Manila Standard - 2019 May 27 - Monday

Official travel ban on Canada

Trash row triggers Rody’s latest order

By Nat Mariano

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has banned official travel to Canada as tons of rotting trash shipped here by a private Canadian company in 2013 and 2014 remain in the Philippines, Malacañang said Sunday.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Canada’s failure to retrieve its containers of garbage illegally shipped to the Philippines triggered President Duterte’s latest order.

“Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum directing all department secretaries and heads of agencies, government-owned-and-controlled corporations, and government financial institutions to refrain from issuing travel authorities for official trips to Canada,” Panelo said.

“The... memo likewise directed heads of government agencies to reduce official interaction with representatives of the Canadian government,” he added Panelo said Duterte’s directive was consistent with the country’s stance on maintaining diminished diplomatic ties with Ottawa while the garbage problem remained unresolved.

Last week, the President sanctioned the recall of the Philippine ambassador and consuls in Canada. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. also

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 102 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PARADE OF BEAUTIES.

Anne Barker of Isabela (foreground) joins 39 other Binibining Pilipinas aspirants in a grand parade that has turned the Araneta Center in Cubao flowery and festive early Saturday evening.

Sonny Espiritu

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Duterte lays down ‘vital points’ for new PMA grads to pursue

of 2019, the President, who arrived two BAGUIO CITY—Be humble, teach- Military Academy on Sunday, urging actors” may be a threat to the country.

Speaking at the commencement exer- hours late at the venue, addressed 261 able, and grateful, President Rodrigo them to have each other’s back as “comDuterte told the graduates of Philippine plex and irrational state and non-state cises of the Mabalasik graduating Class young lieutenants, who were soaked under a heavy downpour.

In his speech, the Chief Executive laid down “vital points” that he asked the new junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to “take part in the journey towards the noble profession of arms.”

“Be humble. Nothing beats humility.

Always remember that the rank, authority, and trust of your subordinates and the people that you serve are borne out of respect for the office that you carry,” he said.

“Be teachable. In all definitions of disciplines and endeavors, the way to success requires order and discipline,” he continued.

“Next, always be grateful. Honor your seniors, your officers, your professors, enlisted personnel and other civilians who have taught you, prayed for you, and believed in you,” he added.

The President also urged them to have each other’s backs as nobody wins alone.

“Our security is not anymore just about arms and equipment. At this time, complex and irrational state and Next page

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte acknowledges the presence of Vice President Leni Robredo at the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy ‘Mabalasik’ Class of 2019 at Fort General Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City on May 26, 2019. The VP manages to grin after the President quipped that she did not smile at him when he looked at her. Presidential Photo

By Francisco Tuyay SIX Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed and seven others were wounded, while five soldiers were similarly wounded in a firefight in Patikul in Sulu early Saturday morning, the military said Sunday.

Two minors were also killed after they were caught in the crossfire, while three other children were wounded during the 30-minute firefight in Igasan village around 5:35 a.m., the military said.

The Western Mindanao Command said the fighting started after troops from the 13th Special Forces Company of the 6th Special Forces Battalion Next page

A RETIRED Supreme Court justice has urged Congress to correct what he believed was an injustice done to late Chief Justice Renato Corona by lawmakers during the previous administration.

Retired SC Associate Justice Arturo Brion appealed to members of the incoming 18th Congress to pass a measure that would grant the heirs of Corona the retirement and other benefits deprived him due to his ouster by

impeachment in 2012.

Brion, a colleague of the late chief justice, lamented that Corona did not receive any retirement benefit because of his ouster by members of Congress.

“His family continues to be denied the retirement benefits that deceased members of the judiciary can leave to their families. Congress can remedy this situation if it wants to, Next page

SC: ‘Filipino’ not required in college

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court says colleges and universities may still include Filipino, Panitikan [Filipino Literature] and the Constitution as subjects in their respective curricula.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja THE law institutionalizing a P500billion government dole to the poor must be accompanied by “responsive and relevant” implementing rules and regulations that ensure that the real beneficiaries are helped and that the program is sustainable and avoids wasteful spending, a Senate leader said Sunday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, one of the law’s coauthors, said the law institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program gathered the best practices and lessons learned from the past 10 years that the conditional cash transfer, officially called the 4Ps, has been implemented.

“From 2007, when it was launched with a P50-million budget, the 4Ps annual spending has surged 176,213 percent with this year’s proposed allocation at P88 billion. With this amount, we should make sure that the real poor are helped and the targets of the program met,” Recto said.

The IRR should reflect the real intention of the law, which is to institutionalize 4Ps to help the real poor, to ensure the sustainability of the Next page

6 Sayyaf men, ‘Corona victim of misdeed’ 2 minors killed in Sulu clash

By Rey E. Requejo

P500b in dole shielded from Palace whims

In a resolution, the high court affirmed its Oct. 9 2018 decision declaring as constitutional Republic Act 10533, or the K to 12 Law, RA 10157, otherwise known as the “Kindergarten Education Act, Next page

WORLD / B3 South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho celebrates on stage with his Palm d’Or grand prize for his film ‘Parasite’ at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Sin tax bill faces crucial week

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

I

F THE bill to increase the sin tax on cigarettes is not passed on third and final reading this week, it will not be passed into law, Senator William Gatchalian said Sunday.

is yet to sign the committee report. He vowed to sign it on May 28.

But Gatchalian remains hopeful the senators will pass Senate Bill 2177, or the proposed measure to raise the sin taxes to fund the Universal Health Care bill that was recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte into law.

He said this would be based on his assumption that no interpellations would be made or only a few would interpellate, but if there would be long interpellations and many amendments, the proposed measure would be dragged until next week.

Gatchalian said it was most important to approve on the bill on third reading not later than Wednesday so it would be followed by a bicam at the weekend and then the ratification.

He said a sponsorship of the bill was needed by Monday in order to have an interpellation by at least Tuesday.

He said the period for amendment on the excise bill may open on Wednesday, which would lead to a bicameral conference and ratification over the following weekend.

Gatchalian’s bill seeks to increase the tax on cigarettes to P70 per pack by 2020, which would then be followed by a 9-percent annual increase in succeeding years.

Anthony Leachon, chairman of the Council of Past Presidents of the Philippine College of Physicians, said the passing of a pro-health tax increase was key to lowering the smoking prevalence in the country.

He said raising the tax on cigarettes to at least P60 per pack was tantamount to saving at least one million Filipinos from the harm of smoking.

“I hope we do not waste the opportunity of passing this key reform this Congress, given that we already have good options on the table in the Senate,” he said.

He said this week was “critical” for the bill as Congress would adjourn on June 7.

“This week is very critical, in fact this is very critical for most of the bills.

If any of the bills will not be passed into third reading, it would be difficult for them to become laws,” Gatchalian told dzBB radio.

Gatchalian’s bill seeks to increase the tax on cigarettes to P70 per pack by 2020, which will then be followed by a 9-percent annual increase in the succeeding years.

Outgoing Senator JV Ejercito has

been vouching for a 90-peso tax increase per pack of cigarette while Manny Pacquiao is asking for a 70-peso-perpack increase.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has said he will support modest increases over time but not P60 immediately.

The other ways and means committee members who are yet to sign the committee report are Senator Ralph Recto and reelected Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Nancy Binay and Cynthia Villar.

Recto is among the members of the Senate ways and means committee who

‘Corona...

From A1

Leyte solon informs Du30 on his speakership bid

not by resurrecting the dead and buried impeachment case, but by legislating a financial grant that is within its authority to give—funds for the judiciary to pay the equivalent of the retirement pay and the benefits the late chief justice would have left behind,” he said.

“The late chief justice mercifully died three years ago, carrying his underserved impeachment taint to the grave. This is the injustice our newly elected national officials shall soon face. Unless they act, the injustice done to the chief justice shall forever serve as a towering monument of how the misdeeds of the Aquino administration triumphed,” Brion added.

The retired magistrate argued that the Supreme Court may also move to grant Corona’s heirs his retirement benefits.

Brion recalled that Corona was impeached after the Court under his watch ordered the distribution to farmers of the Hacienda Luisita owned by former President Benigno Aquino III and also voided the truth commission that was supposed to investigate corruption charges against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He also cited the reported admission by former Senator Jinggoy Estrada and returning senator Ramon Revilla Jr. that they were bribed by the previous administration to vote for Corona’s ouster during impeachment trial in the Senate by offering millions of Disbursement Acceleration Program funds, which the Supreme Court later on declared unconstitutional.

Brion said Estrada claimed that Aquino “had used pork barrel funds to bribe the senators in 2012 in his campaign to impeach the late chief justice.”

He said Revilla, on the other hand, disclosed that Aquino asked him to vote for the impeachment of the late chief justice.

“These developments gave rise to the DAP cases that were filed with the Supreme Court to question the Executive’s use of DAP funds. The records showed that vast amounts of DAP funds were distributed by the Palace to the senators before, during, and after the impeachment hearings. The distributed DAP funds during and after the hearings alone amounted to P2.043 billion.

Senators Estrada and Revilla each received P100 million from this distribution,” Brion said.

Brion also cited findings during the impeachment trial that disproved the allegations against Corona.

He recalled the testimony of then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that Corona’s holdings amounted to $12 million, was based on total credits and debits over his nine years in service.

“The real base amount though was only the $2 million accumulated deposit that the chief justice had earned and saved during his private sector law practice years,” the retired justice said.

“Allegations of properties in Corona’s name—provided by the Land Registration Commission—turned out to be duds,” Brion added.

Corona was removed from office in May 2012 after impeachment trial in the Senate for betrayal of public trust over failure to disclose his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. He died in April 2016.

His successor, Ma. Lourdes Sereno, was also ousted in May last year through a quo warranto decision by her colleagues in the Supreme Court.

LEYTE Rep. Martin Romualdez has informed President Rodrigo Duterte about his plan to run for Speaker of the House of Representatives and to complete the President’s unfinished legislative agenda.

He told reporters last week that the Speaker must share the President’s vision to properly lead the administration coalition in the House.

“When you aspire for Speaker, you represent the majority coalition of the administration, Romualdez said.

“If you think you share a common voice [with the President], you must confront the legislative agenda of the administration.”

Romualdez confirmed he was one of the candidates for the speakership two

days after the elections were held on May 13.

Romualdez, who obtained his law degree from the University of the Philippines and his Bachelor of Arts in Government degree from Cornell, said the members of the party-list bloc in Congress would play a crucial part in the passage of the reforms being pushed by Duterte.

“The party-list bloc is our partner for change and reforms to carry the speedy passage of President Duterte‘s legislative agenda, Romualdez said.

“You have to remember that the partylist group represents many sectors and marginalized sectors, and they represent the sectors that are not left behind. That is why this group is important.”

Romualdez vowed to listen to the members of the House, emphasizing that “a good Speaker is one who listens more than he speaks.”

Romualdez is considered one of the front runners for the speakership.

Davao Mayor Sara Duterte has acknowledged his support for the President’s reform agenda while thumbing down the reconciliation efforts of ousted House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, saying those were “deceiving and utterly lacked sincerity.”

She has also been cool to the candidacy of Taguig First District Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who she claimed threatened to break up “the group” if she endorsed someone else for the House’s top post.

Offi cial...

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for Incinerator Alternatives Asia Pacific and Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific coordinator.

Early this month, waste shipments from Australia arrived at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental . These were declared as municipal waste and processed engineered fuel intended for the cement company Holcim.

The news of the shipment broke out as the Manila demanded the Canadian government take back 69 containers of illegally shipped wastes found in the Port of Manila in 2013 and 2014.

“The entry into our country of residual wastes generated by Australia’s commercial, industrial, and construction sectors in the form of cement kiln fuels looks like a devious disposal scheme.

Described as ‘municipal waste’ in the shipment declaration, Australia is able to get rid of its residual wastes in a profitable way by converting and relabeling

them as processed engineered fuel for export to developing countries like ours. We question this latest scheme of foreign waste disposal,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of Ecowaste Coalition.

Early this year, at least 60 shipping containers carrying hazardous and toxic wastes have been piling up at the Batu Ampar port in Batam, Riau Island, in Indonesia for five months.

Earlier, a shipment containing waste from foreign countries was discovered in Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta.

“This has to stop. It is the height of hypocrisy for the richer countries to be presenting themselves to the world as having good waste management system, while at the same time, polluting us and calling us the world’s biggest polluters. Shame on them! Come clean up your mess and stop producing so much waste,” said Yuyun Ismawati, co-founder of BaliFokus/Nexus3.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

in the curriculum of educational institutions, the mandate was general and did not specify the educational level in which it must be taught,” said the high court resolution written by Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe dated March 5, copies of which were only released to reporters this week.

“CMO 20 did not violate the Constitution when it merely transferred these subjects as part of the curriculum of primary and secondary education,” the high court said.

“CMO 20 only provides for the minimum standards for the general education component of all degree programs. It does not limit the academic freedom of universities and colleges to require additional courses in Filipino, Panitikan and the Constitution in their respective curricula.”

The high court also denied the motion for reconsideration of petitioner Maria Dolores Brillantes who

argued that the additional two years of senior high school was arbitrary and oppressive as it failed to consider the needs of students of Science High Schools, who had higher mental capabilities.

But the high court said this prompted the K to 12 Law, as a police power measure, “intended to promote the interest of the public and not only of a particular class.

“It is also erroneous for petitioners to assume that the K to 12 Law does not serve the interest of the students of Science High Schools. In fact, the K to 12 Law explicitly recognized the right of schools to modify their curricula subject, of course, to the minimum standards prescribed by DepEd [Department of Education],” the high court said.

In a statement, Tanggol Wika vowed to file a second motion for reconsideration, still hoping that it could get a favorable ruling despite the denial of its appeal.

Aside f rom Duter te, Vice President Len i Robredo, Defense Secret ar y Delf i n Loren zana, Com mu n ications Secret ar y Marti n A nd anar, and President ial Spokesman Salvador Panelo were also present at the event.

AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal, PMA Supt. Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista; Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde and outgoing Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan were also in attendance.

As the President recognized the presence of Robredo, Duterte quipped that she had not smiled at him when he looked at her.

This was the first time the two top leaders met after the President ac-

cused the opposition Liberal Party that Robredo leads of seeking to destabilize his government.

The PMA, meanwhile, said two of the original 263 cadets set to graduate would be held back for unspecified violations.

Cadet First Class Dionne Mae Apolog Umalla of Alilem town, Ilocos Sur province, graduated at the top of the class. Umalla, 21, will be the fifth woman to graduate as class valedictorian since women were accepted into the academy in 1993.

Arlene dela Cruz first graduated as class valedictorian in 1999, Tara Velasco in 2003, Andrelee Mojica in 2007, and Rovi Mariel Martinez in 2017. Nat Mariano with PNA

maintained that the country’s diplomatic presence in Canada will remain diminished until the waste containers have been “ship-bound there.”

Earlier, Southeast Asian environmental non-governmental organizations called on their respective governments to strictly enforce bans on illegally shipped wastes from developed countries.

“The recent news about waste shipments… [in] the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia is alarming. When the wealthy nations clean up, it should not have to be at the expense of the developing world. Governments in Asia, which has become the world’s new dumpsite, must strictly guard their territories against waste smuggling from richer countries,” said Beau Baconguis, Plastics Campaigner of the Global Alliance

SC:...

From A1 and other government issuances concerning the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, including CHED Memorandum Order 20 ordering the exclusion of Filipino, Panitikan, and the Constitution as core subjects from the curriculum of college courses.

The high court denied the motion for reconsideration by the Tanggol Wika, an alliance of professors, students, writers and cultural activists seeking for a reversal of its 2018 decision “failing to offer any substantial argument.”

The petitioners argued that the Constitution mandated the inclusion of the study of Filipino and the Constitution in the curriculum in all levels.

“While the Constitution mandates the inclusion of the study of the Constitution, Filipino and Panitikan

Duterte...

From A1 non-state actors may even pose danger to our country,” he said.

President Duterte reminded them to “always remain faithful to your mission.”

“Be a good soldier who will serve the Constitution, protect the people, secure our sovereignty, and preserve the integrity of our national territory,” he said.

Aside from witnessing the oathtaking of the cadets and the handing out of their awards, the President also granted pardons of demerits and punishments of the PMA underclassmen.

P500b...

From A1 program and avoid wasteful spending, he said.

Republic Act No. 11310, an act institutionalizing 4Ps, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 17 and comes into effect June 7.

Integrated in the new law are the substantive amendments introduced

by Recto in the Senate, such as the automatic inclusion of families of farmers, fishermen and those who live in areas without electricity; and lifting of the limit on the number of children to qualify for the cash grants.

“Most of the 23.7-million poor are in this sector. The poverty incidence among farmers is 34.3 percent, while it is 34 percent for fishermen. These are higher than the latest poverty incidence figure of 21.6 percent,” Recto said.

“If they will still be hit by rice tariffication and climate change, it is just right to prioritize social protection,” he added.

Another Recto amendment is linking 4Ps to livelihood and skillstraining programs.

“This shouldn’t be a dole where the poor wait for an allowance. They should be taught skills that can get them employed. This is not merely giving them fish, but teaching them how to fish,” Recto said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Meanwhile, Makati City Rep. Luis Angel Campos said the new law means the country’s subsequent presidents can’t suspend or defer the conditional cash transfer program.

“With the law institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4Ps] in place, the human capital development and anti-poverty program is now insulated from executive whim and assured of sustained funding,” he said.

“Had Congress not passed this new law, any future president could easily suspend, defer or even discard the program altogether for any reason whatsoever, including possible lack of funding,” Campos said.

The House of Representatives has set aside P89.8 billion this year for the 4Ps, he said.

Campos is an ex-officio member of the House appropriations committee.

He said the money is allocated for P82 billion in cash incentives, including rice subsidy, to 4.4-million qualified poverty-stricken household-beneficiaries; P4.5 billion for personnel services; P1.6 billion for cost of service; P509 million for bank service fees; P432 million for monitoring and evaluation and spot checks; P393 million in administrative expenses, and P111 million for training.

6FromSayyaf...

A1 chanced upon 30 Abu Sayyaf members under Mundi Sawadjaan.

The Abu Sayyaf had been harassing the communities in Igasan village before the clash, prompting the troops to engage the terrorists in a firefight while the residents were being led to a safe area, the military said.

But the three children were caught in the middle, prompting 2nd Lt. Christian Capiz and two other soldiers to come to their rescue.

Despite being wounded, Capiz safely secured the three children.

Brig. Gen. Peter Angelo Ramos, Commander of the 1102nd Brigade, said the Abu Sayyaf’s attack was a total disrespect to the tenets of Islam.

Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo Jr., Commander, of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the Abu Sayyaf were enraged because the civilians were cooperating with the military.

“They were furious even at their own families whom they suspected of collaborating with our soldiers” Pabayo said.

“The death of the two innocent children and the wounding of three other civilians are indicative of the ASG’s desperate actions of sowing fear among the local populace.”

The wounded soldiers and civilians were in stable condition and recuperating at the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo.

“We deeply condemn this terroristic act of the Abu Sayyaf,” said Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“On behalf of the men and women of WestMinCom, I would like to personally extend my condolences to the bereaved family of the innocent children who were slain by the terrorists,” Dela Vega said.

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MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bill providing free freight services in transport of relief goods OK’d

By Rio N. Araja ALL 171 members of the House of Representatives have passed on third and final reading House Bill 9087 seeking to provide free freight services in the transport of relief goods to areas struck by calamities.

Bulacan’s San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes, the bill author, said “as humans can only last few days without food and water, relief operations are important. In this case, response mechanisms and guidelines must be geared toward saving lives in the immediate aftermath of any disaster.”

The proper management of relief goods, particularly collecting and sending goods, must be in place, she said.

To provide free freight in the transportation of relief goods and donated articles to calamity-stricken areas would further ensure that adequate relief assistance is given to individuals and communities most devastated by a disaster, she noted.

The bill, also known as the “Relief Goods Free Transportation Act,” mandates the Office of the Civil Defense in coordination with the Philippine Postal Corp. and all freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, and other companies providing logistic services in the Philippines, to grant free freight services to duly registered relief organizations in the transportation of emergency relief goods and donated articles to areas declared to be in a state of calamity.

The bill’s other authors include Representatives Sandra Eriguel and Pablo Ortega of La Union, Sabiniano Canama of COOP NATCCO partylist and Eric Olivarez of Parañaque City.

Senate bicam committee okays bill ensuring full electric power

By Macon Ramos-Araneta A BICAMERAL conference committee composed of lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives has approved a bill establishing a mechanism that will allow for the responsive maintenance and rehabilitation of transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution lines to ensure the uninterrupted conveyance of electricity from power plants to consumers.

Senator Win Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and primary author and sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said the AntiObstruction of Power Lines Act is the fifth measure that the Bicameral Conference Committee on Energy has approved during the 17th Congress.

“I think this is the most number of bills that the Energy Committee has passed in recent memory, and I would like to thank our colleagues in the House,” Gatchalian said. “Hindi po mangyayari ito kung the House and the Senate will not work together.”

The reconciled version of the bill provides that the power line corridor —which includes the land beneath, the air spaces surrounding, and the area traversed by power lines, including its horizontal, vertical, and similar clearance requirements— shall, at all times, be kept clear and free from any obstructions, dangerous structures, hazardous activities, or any similar circumstances that impede the continuous flow of electricity.

The Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act will prohibit the planting of tall growing plants, the construction of hazardous improvements, and the conduct of any hazardous activities within the power line corridor.

It also outlines the duties and responsibilities of power line owners and operators in the prevention and removal of disturbances or obstructions to the power lines, whether located on public or private property.

The bill authorizes power line owners and operators to seek the assistance of local government officials, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the discharge of their duties. It also provides penalties for persons found guilty of committing any of the prohibited acts specified under SBN 2098.

MEMORIAL DAY. Chargé de affairs of US Embassy John Law and Vice Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Salvador Mison offered flowers during the Memorial Day Ceremony at the American Cemetery in Taguig City. Memorial Day also honors the Filipinos who fought side by side with American soldiers to defend their shared values of freedom and democracy. Norman Cruz

warns poll Okada sues Cojuangco, other DILG winners: ‘You TRLEI execs for theft, estafa can’t assume

By Rey E. Requejo

C

ASINO mogul Kazuo Okada has filed qualified theft and estafa charges against officials of Tiger Resort Leisure Entertainment Inc., led by Tonyboy Cojuangco for conspiring to remove him from the company that he owns and controls.

In his complaint-affidavit sworn to before Philippine consul to Japan Andrea Leycano, Okada accused Jun Fujimoto, his son Tomohiro Okada, his estranged wife Takako Okada, Kenshi Asano, Steven Wolstenholme, Antonio Cojuangco, Reynaldo David, Yoshinao Negishi, Kenji Sugiyama and Michelle Lazaro of conspiring to illegally remove him from his own company.

Fujimoto is the president of Universal Entertainment Corp., Tomohiro Okada was a trustee of Okada Holdings Inc., while Takako Okada was a director of Universal.

Asano is a de facto director of Uni-

versal and Tiger HK while Wolstenholme, Cojuangco, David and Negishi were directors of Tiger PH, Kenji Sugiyama was chief security office of Tiger PH while Michelle Lazaro was Tiger PH’s corporate secretary.

In his complaint filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Parañaque, Okada said the respondents, in their respective capacity as directors, officers, nominees and trusted shareholders of the company, conspired together to willfully, unlawfully and feloniously seize his ownership rights and interest TRLEI without his consent.

Okada added that the respondents

converted and misappropriated the TRLEI shares of stocks and the rights, power and duties of directors of TRLEI that he entrusted to some of the respondents to remove him as chairman, director, chief executive officer and registered shareholder of Tiger PH. According to Okada, his removal from his own company, stemming from the conspiracy between the respondents, caused him great injury and prejudice.

Also, Okada claimed that the elements of estafa by abuse of confidence and qualified theft are present under the current circumstances.

“I am advised that the acts and omissions of respondents constitute the offenses of Qualified Theft and Estafa by Abuse of Confidence under Articles 310 and 315 (b) of the Revised Penal Code,” Okada said in his complaint.

As 99-percent owner of OHL, Okada maintains that he holds 68 percent ownership of Universal Entertainment Corp., the parent company of TRLEI, the operator of Okada Manila.

CLOSING KENNON. The Public Works Department is currently doing clearing operation at the rocknetting area in Barangay Camp 4, Kennon Road, Tuba, Benguet. Due to intermittent rains Kennon Road was declared closed since May 23. The danger of loose falling rocks and debris have become a perennial road problem besetting Kennon Road due to its unstable mountainous terrain. The road was built during the American Colonial period and was a favored route among motorists, DPWH advises motorists to be extra cautious in traversing Kennon Road. Recently, motorists chose to pass by the road this weekend to attend the Philippine Military Academy 2019 graduation rites where no less than President Rodrigo Duterte as guest of honor.

Senator Villar leads annual food festival event in Las Piñas REELECTED Senator Cynthia Villar led the celebration of the 6th Las Piñas Food Festival as thousands troop to the Villar SIPAG hall in Pulang Lupa Uno to join the festivities.

Villar, managing Director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance, welcomed visitors and participants to the yearly event which “showcases the city’s culinary heritage and Laspiñeros’ world-class cooking skills.”

“We are very glad that this food festival has become a yearly event for the city and nearby areas not only to promote our local delicacy, but also to promote our advocacy for safe and

nutritious food,” Villar said.

Villar was also joined by her daughter, Las Piñas Congresswoman-elect Camille Villar during the celebration.

As part of the food festival, a cooking competition was held participated in by the city’s 20 barangays. Each team presented 1viand/ulam and 1 dessert expressing the theme “Cook Healthy, Eat Happy.”

Winners of the Inter-Barangay Cooking Competition Champion is Barangay Pamplona Uno which won P20,000 1st runner-up went to Barangay Talon 4 which got P15,000 while second-runner up is Barangay Daniel Fajardo which took home P10,000.

A contest for urban gardening was also held with three categories. Emerging as winner in Inter Barangay is BF International CAA; Inter Homeowners Association is Castellan Classic Talon 2, and Inter School Champion is Las Piñas East National High School. One winner for each category got P50,000 each. Also receiving a special award was Barangay Talon 4 which won P20,000.

A food retailer’s fair was also featured during the festival where micro and small enterprises from Las Piñas and nearby areas of Cavite, Muntinlupa, Pasay and Quezon City promote their products and services.

post sans SOCE’

By Francisco Tuyay

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government on Sunday reminded newly elected local government officials that they will not be able to assume office unless they file their Statement of Contributions and Expenses on or before the June 13 deadline.

The SOCE includes cash and in-kind contributions received by the candidate from a political party and other sources.

It also includes expenditures paid out of personal funds, out of cash contributions and incurred using in-kind contributions.

“We are reminding the winners to submit their SOCEs to the Commission on Elections [COMELEC] this early because they may not be allowed to assume office until they have complied with this requirement,” said DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

“Filing your SOCE is your first legal obligation to the nation and to the public.

It is always good to start with a clean slate and to prove that you are worthy of the votes of your constituents,” he added.

Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 or the “Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act” states that “Every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within 30 days after the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election. No person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures required.”

Given that the elections were held last May 13, the deadline for filing of SOCEs is on June 13.

Malaya said that the DILG and the COMELEC had earlier forged a memorandum of agreement which states that the DILG or any of its attached agencies shall require any winning candidate to present a Certification from the COMELEC that he or she has satisfactorily complied with his SOCE obligation.

“In the absence of the COMELEC certification, a newly elected official shall not be allowed to perform his/her functions as public officials. His failure to file the SOCE on time would entail a delay in public service and would cause a leadership vacuum in their respective LGUs,” Malaya said.

The resolution further says that the office of an elected candidate who failed to file SOCE shall be considered vacant pursuant to Sec. 11 of the Omnibus Election Code until he has compiled and submitted his SOCE within the prescribed deadline, along with other COMELEC requirements within the required period. After the deadline and the candidate fails to assume office, a permanent vacancy occurs for which the office shall be filled up in accordance with the Constitution or law.

“Sayang naman ang paghihirap ninyo sa kampanya kung dahil lang sa SOCE ay hindi kayo makakaupo sa posisyon. Kaya huwag na kayong magpatumpik-tumpik pa at i-submit ninyo na ang inyong SOCE sa COMELEC,” Malaya said.

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Opinion

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

Race for the House Speakership BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

EVEN before the midterm elections came to a close, talk of the race for the House Speakership had already started.

Jockeying for the post among the newly elected congressmen for the fourth most powerful government office in the land has heated up.

Romualdez is strong on building consensus.

So far, three names have risen to the fore—former senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

But what has Cayetano achieved in his short-lived watch over the DFA at a time of contentious issues with China on the disputed South China Sea and Beijing’s encroachment in the West Philippine Sea? Insiders at the DFA claim Cayetano never had any real action plan nor policy on the issue except to mouth President Rodrigo Duterte’s line on it.

Velasco is already lord of Marinduque. What else can he bring to the table as House Speaker?

Cayetano’s calibrated ambition for the presidency and Velasco’s vague plan for legislation makes Martin Ro-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

mualdez the wise choice for House Speaker. His calm persona and signature approach for consensus-building will contribute much to the early passage of vital measures needed by the people. With less debates on the House floor and close relations with the Palace, particularly with former Special Assistant to the President and now Senator Christopher Bong Go and presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, Congress can be counted on to enact more urgent bills.

As for Cayetano’s presidential ambition, he should be reminded about the curse of the Speakership. No House Speaker, from Ramon Mitra, Joe de Venecia and Manny Villar, ever made it as President. Cayetano even never made it as Digong’s running mate for vice president. Is it Cayetano’s game plan to use the Speakership to parlay it into his 2022 presidential bid? The people and the more than 200 congressmen know better.

House insiders and the media covering Congress, know that Cayetano’s priority is I, me and myself.

Romualdez, on the other hand, is known as a team player. He has a law degree from the University of the Philippines and also studied at the prestigious US Ivy League University of Cornell. This certainly adds to his qualifications to be House Speaker. His several years as Leyte representative will also serve him in good stead in working with both senior and new House members. Former Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte credits Romualdez with the passage of priority bills without sacrificing his principles to fiscalize administration- certified legislation.

“

B

‘Falsus in uno’ IKOY,” or whoever put him up to smearing the political opposition, must have such a low estimation of people’s intelligence.

Peter Joemel Advincula, claiming to be the hooded “Bikoy” in a series of online videos that accused President Rodrigo Duterte’s family and allies of receiving drug money, surrendered to the police on May 23, claiming that all his previous allegations were lies orchestrated by the opposition Liberal Party and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Advincula had first surfaced on May 6 at a press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, where he repeated his accusations against the President’s family.

But speaking to the public while under police custody on Thursday, Advincula apologized to the President and spoke of an elaborate plan by the opposition to use the videos to destabilize the government, and to ultimately oust Mr. Duterte and pave the way for Vice President Leni Robredo to take power.

He also claimed he was promised P500,000 to appear in the videos—payable after Robredo became president.

The Liberal Party, Robredo and

Trillanes have all denied Advincula's allegations, but that has not stopped the administration from making hay over his new wild claims.

Before Advincula recanted the allegations in his videos, the Palace and the police had cast doubt on his credibility, saying he had pending arrest warrants for estafa and illegal recruitment, and that he was known for making up wild stories.

The police even launched a manhunt for Advincula, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III recalled Advincula had tried in 2016 to implicate former President Benigno Aquino III in the illegal drug trade—a claim so wild he never paid it any attention.

In one case, police officials said, Advincula was accused of swindling the organizers of a beauty contest by running away with hundreds of thousands of pesos in prize money. The national police chief added that Advincula had a long history of peddling his stories—often unreliable or made up—for money.

Now that Advincula is singing

a different tune, however, the administration seems to be taking his stories seriously.

The Justice department, for example, has called on Advincula to cooperate with the government and produce evidence to support his claims.

The President’s spokesman, meanwhile, has used the new revelations to attack Trillanes, whose term as senator ends in June.

"While many will wish Mr. Trillanes good riddance as he is about to leave the hallowed halls of the Senate at the end of June of this year, we will instead wish him luck as he faces another prospect of being placed behind bars again as the self-confessed black propagandist [Advincula] turns against his master,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Mr. Panelo, himself a lawyer, conveniently ignores the tenet “Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus,” a Latin phrase meaning "false in one thing, false in everything." In other words, a witness who testifies falsely about one matter is not credible to testify about any matter.

That shoe certainly seems to fit “Bikoy”—so why is the administration wasting our time and insulting our intelligence?

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Moving forward (1)

WHERE do we go from here?

The recently concluded elections where the President got overwhelming support for his style of leadership (the brashness and profanity included), shows something very evident in the public psyche: impatience for change.

A great majority of our people seem ready to gloss over the “erosion of democratic values” as the opposition described it, but failed to impress upon the electorate.

Cory Aquino once rued that “democracy does not pay dividends,” as when she became disappointed when the gnomes of Wall Street and the pashas of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund gave her and our people no discounts nor write-offs for loans her predecessor left us. Paying off those loans on top of eliminating subsidies on a lot of economic goods that made political “pogi” points but little fiscal sustainability became a heavy yoke upon the macro-economy for decades beyond Cory’s term.

Meanwhile, allowing the unlamented Cardinal Sin and his archaic Roman Catholic orthodoxy to interfere with and reverse Marcos’ nascent population management policy brought about more strains on government resources.

People mushroomed so that now we have 107 million versus 54.3 million by the end of 1985, virtually double in 33 years. (By way of contrast, Thailand had 52 million in 1985; now they are 69 million. Vietnam had more than us in 1985, at 61 million; now they are 96 million. And we wonder why we import rice from them).

With free public high school education and additional public services enshrined as “musts” in the 1987 Constitution, the strains on public spending led to a diminution in the quality of life of the D and E income classes, while the middle income C found their lives virtually unchanged, still struggling to give their families a better life.

For far too long, people pinned their hopes on a succession of leaders to save

them from their misery. And the cycle of electoral change did not provide answers, from Cory’s immediate successor, FVR, who to his credit started to reverse the economic stagnation through trail-blazing reforms in the regulatory capture of monopoly capitalism, to Erap’s short-lived populism down to GMA’s troubled administration, where long-term economic reforms were eclipsed by the political maelstrom of questioned mandate punctuated by corruption, and to Noynoy’s penchant for good marks from the gnomes and pashas while being distant and cold to the impoverished state of the poor man.

Sociologists could probably describe the last three decades as a state of anomie, where values and ideals have broken down due to the seeming hopelessness of life and the perceived helplessness of leadership to provide hope.

Now comes the difficult part. dissatis This was the state of public dissatisfaction with national leadership which brought an unlikely candidate from the deep and forgotten South to the presidency in 2016.

From the very start, this writer felt that the electorate was fed up with the system that produced little results, but unable to change the system; they yearned for someone, some savior who could effect meaningful change.

Surveying the declared competition, from P-Noy’s hand-picked Mar Roxas, to a populist but corruption-tainted Jojo Binay, to a leadership-challenged Grace Poe who was bent on reviving old cinematic glory, this writer knew that Rodrigo Duterte of Davao would be the answer to that yearning for change.

Note how the overseas Filipino workers rallied to a man for Duterte in 2016, despite his curses, his thumbing down in no uncertain language the “hallowed” institutions of society. These OFWs were the refugees of hopelessness, who saw painful separation from family and home the only escape from continuing misery.

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Long after guns fall silent, Mosul residents suffer hearing loss

By Raad al-Jammas FOR months, Alia Ali endured the din of fighting in Iraq's second city Mosul. Then a missile slammed into her home, killing her husband and her hearing.

The 59-year-old lost her sense of sound in the final phase of the ferocious battle between government forces and jihadists of the Islamic State group, not long before the guns fell silent in July 2017.

For nearly nine months, air strikes, mortar rounds and car bombs pummeled the city relentlessly, and thousands of residents still suffer hearing

problems ranging from tinnitus to profound deafness.

"I lost my sense of hearing two years ago," Ali recalled.

"A warplane hit our neighborhood in the fight for the western half of the city and my husband died of very bad burns," she told AFP. Ali spent two years piecing her life back together, but could not afford to get specialized care for her diminished hearing.

"We lost our home and all our possessions—we didn't have money to go to private clinics," she said.

Blasts in conflict zones can propel debris into the human ear and rupture

the eardrum, which transmits sound further into the cochlea.

Nerves in the cochlea, which sends sound on to the brain to be processed, can also be destroyed by explosions.

Mines have noise levels approaching 170 decibels—twice the loudness needed to cause permanent damage to ears.

Bleeding, nerve damage In Mosul, civilians were exposed to repeated loud blasts that sent between 15 and 20 a day to hospitals complaining of hearing loss.

"They were bleeding from their ears

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

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion The bottomline after the elections AFTER the dust settles following one impassioned and combative elections, the Commission on Elections, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, finished tallying the certificates of canvass on Wednesday, just more than a week after the May 13 polls. The proclamation of the winning senators and party-list representatives wrapped up a bruising campaign period that saw the country absorbed over a range of controversial issues.

And right up to the end, the usual political noise and allegations of cheating (mostly from the losing side) continued to hound the conduct of the polls was a dominant theme in the news. In particular, what really took place during the seven-hour glitch in the transparency server at the start of canvassing became the subject of much speculation.

For their part, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national chairman Myla Villanueva assured the public that its team of IT experts is already examining whether the system was tampered with by an external hand and other similar security issues that need to be cleared.

According to an initial investigation, however, the team has yet to establish any such intervention. She explained: “The arrival stamps listed in the transparency server logs matched the time stamps of the election results files provided by the transparency server. And they indicated that results were being transmitted through the period from 6:15 p.m. on May 13 to 1:18 a.m. on May 13.”

Data from an application that PPCRV developed to scrape data from the Comelec Public Access website and those in the transparency server also matched, she said.

Election lawyer Emil Marañon III, who specializes in automated election litigation and consulting, emphasized that the transparency servers, while an important safeguard mechanism, offered real-time but unofficial results as the transmission there bypasses the ladderized canvassing required by law and that is usually delayed by three days or so.

He explained that the seven-hour glitch in the transparency server pre-

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And to a great extent, Duterte did not disappoint in his first two and a half years as president, such that the electorate glossed over the harshness of the drug war, the so-called assaults against individual freedoms and human rights, even a short run of high inflation last year which under normal circumstances would have dented the president’s popularity considerably.

The senatorial results show that the public approves of the Duterte leadership, give and take the survival of a few who banked on the last dying gasps of personal, largely cinematic popularity.

The fact that Bong Go, whose first entry into politics Duterte nurtured, amazingly landed third over veteran legislators and known quantities, proves the enduring faith in the Duterte leadership.

Ditto for Bato de la Rosa and Francis Tolentino.

The President had only 10 candidates from the very start, which excluded Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla, plus reelectionists Grace Poe and Nancy Binay. Strictly speaking, only eight of his 10 made it; JV Ejercito and Dong Mangudadatu

Long after...

From A4

because of the shelling, but they had nothing to stop the flow," according to hearing specialist Mohammad Saleh.

"Some never recovered because their nerve cells were torn by the loud sounds."

Mosul's health infrastructure was ravaged by IS's reign and subsequent fighting, with the 6,000 hospital beds available before the jihadist takeover reduced to just 1,000.

With help from outside charities, hospitals are slowly reopening wing by wing.

At Jumhuriya hospital in west Mosul, a specialized hearing impairment center opened its doors less than a year ago with backing from Iraq's Dary Humanitarian Organisation.

The waiting room is packed with people, young and old, waiting to get long-delayed hearing tests to see how badly the blasts have damaged their ears.

vented third parties, such as media entities, election watchdogs, and political parties, from downloading the data even as the server continues to receive them from all over the country. This also meant an interruption in the reporting of the results at the crucial time during election night.

Other safeguards are in place, Marañon said, in case the hiccup in the transparency server proved to be an opportunity for parties to manipulate the results of the elections. This includes the Comelec server itself, which receives a separate transmission, as well as 30 physical copies of election returns printed before and after transmission.

trans He explained: “So if the VCM transmitted 999 votes for Candidate A and all 3 servers received 999, then regardless of the seven-hour blindness, it is proof that results were not compromised during transmission. But if the transparency server suddenly credits Candidate A with 1,200 or even just 1,000, a single vote discrepancy in a single precinct would be evidence of vulnerability or tampering.”

And to assure that, the routine Random Manual Audit, meant to ensure that the automated canvassing reflected the votes in the actual ballots, is in place. It began on May 15 and is currently ongoing at the Diamond Hotel with watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections. COMELEC even said recently the audit period is likely going to be extended beyond the initial two-week period due to the sheer number of ballots to be audited and to ensure the quality of the process.

“We did not anticipate that it would take long for the audit teams to [process] 500-plus ballots; some even reaching 900, and a precinct takes two days to complete on average, said COMELEC Commissioner Lito Guia.

Guia added: “The audit supervisors

are partly volunteers from Lente and accountants from the Philippine Institute of Public Accountants, who are there even until midnight to ensure the integrity of the RMA process.”

Not to say that process was perfect, but a cursory comparison with the elections in 2010, 2013, and 2016 would reveal that the much-discussed sevenhour delay sadly eclipsed the triumph of the recent polls: the transmission speed 10 hours after precincts close was a record 92.12 percent of precincts. This represents an improvement compared to the 58.95, 73.16, and 87.05 percent recorded in 2010, 2013, and 2016, respectively.

Even the record level of transparency in this year’s polls were overshadowed sur by the various creative speculations surrounding the delay. For instance, from the get-go, the COMELEC for the first time allowed election observers to witness the server being locked down and re-zeroed following final testing and sealing. For the first time, too, the commission released zero votes to accredited groups upon server initialization.

And when the server malfunctioned, the COMELEC allowed media to even on stream the debugging process live onob line, in front of watchdogs and other observers, in order to dispel any speculation of behind-the-scenes rigging.

With such number of safeguards in place, it is more productive to redirect our collective indignation away from the automated process and to the reports of vote-buying, overspending, and election-related violence that took place ahead of and during the midterm polls.

With the process itself routinely proving itself to be secure, accurate, and most of all credible, the government needs to institute measures to prevent the preelection cheating of guns-goons-andgold politicians.

The bottom-line in the 2019 polls is that, all political noise and creative speculations aside, it was a credible and successful democratic exercise.

Investigations into the allegations or suspicions around the glitches and delays are in order, but pending the results of those, any blanket censure of the process is a disservice to the COMELEC and the many men and women on the ground who worked tirelessly to make the polls as efficient as it is now. A great achievement for our democracy after the terrible decades of manual elections.

failing to make the electoral bar. But the shut-out of the defined and declared opposition, even those of early shoo-ins like Bam Aquino and Mar Roxas, scions of historic political “brands,” says it all. By any and all standards, it was a Duterte win.

Now comes the difficult part—moving forward. Enshrining legacy instead of waiting for the twilight years.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” Uncle Ben told Spiderman.

If Rodrigo Roa Duterte is to be the Spiderman in our story of redemption from the people’s state of hopelessness, from the anomie that pervades our social environment, then we are all collectively the Uncle Ben who know that there are great responsibilities that he must yet perform in these last three years.

Sure, the public is happy that there is greater peace on the streets, that the drug menace to a very large extent, has stopped being a threat to their daily lives. They are happy that passports are now valid for 10 years, and driving licenses extended to five years; that there is less “kotong” from traffic enforcers and highway cops; swift removal from public office, though sometimes harshly, has become the norm rather than

cover-ups and dilly-dallying. Even the end to luggage terrorism in our airports.

All these, and more acts of the Duterte presidency are the “mabababaw na kaligayahan” that people overwhelmingly approve of.

They remain patient that the quality of life requires greater improvement, and that jobs will yet multiply, that the justice system will improve, and see a glimmer of hope in the President’s handling of the Muslim Mindanao insurgency and even his dealing with the bandits among the communists. Even if their hearts still pine for Virginia which their mis-education in history and their consumer appetites have ingrained upon them, they are realistic enough to realize that Duterte’s independent foreign policy is the way to go in this day and age.

Moving forward with a short time bind of two and a half years before the next presidential campaign convulses the polity requires priorities, priorities, priorities.

To quote my (and many others’) favorite contemporary poet, Robert Frost: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.”

"My hearing deteriorated after three mortars hit my house in west Mosul," 65-year-old Fathi Hussein yelled.

He can only respond to questions that are virtually screamed, and answers them at the same volume.

"I put off treatment because I'm poor. I don't have the money for consultations or medicine," he said.

Since the center opened less than a year ago, it has treated several thousand patients, according to specialist Mohammad Said.

"We have distributed 2,000 hearing aids so far. More complex cases get sent to hospitals in Baghdad for treatment, including cochlear implants which aren't available here yet," Said told AFP. He expects there are thousands more cases that have yet to visit the Jumhuriya center.

"Some patients went to private clinics, others went elsewhere in Iraq or even left the country and still others have received no treatment at all," he said.

I want to go to school For younger patients, partial deafness means more than just shouting to be heard—it can affect schooling.

"In kids especially, hearing loss can damage speaking ability," Said said.

"It's extremely important because it means the hearing aids we distribute aren't enough, and these children are in need of treatments and speaking rehabilitation that we don't offer here."

Five-year-old Mohannad may not remember much of life under bombardment in Mosul, but it will likely mar his education for years to come.

He suffers both hearing and speech impediments from the fighting that were long left untreated.

"I didn't notice how weak his hearing was until weeks after Mosul was liberated," his mother told AFP. She said she was now desperate to get free treatment for Mohannad in time for him to finally enrol in classes this autumn.

"I want to go to school like our neighbor's son, Ahmad," Mohannad mumbled with difficulty. AFP

This is a great achievement for our democracy after the terrible decades of manual elections.

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

A5

High stakes for enclave as Europe’s biggest casino goes bust

By Agnès Pedrero CAMPIONE d'Italia, a tiny Italian enclave on the shores of Switzerland's Lake Lugano, is fighting for its survival after its main source of income—a giant casino—went bankrupt.

"SOS Campione is dead" reads a giant banner hung opposite the immense casino, made up of modernistic cubic-shaped blocks with darkened windows stretching 10 floors high.

"Rien ne va plus"—the French version of "no more bets"—reads another banner on a tent set up by the unions representing some 500 casino employees, who suddenly found themselves without work.

For the 1,961 inhabitants of this one-square-kilometer (0.4-squaremile) sovereign Italian territory inside southern Switzerland, the closure of the public casino has been devastating.

For decades, it guaranteed the prosperity of the town, 23 kilometers (14 miles) from Italy.

"Those who were lucky enough to be born here, were lucky enough to have a job," Fiorenzo Dorigo, who worked at the casino for 21 years, told AFP. "Once you were done with your studies and military service, you reunited with all of your old school mates" working at the casino, he said.

But that comradery and income security evaporated last July, when a local Italian court in Como ordered the casino to close after it failed to honour its financial obligations to authorities in Campione, which is part of Como province.

Hoping for resurrection The atmosphere in the community now that the casino is shut is "sad," said Evgenia Petrova, a 52-year-old Russian artist, living in Campione since 2012.

The typical "Italian positivity," which used to distinguish the village from the surrounding Swiss communities, "is not obvious anymore," she told AFP, looking sadly out the window of her paintsplashed studio.

But residents still hope for the casino's resurrection.

A Milan court recently overturned the Como legal ruling on the grounds of procedural inconsistencies.

And last month, the Italian government sent an expert to evaluate the possibilities of bringing the casino back to life.

Inhabitants are demanding that Rome comes to the rescue.

"Campione is Italian. Italy cannot just abandon it. It must take all possible steps" to save the enclave, unionist Vincenzo Falanga told AFP. Espionage Campione has a long and rich history.

In the year 777, a wealthy trader and landowner named Totone donated Campione—later renamed Campione d'Italia under the rule of dictator Benito Mussolini—to the monastery of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, which became part of Italy in 1797.

The picturesque enclave, which with its winding walkways and hills covered in cypress and palm trees offers a magnificent view of the lake, has a unique status.

Inhabitants pay taxes to Italy, but almost everything else is Swiss, including the currency, car regis-

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Aside from Belmonte, Buhay PartyList Rep. Lito Atienza also expressed his support for Romualdez as Speaker of the House. The support of the various party list solons is necessary for good leadership.

This then is the man who as Speaker can harness his skills in consensus and sober legislation and still work with the executive branch for effective measures that will redound to the people’s benefit.

His impressive CV aside, Romualdez has the ground level skill on local politics to know what infrastructure projects his fellow congressmen need in their localities. This is necessary to have cooperation in threshing out dis-

tration number plates, telephone lines and rubbish collection.

It is also a tax haven: there is no sales tax and inhabitants benefit from a generous tax break to compensate for the cost of living, which is also very Swiss—meaning high.

A gaming establishment was first opened in Campione in 1917, but its main purpose was to spy on foreign diplomats during World War I, and it closed two years later.

It reopened in 1933 thanks to a decree, which remains in effect, requiring the casino proceeds to cover all municipal costs.

The casino, with its high-rollers, showered Campione in riches for decades, allowing the tiny enclave to dream big—too big, according to some.

Competition, online gambling In 2007, after seven years of construction, a brand new, 36,000-square-metre, ochre-coloured casino, saw the light of day.

The colossus, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, can accommodate 3,100 gamblers at a time, offering them 56 tables and around 1,000 slot machines to choose from.

But new laws permitting slot machines in bars and cafes and the rise of online gambling have gradually whittled away the house winnings.

The strengthening of the Swiss franc against the euro, as well as the opening of three large Swiss casinos nearby since 2000 have also taken their toll.

Over the past decade, as the casino's profits fell, so too did the town's fortunes.

The mayor quit, the nursery school shuttered and the tourist office is preparing to do the same.

Swiss and Italian aid groups say that around 200 people now usually show up at their thrice monthly food and other aid distributions.

"Campione has not seen a situation this difficult since the war," said Giorgio Zanzi, the administrator sent by Rome to run things after the mayor left.

His office is chilly: Campione can no longer afford fuel to keep the heating on, and municipal employees have not been paid since February 2018.

The casino and municipality have together raked up millions in debt, Zanzi told AFP, adding, though, that he was still holding out hope for a rescue.

As a result of the downturn, Campione had no candidates for Sunday's local elections and has cancelled the ballot, which should have run in parallel with voting in European elections.

Small territory, big problems Ideas on how to save Campione have been discussed, from investing in tourism or new technologies to the creation of an advantageous tax scheme for businesses.

But time is of the essence.

The situation will soon become even more complicated: Next year, the enclave is due to become part of the European Union customs area, raising practical questions about interactions with non-EU member Switzerland.

Authorities in Bern say discussions with Italy about the implications of the change are "under way" but refuse to give details.

Campione, Zanzi said, is "a small territory, but with big problems" AFP putes on various local interests which are rife in the House. This is specially true in the enactment of the national budget as seen in the last appropriations deliberations.

Romualdez should be able to guide the House in the next three years in the passage of priority bills by consolidating each congressman’s parochial interest that still serves the national interest.

Related to the May 13 polls, the Commission on Elections reminded both winning and losing candidates to submit no later than June 12 their Statement of Campaign Expenses to avoid sanctions that include disqualification.

This happened to then winning Laguna governor E.R. Ejercito who was unseated because he did not declare his SOCE truthfully.

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News

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lawmaker seeks 3,000 new bailiff positions

By Rio N. Araja

WALK FOR A CAUSE. A person with disability joins at least 2,000 people in the New Life Family Walkathon organized by International WeLoveU Foundation at the Academic Oval of the University of the Philippines in Quezon City on Sunday, May 26. The foundation, which started in South Korea in the 1990s, carries out global charitable activities. PNA

Bomb threat protocol for schools set

T

HE National Capital Region Police Office has established a protocol on how to respond to bomb threats as part of security measures it prepared for the upcoming school opening in Metro Manila on June 3.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the protocol includes the designation of a contact person or marshal in different schools to immediately act and respond to bomb threat calls.

Eleazar said NCRPO's explosive ordnance disposal units have also been

alerted as part of the protocol to secure schools in the capital.

The EOD, he said, will conduct the search and, if needed, will disarm, control or detonate the explosives.

Eleazar urged the public to stay calm since most of the previous bomb threats

in Metro Manila turned out to be hoaxes.

"They should not panic as everything possible is being done to neutralize these threats," Eleazar said.

Some 7,153 police officers and personnel will be deployed in the National Capital Region to ensure that no untoward incidents will happen during the school opening next week.

“I would like to rally everyone to close in on the vicinity of these schools.

We have to secure all our pupils and students from criminals, such as pickpock-

ets and snatchers," he said.

Eleazar said police marshals will also be deployed to secure passengers of buses, UV Express, taxis and jeepneys.

“We will be everywhere, especially our police detectives, who would secure students and other commuters inside buses, and passenger jeepneys,” Eleazar said.

“All police personnel assigned in public assistance desks should coordinate with the Department of Education school authorities and local government officials,” he added. PNA

Employees of fintech firms undergo random drug testing EXECUTIVES and employees of Filipino-owned private firms engaged in financial technology have voluntarily submitted themselves to a drug testing procedure in compliance with an order of the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure drugfree work places.

Officers and employees of First Tree Ventures, Moneybees Forex Corp., and Paylance Inc. underwent voluntary drug testing procedures recently.

Under DOLE’s Department Order No. 53-03, employers must require their officials and employees to undergo random drug testing in accordance with the company’s work rules and regulations for purposes of reducing risks in the work place.

Under the said order, employers shall be respon-

sible for increasing awareness and education of their officers and employees on the adverse effects of dangerous drugs as well as for monitoring employees susceptible to drug abuse.

The drug testing procedure at said companies was initiated by retired Col. Rodrigo Bonifacio, chairman of the People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs, a non-government organization recognized and accredited by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Bonifacio said the campaign was done in two approaches—the surprise drug testing procedure of all employees led by First Tree's chairman of the board Marieta Cruz and Moneybees and Paylance president Jay Ricky Villarante.

PVAID director Virgilio Garcia and PVAID-

Preventive Education and Values Formation head Dr. Rainier Umali provided a screen test and confirmatory examination to all participants during the drug testing.

“The program is part of their commitment to the government in promoting the Philippine AntiIllegal Drugs Strategy and its three pronged approaches particularly the drug demand reduction through preventive education and values formation,” Bonifacio said.

“Our NGO will continue to promote the National Anti Drug Campaign to encourage the private sectors cooperation and support for more vigorous and concerted effort in saving the lives of every Filipino family away from the drug menace,” he added.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 106 QUEZON CITY ROEL T. HIZON, Petitioner, -versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-18-14928 CV For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage

ROSEBYLYN C. TORREVILLAS, Respondent, x-------------------------------------------------x

ORDER OF SUMMONS

BY PUBLICATION In a verified Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage filed on November 19, 2018, petitioner prays that, after due hearing, his marriage to the respondent which was solemnized on May 6, 2002, by Rev. Bonifacio Mortera, Minister, at F, Manalo St, San Juan, Metro Manila be declared NULL AND VOID, AB INITIO, on the ground of respondent’s minority and/or absence of legal capacity to contract marriage.

Summons was issued on November 27, 2018. The Sheriff’s Return dated January 14, 2019 states that the respondent was not a resident of the area.

On February 11, 2019, petitioner filed a “Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication.” On March 4, 2019, the court issued an Order granting the issuance of an Order of Summons by Publication.

NOW, THEREFORE, respondent ROSEBYLYN C. TORREVILLAS, whose last known address is at 11 Recto Street, Freedom Park VI, Batasan Village, Quezon City, is hereby summoned and required to file with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 106, Quezon City, National Capital Judicial Region, Bulwagan ng Katarungan Quezon City, her answer to the petition in the instant case within THIRTY (30) DAYS from the last date of publication of this summons. In the event of failure to do so, this court shall direct the Public Prosecutor to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not collusion exists between the parties in the filing of the instant petition; and if it is determined that there is no such collusion, the Petitioner shall be allowed to present his evidence in support of the petition.

Let this Order be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in the “The Standard”, a newspaper of national circulation, pursuant to P.D. No. 1079, at the expense of the petitioner.

Likewise, let a copy of the summons as well as a copy of the petition be deposited in the Post Office, postage pre-paid and sent by registered mail to the respondent at her last known address also at the expense of the petitioner. Petitioner is enjoined to submit to this court proof of compliance herewith.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, April 30, 2019.

(Sgd.) ANGELENE MARY W. QUIMPO-SALE Cc: Roel T. Hizon Judge Rosebylyn C. Torrevillas Atty. Angelita Calalang-Dy ACP Buenaluz, Jr. OSG

(MStandard-May 20 & 27, 2019)

STAKEHOLDERS ALL. Several groups held a cleanup drive at the Baseco Compound in Manila on May 25. Norman Cruz

A SURIGAO del Sur lawmaker is batting for the creation of new positions for 3,000 armed peace officers or bailiffs in the judiciary to provide "ample" court security.

“Judges, court personnel and litigants have become increasingly exposed to potential violence when hearing cases. They deserve adequate protection. We should have at least one bailiff in every courtroom,” Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.

Under the proposal, the bailiffs would form part of the regular court staff and exercise law enforcement powers in buildings and properties being used by judges.

“Just like in America, we should have a bailiff keeping the peace in every court proceeding, regardless whether the case being heard is criminal or civil in nature,” Pimentel said.

At present, the only peace officers in courts are the police or jail escorts of defendants in custody, he added.

“But there are cases wherein the defendant is out on bail or otherwise free, in which case he or she comes to court without any police or jail escort at all,” the lawmaker said.

“In the past, we’ve had highly publicized cases wherein, out of anger and frustration, people involved in lawsuits launched attacks during court proceedings,” Pimentel added.

Pimentel recalled the deadliest eruption of courtroom violence that happened in Cebu City in 2013.

A retired Canadian journalist charged with malicious mischief gunned down his accuser and a lawyer inside the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice.

Armed with two handguns, John Pope, who was then 66, shot dead Reynolds Rafols, a pediatric surgeon, and his lawyer, Jubian Achas, as they waited for their hearing inside a courtroom Pope also seriously wounded then city assistant prosecutor Maria Theresa Casiño in the head.

PAO hails ruling vs. Sanofi, Zuellig over Dengvaxia PUBLIC Attorney's Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta on Sunday lauded the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for upholding a civil suit for damages filed against French pharmaceutical Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and its distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. in connection with the death of a child after receiving Dengvaxia vaccine shots.

“The judge was right since there is already a hypothetical admission on the part of Sanofi and Zuellig,” she told Manila Standard in a text message when asked to comment.

Branch 226 Judge Manuel Sta. Cruz Jr. rejected the motions to dismiss the case filed against Sanofi and Zuellig Pharma executives.

He affirmed that the complaint filed by the parents of 13-year-old Abbie Hedia had sufficient basis.

Hedia died on Feb. 10, 2018.

“Hypothetically admitting the mentioned allegations together with other facts alleged in the complaint, the court may render a judgment upon the same,” the court order read.

The judge ordered Sanofi officers Carlito Realuyo, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, and Pearl Grace Cabali to file their respective reply within five days upon receipt of the order.

Hedia’s kin said in the complaint that Sanofi manufactured the Dengvaxia vaccine despite it being unsafe since it was still in the clinical trial state.

Moreover, they claimed Sanofi failed to inform the public of the risks of Dengvaxia either through safety warnings, instructions or indication of use or through product label. Rio N. Araja

Sports NBA stars lead Aussie hoop squad SYDNEY, Australia—Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons and NBA champions Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut headline an NBA player-dominated preliminary Australia squad announced for this year’s Basketball World Cup in China.

Nine US-based players form the core of the 17-man Boomers squad, including Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz, Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs and another 76er, Jonah Bolden.

The NBA has seen a record number of Australian players this year and the Boomers are being touted as the strongest from the country to play at a World Cup. “No doubt, we have the opportunity to put a great team on the floor and that’s exciting,” head coach Andrej Lemanis said in a statement.

“The depth of talent in Australian basketball means that some tough decisions are made at this point and some very good players miss out,” Lemanis added after several hopefuls from Australia’s national competition were overlooked.

Simmons’ 76ers lost the Eastern Conference semi-finals after an incredible game seven buzzer-beater by the Toronto Raptor’s Kawhi Leonard earlier this month.

The former NBA rookie of the year took to social media this week to let 76er fans know he was energized for next year after a “tough way to finish the season”.

“I would also like to announce that I am going to be a Boomer for the upcoming events. So stay tuned,” Simmons added in a video posted to Twitter.

Sudanese-Australian Thon Maker was pulled from the Boomers squad at the last minute, reportedly at the request of his NBA team the Detroit Pistons.

The final 12-man squad will be selected during team camp in August.

They will take on Canada and the USA in warm-up matches in Perth and Melbourne that month with their World Cup campaign beginning against the Canadians on September 1 in China. AFP

Alphaland hosts Orbe rapid chess tournament THE Orbe Fide-Rated Open Rapid Chess Championships will unfurl on June 15 at the third floor Alphaland Southgate Mall, near MRT Magallanes Station, Edsa, Makati City.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) director lawyer Cliburn Anthony Orbe bared this in a recent interview.

Orbe said with a registration fee of P500 (P200 for Under-14), chess players will have a chance to compete in a Fide-Rated chess tournament that will draw participants from nearby provinces.

“I have confirmed participants from Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” Orbe said, adding that NCFP, Fide and the Metro Iligan Chess Club joined forces to make the event possible being held to coincide with the birthday celebration of Orbe.

The champion will pocket P10,000 while the next fourth placers will take home P7,000, P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

The sixth to 10th placers, meanwhile, will each claim a P1,000 consolation prize.

A special prize of P1,000 will also be awarded to top lady, senior, top non-master, top junior (15-20), top kiddies (Under 14), top executive, top unrated and top under 1900.

Meanwhile, New Zealand based Jun Isaac, elder brother of ex-PBA player Leo Isaac is setting his sight in competing 2019 National Seniors Chess Championships to be held on Monday, May 27-31 at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) No. 56 Mindanao Avenue in Project 6, Quezon City.

“I hope to do well in the 2019 National Seniors Chess Championships,” said Jun, a former player of the Philippine National Police chess team.

The 2019 National Chess Championships for Untitled Players, 2000 Below Elo for Open & 1900 Below for Women gets going on Monday at the same venue.

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MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

7 Philippine National Para Games start th

T

ABLE tennis Paralympic bronze medalist Josephine Medina and Singapore World Para Swimming Series silver medalist Ernie Gawilan headline the athletes competing in the 7th Philippine National Para Games which opens today at the Bulacan Sports Complex.

Over 1,010 para athletes from 72 various local government units will participate in the four-day tournament featuring archery, para athletics, para swimming, chess, judo, table tennis, boccia, para powerlifting, goalball, sitting volleyball, badminton, tenpin bowling,

and wheelchair basketball. Cycling is a demo sport.

In the opening ceremonies held yesterday, PSC Chairman William Ramirez inspired the para athletes to go beyond their dreams, and use sports as an instrument of change.

“It is always a special moment for me to see our para athletes flourish in the sport that they love and discover the golden gift in them,” added the agency chief. He graced the opening together with PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin and Philippine Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo.

Meanwhile, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado thanked the PPC and PSC for choosing the province as host of the national games saying “the province of Bulacan is grateful to the PPC and PSC for giving us the opportunity to host

this sporting event for our para athletes. Throughout the games, we would like to show everyone that our venues are completely differently-abled friendly.”

Simultaneous games start today at the Bulacan Sports Complex (archery, para athletics and para swimming), Hiyas Convention (chess, judo, table tennis and boccia), Bulacan Capitol Gym (goalball and sitting volleyball), City Walk Badminton Court (Badminton), Paradise Bowling Center (tenpin bowling) and at Guiguinto Municipal Athletic & Cultural Center (wheelchair basketball).

JrNBA player follows path of late uncle

By Peter Atencio

GETTING READY. Filipino icon Senator Manny Pacquiao (right) works the mitts with Nonoy Neri at the Elorde Boxing Gym in preparation for his world title clash against Keith Thurman. Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

Raptors beat Bucks for showdown against Dubs LOS ANGELES, United States— Kawhi Leonard finished with 27 points and a career high 17 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors advanced to their first NBA final with a 100-94 win over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.

The Raptors won the series in six games as Saturday’s (Sunday Manila time) contest at Scotiabank Arena was a mirror image of game five, featuring a strong start by Milwaukee before Toronto came back in the fourth quarter to close it out with several clutch plays down the stretch.

The Raptors reached their first finals in their 24-year history where they will face the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors.

Game one of the best-of-seven final is

Thursday in Toronto.

“I just took it one possession at a time,” Leonard said. “We kept fighting all game. The calls were not going our way, but we kept striving and striving.”

Leonard won the head to head battle against Giannis Antetokounmpo, even dunking over the mighty “Greek Freak” with six minutes left in the fourth to give Toronto an 87-79 lead.

Leonard also hit another dynamic three-pointer from his favorite corner spot on the floor with three minutes left to make it 95-90.

He shot nine of 22 from the field and had seven assists for the Raptors, who roared back to win four straight games after falling into an

0-2 hole to begin the series.

Pascal Siakam tallied 18 points, Kyle Lowry finished with 17 and Fred VanVleet came off the bench to score 14 points in the win.

Toronto was down by 15 points at one stage in the third quarter before Leonard’s supporting cast sparked the comeback to start the fourth.

“We thrive at it. We enjoy the moment,” Leonard said. “My teammates have my back. I was on the bench to start the fourth quarter and they came back. It was a collective effort.”

Antetokounmpo tallied a double double with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who lost in the NBA playoff semi-finals after finishing with the best record in the regular season. AFP

WHEN Bryan Gahol died from injuries he sustained following a vehicular accident back in 2014, his nephew from his only sister was inspired to follow in his footsteps.

His career and Gahol’s words of inspiration to Sebastian Roy Reyes became the boys guiding light to get into basketball.

Last Sunday, May 19, the 14-yearold Reyes dedicated the Most Valuable Player honors to his late uncle after he became one of 10 players who topped the JrNBA Philippines National Training Camp.

“Wala po siyang naituro (sa game) sa akin. Pero siya po ang naging inspirasyon ko na maglaro ng basketball,” said Reyes, an eighth grader at National University.

The 5’7” Reyes talked about his late uncle during the final selection process that was held at the SM Mall of Asia Activity Center.

The 6’5” Gahol, who died at the age of 36, played in college for the University of the Philippines Maroons.

During his time with the UP Fighting Maroons, the late Gahol was considered as among the dominant forces inside the playing court in Season 59 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, next to Allan Gamboa, Paolo Mendoza and marksman Patrick Madarang.

Gahol’s batch put the Fighting Maroons in the Final Four in 1996, before they bowed to the University of Santo Tomas Tigers.

In the PBA, he was drafted fourth overall by Mobiline in 1999. But injuries kept the former University of the Philippines standout from making an impact.

He went to Shell, which later traded him to Alaska.

After Alaska, Gahol went to San Miguel Beer and then Red Bull Barako before retiring in 2006.

Sebastian Roy’s father Arnel said he and his son often visited Gahol in his home in Los Banos during his retirement years.

“Binibigyan niya ng inspiration ang anak ko. Sinasabihan na kung gusto niya mag-basketball, kailangan disiplinado sa sarili,” Arnel said. Arnel, a waiter, was supposed to leave on board a Norwegian cruise liner. But he delayed his trip to watch his son play.

Thai vet rallies to snare TPGA Open diadem THAI Wisut Artjanawat scored big for Philippine Golf Tour Asia, rallying from six down and snatching a two-stroke victory with a blistering windup for a 67 as he beat veteran Sung Mao Chang by two for the TPGA Open crown at the CCK Golf Club in Taichung, Taiwan yesterday.

Artjanawat, 37, pounced on Sung’s front side meltdown to move within three despite a 36 then scorched the backside with a brilliant 31, spiked by three straight birdies from No. 12, as he emerged the bewildered winner in the event that faced uncertainties following a rain-marred first round.

But the Thai veteran campaigner delivered the biggest surprise with his sizzling finish, securing the victory with a birdie from close range on the 16th, giving him a two-shot cushion he preserved with two clutch closing pars for a second fiveunder card and a 14-under 274 total.

“I didn’t expect to win. Six shots were too big a deficit to overcome. But I worked my way back and hit birdies at the back,” said Artjanawat, whose stirring come-from-behind win worth $17,500 ended a five-year title spell in various regional circuits, including the Philippine-based PGTA sponsored by ICTSI. Jay Bayron, meanwhile, finished with a flourish, birdying two of the last three holes to card a 70 as he ended up tied at 27th at 286.

“It was a good experience. The greens here

were very unpredictable but I knew I could’ve finished better,” said Bayron, the lone Filipino entry in the event co-organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High. “I just hope more Filipinos would compete overseas in the future. Playing against a different of rivals on unfamiliar courses will only make us better.”

Artjanawat also relished the chance to compete and be able to snap a long title drought.

“It’s a big confidence boost. Now I feel I can fight on the top level against the best in the region,” added Artjanawat, who placed 22nd in last year’s PGT Asia Order of Merit ranking and groped for joint 29th in the PGTA first leg at Luisita last month.

His victory also augured well for the region’s emerging circuit, which held its first tournament abroad after three years with one of its mainstays emerging as the winner. Artjanawat also became the first foreigner to win in the 85-year TPGA at the quaint military layout affiliated to Taiwan’s Air Force, frustrating a number of locals who had braced for a romp by Sung after surging to a whopping five-shot lead over compatriot Hung Chien Yao after 54 holes.

But Sung failed to recover from a 39 start and failed to match Artjanawat’s blistering finish to settle for a 36 and a 75 for 276.

Wisut Artjanawat tees off during action in the TPGA Open at the CCK Golf Club in Taichung, Taiwan yesterday.

Sports

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

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MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

Nike to stop penalizing pregnant endorsers NEW YORK, United States—US sporting goods giant Nike, under fire for financially penalizing sponsored athletes who become pregnant, is changing its maternity policy, the New York Times reported.

“We’ve recognized Nike, Inc., can do more, and there is an important opportunity for the sports industry collectively to evolve to better support female athletes,” Sandra Carreon-John, a Nike spokeswoman, told the newspaper in an email on Friday.

According to the Times, Nike plans to waive performance-pay reductions for 12 months for athletes who decide to have a baby.

The move comes after Olympic track and field star Allyson Felix joined a chorus of critics.

Felix, the only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic gold medals, wrote in the New York Times she had been offered a vastly reduced contract by Nike since taking time off in 2018 during her pregnancy.

The 33-year-old spoke out after US teammates Alysia Montano and Kara Goucher levelled similar allegations against Nike as part of an investigation by the Times.

“They told stories we athletes know are true, but have been too scared to tell publicly: If we have children, we risk pay cuts from our sponsors during pregnancy and afterward,” wrote Felix, who gave birth to a baby girl in December.

She opted to start a family despite concern over renewal of her Nike sponsorship deal that expired at the end of 2017.

The company offered her a new deal that was much less lucrative and balked at her request for guarantees that she would not be penalized if she performed below her best “in the months surrounding childbirth.”

“If I, one of Nike’s most widely marketed athletes, couldn’t secure these protections, who could?” Felix wrote.

Nike said in a statement last week that it had “standardized our approach across all sports to support our female athletes during pregnancy, but we recognize we can go even further.

“Moving forward, our contracts for female athletes will include written terms that reinforce our policy.”

In a memo addressed to Nike employees on Friday—reported by both the New York Times and Bloomberg —Amy Montagne, a company vice president and its general manager for global properties, wrote that she was “saddened” to learn of Felix’s experience. AFP

Burly Blackwater Elite import Alex Stepheson (33) drives strong to the hoop past Columbian Dyip defenders Rashawn McCarthy (11) and import Kyle Barone (33). PBA Media

Blackwater alone at top of standings

By Jeric Lopez

B

LACKWATER remained unscathed.

Alex Stepheson was monstrous yet again, pouring in teamhighs 26 points and 21 rebounds to lift the Elite to a 118110 triumph over hapless Columbian for its third straight win and early leadership in the 2029 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The hulking import scored on key baskets down the stretch to help Blackwater keep the Dyip at bay and secure the victory.

The Elite stayed unbeaten and improved to 3-0, grabbing the solo lead while the Dyip remained winless and fell to 0-3 at the bottom.

The other teams include KaTropa (2-0) and the NorthPort Batang Pier (2-0), the Meralco Bolts (1-1), the Alaska Aces (1-2), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (0-1) and the NLEX Road Warriors (0-2).

The Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, the Phoenix Fuel Masters, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

and the San Miguel Beermen have not yet played.

Prolific rookie Bobby Ray Parks was scintillating once again, scoring 23 points, grabbing five rebounds and issuing five assists to likewise help the Elite.

“It’s just a blessing for us,” said Parks, who has now scored 20 plus points in each of his three games in the PBA so far.

“We’re totally locked in and following the system. We’re young and hungry.”

Blackwater gained command after a key surge late in the third.

The Elite manufactured a 14-5 blitz finished off by back-to-back triples from Roi Sumang to close out the third quarter to take the game’s first double-digit

lead, 89-79, and carry it into the fourth.

Allein Maliksi followed up with a triple just seconds into the payoff period to extend Blackwater’s lead to 13, 92-79.

Not folding just yet, Columbian answered with an 11-2 run of its own to get itself back in the game, 90-94, halfway through the fourth.

Led by Stepheson and Parks, the Elite, however, stood its ground and made key plays to prevent the Dyip from stealing the game away.

Wingmen Maliksi and Mac Belo provided more firepower for Blackwater, each scoring 19 points.

Prior to Blackwater’s decisive run, the teams fought neck-to-neck for most of the first three quarters with neither taking control.

Kyle Barone led Columbian in yet another losing effort, having a doubledouble of his own with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Meralco and Barangay Ginebra (0-1) are locked in an intense battle in the nightcap as of this report.

Perlas Pilipinas bows to Aussie 3X3 squad THE Perlas Pilipinas national women’s team bowed to Australia in the women’s quarterfinals of the 2019 FIBA3x3 Asia Cup basketball tournament yesterday in Changsa, China.

Alice Kunek finished with 12 points in the dealing the Philippines a 21-16 win.

This allowed Australia to become the first team to advance to the semifinals.

The Philippines advanced to the quarterfinals following an 8-20 loss to Japan, and a 21-6 win over Sri Lanka.

Second seed Mongolia joined Australia in the semifinals after dispensing of Turkmenistan, 17-15.

It was Kazakhstan which finished the pool play undefeated.

They followed up an easy victory against Kyrgyzstan by a much tougher triumph over Mongolia, 17-14.

Thailand to advancing to the women’s Pool D main draw with their win over Iran, 21-14, with Khwanjira Thongdaeng scoring 10 points to make history for her country.

In the men’s side, host China prevailed over World Cup 2014 winners Qatar, 21-13), with Yi Zheng leading in scoring with 13 points to book a quarterfinals seat with Qatar.

Qatar earned a ticket after getting past New Zealand, 21-20. Peter Atencio

PVL ACTION. BaliPure Purest Water Defenders middle blocker Satrriani Espiritu (2) blocks the spike of Jenelle Jordan (7) of Pacific Town Army Lady Troopers during their Premier Volleyball League Season 3-Reinforced Conference match. Sonny Espiritu

Fil-Am beats Lydia’s 200m sprint record

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO-AMERICAN standout Zion Corrales-Nelson has surpassed a 33-year-old Philippine national record that was set by Lydia de Vega-Mercado.

The 20-year-old Corrales-Nelson submitted a clocking of 23.18 seconds during the West Preliminary National Collegiate Athletic Association Finals in Sacramento California on May 23.

She is currently being coached by Mike Gipson and Tony Sandoval of the University of Berkeley.

According to information released on the meet’s official website, there was a +1.5 meters/second tailwind when Corrales-Nelson reached the finish line.

Her clocking eclipsed the 23.35 second mark that was set by de VegaMercado during a meet in Walnut, California back in 1986.

Not only did Corrales-Nelson Zion rip the national mark, she also surpassed the Southeast Asian record of 23.30 of Suphavadee Khawpaeg of Thailand.

Khawpaeg’s time was set during the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Corrales is a relative of former Asian Games 100m record holder Rogelio Onofre.

The puts Zion at the top of the SEA Rankings for 2019, and makes her a top candidate for the national team that is being readied for the 30th SEA Games.

With the Games coming up, Corrales now has the best time within the region in the 200 meters.

In the 100-meter dash, Zion timed 11.41 seconds in the finals after clocking 11.5 seconds in the heats.

Her clocking put Corrales within range of de Vega-Mercado’s national record of 11.28.

She is among two Fil-Am sprinters who are targeting de Vega-Mercado’s national century dash mark.

The other is Kristina Knott, who recorded 11.44 seconds back in 2016.

The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association has yet to certify the performance of Corrales-Nelson.

If the PATAFA does, the standing national 100m mark of 11.28 set in the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta will be the last remaining sprint record held

by De Vega-Mercado.

Ravena leads collegiate awards winners

Ateneo De Manila University’s Thirdy Ravena gives the thumbs up sign after leading his squad to a second consecutive UAAP basketball title.

IN A season of excellent individual performers, Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena was second to none.

After bannering the Blue Eagles to their second-straight UAAP title, Ravena is set to be named the Collegiate Player of the Year in the 2019 Chooks-To-Go Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night presented by SportsVision today Monday, May 27 at the Amelie Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

By snagging the top individual plum given by the reporters covering the beat, Ravena joined the likes of his brother Kiefer, Mac Belo, Jeron Teng, Robert Bolick and Ben Mbala in the list of the players who’ve taken home the coveted award.

The second-generation star performed in a finals series to remember, averaging 29.5 points, eight rebounds and 7.5 assists as the Blue Eagles waylaid the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. That playoff looked more like a coronation for the newest King Eagle.

Ravena will be joined by the likes of San Beda’s Robert Bolick, Perpetual’s Prince Eze and University of the Philippines’ Bright Akhuetie and Paul Desiderio for this year’s All-Collegiate team.

Ravena’s coach, Tab Baldwin will also be named as the UAAP Coach of the Year, while San Beda’s Boyet Fernandez will be named the NCAA coach of the year for the fifth time in the annual festivities

also supported by Amelie Hotel Manila, Rain or Shine, NorthPort, World Balance, Arellano University, AXA Team Eds, and NBL. For the first time in history, the Press Corps will also be giving out the SportsVision Volleyball Players of the Year award to the standout performers of the UAAP and the NCAA. University of Santo Tomas’ Sisi Rondina will get the distinction as the first ever UAAP Volleyball Player of the Year for willing the Golden Tigresses to the Finals.

Arellano’s Regine Arocha, on the other hand, will be named the NCAA Volleyball Player of the Year after winning back the trophy for the Lady Chiefs.

IN BRIEF MB shutters bank in Negros Oriental THE Monetary board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas closed down Rural Bank of Guihulngan (Negros Oriental) Inc. on May 23.

The rural bank became the sixth lender closed by the board since the start of the year.

The board said in a statement over the weekend it prohibited Rural Bank of Guihulngan (Negros Oriental) Inc. from doing business in the country through a resolution MB dated May 23, 2019.

It also directed state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. as receiver to proceed with the takeover and liquidation of Rural Bank of Guihulngan. PDIC took over the bank on May 24, 2019.

Rural Bank of Guihulngan is a singleunit rural bank located at Sikatuna St., Poblacion, City of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental province.

Latest available records show the rural bank had 933 deposit accounts as of March 31, 2019, with total deposit liabilities of P5.95 million, of which 99.85 percent or P5.94 million are insured deposits. Julito G. Rada

Uy may revisit plan to buy into PXP Energy BUSINESSMAN Dennis Uy is willing to revisit plans to invest in upstream oil and gas firm PXP Energy Corp. if there is progress on joint explorations in the West Philippine Sea area.

PXP and Dennison Holdings Corp., the holding company of businessman Uy, mutually cancelled in March an agreement to subscribe to 340 million common shares of the exploration firm for P4.029 billion.

Uy said in an interview after the recent annual stockholders’ meeting of PH Resorts Holdings both parties mutually agreed to drop the subscription agreement in the absence of progress on the government-to-government joint exploration.

“We both agreed not to pursue it because of the uncertainty of governmentto-government. But we agreed to revisit it once there is an opportunity,” Uy said.

“MVP (Manuel V. Pangilinan) said he will invite us again once there is progress,” Uy added.

PXP in October agreed to sell 340 million shares to Dennison Holdings for P11.85 apiece subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business Govt set to submit record P4.1-t budget to Congress

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Budget Department plans to submit to Congress a record P4.1-trillion national government budget for 2020 on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address in July this year, acting Budget Secretary Janet Abuel said over the weekend.

Abuel said in a briefing following the Economic Development Cluster’s meeting at the Finance Department’s headquarters in Manila her agency was “on schedule to submit the 2020 budget on the same day as President Duterte’s SONA or one day after.”

The proposed 2020 budget would be more than P300 billion higher than the P3.757-trillion expenditure plan for 2019, which Congress passed and Duterte signed into law in April.

Abuel said the DBM was also studying if cash-based budgeting could be fully implemented next year.

“We are pushing cash budgeting but we are studying the transition. Let us see what will happen for 2019. Then let’s see if there’s a need for a slower pace in trying to adopt it fully,” Abuel said.

A cash-based budgeting system limits contractual obligations and disbursing payments to goods delivered and services rendered within the fiscal year. The DBM earlier said the system would promote fiscal discipline and better planning among agencies in spending or using their resources.

Under the system, an extended pay-

ment period of three months after the fiscal year would be provided to give more time for government agencies to make their payments.

The State-of-the-Nation Address is usually delivered by the sitting president to a joint session of Congress every fourth Monday of July. The SONA serves as a means to inform the nation about its present economic, political and social condition.

It is also a vehicle for the president to summarize the accomplishments and plans of his/her program of government both for a particular year and until the end of their term of office.

The government operated on a reenacted budget in the first quarter, as it was only in April that the president finally affixed his signature on the 2010 national budget after a long impasse between the two houses of Congress.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government needed to increase its expenditures in the months ahead to achieve economic growth of more than 6 percent this year.

ICCP backs bidding on PH power supply THE International Chamber of Commerce Philippines, the national committee of world business organizations, supports the mandatory implementation of the competitive selection process on power procurement.

ICCP director-general Jesus Varela noted the circular issued by the Energy Department on mandatory CSP back in June 2015 required distribution utilities and cooperatives to purchase their power supply through the CSP, instead of negotiating them directly with generation companies.

“It is called CSP to cover methods of competition to find least cost power from alternative but qualified sources and feasible technologies. This likewise addresses issues of conflict of interest where price negotiated by distribution utilities and related generators are ultimately borne by electric consumers,” said Varela.

CSP is beneficial to consumers because it goes beyond lowering the cost of electricity, the ICCP said. Othel V. Campos

PARTNERS FOR PROGRESS. Top officials of local government units, where the Harbor Link Segment 10 and the Connector Road of the North Luzon Expressway traverse, attend the opening and start of works of the two vital infrastructure projects undertaken as a private-public partnership under President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program and in partnership with Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Shown are (from left) Malabon City Rep. Ricky Sandoval, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Caloocan City Mayor Oca Malapitan and MVP Group of Companies media bureau managing director Mike Toledo.

Dennis Uy downplays worries over increasing debts of his companies

By Jenniffer B. Austria DAVAO City-based businessman Dennis Uy downplayed concerns over the rising debt level of his growing business empire caused by an acquisition binge over the past three years.

Uy said in an interview during the recent stockholders’ meeting of PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. all businesses trying to grow normally incurred debts.

“We grow by acquisitions,” Uy said.

Uy, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said to fund the acquisitions, his holding company would continue to borrow with an equity portion.

“We just make sure that these projects that we acquire have earnings potential to service the debts,” Uy said.

“We are also very transparent and you don’t penalize businesses for being

aggressive in borrowing. You grow the business in combination of debt and equity and debt is cheap,” he said.

Udenna Corp., the soon-to-be listed holding firm of Uy, said in a consolidated financial report that interest-bearing loans amounted to P85.8 billion as of 2017, a 200-percent increase from the previous year’s level.

Among its major lenders were BDO Unibank Inc., Philippine National Bank and Bank of China.

The debts were used to fund several acquisitions and major investments made by the Davao-based businessman which enabled him to diversity his businesses from trading of refined petroleum products to logistics, shipping, real estate, casino, education, convenience store, restaurant, infrastructure and telecommunications.

Uy’s latest venture is in the telecom

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

B1

Petron ready to become top resin producer in PH by 2020

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL refiner Petron Corp. said it aims to become the country’s leading producer of resin by 2020 with the completion of its $100-million polypropylene plant expansion this year. “[We have an] ongoing expansion of the polypropylene plant. By the end of the year, it [the capacity] will be 220,000 metric tons from 160,000 MT. It will be 220,000 MT annual capacity of polypropylene plant. Those are plastic. The pellets are plastic used for making plastic crates. It’s a byproduct of LPG [liquefied petroleum gas],” Petron president Ramon Ang said.

Petron’s polypropylene plant is expected to give higher margins for relatively smaller volumes and bring the company closer to its vision of becoming the country’s leading producer of resin by next year.

The oil firm produced 160,000 MT of polypropylene in 2018, higher than 115,000 MT it produced in 2017 with the development of new polypropylene products and three new product grades suitable for hot-filled containers, food containers and high-speed fiber manufacturing machines.

Petron earlier said it planned 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,” Ang said.

Petron owns the country’s biggest oil refinery in Bataan with a capacity of 180,000 barrels a 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 optimize the refinery,” Ang said, referring to the planned investment in the Petron refinery in Bataan.

Maynilad investing P16.8b to enhance services

By Othel V. Campos WEST Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is investing P16.8 billion in 2019 for the continued enhancement and expansion of its water and wastewater services.

“Maynilad is dedicating a bigger share of this year’s capital investment toward wastewater projects, as we seek to facilitate sewerage coverage expansion in the West Zone. Accelerating our wastewater projects will require a lot of resources but we are committed to do our part in protecting the health of our customers and the environment,” said Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez.

About P11.4 billion or almost 70 percent of Maynilad’s P16.8-billion budget for 2019 will be spent for wastewater management projects to comply with the new and more stringent effluent standards and maintain network reliability.

Maynilad said from the allocated fund, it

would derive the budget for the construction of a new sewage treatment plant in Central Manila, installation of about 30 kilometers of sewer lines in Las Piñas City, the upgrade of existing STPs to include nutrient-removal processes, lot acquisition for new STPs and pump stations, installation of new sewer service connections and maintenance of the existing sewer network.

It said to continue enhancing water supply and pressure in the West Zone, about P1.9 billion of the capital expenditures was allocated for water operations support such as the construction of additional pumping stations and reservoirs for better supply management, service expansion programs and water source projects.

Maynilad is also allocating P3 billion this year for its water loss recovery or nonrevenue water management program that covers leak detection and repair, meter management, pipe replacements, and network diagnostics.

The rest of the budget will go to the

company’s customer service and information program, which involves modernizing data management and information systems to improve service delivery.

Funding for Maynilad’s infrastructure investments will come from local and international bank loans and from internally generated funds.

The water company expects to generate more than 49,200 jobs from its P16.8-billion capex program this year.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base, servicing the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area.

It serves the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province.

Globe unit launches donation platform

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, launches GCash for Good, the first online sustainable platform that can be used as springboard for donations to needy sectors. Leading the launching ceremony are Mynt president Anthony Thomas (fourth row, center) in Makati City and other executives of Globe and partners.

GCASH, the financial technology arm of Globe Telecom and Ant Financial’s Mynt, launched the first online sustainable platform that can be used as a springboard for donations to needy sectors.

GCash for Good, now a part of GCash app, serves as Globe Telecoms’ corporate social responsibility arm to create relevant and socially-responsible virtual space where donors can freely donate cash to government agencies, non-government groups and other socio-civic organizations without the charges that usually come with fund transfer.

Mynt vice president for corporate communications Reyner Villaseñor said during the launch that the company would entice more NGOs and social groups to team up with CGash for the program.

“What we’re doing is that we’re banking on those who are willing to join.

I’d like to call it ‘coalition of the will-

ing’. Whoever wants to partner with us, whoever wants to partner for this Gcash movement, we’re ok to sign with more groups as we go on,” he said.

GCash for Good signed up 35 partners and will soon register another 20 partners.

GCash users can use the GCash app to donate to various groups to create an impact on society without the need to pay for transaction fee.

This allows GCash to be a more inclusive and open platform that will help create better opportunities for millions of Filipinos.

GCash cited a study by Global Trends in Giving that showed that about 54 percent of individuals preferred to donate online, while the total volume of donations made online grew 12.1 percent in 2017.

Several studies also showed a growing trend in micro-donations and crowdfunding, with sites like Patreon and Kofi gaining massive support. Othel V. Campos

B2

Business

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market likely to track sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices may likely track a sideways movement this week on worries arising from the escalating trade war between the US and China.

Analysts said the decline in global equities due to the worsening US-China relations would continue to affect the movement of the local bourse over the short-term period and trigger foreign selling.

“Expect another volatile trading week to prevail, with attention (glued) to US-China trade talks and other local headlines,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said.

“Funds flow would also gyrate given the month-end portfolio closing, as well as implementation of MSCI rebalancing.

Cross-country weightings might favor China while other might look into safer havens in the securities market over the short run,” it added.

Given the market’s current trend, ana-

lysts urged investors to go for stocks with solid earnings and supported by good upside potentials.

Meanwhile, the government’s catch-up plan on infrastructure and socio-economic programs to meet the 2019 economic growth targets could boost market sentiments.

The domestic economy grew just 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019 mainly due to the delay in the passage of the 2019 national budget.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last rose 2.2 percent to 7,477.09 while the broader All Shares Index gained 1.5 percent to 4,781.85.

Except for mining and oil, which declined

0.8 percent, all other counters ended in the green led by holding firms (+4.33 percent), industrial (+1.42 percent), services (+1.28 percent), property (+0.81 percent) and financials (+0.36 percent).

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P5.6 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P7 billion from the previous week’s average of P8.9 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which climbed 9.7 percent to P52.70; JG Summit Holdings Inc., which advanced 6.5 percent to P60.70; and Ayala Corp., which increased 5.9 percent to P900.

Weekly top price losers were LT Group Inc., which declined 10.8 percent to P15.10; PXP Energy Corp., which dropped 8.5 percent to P7.68; and Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., which dipped fell 8.5 percent to P2.47.

Pound bobs around May resignation, stocks mostly gain The British pound, meanwhile, bounced around Friday after Prime Minister There-

sa May announced her resignation, while global stocks mostly recovered following a rout in the prior session on US-China trade tensions.

Sterling sank below $1.27 after May said she would step down as prime minister on June 7, paving the way for a contest to replace her. But the British currency later recovered and advanced against the dollar and euro.

“The pound will bounce around here and there but it won’t be going anywhere fast,” Forex.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada told AFP. “A lot now depends who will be the next leader of the Tories.”

The currency could face fresh turmoil, with key Brexiteer and former foreign minister Boris Johnson the front-runner to replace May. Ratings agency Moody’s warned that news of May’s departure “amplifies the uncertainty” over Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, and “increases the risk of a no-deal Brexit.” With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

MAY 20-24, 2019 Close Volume

Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

59 133.70 81.00 26.5 2.23 1.25 8.49 18.8 11.5 4.59 0.52 1.37 775.00 0.475 72 1.04 13.2 21.65 59.00 57.75 110 185 26.6 170.4 1823.00 59.60 1.23

73,850 6,583,780 9,276,850 392,500 42,000 122,000 3,300 122,600 1,352,400 101,000 168,000 922,000 610 1,210,000 7,599,730 5,834,000 99,300 600 2,715,010 3,710 2,780 10,280 131,400 2,274,580 410 37,740 1,000

FINANCIAL 4,347,643.00 876,235,787.00 752,477,071.00 10,384,235.00 92,370.00 144,420.00 24,711.00 2,305,024.00 15,785,834.00 447,490.00 91,910.00 1,357,590.00 456,970.00 545,900.00 556,765,408.00 5,989,080.00 1,310,986.00 12,690.00 156,789,329.50 213,954.50 306,353.00 1,896,224.00 3,518,835.00 399,103,850.00 735,655.00 2,282,109.50 1,230.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Pilipinas Shell Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

35.6 14.6 0.72 1.42 0.280 14.64 2.47 14.7 107 66 63.1 26.5 45 1.94 5.25 5.74 9.960 16.22 7.50 9.79 1.61 21.55 76.5 44.50 2.3300 13.80 10.14 1.700 278.00 4.01 3.6 9.78 22.2 13 21.5 378.00 0.189 5.30 1.3 6.08 4.79 41.05 9.40 2.05 12.08 4.8 5.10 1.6 1.9 1.23 13 107 6.5 0.128 1.43 153.9 2.47 1.17 16.98 1.08

4,882,200 1,842,700 15,776,000 2,877,000 347,770,000 8,000 79,498,000 5,018,300 1,130 650 1,080 3,711,300 1,715,900 871,000 65,200 20,500 86,094,800 4,625,600 4,996,100 11,357,200 20,000 6,369,600 475,330 1,654,700 33,051,000 5,160,900 4,642,600 1,120,000 5,765,360 5,000 14,000 7,808,100 10,121,400 4,347,400 11,665,600 723,800 350,000 43,800 11,206,000 29,283,500 1,489,000 950,300 535,200 217,279,000 669,800 718,000 356,100 529,000 163,000 544,000 2,512,200 954,230 637,100 2,950,000 147,643,000 3,594,670 1,897,000 28,582,000 500 4,028,000

INDUSTRIAL 175,787,600.00 27,798,086.00 11,223,470.00 3,994,480.00 100,041,600.00 121,942.00 205,485,040.00 72,250,910.00 120,825.00 42,900.00 68,148.00 99,584,740.00 77,215,010.00 1,670,500.00 343,030.00 115,133.00 862,543,699.00 74,249,298.00 37,500,788.00 110,728,849.00 33,320.00 135,350,340.00 36,459,500.50 70,241,865.00 101,667,380.00 72,243,932.00 46,756,328.00 1,899,080.00 1,618,287,200.00 20,020.00 49,400.00 71,084,660.00 225,388,880.00 58,406,386.00 253,751,725.00 268,013,602.00 68,230.00 242,096.00 14,508,750.00 169,760,711.00 7,053,330.00 39,798,650.00 5,032,634.00 442,039,890.00 8,037,018.00 3,411,940.00 1,783,410.00 851,110.00 324,620.00 663,660.00 32,625,994.00 101,264,066.00 4,128,818.00 378,060.00 222,487,850.00 558,132,992.00 4,728,870.00 32,810,670.00 8,490.00 4,183,080.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land Log BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

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

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

0.570 52.70 14.70 0.79 6.85 12.88 1.230 1.260 900 3.280 1251.00 6.94 10.12 4.49 14.48 0.265 883.5 6.15 60.70 6.21 4.65 0.5 15.1 0.560 4.32 2.76 0.0400 1.070 2.65 179.00 2.38 920.50 1.36 0.94 429.00 270.000 0.2350 0.280

62,493,000 8,179,070 23,860,200 22,762,000 63,700 358,000 7,176,000 249,000 3,893,410 64,978,000 10 1,120,100 29,600,300 2,000 986,000 770,000 352,700 208,300 8,835,480 34,100 24,289,000 113,000 22,356,900 3,552,000 80,841,000 1,000 40,500,000 780,000 77,000 1,116,320 26,000 1,148,200 298,000 64,675,000 390 30,930 2,230,000 72,580,000

HOLDING FIRMS 36,670,420.00 417,391,541.50 342,600,360.00 19,081,740.00 427,443.00 4,881,314.00 8,976,430.00 317,490.00 3,462,803,055.00 223,617,630.00 12,510.00 7,881,951.00 306,175,631.00 8,980.00 14,060,732.00 198,000.00 305,535,960.00 1,283,645.00 527,901,805.00 203,230.00 113,590,380.00 54,400.00 352,973,376.00 1,920,010.00 352,582,150.00 2,760.00 1,583,000.00 860,710.00 203,880.00 201,915,205.00 61,880.00 1,034,202,670.00 394,000.00 67,863,500.00 167,920.00 8,322,108.00 522,010.00 20,284,350.00

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

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

15.780 0.79 11.00 2.150 0.750 47.700 2.31 5.04 6.4 0.600 0.81 0.890 0.227 0.395 9.760 24.1 0.490 0.125 1.58 1.46 5.44 0.305 1.7600 0.4800 0.415 2.03

8,703,300 12,841,000 8,700 433,000 4,864,000 42,770,800 4,653,000 16,705,100 10,200 321,806,000 172,000 59,000 7,130,000 360,000 1,163,200 2,775,700 11,130,000 1,200,000 82,464,000 42,061,000 103,874,000 71,290,000 8,313,000 1,490,000 7,330,000 114,878,000

PROPERTY 130,280,630.00 10,059,650.00 91,224.00 935,300.00 3,624,410.00 2,050,679,275.00 10,688,490.00 84,042,504.00 63,970.00 183,855,020.00 138,670.00 50,490.00 1,613,900.00 138,800.00 11,586,893.00 66,944,395.00 5,331,800.00 150,000.00 133,170,510.00 59,134,270.00 565,602,644.00 21,892,500.00 14,406,160.00 699,500.00 3,064,050.00 230,607,080.00

MAY 14-17, 2019 Close Volume

Value

58 130.90 81.00 26.6 2.15 1.23

38,190 17,165,570 161,931,697 259,100 77,000 525,000

2,215,957.50 2,233,535,417.00 712,915,383.50 6,844,795.00 165,200.00 638,380.00

18.84 11.4 4.63

391,100 2,277,800 471,000

7,383,476.00 25,106,672.00 2,109,880.00

1.39 780.00 0.460 73 0.96 12.9 21.35 54.10 57.4

99,000 940 1,560,000 12,492,140 3,598,000 28,700 11,600 758,350 12,680

133,930.00 733,200.00 718,500.00 900,895,841.00 3,437,010.00 377,016.00 247,760.00 40,208,591.00 725,833.50

181 26.5 175 1775.00 60.00 1.12

1,920 2,743,800 2,284,550 320 26,370 283,000

347,170.00 71,886,425.00 385,934,053.00 571,000.00 1,574,888.00 316,960.00

34.7 15.46 0.72 1.37 0.260 16.80 2.7 14.2 118.1 66.2 63.1 28 45 1.92 5.3 5.65 10.100 16 7.49 9.39 1.69 21 76.55 39.70 2.3300 14.32 10 1.700 277.00 4.28 3.47 10.00 21.7 13.94 21.7 360.00 0.188 5.80 1.24 5.52 4.56 42.6 2.04 1.98 11.96 4.7 4.95 1.67 2.02 1.29 13.24 109 6.5 0.128 0.87 152.5 2.51 1.26 16.98 1.05

7,887,500 1,641,000 13,436,000 2,558,000 15,320,880 3,900 104,787,000 4,238,500 530 140 20 980,500 1,279,000 1,426,000 94,800 59,500 12,200,600 1,604,100 8,049,200 2,834,600 8,000 7,259,300 749,550 1,107,000 31,789,000 25,172,700 4,321,900 750,000 12,288,760 12,000 80,000 27,612,500 8,620,000 2,762,500 10,988,200 1,244,020 1,080,000 121,000 16,886,000 17,352,400 301,000 805,500 22,819,000 159,261,000 452,900 619,000 7,182,000 293,000 18,000 442,000 2,301,600 3,198,120 1,182,800 1,220,000 3,210,000 5,605,440 128,000 10,144,000 100 7,202,000

272,765,465.00 25,191,068.00 9,700,250.00 3,499,060.00 6,609,610.00 60,708.00 286,649,530.00 59,920,958.00 58,977.00 9,227.00 1,237.00 26,104,725.00 57,555,870.00 2,775,880.00 503,870.00 332,937.00 125,490,458.00 25,572,666.00 60,442,561.00 26,010,335.00 13,520.00 152,023,765.00 57,507,719.50 41,384,960.00 75,279,470.00 366,460,584.00 43,343,493.00 1,277,350.00 3,575,743,748.00 47,400.00 273,130.00 251,459,321.00 183,606,160.00 38,108,710.00 239,611,875.00 450,249,222.00 207,040.00 701,200.00 20,175,180.00 100,116,214.00 1,314,230.00 34,137,305.00 46,678,520.00 334,317,910.00 5,369,054.00 2,962,040.00 35,210,550.00 483,220.00 36,480.00 556,500.00 29,305,582.00 348,604,360.00 7,678,235.00 156,160.00 2,798,990.00 871,934,075.00 322,380.00 12,631,280.00 1,698.00 7,602,190.00

0.620 48.05 13.90 0.75 6.70 15.26 1.300 1.320 850

56,122,000 11,341,600 31,115,300 820,000 299,100 465,900 15,239,000 2,080,000 3,476,110

35,510,210.00 536,920,635.00 425,457,376.00 607,640.00 1,994,390.00 7,067,462.00 19,616,630.00 2,727,220.00 3,014,189,070.00

7.15 9.76 4.49 14.00 0.265 820 6.09 57.00 5.98 4.7 0.51 16.94 0.560 4.25

15,596,800 32,787,100 1,000 746,400 870,000 522,120 146,500 13,299,910 28,800 6,201,000 673,000 6,995,000 736,000 128,799,000

113,425,121.00 325,088,293.00 4,490.00 9,973,584.00 227,250.00 423,757,180.00 897,991.00 773,607,064.00 169,376.00 28,141,020.00 322,970.00 117,130,214.00 406,310.00 541,552,070.00

0.0390 1.180

80,600,000 874,000

3,243,100.00 1,010,690.00

179.80 2.45 888.00 1.33 0.84 440.00 270.000 0.2390 0.300

1,825,960 24,000 1,954,260 633,000 1,725,000 150 8,010 2,540,000 29,160,000

336,668,793.00 58,580.00 1,749,099,450.00 844,520.00 1,415,000.00 64,870.00 2,160,154.00 593,730.00 9,153,450.00

14.280 0.71 11.18 2.180 0.780 46.750 2.32 4.89 6.4 0.510 0.82 0.900 0.240 0.375 10.240 25.6 0.480 0.125 1.55 1.33 5.45 0.315 1.7500 0.4700 0.420 2.24

5,709,100 2,357,000 7,000 1,628,000 12,738,000 54,539,100 1,390,000 10,271,000 32,100 41,619,000 171,000 779,000 25,510,000 420,000 3,864,500 6,129,300 2,340,000 2,800,000 28,758,000 4,275,000 106,737,500 45,010,000 14,292,000 2,620,000 3,780,000 4,466,000

80,929,750.00 1,686,460.00 78,210.00 3,478,770.00 9,942,250.00 2,577,467,290.00 3,244,470.00 49,813,510.00 200,363.00 21,326,450.00 136,460.00 704,980.00 5,876,980.00 157,800.00 39,025,782.00 149,772,910.00 1,105,800.00 350,000.00 45,002,230.00 5,662,770.00 571,818,016.00 14,712,750.00 25,360,780.00 1,233,950.00 1,622,100.00 10,588,570.00

STOCKS

MAY 20-24, 2019 Close Volume

MAY 14-17, 2019 Close Volume

Value

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

23.90 2.01 3 38.80 1.92 6.37 0.760 7.210

7,489,800 1,315,000 519,000 35,704,700 11,800,000 895,500 135,000 14,759,300

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

11.44 18.6 1.38 0.400 0.042 21.3 2.82 11.10 0.0610 89 7.59 6.58 5.90 2.04 10.50 890 2088 5.36 405.00 10.02 2.45 134.9 1.76 11.24 5.70 0.122 6.2100 2.94 14.42 4.51 0.90 19.90 14.16 0.560 3.79 2.73 1.59 1.60 2.050 3.35 9.65 3 4.44 9.5 124.00 3.16 1350.00 0.780 0.750 45.10 71.05 9.65 3.15 0.640 0.32 5.4 0.710 16.420

102,100 824,700 262,000 2,650,000 53,600,000 268,800 5,769,000 27,187,300 178,410,000 1,860,600 4,000 11,524,600 600,400 20,000 400,000 1,470 429,740 765,600 11,970 16,700 4,612,000 8,593,090 168,000 16,900 25,900 6,340,000 53,601,000 160,000 23,100 16,847,000 4,727,000 3,331,600 100 15,249,000 437,000 11,751,000 107,000 40,000 10,972,000 855,000 58,800 62,000 592,000 11,500 427,080 9,695,000 722,965 245,228,000 46,090,000 5,795,800 1,564,610 920,700 42,288,000 23,549,000 23,510,000 8,952,000 16,437,000 6,022,200

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

United Paragon

0.0019 1.07 2.71 11.68 1.1000 1.1100 2.81 0.290 7.80 1.550 0.232 0.108 0.104 0.008 0.0078 1.03 2.15 0.99 0.6100 0.8700 0.0110 0.0110 2.87 7.68 0.0110 3.9400 22.35 0.0064

MINING & OIL 792,000,000 1,483,600.00 14,666,000 16,450,270.00 985,000 2,679,590.00 29,100 324,862.00 67,000 75,790.00 31,000 34,680.00 1,730,000 4,808,480.00 2,190,000 627,950.00 47,500 364,109.00 905,959,000 1,387,853,850.00 3,380,000 760,560.00 12,220,000 1,282,150.00 1,130,000 119,520.00 71,000,000 557,100.00 2,064,000,000 17,630,200.00 283,000 289,890.00 7,969,000 17,361,700.00 339,000 326,150.00 680,000 163,980.00 748,000 651,490.00 33,300,000 369,200.00 1,900,000 21,400.00 741,000 2,148,530.00 4,430,700 35,208,463.00 1,419,100,000 15,969,500.00 2,011,000 7,967,800.00 12,799,700 286,074,995.00 9,000,000 58,100.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

18 475 485 96.5 104 486 5.35 899 920 97.5 0.98 100.5 997 992 101.9 106 970 75 76.9 72.5 72.5 73.85 74.4 73 73.5 1.36

595,500 400 6,550 4,700 14,370 3,000 53,200 10 170 21,400 1,612,000 12,290 40 60 1,530 1,230 4,230 65,090 10,750 24,160 2,370 62,130 78,940 164,100 73,350 4,000

LR Warrant

2.130

WARRANTS & BONDS 3,053,000 6,362,700.00

Italpinas Xurpas

4.75 1

1,492,000 29,300,000

First Metro ETF

116.3 10.1 10.2 1

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

180,381,485.00 2,708,050.00 1,565,850.00 1,399,547,280.00 21,446,460.00 5,848,004.00 99,590.00 105,106,076.00

Value

23.50 1.99 3 39.10 1.8 6.8 0.720 7.160

7,886,000 2,865,000 134,000 44,570,900 14,675,000 490,000 18,000 13,358,200

186,172,250.00 5,754,360.00 401,480.00 1,698,845,620.00 27,459,180.00 3,317,311.00 12,960.00 95,356,909.00

11.7 19.1 1.27 0.400 0.045 19.88 2.47 11.20 0.0660 84.3 7 6.39 6.36 2.05 11.18

55,700 384,600 56,000 2,320,000 23,600,000 85,800 2,365,000 67,060,300 25,820,000 821,540 29,800 8,827,300 310,000 15,000 360,100

660,294.00 7,330,000.00 70,900.00 959,800.00 1,019,700.00 1,579,404.00 5,798,480.00 715,538,770.00 1,699,390.00 68,485,368.00 211,940.00 55,088,184.00 1,973,412.00 30,750.00 3,924,104.00

1999 5.40 397.20 10.02 2.40 139.9 1.75 10.9 6.97 0.122 6.0900 2.95 14.8 4.25 0.79 18.98 15.00 0.520 3.85 2.73 1.75 1.63 2.110 3.34 9.70 3.22 4.30 8.45 123.00 3.08 1255.00 0.930 0.690 45.50 71.05 9.00 3.20 0.660 0.335 5.6 0.680 16.580

283,065 1,640,800 11,330 100 5,367,000 16,467,550 122,000 7,600 37,100 6,640,000 24,696,500 79,000 45,800 15,784,000 590,000 8,857,200 600 2,166,000 466,000 20,736,000 69,000 1,000 8,781,000 948,000 84,700 2,000 68,000 4,100 54,750 5,267,000 679,505 359,025,000 30,514,000 4,132,000 4,115,260 248,900 72,887,000 9,846,000 14,490,000 10,522,800 10,373,000 15,004,100

562,726,335.00 8,706,019.00 4,602,604.00 1,002.00 12,918,330.00 2,277,495,353.00 217,110.00 82,026.00 242,055.00 808,690.00 149,068,200.00 235,150.00 691,206.00 65,142,980.00 453,060.00 169,389,652.00 9,000.00 1,145,480.00 1,760,800.00 55,086,870.00 115,350.00 1,630.00 18,327,290.00 3,036,750.00 835,005.00 6,440.00 287,790.00 33,445.00 6,652,147.00 15,728,950.00 837,504,185.00 340,475,250.00 20,620,210.00 184,053,345.00 285,815,942.00 2,286,594.00 234,877,540.00 6,555,210.00 4,707,200.00 59,114,203.00 7,053,080.00 248,074,318.00

0.0019 1.20 2.76 12.00 1.1500 1.2000 2.76 0.295 7.73 1.560 0.234 0.106 0.106 0.008 0.0080 1.01 2.17 0.99 0.5900 0.8800 0.0120 0.0110 2.94 8.40 0.0120 3.6700 21.95 0.0071

1,883,000,000 6,737,000 595,000 4,100 564,000 29,000 2,477,000 2,960,000 67,700 40,732,000 3,160,000 6,020,000 3,170,000 44,000,000 1,000,000 215,000 8,955,000 157,000 327,000 705,000 133,300,000 300,000 2,207,000 5,577,900 301,800,000 330,000 14,632,200 27,000,000

3,385,600.00 8,230,650.00 1,652,440.00 49,138.00 636,820.00 34,800.00 6,834,610.00 842,550.00 531,132.00 64,338,860.00 727,220.00 654,440.00 343,700.00 350,400.00 8,000.00 217,620.00 20,039,970.00 154,080.00 189,830.00 617,370.00 1,567,200.00 3,300.00 6,574,540.00 47,247,521.00 3,555,600.00 1,211,850.00 324,230,560.00 175,100.00

18.2 473.8 487 98 104.1 486 5.4

587,700 5,250 1,060 23,220 400 2,150 466,100

10,813,710.00 2,484,194.00 514,400.00 2,258,420.00 41,640.00 1,043,250.00 2,459,805.00

97.5 0.97 100.1 997.5 992 104 106 975 75.95 76.3 71.5 71.7 73.8 73.8 73 73.5

260 1,838,000 50 950 4,320 3,370 2,110 19,150 46,580 68,230 159,370 60,000 29,700 1,860 161,070 31,670

24,225.00 1,797,590.00 5,081.00 905,375.00 4,406,120.00 339,433.00 223,560.00 18,641,790.00 3,488,487.00 4,191,294.00 11,452,961.50 4,302,000.00 2,192,565.00 137,225.00 11,883,850.50 2,297,403.00

2.060

2,170,000

4,365,710.00

4.81 1.06

3,062,900 41,425,000

15,061,783.00 41,377,340.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 29,110 3,363,263.00

114.2

58,090

6,646,481.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 19,610 200,002.00 13,280 135,450.00 335,360 335,360.00

10.2

9,720

1

19,200

SERVICES 1,190,882.00 15,608,746.00 353,260.00 1,084,800.00 2,360,500.00 5,351,334.00 15,748,780.00 300,641,640.00 10,885,840.00 164,471,787.50 28,673.00 73,313,840.00 3,567,318.00 40,700.00 4,188,504.00 1,309,310.00 898,434,515.00 4,084,260.00 4,864,480.00 167,334.00 11,295,110.00 1,175,847,632.00 296,120.00 181,546.00 154,960.00 766,300.00 332,017,797.00 476,560.00 338,800.00 76,001,730.00 4,100,900.00 64,609,088.00 1,416.00 8,826,790.00 1,677,750.00 32,834,510.00 176,420.00 65,010.00 22,226,700.00 2,798,120.00 570,240.00 186,900.00 2,572,780.00 104,712.00 51,793,493.00 30,038,680.00 947,333,095.00 210,147,900.00 34,580,920.00 263,820,085.00 398,521,031.50 8,735,703.00 135,137,610.00 15,371,120.00 7,499,450.00 50,022,286.00 11,781,570.00 99,411,918.00

PREFERRED 10,725,598.00 189,980.00 3,169,714.00 459,334.00 1,494,569.00 1,458,000.00 284,847.00 8,990.00 158,000.00 2,035,091.00 1,591,880.00 1,236,315.00 39,880.00 59,520.00 151,903.00 130,360.00 4,142,100.00 4,878,510.50 824,019.00 1,733,168.50 171,825.00 4,586,150.00 5,762,774.00 11,897,310.00 5,355,398.50 5,440.00

SME 7,088,850.00 30,571,460.00

98,644.00 19,200.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Manila Mining `B’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Ferronickel Abra Mining Basic Energy Corp.

Century Property PremiereHorizon Phinma Energy Boulevard Holdings TKC Steel Corp.

VOLUME 2,064,000,000 1,419,100,000 905,959,000 792,000,000 347,770,000 321,806,000 245,228,000 217,279,000 178,410,000 147,643,000

STOCKS Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Jollibee Foods Corp.

SM Prime Holdings Ferronickel I.C.T.S.I. SM Investments Inc. PLDT Common Globe Telecom Banco de Oro Unibank Inc.

VALUE 3,462,803,055.00 2,050,679,275.00 1,618,287,200.00 1,399,547,280.00 1,387,853,850.00 1,175,847,632.00 1,034,202,670.00 947,333,095.00 898,434,515.00 876,235,787.00

San Miguel’s toll road unit hikes income to P831.3m

By Darwin G. Amojelar SOUTH LUZON Tollway Corp. said net income rose 15 percent in the first quarter of the year on higher vehicle traffic.

The tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. posted a net income of P831.3 million in the January-to-March period from P723.3 million in the same period last year.

The company’s toll revenues amounted to P1.54 billion, up 5 percent from P1.47 billion year-on-year.

SLTC attributed the growth in revenues to the increase in traffic volume driven by the sustained growth of residential and industrial areas backed by the government’s de-centralization push to stimulate business activities in areas outside Metro Manila and amid expanding housing development and strong consumer socio-economic activity in the Calabarzon area.

“Apart from the industrial development in the area which gave rise to numerous industrial parks, Cavite and Laguna have become attractive to people looking for spacious housing facilities and veering away from condominium living which are offered at steep prices in Metro Manila. These developments enhanced the volume for class 1 vehicles,” the company said.

SLTC added the traffic volume for Class 3 vehicles also increased mainly due to the thriving Calabarzon, the second most densely populated region after National Capital Region.

SLTC in March started the construction of the 66.74-kilometer SLEX Toll Road 4 that would connect Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon.

The toll road will shorten the travel time from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Barangay Mayao in Lucena City from the usual three hours to just 45 minutes.

The new road is expected to boost economic activity through the faster transport and delivery of goods and services and cut vehicle volume along the busy Maharlika Highway, one of the main roads leading to the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and the Bicol region.

SLTC will break ground today for the extension of South Luzon Expressway from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon.

San Miguel said the 66.74-kilometer South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 would significantly reduce travel time between the provinces south of Metro Manila.

Semirara remits P3.57b worth of royalties to DoE

By Alena Mae S. Flores SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. has remitted P3.57 billion in royalties to the Department of Energy, representing the government’s share in the company’s mining revenues in 2018.

“Our partnership with DoE allows us contribute meaningfully to the economy of our host communities.

Aside from royalties, we also generate employment in Semirara Island and nearby areas,” said SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun in a statement.

The royalty payment, remitted in March this year, is 17 percent lower than P4.3 billion sent in the previous year as coal sales volume dropped 11 percent from 13.1 million metric tons to 11.6 MMT. SMPC owns the country’s biggest coal mining operations in Caluya, Antique province.

Local government units under the law are entitled to a 40-percent share of royalty proceeds from petroleum, coal, geothermal, hydrothermal and wind resources.

Of the P3.57 billion remitted, around P1.43 billion will be distributed to SMPC’s host communities.

Nearly P500 million will go to Barangay Semirara, while the municipality of Caluya and the province of Antique will receive P642 million and P285 million, respectively.

The SMPC mine site directly employs over 3,300 people, which makes it the single biggest employer in Semirara Island and Caluya. The mine site payroll in 2018 reached P1.48 billion.

Since its acquisition by DMCI Holdings in 1997, SMPC has remitted over P21 billion to the national government as part of its coal operating contract with the DoE. SMPC has also been actively investing in mine rehabilitation as part of its commitment to preserve the environment. SMPC spent P2.92 billion in 2018 to accelerate the rehabilitation of the southern portion of the Panitan pit in Semirara Island.

Business/World

B3

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Race to become next premier in UK heats up L ONDON―The race to become Britain’s next premier heated up on Sunday as Environment Secretary Michael Gove joined an already crowded field of hopefuls with competing visions of how to finally pull their divided country out of the EU.

WAITING FOR TRUMP. People wait outside

the Ryougoku Sumo Hall, where US President Donald Trump will attend a sumo event, in Tokyo on May 26. AFP

China digs in for protracted trade war with US BEIJING―China is digging in for a tough period of deteriorating ties with the United States, fanning the flames of patriotism with Korean War films, a viral song on the trade war, and editorials lambasting Washington.

The trade spat has turned into a war of words since President Donald Trump blacklisted Huawei last week over concerns the telecom giant’s equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage.

The move, which bans US companies from providing technology Huawei needs, came as the two sides have yet to resume trade negotiations after they exchanged steep increases in tariffs.

A commentary on state-run Xinhua news agency Friday said China now had a “deeper understanding” of US “capriciousness” and was ready to fight with its “Long March” spirit.

It echoes President Xi Jinping’s tough stance when he called on cadres earlier this week to brace themselves

for a “new Long March”—recalling the legendary strategic retreat by Communist revolutionaries in the 1930s who regrouped and went on to triumph in 1949.

Xi warned local officials of “complicated and long-term effects” of external influences.

The world’s top two economies will “go through a long period of irrational conflict,” said Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, at a government organised briefing Wednesday.

“And then during this process, step by step... come to understand each other, resist each other, and [finally] cooperate with each other.”

Trump has left the door open for reconciliation with plans to meet President Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan next month.

But Chinese state media have ramped

up the rhetoric.

A Xinhua commentary Thursday called the US government “selfish and arrogant”.

“The US is defying international rules, abandoning cooperation agreements and harping on America first, American privilege and American exceptionalism,” it said.

Since Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods in mid-May, the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily has been running a daily column tag-lined “an alarm bell”, rejecting Trump’s arguments that China’s rise was leading to American losses.

Korean War films stoking antiUS sentiments from the 1950s were broadcast for six consecutive days on state television from May 16, reminding audiences of a time when the Cold War came to China’s doorstep as it fought on North’s side against US-led UN forces defending the South. AFP

Gove’s bid for the leadership in the aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum scuppered the chances of his onetime ally Boris Johnson, who is also running this time around and is seen as the current favorite.

Whoever is selected in the contest, which is expected to finish in July, will face increasingly frustrated European leaders who say they have made their final offer on Brexit after long and acrimonious talks.

May is bowing out with her legacy in tatters and the country in agony over what to do about the voters’ decision to abandon the European project after more than four decades.

The markets view the risk of Britain crashing out of the EU bloc when the twice-delayed departure date arrives on October 31 as uncomfortably high.

Their main concern is that some of the current front runners to head May’s Conservative Party say they will get Brexit done at any cost.

“We will leave the EU on October 31, deal or no deal,” former foreign minister Boris Johnson said Friday in Switzerland.

Johnson’s main challenges will come from former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, who is viewed as an even more committed euroskeptic, as well as Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Gove.

A total of eight MPs have so far declared.

Raab and Hunt announced their can-

IN BRIEF

Tens of millions of Europeans vote to chart a course for bloc BRUSSELS―Tens of millions of Europeans will vote Sunday as 21 countries choose their representatives in a battle between the nationalist right and pro-EU forces to chart a course for the bloc.

Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania and Cyprus were the first to open their polling stations at 0400 GMT and France, Germany, Italy and the rest followed over the next two or three hours.

Seven EU member states had already voted, but no official results can be published until the rest of the union has taken part. The European Parliament will give an estimate at 1815 GMT and provisional results will begin to emerge from 2100 GMT. Euroskeptic parties opposed to the project of ever closer union hope to capture as many as a third of the seats in the 751-member Strasbourg assembly, disrupting the pro-integration consensus.

The far-right parties of Italian deputy PM Matteo Salvini and

South Korea hails win at Cannes

France’s Marine Le Pen will lead this charge, and anti-EU ranks will be swelled by the Brexit Party of British populist Nigel Farage.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron has taken it upon himself to act as figurehead for the centrist and liberal parties hoping to shut the nationalists out of key EU jobs and decisionmaking.

“Once again Macron is daring us to challenge him. Well let’s take him at his word: On May 26, we’ll challenge him in the voting booth,” Le Pen told a rally in France on Friday.

Meanwhile, the mainstream parties are vying between themselves for influence over the choice of a new generation of top European officials, including the powerful president of the European Commission.

And Brussels insiders are closely following the turnout figures, fearing that another drop in participation will undermine the credibility of the EU parliament as it seeks to establish its authority. AFP

TIME TO VOTE.

Laura Codruta Kovesi, the former Prosecutor General of the Anti Corruption Department, casts her vote for the European elections at a polling station in Bucharest on May 26, 2019. AFP

Good Luck!

REAL CARPIO SO

Green LiGht IF YOU are applying for a job, you might want to keep these in mind.

One, you will most probably be hired.

According to a latest article from Harvard Business Review, corporations used to fill approximately 90 percent of their vacancies through promotions and lateral assignments. This is not anymore the case.

Today, vacancies are filled more often by hiring from outside.

In “Your Approach to Hiring is All Wrong,” it is claimed that “only 28% of talent acquisition leaders report that internal candidates are an important source of people to fill vacancies.” Hiring from outside means the company does not have to pay for training and development.

Two, you will most probably not stay in the company for a very long time.

Because companies don’t allocate budget for training, employees will not experience growth. Citing the US Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the article claims that 95 percent of hiring is done to fill existing positions. Most of these vacancies are caused by voluntary turnovers.

Primarily, hiring is to replace those who

leave. The most common reason for leaving is career advancement. In other words, do not expect to be promoted.

Ergo, you will also leave.

Three, you will most probably be hired because of your skills and experience.

Since training and development are not to be expected, companies seek new hires that do not need to be trained. New hires are expected to contribute right away. Applicants whose skill sets fit the vacancies will be prioritized. Entry-level positions will probably be few and far in-between. If you are fresh out of school, make sure you already have the skills.

Four, your scores and grades will most probably be ignored.

As a standard hiring procedure, applicants are subjected to series of tests, interviews, and perhaps, actual work samples. The process from applying to hiring may take two to three months. In theory, these are helpful to identify the applicant that has the best fit. In practice, these may all be inconsequential.

With unprecedented access to information, it is assumed that the more information available, the better would be the decision. Seven studies In “People Use Less Information That They Think To Make Up Their Minds” suggest that this is not necessarily true in practice.

While people believe that “more evidence is needed before making up their minds, the fact is that they don’t.” In short, people do not

didacies in the Sunday papers.

Raab wrote in The Mail on Sunday that “I would prefer that we leave with a deal”.

But “we will not be taken seriously in Brussels unless we are clear that we will walk away on World Trade Organization terms, if the EU doesn’t budge,” Raab stressed.

Hunt had campaigned against Brexit in 2016 but has since reversed his stance.

“We can never take no-deal off the table but the best way of avoiding it is to make sure you have someone who is capable of negotiating a deal,” he told The Sunday Times.

Gove was to announce his intention to run at a literary festival later on Sunday, the BBC reported, positioning himself as a unity candidate able to heal his party.

Former House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, whose resignation on Thursday pushed May towards stepping down, also confirmed she will run.

The contest is being held against the backdrop of European Parliament elections that the new Brexit Party of the anti-EU populist Nigel Farage is expected to win with about a third of the vote.

Polls indicate that the Conservatives will be punished for their bickering over Brexit and could finish as low as fifth—their worst result in a national election. AFP

need as much information as they think they do. The CVs, the certificates, the test scores, the interview results and evaluations, are just elements of the hiring ritual. Most of the time, their minds are long made up. In other words, at first glance of your resume photo, they most probably had already decided whether to hire you or not.

Five, you will most probably be hired for the way you look.

In “The Visibility of Social Class from Facial Cues,” results reveal that people can perceive social class from facial cues.

According to the study, the face reveals whether a person is rich or poor. Perceptions of social class affect individuals.

Biases against people who look poor can “restrict and foreclose opportunities that might otherwise allow them to ameliorate their economic circumstances.”

In the study, subjects who are perceived to be rich were considered more suitable for employment than those who are perceived to be poor. This is also evident for raters who have previous experience in hiring.

Additional requirements may be asked of the applicant, but initial impressions of the applicant are often indelible. Results of the study reveal that applicants who appear to be rich are more likely to be hired than applicants who look poor.

Six, you will most probably be hired because of your hand movements.

SEOUL-South Korea on Sunday hailed Bong Joon-ho’s Cannes film festival win for “Parasite”, saying it had left a historic footprint as the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or. The top prize win by “Parasite”, a black comedy about a family of clever scammers from South Korea’s underclass, was a unanimous choice by the nine-person jury at the renowned festival.

It was the first big international prize for Bong, the maker of the hugely acclaimed “The Host” and “Snowpiercer”, who became the first Korean in the 72-year history of Cannes to scoop the coveted award.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in congratulated Bong for the prize, adding the passion of the “Parasite” staff had created national pride in the country’s cinema industry.

“I extend my gratitude on behalf of the Korean people,” Moon tweeted. “I am very proud of Bong Joon-ho who has risen to the top as one of the world’s best directors.”

Waking up to the news on Sunday morning, South Korean media, critics and fans were ecstatic, with Yonhap news agency reporting that Bong had “finally quenched the thirst” for top recognition at the festival. AFP

US hiker found after two weeks Four versions of an entrepreneur pitching a new product were presented to experienced investors. One used a lot of figurative language, one included frequent hand motions, one deployed both, and one used neither. People who saw the one with frequent hand gestures were “on average 12% more interested in investing.”

In “Actions Speak Louder Than Words... ,” Joep Cornelissen of Erasmus University concludes that hand motions gave investors a better sense of what the product would look like and how it would work. The unfamiliar idea was made more concrete.

In the hiring process, an applicant is expected to give the evaluator a “variety of clues that will help evaluate ‘the applicant’s’ potential.” While applicants are expected to be confident and articulate, a perky hand gesture might just do the trick.

Good luck.

Real Carpio So lectures at the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He is an entrepreneur and a management consultant. Comments are welcomed at realwalksonwater@gmail. com. Archives can be accessed at realwalksonwater.wordpress.com. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

LOS ANGELES-An American yoga instructor who spent two weeks lost in the wilds of Hawaii, surviving on plants and water, has been found alive after an ordeal she described as “the toughest days of my life.”

Amanda Eller, 35, was rescued Friday beside a creek bed at the bottom of a ravine in a national forest on Maui after a helicopter spotted her.

She had been out on a hike when she vanished.

“The last 17 days of my life have been the toughest days of my life and it’s been a really significant spiritual journey,” Eller said from her hospital bed in a tearful video posted Saturday on the “Find Amanda” Facebook page created after her disappearance on May 8.

“It did come down to life and death and I had to choose. And... I chose life.

I wasn’t going to take the easy way out, even if that meant more suffering and pain for myself,” she said.

Eller, who also works as a physical therapist, has been in the hospital since her rescue. She suffered a broken leg, a torn meniscus in her knee, sunburns and scrapes, The New York Times reported.

A grassroots fund-raising campaign collected more than $70,000, which paid for a helicopter to be hired for the search. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Mary Francis Nielo has been diagnosed with craniosynostosis and needs financial help for her medical operation.

2-month-old baby girl from Leyte needs operation

By Ronald O. Reyes

COLORFUL TASTE. Students in colorful costumes show off famous delicacies of Rizal province during the ‘Taste of Rizal’ celebration as part of a collaboration of the Department of Tourism and SM supermalls at the SM City Masinag in Antipolo City. Manny Palmero

Parañaque gains Seal of Child-Friendly LGU

T

HE Parañaque City government is one of the recipients of the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance Award in Metro Manila for 2018.

Given this month, the award marked the city’s fifth time to be recognized as a child-friendly city by the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children-National Capital Region.

It is conferred by the Council for the Welfare of Children chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of the Interior and Local Government as partners.

The award is based on the results of the mandatory Child-Friendly Local Govern-

ance Audit, which is conducted annually and covers all cities and municipalities throughout the country.

Paranaque public information office chief Mar Jimenez said the rating for last year’s performance was 95 percent, the same as the cities of Mandaluyong and Makati.

Quezon City and Pasay City topped the ratings last year with 100 percent each.

The program audit is designed to enhance the delivery of social services for

children as the government aims for Child-Friendly Philippines.

It consists of 12-point indicators to assess the overall performance of local government units.

Top indicators include reduction in deaths among under five-year-old children; reduction in children under six years old with below normal weights; percentage increase in day care/early learning center attendance (public and private); and completion rate for elementary schooling (public and private).

Earlier, Parañaque was recognized by the DILG as the most compliant local government in Metro Manila for passing four of seven local governance assessment areas for the year 2018.

Nestlé, Valenzuela launch 1st plastic recovery program NESTLÉ Philippines and the city government of Valenzuela have signed a memorandum of understanding for the country’s first citywide program to recover post-consumer waste laminates such as sachets and used beverage cartons by sorting and collecting them for co-processing in cement kilns, or for recycling and upcycling.

The MOU for the collaborative program, dubbed “May BALIK! Sa PLASTIK!” together with the Department of Education Division of Valenzuela and Green Antz Builders Inc., was signed by Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian, Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki, DepEd Assistant School Division Superintendent Dr. Benjamin D. Samson, and Green Antz President Rommel Benig.

Under the program, incentives to sustain waste collection will be given to street sweepers and schoolchildren in the form of Nestlé products and school supplies, respectively, for turning in post-consumer waste laminates and UBCs with straws at designated booths in barangays and schools.

Further incentives will be provided to the best-performing barangays and schools. The scheme brings value to waste laminates and UBCs, thereby encouraging the collection of these materials. Training sessions will be conducted for barangays and schools, including teachers and parents, the parties said.

“There is a need to accelerate action on the issue on plastic. For Nestlé, this means addressing post-consumer wastes that would otherwise go to landfills and leak into waterways and oceans,” Marzouki said.

Nestle is piloting the program with Valenzuela “to help strengthen our proof of concept that we can later replicate in other cities,” he added.

The city was also tagged as one of the Most Compliant LGUs in the implementation of the Supreme Court continuing mandamus for the clean-up and preservation of Manila Bay. DILG Assistant Secretary for Local Government Marivel Sacendoncillo said Paranaque, under the leadership of Mayor Edwin Olivarez, excellently passed the Environmental Management, Financial Administration, Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, and Culture and the Arts assessments.

“Paranaque, a highly urbanized city in the southern part of Metro Manila, exhibited excellence in meeting performance benchmarks in four of seven core areas last year,” Sacendoncillo said.

Signing the MOU formalizing May BALIK! Sa PLASTIK! are (from left) Rommel Benig, president of Green Antz Builders Inc.; Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian of Valenzuela; Kais Marzouki, Nestlé Philippines chairman and CEO; and Dr. Benjamin D. Samson, assistant school division superintendent of DepEd Valenzuela.

UNICEF ‘school-in-a-bag’pack to improve Region 8 learning TACLOBAN—Schools in Samar and Northern Samar have received digital learning packages to help improve student learning in multigrade classes.

Through the “school-in-a-bag” program led by UNICEF and in partnership with the Department of Education, PLDT-Smart and SEAMEO-Innotech, 50 portable and digital classroom packages for select schools were turned over.

Multigrade classes are inclusive systems where children with different developmental levels, abilities and needs mix

A child is mesmerized by the photographs of heritage churches displayed at SM City San Jose del Monte in celebration of National Heritage Month.

Orlan Mauricio

and learn together in one classroom under the guidance of one teacher.

Each school-in-a-bag package equips classes with a projector, one teacher’s laptop and tablet in one, five student tablets, a DVD player, a USB memory drive, and pocket Wi-Fi with starter load. Around 2,500 disadvantaged school children will stand to benefit from the project.

“Today’s turnover of school-in-a-bag packages aims to bring 21st century learning to all children, particularly for learners from isolated and indigenous

poor communities. This is part of our long-standing commitment that every Filipino child realizes their right to quality education,” UNICEF Representative a.i. Julia Rees said.

“It is a timely initiative that will help improve learning opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. It marks an important milestone in our partnership with DepEd and the private sector and we look forward to replicating the project in other parts of the country where it is needed most,” she added.

TACLOBAN CITY—The parents of two-month-old girl Mary Francis Nielo of Tanauan, Leyte have appealed for financial help after their baby was diagnosed with craniosynostosis of the right coronal and left lamboid of her head.

Craniosynostosis is a medical condition in which one or more of the sutures or fibrous joints between the bones of a baby’s skull close or fuse prematurely, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth, which can lead to brain damage, complications, or death.

Premature closure of the sutures “may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance,” according to Columbia Neurology.com.

“With this condition of my daughter, it needs an operation that is costly, and we can’t afford the amount for the surgery.

We are from Leyte and the surgery will be held in Manila. We also don’t have the amount to transfer our baby to Manila,” said Maria Lynly Ecap-Nielo, 22, Mary Francis’s mother.

“With this, we are humbly asking for your help financially that will be used to cover all the expenses that we need for the entire operation,” wrote Nielo on the crowdfunding site Go GetFunding.com.

The baby was diagnosed last May 2, 2019. Her operation will be held at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, added Nielo.

The family is hoping to raise over P500,000 for the entire expenses of the operation.

To donate online, visit: https://gogetfunding.com/my-craniosynostosis-baby/. For donors without Paypal account, you may give your donation via bank deposit to: Account Name: Maria Lynly D. Ecap Bank Name/Number: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)- 9639150103 For offline donations, you can message or call 0956-653-3583, or visit the Facebook page “My CraniosynostosisBaby.”

Navotas opens medical, wellness center

By Jun David NAVOTAS Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Rep. Toby Tiangco recently led the blessing and inauguration of the Navotas Medical and Wellness Center at Brgy. San Jose.

The center will provide communitybased rehabilitation and physical therapy, drug testing, animal bite treatment, clinical laboratory, and diagnostic services such as ultrasound, ECG and X-ray imaging.

It will also offer dental services, teen health services, social hygiene services, breast checkup and mammography, and environmental and sanitation services.

The four-story building, which replaced the former Navotas Emergency and Lyingin Clinic, will also house the city’s Health Emergency and Management System Office and Operation Center.

In his speech, Mayor Tiangco emphasized the city’s priority on giving Navoteños quality healthcare services.

“Keeping our people in good health is crucial as we endeavor to help them change their life for the better,” he said.

“Our city’s population continues to grow thus adding more social infrastructure and services is vital to ensure that the needs of each Navoteño are met,” the mayor added.

Navotas has a hospital with a hemodialysis unit, 11 health centers, communitybased rehabilitation and physical therapy clinics, and others.

The city is also in the process of constructing the Navotas City Hospital annex, which will increase its bed capacity from 50 to 100.

SM Bulacan malls show off heritage churches

By Orlan L. Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—Century-old churches like the historic Barasoain Church here have stood as silent witnesses to the country’s colorful history and rich cultural heritage. As cultural treasures of the nation, these colonial structures have served as sanctuaries, landmarks, and popular destinations for tourists.

In partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc., the SM Malls in San Jose Del Monte, Marilao, and Baliwag celebrate National Heritage Month with an unique exhibition of Philippine

colonial churches from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Dubbed “Up Front: Encountering the Sacred,” the exhibit consists of photos by members of photobugs from FUNtastic Philippines.

The vast collection aims to promote Philippine heritage through featured photographs of churches that has been officially declared as either a National Cultural Treasure, a National Historical Landmark, an Important Cultural Property, or a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The exhibit at the SM City San Jose Del Monte ran until May 26. Exhibitions in other SM Malls are slated today until May 31 at SM City Marilao and June 3 to 7 at SM City Baliwag.

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

C1

POPEYES IN PH. Fast food chain Popeyes, famous for its New Orleans-style fried chicken opens its first restaurant in the country at ArcoVia City in Pasig.

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From Louisiana to Manila: Popeyes opens at ArcoVia City

AST food chain Popeyes, known for its New Orleans-style spicy chicken, brings to Manila the taste of Louisiana with the opening of its first restaurant at ArcoVia City in Pasig.

The hip and vibrant restaurant serves Popeyes’ famous biscuits, Cajun fries, and the world-famous Popeyes fried chicken. This signature fried chicken that’s juicy not greasy, is made fresh daily and packed with distinct Cajuninspired flavors from Louisiana, USA. Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes’ passion for its Louisiana heritage and flavorful authentic food has allowed it to become one of the world’s largest chicken quick service restaurants with over 3,000 restaurants in the U.S. and around the world.

Kuya J Group brings the beloved quick service restaurant brand to the country.

“In the US, Hollywood stars and celebrity chefs constantly rave about Popeyes and we’re thrilled to bring this world-famous brand to the Philippines,” said Lowell Yu, chairman of Kuya J Group.

The ArcoVia branch features the new global look of Popeyes “Aside from being the first restaurant to feature the new global look of Popeyes, we take pride in introducing new menu items that will eventually be

Popeyes’ signature fried chicken can be enjoyed with rice, biscuits, or Popeyes Spaghetti.

The ArcoVia City branch features a hip and vibrant interior design.

rolled out to other Popeyes restaurants worldwide,” added Yu. Popeyes serves its bestselling original honey biscuits, Cajun fries, chicken, and chicken tenders to customers in the Philippines. The first Manila branch is taking the Popeyes experience up a notch with new treats, in-

cluding hazelnut and white chocolate biscuits, two delightful flavors which can be paired with fried chicken or can be served as dessert; and Popeyes Spaghetti, a sweet, meaty meal that’s exclusive to the Philippines.

“We are excited for Filipinos to be the first to experience the world’s

newest Popeyes restaurant,” enthused Sami Siddiqui, regional president of Restaurant Brands International, Asia Pacific. “And we look forward to serving more Filipinos and growing our iconic Popeyes brand in the Philippines with our strong local partner—the Kuya J Group.”

Cantonese dishes 2.0 THE chilled marinated Japanese cucumber came with fresh, sweet pomelos while the steamed seafood dumpling was topped with caviar.

The deep-fried garoupa was served with garlic and lemongrass sauce, and the spare ribs was drizzled with olive and honey sauce.

Traditional Hong Kong salt-baked chicken and Fookien misua completed the menu prepared by Lung Hin executive Chinese chef Leung Chi Kwan, reflecting a deep respect for the authentic “haute cuisine” from Guangdong province as well as a fearless and forwardlooking take on innovation.

Chef Ken, as he is more popularly known, brings his over 20 years of training and experience in some of the world’s renowned hotels as he returns to Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s dining jewel.

His specialty dishes, including chilled marinated fresh abalone with sake and soy sauce and baked live lobster with supreme stock, will form part of Lung Hin’s Chef Recommendations menu.

The hallmark of Cantonese cuisine is preserving the fresh and natural flavor of its dishes—neither drowned in seasoning nor overcooked, and preferring instead techniques such as steam-

Chef Ken’s dishes reflect the hallmark of the Cantonese cuisine—that of allowing natural flavors to take the spotlight while using innovative ingredients such as sweet pomelos and caviar.

ing and braising. It puts a premium on subtlety and letting the ingredients speak for themselves.

And because Cantonese cuisine has made such an international impact, it has likewise evolved depending on where it is cooked, especially when it

comes to the locally sourced ingredients that are added to the equation, such as our very own pomelos that lent a sweet taste to the mildly sour marinade of the Japanese cucumber.

According to New York City restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld, who brought

iconic Chinese restaurants in America, there is a focus, bordering on obsession, on freshness for Cantonese chefs.

“Food is meant to taste like what it is. There might be a lot of manipulation, but the end product is meant to be something that tastes like itself,”

Schoenfeld said.

And indeed, Chef Ken showcases his mastery of manipulation and innovation while remaining true to the key features of Cantonese cuisine.

I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

Life

C2

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Ruby Jack’s introduces new menu, head chef L

OCAL steakhouse Ruby Jack’s has recently unveiled a new menu and announced the appointment of the new head chef, Edwin Sta. Ana.

The new menu focuses on local ingredients artfully transformed into delicious dishes using different techniques. It boasts a brilliant blend of East and West, with Chef Matthew Crabbe sharing his favorite dish of the menu to be the foie gras, which is incorporated with delicate Japanese flavors.

The new menu also features new desserts and cocktails. Ruby Jack’s serves Umetini, martini and gin mixed with Umeshu also known as Japanese plum liqueur, a traditional Japanese drink turned into a cool martini drink. Fresh Longan Martini, meanwhile uses local longan fruit delightfully mixed into martini.

Cucumber & Mint Spritzer is a non-alcoholic refreshing drink with cucumber and mint. Fresh Cassis Papaya Smoothie, the latest addition to the smoothie selection, is made of local luscious papaya with a touch of Cassis liqueur. Lastly the Fresh Jackfruit Mojito features a local exotic fruit turned into a delightful cocktail drink with Don Papa Rum. After indulging in the main course, diners can delight in Sakura Teardrop, clear jelly-like dessert inspired by the Sakura flower, served with vanilla bean ice cream.

Ruby Jack’s aims to continually expand its repertoire while maintaining the high-quality standards for which it is recognized—pushing the boundaries of taste while keeping customer experience alive. It is this approach to food that places Ruby Jack’s above the rest, and what keeps Chef Matthew Crabbe inspired to create new food selections.

“Food is an art, and I want people to taste that every time they go to Ruby Jack’s,” said Crabbe. “As we welcome our new head chef, I find myself inspired by my surroundings and the great people I work with. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by excellent people who keep pushing Ruby Jack’s to be a leader in the industry and expand our ever-growing repertoire.”

The steakhouse and bar is located on the upper ground floor of City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque.

Head chef Edwin Sta. Ana (top left) prepares the new items on the menu of steakhouse and bar Ruby Jack’s. The menu includes (clockwise) Wagyu Sirloin, Beef Tongue Croquette, Premium Beef Tenderloin Tataki, Teppan Grilled Foie Gras, Sakura Smoked Bacon, and Grilled Shrimp Salad.

DINE OUT: MEETINGS OVER COFFEE Caffeinated afternoons at Lamisaan

Unlimited cakes and other merienda choices paired with coffee or tea are available at Lamisaan’s afternoon soiree.

Cozy afternoons filled with coffee, pastries, and relaxed ambience are offered at Lamisaan restaurant in Holiday Inn Baguio City Centre.

The hotel has launched “Caffeinated Afternoons,” a soiree from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., where diners can enjoy free-flowing special Benguet coffee or teas and unlimited cakes, including a modern interpretation of the iconic tiramisu by Holiday Inn Baguio’s Chef Ed, super moist triple chocolate cake topped with premium 55 percent Malaysian dark chocolate.

Dining guests can also expect an assortment of unlimited pastries and merienda choices, like chewy crinkles, chocolate chip cookies, sumptuous mille feuille, Vienna-style brownies, assorted muffins and Danishes, and Holiday Inn signature breads: carrot and walnut bread, choco-banana loaf, and sweet and savory bread made of a heavenly combination of meat and cheese.

The Lamisaan’s peaceful atmosphere makes it the ideal place to spend quiet afternoons getting work done, having meetings with the team, or being with loved ones for some heart-to-heart sessions.

Go to www.holidayinn.com/baguio or call (074) 620-3333 or (02) 571-6079 for more information.

3 Michelin Star chef takes over Yakumi

Chef Jun Yukimura

Completing the meeting essentials at Nobu Manila is the scrumptious four-course set menu inspired by Nobu’s bento box lunch.

Small gatherings at Nobu Manila Nobu Manila now accepts lunch bookings for intimate gatherings or small meetings, from Monday to Saturday.

Groups of 15 to 30 may book the restaurant’s private room, while groups of not more than 50 may take up its main dining area.

The offer provides diners another way to experience Nobu, which will serve a four-course set menu inspired by Nobu’s bento box lunch offered daily at the Nobu Lounge composed of Field Green Salad; Chicken Gyoza; a choice of Black Cod Miso, Chicken Tonkatsu, Grilled Chicken Donburi, Pork Tonkatsu, or Sushi; and Miso Soup at P2,000 net

per person. It is inclusive of a glass of house iced tea and free flowing hot tea.

The menu and its inclusions can also be customized depending on the guests’ preferences and requirements.

For a seamless program flow, meeting essentials such as projector screen, public address system, and a podium are available upon request. Advance payment and reservation of at least three days to a week is required.

Call (02) 691-7637 or email noburestaurant@cod-manila. com for inquiries and reservations.

CULINARY master Chef Jun Yukimura is bringing his signature touch to Solaire’s fine dining Japanese restaurant Yakumi as he takes over the kitchen on June 6-8, from 7:00 p.m. to 10.

The kitchen take-over is part of Solaire’s “Culinary Masters,” a series of special dinner events featuring the most prominent chefs from all over the globe.

Known for his imaginative take on the long-established tradition of Kyoto cuisine, Chef Yukimura opened Azabu Yukimura in 2000 which has garnered the prestigious 3 Michelin Star and propelled it to be a must-visit in Tokyo.

Together with the restaurant’s renowned Executive Japanese Chef

Norimasa Kosaka, Chef Yukimura will be preparing a bespoke eightcourse Kaiseki menu which will highlight the unique flavorful twists of each dish that are distinct yet familiar to the palate. It will also feature the best sakes that will complement each course perfectly.

To immerse each guest in the culture of Japan, a traditional Japanese Koto player will provide deep and relaxing music as they savor every bite.

Dinner is priced at P10,000++ per person. Call (02) 888-8888 or email restaurantevents@solaireresort.com for inquiries and reservations.

Entertainment What powers...

From C4

McJim Classic Leather has produced numerous viral short films that have won award abroad and have competed in over 60 international film festivals.

First Get Reel mobile shorts film fest W

ORLDCLASS leather brand McJim Classic Leather invites filmmakers— students, amateurs, and professionals—to submit entries to the first-ever Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival 2019, a competition that celebrates the values, aspirations, and vision of the modern Filipino gentleman.

“ Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival 2019 aims to inspire filmmakers to create moving, relatable, and distinctly Filipino narratives that will be screened online,” says festival director and award-winning filmmaker Chris Cahilig.

In the past two years, McJim has collaborated with Cahilig in creating memorable, viral, and critically acclaimed short films that won the hearts of millions of netizens across the globe. Three of the short films titled Pitaka, Bag, and Sinturon have competed in over 60 prestigious international film festivals, winning four awards so far, including the Best Digital Ad (Branded) in the 2018 Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA).

This time, McJim is engaging more filmmakers in the creative process.

Eligible entries will have the chance to win a total of P190,000 worth of cash prizes in eight different categories, including The McJim Prize for the festival’s best short film.

The eight categories are: The McJim Prize for Best Short Film (P50,000); Get Reel Viral Film Award (P25,000); Best Comedy Short Film (P25,000); Best Action, Thriller, or Horror Short Film (P25,000); Best Drama Short Film (P25,000); Best Inspirational Story (P10,000); Best in Cinematography (P10,000); Best Actor (P10,000); and Best Actress (P10,000).

The festival is open to all Filipino filmmakers. All entries must be filmed using a mobile device and recorded,

McJim Classic Leather is giving mobile filmmakers an opportunity to tell their stories through Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival.

submitted, and edited in not less than 720HD format, although using 1080 HD format is highly recommended. The minimum length must be two (2) minutes and the maximum length must be ten (10) minutes, including opening and closing credits.

Get Reel accepts films of all genres. However, they must use any McJim Classic Leather products (bags, belts, and wallets) as an organic part of the narratives. Submission must be done via email at at mcjimtv@gmail.com.

A panel of judges will determine the finalists and winners through a deliberation. The results are final and

Monday, May 27, 2019

50 Less cooked, as hamburger 53 Special galas 58 Russian mountains 59 Uncluttered 61 Please, in Vienna 62 Hit some ice 63 Peak 64 Act like a ham 65 Munch Museum setting 66 Underhand throws 67 Fish finder DOWN 1 Potting medium 2 “— — Excited” 3 Reindeer herder 4 Ice cream taste 5 Tilted 6 “Praying” insect 7 Yeasty brews 8 EMT technique 9 Jeering 10 Bungalow 11 Spoken 12 Philosopher — Marx 13 Sorority letters 21 Paddle cousins 23 Hardships 25 Regrets deeply 26 Stripes 27 In plain view

International...

From C4

Sealed with a kiss Spain’s most acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar reunited with two stars from his early films, Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz, for his stunner of a Cannes contender, “Pain and Glory.”

Banderas plays a film director loosely based on Almodovar himself while Cruz appears as his mother in flashbacks, meaning the two A-list celebrities never appear on screen together.

In a scene many called the best kiss of this year’s festival, Banderas’s middle-aged character briefly reunites with an old flame, played

by Argentine actor Leonardo Sbaraglia, for a blazingly erotic embrace.

“I’ve never dared to kiss anyone in such an intimate way,” Almodovar later told reporters.

“Two 50-year-old men kissing with so much passion and excitement on screen is not often seen.”

Women speak out Abortion rights activists joined by a group of female stars led by Cruz, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Spanish actress Rossi de Palma and French director Claire Denis seized the Cannes spotlight for a prochoice demonstration.

Waving green bandanas, they turned out to support the Argentinian

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

to embark on her new role as endorser for Smart Signature. It’s going to be a hectic reign, but it’s a journey that she has prepared for all her life, and one that she hopes will inspire more Filipinos.

Postpaid reimagined Smart Signature prioritizes subscribers on the Smart LTE network, the country’s undisputed fastest mobile network as awarded by world-renowned firms including Ookla, OpenSignal, Tutela, and P3. This prioritized network experience makes sure that you can enjoy consistent data to connect to their favorite apps, sent messages in real time, and make uninterrupted calls-even during peak hours.

Smart Signature comes in four plans —Plan S, Plan M, Plan L, and Plan XL— with generous data allocation; worryfree unlimited calls to Smart, Sun, and TNT; worry-free AnyNet call minutes to PLDT landline and other networks; and unlimited texts to all networks—so you never have to worry about connecting with family, friends, and colleagues on any network.

Experience a reimagined postpaid and achieve more with Smart Signature Plans now! Sign up as a new subscriber, or upgrade your current Smart Postpaid Plan for free, at select Smart Stores nationwide.

Learn more about the Smart Signature Plan perfect for your lifestyle at www. smart.com.ph/signature. documentary Let It Be Law, which premiered at the festival.

It tells the story of the struggle for women’s rights in the overwhelmingly Catholic country, which has become bitterly divided over abortion.

And a year after the #MeToo scandal over sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry rocked the festival, one accuser made a dramatic entrance.

Sand Van Roy, whose rape allegation against French film mogul Luc Besson was dropped in February for lack of evidence, walked up the vaunted steps to the Palais main venue with the words Stop Violence Against Women tattooed on her back, next to a raised-fist feminist symbol.

A glorious feeling Rainy, cool weather put a damper on many of this year’s festivities, including washing out yacht parties and beach screenings that are usually de rigueur at the event.

Cannes organizers have a tried and tested nose for showmanship, however, and turned one night’s downpour into a playful tribute to classic cinema.

Guests for the premiere of the final installment of Claude Lelouch’s A Man and a Woman trilogy were treated to Singin’ in the Rain on the loudspeakers as they made their way up the sodden red carpet.

A few attendees even twirled their umbrellas. Deborah Cole, AFP

Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival is open to amateur and professional filmmakers.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Disagreeable people 6 Jet-speed unit 10 Steelmaker’s fuel 14 Online message 15 Dog food brand 16 What the suspicious smell (2 wds.)

17 Humane org.

18 Roman emperor 19 Lee of cakedom 20 Buns 22 Diagonal patterns 24 “— -Pan” (Clavell novel) 25 Street disorder 26 Crazy 30 Dig up 34 Steers clear of 35 Seeks alms 36 Clock numeral 37 No, to Fraulein 38 Pacino and Hirt 39 Mighty — — oak 40 Rx givers 41 Ravioli filler 43 Turn aside 45 Furtiveness 47 Tourists’ gadgets 48 Dots in the Seine 49 Center

“This is why I am thrilled to represent Smart Signature, which empowers everyone with the digital experience they need to achieve more and realize a much better version of themselves. With Smart Signature, we have one less thing to worry about while pursuing our goals and making a difference.”

Tech-savvy beauty queen Catriona uses digital platforms not only to connect with family, friends, and fans, but as an effective way to get her voice out there as an advocate for educating the youth and raising HIV/AIDS awareness.

But what else does the most beautiful woman in the world do when she’s online?

For starters, she listens to music. “I never like it when it’s quiet. So, I stream music all the time,” she shared. She also enjoys watching videos, especially during her downtime. Here’s a fun fact: She likes watching beauty and make-up videos online, and even trained to do her own make-up as part of her preparation for the MISS UNIVERSE® competition.

As an only child who lives away from her parents, and with a hectic travel schedule, she also heavily relies on mobile apps to constantly keep in touch with family and friends.

Always a go-getter, Catriona is ready

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

28 Commotion 29 Family members 31 Choir platform 32 Pageant wear 33 Implies 35 Diner order, briefly 38 Sighs of relief 39 Blvd.

41 Marseilles Ms. 42 Perpetual 43 Finger-paint 44 Drinks 46 Self-defense art 47 Flumes

50 Step, in Seville 51 Reformers’ targets 52 Fasteners 53 Window part 54 Large sedan 55 Famed prep school 56 Grammy winner — James 57 Palm reader, maybe 60 Nature (pref.)

irrevocable. No film entry shall be an imitation or plagiarized version of any copyrighted work. Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival and its organizers will not be responsible for any copyright infringement committed by the participants.

The deadline for submission is on June 30. The finalists will be announced on July 15, and the winners will be awarded on Aug. 30.

Participating filmmakers must be willing to have their works posted on various social media accounts of McJim Classic Leather and its agency, Insight 360 Consultancy Services, Inc..

Spain's most acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar reunited with two stars from his early films, Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz

Snapshot...

From C4

Are You Human? tells the story of a renowned scientist who was forced to part with her young son, Nam Shin.

In order to fill his void, she builds various AI robots modeled after him, naming them Nam Shin I, II and III. Years later, Nam Shin will receive death threats and the people who love him do everything to protect him from danger.

Because of his excellent portrayal as Nam Shin, the ‘android oppa’ received the Excellence Actor Award at the 11th Korea Drama Awards and the Best Couple Award with his on-screen partner, Gong Seung Yeon, at the 32nd KBS Drama Awards.

Prior to acting, Seo Kang-Joon was a member of the Korean boy group 5urprise. He is also a brilliant pianist and enjoys playing tennis, golf, and horseback riding.

Pinoy fans had the chance to catch Seo Kang-Joon live in Manila on Saturday at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City. The event was presented by CDM Entertainment and MaxPerience Entertainment in

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

E

DM superstars Alex Pall and Drew Taggart have nothing to do with smoking although they named their group The Chainsmokers. Fans have numerous theories on the potential origin of the duo’s name, but there’s one thing for sure, they have released a catalog enough for the act to be considered a dominating force on the international music scene.

Pall and Taggart’s diverse repertoire of songs has led them to become one of music’s hottest recording acts. Their signature sound deftly reaches across indie, progressive, and pop realms.

Starting today, tickets to The Chainsmokers World War Joy Asia Tour goes on sale to the general public starting at 10:00 in the morning. They are set to return to Manila for yet another concert party on Aug. 15 at the Mall of Asia Arena as announced by concert promoters MMI Live and Live Nation.

Earlier this month, the duo took the social media to share the news of the World War Joy Asia Tour, which will make stops in more than seven cities around the region including Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, and Shanghai.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of the duo’s latest tracks “Kills You Slowly” and “Who Do You Love” featuring 5 Seconds of Summer from their new album “World War Joy”. Released in February this year via Disruptor Records/ Columbia Records, “Who Do You Love” immediately shot to No. 1 on iTunes and has already accumulated nearly 14 million combined global streams to date.

Additionally, the track was added to Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in 37 countries, added to their largest playlist Today’s Top Hits and added to Today’s Hits on Apple Music.

The duo’s evolution as producers and as songwriters has seen them develop some of the biggest breakthrough songs over the course of the last few years. In 2016, the duo catapulted to worldwide stardom with three certified Multi-Platinum hits. “Roses” featuring Rozes, from their Gold-certified debut EP, “Bouquet”, was a 4X Platinum smash that shot to #1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/ Electronic Albums chart. “Don’t Let Me Down” featuring Daya, included on the duo’s second Platinum selling EP titled “Collage”, went 4X Platinum and was a top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit. The duo won the “Best

The Chainsmokers that are good for you

(on Facebook), and @mmilive (on Instagram, and Twitter). Tickets will be available today through www.universe. com/mmilive. *** Cinema one to get YouTube silver play button The country’s leading cable channel, Cinema One, has now surpassed 100,000 subscribers on its YouTube channel.

The online channel is Cinema One’s digital platform that gives netizens access to full movies, rare movie documentaries, CinemaNews bits, and other entertainment news, special behind-the-scenes features, exclusive interviews, archival footage of Cinema One. Last February, it premiered the Cinema One Originals’ flick That Thing Called Tadhana and the movie has gained almost two million views as of this writing. Other releases includeConfessional, Yanggaw, and the Himala Ngayon docu.

Meanwhile, Rome & Juliet, an LGBT-themed film starring Andrea del Rosario and Mylene Dizon, will be streaming on the online channel for the

first time on Thursday, May 30, at 8:00 p.m..

The romance-drama gave Mylene the Best Actress award in C1 Originals. It also earned Best in Production Design for Gerry Santos.

Like and subscribe to www.youtube. com/cinemaoneph for free movies and other exclusive videos.

'Rome & Juliet' is an LGBT-themed indie film

Five unforgettable moments of the Cannes film festival A quarter century after he ripped up the rule book for independent cinema with his Palme d’Orwinning Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino returned to Cannes with one of his best-reviewed films in years.

The world premiere of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a dark fairytale set in the Tinseltown of 1969, sparked frenzied scenes of festival-goers rushing to catch the first glimpse of the movie.

When it was all over, the director and his stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie basked in a rapturous six-minute standing ovation.

A visibly moved Tarantino gave the crowd what it wanted: his rendition of the two-fingered eye swipe from John Travolta and Uma Thurman’s unforgettable dance scene in Pulp Fiction.

Elton touches down Elton John came to Cannes to join the pantheon of rock legends with their own sequin-spangled biopics, and Rocketman blew away audiences on the famed seaside Croisette boulevard.

Despite wincing in pain during a photo session from an apparent hip problem and limping his way down the festival’s fabled red carpet, John rallied

SNAPSHOT

Korean superstar Seo Kang-Joon in Manila GMA Network proudly welcomes Korean superstar Seo Kang-Joon as he visits Manila for the first time.

The 25-year-old actor is known for his breakout role as Baek In Ho, a handsome and talented pianist in the top-rated romantic comedy series Cheese in the Trap, which previously aired on the Kapuso Network.

This time, Seo Kang-Joon will once again set the viewers’ hearts on fire as GMA Heart of Asia presents his latest K-drama hit, Are You Human?, beginning tonight, after Love You Twoon GMA Telebabad.

Continued on C3

INTERNATIONAL

THE Cannes film festival serves up 12 days of movie magic on the French Riviera each May. Here are the five biggest moments, on and off screen, that have made 2019 a vintage year: Tarantino ovation

What powers Catriona’s digital lifestyle CATRIONA Gray’s journey to the Miss Universe crown is an inspiring story of a woman who has reimagined herself to win the most coveted beauty pageant title, bringing pride and honor to our country.

Make no mistake about it, Catriona could have simply rested on her laurels with her Top 5 finish in Miss World 2016, plus a flourishing career as a commercial model. But, fueled by the support of family and friends, the now 25-yearold beauty queen decided to embark on a much bigger dream that revealed the goal slayer in her—someone who is confident with her vision, and put every ounce of her energy to realize it. The rest, as they say, is history. “ Catriona’s inspiring story and her disposition as the ultimate goal slayer makes her the perfect ambassador for Smart Signature, a new mobile experience that prioritizes customers,” said Oscar A. Reyes, Jr., PLDT-Smart SVP and Consumer Business Market Development Head.

“Designed to cater to a new generation of goal slayers like Catriona, Smart Signature keeps up with the fast-paced digital lifestyle of our customers and empowers them as they tick off more milestones in their career or life,” he added.

“I’m very goal-oriented, and once I’ve set my mind on something, I put my heart and soul to it, and make sure I have all the tools to make it happen,” said Catriona, whose dedication showed in her hands-on approach to preparing for an international title: from putting together her own team or designers, trainers and creatives to displaying her proud Filipino heritage in her captivating national costume and now iconic gowns. Continued on C3

EDM superstars Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, otherwise known as The Chainsmokers.

Dance Recording” Grammy for the track at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

In April 2017, the duo released their Platinum-certified debut album titled “Memories…Do Not Open” and embarked on their highly successful 40-city “Memories…Do Not Open” arena tour. The album debuted at #1 in the U.S. on the Billboard 200 chart and produced Multi-Platinum certified smash hits “Paris” and “Something Just Like This” featuring Coldplay, of which the latter earned the group a 2018 Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance”.

Released in December 2018, the duo’s second album Sick Boy has generated over 1 billion worldwide streams to date and includes the Gold-certified single “This Feeling” featuringKelsea Ballerini and “Side Effects” featuring longtime collaborator Emily Warren.

The duo will maintain their extended Wynn Nightlife Residency in Las Vegas and will continue releasing music and touring across the globe throughout 2019.

For complete concert details and ticket information, visit www. mmilive.com, or follow MMI Live

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray

for his movie star moment.

The “Tiny Dancer” singer fought back tears as the crowd cheered the high-energy picture and it was waterworks again when the on-screen Elton, British actor Taron Egerton, tried to talk about his feelings about playing the pop legend.

At the raucous after-party, John sat down at a grand piano on the beach and brought the house down in a soaring duet with Egerton of the title track. Continued on C3