Manila Standard - 2019 May 22 - Wednesday by Manila Standard

Fromer Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 97 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Morales denied entry into HK By Joel Zurbano, Rey Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Nat Mariano

COMELEC to poll winners: Not today

By Vito Barcelo

ORMER Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales, who had ﬁled a case against Chinese President Xi Jinping with another former government ofﬁcial before the International Criminal Court, was denied entry Tuesday by immigration authorities at a Hong Kong airport.

Hong Kong authorities have remained silent why she was banned from the Chinese special administrative region, nearly two months to the day after Morales, 78, and former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario who, in their 17-page complaint, said Xi and other officials should be held accountable for crimes against humanity. In a statement, Del Rosario likened to bullying Hong Kong’s denial of entry to Morales, saying “one of the reasons we had filed our case in the ICC is to be able to push back against the bullying and harassment that we have been encountering from our Goliath of a neighbor. “Today, with the holding of Morales by immigration authorities as a security risk presumably due to the ICC case that we had filed, we are experiencing more of the same.” The complaint was over the Chinese officials activities in the West Philippine Sea, where the complainants said Next page

THE proclamation of winning senatorial candidates was stalled again Tuesday as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) awaited the arrival of

‘‘

the certificate of canvass from Washington DC. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the remaining COC contains more than 200,000 votes, which may affect the 11th and 12th spots occupied by Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay. JV Ejercito and Paolo Benigno Next page

What do we say to the gods of proclamation? ‘Not today (Tuesday).’ - Comelec spokesman James Jimenez announcing the third postponement of the proclamation of the winning senatorial bets and partylist groups in the May 13 midterm polls PIGEONHOLED PROCLAMATION. For the second time this week, the Commission on Elections postponed the proclamation of the winning senatorial bets pending the arrival of the certificates of canvass from the United States. Ey Acasio

Chinese ‘clam boats’ return to SCS, think tank says Otso debacle prompts LP leaders to resign; Robredo disagrees By Rey E. Requejo and Nat Mariano

Sea after a significant decrease in activity since 2016. In its report published on May 20, A MARITIME think tank said Monday Asia Maritime Transparency Initiativethat China’s clam harvesting fleets have Center for Strategic and International returned to the disputed South China Studies said China’s “most destructive

boats,” the clam harvesting fleets, were sighted in the South China Sea over the last six months. “These fleets, which typically include dozens of small fishing vessels

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon their resignation. “The Vice President has not accepted Ramos-Araneta LIBERAL Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan and secretary general Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte resigned Tuesday to take responsibility for the party’s losses in the midterm elections, but LP chairman, Vice President Leni Robredo, rejected

TOKYO—A Tokyo police smartphone app to scare off molesters has become a smash hit in Japan, where women have long run the gauntlet of groping on packed Next page

By Nat Mariano

join their five male counterparts in the Top 10 Mabalasik Class 2019, with the top graduate cadette 1st class Dionne May Apolog Umalla of Alilem, Ilocos Sur. Dave Leprozo

Five women on top of PMA class ‘19 (Mabalasik) FORT DEL PILAR―The Philippine Military Academy on Tuesday announced the top 10 graduating members of the Mabalasik Class of 2019, which was led by Dionne Mae Apolog

Umalla of Alilem, Ilocos Sur. er, for finishing at the top of her class. PMA Superintendent Ronnie EvanShe will also receive the Philippine gelista said the 22-year-old Umalla, the Navy Saber, the Distinguished cadet valedictorian, will receive 14 special award (Starman), the Academic group awards, including the Presidential SabNext page

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday asked the Justice department to probe Ronald Cardema following his resignation as chairman of the National Youth Commission. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace had referred Cardema’s case to the department to determine the possible violations committed following his filing a certificate for substitution. “We referred the case of Cardema to the [department] because we have received reports that despite his filing a certificate of substitution, he presided over a meeting subsequent to that certification. So, we are referring the matter to the [department],” Panelo said. Meanwhile, the department said Tuesday it will investigate the circumstances surrounding the allegation that Cardema may have committed administrative and criminal liabilities when Next page

‘Bikoy’ subpoenaed over estafa case in Sorsogon; arrest warrants out By Rey E. Requejo THE Justice department has subpoenaed Peter Joemel Advincula, the selfconfessed “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narco List” videos, over a new estafa

complaint filed against him by an Albay-based businessman. The department sent the subpoena earlier this week to the last known address of Advincula in Sorsogon. Assistant State Prosecutor Herbert

Anti-groping app smash hit in Japan

Youth party chief faces DOJ probe

WOMEN POWER. Five females blaze a trail at the heretofore all-male dominated Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City as they

[their]...resignations. Much work remains to be done, and they will do it, together,” Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said in a statement. The LP-led Otso Diretso opposition slate was shut out of the winner’s circle in the senatorial races during the May

Calvin Abugan ordered Advincula to The investigating fiscal set the hearappear before the department and an- ings on May 28 and June 4 at 11 a.m. swer the complaint filed by Arven ValIn his complaint filed on May 10, mores of Ardeur World Marketing over Valmores said Advincula did not attend a beauty pageant organized by the re- the pageant held on Aug. 11, 2018, after spondent last year. Next page

G.O.T. finale draws 19.3-million viewers LOS ANGELES—The finale of “Game of Thrones” drew a staggering 19.3-million viewers in the US Sunday evening, cementing the fantasy epic’s status as the most Next page

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Marawi residents: Home again D

ISPLACED residents of Marawi City in certain areas of ground zero may start returning to their homes in July for repair works after more than two years since the Marawi siege, ofﬁcials have said.

This, as the debris clearing operations have been moving smoothly despite previous legal constraints, the Task Force Bangon Marawi said on Monday. Task force chairperson Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who also heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, discussed updates on the government’s rehabilitation efforts in war-torn Marawi City ahead of its second anniversary, during the third episode of “The Virtual Presser.” Del Rosario said the return of resi-

dents would be conducted in phases, allowing two of the nine sectors in the most affected areas every month, given that they have secured their repair permits from the city government. “We can say that the debris management is going on smoothly and we are on target. In fact, starting July of the year— July 30—we will start allowing the residents to go back in Sector 1. (Sectors) 2 and 3 will be in August, and the last will be (in) November, wherein Sectors 8 and 9 will be allowed to come in to repair their

destroyed building,” he said. This, after the clearing of unexploded explosives and ordinances was stopped in November until February due to legal problems. Nevertheless, Del Rosario said debris management operations were now 90 percent complete. He added that the displaced families from the most affected areas might reside in their homes by the “early part of 2020” when water and electricity facilities would already be available. Some 17,000 to 18,000 of the 44,000 displaced families are currently living in evacuation centers provided by the government, while others are staying with their relatives in nearby areas. The government provided about 1,750

temporary shelters and it intends to complete 4,500 more by the end of the year. It is also conducting land development for the construction of about 1,500 permanent units as donated by the San Miguel Foundation. Moreover, the TFBM said it was confident that the government would complete repair of the most affected area by December 2021, despite the delays. This also includes the construction of 24 infrastructure projects that will start in the third quarter of the year. “The timeline is not adversely affected whatsoever. The government will complete the rehabilitation of the most affected area by December of 2021. We are confident in [the] December 2021 deadline. It is very attainable,” Del Rosario said. PNA

SolGen gets Canada to take back trash ‘sooner than later’ red flag over P1.2-m expenses By Nat Mariano

THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Office of the Solicitor General for its expenses on foreign trips, office supplies and equipment, and seminars and meetings in expensive hotels and restaurants in violation of government audit and procurement rules. Solicitor General Jose Calida was told to stop holding seminars and meetings in hotels in Makati City, and hold them instead in its office or in governmentowned properties to save money. In its 2018 annual audit report, the Commission flagged the OSG for spending P1.2 million for the payment of services and the rent of spaces in Abuelas Restaurant, IM Hotel, World Hotel Makati and El Cielito Tourist Inn. The OSG’s most expensive activities were a quality management system documentation training and an awareness seminar at IM Hotel that cost the government P252,000 and P243,000, respectively. “The seminars/trainings could have been done in the office premises, government facilities or in hotels and restaurants used for government sponsored international conventions, meetings and the like that would charge lower costs,” the report read. Rio N. Araja

COMELEC... From A1 Aquino IV were a close 13th and 14th. As of May 21, the Comelec’s partial and official tally was at 98.80 percent Revilla had 14,608,102 votes, Binay had 14,484,839, and close behind were Ejercito with 14,281,173 and Aquino with 14,117,528. “It looks like today [Tuesday] is not the day for the proclamation,” Jimenez said in a press briefing. The poll body had originally aimed for a Sunday proclamation, which was moved to Tuesday because of CoCs that had not yet been tallied. “Very sorry to disappoint everyone. We are currently canvassing the returns from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we have to await the returns from Washington because they represent more than 200,000 registered voters,” Jimenez said. “In order to make sure that there will no longer be a movement in the ranking of our elected officials, we need to get that…so not today,” he added. Jimenez said they expected the electronic transmission of the results Tuesday night. The National Board of Canvassers had already canvassed 166 CoCs out of 167 as of Tuesday noon. Also on Tuesday, the maritime Partylist Angkla and the SB Party-list petitioned the Supreme Court to prohibit the Comelec from proclaiming party-list representatives based on the allocation of seats and instead uphold the Court’s July 9, 2009 resolution which ruled as unconstitutional the 2 percent threshold only in relation to the distribution of additional seats in Congress.

‘Bikoy’... From A1 using the corporate name and logo of Valmores’ business―without his consent―for promotion. Valmores said the respondent “became unreachable, thereby leaving all the members of the production staff unpaid.” The complainant said he had to shell out P304,422 to cover the expenses of the pageant as the production staff and pageant winners sought redress. Advincula surfaced on May 6 to

THE tons of rotting Canadian rubbish wrongly labeled as recyclables will be sent back to Canada “sooner than later,” the Palace said on Tuesday. In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Canadian government had ordered a shipping company to handle the logistics of the retrieval process. “The DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] issued a statement that the Canadian government has already directed a

Morales... From A1 these activities deprived Filipino fishermen of food and livelihood. Soon as news of the entry denial reached the Philippines, Malacañang said the government would assist Morales, regardless of her “political persuasion.” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said he had requested Foreign Undersecretary Ernesto Abella to assist Morales, a former Supreme Court associate justice, and her family in their travel dilemma. Morales, whose younger brother Lucas Jr. is the father-in-law of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, flew to Hong Kong with her children and grandchildren for a family vacation Tuesday morning, but she was barred from entering administrative region, official sources said. Four unidentified companions were admitted, according to Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, who is in Myanmar, who was quoted by officials as saying Morales was “refused entry” with airport officials saying only “this is an instruction.” Morales and the others denied entry were expected back to Manila Tuesday night, although Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan said they were allowed entry at around 3 p.m. but she decided to just take the flight back home.

Otso... From A1 13 elections. Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, an LP member, confirmed the resignation of the two party officials but played it down, it saying, “It was a courtesy resignation as an aftermath of the election.” Lagman and Belmonte are among few the LP members who won seats in the next Congress. Defeated Otso Diretso candidate and

Five women... From A1 award, the Humanities plaque, the Management plaque, the Social Sciences plaque, the Natural Sciences plaque, the Computing and Information Sciences plaque, the Department of Leadership plaque, the Joint United States Military Assistance Group award, the Australian Defense best overall performance, the Spanish Armed Forces award, and the Association of Generals and Flag Officers award. claim that he was the Bikoy in the videos that accused several members of the presidential family of links to the illegal drug trade in the country. He held a press conference inside the office of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and sought legal assistance from the group, which later on rejected the request due to its political nature. The Philippine National Police has found that Advincula is wanted for cases of estafa and illegal recruitment. In Sept. 2007, Baguio RTC Judge Ruben Ayson issued an arrest warrant against Advincula for illegal recruitment.

Manila Water consumers gain rebate—MWSS By Rio N. Araja CUSTOMERS of Manila Water Co. Inc. identified as “severely” affected by its massive water interruptions for at least seven days in March shall receive a P2,197.94 rebate starting June. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s chief regulator Patrick Ty said all residential customers of Manila Water will receive a minimum rebate of P153.93 for the consumption of 10 cubic meters. For those “severely-affected” customers or those without water supply for seven consecutive days will receive an additional P2,197.94 on top of the P153.93 bill rebate, he said. At least 140,000 customers stand to enjoy such rebate in their June water bill. Ty clarified that should a customer consume less in June, the remaining amount can be used in the next billing. The rebate is separate from the onetime bill waiver scheme the Manila Water gave households severely affected by the supply interruption in March. The amount shall come from the P534.05-million penalty imposed by MWSS on Manila Water for failure to meet its service obligation of providing non-stop water supply to all its consumers seven days a week. Apart from the P534-million fine, MWSS ordered Manila Water to provide P600 million for the development of a new water supply source.

shipping company to get the trash back. And according to them, it will be sooner than later,” Panelo, without mentioning an exact date, told Palace reporters. On Monday, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda bared the government saw “no hindrance” to shipping out the waste containers. According to him, the Canadian government tasked France-based transport company Bollore to handle the shipping procedures. “We expect this to go faster... It’s now only a matter of coordination,” he added.

Manila had earlier set a May 15 deadline for Ottawa to take the tons of trash back after President Rodrigo Duterte berated Canada over the issue last month. Canada has since maintained it was already working to arrange for the containers’ return. But they failed to comply with the one-week due date given by the President. The Bureau of Customs said last week the country was ready to send back the waste, but Canada needed several more weeks to prepare documentation.

Chinese Embassy officials in Manila earlier said Beijing would just ignore the case filed against Xi by Morales and Del Rosario. In related developments: • Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Philippines might not question the decision of the Hong Kong authorities for denying entry to Morales. Guevarra stressed that entry or refusal to allow foreigners to any country was a sovereign prerogative of any state. Nonetheless, Guevarra admitted that Morales might have been denied entry by HK immigration authorities due to her filing of a complaint against Xi. “I can’t find any reason for this incident except former Ombudsman Morales’ filing of a complaint against China’s President Xi before the International Criminal Court,” Guevarra said, in a text message. “Regardless of the reason, however, we may not question the action taken by Chinese immigration officials, as the entry of foreigners or the refusal thereof is the exclusive and sovereign prerogative of any country,” Guevarra added. • In the Senate, Senator Francis Pangilinan stressed that Hong Kong authorities’ holding of Morales was a clear retaliation for her courageous act of bringing China to Court. “Knowing the former Ombudsman, this will not deter her from pursuing the case,” he said.

As such, he said the act of deporting Morales would only further strengthen her resolve. “It has also exposed China’s resolve to go after those who oppose and refuse to accept their illegal acts committed in the West Philippine Sea,” he added. • Morales’ lawyer Anne Marie Corominas said the former Ombudsman called her from Hong Kong to inform her of the situation. “She has committed no crime. She’s only exercised her democratic rights as a Filipino citizen,” Corominas said. “How is a 78-year-old former anti-corruption Ombudswoman a security threat?” Locsin, in his Twitter account, said: “Our Hong Kong consul asked if he could sponsor or guarantee her stay but Hong Kong refused. “While awaiting her flight back [later joined by her companions], we sent our ATN [Assistance-to-Nationals] officer to keep her company and bring her food because she refused to eat the food offered by airport officials.” Locsin added: “She’s in high spirits and in a wheelchair in a detention room at the airport. “Later Hong Kong authorities okayed her entry, but she and her family had already decided to go back to Manila on the 6 p.m. PAL (Philippine Airlines) flight. That is all that’s known...” Locsin added.

Rep. Gary Alejano said “despite the dismal electoral outcome,” he did not attribute the loss to a failure of leadership in managing the campaign. “The LP membership from the bottom, including our cadre of volunteers, continues to maintain our confidence in Senator Pangilinan’s leading our party in these difficult times.” Belmonte, meanwhile, warned of a “tyranny of the supermajority” as President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies won seats in droves. Belmonte vowed to oppose the supermajority tooth and nail.

“There may be few of us but right or wrong cannot be determined by the raising of hands,” he said. As campaign manager for the Otso Diretso slate, Pangilinan said he was unable to ensure their victory in the last elections. The Otso Diretso candidates were Aquino, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tanada, election lawyer Romulo Makalintal, outgoing Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

Umalla, the daughter of a retired teacher, is the fifth female cadet to top her class since the academy started accepting women in what used to be a male-only institution. The first was Arlene dela Cruz in 1999, Tara Velasco in 2003, Andrelee Mojica in 2007, and Rovi Mariel Martinez in 2017. Joining Umalla are Jonathan Eslao Mendoza, the class “Baron” or brigade commander who will join the Philippine Air Force. He is from Sangley Point in Cavite and the son of an enlisted personnel from the Philippine Air Force.

Landing in third spot was Jahziel Gumapac Tandoc from La Trinidad, Benguet. Completing the top 10 wre Daniel Heinz Bugnozen Lucas of Barlig, Mountain Province (4th); Aldren Maambong Altamero of Kidapawan, North Cotabato (5th); Richard Balabag Lonogan of Sagada, Mountain Province (6th); Marnel Dinihay Fundales of Legales, Iloilo (7th); Glyn Elinor Buansi Marapao of Buguias, Benguet (8th); Ruth Angelique Ricardo Pasos of Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City (9th); and Daryl James Jalgalado Ligutan of Sta. Mesa, Manila (10th). PNA

he still presided over a meeting of the NYC despite having filed for substitution to become the first nominee for the Duterte Youth party-list. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Panelo had requested his department to investigate Cardema to determine if charges could be filed against him. Panelo said he had received a text message from another unregistered number informing him that Cardema allegedly led a meeting under the NYC. “I received a text message. Unfortunately again, the sender is not in my directory,” Panelo told reporters. “You know, if he really presided, that will be recorded, that’s supposed to be recorded. All meetings of the Commission is recorded, it will reflect, it will be there on the record.” Panelo said the Justice department would investigate the allegations that Cardema only used his post and the Commission’s resources to promote the Duterte Youth party-list. With Rey E. Requejo

Anti-groping... From A1

or produces a full-screen SOS message—which victims can show other passengers—reading: “There is a molester. Please help.” The app has been downloaded more rush-hour trains. Victims of groping can activate the than 237,000 times, an “unusually high Digi Police app, which either blasts out figure” for a public service app, said poa voice shouting “stop it” at top volume, lice official Keiko Toyamine.

“Thanks to its popularity, the number is increasing by some 10,000 every month,” Toyamine told AFP. Victims are often too scared to call out for help, she said. But by using the SOS message mode, “they can notify other passengers about groping while remaining silent.” AFP

platforms—HBO, HBO Go, and HBO NOW—and exceeded the previous series high of 18.4-million viewers set last week. “Season 8 of Game of Thrones is watched television series in HBO history. The streaming service said the re- averaging 44.2-million viewers per cord number of viewers was across all episode in gross audience, an increase

of more than 10 million viewers when compared to Season 7,” HBO said in a statement to AFP. “In addition, the episode scored the most-watched single telecast record on HBO ever, with 13.6-million viewers for the 9:00 p.m. airing,” it added.

G.O.T.... From A1

Chinese... From A1 accompanied by a handful of larger ‘motherships,’ destroy vast swaths of coral reef in order to extract endangered giant clams,” AMTI-CSIS said. AMTI-CSIS noted that since late 2018, the fleets, as shown by the satellite imagery, have been operating at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal and throughout the Paracels, including at Bombay Reef. “The clam boats have also returned to Scarborough Shoal, which is a particularly sensitive issue in Sino-Philippine relations,” the report said. “The reef was already extensively damaged by the earlier phase of clam harvesting up to 2016. But imagery from December 2018 reveals the return of a large number of clam boats,” it added. Scarborough is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Earlier, the Philippine government protested China’s extraction of giant clams from Scarborough Shoal, calling it an affront on the country’s sovereignty. In April, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Manila filed a diplomatic protest and will be taking legal action against China over the incident.

Youth party... From A1

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOJ ends probe of Subic trader’s slay, issues PHDO vs. suspects

‘DU30 to get more support in 2022 polls’ A REELECTED congressman from the Bicol Region on Tuesday said that potential candidates in the 2022 elections are expected to ﬂock to President Rodrigo Duterte because of “the nowproven transferability of his popular backing to his chosen candidates.” Thus, “Malacañang is likely to secure greater support for its legislative agenda in the incoming 18th Congress, most especially from legislators who will seek reelection or run for different or higher elective posts in 2022,” Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said. Noting the debacle of the Otso Diretso opposition slate in the senatorial polls, Villafuerte said legislators who plan to run in the 2022 polls will extend full backing to the administration’s priority bills during the remaining half of the Duterte presidency, in the hope of eventually securing his public endorsement of their possible stab in the 2022 elections. Maricel V. Cruz

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice on Tuesday concluded its preliminary investigation on the killing of Subicbased businessman Dominic Sytin in November last year. This came after DOJ’s panel of prosecutors led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera directed the respondents to submit their memorandum before the case is submitted for resolution. In the last hearing, the Philippine National Police and the victim’s widow Ann Marietta filed their reply and insisted on the murder and frustrated murder charges against the respondents led by the victim’s younger brother Dennis. Meanwhile, the Angeles City Regional Trial Court issued a precautionary hold departure order against Dennis and two other respondents Oliver Fuentes and arrested gunman Edgardo Luib. The RTC issued the order upon request by prosecutors to prevent the possible flight of the respondents. “There is probable cause to believe that respondents Dennis Sytin, Oliver Fuentes and Edgardo Luib will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of crime against them,” read the PHDO signed by Executive Judge Omar Viola. Dennis earlier denied the charges, saying there was no clear and categorical evidence to support Luib’s claim. The businessman and executive of vehicle importer Uniter Auctioneers Inc. said he never met Luib and that the evidence pointed to the other respondent, Oliver Fuentes alias Ryan Rementilla, as brains of the killing. Luib was arrested in Batangas last March 5. He executed an extrajudicial confession that identified the younger Sytin as the mastermind and tagged Fuentes in the killing. Luib said he was promised P1 million to kill Dominic, but was paid only P50,000.

GARBAGE OUT. Environmental activists belonging to the waste and pollution watch group EcoWaste coalition, protest outside the Canadian Embassy in Manila on May 21, to push the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speed up the removal of their garbage out of Manila and Subic Ports. AFP

Fil-Am smuggling liquid marijuana into PH nabbed By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

OVERNMENT agents foiled an attempt of an international drug syndicate using the country’s postal system to smuggle liquid marijuana.

On Monday, Customs operatives assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrested a FilipinoAmerican and conﬁscated from his possession a parcel of 30 vape cartridge containing the prohibited liquid substance from China. The suspect, 27-year-old Hamre Tamayo Orion Alfonso of Wisconsin, USA and temporarily residing at Merville Subd., Parañaque City, was arrested after he claimed the parcel at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. Based on documents, one Michael Arash Abedzadeh of Shanghai, China sent to Alfonso the said parcel which he misdeclared as chocolates when it arrived at CMEC last March. CMEC Customs collector Nora

Penalty awaits those behind train collision —Tugade Palace lauds By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation said Tuesday that it will penalize individuals who will be found responsible for the cause of the train collision on Light Rail Transit Line 2 between Cubao and Anonas Stations on Saturday night. DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said he wants clear and unequivocal answers on the reason behind the collision. “Ang gusto ko, alamin dapat kung ano ang nangyari at sabihin sa akin nang diretsahan: Is this an accident? Is this a freak accident? If so, say it and why? Was there negligence? If so, tell me so that I can run after those who committed negligence. Uusigin ko talaga kayo,” he said. A fact-ﬁnding committee was established on Sunday, May 19, by Light Rail Transit Authority Administrator Reynaldo Berroya to determine the cause of the collision of two trains that left 30 passengers and four LRT-2 personnel injured. In light of the incident, the transportation chief also pointed out that the collision served as a wake-up call to revisit the agency’s policies and procedures in operating LRT-2. He reiterated that the DOTr, together with the LRTA, is taking the incident seriously, and exerting all efforts to prevent its recurrence. “Tinitingnan ho namin ito bilang wake-up call o lesson, nang sa gayon ay hindi na maulit. Malungkot na nangyaring may aksidente. Wala hong may kagustuhan niyan. Pinangako ho namin ang comfort and convenience ng mga pasahero kaya’t dapat protektado ang mga mananakay. Dapat laging una ang kanilang kaligtasan at seguridad,” Tugade added. On Saturday, May 18, a train parked at an inclined position on a pocket track near Anonas Station suddenly went down and ran through the eastbound track going to Cubao. The parked train, which was under maintenance, collided with an active train coming from Cubao Station with passengers onboard. Through the LRTA control center, instructions were immediately relayed to the driver of the active train to go on full stop, an instruction that was quickly complied with.

Cawili said they notiﬁed the consignee regarding his parcel from China and he appeared last Monday to claim it. Four months ago, Customs agents also seized at CMEC smuggled liquid marijuana from San Diego, California consigned to a minor. A total of 51 pieces liquid marijuana cartridges were intercepted. The parcel was declared as pen ink cartridges and candies, and was consigned to a minor who claimed the package three days after Customs agents discovered it. The parcel was shipped from Santee in San Diego, California. As this developed, the House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and ﬁnal reading a bill strengthen drug prevention and control by providing legal presumption

and imposing penalties against violators, ranging from fine to imprisonment. The bill was approved at the Lower House by a total 155 votes from congressmen. HB 8909, authored by former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, when signed into law, shall amend Republic Act 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.” Through this bill, legal presumptions shall be used against those who are found to be importers, financiers, protectors, or coddlers of illegal drugs. It also stipulates that individuals who shall sell, trade, administer, transport, or distribute dangerous drugs, regardless of the quantity, shall be penalized with life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 up to P10 million. Meanwhile, an owner or lessor of any property used as clandestine laboratory or used to manufacture and store dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals shall be receive a penalty of imprisonment from six years to 12 years and one day, as well as a fine of P500,000 to P1 million.

passage of bill reviving ROTC

THE Manila International Airport Authority hits its record-breaking fiscal performance in 2018 with a remittance of P3.42 billion in dividends to the government. The latest accomplishment, according to airport general manager Eddie Monreal, was the highest in MIAA history, exceeding by more than 50 percent the 2017 remittance which was then the highest recorded dividend payment in the last two decades. The MIAA is tasked to remit at least 50 percent of its annual net income to the national government after it was granted fiscal autonomy during the term of the late former President Corazon Aquino. Monreal said since 2016, the MIAA dividend payments have significantly increased. Joel E. Zurbano

Villanueva pushes bill on ‘flexi-time’ BOTH employers and employees will be afforded the option to render their work in the most efficient manner once the proposed measure recognizing work arrangements such as flexi-time and compressed work week is passed into law. Senator Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1571 or the Alternative Working Arrangement bill, said his proposed measure was passed on third and final reading Monday night. “We are grateful to our colleagues for seeing the value of this law, especially that factors such as traffic affect the quality of their lives,” said Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Palace denounces killing of 2 lawyers

By Nat Mariano and Francisco Tuyay THE Palace on Tuesday hailed the approval of a measure seeking to make the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps mandatory for senior high school students. In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo viewed the development in the House of Representatives as “good news.” On Monday, lawmakers passed on third and final reading the House Bill 8961, or the proposed act mandating the “institutionalization, development, training, organization, and administration” of basic ROTC for senior high students nationwide. “That’s good news. The President wants that passed,” Panelo told Palace reporters. With 167 affirmative votes, four against, and no abstentions, the lower chamber passed the measure mandating that ROTC will be a requirement for graduation for all students in both public and private high schools. The Palace has previously said that President Rodrigo Duterte wants to bring back the ROTC program in academic institutions to discipline students and teach them the concept of nationalism. The President even urged the Congress last November 2018 to enact the said measure, hoping it will “instill patriotism and love of country among our youth.” For his part, Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also lauded its passage in the House. “The DND welcomes the approval of House Bill 8961 at the House of Representatives on the third and final reading today, 20 May 2019. The reinstatement of mandatory ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 will help instill the love of country, good citizenship, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law,” Lorenzana said in a message to reporters.

MIAA breaks record in fiscal performance

READY FOR SCHOOL. Volunteers from the private sector and government join hands in prepping schools as part of the Brigada Eskwela program for the upcoming schoolyear in Baguio City, as members of the PNP repaint school seats at Baguio Central School. Dave Leprozo

Submit to lifestyle checks, DENR urges officials

Manila

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TODAY

Republic of the Philippines HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

By Rio N. Araja SECRETARY John Castriciones of the Department of Agrarian Reform on Tuesday urged third-level agency officials to go through a voluntary lifestyle check in a bid to wipe out graft and corruption within their ranks. “In the exigency of the service and in line with the directive of the President [Rodrigo Duterte] to eradicate systemic graft and corruption in all branches of government service, all third-level officials are encouraged to be subjected to a voluntary lifestyle check,” Castriciones’ Memorandum Order No. 3 read. Submitted requests for lifestyle checks shall be collected by the Office of the Secretary and submitted to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission. DAR Memorandum Order No. 3, Series of 2019 read. Third-level officials include undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, directors and assistant directors. The DAR chief earlier created an anti-corruption task force in support of the initiatives of the President to combat corruption in government. He directed the agency’s anti-corruption task force to conduct thorough investigations into information, and enjoined employees to cooperate in the drive against corruption.

THE Palace on Tuesday strongly denounced the killing of two lawyers and a radio commentator, assuring their families justice will be served against perpetrators. “We denounce in the strongest possible terms the recent murders of two lawyers in Pangasinan and Rizal,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. “We express our deep sympathies to the families, colleagues, and loved ones left by Attys. Val Crisostomo and Edilberto Golla, Jr. We ask authorities to leave no stone unturned in identifying the killers and the perpetrators of these two separate cold-blooded killings,” he added. Nat Mariano

Quezon City, Metro Manila

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

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My TV-radio experience AS I was going over my memorabilia over the weekend, I came across a photo showing me and my mentor Doroy Valencia, the foremost newspaper columnist of his time, receiving trophies as the “Best Commentator of the Year” for 1957. This was from the Catholic Mass Media Awards. There were only two of us who received that award (I was also in television at that time).

These were momentous years.

Ka Doroy had moved his column “Over a Cup of Coffee” to the Manila Times; it began at the front page. It was a popular and well-read column. Meanwhile, I had a TV commentary on Channel 13, IBS-RMN. That award given by the CMMA was a momentous moment in my life as a journalist. Ka Doroy’s commentary over the Roces-Prieto owned Channel 5 at that time was a direct commentary on the news of the day. Meanwhile, I had a different format. A voice-over would ask me a question on the news, and I would give my opinion on it. Santa Banana, would you believe that both Valencia’s and my commentaries were in black and white? The director of the television show was Dick Taylor, an iconic broadcaster during his time. I also remember being a radio commentator, broadcasting from the Country Bake Shop along UN Avenue where the greats and near-greats at that time congregated. I was also given an award for “Best Radio Commentator” for that later on.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

My gulay, at my age, 91 going 92, I wonder how I was able to do all those things: Having a daily radio broadcast, writing a daily column, and being on TV once a week. But I was young then—in my 30s. It was in the 1950s when television came to the Philippines, through an American by name of Jimmy Linderberg. He became a good friend. Linderberg partnered with the late Tony Quirino, brother of President Elpidio Quirino, who set up the Alto Broadcasting System. Since both Linderberg and Quirino needed funding, they partnered with the Lopezes through the Chronicle Broadcasting Network which became ABS-CBN. Other networks came later. I would consider Tony Quirino as the Father of Philippine television for his efforts to make the TV industry what it is today. Another television giant, GMA 7, also has stories to tell. It was during martial law days that the triumvirate of lawyer Felipe “Henry” Gozon, his brother in law Nards Jimenez, and another lawyer, Gualberto Duavit, bought the network from Bob Stewart. Now, GMA-7 has become a network with a bigger audience share than ABS-CBN. It was during martial law that I organized the Kapisanan ng mga Boradkaster sa Pilipinas, the organization of all radio and television networks. I was then a member of the Media Advisory Council. I thought of organizing all networks that would put them out of the ambit of martial law. I had the clearance of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, martial law administrator, so that all the networks could do their own self-policing. My idea worked. When the Sorianos bought the Philippines Herald from Don Vicente Madrigal, they were unhappy about how things were being run there. The Sorianos became very active in politics, as members of the Liberal Party, and took every occasion to attack then President Ferdinand Marcos, from the Nacionalista. Thus, when my good friend Bobby

In an information vacuum

UMORS swirled once again around President Rodrigo Duterte’s health after the 74-year-old leader, last seen casting his vote on May 13 in Davao City, went several days without making a public appearance.

President points to a newspaper headline to prove the photo was taken on the same day it was sent to the news media. On Tuesday—more than a week after Mr. Duterte’s last public appearance—Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the President has no obligation to inform anyone about his illness as long as it does not affect the discharge of his official functions. "The Constitution requires the President to divulge any serious illness on his part. But if the illness is not serious enough to affect the discharge of his official functions, the President has no duty to inform anyone. Like any citizen, the President enjoys the right to privacy under the Constitution," Guevarra said in a statement. His statement came just as Go announced that the President would not be attending the proclamation of the winning senators this week— even though the election of most of his candidates was a resounding

The Palace has since had to deny rumors circulating on social media that the President had been hospitalized at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan after suffering cardiac arrest. "There is no truth to the rumor circulating that President Rodrigo Duterte is confined in Cardinal Santos Medical Center," Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. “The President is in his residence at the Palace, signing papers.” He added, a little less reassuringly: “I just talked to him, he is neither confirming nor denying that he went to the hospital.” The President’s former adviser and constant companion, senatorelect Christopher Go, moved to dispel the rumors Sunday, releasing photos showing Mr. Duterte sitting across him at a table at Bahay Pangarap, the President’s official residence. Reminiscent of proof-of-life photos used in kidnappings, the

personal victory for Mr. Duterte. None of these—Mr. Duterte’s absences, his spokesman’s assurances, the proof-of-life photo, or the legal argument—do all that much to bolster public confidence in the President’s health. Unlike previous administrations, this one has never issued a medical bulletin, certainly the most transparent way of keeping the public informed about the President’s health. This seems to be a particularly worrisome omission, given the President’s age, and his history of Buerger’s disease, Barrett’s esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, frequent migraines and spinal issues. The absence of any methodical release of medical information from the Palace allows the President’s opponents—most notably the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Jose Ma. Sison, who lives in self-exile in The Netherlands—to cast doubts on the administration’s stability by raising questions about Mr. Duterte’s health. Mr. Sison knows full well that rumors flourish in a vacuum—and by withholding relevant medical information, Mr. Duterte and the Palace are playing into his hands.

Turn to A5

Those EDSA bus terminals

CLEARLY those terminals of provincial buses along EDSA contribute to the heavy traffic on the country’s only expressway. Instead of an expressway, EDSA has become a long parking lot.There are no more peak and off-peak hours from north to south in this most travelled major highway. The heavy traffic costs the economy millions of pesos a day in lost business and man-hours. Yet to hear one congressman criticize the Duterte administration solution to the problem by banning provincial bus terminals along EDSA and inside Metro Manila, one would think this legislator does not care because he commutes to Congress driven in his air conditioned car with special license plates. Or he lives in one of those gated communities near Congress. This prompted Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza to confront Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin for being insensitive to the plight of daily commuters using EDSA to go to their place of work. Garbin said commuters living outside the Metro area now have to pay the extra fare after being dropped off by the provincial busses at the city boundary. Atienza, on the other hand , said there are just as many if not more commuters who use EDSA. If late for work because of the crawl of traffic on EDSA, these commuters could lose their jobs adding to the millions of unemployed Filipinos. This led to a heated verbal exchange between Atienza and Garbin who said he was speaking as a mem-

ber of the minority in the House. Atienza retorted he was also a member of the minority and more senior than Garbin who kept his silence knowing he was out of his league against Atienza. “Here we have a solution being offered by the President. Why is there a member of Congress shooting the proposal down like he has more the interest of the bus companies?” asked Atienza whose debate with Garbin was carried live by CNN Philippines. Atienza on occasion has differed with President Duterte’s government

EDSA has become a long parking lot.

policy, but banning provincial bus terminals on Edsa is one he agrees with to ease traffic on this major road artery. Lito, a former two-term mayor Manila, knows whereof he speaks. He knows the metro landscape and the movement of people who work and live in the metro area. On House politics, Atienza said if asked for his support, he would throw it behind Leyte Rep. Martin Romualez’s bid for the Speakership. He’s a friend and quite qualified for the House leadership, added Atienza. While Romualdez has a good chance of assuming the House speakership, it looks like Senate President Tito Sotto will retain the top post in the upper chamber, with Duterte’s newly elected senators expressing their support. In addition, senatorial topnotcher Cynthia Villar saying she has no interest in the Senate presidency.

Turn to A5

Extinction ONE million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction, some within decades. They include 10 percent of insects, 35 percent of marine mammals, 33 percent of shark, shark relatives and reef-forming corals, 40 percent of all amphibians, and 1,000 more breeds of domestic mammals. More than 85 percent of wetlands have been lost. Wetlands, says Wikipedia, play a number of functions, including water purification, water storage,

processing of carbon and other nutrients, stabilization of shorelines, and support of plants and animals. At least 680 vertebrate species have been driven to extinction since the 16th century and more than 9 percent of all domesticated breeds of mammals used for food and agriculture have become extinct by 2016. Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66 percent of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions. So says the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which ended its five-day conference in Paris last May 4. Nature is declining globally at rates

Pity the poor 107 million homo sapiens in the Philippines. unprecedented in human history—and the rate of species extinctions is accelaccel erating, with grave effects on people around the world now likely, warns the landmark report of the IPBES. Experts think over a fourth of all species are going to be extinct.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

Post-mortem

Mineral misery: Vietnam salt farmers battered by imports, climate By Jenny Vaughan / Tran Thi five kids, but he says both demand and work for six months. If it rains, we all market price used to be more reliable. go hungry," said Nguyen Quang Anh, Minh Ha THE salt farmers of Hon Khoi rise before dawn as they have for generations, fanning out across shallow seawater pools in southern Vietnam to harvest the precious mineral, hoping for a better season than the last. The work is punishing and the incomes unstable, subject to seesawing demand swayed by foreign imports, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Many people in the sleepy seaside town in Khanh Hoa province have worked much of their lives in the salt fields—an Instagram hotspot where workers wearing conical hats ferry mountains of the saline crystals in bamboo baskets along reflective ponds against a setting sun. They shuffle carefully along narrow ledges separating the rectangular plots that are pumped full of salty seawater. But the farmers say life is tough on the fields where they toil during the annual harvesting season from January to June. "This job is no fun at all, we have to work so hard in the sun and then during the cool season we are off," said Nguyen Thanh Lai, his tan skin weathered from nearly four decades working in the fields. He sells his harvest to local traders who pass it up the value chain until it reaches dining tables or factories around Vietnam, where it is used to preserve fish, concoct Southeast Asia's popular, pungent fish sauce, or make soda water. Lai has long struggled to raise his

Extinction

"In the past we didn't make losses in salt production, now there are losses," the 60-year-old told AFP, wearing two hats to shield from the searing morning sun. As technical supervisor, he typically earns around $360 a month during the harvesting season—more than double what most salt workers take home. But his income zigzags depending on demand, which itself fluctuates based on imports from abroad. Climate woes Vietnam produced about one million tons of salt in 2015, according to the latest official data, and often clocks surpluses, but it still ships salt in, mostly from China and India. The country imported 500,000 tonnes of the mineral in 2017 despite a 147,000-tonne surplus of domestic production. The imported product is of a quality required for industrial use, something the local salt is not always suitable for. Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development did not respond to AFP's requests for comment. But unpredictable demand is not all Vietnam's salt farmers are up against. In Hon Khoi—a popular tourist destination for throngs of visitors who pack its white sandy beaches—farmers are also contending with climate change. Shifting weather patterns have upended work in an industry that depends on sunny, dry days for maximum production. "If the weather is good, we can

who has laboured in the fields for two decades. "Climate change really has had an impact because salt production needs stable weather," the 57-year-old farmer told AFP. The UN says climate change has "undermined" the lives of farmers in Vietnam, where the wet season has come earlier or brought in heavier rains in recent years. "In Vietnam and elsewhere, climate change has put weather in flux. When you can no longer plan for the future, you can only hope," said Dechen Tsering, UN Environment's Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. Vietnamese authorities vowed to reform the sector in 2014, rolling out a 15-year plan to modernise the industry in a bid to help struggling farmers like Anh. The blueprint called for production to triple by 2030, promised new technology, and called on local officials to support farmers hit by fluctuating weather patterns. Few have felt the impact of the plan—or ever heard about it—in Hon Khoi, where the salt industry remains the main employer. That means many are taking a gamble on the sector. "Sometimes I'm nervous, but I'm in the business so I have to accept the risks," said Nguyen Van Vinh, who just started working in the fields this season to supplement his income running a small stationery shop. "If I don't harvest salt, I won't earn enough." AFP

exploitation of organisms; (3) climate change; (4) pollution and (5) invasive alien species. Since 1980, greenhouse gas emissions have doubled, raising average global temperatures by at least 0.7 degrees Celsius—with climate change already affecting nature from the level of ecosystems to that of genetics—impact expected to increase over the coming decades, in some cases surpassing the impact of land and sea use change and other drivers. Despite progress to conserve nature and implement policies, the report also finds that global goals for conserving and sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories, and goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological factors. More than a third of the world’s land surface and nearly 75 percent of freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production. The value of agricultural crop production has increased by about 300 percent since 1970, raw timber harvest has risen by 45 percent and approximately 60 billion tons of renewable and nonrenewable resources are now extracted globally every year—having nearly doubled since 1980. About 93 percent of ocean fish is being harvested at above the level of sustainability or their being replaced by new stocks. In 2015, 33 percent of marine fish stocks were being harvested at unsustainable levels; 60 percent were maximally sustainably fished, with just 7 percent harvested at levels lower than

what can be sustainably fished. Land degradation has reduced the productivity of 23 percent of the global land surface, up to $577 billion in annual global crops are at risk from pollinator loss and 100 to 300-million people are at increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of loss of coastal habitats and protection. Urban areas have more than doubled since 1992. Plastic pollution has increased tenfold since 1980, 300-400 million tons of heavy metals, solvents, toxic sludge and other wastes from industrial facilities are dumped annually into the world’s waters, and fertilizers entering coastal ecosystems have produced more than 400 ocean ‘dead zones,’ totaling more than 245,000 km2 (591-595)—a combined area greater than that of the United Kingdom. Negative trends in nature will continue to 2050 and beyond. My regret My only regret is that the one species that I wish were extinct, beginning yesterday, was that of the lazy, corrupt, incompetent and rapacious politician. Judging by the results of the May 13, 2019 Philippine elections and unrest in places like Venezuela and South Africa, the species has remained ascendant. Pity the poor 107 million homo sapiens in the Philippines, one of the youngest and most resilient groups of humans on earth. They haven’t taken up arms against the elite and ruling class despite the rule and rapacity of the 100 families that have ruled the archipelago in the last 100 years.

became press secretary for the Estrada and Ramos administrations, and I launched the Manila Standard in tabFrom A4 loid form. The rest is history as they say. Benedicto invited me to join Channel 9, *** I did. My stint with the Roberto S. BeneI had several shows—a talk show, a dicto chain of channels was a learning business-cum-entertainment talk show, experience. and a weekly documentary. As I said, I was young then. The takeover of the BenedictoLater on, before the Ninoy Aquino owned Kanlaon Broadcasting System assassination in 1983, I quit the Bene- of the Lopez-owned building and ABSdicto network and tried lawyering. I CBN channel 2 is something I would became one of the organizers of Dizon rather forget. Paculdo Jurado and Vitug Law Offices. Santa Banana, upon orders of This firm, however, did not last Malacañang that we occupy the Lopez long because of the appointment of my broadcast building along Bohol Avbrother Desi Jurado to the Court of Ap- enue in Quezon City, the whole bunch peals and Jose Vitug to the Supreme of Channel 9 employees took over Court. the ABS-CBN building like Genghis After the assassination of Ninoy Khan’s invading horde to get the best Aquino in 1983, I wanted to get a job places they could. in the United States because times I must confess that event was an emwere hard in the Philippines. I had barrassment on my part as I never saw an offer to work as deskman of the the likes of a group like Channel 9’s San Francisco Chronicle, but doing people grabbing the best offices they so meant I had to leave my wife. So could lay their hands on. I stayed. I could not understand why the In February 1987, Rod Reyes who Benedicto-owned KBS had to take over

the building. I was later on assigned to manage the government television station GTV 4, which is now PTV 4. We had to go to Malacañang to report to President Marcos on the cash position and projected profits of KBS. I was becoming suspicious that Marcos already owned KBS. Since I was then president of the KBP, I had a problem with members seeking a revision on the voting that radio and television should no longer vote per station but by network. RSB thumbed down my request that voting should no longer be by station. I saw the opportunity to quit. When he stopped me from leaving by offering to increase my salary, I told him that my quitting the network was out of conviction. I really do not hesitate to quit a job out of conviction and self-respect. So why am I at Manila Standard? I like it here. I am comfortable with the people I work with, like Publisher Rollie Estabillo and Opinion Editor Adelle Chua.

From A4

“The overwhelming evidence of the IPBES Global Assessment, from a wide range of different fields of knowledge, presents an ominous picture,” said IPBES chairman Sir Robert Watson. “The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever. We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide,” he said. The IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is the most comprehensive ever completed and assessed changes over the past 50 years. It was compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries over the past three years, with inputs from another 310 contributing authors, using about 15,000 scientific and government sources. “Ecosystems, species, wild populations, local varieties and breeds of domesticated plants and animals are shrinking, deteriorating or vanishing. The essential, interconnected web of life on Earth is getting smaller and increasingly frayed,” said Prof. Joseph Settele, co-chairman. “This loss is a direct result of human activity and constitutes a direct threat to human well-being in all regions of the world.” According to scientists, the five direct drivers of change in nature with the largest relative global impact so far. These are, in descending order: (1) changes in land and sea use; (2) direct

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THE dictionary defines this column’s Latin title as “an examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.” But in a larger sense, post mortem could be any post-event analysis of the whys and what ifs of defeat, or even victory. A sensible politician, a military strategist, even a businessman must always analyze the whys of any major event. So it is with electoral defeat. So it must be with victory. Upon such a post-mortem depends the moving-on decision, the alternative options, the next-time strategy, the giving-it-all-up or goodbye world ending. The Estrada dynasty is gone. The patriarch can no longer reinvent himself given his age and the recent electoral defeat of everyone in the clan. Will there be a next-time? Probably for Senator JV Ejercito, who lost by a whisker. What if the INC chose him instead of his brother Jinggoy? Clear by the numbers he would have won reelection. Clear by the three-million vote difference also, Jinggoy lost in spite of the INC inclusion. Ergo, if there is anyone in the Estrada clan who could yet be resurrected politically in the next electoral round, it would have to be JV. It could mean going back to where it all began—San Juan. Or it could be keeping himself highly visible for the next two years doing something of service to the national public and getting himself into the senatorial ticket of a major candidate for the presidency come 2022. The same can be said for the LP’s Bam Aquino. Had the INC carried him, he would have been the only defined opposition candidate in the win column. I say “defined” because there are two independent winners allied with the administration as of February 2019 but may switch to being oppositionist, not soon, but eventually. There are also two winners who will likely stay away from the fray, thankful that celebrity stardom still has residual value among the “masa.” For the next three years, expect them to stay “safe” in the politics of the nation. The amazing Doc Willy Ong, without a party and with very little resources spent, eschewing even the contributions of the usual donors, should plan his next campaign for the Senate. He deserves another crack, perhaps less independently, and the chances of winning the next time around are very high. As for the “Otso Diretso,” which started off on the wrong foot, with plenty of elitist idealism but little else, a surprising imperviousness to public opinion surveys, and so many other mistakes by any objective political rule book, is dead as a group. A group post-mortem is of no purpose. Individually, they would have to reassess their political options. Senate President Tito Sotto who is assured of keeping the leadership of the chamber is correct when he assures everyone that the Senate will remain independent. Twenty-four “republics,” with shifting alliances and personal ambitions according to the political temperature, which starts percolating in 2021. Exceptions to these obviously would be Bong Go, Bato de la Rosa and Francis Tolentino, whose loyalty to the President will be expected come hell or high water. For those who won or lost congressional or local government seats, a post mortem should include planning

Those... From A4

Perhaps the presidency in the 2022 elections, when Digong steps down after his six-year term. But then there’s Inday Sara, presidential daughter and Davao City mayor who gained a big political following as shown in the crowd who attended her campaign for the Duterte senatorial candidacy. The 2022 presidential race indeed is going to be interesting if we throw in Manny Pacquiao in the equation. Atienza pointed out that the Long Island Expressway in New York was

how to keep the seat come the elections of 2022, or where to “move on” if term limits dictate, or even how to totally annihilate all threats to the office. Theoretically, good performance in the new or reelected office is the answer, but in practice, one has to go beyond that and into the realm of being one-step ahead of the competition or perceived competition at all times. The new king-slayers, Isko Moreno of Manila, Vico Sotto of Pasig, Francis Zamora of San Juan, Benjie Magalong of Baguio among others, will have to “hit the ground running”

Upon this depends the moving-on decision, the alternative options, the next-time strategy, the giving-it-all-up or goodbye world ending.

so to speak, as that would be the best insurance the ancient regime will be put to rest and new pretenders will bide their time. A good post-mortem, properly post-victory analysis will identify the priorities that will “mesmerize” the electorate. Three years is such a short time to deliver, and in truth, the third year is already election season. For Malacañang, a good post-mortem should start with a proper listing of who There were LGU officials and congressmen who were virtually without competition in the last elections. How did they “deliver” to Bong Go, Bato, Tolentino? However, in tight contests such as Cebu, the President’s favorites landed safely in the win column. In a province like Tagalog-speaking Rizal and Cavite, the president’s favorites did well, but in so many other provinces outside of Mindanao, how did they fare? That should be the political determinant of who to anoint to major positions in the House of Representatives, especially the all-important speakership which in Philippine political praxis is determined by the presidency, especially by a president who has won an overwhelming support on his mid-term. A speaker-to-be speaks to an audience of One, not to a multitude of three hundred. Neither does the “party” leadership determine who it will finally support. Would the PDP-Laban for instance hold a straw vote among its winning congressmen to determine who to support among dynasty-slayer Bebot Alvarez, Marinduque congressman Lord Velasco, Pampanga representative Dong Gonzales, San Juan City’s Ronny Zamora, y quien mas? Or would all ears be on the whispers (the President calls it “murmurings”) around the Palace? The Nacionalistas, the NPC, the NUP are virtually “owned” in varying degrees of liberality or control, by their funders. These funders will try to gauge the opinions of their members, but in the end, have their ears on the hallowed grounds of Jose P. Laurel upon the Pasig River. The Hugpong obviously will as well. In the next two months leading to the opening of the 18th Congress, the center of political gravity will be in Malacañang, not the Batasan, until the audience of one makes known his decision. And one can only hope that the advisers of that audience of one is doing a proper post-mortem. These are the last three years.

a long parking lot like EDSA until NYC traffic managers opened a special lane for vehicles carrying at least two or three passengers. The idea worked and there is now less traffic on the LIE. There used to be such a plan for EDSA but as usual there was no implementation after the MMDA and LTFRB announcement. “Adding to the traffic woes is that the provincial busses load and unload passengers along EDSA instead of going direct to the terminal. We see these busses clogging the designated area for city buses. This is anarchy against the whole of society,” said Atienza.

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CE-Casualty Endorsement

SERIES TO

787 1108 1115 1120 1132 1138 1146 1149 1573 1578 1580 1585 1672 1673 1675 1677 1679 1691 1703 1708 1710 1723 1735 1747 1750 1752 1773 1893

787 1108 1115 1120 1135 1139 1147 1149 1575 1578 1580 1585 1672 1673 1675 1677 1679 1691 1704 1708 1721 1723 1735 1748 1750 1772 1872 1893

1559 1890 1897 4098 4204 4212 4219 4221 4586 4601 4751 4861 5169 5171 5194 5231 5256 5260 5303 5478 5651 5666 5681 5710 6163 6170 6314 6323 6343 6584 6692

1575 1890 1900 4102 4209 4212 4219 4221 4586 4709 4760 4869 5169 5177 5198 5231 5256 5268 5305 5478 5654 5670 5695 5715 6163 6172 6322 6340 6582 6586 6692

3349 4101 4252 4267 4270 4501 4551 4587 4590 4599 4601 4618 4631 4634 4651 4701 CGI-Group PA Certificate of Cover 13001 14176 14281 14291 14705 15851 15854 16721 28301 30851 31251 E1-Fire Invoice 3551 3559 E3-Casualty Invoice 5808 5841 6831 8851 8852 8868 8873 8878 9343 9353 9367 9466 9470 9505 9597 10101 10238 10257 10259 10983 11200 11384 11386 11389 11483 11751 11850 11858 11861 11984 12011 E4-Bond Invoice 32747 32749 36106 45424 47640 47647 47649 48281 48283 48297 48301 48311 48322 48325 48819 48823 48825 48827 48837 48850 48853 48866 48880 48902 51814 51818 51828 51841 51846 51848 51851 51856 51860 51865 51869 51872 51884 51888 51892 51895 51905 51918 51931 51934 51947 51954 51960 51963 55258 55267 55269 55295 55410 55413 55422 55428 55506 55508 55519 55538 55542 55574 55616 55717 55722 55911 55913 55923 56546 56852 56987 56990 57006 57013 57022 57036 57039 57051 57060 57070 57072 57080 57088 57090 57095 57098 57102 57532 57537 57542 57959 57967 58476 58521 58533 58536 58568 58881 58890 58893 59373 59375 59477 59487 59543 59599 59703 59972 59979 59982 59984 60132 60142 60144 60157 60163 60187 60199 60201

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F-Fire Policy Set

FID(2)-Fidelity Bond

G(13)-Performance Bond

60521 60525 60549 60555 60565 60567 60569 60710 60734 60743 60747 60757 60759 60773 61220 61380 61394 61396 61399 61406 61422 61428 61432 61434 61436 61438 61443 61454 61475 61482 61510 61515 61519 61531 61607 61619 61654 61700 61709 61722 61725 61730 61738 61740 61758 61763 61770 61778 61789 61793 61795 61796 61798 61834 61839 61874 61884 61896 61909 61929 61934 61936 61938 61940 61947 61954 61958 61961 62453 62465 62470 62495 62499 62518 62522 63025 63052 63056 63078 63084 63086 63104 63110 63123 63380 63388 63394 63447 63451 63452 63466 63471 63484 63499 63550 63549 63565 63574 63580 63585 63591 63605 63651 63711 63810 63883 63910 63914 63919 63950 63960 63963 63968 63971 63975 63990 63993 64010 64087 64243 64251 64255 64267 64288 64295 64302 64304 64307 64309 64326 64345 64423 64612 64658 64688 64779 64850 64950 64952 64954 64983 64993 65356 65522 65552 65556 65652 65654 65657 65662 65722 65804 65955 66044 66073 66095 66127 66135 66240 66243 66245 66246 66250 66259 66276 66279 66320 66351 66371 66390

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14201 14207 14401

14201 14207 14500

3261 3417 3418 3468 3480 3488

3265 3417 3467 3468 3483 3497

11851 17379 17381 17393 17397 17468 17471 17478 17481 17484 17492 17495 17500 17502 17515 17517 18645 18650 18711 18813 18903 19520 19521 19523 19533 19535 19538 19547 19881 19951 21336 21345 21382 21542 G(13)A-Performance Bond (Surety Bond) 5 7 9 10 40 41 46 48 123 129 291 371 375 377 383 390 423 631 641 726 966 1000 1051 G(13)G-Performance Bond Government 21901 21916 22122 22125 22131 22135 22183 22186 22467 22739 22743 22819

11855 17379 17385 17394 17397 17468 17474 17478 17482 17488 17493 17495 17500 17508 17515 17517 18647 18650 18711 18817 18903 19520 19521 19523 19533 19535 19538 19547 19881 19951 21336 21346 21382 21542 5 8 9 15 40 42 46 48 124 135 310 371 375 377 387 390 423 640 665 965 999 1050 1202 21907 21918 22122 22128 22133 22135 22185 22235 22486 22740 22744 22822

22824 22827 23099 23102 23113 23132 23134 23148 23168 23182 23188 23188 23197 23233 23509 23510 23512 23514 23518 23525 23576 23580 23596 23599 23682 23682 23688 23688 23693 23693 23698 23698 23710 23712 23716 23716 23719 23730 23965 23965 24032 24032 24084 24084 24162 24162 24268 24268 24331 24340 24355 24359 24361 24380 24381 24407 24408 24417 24439 24439 24552 24552 24594 24594 24637 24639 24643 24680 24681 24700 24732 24732 24751 24800 24801 24977 G(13)P-Performance Bond Private 20047 20047 20169 20169 20168 20168 20170 20170 G(16)-Surety Bond Private 14055 14055 21025 21025 21031 21031 21031 21031 21034 21034 21046 21048 21053 21053 21054 21055 21059 21059 25728 25729 25737 25737 26162 26185 26236 26261 G(16)BID-Surety Bond for Bidding 29004 29008 G(16)P-Surety Bond Private 27812 27812 G(2)-Bidder’s Bond 20001 20025 21440 21440 21442 21443 21445 21447 21449 21449 21451 21452 21455 21455 21519 21519 21521 21521 21527 21527 21530 21550 21557 21568 21569 21573 21584 21588 21591 21593 21595 21598 21600 21601 21604 21604 21606 21606 21611 21615 21625 21625 21628 21631 21633 21641 22266 22266 22272 22275 22276 22283 22653 22655 22787 22787 23233 23242 23476 23482 23628 23631 23749 23750 23751 23800 24041 24090 24603 24632 G(2)-A-Bidder’s Bond (Surety Bond) 2 2 6 6 8 8 9 9 10 20 31 40 43 43 60 60 71 71 99 99 100 120 126 150 261 261 267 267 270 270 272 272 275 300 302 306 G(40)-Advance Payment Bond (Surety Bond) 35 40 48 50 73 73 117 135 160 165 167 260 265 285 291 300 338 338 371 374 401 441 450 463 G(41)-Warranty Bond (Surety Bond 1 1 38 40 41 43 50 48 65 65 76 99 100 101 117 118 136 138 306 307 386 395 G(42)-Retention Money Bond (Surety Bond) 38 40 42 42 45 45 68 70 114 114 117 117 121 121 125 134 166 166 208 210 212 212 214 260 302 303 401 450 G16G-Surety Bond - Government 17637 17639 22401 22425 22872 22876 23136 23148 23150 23150 23742 23750 24255 24258 24266 24273 24501 24523 24525 24533 24606 24606 24651 24651 24659 24660 24698 24698 24700 24700 24732 24734 24736 24744 24901 24901 25039 25039 25118 25120 25123 25125 25152 25155 25280 25280 25285 25285 25290 25295 25742 25746 25749 25750 26151 26157 26160 26160 26368 26372 26374 26385 26387 26392 26784 26784 26791 26791 26796 26796 26798 26800 27276 27276 27286 27287 27290 27290 27291 27291 27293 27293 27301 27320 27819 27827 28044 28050 28051 28051 28054 28056 28058 28058 28191 28195 28413 28413 28419 28419 28434 28434 28436 28437 28439 28440 28445 28475 28521 28521 28533 28544 28577 28577 28579 28579 28581 28582 28588 28588 28591 28596 28599 28600 28603 28604 28606 28610 28764 28764 28782 28782 28827 28831 28924 28924 28927 28931 28933 28934 28940 28941 28953 28953 28957 28957 28959 28981 30022 30100 31502 31502 31505 31505 31658 31658 31824 31824 31928 31928 31930 31946 32003 32100 32104 32109 32151 32271 GPA-Group PA Insurance Policy 2246 2255 2411 2411 JCL(6)-Heir’s Bond (One Year) 1302 1302 1527 1529 1551 1553 JCL(7)-Heir’s Bond (Two Years) 754 757 759 761 815 819 858 858

JCL13L-L-Replevin Bond JCL13M-M-Replevin Bond

JCL13V-V-Replevin Bond

861 867 898 825 922 926 930 1006 1076

862 867 900 917 922 926 932 1012 1081

1057 1060 1062

1057 1060 1064

506 JCL1L-L-Administrator’s/Executor’s Bond 9 JCL1M-M-Administrator’s/Executor’s Bond 1003 JCL1V-V-Administrator’s/Executor’s Bond 507 JCL3L-L-Counter Attachment 14 JCL4M-M-Attachment Bond 1003 JCL4V-V-Attachment Bond 503 JCL5M-M-Guardian’s Bond 1003 JCL8L-L-Preliminary Injuction 202 24 JCL8M-M-Preliminary Injuction 1007 ORHO-Official Receipt (for General Use) 157453 157466 157496 218771 219030 224568 224575 229851 230451 230466 230482 230486 231724 231731 231741 231951 232917 232925 232928 232930 232937 232942 232947 233452 233539 233542 233548 233561 233818 233822 233827 233830 233837 233848 233864 233916 233923 233944 233975 234254 234263 234269 234276 234281 234283 234299 234303 234315 234317 234319 234325 234327 234329 234336 234348 234355 234357 234359 234362 234371 234379 234399 234501 234505 234507 234511 234515 234522 234526 234533 234537 234566 234568 234570 234576 234579 234583 234591 245251 245273 247006 247068 247101 247104 247114 247132 247137 247182 247846 247852 247855 247864 247869 247872 247888 247890 247908 247915 247932 247937 247949 247979 248057 248077 248080 248082 248091 248099 248101 248109 248112 248115 248131 248139 248141 248149 248351 248452 248456 248469 248471 248474 248556 248558 248565 248574 248951 248958 248966 248975 248978 248986 248989 248993 248995 249001 249005 249009 249011 249013 249015 249022 249031 249035 249078 249090 249115 249117 249206 249551 249585 249596 249599 249876 250101 250125 250181 250205 250237 250351 250362 250385 250400 250407 250415 250422 250445 250450 250534 250554 250601 250642 250644 250651 250671 250673 251055 251065 251084 251116 251119 251133 251136 251251 251267 251269 251273 251302 251305 251310 251340 251601 251607 251766 251771 251784 251792 251796 251804 251811 251821 251839 251844 251852 251854 251860 251862 251867 251917 252001 252051 252053 252055 252059 252065 252106

506 9 1010 507 15 1004 503 1010 202 24 1014 157453 157469 157498 218771 219043 224573 224582 230000 230464 230480 230484 230500 231727 231733 231750 232050 232917 232925 232928 232931 232938 232944 232950 233452 233539 233542 233550 233650 233818 233823 233827 233830 233837 233848 233864 233916 233924 233944 233976 234257 234267 234272 234276 234281 234297 234299 234307 234315 234317 234320 234325 234327 234333 234343 234349 234355 234357 234359 234362 234371 234380 234400 234502 234505 234507 234512 234516 234522 234530 234535 234550 234566 234568 234570 234576 234579 234583 234591 245251 245273 247006 247068 247102 247110 247115 247132 247137 247200 247846 247853 247856 247864 247870 247883 247888 247900 247910 247917 247932 247938 247949 247979 248057 248077 248080 248083 248091 248099 248107 248109 248112 248119 248131 248139 248141 248150 248400 248454 248466 248469 248471 248494 248556 248559 248565 248600 248956 248959 248973 248976 248979 248986 248990 248993 248995 249003 249006 249009 249011 249013 249016 249027 249031 249050 249083 249101 249115 249150 249206 249583 249594 249597 249600 249876 250101 250125 250181 250205 250237 250357 250362 250385 250405 250413 250420 250425 250445 250450 250534 250600 250616 250642 250647 250669 250671 250700 251055 251065 251084 251117 251130 251133 251150 251261 251267 251269 251273 251302 251305 251311 251350 251605 251650 251767 251772 251790 251792 251796 251804 251812 251823 251839 251845 251852 251858 251860 251862 251903 251946 252050 252051 252053 252056 252059 252100 252106

252114 252129 252151 252651 252658 252662 252674 252688 252692 252695 252703 252706 252711 252727 252729 252732 252734 252737 252851 253301 253401 253417 253501 253551 253601 253701 253721 253740 253751 253753 254101 254201 254251 ORHOAOR-OFFICIAL RECEIPT (AOR) 221792 ORHODAV-Official Receipt (Davao Branch) 2200 2231 4291 4421 4746 5272 5341 5398 5431 5433 5472 5491 5515 5517 5545 5553 5560 5567 5613 5648 5687 5697 5711 5743 5803 5816 5856 5868 5896 6003 6051 6080 6089 6093 6100 6119 6166 6220 6222 6236 6341 6342 6355 6360 6371 6377 6393 6409 6413 6467 6521 6629 6650 6671 6697 6713 6732 6828 6842 6872 6944 6949 6982 6992 7009 7036 7080 7082 7099 7131 7137 7148 7156 7169 7189 7195 7263 7269 7296 7298 7325 7331 7337 7344 7414 7474 7599 7617 7635 7639 7649 7651 7658 7663 7675 7735 7775 7777 7789 7797 7811 7818 7837 7841 7864 7867 7908 7963 8098 8391 8439 8444 8448 8452 8462 8465 8467 8470 8489 8553 8563 8571 8577 8586 8590 8592 8595 8600 8608 8614 8637 8639 8645 8657 8660 8682 8700 8704 8711 8738 8747 8756 8766 8772 8793 8811 8821 8834 8836 8848 8854 8856 8865 8867 8869 8875 8877 8879 8891 8895 8902 8904 8906 8908 8910 8912 8914 8916 8918 8920 8922 8924 8926 8928 8930 8932 8934 8936 8943 8992 9008 9183 9360 9409 9413 9476 9482 9646 9655 9901 10000 PA-Personal Accident 4726 4970 5752 5831 5846 5870 5895 6351 12250

252114 252129 252200 252651 252659 252672 252674 252689 252693 252696 252703 252708 252712 252727 252729 252732 252734 252750 252950 253400 253403 253450 253550 253597 253650 253708 253724 253745 253751 253850 254188 254250 254300 221793 2200 2231 4300 4442 4750 5272 5350 5401 5431 5439 5472 5491 5515 5517 5545 5553 5560 5567 5613 5648 5688 5697 5711 5743 5803 5816 5857 5868 5900 6003 6052 6080 6089 6094 6105 6120 6167 6220 6222 6236 6341 6342 6355 6360 6371 6377 6393 6410 6416 6467 6521 6629 6650 6671 6697 6713 6732 6828 6842 6872 6944 6949 6982 6992 7009 7037 7080 7082 7099 7131 7137 7148 7156 7169 7189 7195 7263 7270 7296 7298 7325 7331 7337 7345 7414 7475 7599 7617 7635 7639 7649 7651 7658 7663 7675 7735 7775 7777 7789 7797 7811 7818 7839 7845 7864 7867 7909 7963 8100 8391 8439 8446 8450 8452 8463 8465 8468 8487 8499 8559 8564 8574 8584 8586 8590 8592 8598 8604 8612 8635 8637 8643 8655 8658 8680 8698 8702 8709 8736 8745 8754 8760 8769 8788 8808 8818 8826 8834 8846 8852 8854 8863 8865 8867 8873 8875 8877 8879 8891 8900 8902 8904 8906 8908 8910 8912 8914 8916 8918 8920 8922 8924 8926 8928 8930 8932 8934 8941 8990 9006 9181 9358 9393 9411 9474 9480 9643 9653 9900 9999 10369 4727 4972 5753 5840 5850 5871 5895 6370 12250

Should you have any of the foregoing IAC forms in your possession, please coordinate with our office immediately and bring the said form/s to our office within thirty (30) days from the date of this publication, for possible replacement of the form/s or reimbursement of payments, if warranted. IAC reserves the right to require presentation of other adequate proof of issuance and/or payment in addition to the presentation of the original form/s. INVESTORS ASSURANCE CORPORATION Unit 1/20th Floor, BDO Plaza, Paseo de Roxas near cor. Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200 Tel Nos.: (632) 822-4000 / 822-5000 / 891-0994 / 891-0996 / 891-0976 (MS-MAY 22, 2019)

Sports Puerto Prinsesa to host National Championships THE Philippine Sports Commission awarded the hosting rights of the Batang Pinoy national championships to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The sports agency will be sitting down with the local government of Puerto Prinsesa to finalize details of the Memorandum-of-Agreement for the event scheduled from August 25 to 31. “We have happily accepted the offer of Puerto Prinsesa to host the nationals,” confirmed PSC Chairman William Ramirez. The Batang Pinoy national secretariat will meet up with Puerto Prinsesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron on May 23 to finalize the coastal island’s hosting. About 10,000 athletes from previous qualifying legs in Tagum City, Iloilo City and Iligan City are expected to participate in the national championships. They will compete in 21 sporting events like archery, arnis, athletics, boxing, dancesport, swimming and others. Eleven other sports like billiards, cycling, gymnastics, judo and muay thai will have athletes going straight to finals. Baguio City and the province of Benguet co-hosted last year’s staging of the Batang Pinoy national championships amid the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Grand-slam staring SMB in the eye By Peter Atencio

HERE are clamors for the San Miguel Beermen to go for grand slam or a record sixth straight all-Filipino championship.

But for Beermen head coach Leo Austria, the team will not be thinking about that when they start practicing on Monday to prepare for the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. “After winning seven championships and ﬁve all-Filipino conferences, why should I pressure myself? But there’s a clamor from the fans and from the management. That’s their wish,” said Austria. Austria talked about the Beermen’s journey to their ﬁfth straight Philippine

Cup crown yesterday during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Ermita, Manila. The Beermen will just take it one game at a time for now, according to Austria, as the team will now be preparing for their ﬁrst game on June 5 against the Northport Batang Pier team. This time, they will play with import Charles Rhodes, who helped the team win the mid-season crown two years ago. The Beermen mentor said the manage-

ment has not directly asked them to go for a grand-slam, which could take its toll on the team, physically. “With our experience, we know the consequence of thinking of the grandslam,” added Austria. Sister team Magnolia, known before as the San Mig Coffee Mixers, was the last team to win a grand slam, pulling it off back during the 2013-14 season. During Monday’s victory party at the SMC Headquarters in Mandaluyong, no less than Chairman Ramon Ang himself asked the Beermen to seek the grand-slam before celebrations began. “Ang hiling ko sa inyo, isang grandslam lang. Naniniwala ako na tuluytuloy ang ating tagumpay kapag tinuloy natin ang samahang ito. Dahil ang samahan ng Beermen ay walang ka-

UST keeps overall UAAP crown for 3rd straight year

NGAP rules’ seminar ends THE National Golf Association of the Phils. wraps up its two-day R&A Rules of Golf Level 2 workshop and seminar today (Wednesday) with representatives of the various golf clubs in the country participating at the Alabang Country Club. The country’s governing body of the sport conducted the Rules Seminar Level I last November with the ongoing workshop serving as part of its continuing effort to improve the Rules knowledge among club players of all abilities. The program facilitators are Asia-Pacific, The R&A Rules manager Jin Woo Kim, Indonesia Golf Association Rules chairman Made Edward Putra, also an advisory member of the R&A ROGC, and Philippine Golf Tour tournament director Henry Arabelo, also an Asian Tour referee and USGA Certiﬁed Course Rater. The participants are composed of those who have passed the Level I seminar with the current workshop to continue to look into various rules from tee shot to the putting green along with practical on-course demonstrations. Among the participating clubs are the Alabang CC, Beverly GC, Camp Aguinaldo GC, Camp John Hay GCC, Canlubang GCC, Eagle Ridge GCC, ECI, Forest Hills GC, Golf Mix Professionals, Iloilo Golf Club, Luisita GCC, Manila Southwoods.

Gonzalez new BCAP president RECENTLY appointed Jose Rizal University coach Louie Gonzalez is taking over from San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua as president of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines. Chua, also the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel governor in the PBA and a PABL Grand Slam coach, is stepping down after succeeding former PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa to the post less than three years ago. He will remain an active member of the association. “I believe it’s time for a new man to lead BCAP, one who can devote more time in the pursuit of the goals and direction set by our predecessors for our local coaches,” Chua said. “BCAP is in good hands with Coach Louie.” A BCAP statement read: “Coach Louie’s continued involvement in grassroots development and active coaching in the college ranks will bring a lot of positive transitional changes in the learning processes of our local coaches.”

LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG TEAM Lakay ace Eduard Folayang deserves to get a crack at the ONE lightweight title now held by Singapore’s Christian Lee. Folayang, considered as the face of Philippine mixed martial arts, held the same title and lost it to Japanese Shinya Aoki via submission in their rematch on March 31. In their initial tussle in 2016, Fo-

pantay,” said Ang. The San Miguel Beermen have already made history in the PBA with five straight title runs in the league’s most prestigious tournament. The Crispa Redmanizers had an allFilipino four-peat but, finished outside the Top Three during their chase for a fifth crown in 1984. During Game 7 of the recent Philippine Cup, June Mar Fajardo and his teammates overcame an error-strewn first half as the Beermen nipped the fierce-fighting Magnoliae, 72-71, to stretch their PBA Philippine Cup reign to five years. Fajardo grabbed a league all-time high 31 rebounds and put in 17 points to make up for nine turnovers, while Alex Cabagnot drilled in crucial shots at endgame to finish with 18 points.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang makes a toast to his Beermen players, who captured a fifth straight Philippine Cup title. Peter Atencio

New Lakers’ coach calls for ‘togetherness’ LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said forging a sense of “togetherness” would be crucial as he attempts to halt six years of failure at the franchise. Vogel, who was chosen to replace the ﬁred Luke Walton, arrives at the Lakers with the club reeling from the shock departure of executive Magic Johnson last month. Johnson on Monday blamed a culture of “backstabbing” for his departure in comments made just before Vogel’s unveiling. Vogel, 45, said he planned to unify the franchise, from the front ofﬁce through to

the coaching and playing staff. “We need to build togetherness with our organization,” the former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic coach said. “I don’t just mean with the 17 guys that are going to be in uniform. I’m talking about organizational togetherness. “Starting with ownership to the front ofﬁce to the coaching staff, to the players to the trainers, the business side. “We are all going to be pulling in the same direction... You can accomplish amazing things if everybody is together. “Playing a together brand of basketball with also be emphasized on a daily basis. We’re going to be unselﬁsh. We’re going

to play by trusting the pass, creating for others with the basketball. “Defensively, communicating, talking to each other and covering for each other, working together. It starts organizationally wide, translates onto the basketball court, and I’ve seen it. When it happens, you win big. “And that’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish here.” Vogel meanwhile steered clear of offering any predictions for the Lakers. The team has missed the playoffs for six straight seasons but are desperate to challenge for top honours once more after signing LeBron James last year. AFP

SBP extends support to 2 mauled referees THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is now investigating the mauling of two SBP referees in a game in Olongapo City last Saturday. SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios said this after learning of the incident wherein a player and a supporter attacked the two SBP game officials. “The SBP condemns such act of violence, which definitely has no place in basketball and in sports, especially against game officials. The referees are the unsung heroes of any sport, for without them, no game can be technically conducted and concluded,” said Barrios in a statement. SBP Regional Director for Region 3 Gil Cortez has been dispatched to Olongapo City to look into the matter. Barrios said the SBP will extend assistance to the referees concerned.

Ofﬁcials of the basketball body will also meet with local authorities so that the case can be proactively pursued. “We trust that there will be no repetition of this ugly incident and we call on the basketball community to simply play and support the game according to its merits at all times,” said Barrios. According to reports, the suspect has already surrendered to police. One referee was reportedly beaten, while another was said to be stabbed after being chased off by angry players inside the court. The incident, which has a video posted on Facebook, took place at the Tapinac basketball court. In the video, the referee appeared to be wobbling while running away from his attacker before falling on the street. The referee had a big cut on the right side of his cheek. Peter Atencio

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas will keep the overall championship for a third straight season. This is after UST amassed 282 points in the senior division at the close of the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines season. UST’s feat came as league officials from National University turned over the league’s hosting rights to 82nd season host Ateneo de Manila yesterday. This will be UST’s 43rd overall crown since 1958. So far, UST won titles in seven events throughout the season in men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s table tennis, women’s athletes, men’s and women’s judo. La Salle, with 260 points, was second, followed in third by Ateneo with 237 points. The Green Archers took the no. 2 spot on account of championships won in women’s chess, poomsae, men’s baseball and men’s football. This also includes the no. 2 finishes that La Salle had in women’s beach volleyball, men’s swimming, women’s table tennis and women’s tennis, men’s fencing and men’s football. Ateneo landed third after taking crown on seven fronts. This included men’s baseball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming, women’s badminton, women’s fencing and men’s football. University of the Philippines placed fourth (237), while National University, Far Eastern University, University of the East and Adamson took 5th, 6th,7th and 8th positions, respectively. In the junior division, UST claimed the overall honors for the fifth straight season with 80 points, while La Salle Zobel ranked second with 77 points. Ateneo was in third (72), while NU has 66 points in fourth. Peter Atencio

MAROONS BACKED. The University of the Philippines

Fighting Maroons scored a new major backer for their University Athletics Association of the Philippines Season 82 campaign after it sealed a partnership deal with Palawan Express Pera Padala, a leading domestic money remittance company. Palawan Pawnshop —Palawan Express Pera Padala owners, Bobby and Angelita Castro (President/ CEO and Executive VP/ Vice Chairman, respectively) and their five children, who are all UP alumni and working for the company, officially inked the Memorandum of Agreement on May 14, with Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation, a volunteer group supporting UP’s varsity programs. UP AVP for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Diaz, NTGBUP President and UPMBT Team Manager Atty. Agaton Uvero, Maroons Head Coach Bo Perasol and coaching staff and the UP Fighting Maroons attended the signing ceremony at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman.

Folayang deserves a crack at Lee’s ONE lightweight title layang pummeled the Japanese pride on the way to a technical knockout win. The 35-year-old Folayang proved successful in weathering Aoki’s storm of submission attacks, ﬁnding the right opening and securing the win by stoppage. The young “Warrior” from Singapore used the same formula in winning over the Japanese grappling legend at ONE: Enter the Dragon in Singapore just recently. Fighting before his countrymen,

Lee managed to survive Aoki’s scary attacks on the ground, including a very deep armbar submission attempt. In the second round, Lee unloaded a blistering combination of punches to put Aoki down on the way to becoming a ONE World Champion. Folayang’s loss in his title match with Aoki was simply as a result of a combination of luck on the part of Aoki and Folayang’s lack of caution. He let himself get caught by Aoki and taken down. On the ground, It was Aoki’s show.

Folayang could not do anything about Aoki’s masterful arm triangle lock. Once cocked and loaded, the triangle choke is almost unstoppable. The loss, notwithstanding, Folayang has not lost his championship caliber. He simply got caught in a bad situation. If he will be pitted against the 20-year-old Lee, Folayang’s striking skill should be on display against an opponent, who also loves to attack. On the ground, Lee is slightly favored. His Evolve MMA gym em-

ploys world jiu-jitsu champs from Brazil because Singaporean students can afford to pay. Thankfully, Folayang has good wushu and wrestling background which Team Lakay has found important in complementing its athletes’ superior striking skills. Folayang is not done yet. A championship ﬁght against Lee should be interesting to watch. Meanwhile, Lee would be able to test what he’s really made of. See you in ONE Manila very soon!

Sports

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

Aces battle Batang Pier, shoot for 2nd triumph By Jeric Lopez ALASKA goes for win No. 2 today, while three more teams report for duty in the early stages of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. After starting out with a bang, the Aces go for a second straight win when they battle with NorthPort at 4:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City today. In the succeeding game, NLEX and TNT KaTropa debut against each other at 7 p.m. Led by fresh import Chris Daniels and the steady Chris Banchero, Alaska was able to hack out an opening-day victory over Columbian, 111-98, last Sunday for a good start. “It’s always good to start off with the ﬁrst win right away,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton. “We now need to keep the momentum and the good start.” Daniels and Banchero showed that they can be a duo to reckon with. The reinforcement tallied 25 points and 16 rebounds in his debut, while Banchero had 20 in their rout of the Dyip. Against the Batang Pier, the Aces will face another new import in Prince Ibeh, who is expected to complement the talents of NorthPort core Stanley Pringle, Sean Anthony and Mo Tautuua. The Road Warriors and the Tropang Texters are likewise itching to have a good start. Both teams will parade new names as reinforcement as well. NLEX will have Curtis Washington, while TNT brings in a highproﬁle newbie in Terrence Jones, who has been an NBA veteran, most notably with the Houston Rockets alongside James Harden several seasons ago.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors high fives Draymond Green #23 during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers in game four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. AFP

Warriors reach 5 straight finals th

OS ANGELES—Stephen Curry and Draymond Green both posted triple-doubles to power the Golden State Warriors to a 119-117 overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday and into a ﬁfth straight NBA Finals.

The two-time defending NBA champions swept the Blazers in four games in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. The only other team to reach five straight NBA Finals was the Boston Celtics, when they went to a record 10 in a row from 1957 to 1966. “I hope it doesn’t go unnoticed or underrated—five straight finals hasn’t been done since the 60s,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “It hasn’t been done for a reason, it’s really, really difficult and so I just can’t say enough about the competitive desire of the group of guys that we have here.” The Warriors will battle for the title starting on May 30 against either the Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors, aiming to become the first team since the Los Angeles Lakers of 2000, 2001 and 2002 to three-peat as champions. Curry and Green became the first teammates in league history to have tripledoubles in the same post-season game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Curry finished with 37 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, while Green had his second straight triple-double—post-

ing double digits in three key statistical categories—with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Fittingly, Curry and Green combined on the game-winning basket in overtime, Curry feeding Green for a three-pointer that pushed Golden State to a 119-115 lead with 39.6 seconds left in overtime. “Obviously in that situation we want Steph to have the ball, we want Steph or Klay (Thompson) to take the shot,” Green said. “But they were swarming them. So I was just talking to them ‘Watch out, watch out.’ “When he passed me the ball, I just let it go. When I shot it, it felt good.” The Trail Blazers had led 69-65 at halftime, and built the lead to 17 in the third quarter—the third straight game in which Portland led by as many as 17 only to come up short. With veteran Andre Iguodala having joined superstar Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins on the injured list, the Warriors produced a total team effort to rally again. Thompson scored 17 points while re-

serve Kevon Looney added 12 points and 14 rebounds and Alfonzo McKinnie chipped in 12 points. “Being without Kevin these last five games has put us in a really tough spot and our guys stepped up in a big way,” Kerr said. “The group has a fiber to them— when (these) guys go down they find a way to come together and compete and win.” Warriors ‘find a way’ The Warriors scored the last nine points of the third period to close within 95-87 and knotted the score at 104-104 on Curry’s layup with 4:34 left in regulation. “We know we can cover 17 points in a matter of three or four minutes,” Green said. “So we always try to keep that mindset—that we’re never out of the game.” Both teams had a chance to win in regulation, but Curry traveled before draining a three-pointer that didn’t count and Lillard was unable to get through in traffic as time expired with the score tied 111-111. Portland star Lillard, playing with painful separated ribs, finished with 28 points while unheralded Meyers Leonard led the Trail Blazers with a career-high 30 points and 12 rebounds. CJ McCollum added 26 for the Trail Blazers, but it wasn’t enough for a team that had fended off elimination twice in their second-round series against the Denver Nuggets. AFP

Best collegiate standouts to be feted by Press Corps THE best and brightest collegiate standouts from last season are set to take center stage in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps Awards presented by SportsVision. The annual awards night held by the Collegiate Press Corps, composed of scribes from print and online outﬁts covering the NCAA and UAAP, will take place on Monday (May 27) at Amelie Hotel Manila in Malate, Manila. Among those who will be recognized are champions of the men’s basketball tournaments, San Beda University in the NCAA and Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP. The awards are not only reserved for champions, however, as special awards and breakout performers will also be feted in the celebration of excellence also sup-

ported by Amelie Hotel, Northport, World Balance, and AXA Team EDS. This past NCAA Season 94, the Red Lions earned their third straight title thanks to the leadership and stellar play of Robert Bolick and Javee Mocon. With that, San Beda remains the standard of excellence after winning its 11th title in the last 13 years. For their part, the Blue Eagles, spearheaded by Thirdy Ravena, won their second consecutive UAAP championship and eclipsed the UP Fighting Maroons who were on a Cinderella run. The 2019 Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps Awards presented by SportsVision will be aired live over Chooksto-Go Pilipinas and Tiebreaker Times on Facebook.

Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena (left) and San Beda University’s Robert Bolick lead the roster of awardees in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps Awards presented by SportsVision.

Wrestling nationals to choose SEAG bets THE Philippines’ cream of the crop in wrestling will be determined during the staging of the WAP Nationals 2019 on May 25 and 26 at Filinvest Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Alvin Aguilar said wrestling clubs nationwide are expected to ﬁeld their best bets in freestyle, Greco Roman and grappling in the qualifying event for the ﬁnal formation of the national team that will compete in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games late this year. “Our best of the best wrestlers will be selected in this national open tournament. Our goal is to win more golds to help our Team Philippines win another SEAGames’ overall championship, a mission that is possible,” said Aguilar, who is also the founder of Universal Reality Combat Championship Mixed Martial Arts Global. “Proof of our optimism is our athletes’ domination in the Southeast Asia Wrestling Championship held in San Pablo City early this year,” Aguilar added. Adult men and women with added Kiddie competition will be featured in the two-day event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Festival Alabang.

Taiwanese in full force against Philippine Golf Tour Asia aces

Bayron

TAIWAN is fielding in a fullpacked roster out to defend its turf against a crack Philippine Golf Tour Asia cast with all but one of the Top 10 in the current money rankings vying in the Daan Taiwan Open unfolding tomorrow (Thursday) at the Ching Chuan Kang Golf Club in Taichung. Lin Guanbo, the current leader with a win and five top 10 finishes in 10 tournaments on PGA of Taiwan (TPGA), banners the hosts’ campaign in the $100,000 championship, the first PGT Asiasanctioned tournament abroad. Joint No. 2 Lu Weizhi, also with a victory and 15 top 10 efforts in 34 events, Wang Weilun, with three

wins in 37 tournaments, and Song Mengyu, Zhan Yixin and Qiu Wei, who share the No. 4 spot, are also in the fold. The event is actually the ﬁrst of two PGT Asia tournaments set in Taiwan with the Nan Pao TPGA Open also scheduled on Sept. 2629 at Nan Pao Golf Club in Tainan City. A third PGTA tournament abroad later in the year is also being finalized that would further highlight the Philippine tour’s stake as one of the emerging circuits in the region. No. 7 Wang Congjie, and joint ninth-running Yu Yuchen and Zhang Zheyu are likewise all primed up for the 72-hole championship serving as the third leg

of the TPGA and the second stage of the PGT Asia sponsored by ICTSI. The rest of the 79-player TPGA cast are also ready to slug it out with the PGTA best and flash their local knowledge of the par-72 layout, whose wide fairways put premium on shotmaking and its elevated greens expected to challenge the chipping skills of the competing field not to mention its unpredictable surface. But the PGT Asia top guns are also going all-out, motivated not only by their desire to prove their worth against the hosts but also gain the bragging rights as the first winner of the first PGTA tournament overseas.

Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul, who ruled the ﬁrst leg of the third PGTA season at Luisita last month, stands at the forefront of the Phl-based tour bets who include compatriots Kammalas Namuangruk, Natthapong Niyomchon and Donlapatchai Niyomchon along with Marcos Pastor of Spain, Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang and Japanese Keita Sudo. Multi-titled Jay Bayron, a former OOM winner of one of the region’s development tours, is the lone Filipino entry in the full packed 144-player roster that features bets from the US, Sweden, Australia, Colombia, Scotland, Malaysia, Argentina, South Africa and Korea.

IN BRIEF Operators of online applications warned OPERATORS of online applications that may have violated the privacy of a digital consumer, especially on the lending ﬁasco in the internet, may face temporary or permanent ban. The National Privacy Commission issued the warning after receiving over 400 complaints from borrowers, who faced public shaming on social media and other internet platforms. “We have to take the side of the people. Clearly it was public shaming and cyberbullying and these are not allowed by law,” said NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro. By permanent ban, the commission meant that personal data would not and should not be used to harass clients who had been amiss in their payment obligation to lending institutions. The commission is currently handling 485 complaints against operators of online lending applications that allegedly misused personal information of borrowers, such as disclosure of unpaid balances to other people. Online lenders require clients to allow access into their contact information list, photos, ﬁles and documents saved in the borrower’s phone. Othel V. Campos

Business

NLEX taps Sta. Clara to build lanes in Subic NLEX Corp. signed a P1.6-billion contract with Sta. Clara International Corp. to build new expressway lanes, bridges and a tunnel at the Subic Freeport Expressway. The project—which involves the construction of two additional expressway lanes, two new bridges at Jadjad and Argonaut, and a tunnel—aims to better accommodate the growing number of vehicles going in and out of the Subic Bay Freeport. In addition, expressway-standard LED lights will be installed to keep the SFEX safe and convenient for motorists, particularly for those driving at night. The SFEX Capacity Expansion is seen to improve trafﬁc in the area and promote road safety as the new lanes will segregate northbound and southbound motorists along separate carriageways. It will also complement the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s infrastructure development program, which includes the improvement of airport and seaport, the widening of roads, and the construction of an SBMA Corporate Center. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

ABS-CBN gets P5-b loan from UnionBank to support capex By Darwin G. Amojelar

DoE asks power firms to honor bidding ruling THE Energy Department asked power industry stakeholders to comply with the Supreme Court ruling ordering them to undergo a competitive selection process on power supply agreements. “We will have a meeting with Meralco [Manila Electric Co.], with all of the stakeholders this week. We will tell them, go CSP. If you don’t want to undertake the CSP, we will come out with a circular that we will do the CSP for you,” Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola said. The ruling is expected to affect 95 PSAs including some that are already in effect. The Supreme Court ruling required all PSA applications submitted by distribution utilities on or after June 30, 2015 to comply with the CSP or bidding in accordance with the 2015 circular of the DoE. The Supreme Court ruled the power purchase cost after compliance with the CSP should be retroactive to the date of the effectivity of the PSA, but in no case earlier than June 30, 2015, for purposes of passing the purchase cost to the consumers. Alena Mae S. Flores

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

MPIC ADOPTS ESTEROS. Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. sign a memorandum of understanding with the Environment Department for the ‘Adopt-an-Estero’ campaign under the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program. Signing the agreement are Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu (left) and MPIC president and chief executive Jose Maria Lim. Apart from Maynilad, other MPIC companies such as Manila Electric Co., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. and Light Rail Manila Corp. will be involved in adopting the assigned esteros.

SMC to submit P35-b bid for a new source of water D By Alena Mae S. Flores

iversiﬁed conglomerate San Miguel Corp. is set to submit an unsolicited proposal to the government for the development of a new water source with a project cost estimated at P35 billion, its top executive said Tuesday. “I will submit an unsolicited proposal within two weeks―a new water source of 3,800 MLD [million liters per day],” San Miguel president Ramon Ang said. “We will harvest this from a new source, not Angat Dam. And I think we can build this 3,000 MLD, [with] private funding [of] about P35-billion cost. [It would take] ﬁve years to build and we can sell water at P5 per cubic meter. That is so cheap. That is raw water,” said Ang. Ang said the company wanted to help Filipino consumers to have an available and secure water supply. “We want to help the public. It’s for the security of supply,” Ang said. He said San Miguel planned to put up the water proj-

ect on its own without a partner. San Miguel’s P24.4-Billion Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project, a publicprivate partnership project of Luzon Clean Water Development Corp. and KWater Resources Corp., already started commercial operations. Ang earlier said Bulacan Bulk Water project was aimed at providing millions of residents in 24 towns of Bulacan ready access to fresh, potable surface water while balancing the competing needs of a growing population, industry, agriculture and the environment in the province. “The Bulacan Bulacan Bulk Water is just one of the many projects that SMC has in store under the Duterte adminis-

tration,” said Ang. He said that “with our ﬁnancial resources and technical capabilities, we promise to deliver several projects that support our fast economic growth.” The BBWSP consists of three stages. Stage 1 covers six water districts consisting of San Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Obando and Balagtas while Stage 2 covers seven water districts consisting of Guiguinto, Calumpit, Bulakan, Plaridel, Sta. Maria, Paombong and Malolos. Meanwhile, the construction of Stage 3 which covers the remaining 11 municipalities of Baliuag, Plaridel, Pandi, Hagonoy, San Rafael, San Miguel, Norzagaray, Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad, San Ildefonso and Bustos, has not yet started. Before the construction of the BBWSP, the province of Bulacan sources water from deep wells provided by the water districts which are governmentowned and-controlled corporations. In recent years, however, the deep wells are slowly running out of water.

ABS-CBN Corp. said Tuesday it borrowed P5 billion from Union Bank of the Philippines to partially fund its 2019 capital expenditures. The broadcast unit of the Lopez Group said the term loan agreement with Union Bank would have a term of 10 years. “The loan shall be used to partially finance the company’s capital expenditures and general corporate requirements,” ABS-CBN said. The company allotted P6 billion for the 2019 capex to fund digital transformation, broadband business expansion and program rights acquisition. ABS-CBN earlier reported a net income of P808 million in January to March, up 98 percent from the P410-million net profit it booked in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues reached P10.3 billion, up from last year’s P9 billion. The company said of the total revenues, advertising sales amounted to P5.4 billion, up 24.4 percent from last year’s P4.3 billion on higher political placements and growth in regular advertising. It said that excluding political placements, regular advertising increased 14.6 percent year-on-year. Consumer sales went up 6.2 percent to P4.9 billion on higher TVPlus boxes sold and theatrical receipts from ABS-CBN Films. ABS-CBN TVPlus contributed a significant increase in revenues in the first quarter with a total of 638,000 boxes sold, up 9 percent from the same period last year. Film & Music’s revenues grew 21 percent in the first quarter. Sky’s revenues rose 4 percent year-on-year, led by an increase in broadband and DTH subscribers by 26,000 and 531,000, respectively.

Petron unveils plan to invest $1b in PH, Malaysia

E-TRIKE TURNOVER. Rustan Supercenters Inc., in support of the Green Fund project of the Quezon City Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, turns over 32 hybrid electric-tricycles to 16barangays, as part of its commitment to help promote environmental initiatives. RSCI vice president for human resources Roland Villareal (fifth from left) turns over the ceremonial key to QC-EPWMD head Frederika Rentoy and barangay officials at Shopwise Commonwealth in Quezon City.

OIL refiner Petron Corp. plans to invest more than $1 billion for its refinery optimization and retail network expansion in the Philippines and Malaysia. “We will continue with our investment, expansion, plant optimization, refinery optimization, petrochem expansion, network expansion, port expansion, terminal expansion. We are still going to spend over $1 billion,” Petron president Ramon Ang said after the annual stockholders’ meeting. Petron owns the country’s biggest oil refinery in Bataan with a capacity of 180,000 barrels per day, which supplies about 40 percent of the country’s fuel requirements. It also owns the Port Dickson Refinery in Malaysia with a capacity of 88,000 barrels a day. “We are building two steam producer boilers. That’s $600 million…to bring down the cost of the refinery and to op-

Neda committee changes scopes of 3 infra projects By Julito G. Rada THE National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III approved on May 17 the changes in three infrastructure projects. The ICC-CabCom approved changes in the Central Luzon Link Expressway project, phase I; the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project; and the Metro Manila Wastewater Management Project. Neda said in a statement Tuesday the implementation period of CLLEX project’s phase 1 of the Public Works Department would be extended from June 2017 to April 2021, and its loan validity would be extended from July 2019 to

July 2022, inclusive of a one-year defects liability period. “This will allow the DPWH to complete the remaining works that were hobbled by issues over right-of-way acquisition and delivery of aggregate supply. The implementation period extension will not entail an increase in total project cost,” Neda said. Neda said that for the NISRIP of the National Irrigation Administration, the project’s loan validity would be extended from the original closing date of July 2019 to July 2021. The project implementation period for civil works and other activities will also be extended from the originally approved period of February 2012-June 2019 to February 2012-June 2021. The revised total project cost is now

P3.13 billion, a 21.78-percent decrease from the previously approved cost of P4.01 billion. It said that for the scope of the project, the coverage would decrease to 34,216 hectares from the original estimate of 35,670 hectares. NIA said that despite the decrease in coverage, there would be a net increase in the total number of farmers who would beneﬁt from NISRIP―from 22,563 to 26,683 farmers―and an increase in annual rice production of up to 319,510 tons per year. Meanwhile, the ICC-CabCom extended the closing date of the loan for the Metro Manila Wastewater Management Project from June 2019 to June 2020 and approved the replacement of the sub-contract packages under the account of Manila Water Co. Inc. The original four Pasig Project Con-

timize the reﬁnery,” Ang said, referring to the planned investment in the Petron reﬁnery in Bataan. He said the steam producer boilers would take two to three years to build. The company started the construction of the boilers Tuesday. Ang said the remaining $400 million in capital expenditure would be spent for gas station network expansion, power line upgrading, pipeline upgrading, among others. He said Petron had a network of 3,000 stations in the Philippines and Malaysia, which it planned to increase to 6,000 stations by 2022. “Our target is 6,000 [stations] but our target was delayed. That is supposed to be by the year 2022, for us to complete it. But it is three years to go, yet we have yet to complete it,” he said. He said the delay was due to permitting issues in

both markets. Ang said he was hoping that crude prices would remain stable in the coming years. Recent volatility in oil prices in the world market and the effect of the second phase of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act brought down Petron’s profit in the first quarter. Petron’s net income dropped to P1.2 billion in the first quarter from P5.8 billion in the same period last year. “We can only hope that the crude oil price will be stable in the coming years… If you notice, Petron, despite all of that― inventory losses, new taxes, huge oil price drop, etc. Our income declined but we did not lose [money],” Ang said. He said Petron, during a normal scenario, could generate an operating income of $1 billion. Alena Mae S. Flores

DMCI, Japan’s Taisei team up for infra deals By Jenniffer B. Austria DMCI Holdings Inc. is teaming up with Japan’s Taisei Corp. for other big-ticket infrastructure projects in the country ﬁnanced by Japan International Cooperation Agency. The joint venture of D.M. Consunji Inc., the construction arm of DMCI Holdings, and Taisei Consortium was awarded the P54-billion contract for North-South Commuter Rail Phase 1. DMCI president Jorge Consunji said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting that DMCI and Taisei were jointly looking at other Jica projects in the country, including the $1.54-billion subway project and the south commuter line project from Calamba City to Naga City. The NSCR is the ﬁrst joint venture

partnership between DMCI and Taisei. The project involves the construction of around 22 kilometers of elevated viaduct structures, six stations and a depot in Valenzuela City. Designed to be completed in 42 months, NSCR Phase 1 will use the existing alignment of the Philippine National Railway which runs from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila. The trains will have a maximum operating speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Once completed, the railway will shorten travel time between Malolos and Tutuban to just 35 minutes from one hour and 30 minutes. The rail line is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily. DMCI said it would employ up to 5,000 direct and indirect workers within the next 30 months to meet the manpower requirements of the project.

Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market extends rally; Globe climbs T HE stock market extended its rally Tuesday for the third straight day on encouraging balance of payments ﬁgures, with select blue chips leading the advance.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index advanced 61.42 points, or 0.8 percent, to 7,721.56 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Gainers edged losers, 97 to 94, with 45 issues unchanged. The country’s BoP posted a surplus of $467 million in April, a reversal of the $270-million deﬁcit recorded a year ago on higher remittances, foreign direct investments and income from the investments of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas abroad. A healthier BoP

position may strengthen the peso against the US dollar, which, turn, will reduce cost of imports in the Philippines. Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan climbed 6.8 percent to P14.74, while Manila Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, gained 5 percent to P374. Globe Telecom Inc., the secondbiggest telecommunications ﬁrm, rose 4.8 percent to P2,114, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fast-food chain, rallied 3.1 percent to P282.60. The rest of Asian markets, meanwhile, mostly rose Tuesday but concerns about the Huawei row and broader China-US trade war kept investors on edge, with analysts warning the crisis could rumble on for some time. Sydney rose 0.4 percent, Seoul added 0.3 percent and Taipei was 0.7 percent higher, with Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta all in positive territory.

But Tokyo ended down 0.1 percent, Hong Kong dropped 0.5 percent and Wellington closed off 0.2 percent. Regional investors were spooked by a sharp drop in New York’s techrich Nasdaq after Google said it was beginning to sever ties with the Chinese telecoms giant, days after Donald Trump’s decision to bar it from the US market and put it on a sales blacklist. The Huawei development—with the US citing national security concerns— has muddied the waters in the tariffs stand-off between Washington and Beijing, which was thought to have been close to conclusion at the start of the month. And now some observers are warning that stalled talks between the economic superpowers might not see any progress before a hoped-for meeting between Trump and China’s Xi Jinping at the G20 in June.

“The market was a little optimistic that a trade deal would just get done here this month,” Brett Ewing, chief market strategist at First Franklin Financial Services, told Bloomberg News. Dealers have “deﬁnitely come to terms with a longer term trade negotiation process.” While the Commerce Department issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban on dealing with Huawei, saying breathing space was needed to avoid huge disruption, the two appear to be digging their heels in. And on Monday China’s envoy to the European Union called the Huawei move “wrong behavior,” adding “there will be a necessary response.” Zhang Ming warned: “Chinese companies’ legitimate rights and interests are being undermined, so the Chinese government will not sit idly by.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 56.05 23,060 80.8 1,766,580 2.15 5,000 133 958,510 1.2 10,000 26.8 88,700 8.49 2,900 18.88 700 11.72 320,700 4.43 7,000 1.34 10,000 730 380 0.45 470,000 74.5 954,030 1 484,000 58.6 950,830 185.3 910 57.5 400 26 5,500 178.8 793,260 1,800 360 61 6,040

1,356,946.50 143,273,559.50 10,750 126,774,281 12,000 2,348,410 21,665 13,180 3,763,358 31,000 13,400 279,610 212,100 71,050,534 475,990 55,140,647.50 168,025 23,003.50 143,115 141,284,193 645,775 368,583

1,171,036.50 -36,768,501.50 -5,789,482 -608,725 456,202 -17,282,908.50 15,073,310 -21,107,727 -333,732

35.5 15 0.64 1.37 0.26 2.6 14.24 25.65 15 45 1.87 5.25 5.37 10.14 15.96 9.4 7.48 20.8 76.4 41 2.35 13.82 10 1.68 274 3.5 9.25 22 13.82 21.85 356.4 0.186 5.63 1.25 4.52 5.43 9.46 1.93 11.84 42.3 4.7 4.95 1.59 1.24 12.9 104.7 6.41 0.86 152.3 2.47 1.11 16.98 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 36.05 726,700 15 402,400 0.68 1,783,000 1.39 621,000 0.265 14,610,000 2.6 25,649,000 14.6 1,069,500 27 517,700 16.4 2,000 45 100,000 1.9 88,000 5.25 14,600 5.45 12,200 10.18 5,177,500 16.02 1,110,000 9.43 267,100 7.5 943,800 21.2 701,500 76.45 211,470 43 397,600 2.38 8,817,000 14 1,177,500 10.3 581,400 1.72 150,000 282.6 1,088,980 3.5 1,000 9.35 20,200 22.45 3,700,100 13.9 315,500 22 1,693,900 374 221,820 0.186 40,000 5.63 5,200 1.27 1,339,000 4.6 154,000 5.7 3,058,300 9.46 3,500 1.99 55,145,000 12.08 35,300 42.5 115,500 4.99 166,000 5.05 167,900 1.65 222,000 1.24 22,000 13 34,900 106 294,870 6.42 201,800 0.89 684,000 158.8 1,048,530 2.5 874,000 1.13 3,034,000 16.98 500 1.04 838,000

26,167,355 6,154,830 1,176,110 855,170 3,905,750 67,824,480 15,450,278 13,683,260 31,410 4,500,000 167,050 76,650 68,765 52,752,708 17,759,518 2,517,066 7,069,218 14,730,415 16,168,297.50 16,964,120 21,268,730 16,475,398 5,950,926 253,150 307,259,864 3,500 187,839 83,033,945 4,393,694 37,265,540 81,408,130 7,440 29,276 1,691,600 708,620 17,212,148 33,178 109,688,830 424,982 4,902,525 781,260 839,995 356,230 27,340 453,598 31,223,679 1,298,285 609,500 163,788,234 2,182,570 3,428,640 8,490 855,530

-190,570 -767,012 -2,650 4,137,690 -4,626,902 -790,800 0 19,000 -21,083,418 -8,460,362 224,618 -1,544,690 -6,169,115 -4,902,312.50 7,864,200 3,599,090 9,681,364 -1,516,674 -53,266,630 -38,398,770 -519,394 35,786,445 -42,647,678 421,270 1,492,087 2,293,890 -2,765,015 -385,490 6,490 1,692,944 -6,300 -25,617,887 2,042,270 33,900.00 2,020

0.57 49.7 13.9 0.73 6.7 13.72 1.25 1.27 850 3.32 1,251 7.02 10.28 13.52 0.265 840.5 6.15 58.85 5.86 0.48 4.52 16.22 0.55 4.32 0.038 1.12 180.7 884 0.77 274.8 0.232 0.27

HOLDING FIRMS 0.58 12,763,000 49.8 1,390,610 14.74 6,861,000 0.75 124,000 6.7 52,200 13.82 73,400 1.26 2,779,000 1.29 42,000 850 494,070 3.4 8,903,000 1,251 10 7.1 108,400 10.6 8,544,900 14.7 370,300 0.265 90,000 850.5 47,010 6.15 85,000 59 1,675,110 5.96 2,000 0.5 10,000 4.71 285,000 16.36 2,028,200 0.55 34,000 4.34 18,631,000 0.039 6,400,000 1.13 120,000 186 90,620 902 187,600 0.78 584,000 274.8 450 0.235 660,000 0.27 3,500,000

7,351,240 69,911,872.50 99,375,296 90,700 349,740 1,026,244 3,501,080 54,080 423,158,950 30,223,680 12,510 771,706 89,320,290 5,268,618 23,950 40,054,480 524,900 99,808,524 11,910 4,840 1,338,780 33,195,936 18,700 80,841,000 246,800 135,500 16,655,291 169,098,690 456,140 123,660 153,530 953,600

223,640.00 2,794,502.50 2,985,666 329,640 27,640 1,320 -191,823,735 8,780 1,519 6,496,410 -65,798 -5,987,170 -28,071,079.50 -59,080 2,657,580 5,500 -8,845,600 -8,550,600 -37,448,945 68,750

14.5 0.75 10.3 2.19 0.75 46.8 2.28 5.03 6.2 0.51 0.83 0.85 0.228 10.2 23.7 0.465 1.53 1.33 5.35 0.305 0.47 1.68 0.42 1.89 23.4

PROPERTY 15.1 2,585,800 0.76 1,265,000 10.5 2,000 2.21 31,000 0.78 314,000 47.9 9,615,700 2.29 341,000 5.12 3,994,700 6.4 6,100 0.52 11,358,000 0.83 1,000 0.9 52,000 0.228 610,000 10.44 93,100 24.2 940,900 0.465 3,270,000 1.57 9,231,000 1.39 9,793,000 5.4 24,181,800 0.31 8,650,000 0.47 140,000 1.72 740,000 0.42 420,000 2 3,470,000 23.95 1,592,800

HIGH

LOW

ASIA UNITED 58.5 BANK PH ISLANDS 81.25 BDO LEASING 2.15 BDO UNIBANK 130.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.2 CHINABANK 26.5 CITYSTATE BANK 6.74 COL FINANCIAL 18.8 EAST WEST BANK 11.62 FERRONOUX HLDG 4.42 IREMIT 1.34 MANULIFE 756 MEDCO HLDG 0.46 METROBANK 75.3 NTL REINSURANCE 0.96 PHIL NATL BANK 56.1 PHIL STOCK EXCH 184 PSBANK 57.45 RCBC 26.15 SECURITY BANK 178.6 SUN LIFE 1,780 UNION BANK 61.5

58.9 81.5 2.15 133.3 1.2 26.85 8.49 18.88 11.76 4.43 1.34 756 0.46 75.3 1 59 185.3 57.6 26.15 179.1 1,800 61.5

56.05 80.75 2.15 130 1.2 26.15 6.74 18.78 11.62 4.42 1.34 730 0.45 74 0.96 56 183.9 57.45 26 176.1 1,770 61

ABOITIZ POWER 35.5 AGRINURTURE 15.48 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.65 ALSONS CONS 1.37 BASIC ENERGY 0.27 CEMEX HLDG 2.72 CENTURY FOOD 14.28 CIRTEK HLDG 27 CNTRL AZUCARERA15 CONCEPCION 45 CROWN ASIA 1.87 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.25 DEL MONTE 5.37 DNL INDUS 10.2 EAGLE CEMENT 15.98 EEI CORP 9.43 EMPERADOR 7.51 FIRST GEN 21.45 FIRST PHIL HLDG 76.45 GINEBRA 41 GREENERGY 2.4 HOLCIM 14.22 INTEGRATED MICR 10 IONICS 1.7 JOLLIBEE 276 MABUHAY VINYL 3.5 MACAY HLDG 9.4 MANILA WATER 22 MAXS GROUP 14 MEGAWIDE 21.9 MERALCO 360 MG HLDG 0.186 PANASONIC 5.63 PEPSI COLA 1.28 PETROENERGY 4.62 PETRON 5.43 PHINMA 9.48 PHINMA ENERGY 1.96 PHX PETROLEUM 12.08 PILIPINAS SHELL 42.3 PRYCE CORP 4.71 RFM CORP 5 ROXAS AND CO 1.65 SFA SEMICON 1.24 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13 SMC FOODANDBEV 106 SPC POWER 6.41 TKC METALS 0.86 UNIV ROBINA 152.3 VICTORIAS 2.51 VITARICH 1.11 VIVANT 16.98 VULCAN INDL 1.03

36.35 15.5 0.69 1.39 0.275 2.73 14.6 27 16.5 45 1.9 5.25 5.7 10.36 16.06 9.46 7.51 21.45 76.65 43.15 2.47 14.22 10.38 1.74 284.8 3.5 9.79 22.5 14.04 22.1 374 0.186 5.63 1.29 4.63 5.81 9.48 2.05 12.08 43 4.99 5.05 1.68 1.29 13.08 107 6.64 0.92 158.8 2.51 1.14 16.98 1.05

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

0.59 51.3 14.74 0.75 6.7 14.54 1.29 1.32 867 3.48 1,251 7.2 10.66 14.7 0.275 867 6.2 60.4 5.96 0.5 4.84 16.46 0.55 4.38 0.039 1.13 186.7 910 0.79 274.8 0.239 0.28

0.58 50.5 14 0.73 6.7 14.54 1.25 1.27 857.5 3.48 1,251 7.03 10.5 14.5 0.275 850 6.2 59 5.86 0.48 4.81 16.22 0.55 4.34 0.039 1.13 186.7 885 0.78 274.8 0.239 0.28

8990 HLDG 14.5 A BROWN 0.79 ANCHOR LAND 10.3 ARANETA PROP 2.2 ARTHALAND CORP 0.75 AYALA LAND 47.5 BELLE CORP 2.3 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.05 CEBU HLDG 6.22 CENTURY PROP 0.52 CITY AND LAND 0.83 CITYLAND DEVT 0.85 CROWN EQUITIES 0.23 DM WENCESLAO 10.26 DOUBLEDRAGON 24.5 EMPIRE EAST 0.47 FILINVEST LAND 1.53 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.33 MEGAWORLD 5.37 MRC ALLIED 0.305 PHIL ESTATES 0.48 PHIL INFRADEV 1.7 PHIL REALTY 0.435 PRIMEX CORP 2 ROBINSONS LAND 24

15.28 0.79 10.5 2.21 0.78 48 2.32 5.13 6.4 0.53 0.83 0.9 0.23 10.44 24.6 0.475 1.58 1.41 5.44 0.31 0.48 1.73 0.44 2.03 24.2

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

2 3 39.4 1.84 6.62 0.71 7.16

2.05 3 39.85 1.88 6.66 0.71 7.19

2 2.97 38.8 1.78 6.52 0.71 7.13

2.02 2.97 39.45 1.87 6.55 0.71 7.15

78,000 80,000 5,198,800 2,422,000 253,700 25,000 1,293,400

158,300 239,160 205,118,995 4,404,200 1,667,105 17,750 9,249,372

-120 -99,061,475 -368,000 698,803

2GO GROUP 11.7 ABS CBN 19 ACESITE HOTEL 1.36 APC GROUP 0.415 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.043 ASIAN TERMINALS 19 BERJAYA 2.53 BLOOMBERRY 11.3 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.062 CEBU AIR 86.1 CHELSEA 6.3 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.02 EASYCALL 10.6 FAR EASTERN U 893 GLOBE TELECOM 2,018 GMA NETWORK 5.34 GOLDEN BRIA 412.8 GRAND PLAZA 10.02 HARBOR STAR 2.4 IMPERIAL 1.76 INTL CONTAINER 138.5 IPEOPLE 10.7 ISLAND INFO 0.123 ISM COMM 6 LBC EXPRESS 15.4 LEISURE AND RES 4.46 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.75 MACROASIA 19.1 MANILA BULLETIN 0.57 MANILA JOCKEY 3.82 METRO RETAIL 2.87 METROALLIANCE A 1.66 METROALLIANCE B 1.63 NOW CORP 2.03 PACIFIC ONLINE 3.36 PAL HLDG 9.93 PH RESORTS GRP 4.34 PHILWEB 2.96 PLDT 1,270 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.75 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.92 PUREGOLD 46.5 ROBINSONS RTL 73 SBS PHIL CORP 9.29 SSI GROUP 3.28 STI HLDG 0.66 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.325 TRAVELLERS 5.58 WATERFRONT 0.71 WILCON DEPOT 16.7

11.9 19.08 1.36 0.415 0.044 19.8 2.62 11.3 0.065 88.5 6.38 2.02 11 893 2,114 5.38 412.8 10.02 2.42 1.89 139.9 10.98 0.123 6.15 15.4 4.5 0.79 19.4 0.61 3.9 2.88 1.66 1.63 2.06 3.36 9.93 4.46 2.97 1,310 0.78 0.94 46.5 73.7 9.29 3.4 0.67 0.325 5.62 0.72 16.7

11.42 18.86 1.36 0.415 0.043 19 2.41 11 0.061 86.1 6.15 2.02 10.5 893 2,000 5.3 400.4 10.02 2.37 1.75 135.1 10.7 0.119 5.87 15.4 4.37 0.75 19.08 0.56 3.79 2.8 1.64 1.63 1.96 3.22 9.65 4.14 2.86 1,264 0.74 0.89 45.05 72.5 9.04 3.22 0.66 0.305 5.58 0.69 16.28

SERVICES 11.9 44,500 18.86 75,700 1.36 6,000 0.415 70,000 0.044 3,300,000 19.5 6,400 2.6 609,000 11.28 5,191,200 0.061 24,750,000 88 768,320 6.19 1,677,600 2.02 5,000 10.64 82,600 893 10 2,114 134,350 5.31 111,400 409 3,620 10.02 16,700 2.38 214,000 1.89 8,000 135.2 1,524,340 10.98 200 0.119 2,780,000 5.88 5,077,500 15.4 800 4.45 3,119,000 0.79 183,000 19.18 1,545,200 0.6 4,814,000 3.79 14,000 2.83 1,600,000 1.64 22,000 1.63 4,000 2.02 1,648,000 3.25 246,000 9.7 20,600 4.46 78,000 2.96 906,000 1,303 158,165 0.76 18,919,000 0.89 41,682,000 45.5 1,421,900 72.8 445,070 9.04 28,700 3.23 9,739,000 0.67 791,000 0.315 7,290,000 5.58 4,992,200 0.72 961,000 16.36 1,657,400

521,548 1,431,448 8,160 29,050 145,000 123,598 1,562,310 58,121,328 1,535,440 67,575,033 10,521,421 10,100 880,258 8,930 279,472,170 593,355 1,472,728 167,334 510,590 14,720 209,264,334 2,168 333,540 30,389,859 12,320 13,922,290 138,790 29,582,490 2,866,080 53,830 4,544,710 36,320 6,520 3,286,640 806,950 199,454 341,130 2,644,390 205,111,745 14,480,680 37,617,850 64,860,470 32,414,841.50 265,436 32,432,150 528,240 2,283,850 27,934,010 680,900 27,170,558

38,980 93,600 -9,485,028 62,000 9,000,171 -12,600 164,546,960 -5,270 -44,118,877 -26,180 193,240 2,144,370 26,329,410 480,650 -140,150 -100 -391,260 69,948,985 -3,084,060 465,930 -14,646,625.00 -11,272,674.50 1,166,510 75,170 -15,054,840 -91,000 -1,835,900

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 ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0019 1.2 2.75 11.9 1.12 2.76 0.295 7.69 1.53 0.233 0.106 0.104 0.0079 1.03 2.19 0.98 0.87 0.011 0.011 0.012 3.8 2.9 8.14 22

0.0019 1.2 2.75 11.9 1.12 2.8 0.295 7.9 1.54 0.233 0.106 0.108 0.0079 1.04 2.25 0.99 0.87 0.012 0.011 0.012 4.1 2.94 8.28 22.8

0.0018 1.18 2.71 11.9 1.12 2.76 0.295 7.57 1.52 0.22 0.102 0.103 0.0077 1.01 2.18 0.96 0.87 0.011 0.011 0.011 3.8 2.87 8.07 22

MINING & OIL 0.0018 176,000,000 1.19 884,000 2.71 565,000 11.9 200 1.12 8,000 2.78 308,000 0.295 100,000 7.75 27,100 1.54 741,000 0.232 590,000 0.102 220,000 0.108 30,000 0.0077 25,000,000 1.04 64,000 2.21 1,103,000 0.98 80,000 0.87 249,000 0.012 700,000 0.011 100,000 0.012 53,400,000 3.98 876,000 2.92 54,000 8.2 497,000 22.3 1,845,900

317,400 1,053,420 1,540,140 2,380 8,960 853,250 29,500 206,444 1,134,970 130,930 22,520 3,150 195,700 65,830 2,435,100 77,830 216,630 8,200 1,100 640,000 3,440,620 156,650 4,061,684 41,501,940

-619,760 -2,730 -2,240 -288,210 -14,490 168,189 32,889,675

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

18 474 498 104 5.5 95.1 1 102 997 105.5 75.8 76.9 72 72.5 73.85 73 73.6

18 475 498 104.2 5.5 95.1 1 102 997 106 75.8 76.9 72 72.5 73.85 73 73.6

18 474 490 104 5.35 95 0.98 101 997 105.5 75.5 76.85 71.5 72.5 73.75 73 72.15

PREFERRED 18 363,300 475 400 490 350 104.2 3,880 5.35 44,000 95 1,390 0.98 995,000 101 2,010 997 20 106 100 75.5 930 76.9 2,100 71.5 5,560 72.5 500 73.75 30,000 73 15,700 73.6 7,360

6,539,400 189,980 171,660 403,791 235,475 132,116 985,400 203,020 19,940 10,580 70,269 161,444.50 397,820 36,250 2,213,754.50 1,146,100 531,213.50

0 24,500 -

LR WARRANT

2.08

2.01

WARRANTS 2.07 287,000

587,100

143,980.00

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.76 1.11

4.88 1.11

4.72 1

SME 4.81 1.02

444,000 7,709,000

2,115,100 7,996,680

-996,040

FIRST METRO ETF 115

116.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 114.8 115.8 9,350

1,081,842

443,056

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.2 1

10.1 1

183,590 45,980

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

MS 38,823,206 980,880 20,800 68,330 237,870 459,913,885 783,020 20,342,876 37,920 5,909,620 830 44,300 140,190 961,914 22,639,145 1,537,350 14,419,870 13,502,750 130,602,116 2,642,700 65,900 1,265,290 178,050 6,792,430 38,205,160

256,052 10,300 -3,120 61,417,370 -55,110 564,138 104,000 1,252,295 -811,450 2,264,710 538,400 -27,796,643 56,460 1,840,405

10.1 1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES 7,159,734

139,734,265 77,259,385

PROPERTY

102,110,959

SERVICES

150,488,822

MINING & OIL

265,325,157

GRAND TOTAL

750,244,810

DDS 10.2 1

18,000 45,980

VALUE 1,723.61 (up) 8.21 586,702,338.56 FINANCIAL 11,346.27 (up) 278.19 INDUSTRIAL 1,178,829,569.00 7,215.37 (up) 54.07 HOLDING FIRMS 1,389,547,384.47 PROPERTY 4,196.02 (up) 20.72 1,653.82 (up) 1.92 SERVICES 981,162,171.125 7,309.86 (up) 77.41 MINING & OIL 1,202,663,710.62 7,721.56 (up) 61.42 PSEI 58,139,272.87 All Shares Index 4,782.14 (up) 34.74 5,408,253,493.14 Gainers: 97; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 45; Total: 236

Alsons posted net income of P104.36m in first 3 months By Alena Mae S. Flores ALSONS Consolidated Resources Inc., the publicly listed company of the Alcantara Group, posted a consolidated net income of ₱104.359 million in the first three months of 2019, slightly up from ₱103.139 million year-on-year. Attributable net earnings to the parent company during the period jumped 69 percent to ₱6.11 million from a net loss of ₱19.74 million in 2018. First-quarter revenues were down slightly to ₱1.22 billion from ₱1.67 billion a year ago. The first 150-megawatt Section 1 of baseload coal-fired power plant of Sarangani Energy Corp. in Maasim, Sarangani province remains the key driver of revenue and income for Alsons. “The company hopes to recover the shortfall when SEC 2 comes online in the second half of this year. The company has embarked on initiatives for its diesel plants to provide ancillary services to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines,” said Alsons. Western Mindanao Power Corp. has signed an ancillary services procurement agreement with National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to provide NGCP with dispatchable generating capacity, reactive power support and black start capability in order to stabilize the power grid in the Zamboanga Peninsula. “The company is likewise actively exploring prospective markets for its diesel capacity in areas outside of Mindanao where the demand for power is growing,” Alsons said. The SEC plant’s first section with a capacity of up to 105 MW began operating in April 2016 and currently delivers power to over three million people in the General Santos-Sarangani area and other parts of Mindanao. The plant’s second section is currently in the commissioning stage. It is targeting to start commercial operations in the second half of 2019. SEC 2 is set to contribute another 105 MW of base-load power to benefit an additional three million people in various parts of Mindanao when it begins operating later this year. AFP

Megaworld sees P850-m sales from Pampanga condo By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWORLD Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, expects to generate P850 million from a newlylaunched residential condominium project within the 35.6-hectare Capital Town Pampanga township in San Fernando, Pampanga province. Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday Bryant Parklane would be a 16-story residential tower offering 463 units ranging from Studio (up to 28.5 square meters), and one-bedroom (up to 41 sq. m.). “In Bryant Parklane, we want to encourage interaction among residents, and at the same time, foster a sense of community. The lobby will become a venue for residents to hang out and interact with each other at any given time of the day and night. This makes this new residential project unique and oneof-a-kind, never been seen before in any of our developments,” said Megaworld Pampanga first vice president for sales and marketing Eugene Em Lozano. The project is scheduled for completion by 2024. The residential tower will also host some retail areas at the ground level. The key highlight of the residential project is the first-of-its-kind lobby concept, which features bi-level functional shared spaces and receiving area. Indoor bike racks form part of the lobby’s unique design. The lobby will feature some of the development’s amenities, such as daycare center with a hammock area, turf lounge, pingpong café and library. The Bryant Parklane features amenities at the third level deck such as an adult and kiddie pools with pool deck, function hall, indoor and outdoor fitness centers, covered outdoor lounge, outdoor play area, and jogging path. Megaworld last year launched its first residential development in Capital Town—the 12-story Chelsea Parkplace, which offered 193 residential units.

Manila

Standard

World

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TODAY

Christchurch attacker charged with terrorism

FIRST PLENARY SESSION. Spanish center-right Ciudadanos party leader Albert Rivera and MP Ines Arrimadas arrive for the first plenary session of the lower house of parliament since last month’s general election on May 21, 2019 in Madrid. AFP

IN BRIEF Election triggers suicide attempts SYDNEY―At least four refugees in Australia’s offshore Paciﬁc camps have attempted suicide since the conservative government’s shock re-election Saturday, according to refugees, advocates and police. Around 800 would-be refugees who tried reach Australia have been sent to live in severe conditions on the remote islands of Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus under a hard-line policy from Canberra. Many had prayed for a more lenient policy from Labor, who had been strongly tipped to win. But an unexpected victory by Scott Morrison’s center-right coalition dashed hopes and set off a wave of self-harm including several hospitalizations. Prominent Kurdish author and asylumseeker Behrouz Boochani tweeted from Manus: “The situation in Manus is out of control, today two more people attempted suicide.” Manus Provincial Police Commander David Yapu told AFP that he was aware of at least ten suicide attempts including four over the weekend. “It’s an issue we are faced with right now,” he said. “Over the weekend we had an attempted arson of their rooms, and right now we have some that are refusing to eat.” Australia’s Department of Home Affairs did not respond to a request for comment. The opposition Labor party had said they would be open to a New Zealand offer to resettle refugees on Manus and Nauru. The United Nations and human rights organizations have roundly condemned the conservative government’s policy. “We have run out of vocabulary to describe the harm wrought,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Canberra said in December. AFP

WELLINGTON―The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshipers in the Christchurch mosque attacks was formally charged with terrorism for the ﬁrst time on Tuesday, New Zealand police said. In addition to the terror charge, Brenton Tarrant also faces 51 charges of murder and 40 of attempted murder over the March 15 attacks that rocked the South Paciﬁc nation. “The charge will allege that a terrorist act was carried out in Christchurch,” police said in a statement. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has characterized the mosque killings as “a wellplanned terrorist attack” since the day Tarrant, a self-described white supremacist, allegedly carried them out. But until now the charges against him were less expansive, as New Zealand’s Terrorism Suppression Act was only introduced

in 2002 and is untested in the courts. Police said the decision to lay the terror charge more than two months after the attack was made following consultation with prosecutors and government legal experts. Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, is currently in a highsecurity prison undergoing tests to determine if he is mentally ﬁt to stand trial for the worst massacre in modern New Zealand history. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 14. Police said they had met survivors and victims’ families Tuesday to explain the additional charges. “Police are committed to providing all the support necessary for what will be a challenging and emotional court process to come for the victim’s families and survivors of the attack,” they said. AFP

Showdown in Congress intensifies

ASHINGTON—The clash between US President Donald Trump and the Democratic majority in Congress intensified on Monday, with the White House telling the president’s former lawyer to ignore a subpoena to testify about Trump’s alleged obstruction of justice in the Russia probe. And in a big setback for Trump, a federal judge denied the president’s attempt to quash another subpoena from Democratic lawmakers ordering an accounting firm to release years of Trump financial documents dating from before he took office. That decision marks the first time US courts have waded into the conflict that pits the president against Democrats who

have opened a raft of probes into his administration since they took control of the House of Representatives in January. In a sign of the uphill battle their investigations face, an attorney for Trump’s former lawyer Don McGahn said his client would follow the White House’s instructions and not testify about Trump’s alleged obstruction of justice at a House Judiciary

Committee hearing set for Tuesday. “Under these circumstances, and also conscious of the duties he, as an attorney, owes to his former client, Mr. McGahn must decline to appear at the hearing tomorrow,” his attorney William A. Burck wrote to the committee, adding that his client “understands from your prior correspondence that the Committee would vote to hold him in contempt should he not appear.” Earlier in the day, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler called the White House’s move “the latest act of obstruction,” and said “the Committee will convene as planned tomorrow morning, and Mr. McGahn is expected to appear as legally required.”

“The ﬁrst thing we’re going to have to do is hold McGahn in contempt,” Nalder told CNN in an interview late Monday. He added: “You’re dealing with a lawless president willing to go to any lengths to prevent testimony that might implicate him—that does implicate him.” Democrats want McGahn to talk about special counsel Robert Mueller’s sprawling, 22-month probe into whether Trump colluded with Russians while running for president and then tried to impede the probe into that question after he was elected. In his ﬁnal report, released in mid-April, Mueller said he hadn’t gathered evidence of collusion that would warrant charges of criminal conspiracy. AFP

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS : MSRD Order No. 19 : Series of 2019 : x------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER WHEREAS, on May 10. 2019, Philippine Bank of Communications (“PBCom”) submitted its Definitive Information Statement (“DIS”) and Management Report relative to the scheduled stockholders’ meeting on June 4, 2019. WHEREAS, the company distributed its DIS on May 14, 2019, however, in order to complete the list of nominees to the Board of Directors, Messrs. Jack Huang and Conrad Gloria were included as nominees to the Board, thereby necessitating the amendment of PBCom’s DIS. WHEREAS, on May 16, 2019 PBCom filed before the Commission a request to approve the amendments in its DIS. WHEREFORE, the company’s request to approve the amendments in its DIS is hereby GRANTED subject to its full compliance of SRC Rule 20.3.3.4. SO ORDERED Pasay City, Philippines May 16, 2019 VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director (MS-MAY 22, 2019)

Indonesia’s Widodo reelected president JAKARTA―Thousands of soldiers fanned out across Jakarta on Tuesday after the surprise early announcement of official results in Indonesia’s election showed Joko Widodo re-elected leader of the world’s third-biggest democracy. The election commission had been due to give the final tally of the divisive poll on Wednesday, but the results were revealed early Tuesday with little advance notice amid fears of unrest. Presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto had warned of possible mass uprisings in response to his claims of widespread cheating. Tensions have also spiked high since police said last week that they arrested dozens of Islamic State-linked terror suspects—including some who planned to cause chaos by detonating bombs at any post-election protests. On Friday, the US embassy in Jakarta issued a heightened security alert for Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation. There was a heavy security presence in Jakarta on Tuesday, including in front of the elections commission office, which was barricaded with razor wire and protected by scores of heavily armed troops. Subianto, a 67-year-old retired general, has targeted the commission by accusing it of allowing a string of election violations. The former military man—who has strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship that collapsed in 1998—has kept up a steady string of rhetoric since unofficial results for the April 17 poll put bitter rival Widodo ahead by a wide margin. Widodo, who had held off declaring victory after last month’s polls, confirmed the win Tuesday. “After we’re sworn in... we will be president and vice president,” Widodo told reporters in Jakarta with running mate Ma’ruf Amin, a Muslim cleric, at his side. AFP

‘BACK TO NATURE GARDEN.’ Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, shows Britain’s

Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, around the ‘Back to Nature Garden’ garden that she designed, along with Andree Davies and Adam White, during their visit to the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 20, 2019. The Chelsea flower show is held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. AFP

Australia election could have global climate impact after coalition win SYDNEY—Brutal droughts, floods and wildfires were expected to make the environment a pivotal issue in Australia’s election, instead victory for the climate change-skeptic Liberal party could have global implications. Australia’s Liberal-National coalition secured victory late on Saturday night despite polls suggesting an opposition Labor Party win. In coal-rich Queensland, voters swung hard to the government fearing a Labor government would curb mining projects and cost them jobs. Concerns that Labor would block the creation of the massive Indian-backed Adani coal mine helped voters abandon the party in their droves. The northeastern district of Herbert had been the most marginal seat at the last election, with only a 0.02 percent difference between the main parties. This time the Liberals took 58 percent of the vote. That result-and others like it―could have ramifications far beyond Australia. In the emissions stakes, Australia is a minnow compared to the bellowing economies of China or the United States. But its role as the world’s largest coal exporter gives the country outsize influence in the climate stakes. Experts say the coalition government’s election victory makes it much more likely that the Adani project will go ahead. Eventually, they say, billions more tonnes of coal

will be available to export and burn in places like India. “It is probable that they will push for the final approvals to go through as quickly as possible,” Samantha Hepburn, an energy and resources law expert at Deakin University, told AFP. The Labor-led Queensland state government―which also has a say―is likely to come under enormous pressure to approve the project despite concerns about the environment. “Adani is the thin edge of the wedge,” said Hepburn. The wider area around Adani―known as the Galilee Basin―is believed to have enough coal to produce up to 600 million tons a year, she said. “Approving Adani will provide a strong precedent for the development of further mines in the area.” However, conservatives weren’t successful across the board. While Saturday’s election was a win for those who want the jobs and wealth that mining brings, the victory was not decisive. Early on election night, former prime minister —and climate change-denial poster boy—Tony Abbott stood before supporters and strained to be gracious in defeat. After 25 years representing Sydney’s affluent northern beaches, eco-minded voters had decisively booted him from office, electing Zali Steggall—an Olympic skier who campaigned on climate change—instead. AFP

FIRST INVITATION TO BID 1.) Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), through its Bids and Awards Committee, intends to apply the sum of NINE MILLION TWO HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SIXTEEN PESOS (9,292,416.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Purchase of Transformers and kWhr Meters for CY-2019broken down into the following: Lot Description Qty. Units ABC No. 1 Electronic Meter, KWH, 1 Phase, Accuracy Class 0.5 or 3700 pieces 4,972,800.00 higher, Voltage Range - ±20% of Rated Voltage(184-276 VAC), Rated Current - 5(60), Power Consumption ≤2.4W, Display 0-99999.9 kWh, LCD, Working Temp. - 25 *C to + 75 *C, Ingress Protection - IP 54 or Higher, Circuit Power Regulator - Transformer Type, Power Sensor - CT/ Shunt, Encl.- High Grade Polycarbonate, Terminal Screw & Nuts - Nickel plated Current Terminal; Zinc Plated Steel Terminal Screws, Stainless auxillary screws or equivalent non-corrosivecontacts for humid and coastal application, Terminal Size - 8.5 mm inside diameter, Designed for Humid, Coastal, Tropical Application. 2 TRANSFORMERS - Pole Type, Single Phase, 10 kVA 12 pieces 4,319,616.00 Oil Immersed, Amorphous Core, Double 15 kVA 7 pieces Bushing 25 KVA 9 pieces 3 7 . 5 8 pieces KVA 50 KVA 5 pieces 75 KVA 2 pieces TOTAL 9,292,416.00 Contract will be awarded by Lots. Bids received in excess with the corresponding ABC per Lot shall be automatically be rejected at the bid opening. 2. BISELCO now invites bids for Purchase of Transformers and kWhr Meters for CY-2019. Delivery of materials is required within a period of Thirty (30) calendar days for eachlot . Bidders should have completed within three (3) years of before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the bidding documents. 3. Bidding will be conducted through Public Bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) Revised Procurement Guidelines for Electric Cooperatives. 4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from BISELCO Bids and Awards Committee Secretarial at address given below. A complete set of documents may be acquired by interested bidders starting on May 23, 2019 from the address below upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (5,000.00) for each lotfor Bidding Documents. 5. The BISELCO BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 30, 2019, 2:00 P.M. at the Conference Room of BISELCO main headquarters, Brgy. 6, Coron, Palawan. Attendance is optional, which shall be open only to interested parties who purchased the Bidding Documents. 6. Bids must be delivered at the address below beforeJune 10, 2019, 2:00 P.M. All bids must be accompanied with Bid Security of any acceptable form in the amount stated on ITB. Bids will be opened immediately after the deadline of bid submission in the presence of Bidder’s representative who choose to attend. Late Bids will not be accepted. 7. BISELCO BAC reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to annul the bidding process, and reject all Bids at any time prior to the contract award, or not to award the contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder/s. 8. For further information, please refer to: BISELCO BAC SECRETARIAT Mabintangen Road, Brgy. 6, Coron, Palawan Mobile No. 09107101909 E-mail Address: biselco79@yahoo.com Noted by: (Sgd) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman/TSD Manager

(Sgd) RUTH L. GALANG General Manager (MS-MAY. 22 , 2019)

LGUs

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Special election in Isabela town goes smoothly By Jessica M. Bacud JONES, Isabela—A special election was conducted in Barangay Dicamay 1 here owing to the burning of the votecounting machines or VCMs in the area on election day. Lawyer Michael Camangeg, provincial election supervisor, said the special election was conducted in clustered precinct number 18 that includes precinct numbers 0037A, 0037N, 0038A, 0038B and 0038P1 in BarangayDicamay 1. Out of the 786 registered voters, a total of 502 cast their votes for the special poll as of 5 p.m. on Monday. Reelectionist Mayor Leticia Sebastian of PDP-Laban, now on her last term, bagged 12,569 votes against her rival Lanie Uy of NPC with 9,050 votes. Meanwhile, Councilor Gaylord Gumpal of NPC, son-in-law of former Assemblyman and Mayor Prospero Bello, was named vice mayor-elect as he garnered 11,167 against opponent Victor Dy’s 9,388 votes. Sebastian and Gumpal were proclaimed winners by the Comelec ahead of the special election owing to their margins of victory. Winners for the Sangguniang Bayan were as Evelyn Raspado with 12,896 votes, Suzette Sebastian (12,431), John Sabiniano (9,335), Juluis Raspado (9,129), Villamor Bangloy (8,938), Jadiel Manolo Pandongan (8,784), Glen Albert Cabel (8,537), and Arnulfo Colobong (7,762).

Antique dad wins seat via drawing of lots SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—A new town councilor in Bugasong won through a drawing of lots held by the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC) Monday. Breccio Ostan Jr. said in an interview on Tuesday that he and third termer councilor Geraldine Pesayco garnered 7,264 votes and landed on the eight spot during the May 13 elections. “The MBOC asked us to sign an agreement that we agree with the draw lots,” he said. He said Geraldine Pesayco was the first to pick for the draw lots around 2:15 p.m. “I was able to draw the paper with number 8,” he said. He said that it was for the eighth seat at the Municipal Council that they were contesting for. “It was an exciting experience,” Ostan said. He said that prior to the drawing of lots, he received many text messages and prayers from his supporters. “It is going to be my first time to sit as a municipal councilor,” he said. Ostan is the incumbent Barangay Captain of Barangay Zaragoza. He ran and lost during the election of the Association of Barangay Captains last year. “I will give priority to social services and health in my term as municipal councilor,” he said. He believes that giving priority to human development and the health needs of the people would bring development in their municipality. Ostan belongs to the slate of Bugasong Mayor John Lloyd Pacete, who is now detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology here because of an election offense that is still under appeal. PNA KSK TRAINING. Batch 193 of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program pose after harvesting the fruits of their labor in Barangay Daang Sarile in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. Partners of SM Foundation for this batch are Macondray Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government unit of Cabanatuan City, and SM Group of companies (SM City Cabanatuan, SM Supermarket and Savemore Megacenter).

ROOFTOP ROMP. More than a hundred children and kids-at-

heart trooped to SM City San Mateo over the weekend as the mall transformed its rooftop grounds into a giant summer playground to promote digital detox and encourage gadget-free fun among families. Manny Palmero

lass Heat index in Samar areas Leyte-born gains Goldwater soars to 'dangerous' level US Scholarship

ACLOBAN CITY—The heat index in Samar provinces has reached a dangerous level on Monday, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to ask residents to stay indoors during midday this dry season.

The state weather bureau reported a 43.6 degrees Celsius heat index in Catbalogan City, Samar and 41.1 degrees Celsius heat index in Catarman, Northern Samar. A heat index that is above 41 degrees Celsius is considered a “danger” level, according to PAGASA. Residents of “danger” level areas are likely to experience cramps and heat exhaustion while heat stroke is probable for individuals with continued activity, said PAGASA Tacloban station chief Mario Peñaranda. “Our advice to the public is to stay in-

doors as much as possible from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily since the body needs water to keep cool. We expect the heat index to increase due to dry season,” Peñaranda said. Heat index are human discomfort that gives the “apparent” temperature or what humans perceive or feel as the temperature affecting their body. High air temperatures and high relative humidity will give high apparent temperatures or indices. Full exposure to sunshine can increase the heat index

by eight degrees Celsius. Peñaranda said despite the high heat index in Samar provinces, some parts of Eastern Visayas experienced rains due to the easterlies. Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism regional office here is calling on local government units to offer sports tourism activities to attract more visitors in their areas. Sports events can bring in more visitors than other tourism activities since players would come in groups to compete in an event, said DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes. “We are very much supportive of entity or organizations that promote sports tourism. The activities they do can generate more arrival in the area. More arrival means more income for those who are in the mainstream tourism industry,” said Tiopes in an interview Tuesday. PNA

WINNERS ALL. (Top photo) Contractor Joseph ‘Jojo’ Pulsar Lara (second from left) is proclaimed Representative of the 3rd district of Cagayan Province by Provincial Comelec Chairman Manuel Castillo (second from right), Atty. Roderick Bautista, and Provincial Prosecutor Ronnel Nicolas (left) at the SB session hall in Isabela on Tuesday. (Bottom photo) In Mariveles, Bataan, proclaimed winning members of Team #1Bataan #YesMariveles (from left) are Councilors Joey Carandang, Tito Catipon, Turing Isip, Harry Golocan, Vice Mayor Lito Rubia, Councilors Susan Murillo, Angel Sunga, and Ronald Arcenal. Jessica Bacud and Butch Gunio

By Ronald O. Reyes A 19-YEAROLD Filipino student who migrated to the United States is one of the 2019 Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Fou nd at ion awardees. Alyssa Marie Rivera, a Leyte-born lass, is a biochemistry major at the California State University, Fresno: College of Science and Math. She finished her pre-school at St. Therese Christian Development Center Foundation Inc. in Tacloban City. Alyssa was among the 496 undergraduate students across the US who won the highly competitive and prestigious national research award. The 2019 Goldwater Scholarship winners were chosen from 1,223 nominees submitted by 443 universities from a pool of more than 5,000 students, Fresno State News reported. Only six students from the California State University’s 23 campuses bagged the awards. Alyssa is a daughter of Veronica Salvacion-Rivera from Carigara, Leyte, a former nurse at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban before they migrated to the US. Veronica, who was previously battling leukemia, expressed her gratitude to her daughter for pursuing her passion to find the cure for cancer and other serious ailments. The Goldwater Scholarship, established in 1986 by US Congress after the late Arizona senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater, is given to “college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this nation’s next generation of natural sciences, mathematics and engineering research leaders.”

Pampanga disaster council bests provincial peers in C. Luzon search CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council bested other provincial DRRMCs in Central Luzon in the search for outstanding local antidisaster unit in the region, the Office of Civil Defense announced Monday. The Pampanga DRRMC is headed by newly-elected Governor Dennis Pineda with Angie Blanco as executive director.

The annual search, according to OCD regional director Marlou Salazar, aimed at giving due recognition to DRDR RMC's performance and individuals who have showed heroic deeds in the event of disaster and emergency. "The awardees may serve as an inspirations to other DRRMCs in Central Luzon for them to work harder," said Salazar in a press statement.

Winners in the 21st Regional Gawad Kalasag Award will be automatically be nominated for national awards. The awarding slated next month would be held in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Other awardees are Angeles City DRRMC for highly-urbanized city category and City of San Fernando for component city category. School cat-

egory winners are Alas Asin Elementary School from Mariveles, Bataan (Public Elementary); Camp Tinio National High School from Cabanatuan City (Public Secondary); Sindalan National Child Development Center from City of San Fernando (Early Learning Center); and Tarlac Agricultural University (Higher Education Institution). Jess Malabanan

AAP Travel caravan starts May 25 PAMPANGA, the culinary capital of the Philippines, takes center stage once more as it hosts the first of the 2019 caravan series AAP Travel on May 25. Those in the caravan will discover the country’s exciting destinations from a motorist’s point of view as it unveils its series for 2019. The Pampanga Caravan will go around the heritage sites, museums, farm tourism and culinary spots of the province. Guests will drive their own vehicles in a convoy from Petron Lakeshore along the North Luzon Expressway and go around the restored World War 2-era San Fernando Railway Station, San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, the magnificent St. James the Apostle

Parish (Betis) Church in Guagua, and the Center for Kapampangan Studies and Pamintuan Mansion Museum of Philippine Social History in Angeles City. Participants will feast on mouth-watering all-time Pampango favorite dishes such as sisig, palabok, halo- halo, kamaru at Prado Farms in Guagua and Kusina Matua ni Atching Lillian Borromeo in Mexico. For a touch of souvenir shopping, caravaners will visit world-class crafts at Hansa Creations in Clark and JB Woodcrafts in Guagua. Guests who want more fun have the option to stay overnight at the Quest Hotel in Clark, or swing by Green Canyon Leisure Farms or Puning Hot Spring.

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

@MStandardLIFE WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

Step into a stylish

summer N

O, YOU don’t have to stick to ﬂipﬂops and white sneakers all summer long. Parisian Shoes’ summer collection offers the perfect pair for different kinds of adventure. Whether the girls are headed for the beach, a weekend getaway, or simply enjoying summer in the city, the collection makes a statement with animal-printed shoes and PVC-details. There are espadrilles for those casual days and pointed mules for nights out. Its summer palette comes in neutral tones and vibrant colors; and chic blocked heels and elegant stilettos. Check out Parisian’s collection for the warm season at all SM Stores nationwide.

Sandal slides and s espadrille

From left: Leopard-print heels, Multicolored pearl heels, PVC heels, Nala espadrilles, and Blocked heels

Younger by a thread “THE natural aging process is inevitable. How it works From around the age of 25, the first signs The procedure takes 30-45 minutes, of aging start to become apparent on the and requires very short downtime as no surface of the skin. Fine lines appear first, facial cutting is involved. Happy Lift Rethen wrinkles, followed by loss of volume vitalizing Threads support tissue after the and elasticity over time.” insertion under the skin. The sutures interThese are the natural effects act with the facial skin tissues with of aging, according Dr. Jaime an immediate lifting action, “Bong” Arzadon, section thanks to the mechanical acchief of facial plastic surtion, along with sustained gery of the Department lifting through revitalof Otolaryngology at izing action stimulating the Asian Hospital synthesis of collagen, and Medi- c a l h y a - luronic acid, Happy Lift Center. and elastin. Revitalizing Thread W h e n The rethe skin vitalizing sags over threads are time, Dr. a b s o r b a ble , Bong said monofilament, it is possible and suspension to slow down barbed that lock time through the themselves into place newest cosmetic once inserted, explained procedure available toCharina Morales, senior day—threads, which “can pull the brand manager of Relife, which offers the sagging skin thus lifting it and can Happy Lift technology in the Philippines. also provide definition or contour“With Happy Lift, you would only ing of the face.” need two threads to lift sagging facial Dubbed Happy Lift, the thread lift- tissues for a fresh, younger looking ing, aesthetic procedure lifts and rea- face. The barbs on the threads provide ligns sagging tissue, while adding the immediate mechanical pull. The definition to facial contours by using threads themselves are made of polythreads that are made of poly-L-lactic L-lactic acid and caprolactone which acid and caprolactone, a unique pat- make take a maximum of 18 months to ented bio-absorbable thread that gives be absorbed by the body, resulting to immediate facial lifting without the cut. longer-lasting effects of almost one and

Dr. Bong Arzadon, marketing manager Riza Magallon, and brand manager Charina Morales with Happy Lift brand ambassadors Angelu De Leon-Rivera, Giselle Sanchez, and Bench Ortiz.

half years,” explained Morales. She added, “The treatment also offers biostimulation, so the effect lasts longer.” As such, Happy Lift provides an effective face lifting, with an immediate facial reshaping and lasting facial-lifting result, an effective outcome for the patients with sagging skin. Relife said younger adults can also try the procedure to achieve a contoured effect for a more defined facial shape.

Who have tried it

Multi-awarded actresses Giselle Sanchez and Angelu De Leon-Rivera, and fitness instructor, licensed nutritionist, and parttime runway model Bench Ortiz have tried Happy Lift and achieved impressive results. Sanchez shared she was already starting to see “marionette lines” around her mouth area, and Happy Lift was able to give the results she wanted. “I was relaxed for the entire procedure that took only 45 minutes.”

Meanwhile, De Leon-Rivera said that what she likes best about Happy Lift is that it looks natural. She said, “It didn’t change my natural features which. You just look fresh, blooming, and happy!” For Ortiz, the procedure gave him a coveted V-shaped face, like the ones that Korean idols have. Go to www.relifecompany.com for more information.

Life

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Uniqlo collaborates with Engineered Garments

APANESE fashion retailer Uniqlo adds a new dimension to LifeWear’s commitment to the Japanese values of simplicity, quality, and longevity by launching a line of men’s polo shirts made in collaboration with Engineered Garments. The line features men’s polo shirts in three various styles representing Engineered Garments’ take on wardrobe basics. The New Yorkbased comtemporary fashion label is known for its pieces influenced by American sportswear, outdoor clothing, and military uniform. The Uniqlo x Engineered Garments collaboration consists of items based on rugby shirts as well as shirts with deliberately mismatched looks, each with the back and left sleeve carrying colors that differ from those in the front and right sleeve; and shirts featuring three stripes of different widths in complementary tones. “From the inception of this project I looked forward to completing the challenge of crafting new basics that would incorporate Uniqlo’s first-rate quality control and materials development ethos in Engineered Garments styling that is at once simple and subtly distinctive. I’m delighted with what we’ve achieved through this partnership,” shared Engineered Garments head Daiki Suzuki. Yuki Katsuta, group senior vice president of Fast Retailing and head of Uniqlo R&D expressed excitement and respect for Engineered Garments.

Oversized Polo Shirt

AMOREPACIFIC group’s Innisfree, popular for its beauty products powered by the finest ingredients found on Jeju island in Korea, has recently opened its second store in the Philippines at SM Megamall The K-beauty brand’s first store opened at the SM Mall of Asia last year. Available in the new store are Innisfree’s beloved products including Green Tea Seed Serum, Orchid Enriched Cream, Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, and No Sebum Mineral Powder, among others. “Filipinos are naturally drawn to Korean influences, especially the K-beauty skin care regimen,” observed Innisfree general brand manager Stephen Lee, adding, “With our brand, we are excited to offer our Pinoy consumers skin care with quality selection of products and green sustainable practices.” After using up the brand’s natureenriched products, customers can also donate their empty Innisfree containers to the Megamall branch’s Empty Bottle Recycling Campaign. The brand reaffirmed in a statement its commitment to practicing green living and supporting causes that give back to the earth and the community. Lee also revealed its plans to expand and establish a long-term presence in

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo launches a new collection of men’s polo shirts made in collaboration with New York-based contemporary fashion label Engineered Garments.

“I have tremendous respect for the brand’s ability to identify what’s important in clothing and present new ideas every season. Our two companies share a same philosophy about the essence of clothing and creating simple designs for a

better future. This led to our working together on polo shirts, which are universal essentials for men’s spring and summer wardrobes,” said Katsuta. The polo shirt collection is set to roll out at all Uniqlo stores on May 27.

Dry Pique Colorblocked Polo Shirt

Engineered Garments head Daiki Suzuki

Dry Pique Striped Polo Shirt

SPOTTED

Innisfree opens 2nd PH store

AmorePacific Philippines general brand manager Stephen Lee with SM Megamall’s leasing head Madeline Del Rosario at the ceremonial watering of the plants.

Maisie Williams—a girl in a Coach dress GAME of Thrones star Maisie Williams attended the final season premiere of the hit TV show where she plays the fan-favorite character Arya Stark in a lovely custom Coach blush pink lamé prairie tea-length gown. The crowd in Belfast was treated to Williams’ dress adorned with vintage crystal and sequin hand embellishment. The 22-year-old British actress also carried a Coach Mini Double Frame bag. The archival-inspired handbag was made with metallic nappa leather with embroidered embellishments and metallic tea rose application, chain handle with charms, and a personalized hangtag with Williams’ initials. Coach is located at Powerplant Mall, Maise Williams in GoT premiere Rustan’s Makati, and Rustan’s Shangri-La.

the Philippines. Go to www.innisfree.com or @innisThe newly opened store is located at freephilippines on Facebook or Insta2/F Mega A Building, SM Megamall. gram for more information.

Cartier d’Amour earrings

Angelina Jolie sparkles in Cartier

Angelina Jolie in Dumbo premiere Angel Yeo with her favorite Innisfree product.

The new Innisfree store at SM Megamall features innovative interiors.

ANGELINA Jolie surprised fans when she and kids attended the world premiere of Tim Burton’s Dumbo. The night’s surprise guest was seen wearing Cartier d’Amour earrings made of 18k white gold and diamonds. Cartier is located at Greenbelt 4 and Shangri-La Plaza.

Entertainment

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019 2016 WEDNESDAY, MAY 22,

nickie.standard@gmail.com

The best in local music M

James Reid and Nadine Lustre

outfits.

YX Music Awards 2019 was a star-studded event with youngsters and veterans arriving at the venue, ABS-CBN Vertis Tent, in their ‘90s

The event, held on May 15, also witnessed high energy performances from winners and nominees, some unforgettable moments, and a few highlights that made the awards show a big success. Nadine Lustre rose above the MMA 2019 competition with the most number

of wins, while Juan Karlos triumphed with Song of the Year for “Buwan.” Multimedia princess Nadine proves she is truly unstoppable as she took home four huge wins—Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Media Soundtrack of the Year (with James Reid for “Prom”),

and Music Video of the Year for her song “St4y Up.” “This is a big surprise for me. I would like to thank all the JaDine fans who voted for me, all our supporters. To James, of course, thank you for writing this beautiful, beautiful song. Thank you so much, MYX,” said Nadine. Darren Espanto, I Belong to the Zoo, and Moira dela Torre also bagged two awards each—Darren with Male Artist of the Year and Remake of the Year for “Dying Inside to Hold You,” I Belong to the Zoo with New Artist of the Year and MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year, and Moira with Collaboration of the Year for “Kung ‘Di Lang Rin Ikaw” withDecember Avenue and Mellow Video of the Year for her hit song “Tagpuan,” which she also performed at the awards night alongside her husband Jason Hernandez. Meanwhile, Jolina Magdangal led a new generation of artists consisting of Jona, Julie Anne San Jose, Juris, Maysh Baay, and Moira in performing the greatest hits of this year’s MYX Music Awards Magna Awardee, Rivermaya.

The prestigious MYX Magna Award hailed all those who have been part of the Rivermaya legacy for the past 25 years and was received by current members Miguel Escueta, Mike Elgar, and Nathan Azarcon. “We want to thank the fans, we won’t last 25 years if it weren’t for our supporters. We would like to share this award with our co-musicians and bands. We encourage you guys to keep playing, to keep singing, no matter what happens,” said Miguel in their acceptance speech. MYX also partnered with Spotify, the

A unique story of friendship in ‘Alex & Amie’ GMA Public Affairs reminds viewers of their childhood best friend in the live animation series Alex & Amie featuring Mikael Daez and Max Collins. Strict, serious, and meticulous. These are words that describe teacher Alex (Mikael Daez) of Buenavitez Institute of Learning. His ‘exemplary’ image earned him the task of being the homeroom adviser of the school’s most notorious class. Everything is fine until someone from his past makes a comeback in his life: Amie—his childhood best friend. To make things complicated, Amie is an imaginary friend. Now Alex is faced with a dilemma: how will he perform his teaching duties and keep his image to his class when everywhere he goes, Amie is there?

Worse, it seems Amie gets in the way of Alex’s personal life, jeopardizing his chances of being close to the school’s Nurse Bing (Max Collins). Mikael and Max shared that they really had fun taping the show. “We have interactions as a cast,” says Mikael. “I guess because of that, my scenes with Amie, I ended up having fun with it. We’re hoping that the fun we experience on the set would translate to the viewers especially to the children who are watching the show.” “I enjoy kids shows, because not only na nagkakaroon kami ng fans na bata, it’s just light. It’s fun to do it. Everything is light and easy as there’s no pressure. It’s like we’re just playing, we’re really having so much on the set.”

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throwing parties and sportsfests, or by joining an Easter egg rolling contest. Labor Day The Philippines and Australia celebrate Labor Day on different dates. In Australia, it is celebrated in different days in eight territories. In Western Australia, it is held during the first Monday of March, while in Victoria and Tasmania, it is observed during the second Monday of March. The Northern Territory celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of May, while Queensland, the Australia Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia hold it during the first Monday of October. In the Philippines, Labor Day is observed on the first day of May. The Philippines and Australia both celebrate Labor Day to be with their family and friends. All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are celebrated by both children and adults in the Philippines and Australia. Australia doesn’t particularly celebrate All Souls’ Day, but they observe Halloween on October 31, just like in the Philippines. Halloween is celebrated by children and adults as well by wearing costumes and going to houses for trick or treats. In Australia, All Saints’ Day is not a nationwide holiday, but churches offer mass and prayer requests and vigils to honor all the saints. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, from October 31st to November 2, people visit their loved ones at their final resting places in cemeteries and columbaries. They also offer mass, prayer requests and vigils and organize the parades of Saints. Christmas Here is another annual celebration, which both kids and adults love--Christmas. In Australia, Christmas is summer time and most families celebrate Christmas at the beach with the usual turkey and pudding, while in the Philippines, it is celebrated during the cold season since Philippines doesn’t have winter. Unlike Australia, which has turkey and pudding, the Philippines has a lot more dishes in store because Filipinos usually cook ancestral recipes with no specific specialty. Independence Day Australia’s independence day is called Australia Day on Jan. 26, highlighted with the presentation of the “Australian of the Year” award on Australia Day Eve, followed by the announcement of the “Australia Day Honours’” list and addresses from the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. Community concerts, festivals and ceremonies are held everywhere. Meanwhile, the Philippines celebrates its Independence Day every June 12, marking its independence from the Spaniards on the same date in 1898. During the celebrartion, the Philippine flag is raised in Kawit, Cavite, an annual commemorative act at the Aguinaldo Shrine, to go with the reading of the Philippine Declaration of Independence. Felina Alcabaza

This latest live animated show from GMA Public Affairs is indeed for the kids and kids at heart. Sharing his thoughts on the concept of this animation series, Mikael says Alex & Amie reminds viewers of the magic of friendship that surpassed time and age. “In terms of unresolved issues with friends, I guess to a certain point everyone can relate to that, as you grow older, you don’t see your friends when you meet again, may awkward phase but at the end of the day you guys are best friends, you’ll find your level ground again. It just takes time,” he says. Max, on the other hand, says the show aims to encourage kids to have friends. “Alex ends up having an imaginary friend because he’s shy

and and doesn’t have real friends. So I guess we should encourage our children to socialize and become open to meeting new friends,” shares Max. Max further says that she is like her character Nurse Bing in some ways. “Maalaga ako in a sense. Maalaga siya [Nurse Bing] sa mga students and co-teacher. And openminded. She’s the only one who understands Alex. I guess I’m like that in some ways, I’m very understanding and I like kids,” she shares. Joining Mikael and Max are Dominic Roco, Dexter Doria, David Remo, Leanne Bautista, and other surprise guests. Catch Alex & Amie weekdays, 8:30 am on GMA 7.

world’s most popular music streaming subscription service, to present the Most Streamed Local Artist award based on their 2018 Wrapped data. Moira walked away with the inaugural award as she is also Spotify’s most streamed female artist for 2018 in the Philippines. The Idol Philippines judge and Ben&Ben also came together for a special Spotify Jams session live at the MYX Music Awards where they sang their Spotify recorded versions of the greatest OPM love songs of the past—”Beautiful Girl” by Jose Mari Chan and “Naaalala Ka / Maging Sino Ka Man” by Rey Valera. Both recordings are available on Spotify’s OPM flagship playlist, “Tatak Pinoy.” Other notable awardees are Boyband PH with Group of the Year, IV of Spades with Rock Video of the Year, and Shanti Dope with Urban Video of the Year. The 14th MYX Music Awards was hosted by VJs Ai dela Cruz, Inigo Pascual, Robi Domingo, Samm Alvero, Sharlene San Pedro, and Sunny Kim. With reports by Felina Alcabaza

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

Special Feature

Happy PH-Australia Friendship Day!

By Felina Alcabaza

HO would have thought that World War II would pave the way for the friendship between the Philippines and Australia?

Every May 22, since 1946, Australia and Philippines have made it a point to honor their friendship. Australia fought alongside the Philippines to attain our liberation with their 4,000 brave men during WWII. Today, the Philippines and Australia work with each other for peace, unity, education, development and defense. Australia is the second largest source of Ofﬁcial Development Assistance to the Philippines. In 2016, the Australian Embassy proclaimed the ofﬁcial celebration of the Philippine-Australia Friend-

ship Day, signifying the strong bond of the two countries for more than seven decades of trade and migration. If you have Australian friends, relatives or loved ones, celebrate with them and show them the beauty of the Philippines. Take them to

Filipino restaurants or make them eat Philippine exotic food like duck embryo (balut), chicken intestine (isaw), chicken feet (adidas), pig’s blood (Betamax) and a lot more. You can also take them to Philippine tourist spots and heritages. Make an exchange of

favorite snacks and explore each other’s tastes. There are a lot of things to do as the Philippines and Australia are both great countries with great people. Let us all appreciate our ancestors’ way through this friendship. Happy Philippine-Australia Friendship Day!

What Pinoys and Aussies celebrate alike THE Philippines and Australia have been allied for 73 years. Obviously, the two countries go along well and there may be more similarities between the Philippines and Australia that meets the eye, particularly in their celebrations. New Year’s Day First on the list is New Year’s Day on Jan. 1--the loudest and the most awaited time of the year. In the Philippines, it is celebrated even before its actual date. Filipinos have this traditional belief that you have to prepare 12 round fruits on your table, signifying the 12 astronomical signs and the 12 zodiac animals to welcome luck to your household. In Australia, they also have parties and entertainment but, unlike in the Philippines, they are less superstitious. But like Filipinos they prepare for vast firework displays. Imagine, Australia celebrates New Year from January 1 to January 6? And while Filipinos welcome the New Year by jumping up and down at the stroke of midnight, with the belief of getting taller, Australia waits for the 12 rings of their church bells. Once they hear it, everyone hugs and kisses each other while shouting and cheering for a new beginning. The Philippines and Australia surely agree in this one thing-going to church with family and friends to thank the Lord for all the year-round blessings. Holy Week Both the Philippines and Australia observe Holy Week, too, composed of Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday in observance of the passion of Christ. It actually starts in the Philippines on Ash Wednesday, followed by Palm Sunday. In the Philippines, Filipinos practice the Visita Iglesia or the Passion of the Christ. They would visit 14 churches and pray for the 14 Passion of the Christ symbolizing the 14 ways of Christ through crucifixion. Filipinos also practice Senakulo, or the passion play, depicting the hardship of Christ. In this role playing, they use real nails to crucify the actor who portrays Christ. On the other hand, Australians organize sporting events, starting on Good Friday, marking the start the four long days of the long Holy weekend. The most popular event is the Three Peaks Race in Tasmania. The Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race is also a popular game. Easter Sunday is differently observed in Philippines and Australia but, both countries celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead after being crucified and buried. In Australia, the Easter Bibly is their own version of the Easter Bunny because they consider the bunny as a pest. Bibly is a rabbit-bandicoot, an endangered species. And to raise awareness and funding, Australians sell chocolates shaped like a bibly. In the Philippines, the resurrection is celebrated with a “Salubong” procession where the image of Mary meets Jesus. People meet by 3 a.m. and start the procession, followed by the first mass announcing Christ has risen. In the morning, different Easter egg events take place. Australia extends its celebration up to Monday, which it calls Easter Monday. The long weekend of Australia ends by

Continued on C3