accessing Bixby also enables viewers to control their TV settings, check on weather updates, search and navigate

Colourette founder Nina Dizon

designer-turned-makeup line owner.

She was a micro-entrepreneur back in college, commissioning graphic logos for online sellers, venturing into selling ukay-ukay, then owning and operating her own online skin care brand Fairness & Flawless.

Mommy Nina took three courses but decided to drop out because she was determined to build and focus on her business, thus the birth of Colourette. Today, she takes pride in her locally-made lipstick, eye shadow palettes, face powder, brow pencils, and the like.

Since the brand first set foot on Lazada, Colourette has grown a lot receiving over 3,000 orders a day.

“Lazada really paved the way for greater brand recognition, the platform has aided in setting up the stage for Colourette to be among the top beauty brands of today,” she shared.

An advice from Nina, “Don’t be afraid to venture and get out of your comfort zone. You’re a mom and we all know we’ve got super powers, so might as well channel that into something that would help bring food to the table or even finance our future. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!”

Lazada offers fashion, beauty, and health items up to 90 percent off during the Women’s Festival sale on May 17-19. the Internet, and accomplish dozens of other tasks.

Another fun feature is the Magic Screen function that lets one convert their QLED TV into wall art, or even part of the wall, when not in use— making it a truly great and versatile centerpiece.

Samsung QLED 8K TV comes in 75, 82, and 98 inches.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

WWII spy documentary film wins world IP Day pitching showcase GENRE-BENDING documentary film project Looter by Jayson Bernard Santos bagged the Best Pitch award at a pitching showcase conducted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) for the World Intellectual Property Day celebration on April 27 at Novotel Manila Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Twenty-one Filipino feature and documentary film projects were chosen to join the pitching showcase, and Looter emerged as the victor.

Director Santos won $5,000 worth of grant courtesy of the MPA and will have the chance to participate in a four-day Film and Television Immersion Course in Los Angeles, California.

A SineSaysay finalist, Looter “melds the story of Naomi Flores and the women of the Philippine underground and espionage in World War 2. Straddling the line between different modes, the film employs creative techniques that are interspersed with archival footage, interviews, and unnerving dramatized sequences.

Meanwhile, Director Keith Sicat impressed the panel during the pitching showcase with his feature film project Unos, a sequel to TOFARM Film Festival’s Alimuom, which became the runner-up.

In celebration of the World Intellectual Property Day, a worldwide observance of spreading awareness about Intellectual Property (IP) rights, FDCP partnered with MPA to conduct a lecture series on Film Distribution, Intellectual Property Rights and Pitching Essentials to help raise understanding of IP rights of Filipino filmmakers. The event was supported by the Department of Trade and IndustryExpert Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

MPA, the major sponsor for the World IP Day celebration in the Philippines, is an international association that supports creators by

protecting copyrights, reducing piracy, and boosting market success.

As Philippine cinema heads toward a more global direction, FDCP champions the cause of promoting the IP rights of Filipino filmmakers and highlighting the importance of content protection.

“Our films hold a lot of promise and potential to compete in the global market. Having events like these pitching showcase and lecture series is a huge help to our filmmakers for them to learn more about tapping into the international audience and have better chances in penetrating world cinema.

They will also be empowered to bring more exceptional stories to the world, especially now that they have a deeper understanding of IP rights,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

From left: GMA executives Grace Dela Peña-Reyes, Marissa L. Flores, FX Design Group's Sarah Yates, GMA Network Chairman & CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, FX Design Group CEO & Creative Director Mack McLaughlin, and GMA's Michelle Seva.

GMA Network debuts state-of-the-art news set for Eleksyon 2019

H

OME to the country’s most credible broadcast news organization—GMA News and Public Affairs—media giant GMA Network debuts a P63-million news set in time for its Eleksyon 2019 coverage.

'Looter' director Jayson Bernard Santos

SNAPSHOT

Okada Manila’s side-splitting comedy showcase THE Coral Lounge, Okada Manila’s newest entertainment venue located at the upper ground floor of the Coral Wing, presented its first-ever Comedy Night featuring Wacky Kiray and TonTon Soriano.

Wacky Kiray was declared The Greatest Entertainer in the 2017 celebrity talent show I Can Do That, while TonTon regularly appears as the former’s sidekick in many live shows.

The comedic duo treated the guests

to a night of laughs and side-splitting entertainment.

Look forward to daily entertainment offered at the Coral Lounge only at Okada Manila, the country’s ultimate destination for world-class entertainment.

For more information on upcoming events and promotions, visit www. okadamanila.com, like Okada Manila on Facebook, and follow @okadamanila on Instagram and Twitter

The network’s multi-million investment covers the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and the latest in media technology that promises more engaging and compelling content for today’s viewers.

GMA News’ 360-degree set, which is designed to provide zero overshoots, features two Barco video walls, LED floor, LED video wall, and nine LFD monitors. In addition, augmented reality executions enable GMA News to effectively illustrate content for better consumption. Further setting the stage for innovation, the new set also sees a fully functional second floor.

“In this age where viewing habits continue to shift, we are committed to make our news delivery relevant to the ever-changing world of media consumption,” shares GMA Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores.

“We wanted a world-class set, with functionalities that will help us tell our stories better, and what better way to launch it than during our Eleksyon 2019 coverage,” she adds.

The new set and lighting are designed

by U.S. based company FX Design Group who is known for their use of cutting-edge technology in projects for

Alex...

From C4

bayan, sa ating kultura at sa ating mga tradisyon. Ito ang nais ibalik ng Juan Movementupang magkaroon tayo ng tamang pondasyon at tibay sa “Naniniwala ako na ang problema ating pagharap sa mga pagsubok na ng ating bayan ay nagmumula sa dumadating sa ating bayan.”

“Korek yan!” Alex excitedly kakulangan sa pagmamahal sa

Comic duo Wacky Kiray and Tonton

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

ACROSS 1 Caspian Sea feeder 6 Pious assents 11 Owns 14 Shady place 15 Do a road job 16 Mi. above sea level 17 Liking 18 Popeye’s girl 19 Personal history 20 From Oslo 22 PABA part 24 Unwilling one 28 Zipped over the ice 29 Provoke 30 Squelch 32 Reliable 33 Eat soup impolitely 35 Poor-box coins 39 Farm denizens 40 Secure a tent 41 Train track 42 Wool producers 43 Man-eating giants 45 Paquin of “The Piano” 46 Onetime Broncos QB John — 48 Vaccinate 50 Long-eared animals 53 Satisfies 54 Dalai Lama’s

city 55 Appearances 57 New World alliance 58 Garden dwellers 60 Subject matter 65 Hold gently 66 Rabbits’ kin 67 Pride members 68 Underhanded 69 Destroy data 70 Choose DOWN 1 Big tub 2 Mouths 3 Scale meas.

4 Figured out 5 Ice hockey locales 6 In — — (briefly) 7 Inch fractions 8 — McClurg 9 Reno loc.

10 Smuggles 11 Custom 12 Dress style (hyph.)

13 Put up with 21 Crude metals 23 Indian prince 24 Wood turner’s machine 25 Archer’s missile 26 Overcharge 27 Estimators 28 Exhaust

many of the world’s top broadcasters such as CNN, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, CCTV, The Golf Channel, and CNBC. FX has won numerous Emmy awards for both their set and lighting designs; several Promax BDA awards for broadcast design; and four Newscast Studio Set of the Year awards.

“It’s a breakthrough, kind of worldwide, not just Southeast Asia,” FX Design Group CEO & Creative Director Mack McLaughlin says about his firm being tapped by GMA Network for this innovation. “I think it’s going to be amazing… to launch a project of this size especially leading into the elections.”

GMA Network will also utilize the Oscar-award winning Mad About Technology (MAT) Towercam Twin Peek camera in the new set. The robotic overhead camera has been used in films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Casino Royale, Harry Potter, and The Help.

“With this camera system [MATTowercam], you can reach angles that you could not reach before,” says Andreas Schuler, managing engineer for Mad About Technology.

At the same time, the Network will use stYpe’s RedSpy, an optical

30 Inquire about 31 Impulse 34 Org. for Annika Sorenstam 36 Narrow streets 37 Cut into small pieces 38 Mattress supports 43 Startled cries 44 Luxurious fabric 47 Detest 49 Snuggle 50 Alliances 51 Self-mover’s rental (hyph.)

52 Harsh-sounding 53 Marshal’s band 55 “Dr. Zhivago” role 56 Poet’s tributes 59 Dory’s need 61 Well output 62 Baltimore bard 63 Ltd. kin 64 Okla. zone

camera tracking system that will allow immersive graphics executions not just inside the studios but outdoors as well. stYpe is a recipient of an Emmy award in 2016 for Best Technical Studio as well as the IBC 2017 Innovation Award for Content Creation and Judge’s Prize. It won the Product of the Year for its new product “Follower” at the NAB 2019.

In tandem with the leading GFX solutions provider Vizrt, the RedSpy will take viewing experience to another level.

“We provide the best storytelling tools for the media industry. That’s what we do best. That’s what we do for GMA,” shares Nicholas Chan, regional manager of Vizrt Malaysia.

Worldwide, Vizrt caters to more than 5,000 clients and over the years has earned numerous recognitions including the IABM Game Changer Awards for Viz Story, IBC Awards VRT EBU Live IP for Viz Engine, and MediaBrand 2014 Award for RT/Viz Engine.

Last year, GMA Network invested P154 million on a Newsroom Automation System (NAS) through a MOA signing with Vizrt. The NAS enables GMA News to have an integrated workflow by allowing its news teams to produce reports faster and with more details and background information matched with precise video materials and sound bites. GMA was the first channel in the Philippines to go with Vizrt.

Discover more about this state-of-theart equipment and the latest in media technology as GMA News unveils its new set during the Eleksyon 2019 coverage on May 13.

agreed in her trademark cute and quirky way. “Dapat proud ka sa pagiging Pinoy, proud ka kung saan ka nanggaling. Right now na palakas ng palakas angsocial media, nagkakaroon ulit ng colonialism dahil sa dami na nakikita natin outside our country. Ang dami ko nang nakikilala na parang nahihiya sila sabihin kung saan sila galing, kung sino sila… pero lahat ng pinanggalingan mo, ‘yan ang kailangan mo para sa pupuntahan mo.”

In addition to fostering patriotism and love of country, Juan Movement also aims to promote and strengthen Filipino industry, agriculture, and commerce. And as Alex proudly intimated to the entertainment press, this includes the Philippine movie industry.

Reverting to Llave for the details, the first nominee explained, “I believe that our movie industry must be given more significant incentives in terms of government investment in the field of arts and culture, particularly in supporting the training of our technical staff so that we are assured of the continuous production of quality movies that promote the positive side of our culture, as well as to be able to confidently compete with the foreign movies that are shown in the local market.”

Clapping her hands together, the playful but seriously pro-Filipino celebrity quickly exclaimed, “And that is why I stand with Juan Movement, bilang isang Bagong Pilipinong may pagmamahal sa ating bayan!”

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

Alex calls out the Filipino in every ‘Juan’ GALAWGAW. Kalog. Jologs. Nakaaliw.

That’s Alex Gonzaga’s on-screen image in a nutshell. That is why not a few were surprised to see her actively campaigning for a party list with a powerful advocacy. After all, it is unlike the bubbly and carefree younger sister of Toni Gonzaga and Luis Manzano’s wise-cracking best friend to stake her playful image and throw her hat into the current mayhem of Philippine politics.

So why has she decided to join the ranks of showbiz personalities who constantly link their names to different po-

litical candidates and parties whenever the political season comes around?

“I know that people say that whenever we come to an election year, it’s open season for those of us in showbiz for politicos looking for popular endorsers,” a serious-looking Alex began. “But for me, it’s not as simple as that. Kailangan ay naniniwala ako sa ipino-promote ko. Mahirap hilingin sa tao na iboto ang isang tao o party na hindi mo pinaniniwalaan. That is why I immediately said yes to Juan Movement Party List when they asked me to endorse them.”

Juan Movement is a party list that

claims to be the party list of the new Filipino. According to their most famous supporter, she saw for herself that it is different from most party lists that merely promise the delivery of projects which are already provided by government whether at the national or local levels. Juan Movement is set apart with its formidable message and advocacy that aims to imbibe Filipino pride in everyone.

“Someone once said that sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward, and I firmly believe in that,” quipped Jun Llave, Juan Movement’s first nominee. Continued on C3

Miracle comes in pair for

MAR and KORINA I

T TOOK a long time for VERY broadcast journalist Korina WANG Sanchez and husband Mar NICKIE Roxas to have children of their WANG own. With one of her ovaries removed years ago, successfully producing egg cells was nothing but a miracle for Korina.

“The process was tedious, we were dealing with a facility in India for years until their law on surrogacy changed.

Then, Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho recommended a group based in the US. Their facility is like a concierge, there are medical experts, lawyers, and surrogates. They prepare everything,” the veteran journalist shared with the entertainment press in a lunch hosted by the couple. The couple considers Pepe and Pilar as a miracle as they have been planning their “baby project” for years. And now, they can truly say that the happiness they share is 100 percent complete.

Pepe and Pilar were delivered on Feb. 12, at 1:00 p.m. in Pittsburgh, USA. Pepe was born first at 5.4 lbs. while Pilar was born after an hour at 4.10 lbs.

Both Mar and Korina are naturals as they both adore children and young ones, only this time, they will be loving and taking care of their own.

For years the individual careers of Mar and Korina took over their lives and it seemed that their “baby project” would never come into fruition. But as they say, everything happens in God’s perfect time and the couple believes that this is the perfect season in their lives to have babies.

“Although I’ve always loved children, there was a time I thought it wouldn’t happen anymore. But I hardly accept the word ‘impossible’ just like that. Only then can you be sure you gave it your all. Yes, I prayed. But we did the work God blessed our efforts.

Mar is inspired to lead his children to how he defines as a best life,” said an exuberant Korina.

Asked how she felt being a first-time mom, the Rated K host had to think of the right words to say as she herself had mixed emotions, she was even preoccupied before the birth of the twins.

“The feeling was strange. Every time people ask me ‘What’s the feeling?’

I don’t know, I was busy the whole time until I boarded the plane to see the twins. I couldn’t bond with them right away because I had caregivers. I was also worried, I felt weird thinking, ‘Is this postpartum? I’m not even the one who carried these babies. Apparently, most mothers I know said that they were feeling the same thing, they went through the same stage,” she related.

With the arrival of Pepe and Pilar, the couple

Jun Llave and Alex Gonzaga

felt a mixture of uncertainty, worry, and anxiety which eventually turned into pure joy and the most fulfilling adventure that they are having as a married couple.

“We weren’t married yet when we both decided to freeze our embryos,” revealed Korina. “Mar and I were just waiting for the perfect time to start a family.”

Mar and Korina are hopeful to be guided to raise their children properly as responsible, loving, compassionate, and God-fearing individuals.

“They ask me what I dream for kids to become later on. I want to guide them in a specific direction. I want to see what they will love and be good at. So, my role really is to get them to develop to the fullest whatever potentials they show. But the most essential is to each be a good person, helpful to people, compassionate, purposeful, God-fearing, and inspiring. If you are that, you are happy. Happiness defines success,” shared Mar. Indeed, the life of Mar and Korina has become more colorful and exciting because of the little angles that heaven blessed them with. It is a new chapter for Mar and Korina—a chapter that is more purpose-driven, one that is full of love and laughter, which they will enjoy for years to come.

It’s truly a grand slam homerun win for Mar and wife Korina as the ultimate birthday dream for the politician is finally a reality with the arrival of their fraternal twins to their lives.

‘Avengers’ blast past ‘Titanic’ to all-time No. 2

Main characters in the final installment of 'Avengers' movie series.

DISNEY and Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame has stormed into historic territory, earning $2.19 billion worldwide in less than two weeks to become the No. 2 film of all time, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

That exalted number, which includes the film’s estimated take of $145.8 million this threeday weekend in North America, pushes the superhero blockbuster past Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which netted $2.07 billion, and even Titanic ($2.18 billion).

Only Avatar ($2.79 billion) has done better. Yet Avengers hit its record total in just 11 days, taking in a stunning $575.8 million in China alone.

Hollywood analysts predict a long run for Avengers, which drew a

rare 96 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website and features a star-studded cast including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, and Josh Brolin.

Trailing Avengers by several light years, rival studios still managed to place new films in the next three boxoffice spots.

Sony’s psychological thriller The Intruder came in second, at $11 million.

Lionsgate’s romantic comedy Long Shot was in third place, STX Films’ animated film UglyDolls placed fourth, at $8.5 million, and in fifth place, hanging strong in its ninth week out, was Disney’s Captain Marvel, at $4.3 million. AFP

Catching the wave home with ‘Coke Studio Summer Concert’

KZ Tandingan and Apl.de.Ap share the stage at 'Coke Studio Summer Concert'

EXPLORING new places, having a quick family getaway, and taking a trip back home to see your childhood friends and meeting new faces are just some of the things that we look forward to when we come home for the summer.

Every year, we always think of ways on how to make our vacay fresh, exciting, and special. And Coke just gave us the ultimate summer experience with the Coke Studio Summer Concert Concert.

Happened on April 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena and hosted by Ylona Garcia and Justin Quirino, Quirino the Coke Studio Concert was a gift from CocaCola to everyone for the overwhelming love and support they received for the Coke Studio Season 22.

Headlined by Coke Studio Season 2 artists, our summer became a wave ride of emotions and celebration from the variety of their lineup. Solo and

collaborative performances were given

by Sam Concepcion, Khalil Ramos, Quest, Patty Tiu, Ben & Ben, Kriesha Chu, Gab and John of Urbandub, Shanti Dope, Abra, IV of Spades, KZ Tandingan, Juan Miguel Severo, and Apl.de.ap.

Coke Studio Season 2 is about “homecoming” to our younger selves, homecoming to our roots and rich diversity. This is the time to look back on our first love, ups and downs, dreams, and self-discovery that ultimately all end up with coming home through our love for music.

Not only did the Coke Studio Summer Concert give us the ultimate summer experience from the production numbers, interactive and 360° OPM Concert Stage, it saves us from not having a summer “ganap,” but it also saved us bucks because the admission and of course fun and entertainment was absolutely free for everyone to enjoy.