Manila Standard - 2019 May 30 - Thursday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com

WEATHER PAGASA WARNS OF 5-6 STORMS UNTIL AUGUST NEWS A2

RODY: JUNE 5 EID’L FITR, REGULAR HOLIDAY NEWS A2

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 105 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Payoff scheme at BOC persists, Lacson bares

By Macon Ramos-Araneta DESPITE the exposé on the widespread corruption at the Bureau of Customs two years ago, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the practice of “tara” or payoff system at the agency was continuing.

In a privileged speech, Lacson said he was informed just recently that the system had not been suppressed.

“Worse, for many Customs officials, it remains business as usual,” he said.

Lacson also rebuked the BOC and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for “dishonesty” in connection with its recent seizure of 146 kilos of crystal meth or “shabu” inside a warehouse in Malabon City.

The drugs were concealed inside a shipment of tapioca starch and aluminum pallets.

Lacson said the Office of the Commissioner at the BOC received an average of P5,000 per container, plus 10 percent of the collections of each section or office directly under it.

Next page

Duterte vows graft-free deals with Japan traders

By Nat Mariano and Rey E. Requejo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday promised Japanese businessmen in Tokyo that he will ensure corruption-free deals if they invest in the Philippines.

BUSINESS FORUM.

President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the business forum Wednesday at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, with Malacañang saying 26 business agreements were signed at the sidelines of Duterte’s working visit to the Land of the Rising Sun. Malacañang Photo

Speaking at a business conference in Tokyo, the President vowed that he would “kill” anything that hampers their businesses in the Philippines, no matter how small or big it is.

“I just assure you that during my time I said there will be no corruption. And every Japanese investor in my country, however small or however big, I can assure you that if there’s any complaint regarding hindrances, obstruction, or outright corruption, let me know,” Duterte said in his speech.

As Philippine officials signed deals with their Japanese counterparts, Secretary General of the Philippine-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee JJ Soriano said 26 agreements were already sealed.

The 19 agreements are worth P300 billion, and could generate over 82,000 jobs. The said agreements, cover technology, manufacturing, industrial parks, retail, and food businesses, Soriano said.

“Out of the 26 deals, 19 are letters of intent to do business between Japanese and Filipino firms, while seven are cooperation agreements,” Soriano told the ANC news channel.

The President said he will be ready to give Japanese investors “any hour of the day or night” to hear their complaints.

“You can contact any of the Cabinet members, your Filipino lawyers, or Filipino workers. You can ask an audience with me in 24 hours [and] I will talk to you,” he said.

“Just let me know what your problem is, and we will kill that problem,” he added.

The President also said he was pleased to know about their “strong intention” to invest and expand business operations in the new sectors of the Philippine economy.

‘Romualdez wins over 153 solons’

By Maricel V. Cruz MORE and more lawmakers are supporting the speakership bid of Leyte Rep.-elect Martin Romualdez, a House leader said Wednesday.

At a news conference, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said more than 153 congressmen have already signed the manifesto of support for Romualdez.

“It’s enough to win [the speaker’s race]. The magic number is 153 and I think he (Romualdez) has more than [that],” Suarez told reporters.

Suarez said he believes Romualdez is most qualified candidate for Speaker given his track record in public service.

Romualdez is the president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) and also of the Next page

Next page

Australia says its pilots struck with lasers in South China Sea SYDNEY―Australia’s military has confirmed its Navy pilots were targeted with lasers during flights in the hotly contested South China Sea, with informal Chinese militia vessels believed to be behind the attacks.

Beijing has become more assertive in the area, stoking tensions with rival claimants in Southeast Asia as well as

Canberra and Washington―traditionally the dominant naval and air power in the Asia-Pacific region.

But China is not seeking a sphere of influence in the Pacific Ocean island states, President Xi Jinping told the visiting prime minister of Vanuatu amid fears in the Western capitals of China’s growing role in the region.

Next page

ASF-products recall: Neda sees no inflation

By Julito G. Rada and Rio N. Araja THE recall of all pork-based products made in countries hit by the African Swine Fever (ASF) will have no significant impact on the rate of inflation, the National Economic and Development Authority said Wednesday.

“We are sticking with the government’s official target range of 2 to 4 percent inflation for 2019... It is probably not going to increase the prices of canned meats,” Neda Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines-Aboitiz economic forum held in Makati City Wednesday.

“I think the Department of Agriculture has al- PROCESSED PORK. Merchandisers arrange on the shelves Wednesready taken steps to ensure that this one gets ad- day imported processed canned meat products at a Manila supermarket, dressed so as not to impact the livestock industry,” after the Food and Drug Administration ordered the day before the pullout of Next page processed pork from countries affected by the African Swine Fever. Ey Acasio Edillon said.

Sotto cites Senate rules on plum posts 39 more cocaine

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ‘GRAY ZONE’ OPERATIONS. A Royal Australian Navy MRH90 Taipan Multi Role Helicopter lands after Australian Navy pilots on the HMAS Canberra were hit by lasers as they took part in the months-long Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 exercise Royal Australian Navy

Virus-laden laptop sells for $1.3m WASHINGTON—For Chinese artist Guo O Dong, the simple black Samsung laptop computer, loaded with six potent viruses, symbolizes one of the world’s most frightening threats.

Next page

SENATE President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday stressed the “equity of the incumbent” rule should prevail following the new senators’ plan to grab the chairmanship of some Senate committees.

Pinoy janitor $7-m richer in Canada EVEN though he’s 7-million Canadian dollars (P271.3 million) richer, Vito Halasan has no plans to leave his job as a janitor, though he does intend on scaling back his hours.

Next page

He said they would exert all efforts to explain to the neophyte senators the equity of the incumbent rule being observed in the Senate.

Under the rule, the present chairman of the committee is the one to decide whether he will retain it or let it go and choose another panel to lead. Next page

bricks wash ashore THIRTY-NINE more bricks of cocaine have been found by fishermen on the shores of Gubat, Sorsogon, in yet another discovery that has been baffling the authorities.

According to a report of Marisol Abdurahman in Balitanghali on Wednesday, the bricks were estimated to be worth P218 million.

“The authorities went to the fishermen to check if the report was true, and it was,” Colonel Melecio Buslig of the Sorsogon Police said.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested a 65-year-old suspect and seized P10 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Pateros on Tuesday, National Capital Region Police Office Chief Next page Guillermo Eleazar said.

A2

News

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

5-6 storms coming, PAGASA warns T Flaviana Hilario said.

The Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons each year.

The El Niño phenomenon is forecast to persist until the end of this year, but “the uncertainty is quite high. We will give you a monthly update regarding this chance,” Hilario said.

The onset of the rainy season is forecast to start in the first half of June in the western portions of the country.

But the weather bureau said the effects of El Niño was now being felt in many provinces.

In April, 41 provinces experienced severe drought and 23 provinces a dry spell.

In May, 40 provinces were under drought conditions while six provinces experienced a dry spell.

PAGASA said the conditions would likely become normal in most parts of the country in June except in Apayao, most parts of the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Tarlac and Zambales.

Normal rainfall is likely in almost all parts of Luzon and the Visayas except in southern Visayas and Mindanao.

“With our sound macro-economic policies and [ongoing] reforms, we guarantee a competitive and corruption-free, and I repeat, we guarantee a competitive and corruption-free business climate, and a highly-skilled and fast-learning workforce,” he said.

The Palace again denied that the Japan visit was a reward to Cabinet members after the midterm elections, as Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V suggested.

“It is worth mentioning that Cabinet members were prohibited by the President to campaign for the administration candidates during the last elections. It is, therefore, sans logic that they can be rewarded when they were disallowed from contributing to the reason or cause for the grant of the reward,” Presidential Spokes-

man Salvador Panelo said.

“The good Ambassador may have been either innocently speculating for lack of information or may have been misinformed of the nature of the trip of the Cabinet members. The latter’s presence is necessary,” he added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there was no need to take disciplinary action against Laurel over his remarks.

“The rebuke should be enough,” said Guevarra, the designated caretaker of the national government while the President is in Japan for working visit, said in a text message to reporters.

Asked if Laurel should be replaced as a consequence of his remarks, Guevarra said: “Let’s wait and see.”

This is apart from an average of P3,000 in “tara” for Intelligence Group; P1,000 to P2,000 for the Enforcement Group; P3,000 for Risk Management Office; and P2,000 to P3,000 for Import and Assessment Service “The ‘tara’ goes to whoever is in his office or the Office of the Commissioner. I will leave it to General [Rey Leonardo] Guerrero [the Customs Commissioner] to investigate and find out,” the senator said.

The Manila International Container Port and Port of Manila district offices, Lacson said, receive P3,000 per container, and each container with an alert order may be charged as high as P50,000.

“With the average of 2,000 and 7,000 containers transacted for release every week at both the Port of Manila and MICP, imagine how much ‘tara’ goes to the pockets of these insatiably corrupt

Customs officials,” said Lacson.

Although Guerrero has remained untainted by corruption, Lacson said he could not say the same for many of the BOC chief’s subordinates.

He pointed out that totally weeding out corruption in the BOC is another standing challenge to Guerrero.

“To uphold your strong integrity and moral principles is a test of your character. The test of your leadership, on the other hand, is how your integrity and principles resound in the halls of your office and influence the actions and behavior of your subalterns. To fail in one is to fail in both,” the senator said.

The Filipino people “demand much from Guerrero’s leadership,” Lacson added.

“While I continue to vouch for your character as it remains unquestionable, some of your people are afflicted with severely debilitated credibility, which may eventually reflect on you and the institution that you lead and represent,” he said.

In 2017, Lacson said the BOC has become a haven for crooks as its officials, including then- Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon —a former military official himself—received payola.

He accused Faeldon’s office of supposedly receiving P5,000 to P10,000 in payola per container, which the latter denied.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the BOC and PDEA placed the shipment on auction, purportedly to “draw out possible members of the drug syndicates who may be interested in bidding on the drug shipment.”

He said the bureau should not have auctioned the shipment. Instead, it should have been destroyed under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or Republic Act No. 10863.

“In this case, prohibited goods, including the shabu contained in 114 bags inside the aluminum pallets with tapioca starch, as provided in Section 1146 of this Act, should be destroyed, and therefore should not have been offered for sale in a public auction,” Lacson said.

Sotto...

ASF-products...

“We will try hard to make them realize that when 2022 comes, they will then be the seniors. They would not want that what they will do will be done to them,” he said.

But Sotto said he was confident the conflict over chairmanship of Senate committees would be resolved when the incumbents and neophytes meet, probably next week.

“The committee chairmanships, after all, would be decided and elected on the Senate floor,” said Sotto.

He said the Senate President could only get a consensus if there were conflicts among senators.

But as much as possible, he said the conflicts on the chairmanships were being settled before bringing them to the plenary.

In an interview over radio dzMM, Sotto said there were returning senators who wanted to get back the committees they previously chaired and there were also incoming senators who wanted to get the chairmanships from incumbent senators.

He said an incumbent senator might hand over committee chairmanship to neophytes only if they voluntarily let go of them.

He added those who would not get the committee could always choose other panels. The Senate has at least 40 committees and oversight panels.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, who belongs to the ruling PDP-Laban, earlier divulged the looming rifts over the committee chairmanship.

Edillon said the Department of Trade and Industry would be included in the recall decision but the sentiment of the supermarket owners must also be considered.

Edillon said the share of these products in the consumer price index basket was minimal “We will be more than okay,” he said.

The Food and Drug Administration recall includes canned goods like luncheon meat and processed pork—such as Ma Ling from China—with a manufacturing date of August 2018 or later.

The FDA has also expanded its list of countries temporarily banned from exporting pork products to the Philippines due to ASF among their livestock.

A new FDA advisory now bans the importation of pork from Vietnam, Zambia, South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mongolia, Moldova, and Belgium.

The move expands the Department of Agriculture memorandum order in September that banned imported pork products from China, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.

The World Organization for Animal Health said African swine fever is “a severe viral disease affecting domestic and

wild pigs.”

While humans cannot get ASF, it can have serious economic effects if it spreads among livestock. The Philippines is currently free of African swine flu.

The Agriculture department and local hog raisers have also asked the FDA to stop the issuance of import clearances and order the immediate pullout from the market of processed pork products from these countries.

In a statement posted on Facebook earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol urged the FDA to ban and pull out Ma Ling from store shelves.

Piñol said that their reminder comes after a returning Filipino worker from Hong Kong was found with cans of Ma Ling.

Quarantine Officers intercepted the package but Piñol said that broadcaster Raffy Tulfo “used his influence” to have the Bureau of Customs return the confiscated cans to the worker after she turned to Tulfo’s radio program to complain.

Pinol questioned Tulfo for violating the quarantine order, saying he would conduct an investigation.

Meanwhile, a group of traders—the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura—said it has limited the importation of pork products to countries that have no cases of ASF, such as the United States, South America, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain and Denmark.

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. He was the leader of House independent bloc of the 16th Congress.

Romualdez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Cornell University, and a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University. He also earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines.

Given his track record, Suarez said Romualdez will be able to effectively push the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Suarez, however, said some of the signatories said they would support Romualdez as long as the President and his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte, do not endorse another candidate.

Suarez, meanwhile, dismissed Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s allegation that lawmakers are being offered as much as P500,000 for their votes in the speakership reace.

Alvarez, who was ousted from the position, did not say who was offering the bribe.

“He used to be Speaker. Did he offered any [bribes]? Because he was claiming the House members are for sale. But I did not get any [bribe],” Suarez said.

He called Alvarez’s allegation “mere speculation” that could hurt the image of the House.

years ago.

It is a powerful symbol of the threat on simple laptop can pose to the entire world.

The six trojans, worms and malware loaded on it have caused at least $95 billion in damage around the world, according to Guo. Guo is an internet artist “whose work critiques modern day extremely online culture,” the auction site, organized by cybersecurity group Deep Instinct, said.

The computer, viewed via an online video stream, is harmless in its auction state― turned on, but not connected to any network or the Internet.

The auction site says it is “airgapped”― its wireless and Internet connections physically and electronically plugged.

But it comes with ominous warning to

the buyer not to unleash its pathogenic programs―possible by unplugging its connection hardware, or by simply inserting a thumb drive.

The site stresses that the artwork is for research use only, saying that anyone who submitted a bid contractually agreed that they “have no intention of disseminating any malware.”

At the same time, the site appeared to acknowledge that the buyer might not heed the agreement.

“Please remember that these are live and dangerous malware samples,” it said.

“Running them unconstrained means that you will infect yourself or others with vicious and dangerous malware.”

The buyer was not identified. AFP

An estimated 851,000 Filipinos live in Canada according to its 2016 census, with most living in urbanized areas.

“I remember scanning my ticket and seeing all these numbers,” says Halasan.

“I have really blurry vision so I had to hold the ticket right up to my face. I couldn’t believe it.”

Halasan recalls calling his daughter in a panic in the hazy moments after realizing his big win.

“He sat me down at the table,” his daughter describes. “And then he whispered really quietly to me that he won $7 million. I didn’t believe him. We had to check online several times.”

Halasan’s huge win means being able to pursue what’s at the top of his bucket list.

With three kids and four grandchildren, his goal is to give his family the life they had dreamed of since moving to Canada from the Philippines in 2009.

By Rio N. Araja

HE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Wednesday warned the public to brace for five to eight tropical cyclones until August this year.

The bureau made the warning despite the weak El Niño phenomenon that is expected to stay until the end of 2019.

“In terms of our forecast on the number of tropical cyclones from June to August, we are expecting around five to eight tropical cyclones,” Deputy Administrator

Rody declares June 5 Eid'l Fitr, a regular holiday

Duterte...

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has declared June 5 (Wednesday) a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr.

Duterte signed Proclamation 729 on May 28 to give the entire Filipino nation “full opportunity” to join the Muslim community in observance of Eid’l Fitr.

Earlier, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos recommended to declare June 5 a national holiday in observance of the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.

Eid’l Fitr, which means “feast of breaking the fast,” is one of the two official Muslim holidays, aside from Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

The holiday falls on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon shortly after sunset.

Eid’l Fitr is declared a national holiday through Republic Act 9177. PNA

Australia...

From A1

China has offered to help developing countries, including those in the Pacific, and many see Chinese lending as the best way to develop their economies. But critics say Chinese loans can lead countries into a debt trap, which Beijing denies.

The United States and Australia have looked on with particular concern at China’s growing role in the Pacific. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit the Solomon Islands next week.

The Australian Defense Force said “assets operating across the region have observed an increase in the use of hand-held lasers by some vessels.”

In this specific incident, helicopter pilots flying from the HMAS Canberra were marked with lasers as they took part in the months-long Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 exercise.

“With regards to the incident mentioned... the Royal Australian Navy pilots involved were examined as a precautionary measure and cleared of any injury by medical staff.”

La Trobe Asia director Euan Graham was one of several academics invited on the HMAS Canberra as it moved from Vietnam to Singapore.

He reported that the vessel was shadowed by a Chinese warship and “helicopter pilots had lasers pointed at them from passing fishing vessels.”

China has been accused of operating a maritime militia that includes fishing trawlers that carry out reconnaissance, intelligence and other missions in the South China Sea. The so-called “Gray Zone” operations are used to challenge or one-up rival powers, while offering deniability and reducing the risk of military conflict.

“The reason for vessels using the lasers is unknown but it may be to draw attention to their presence in congested waterways,” the Australian military said.

China claims sovereignty over virtually all the resource-rich South China Sea, despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours.

The Australian navy has conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea with other nations, including the United States― which China has sought to deter. AFP

39 more...

From A1

Eleazar identified the suspect as Angelo Reyes, who based on investigation is connected to a group of Chinese nationals engaged in the illegal drug trade, which operates in the southern part of Metro Manila and Laguna.

Reyes was arrested by the joint elements of NCRPO Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Pateros Police Station and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-NCR in an anti-drug operation at 153 P. Rosales St., Alley 2, Unit 12, in Pateros.

Reyes will face charges for violation of Section 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

According to the Philippine National Police, the bricks of cocaine may have come

DND on its toes even as it sees no credible plot vs Duterte

From A1

He said Japan has been a major source of foreign direct investments, emerging as the second largest trading partner of the Philippines last year.

“We anticipate increased trade and investment flows because of the strong momentum generated by decades of deep economic cooperation. This will be sustained by our natural economic complementarities and accelerated by the current efforts of our governments to lower barriers,” he said.

Duterte, who vowed to eradicate corruption three years ago, reiterated his promise to Japanese investors.

Payoff scheme...

From A1

From A1

from Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Before this, millions of pesos worth of cocaine bricks were also found in the eastern seaboard of the country such as Isabela, Camarines Norte, Nueva Ecija, Davao Oriental and Surigao del Norte.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said those bricks of cocaine were manufactured in fishing vessels and then thrown to the sea with a GPS tracker so the drug runners could locate them.

PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said those bricks of cocaine had the same packaging, which meant those could be coming from the same drug group.

President Rodrigo Duterte has said the notorious Columbian drug cartel Medellin is behind the incidents of cocaine bricks found floating in the eastern seaboard. Macon Ramos-Araneta with PNA

From A1

Virus-laden...

From A1

On Tuesday his creation “The Persistence of Chaos” rocked the art world, selling for more than $1.3 million in a New York online auction.

There’s nothing special about the 2008 10-inch Netbook, running Microsoft’s nowoutdated Windows XP. But loaded onto its memory chips are the computing world’s equivalents of the most deadly infectious diseases: “I LOVE YOU” from 2000, “Sobig” of 2003, “MyDoom” (2004), “DarkTequila” (2013), “BlackEnergy” (2015), and the most notorious of all, the “WannaCry” ransomware from two

Pinoy janitor...

From A1

The Filipino, now a resident of Surrey city in British Columbia, matched all six numbers on his Lotto 6/49 ticket to win the $7-million jackpot from the April 27, 2019 draw―only a few days after celebrating his 58th birthday, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation said in a statement.

By Nat Mariano THERE is no credible plot to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from power, but it does not mean the “Oust Duterte Plot” matrix is false, an official said Wednesday.

Still, the Palace agreed with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s remarks that there was no credible destabilization plot against the President.

On Tuesday, Lorenzana had cast aspersion on the ouster plot matrices recently released by Malacañang, which had tagged local journalists and lawyers as its supporters.

Lorenzana said the destabilization plan needed the military’s support to succeed.

“As for the information from the Palace, maybe they have some information on small groups,” Lorenzana told GMA News.

“But as to a destabilization plot? You would need the military support for such to be credible. As such, we do not see any plot to overthrow the President.”

Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Lorenzana had only meant that the plot would not prosper without military backing.

“What he means is that the plot is not capable of being successful, but that is not to say that there is no plot to oust him,” Panelo told reporters.

“The President said there was a plot by the personalities and groups identified in the matrix, [but] he did not say there is support from the military and the police.”

But the exposure of the plot, which allegedly involved the Liberal Party and the Magdalo group, had hindered the full realization of the destabilization plot, Panelo said.

“In other words, there are no movements in the military and the police to support the plot exposed by the President composed of certain media personalities/ outlets and political groups,” Panelo said.

Both the opposition group and the band of former soldiers have since denied involvement in the alleged destabilization plot to oust Duterte.

‘Romualdez...

From A1

News

A3

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CHED not against cultivation of Filipino language —De Vera

By Rio N. Araja

PRIVILEGED SPEECH. Senator Panfilo Lacson delivered his privileged speech tackling the massive shipments of toxic goods which have taken many forms—from imported hazardous garbage to billions of pesos’ worth of smuggled illegal drugs during Wednesday’s session at the Senate in Pasay City. Ey Acasio

Housing execs told to resign VICTIMS of the five-month long armed conflict in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Wednesday are calling for the resignation of officials of the National Housing Authority and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council for alleged incompetence to implement a full rehabilitation of the war-torn city.

At the Pandesal Forum in Kamuning Bakery, Quezon City, Hadji Amin Titing Atar, spokesperson of Datu Meno Manabilang, hit NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., along with Victor Balba of the special bids and awards committee, and Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson and HUDCC head Eduardo del Rosario over the awarding of the demolition and debris management project of sectors 2 and 9 in the most affected areas in Marawi.

Manabilang, Sowara O Miyamagoyag (Voice of Marawi Internally Displaced Persons) earlier filed a complaint against Escalada, Balba, Del Rosario and private contractors under the Marawi Progress and Development Consortium composed of Jimmy Francis Hinch of the CJI General Services Inc., along with Barry Jim Hinch, Julius Joseph Beredo, Noel Mendoza and Harry Cuevas.

Rio N. Araja

Militant solons back GMA-led bill TWO militant lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed the Arroyo-led House of Representatives’ push for the enactment of the proposed Teacher Protection Act. Reps. France Castro and Antonio Tinio, principal authors of House Bill 9065, stressed the need for Congress to enact measures governing student discipline and mechanisms for classroom management to ease the burden of public school teachers and school personnel and to establish support for their protection.

“We filed the teacher protection bill in response to the clamor of teachers having a hard time in instilling discipline in their classrooms,” Tinio said. “With large class sizes, multiple shifts each day, and the heavier and additional tasks they have to assume, many teachers can attest that instilling discipline in their classrooms has become increasingly difficult.” Maricel V. Cruz

BI agents intercept trafficking victims BUREAU of Immigration officers intercepted 11 suspected human trafficking victims in separate incidents who attempted to leave disguised as tourists at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina said the 11 victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking at the NAIA Terminal 3, after BI officers discovered that the passengers were illegally recruited to work abroad without proper documents.

“All of them were bound for countries other than what they presented, in an apparent effort to mislead immigration officers about their destination and purpose of travel,” Medina said.

The plan, he added, is for the victims to depart Manila as tourists and upon reaching the next port would be handed their working visas and instructed to proceed via a connecting flight to their final work destinations.

Anthony Lopez, head of the BI’s travel control and enforcement unit at NAIA 3, said two passengers bound for Singapore were prevented from boarding their flights after it was found that they were actually bound for Doha, Qatar to work. Vito Barcelo

Comelec receives 36 electoral protest cases T

By Vito Barcelo

HE Commission on Elections on Wednesday said it has received 36 electoral protest cases, more than two weeks after the conduct of the May 13 midterm elections.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that protest cases involving national, city and provincial elective positions are under the jurisdiction of Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Under existing rules, Comelec, through one of its two divisions, shall handle all election protests

involving regional, provincial and city officials.

Jimenez, meanwhile, said protest cases involving senators are presented before the Senate Electoral Tribunal while the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal handles cases involving congressmen.

As for poll protests of municipal

elective positions, he said these should be filed before the Regional Trial Courts.

In a statement, the Electoral Contests Adjudication Department said it has so far received a total of 36 cases, 16 days after the midterm polls.

However, Jimenez did not identify any prominent personalities involved in the election protests but said that the cases submitted to the Comelec were from the cities of Taguig and San Juan; and provinces of Leyte, Kalinga and Negros.

“We invite anyone with complaints to approach us in official channels so we could act on your complaints at soonest,” Jimenez said.

Solon wants ‘Bikoy,’ social media platforms investigated

By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Wednesday sought a congressional investigation on ‘‘Bikoy’’, and look into possible liabilities of social media giants Facebook and Youtube for hosting highly-damaging yet unproven videos against business and political personalities, including members of the Duterte family at the height of midterm elections campaign.

With barely a week before Congress adjourns sine die next week, Rep. Alfredo Garbin of Ako-Bikol, at a news conference, said he filed House Resolution 2585 directing the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation the Bikoy videos and other widely circulated postings on social media platforms.

Garbin, a deputy minority leader, said the congressional investigation hopes that Congress will be able to pass a measure providing for a “take down clause” that would allow government, without a need for a court order, to demand the immediate removal of social media contents that are libelous, seditious, defamatory and/ or contrary to any provision of existing laws.”

“The approval of the bill and similar measures has become imperative in instilling social and legal responsibility on social media platform creators and operators,” Garbin said.

Garbin cited the deaths and selfinflicted physical harm on victims of the “Momo Challenge” and “Blue Whale Challenge” as among the reasons for the passage of his proposal.

Garbin said the Bikoy videos “maliciously hurled false accusations” against members of President Duterte’s family and other personalities, including Elizaldy Co, owner of Misibis Bay resort in Albay.

OATH-TAKING. Newly-appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul

Inting takes his oath before Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin at the session hall of Supreme Court in Padre Faura, Manila. Inting was previously an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. Norman Cruz

DOJ indicts Kapunan on raps vs. UST law dean

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has indicted lawyer Lorna Kapunan for two cases of slander or grave oral defamation, in connection with her accusations hurled against University of Santo Tomas law dean Nilo Divina.

In two separate resolutions released Wednesday, the DOJ said it finds probable cause to prosecute Kapunan for slander under Article 358 of Revised Penal Code for her statements against Divina during TV interviews in 2017.

The investigating prosecutors said Kapunan is criminally liable for her allegation that Divina and his law firm paid millions to former Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista for favorable ruling on their client and another insinuation that the law dean was liable for the fatal hazing of UST law freshman Horacio Castillo III by his fraternity Aegis Juris.

“There is basis to charge respondent Atty. Lorna Kapunan for the crime of grave oral defamation for the statements that she made during her interview with ANC on 26 September 2017 considering the presence of all its elements,” stated the first resolution approved by Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

The DOJ ruled that the statements made

by Kapunan during the said interview —that Divina and his law firm made humongous payments to then Comelec

chairman Andres Bautista to sway him to act in their supposed client’s favor— “were imputations of a crime which were made orally, publicly and maliciously and were all directed to the complainants.”

The prosecutors made the same conclusion on the second case.

“We find basis to charge respondent for grave oral defamation for the statements respondent made during an interview with ANC News Channel on 27 October 2017. It would appear that respondent imputed the commission or violation of the Anti-Hazing Law (R.A. 8049) against the complainant by being the recruiter of Horacio Castillo and assuring the latter that there would no physical activity or hazing,” read the other resolution.

“The respondent also insinuated that the complainant was obstructing the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders when he allegedly coddled the members of the Aegis Juris fraternity members who participated during the hazing rites when they went to the dean’s house,” it said.

The DOJ panel composed of Senior Assistant Prosecutors Rassender Rex Gingoyon and Olivia Torrevillas and Associate City Prosecutor Laurence Joel Taliping, however, dismissed the complaints of Divina against Kapunan for libel.

It said that the element of publication was missing in these cases since it was not proven that Kapunan was the source of the allegations against Divina.

THE Commission on Higher Education on Wednesday explained that it is not against the cultivation of the Filipino language when it approved the non-mandatory inclusion of Filipino language and literature in college education curriculum.

In a statement, CHED chairperson Prospero de Vera III said promoting Filipino language is not limited to teaching it in schools.

“The accusation of critics that CHED is anti-Filipino is wrong,” he said.

“The Commission believes in the fundamental role played by language in education. To be properly cultivated, Filipino cannot merely be taught as a subject, but must be used in oral and written forms, across academic domains,” he added.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of CHED’s Memorandum 20 delisting the Filipino language and literature as mandatory subjects in college education curriculum.

“CHED did not abolish Filipino and Panitikan in the General Education Curriculum. Instead, these were transferred to the Senior High School level since these are important building blocks in the preparation of senior high students to be universityready when they graduate,” De Vera said.

He urged college and university officials to exercise their academic freedom “to include innovative reforms in their various curricula that may include language proficiency not just in Filipino but also other Philippine languages such as Ilocano, Waray, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Pangasinan, Bicolano, and Asian languages that will make graduates regionally and globally competitive.”

The chairperson said the Commission would back schools that would provide scholarship and education aid to displaced Filipino and Panitikan professors.

De Vera said this as he lauded the Supreme Court for denying the motion for reconsideration filed by critics against the exclusion of Filipino and Panitikan in the general education curriculum of all higher education institutions.

De Vera said the SC decision proves that “CHED did not abolish Filipino and Panitikan in the General Education Curriculum” and that they were “transferred to the Senior High School level since these are important building blocks in the preparation of senior high students to be universityready when they graduate.” With PNA

Solons seek probe of DoE Asec Delola TWO party-list lawmakers have sought a congressional inquiry into the alleged conflict of interest and serious irregularities hounding Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola, including his alleged bias in favor of a power distribution utility.

In a draft resolution, Reps. Francisco Datol Jr. and Teodoro Montoro, urged the House of Representatives Committee on Good Government to probe Delola with the end in view of removing him from office over the alleged irregularities.

“There has been reports that Asec.

Delola, being a former executive in a power company, has been bias in favor of power suppliers as such an immediate investigation is required to avoid further derogation of authority and abuse by Asec. Delola,” the two lawmakers said in the draft resolution.

They stressed “the need to remove these irregularities at the DOE from arising again in the future.”

Datol and Montoro noted that in the draft resolution that Delola worked with Aboitiz Power Distribution Utility (APDU) since 2014 prior to his appointment as DOE assistant secretary.

“Asec. Delola is favoring his previous employer which also owns the Western Mindanao Power Corp.

(WMPC) power plants. WMPC is owned by Aboitiz Group of Companies, a clear case of conflict of interest which resulted to grave damage to public interest,” they said.

However, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said Delola “has been consistently fair in his dealings” as assistant secretary.

Maricel V. Cruz

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Insanity at Customs IN THE immortal words of Albert Einstein, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Santa Banana, it seems that these words fall on deaf ears as far as the Bureau of Customs is concerned.

One of President Duterte’s more persistent proposals is this attempt to stomp out corruption in government by appointing military men to agencies perceived as inefficient or tainted.

The President followed through by appointing retired General Danilo Lim as chief of the Metro Manila Development Authority and retired Navy Captain Nicanor Faeldon as Customs chief.

Let’s not fall into old patterns, Mr. President.

Things are obviously going well at the MMDA—except its latest move to ban provincial buses on Edsa. They thought of it as a solution but it ended up becoming a problem.

Customs is another story.

Faeldon has been replaced because of the P6.4 billion shabu scandal that rocked the bureau in 2017. he has been reassigned to the Bureau of Corrections.

Former Director for Operations Isidro Lapeña took over as BOC chief, but was sacked in 2018 over another multimillion drug issue. He was eventually promoted to Cabinet rank.

He was replaced by the current commissioner, retired General Ray Guerre-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

ro. Guerrero was not spared and is now in a no-win situation, facing a major smuggling scandal.

No matter how Guerrero and the Buereau of Customs may try to spin off the P1 billion worth of shabu recently seized in a Malabon warehouse, the fact remains that the official explanation is difficult to reconcile and accept.

For instance, they say they received intelligence reports and even confirmed (ostensibly upon inspection) that there were indeed illegal drugs hidden in a large shipment.

There was confirmation that there were hidden drugs. But why did they not report that immediately and present it to the media? The reputation of the BOC can use a big win like this. So why keep it under wraps?

According to the official BOC version, they decided to auction the shipment (knowing there were hidden drugs in it) to the public to draw out syndicate members who would be interested in what it contains.

But which syndicate or cartel would in its right mind attend a public auction?

Criminals may be crazy, but they are not stupid!

The BOC story further collapses in the light of recent documents showing both the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the BOC authorized the clearance of the shipment.

Wait a minute. I thought you guys at BOC knew there were drugs, My gulay, were you just sleeping on the job? Were you just forced to concoct a story?

This can’t be coincidence anymore.

It’s either we just had a really bad string of luck or there is ineptitude going on at the BOC. Are these commissioners complicit?

While determining which is which— a task above my pay grade a lawyer and columnist—I think it is safe to say that the “military experiment” at Customs has failed Mr. Duterte and the rest of us.

It’s still not apparent if Guerrero will

T

Burned out HE World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases has a new entry: Burnout.

It is defined as a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

The decision to include burnout in the catalog will help end longstanding debates on the issue, what it is and how to deal with it.

The WHO says burnout is characterized by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to it, and reduced professional efficacy. “It refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”

The ICD is used as a benchmark for diagnosis and insurance purposes. The latest edition will take effect January 2022.

The description does not come with a qualifier as to what kind of job someone does when one suffers burnout, so it is conceivable workers from all levels feel this at some point.

From the standpoint of Filipino workers, however, especially those who toil every day for minimum or below-minimum wages, burnout is all too real. They may feel exhausted, their energy depleted, or feel negatively about their jobs for various reasons and as a result become less productive and effective.

Of course a big factor driving workplace stress is the difficulty to get from their homes to the workplaces, given the deplorable state of public transportation and of traffic. Or labor laws that look good on paper but are not followed

to the letter by employers who should know better. Or a system that gives no incentive to seeking redress for simple workplace violations, such that it is so much easier to grin and bear an unpleasant situation rather than file complaints and expect a fair and speedy resolution.

Even if such workers feel burned out, they cannot do anything about it, cannot even afford to take the time off to get their thoughts together or have a much-needed break. However they feel about their jobs, however spent they feel when they turn in at night, they have to wake up the following morning and follow the same routine all over again.

Burnout was only recognized as a health condition by global health authorities this week, but it’s been with us for a long time. It’s a real and compelling condition—the solution to which is, itself, a luxury.

Turn to A5

Rape jokes at the PMA graduation POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE FOR as long as I can remember, the annual Philippine Military Academy graduation ceremony has been covered by national media, and by this means the nation is made aware of the new crop of military stalwarts.

The public find out the batch name that forever distinguishes a particular cohort and is associated with all their future accomplishments and failures; the names of the valedictorian and top students; and narratives of some of the students’ lives, many of them having overcome adversity to reach their goals.

It is a day when the PMA’s core values of honor, excellence, and selfless service to God and country are publicly affirmed and celebrated.

Mabalasik, this year’s batch name, means “fierce, irascible, furious,” and perhaps that’s how at least some of the graduates and their families felt at the commencement exercises this year, when the guest of honor and speaker arrived late, made rape jokes, and was unable to hand out diplomas to everyone.

It is a tradition that the sitting president attend the PMA graduation and hand out the diplomas. Last May 26, President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City two hours late and handed awards to only three people.

The President gave the diploma, presidential saber, and certificate of ownership of a house and lot to valedictorian Dionne Umalla. He also presented a new gun to the class goat, Danmark Solomon, and his watch to cadet Albert Jalaguit.

Vice President Leni Robredo handed the award to salutatorian Jonathan Mendoza, while the remaining diplomas, over 200 of them, were given out

by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The President was observed by many to be unsteady on his feet, almost falling over when he boarded a military jeep for the trooping-the-line ceremony.

The next day, Presidential Spokes-

man Salvador Panelo said that the President was “sleepy” and had only two hours of sleep after staying up late to work. This comes after recent issues questioning the President’s health.

Duterte’s tardiness and subsequent indisposition are understandable if in fact he lacked sleep or was unwell. People are not machines, and it can’t be expected for someone to be full of energy all the time. It’s a factor that sometimes cannot be controlled.

However, one thing the President can control is the content of his speech. This time, again, he made unsavory jokes that will forever mar the Mabalasik Class of 2019’s memory of their special day.

As he was signing an order pardoning infractions committed by underclassmen, Duterte cracked, “I need good and capable soldiers. Patawarin ko kayo…

The No. 1 is for rape, the No. 2 is drugs with rape—with robbery. Para sa Muntinlupa [prison] ito. Third, rape of women in Baguio—the beautiful ones.

Sino iyan?”

They are always in bad taste.

It was supposedly a joke, but it cast a shadow over those students, whose infractions were certainly not on the order of what Duterte cited. It was a low point, particularly the reference to raping Baguio women.

What made it more sordid was that the class valedictorian is a woman, one of five so far who have topped their classes since women were first accepted into the PMA in 1993.

Again Panelo made excuses for the President, saying the rape references were “mischievous remarks to make people laugh” and that people are used to it.

Duterte himself says he’ll keep on making those lame jokes.

The Thursday before the PMA graduation last Sunday, Duterte was in Davao, where he admitted that his penchant for

Turn to A5

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Storytelling, games make Iraq comeback on Ramadan nights

By Raad al-Jammas with Shwan Nawzad in Kirkuk "ONCE upon a time" tales and folksy games from the pre-television days are making a comeback in Iraq during the long nights of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Traditional storyteller Abdel Wahed Ismail, a red fez atop his head, yellow scarf draped over his shoulders, in a black gallabia gown, captivates audiences in the northern metropolis of Mosul.

As in other Muslim countries, the annual month of dawn-to-dusk fasting is a time for evening gatherings in restaurants, coffee shops or homes of family and friends across Iraq.

While many spend the night in prayer at mosques between an evening feast and pre-dawn snacks, others take part in games that in Iraq are reserved for Ramadan-time.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Up until one or two generations ago, Ramadan nights were the preserve of the hakawati, or Arab storytellers, regaling audiences with fables as well as local news and historical stories.

Mosul, now a city of almost twomillion people, has for centuries been a commercial and intellectual hub of the Middle East.

With the arrival of television and radio in the 1960s, the hakawati vanished from the coffee shops and restaurants where families and friends gathered.

Two years after Mosul—a city gripped by violence following the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein—was freed from the stranglehold of the Islamic State jihadist group, Ismail has been leading a revival.

The 70-year-old actor and local celebrity takes his seat each night on

a white wooden bench on a platform to tell tales in the unmistakable Moslawi dialect.

"I've lived through so many different times, so I try to pass on stories of good things to young people," said Ismail, who witnessed the bloody overthrow of Iraq's monarchy as well as a succession of coups and wars.

While tales such as the chivalrous epic "Antar and Abla" put smiles on the faces of older members of the audience as they reminisce, Ismail slips in references to hip online games such as PUBG for the younger ones.

Tray and ring games In the oil city of Kirkuk, half-way between Baghdad and Mosul in northern Iraq, the game of "Sini wa Zarf" (the tray and the envelope, in Kurdish) has hundreds of Ramadan-time aficioTurn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

Spending right on tracks in long queues, inconvenience, and at times, peril to the commuting public.

This is my concern. At present, our trains are designed to work with narrow-gauge railway tracks. However, the narrow-gauge railway are becoming obsolete, hence the source for replacement AS WE are aware, the North-South parts and maintenance mechanisms will Commuter Railway which connects ur- soon be gone. Countries such as Japan ban areas in Pampanga and Tarlac in the and Kenya have shifted to the standardNorth, and Calamba in the South, to areas in Metro Manila, Phase 1, February this year. This is one of the most notable infrastructure undertakings under this administration’s BBB program.

There are just some The significant and positive advantages of this project should be exam- things that are worth ined under the realities of the present spending on. condition of our trains, and current railway system. Just recently, two LRT-2 coaches collided late at night in Quezon City which caused injuries to at least 34 people. Last week, a LRT-1 train coach gauge railways. China, Belgium, FinFin caught on fire in Blumentritt station. land, Austria and the US utilize only the There have been reports of trains stop- standard-gauge. Few countries are still ping, trains shooting off the tracks, train using narrow gauge such as Nepal. Sucars that are not fitted to the tracks and dan and South Sudan. other issues that have, in sum, resulted Narrow-gauge railways are made for

temporary and not long-term use. After 20 years of use, the wear and tear of the trains and its railways is obvious. Standard gauge railways, on the other hand, are known for stability and ability to handle heavier and faster traffic. Considering the situation and volume of our riding public, the standard/wide-gauge railway is more suitable to meet public needs.

Hence, pursuant to House Resolution No. 2538 which I filed on April 08, 2019, I call for the shift from the narrow-gauge railway tracks to the stanstan dard/wide-gauge railway tracks in the North-South Railway Project. Many have expressed concern that this will entail additional cost. However, the safety of the riding public is invaluable. Also, any additional cost will be outweighed by the durability, stability and other long-term benefits to the railway and transport system when the proper matemate rials are used. With this proposed new system, there will be savings in maintenance, repairs and low deterioration costs. To my mind, there are just some things that are worth spending on. This is one of them.

The ROTC revival BEING a product of the old ROTC program, I am also in favor of the suggestion of President Duterte in 2016 to revive ROTC training. But it is not the only reason.

Ever since the abolition of compulsory ROTC, the reserve component of our overall defense posture has suffered tremendously. In that 2016 speech, the President also said that the reintroduction of ROTC will help to “instill patriotism and love of country to the youth.”

Taking the cue, his political allies took up the cudgels and a number of bills are now pending in both houses of Congress for the purpose of reviving the program.

On the side of the public, there appears to be no violent opposition to the plan except from the usual quarters among them, the progressives who look at the proposal as another tool of the government to suppress the rights of the people whatever that means.

In a very recent TV talk show, one of the panelists even said that the ROTC program will become another tool of the government to go to war against its own people.

Before its abolition, ROTC training was mandatory for all first and second year college male students and was a requirement for graduation in college.

The training was required by Commonwealth Act No. 1 otherwise known as the National Defense Act which was signed into law on Dec 21, 1935. It was the first law enacted by the Philippine Commonwealth. The law is long and detailed. It is recommended that anyone interested on the plan to revive the ROTC whether for or against should read the law in its entirety not only because of its comprehensiveness but also educational because of the evolution of military thought from then to the present. For example, not too many people probably know that the National Defense Act which up to now is still the operative law that is followed when

Insanity...

From A4

have the same fate as his predecessors Faeldon and Lapena. But if Guerrero does get axed, it would be foolish to try our luck again with another military man.

I covered Customs in my early years as a journalist. I know that commissioners must have honesty and integrity considering the complexities of the job.

They must be aware of pertinent laws as well as amendments to these laws, valuation of imports, remote local filing, surety bonds, waybills, demurrage, bill of lading, wharfage and the entire glossary of Customs terminologies. What we need is somebody well-versed and experienced.

President Duterte must be told that aside from honesty and discipline, we need people who know the ropes because smuggling is a cat-and-mouse game at Customs. It’s a 24-hour job!

There is also the problem of well-

it comes to the Armed Forces was the work of the late United States President Dwight Eisenhower when he was a Major in the staff of General Douglas MacArthur. The specific provision in the law for the ROTC program are contained in Title II, Article VI, Sections 35 to 39. Interestingly, the first sentence in the law is that the defense of the country is the duty of every able-bodied citizen.

Nowhere in the law does it talk about patriotism and love of one’s country. It is presumed that all citizens love their country and are willing to defend it when called upon. Patriotism and loving one’s country is taught and developed by teaching other subjects like history while citizens can show their pride in our country because of our history and democratic traditions.

Patriotism, love of country, disaster preparedness are things that can be taught to our citizens in the various stages of our educational process. fore The old ROTC was first and foremost a military training program whose graduates will become part of our military reserve component whether classified as ready or standby reserve who can be mobilized in times of emergency. In the talk show that I mentioned earlier, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines representative was against the part of the bill that mandates grades 11 and 12 to undergo the new basic ROTC program. The IBP wants that it should be the 1st and 2nd year university students instead. The Armed Forces representative objected to this because of the need to capture more students to be trained. It appears that only about 25 percent of all high school graduates continue to college.

The other panelist was completely

meaning people eventually being swallowed and corrupted by the system.

Would you believe that one time, a security guard was known to own a Lamborghini? Miracles do happen here—like that shipment of highly dutiable cargoes supposed to be moved from Batangas Port from the Port of Manila disappearing.

What should be done at BOC? I think the only solution is to privatize it.

Newly appointed commissioners may be intelligent, disciplined and quick to learn. But it is not a place for on-the-job training.

Let’s not fall into old patterns, Mr. President. *** I said earlier that the banning of provincial buses from EDSA seems to have started out as a solution that has morphed into yet another problem. According to records, there are 3,300 provincial buses plying EDSA. Taking them off the major highway will decongest EDSA. But this will create monstrous traffic jams

brings together all the communities," said Shano Askar, a Kurd in his 30s, absorbed in an encounter.

From A4 Around the city's citadel and nados among its rival Kurdish, Turk- across its historic districts, outdoor men and Arab communities. coffee and tea shops are packed "It's also known as the game of with enthusiasts, their eyes glued the communities because it really on the metal trays and 11 upturned

Storytelling...

opposed to the program suggesting that the money to be spent for the ROTC program should be just be used to buy school books. The nature of war is such that actual organized fighting or combat can only be done by the able-bodied citizens who have undergone military training. The other sectors of society contribute by way of producing the needs of the military so that it can fight properly. If organize fighting is over, irregular warfare can be pursued by way of guerrilla operations as we did during the Japanese occupation in World War II. Our country, being what it is, cannot afford to maintain a large standing Armed Forces and must therefore use available resources efficiently. Besides, our Constitution prohibits war as an instrument of national policy. Consequently, all we can do is to maintain an na Armed Forces that is defensive in nature. The National Defense Act touches on this.

It is our misfortune however, that we have been battling an internal insurgency campaign that has been going on for the past 50 years. These internal conflicts that we have been engaged in whether Muslim, Communist or other terrorist groups have taken a toll on our economic development. They have also retarded our ability for a decent military capability that could credibly confront external threats. The main objective of the ROTC program must not be forgotten and that is to provide trained citizens to fight for the country ap in times of emergency. Now, it is appearing that there are add-ons to the proposed new ROTC program.

Other ideas have now entered the equation like patriotism, disaster rescue and other activities. This according to the planners is only addressing the new realities of the times. Fair enough, but experience teaches us that in instances such as the ROTC program, it is better to aim for one objective rather than aiming for multiple objectives to ensure that the product will be of superb quality. If it is military training that we need or want, let it be purely that. Patriotism, love of country, disaster preparedness are things that can be taught to our citizens in the various stages of our educational process.

still, because people still have to take vehicles that ply Edsa—city buses and taxis.

I support the petition for a temporary restraining order on this crazy solution. *** Many thanks to Rene Saguisag for always mentioning my brother Desi, former Court of Appeals justice, for his heroism at the Battle of Bessang Pass.

Rene also mentioned the unfair sacking of my nephew, Desi’s son, as government corporate counsel. *** I wanted to go to the wake of Jojo Robles, who died recently after a long battle with The Big C. I could not go because of a downpour. I was an avid reader of his column.

I remember telling him that President Aquino may send him to jail given his attacks on the Aquino administration and the Yellows. He said: “Let them.

I’m ready to go to jail.” www.emiljurado.weebly.com

small gold cups used for the game.

A die is hidden under one of the cups and the players have to work out which one.

Another competition in which players must find a hidden object— "mheibess" (rings)—is extremely popular in Baghdad.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The case against the RRR inconsequential policy shift. At the end of 2018 the Philippine banking system had deposits totaling P11.

576 trillion. Thus, a 1 percent RRR change means a P115. 7 increase or decrease in the money supply. UniA CENTRAL bank is a very powerful versal and commercial banks now institution, and this country’s central have an additional P231 billion to bank, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas lend and invest in the wake of the 2 (BSP) is no exception. BSP is unques- percent reduction in the RRR. The fact that the funds being retionably one of the most powerful cileased to the universal and commervilian institutions in the land.

BSP’s mandate under the New cial banks through the 2 percent RRR Central Bank Act of 1995 is the reduction is the banks’ own funds— maintenance of price stability—”to funds that have been deposited with maintain monetary and financial con- them by the public and that they are ditions conducive to price stability,” not allowed to use—has made RRR to put it more elegantly—and, to en- the most unpopular, and the most able it to fulfill its mandate, the Act, theoretically questionable, weapon like its 1948 predecessor, gave BSP in the BSP’s regulatory armory. RRR a number of tools capable of regu- is the only weapon that is involunlating the source of stability or in- tary in nature. All the other weapons —loans, rediscounts, open—marstability of pricket operations es—the money and swaps of supply. When acceptable used, these financial astools have the The central bank sets of varieffect of either ous kinds— increasing or has other powerful involve no decreasing the weapons in its armory. compulsion ability of people on the part to produce or of the banks. consume goods Sterilization and services.

Because of its effect on production, of funds that the banks have labored employment and income, these tools hard to gather—the competition must be used in an adept and timely for deposits is one of the fiercest in the world of finance—and that they manner.

Two weeks ago, on May 17, one could profitably employ in their opof the BSP’s—more precisely, the erations is a concept that is difficult Monetary Board’s—operating tools to comprehend, let alone defend. was in the headlines. The Monetary If there has to be an RRR, let it be Board decided, on the preceding day, moderate—preferably low, singleto reduce from 18 percent the RRR digit—in magnitude.

At the outset it was stated that (reserve requirement ratio) of universal and commercial banks. The the BSP is a very powerful institu200-basis-points reduction will be tion where the management of this effected in three stages: the first cut, country’s financial system is conof 100 basis points, to be effective on cerned. It can play—and at times has May 31 and two 50-basis-points cuts played—God with the banks. Where to go into effect on June 28 and July the state of the economy demands 26. RRR cuts for the other types of it, the Monetary Board can order banks will apparently be discussed at the banks to make with the BSP, in quick order special deposits a magthe Board’s next meeting.

It should not be very difficult nitude that it considers necessary to for a layman to grasp the logic un- deal with a negative economic trend. derlying the RRR. The concept of Thus, strictly speaking, there is no requiring banks to place with BSP need for an RRR. Against the RRR it can also be arand therefore render unavailable for lending or investing—a percentage gued that doing away with the RRR of their total deposits—provides the would be conducive to the profitmonetary authority with a basis for ability and strength of the Philipincreasing or decreasing the money pine banking system. Being able to supply. If it determines that the econ- use their own funds—and thereby omy is slowing down, the Monetary being able to operate with less borBoard reduces the RRR percentage rowing—will allow the banks to opand thereby gives the banks access erate more profitably and gradually to a larger part of their deposit base strengthen their capital base. BSP’s for lending and investing; the pro- regulatory function will then become cess is reversed, and the Monetary easier to perform.

The difference between RRR Board raises the RRR percentage, when the economy is perceived to be and the other regulatory tools of poised to operate at a level condu- the Monetary Board is indeed akin cive to inflation. The desire to bring to the difference between a sledgethis country’s RRR closer to the oth- hammer and a scalpel. RRR is the er ASEAN countries’ RRR—at 18 sledgehammer.

A central bank can do a good job percent it was the highest—and the recently announced slowing of GDP of managing a financial system with growth during the first quarter made a low—magnitude RRR, or even the Monetary Board decide that a re- without an RRR at all. It has other duction of the RRR percentage was powerful weapons in its armory.

That, briefly presented, is the case in order.

An RRR change is by no means against the reserve requirement ratio.

Rape...

From A4

misogynistic remarks is “a trait that I know the people wouldn’t like.”

While he professes high respect for women in his family such as his mother, activist Soledad, and politician daughter Sara, he says, “If you don’t want to hear it [sexist jokes], then don’t listen to me…

But those jokes were not intentional. It is there planted in the genetics of men because we have been doing it [ever] since,” he added.

Also in Davao, Duterte said that after Adam’s creation “The woman was a second thought…It’s true. Women are just [an] afterthought.”

Is valedictorian Umalla an afterthought? Are Soledad and Sara Duterte also afterthoughts? For those who might laugh at these jokes, try applying them to the women you love and see if they’re still funny.

The truth is that making misogynis-

A player discreetly slips a ring to a member of his team, and their adversaries have to figure out who, reading their body language and facial expressions.

Such games form part of a wider social phenomenon as Ramadan nights turn once again, often for the

tic remarks, whether intended as a joke or not, is not “planted in the genetics of men.” It is a cultural norm brought about by a patriarchal mindset. It can be changed. And just because men have been doing it for the longest time, does not mean it is the right thing to do.

Rape jokes are always in bad taste.

They perpetuate false ideas about and discriminatory behavior toward women. To say it is to normalize it, that is why such instances, particularly those made by the highest in the land, must be called out everytime they occur.

Mabalasik Class, you are better than this. Consider this an example of ‘what not to do.’ Fellow Filipinos, we can do better than make rape jokes at solemn and dignified occasions; in fact, we can stop making them, period, and start respecting women and their rights.

I salute the Mabalasik Class of 2019.

In your service to the nation, may you always remain committed to the highest values. /FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

first time since the 2013 invasion, into social events rather than a time to be hunkered down at home.

They also serve to show that "technological progress has not got the better of the good things of the past," said Iraqi sociologist Saad Ahmed. AFP

News

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 A6 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Eleazar favors death penalty

By Joel E. Zurbano METRO Manila police director Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday said he was in favor of death as the capital punishment for individuals engaged in drug dealing.

“It will be a big deterrent for those who are involved in transacting big volume of drugs,” said Eleazar.

But he said the death penalty was good but it must be in holistic approach.

“There must be some interventions, other interventions as well as safeguards in order for it not to be abused and used against innocent people. In the case of illegal drugs, it must be the big time members of the syndicates who are actually distributing large amount of illegal drugs. They should be the one covered the penalty,” added Eleazar.

Court jails 4 cops in Taiwanese death

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday sentenced four police officers to suffer life imprisonment without eligibility for parole for the abduction and death of a Taiwanese businessman in 2005.

In a 63-page decision, Branch 219 Judge Janette Abergos-Samar found Police Staff Sergeant Allan Berania, and Patrolmen Candido Vallejo, Joel Tapec and Alexander Pangilinan

Manila

Republic of the Philippines StandardENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

TODAY

12.

The estimated cost of the proposed project is PhP6,384.783 Mn, with an implementation period of 27 months for the conduct of the Desktop, System & Feasibility Studies and Hydrographic Survey; and 60 months for the development of the Mindoro Backbone.

13.

The Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection Project - Stage 1 is exhaustively discussed in the ERC Documentary Requirements for Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection Project (Stage 1) attached as Annex “A”.

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PALAWAN-MINDORO INTERCONNECTION PROJECT (STAGE 1), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

guilty beyond reasonable doubt for ransom with homicide.

Also meted out reclusion perpetua was civilian Ferdinand Gahusan.

The judge ordered the five

individuals’ families to indemnify the kin of Michael Chan P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, P100,000 in exemplary damages and another P100,000 in temperate damages.

The relatives of the five convicts vowed to challenge the court’s ruling.

At least three other suspects—Patrolmen Daniel Maburan and Ely Frias, and a certain Ogie—continued

ERC CASE NO. 2019-022 RC

to remain at large.

The policemen belonged to Doce Pares gang.

Tapec was believed to be the leader of the gang composed of dismissed and active policemen.

Despite a P6-million ransom, Chan was still killed on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Sept 15, 2005.

The victim’s body was dumped and discovered in Rizal’s Antipolo City.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Justifications for the Issuance of Provisional Approval NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES,

14.

NGCP is proposing to implement the Project to provide adequate, reliable and affordable power supply in Palawan. The main power system of Palawan is composed of a 305 km long 69 kV transmission corridor and is vulnerable to grid outages. The energy requirement of the island is being supplied by the more expensive bunker and diesel power plants and unless interconnection is immediately implemented, the increasing demand of Palawan will remain highly reliant on subsidies in taming the true cost of generation from oilbased power plants.

15.

This Project is also in support to the government’s direction of interconnecting off-grid areas into the main grid.

16.

NGCP is filing for the immediate issuance of a provisional authority to immediately conduct the Desktop, System & Feasibility Studies and Hydrographic Survey of the Project which are important steps to establish the appropriate connection scheme. Also, it can be noted that project involves the development of long transmission facilities and thus, preconstruction activities should commence as early as possible.

Applicants. x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 18 March 2019, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 11 March 2019, seeking the Commission’s approval of the Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection Project (Stage 1), with prayer for provisional authority.

The pertinent portions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: 1.

2.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner B.l.R. Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire, which was granted the rights and obligation to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair, refurbish, and replace the Transmission Assets pursuant to R.A. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001” (EPlRA). It may be served with notices and other processes of this Honorable Commission through its counsel at the address indicated below.

Pursuant to R.A. 9511,1 NGCP was granted the franchise to operate, manage and maintain, and in connection therewith, to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through a high-voltage backbone system of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, system operations, and other activities that are necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system2 and is authorized to charge its customers at the rates approved by the Honorable Commission.

3.

This Application is being filed pursuant to, Section 9 (d) of the EPIRA which directs NGCP to submit any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities for approval by the Honorable Commission. Hence, NGCP seeks authority from the Honorable Commission for the immediate implementation of the herein described capital expenditure projects.

4.

Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines in terms of total area of jurisdiction. It is known for its white beaches, clear water, amazing biodiversity, underground river, among others. Its exceptional beauty has gained prominence here in the country and abroad.

5.

6.

Unfortunately, the province is suffering from daily rotational blackouts. Distribution franchise operator blames the prolonged power trip-offs on the inability of its 3 independent power producers (IPPs) to stabilize the energy supply, particularly during summer when demand peaks3.

The best, and long-term solution for the inefficient power supply, is the interconnection of the Island of Palawan to the Luzon Grid via the Mindoro grid.

8.

Thus, NGCP proposes the immediate approval of the proposed Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection Project - Stage 1 (Project). This Project will serve as a preparatory stage for the interconnection of the Palawan Islands to the Luzon Grid.

9.

The Project involves the following scope:

(i)

Desktop, System & Feasibility Studies and Hydrographic Survey

• • • •

Determine the feasible routes for the proposed submarine cable interconnection; Assess engineering risks along the possible cable routes; Identify parameters and methods for the design and implementation of the submarine cable laying; and Determine other factors that should be considered in the detailed design of the project.

Development of Calapan-San Jose 230 kV Transmission Line Backbone and San Jose 230 kV Substation As the interconnection of Palawan to Luzon Grid is via the Mindoro Island, it is necessary to establish a 230kV transmission backbone in Mindoro Island that will be designed for the longterm power requirements of both islands.

10.

11.

Generation potentials in Occidental Mindoro; and

c.

Provide interconnection link to Palawan and Visayas Islands

With the interconnection, Palawan can already source adequate and reliable power supply, and access to a more competitive generation sources in the Luzon grid. Also, with a reliable transmission backbone, Palawan may export power through the development of renewable power in the province. Further, this will fulfill the government’s direction of interconnecting off-grid areas to the main grid. Lastly, this will prepare the country to the planned ASEAN power grid interconnection.

Immediately ISSUE an Order PROVISIONALLY AUTHORIZING the implementation of Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection Project - Stage 1; and

2.

After notice and hearing, APPROVE the Application for the implementation of the Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection Project Stage 1.

Venue ERC HEARING ROOM, 15th Floor Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City SEASONS HOTEL AND 19 June 2019 CONVENTION CENTER (Wednesday) at ten o’clock Km. 238 Airport Road, in the morning (10:00 A.M.) San Roque Occidental FILIPINA HOTEL CALAPAN 20 June 2019 M. Roxas Street, (Thursday) at ten o`clock in Barangay Sto. Nino, the morning (10:00 A.M.) Calapan City 5200 Oriental Mindoro

Date and Time

Particulars

17 June 2019 (Monday) at at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

Jurisdictional and Expository Presentation for Luzon.

Expository Presentation

Expository Presentation

BEST WESTERN PLUS IVYWALL Rizal Avenue Extension, Expository Presentation, Puerto Princesa, Palawan ERC HEARING ROOM, th 16 July 2019 15 Floor Pacific Center Pre-Trial Conference and Building, San Miguel (Tuesday) at at two o’clock Evidentiary Hearing in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 04 July 2019 (Friday) at ten o`clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.)

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

Provide Adequate and Reliable Transmission Facility in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro to meet the forecasted demand;

b.

1.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and venues:

This backbone development has the following benefits: a.

In support of this Application, NGCP submits the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Eufemio C. Buluran, Jr., Regional Transmission Planning Manager, Luzon System Planning Division, Transmission Planning Department of NGCP attached as Annex “B”.

NGCP prays for other equitable relief.

The Feasibility Study would establish the most feasible submarine cable link between Palawan and Mindoro. The system studies on the other hand will cover the selection between HVAC system and HVDC system as well as the establishment of the optimal transmission capacity based on the available technologies. These activities will be undertaken through hiring of consultancy services. (ii)

18.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, NGCP most respectfully prays that this Honorable Commission:

The primary goals of the Desktop Study are the following: • Assess the risks in the study area; • Describe the landing sites for the proposed submarine cable interconnection; • Present information that may impact the survey and actual implementation of the proposed interconnection; • Present information that may affect system maintenance; • Summarize the survey, installation and operational permits to be required; and • Define the boundaries of the area to be surveyed.

While, the Hydrographic Survey aims to obtain the following results:

In preparation to the implementation of Palawan-Mindoro Interconnection, the Calapan-San Jose 230 kV Transmission Line Backbone is urgently necessary. More importantly, this project component is crucial to adequately and reliably serve the forecasted demand in the southern part of Mindoro island.

PRAYER

In November 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte, while visiting Puerto Princesa for the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival has made a directive for the upgrading of the source of energy for the Island of Palawan4.

7.

17.

1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the opposition or comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21st day of May 2019 in Pasig City.

The proposed Project interconnection will have the following components:

1

2 3 4

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and For Other Purposes; Id, Section 1; Source: https:/ /www.rappler.com/nation/169095-palawan-daily-power-outages; Source: https:/ /www.rappler.com/nation/216411-duterte-eyes-big-players-end-palawanblackouts (M S-M AY 3 0 & J U N E 6 , 2 019)

BENEFIT CLAIMS. Youth organizations from various universities in Metro Manila troop Wednesday to the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila, a week after the proclamation of the election results to protest against perceived violations by the government’s election watchdog. Norman Cruz

Cards for 4Ps beneficiaries INSTEAD of waiting in long lines to receive over-the-counter payments, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries will now own cash cards for easier and more efficient transactions.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Wednesday said it was targeting to complete the more efficient delivery of payments by December 2019.

“We will also explore new financial technologies and infrastructures for the efficient payment systems,” DSWD Undersecretary Camilo Gudmalin said in an interview.

To ensure financial inclusion of the poor, the DSWD also envisages converting existing cash cards accounts to transaction accounts.

Apart from the payment process, the social welfare department has also looked into upgrading its compliance verification process via working with the Department of Education to link the information systems to fully automate the compliance verification system.

Through this, the long period

of receiving the grant will be cut short.

“We will just maintain the learner reference number of students and link up with DepeD to digitally pull up their enrolment and attendance data,” Gudmalin added.

These and more improvements are expected after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11310 which aims to institutionalize 4P’s, the government’s national poverty reduction strategy that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum of seven years.

“The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order thereby uplifting its citizens and marginalized sectors from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and improved quality of life for all,” the law reads.

The law mandates the DSWD to use a standardized targeting system to identify, select and revalidate qualified 4Ps beneficiaries every three years. PNA

Makati to enforce road closure, rerouting plan THE Makati City government will enforce road closure and rerouting scheme in connection with the annual Flores de Mayo from 1p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.

City chief information officer Romulo Salgado Jr. said the program would start from the Makati City Hall Quadrangle to the Globe Circuit Event Grounds via Hormiga Street, Trabajo Street, Hippodromo Street, and A.P. Reyes Street.

The following route will be imposed: For private and public utility vehicles along Garcia Street coming from Kalayaan Avenue (Eastbound heading to Rockwell Area and Guadalupe): • Take J.P. Rizal Avenue towards Antipolo Street, right turn to S. Osmena Street, left turn to either E. Zobel Street or P. Burgos Street Extension (Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge Service Road), right turn to A. Mabini Street, left turn to J. P. Rizal Avenue to normal route destination, or • Take J.P. Rizal Avenue towards Antipolo Street, right turn to S. Osmena Street, right turn to P. Burgos Street Extension (MakatiMandaluyong Bridge Service Road), left turn to J. P. Rizal Avenue to normal route destination towards Guadalupe/EDSA. For private and public utility vehicles along J.P. Rizal Avenue coming from Rockwell and Edsa Westbound heading to Makati City Hall and Delpan Street: • A “stop and go” scheme will be implemented along A.P. Reyes Street to give way to the procession. Traffic cones will be installed by Public Safety Department personnel to manage traffic in the area.

The Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) Festival or Santacruzan is one of the most celebrated events in May in Makati and throughout the country. The procession of sagalas and their escorts depicts the search of St. Helena for the cross of Jesus Christ and gives honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Joel E. Zurbano

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Carlos powers way to 2 PPS tennis titles

Osaka, Halep survive Garros horror shows PARIS—World number one Naomi Osaka was just two points from a sensational Roland Garros exit on Tuesday before securing her place in the second round where she was joined by defending champion Simona Halep who also needed three sets to survive.

Top seed Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 0-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

However, she came within a whisker of becoming only the second top seed to lose in the first round in Paris in the modern era after Angelique Kerber in 2017.

“I think this is the most nervous I have ever been my entire life during a match,” said Osaka.

She was also totting up the reasons why she was so under-powered.

“First time playing a Grand Slam as No. 1. I have won the last two, so I kind of want to win this one really bad.

“Also I have never played on the Chatrier court before. This was my first time. And, yeah, I kind of feel like I’m having the thought of wanting to prove myself again, so...”

World number 90 Schmiedlova, who hadn’t won a match at the tournament since 2014, twice served for victory in the 10th and 12th games of the second set.

At one stage, she was just two points away from a famous victory.

“It hurts that I lost so many chances,” said Schmiedlova.

“She’s the number one, it was not easy in my head.”

Osaka, who had arrived in Paris still feeling the effects of a hand injury suffered in Rome, raced through the final set and will face former world number one and twotime major winner Victoria Azarenka.

Osaka ended the match with 10 aces, 36 winners and 38 unforced errors -- just four of those coming in the decider.

Azarenka, a semi-finalist in 2013, reached the second round for the first time since 2015 with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win over 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Third seed Halep overcame a second-set blip against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic to win 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Halep, who won her maiden Grand Slam title in Paris last year after three previous final defeats, will next face Poland’s Magda Linette. AFP

US Women’s Open winner to get $1M after prize boost LOS ANGELES—The winner of this week’s US Women’s Open will receive a record $1 million as part of a boost in prize money that will also see next month’s US Open solidify its status as golf’s richest major, organisers said Tuesday.

The United States Golf Association said in a statement prize money for the 119th US Open at Pebble Beach and the 74th US Women’s Open at Charleston had each been increased by $500,000.

It means the US Women’s Open purse will total $5.5 million. The $1 million winner’s cheque on offer in Charleston this week will be the richest payout in the history of women’s golf.

Top women’s players welcomed the news of the prize money hike on Tuesday.

“I think it’s amazing news,” Lexi Thompson told reporters in South Carolina.

“I think it is very well-deserved, but I think overall golf is just growing as a sport. The players are very excited about the news, and hopefully we can just keep on improving.”

The US Open, meanwhile, which takes place at Pebble Beach from June 13-16, will see its total purse increase to $12.5 million.

“The USGA is committed to providing an unparalleled experience to every player competing in its championships,” USGA championships director John Bodenhamer said in a statement which announced the cash boost.

Tiger Woods earned $2.07 million for his win at the Masters in April, where the purse totalled $11.5 million.

Brooks Koepka won $1.98 million with his win at the PGA Championship earlier this month. The PGA Championship purse weighed in at $11 million. The British Open offered $10.5 million last year. AFP

Top seed Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 0-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1. AFP

Warriors seek 3-peat; Raptors eye 1st crown T

ORONTO—While the Golden State Warriors try to cement their legacy as the NBA’s greatest dynasty in half a century, the upstart Toronto Raptors made history just reaching the NBA Finals.

Thursday’s opener in the best-of-seven championship showdown will be the first NBA Finals game played outside the United States, the Canadian contest coming in the same city where the first league game was played in 1946.

Three-point sharpshooter Stephen Curry attempts to lead the injury-hit Warriors to their third consecutive NBA title, a feat last achieved by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002, and Golden State could become the first team to win four crowns in five seasons since the 1969 Boston Celtics.

“Four more wins defines your season and brings you a championship,” Curry said. “We have to stay locked in.”

Blocking their path is a Raptors team powered by Kawhi Leonard, obtained in a trade with San Antonio last July.

He has sparked a squad that was ousted

by Cleveland in the playoffs each of the past three years, creating a breakthrough campaign.

“They are the champions. We’ve got to go in with mental focus and accept the challenge,” Leonard said. “We’re in the finals and we’re not done yet.”

Golden State’s five consecutive NBA

Leonard

Curry

Finals appearances is the second-best run in history trailing only Boston’s epic run from 1957-66.

“It hasn’t been done for a reason. It’s really difficult,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“I can’t say enough about the competitive drive of these players and the culture they have built. This group has a fiber about them. When guys go down, they find a way to play harder and win. The experience of having won titles helps you come through.”

The Warriors have proven that during the NBA playoffs since forward Kevin Durant went down with a right calf injury three weeks ago. Center DeMarcus Cousins is also sidelined with a torn right quadriceps muscle suffered in the first round of

the playoffs.

Warriors OK without KD Golden State has risen to the challenge of losing two stars with a return to the style that made them a force before Durant arrived in 2016—scrappy defensive work and pinpoint 3-point shooting courtesy of Curry and Klay Thompson plus expanded roles for Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala as well as other reserves.

“We set that culture from the beginning and it manifested itself during the season,” Curry said. “You’ve got to have guys step up. Everybody with a jersey on is going to help out.”

Green says Golden State’s well prepared reserve role players are a major reason the Warriors went 5-0 in the playoffs without Durant.

“We have a bunch of guys committed to winning,” he said. “No matter what bump in the road we hit, we know what the goal is. When you have that kind of commitment, great things happen.”

Kerr calls Green “a wrecking ball out there, destroying everything in his path” and has praised the efforts of 23-year-old backup center Kevon Looney as a “foundational piece” and “cornerstone” for the Warriors in the playoffs since Durant absent.

Looney has averaged 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds and provided solid minutes inside, where he will test Spanish stars Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka for Toronto in the finals. AFP

Aussie champ aims high in Ironman 70.3 MULTI-TITLED Tim Reed of Australia expects to race in top form as he seeks to bounce back from a series of setbacks and reclaim the crown in the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay presented by Big Boss Cement, which unfolds Sunday (June 2) in Subic Bay. Winner of the inaugurals of this event in 2015 and a three-time IRONMAN 70.3 champion in Cebu, Reed has had a number of sorry finishes in the last top-level endurance races, including a fourth place effort in Davao IRONMAN 70.3 last March.

But the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion sees a big turnaround come Sunday, ready to take on the best in the premier men’s pro division, including first Philippines full IRONMAN champion Nick Baldwin of Seychelles no less.

“I’m really excited to return to Subic Bay. With the race previously held in March, I’m often rebuilding fitness after a short off-season and I’m really excited about racing IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay further into my season when my race fitness should be at a really high level,” said Reed.

Aside from his world-class rivals, the Aussie ace also braces for a tough outing on a new course lined up for the 1.9km swim90km bike-21km run event and the weather condition at this time of the season.

“IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay is a truly challenging event even

by IRONMAN 70.3 standards. An undulating course combined with the heat makes it a true test. I think the more times you have raced in Subic Bay the more lessons you have learnt and I hope I can put all that knowledge into helping me have a great race,” added Reed.

Tim Reed

But he will be facing a crack set of rivals in the Sunrise Events, Inc.-organized event, headed by Baldwin, many-time triathlon winner Sam Betten, along with fellow Australians Tim Van Berkel and Conor McKay and Colombia’s Rodrigo Acevedo and Oli Stenning of Great Britain.

For details, visit www.ironman703subicbay.com or the Facebook page Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay and @im703subicbay on Instagram and Twitter. Official event hashtags are #CenturyTunaIM703 #im703subicbay.

CLUB bet Macie Carlos played true to form in the girls’ 16-and-under division then foiled an upstart in the premier class to complete a twinkill in the PPS-PEPP Valle Verde national age group tennis tournament in Pasig City recently.

The top seeded Carlos crushed Mica Emana from QC, 6-1, 6-0, in the 16-U finals and, as No. 3 in the 18-U class, ripped No. 2 Francesca Cruz, 4-1, 4-1, in the semis before blasting top ranked Anna Demyer tormentor Althea Ong, 6-0, 6-1, to emerge the lone “double’ winner in the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.

Kriz Lim overpowered Ario Quines, 4-0, 4-0, to run away with the 10-unisex title then teamed up with Samuel Davila to whip Noval Brazal and Godwin Jumarang, 8-2, to clinch the 10-U doubles diadem and share the MVP honors with Carlos in the event Other winners in the country’s longest running talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro were Team Solinco’s Josiah Salangsang (boys’ 12-U) and Hadassah Pascua (girls’ 12-U), Quezon City Sports Club’s Lance Fernandez (boys’ 14-U) and Loucas Fernandez (boys’ 18U), Manila Polo Club’s Miguel Castillo (boys’ 16-U) and Emana (girls’ 14-U).

Salangsang stopped Kriz Lim, 4-1, 4-0, in the semis then held off Prince Lim, 7-6(4), 6-2; Pascua upended top seed Felicia Araneta, 6-1, 6-1; Lance Fernandez warded off Kidron Pascua, 6-1, 6-4; Loucas Fernandez outlasted Daniel Estanislao III, 7-6(4), 6-4; Castillo repulsed Edgardo Angara, 7-5, 6-0; and Emana beat Hadassah Pascua, 6-0, 6-0.

Mica Emana also partnered with sister Kaye Ann to edge Kryshanna Brazal and Anna Demyer, 8-6, to snare the 18-U doubles plum with Lance and Loucas Fernandez taking the boys’ crown with an 8-3 romp over Emmanuel Davila and Pablo Gonzaga.

Wilder-Ortiz rematch slated LOS ANGELES—World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder announced a rematch with Cuba’s Luis Ortiz on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to hopes of a unification bout with rival Anthony Joshua.

In an announcement on Twitter, Wilder said he had signed a deal to face Ortiz once more following a bruising first battle in March 2018.

Wilder won his first encounter with the Cuban nicknamed “King Kong” with a 10th round stoppage, but not before the 40-year-old had badly shaken the undefeated champion.

“To all my fans, I want to announce that Luis Ortiz and I have signed for a rematch, with the date and site to be announced shortly,” Wilder wrote on Twitter.

“All my controversial fights Must get dealt with ASAP,” he added.

While no date or venue was announced, US media reports said the two men would face off in Las Vegas on September 28.

Wilder, 33, defended his title for the ninth time on May 18 after demolishing Dominic Breazeale with a first round knockout.

The WBC champion is unbeaten in 41 fights, including 40 inside the difference, with the lone blemish on an otherwise perfect record a draw with Britain’s Tyson Fury last December.

Wilder’s decision to fight Ortiz makes it unlikely he will meet rival Joshua in a much-anticipated unification fight this year.

Wilder has not fought more than two fights in a calendar year since 2015, and would realistically face a short twomonth turnaround to squeeze in a bout with Joshua before the end of the year after his bout against Ortiz. AFP

Helterbrand, Hontiveros banner UNTV Cup Faceoff teams RETIRED ‘young’ players JayJay Helterbrand and Dondon Hontiveros banner their respective teams in the UNTV Cup PBA Legends Faceoff which kicks off on Sunday at the Pasig Sports Center.

Hontiveros rekindles the past as he dons the San Miguel Beer jersey anew, while Helterbrand, the former PBA MVP, will be at the forefront of Ginebra San Miguel team’s campaign in the month-long meet, four-team meet that also features Purefoods and Alaska.

Both Hontiveros and Helterbrand retired at the same time in Asia’s pioneering pro league in 2017.

But the two earned the right to see action in

the tournament that offers a P1 million prize to the champion team as they are well qualified as per the age bracket of 40-year-old and above.

The presence of Helterbrand and Hontiveros are expected to add excitement to the meet that is an offshoot of the highly-successful ‘Return of the Rivals’ event staged last February which also featured the four popular ballclubs.

“Kaya ipinanganak itong PBA Legends Faceoff, nu’ng nakita nila (UNTV) na maganda pa ring panoorin at makikita mo ‘yung reception ng mga fans ay maganda, kaya nangyari itong faceoff na ito,” said tournament commissioner Fortunato ‘Atoy’ Co in Tuesday’s

Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila. “Sabi nga nila sa alak, mas lumuluma, mas sumasarap.”

With Helterbrand at Ginebra are Bal David, Vince Hizon, Rudy Distrito, Edward Joseph Feihl, Marlou Aquino, Bobby Jose, Benny Cheng, Mike Orquillas, Banjo Calpito, and Pido Jarencio.

Joining Hontiveros at San Miguel on the other hand, are Allan Caidic, Nic Belasco, Ato Agustin, Danny Ildefonso, Nelson Asaytono, Olsen Racela, Arnold Gamboa, Bong Alvarez, Francis Adriano, Danny Seigle, and Chris Calaguio.

PBA great Atoy Co

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

Pringle back, leads NorthPort to 3rd triumph

By Jeric Lopez

INITIAL PHASE. Senator Manny Pacquiao and members of his training and security team jog around Dasmarinas Village in Makati City, Philippines Wednesday morning. The

fighting senator is in the initial phase of his preparation for his coming fight with American WBA welterweight super champion at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 20. Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

Sarangani latest team to join MPBL GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Sarangani is the latest expansion team to join the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

On Wednesday, the team owned by Pastor Joel Dutaro, founder of KAPA Community Ministry International Inc., signed as an expansion member, making Sarangani the third province to sign as an expansion squad for the coming season of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league in the country.

The Albay Volcanoes, owned by businessman Gil Orense and coached

by Monel Kallos, and the Mindoro Tamaraws of coach Justin Tan, were the other expansion squads that have signed up so far.

“I think this is the first time that Sarangani will be represented,” said Dutaro in front of the local media who went to cover the signing of agreement at the Roadhauz Hotel here.

Dutaro’s group was welcomed

by MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, who was joined in the contract signing by operations head Zaldy Realubit and assistant commissioner Satar Macantal.

“This is a historic signing of the Sarangani Province in the MPBL. Kaya binibigyan natin ng importansya ‘yung LGU, isang rason dito ay pinopromote natin ‘yung province or city.

Promoting the tourist attractions of the province is something which the LGU gets in return in tying up with a team. Makikita ng buong Pilipinas every time na may game ang Sarangani kung anong klaseng probinsiya ba sila,” added Duremdes.

Following additional teams from the south, Realubit said they may be able to make some adjustments in terms of the bracketing of the teams as they intend some of the teams in the southern division to the north to maintain balance between two groups.

This means that teams like Marikina, Rizal, and Paranaque are likely to be moved to the northern division.

Ramirez accepts PH chef de mission post

By Peter Atencio

T

HERE is a call for a truce among sports leaders quarreling from within the Philippine Olympic Committee family.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez made this appeal yesterday after he changed his mind and accepted his appointment to become the chef de mission of the national delegation to the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which the Philippines is hosting from November 30 to December 10 this year.

Talks with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday evening made Ramirez change his mind.

“I humbly accept the chef de mission post for Team Philippines’ 2019 SEA Games participation. I accept the challenges of the CDM position. Aside from the instructions from my bosses is to heed the call for help of the POC,” said Ramirez after meeting yesterday morning with POC president Ricky Vargas and Assistant Secretary Kim Raisa Uy at the PSC offices in Vito Cruz, Manila.

“I suppose this discussion (on being chef mission) reached the president. It’s a very tremendous responsibility. As the sports government arm, we show our readiness to step in, to help in the capacity being requested and if possible, mediate to make unity happen. I do this in the interest of unity. Through this, I express my

solid support to the POC and the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee.

We must stand as one,” Ramirez went on.

The PSC chief initially turned down the appointment made by Vargas last Monday.

UNITED FRONT. PSC Chairman William

Ramirez (left) and POC President Ricky Vargas

Vargas, during a meeting of the POC General Assembly last Monday, named the PSC Chairman as the replacement of taekwondo secretary general former Makati Cong. Monsour del Rosario as the CDM. On Monday, Ramirez meets with NSA officials to assess preparations for the Games.

New appointments were named during the gathering after officials of the POC were removed from key positions.

The shakeup happened after questions on the status of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee were raised and answered by the POC legal counsel in previous days.

Vargas said loss of trust and confidence were the main reasons why former POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., Joey Romasanta, Robert Bachmann, Del Rosario and lawyer Charlie Ho were removed from their posts.

“There’s just a small misunderstanding.

But seated beside me with our new CDM, we have become stronger. We have a lot of respect for our Chairman. We feel that at this point in time that we are holding the SEA Games in the country, he is the most qualified. Many are. But he is the most qualified,” said Vargas.

Bachmann’s position as chairman of the membership committee was given to muay’s Lucas Managuelod, while Vargas will fill in the spot of chairman of the constitutional amendments committee, in place of Cojuangco.

FOREST HILLS EYES MAIDEN WIN.

Team Forest Hills Ladies shoots for its first victory in the 2019 LuzViMin golf tournament of the Womens Golf Association of the Philippines at the Cebu Country Club. In photo are Jee Cabochan, Grace Atienza, Nati Toribio, Cecil Tan, Christine Lava and Tess Staub.

Familiarity of golf course nets Cebu Country Club lead CEBU Country Club took charge in the early going of the 2019 Champion Luzvimin Invitational golf tournament, using its local knowledge of the CCC layout to pool a 187 for a one-point edge over Pueblo de Oro in Cebu City yesterday.

Mary Kim Hong fired 50 points under the Molave scoring system while Riko Nagai, Crystal Neri and Catrina Martinez backed her up with 48, 46 and 43 points, respectively, as the hosts and the equally hot-starting Pueblo de Oro ladies took the spotlight from defending champion Del Monte and former titlist Manila Southwoods after 18 holes of the six-to-play, four-to-count format event.

Pamela Mariano sizzled with 53 points while Alethea Gaccion shot 50 points and Juliane Borlongan and Gladys Opitz

added 42 and 41 points, respectively, for Pueblo de Oro, which stayed just within at 186 heading to the last two days of the annual championship sponsored by Champion and organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Valley Golf, behind leading Class A individual scorer Mariel Tee’s 55 points, placed third with a 170 as last year’s winner Del Monte found the flat but tight layout not to its liking and groped for a 167 with Manila Southwoods settling for fifth with a 163 in the premier Diamond division of the event backed by Henna, San Miguel Corp., Diamond Motors, Quest Hotel, Cebu Country Club, Ayala Land Premier, Celium Fibre, Derma C, Gothong Lines and Vermogen.

Leslie Icoy and Martina Miñoza shot

43 points each for Del Monte but last year’s Class B individual champion Sophia Abarcas could only add 41 points and Kiara Montebon chipped in 40 markers.

Southwoods, on the other hand, got 46 points from Laia Barro and 45 points from Loralie Roberto but their next two scorers could only churn out 36 points at best, two of which coming from Yeun Jea Baek, Claudine Garcia or Christine Naidoo.

Fernando Air Base made a 147 for sixth followed by Club Filipino (142), Rancho Palos Verdes (131), Sta. Elena (114), Eagle Ridge (109) and Victorias (88).

Tagaytay Highlands, with Gilda Medestomas shooting 41 points, showed

the way in Emerald class with a 149, four points ahead of Camp Aguinaldo I and Forest Hills, which turned in identical 145s with Camp John Hay and Alabang putting in a pair of 140s.

Lorna Tabuena came away with 40 points while Myoung Hee Cheon scored 37 points as they powered Manila Golf to the Ruby division lead with a 138, also four points up on Villamor (134) with Orchard too far behind with a 119.

Bacolod, on the other hand, set the pace in the Pearl class with Sharon Cho and Monina Gudaca leading the charge with identical 31 points, for a one-point lead over Camp Aguinaldo 2, led by Mencie Millionado’s 31 points, with Baguio, powered by Nora Sy’s 30 points, just within striking distance at 106.

NORTHPORT blasted TNT mercilessly in the second half to cruise its way to a 110-86 rout--its third straight win in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night..

Stanley Pringle finally made his tournament debut for NorthPort after missing the first two games with an injury.

The Batang Pier superstar debuted with a bang by scoring a game-high 22 points to lead his team to victory.

Robert Bolick provided support with 21 markers, while import Prince Ibeh delivered a double-double with 18 points and 20 rebounds.

The Batang Pier remained unscathed as they hiked their slate to 3-0, while the Tropang Texters fell to 2-1 after tasting their first defeat.

The win elevated NorthPort into shared first place with idle Blackwater, which also sits at 3-0.

Following a tight first half where no team gained total control, the Batang Pier went on game-turning outburst to end the third period.

NorthPort went on a huge 15-0 blast to end the third and turn a three-point deficit into a doubledigit advantage, 77-65, entering the fourth period.

Still stunned, the Tropang Texters were unable to recover and the Batang Pier continued their surge in the payoff period, extending their lead further to break the game wide open.

An additional 6-0 run to open the fourth sealed the win for NorthPort, which led by as much as 26 points in the final 12 minutes.

The big key for NorthPort was the way it was able to contain prolific import Terrence Jones.

After scoring over 40 points in his first two games, Jones was held by the stingy Batang Pier defense to only 17 points and 14 rebounds as the KaTropa struggled to find offense elsewhere.

The scores: NorthPort 110—Pringle 22, Bolick 21, Ibeh 18, Anthony 13, Lanete 12, Tautuaa 11, Elorde 9, Grey 2, Gabayni 2, Flores 0, Taha 0, Arana 0.

TNT 86—Rosario 22, Pogoy 19, Jones 17, Castro 10, Heruela 5, Taha 4, Trollano 4, Semerad 3, Reyes 2, Williams 0, Golla 0, Miranda 0, Casino 0.

Quarterscores: 25-28, 43-44, 77-65, 110-86

Blackwater’s Parks shows early impact BOBBY Ray Parks immediately showed his impact with Blackwater by leading the team to three straight victories to jumpstart its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.

Last year’s no. 2 overall pick finally made his highly-awaited league debut and in a span of a week, averaged 23.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals in three games—all victories by the fast-starting Elite.

The numbers speak volumes for the talented 26-year-old guard out of National University, who copped his very first PBA Press Corps-Cignal Player of the Week honor for the period May 19- 26.

The 6’4” Parks bested NorthPort’s Sean Anthony and Anthony Semerad for the weekly citation as he also submitted a high 37 percent shooting from threepoint range (7 of 19) and 82 percent from the foul line (18 of 22).

The Blackwater rookie suited up in his first PBA game during the conference opener on May 19 against Meralco and quickly made his presence felt by scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a 94-91 overtime win.

Five days later, Parks proved his first game was no fluke after taking charge in the extra period as the Elite made it backto-back wins by turning back defending champion Barangay Ginebra, 108-107.

The son of the late legendary PBA import Bobby Parks scattered 28 points, including 10 in overtime capped by two three-pointers that allowed the Elite to take control of the game for good.

Parks capped the winning stretch by coming through with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a 118-110 Blackwater win over Columbian Dyip.

The streak of 20 points or more by Parks in his first three games made him the first rookie in 22 years to achieve the feat or since top pick Andy Seigle did it with Mobiline in 1997 as per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.

IN BRIEF SSS condones P9.5b in penalties under LRP STATE-RUN Social Security System condoned P9.5 billion in short-term loan penalties of over 658,000 calamity-affected members under its second Loan Restructuring Program, and strongly urged member-borrowers to pay religiously the monthly amortization of the restructured loans.

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said the program, which ran from April 2018 to April 2019, had restructured P10.9 billion worth of loans and generated an income amounting to P4.4 billion.

“Members who paid their outstanding loans in full through LRP will again enjoy their loan privileges after six months from the time that they have paid their loans. They are now worryfree from any loan deductions on their future benefits such as their retirement pension. We encourage those who are paying their restructured loans in installment terms to ensure that they are paying their loan obligations on time to eventually regain their good standing with the pension fund,” said Ignacio.

Business

GOCC remittances in 2019 to top 2018 REMITTANCE of dividends by government-owned and -controlled corporations this year is expected to surpass the fullyear collections in 2018, judging from the latest data as of May 2019, the Department of Finance said Wednesday.

Data show that dividends remitted

by GOCCs as of mid-May this year had reached P38.9 billion, or just 3 percent shy of the P40.17 billion in actual collections for the entire 2018.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said given the robust trend in the first five months of the year, the 2019 dividend collections would easily surpass the previous year’s figures, setting the stage for a new unprecedented amount of dividend contributions from GOCCs. The P40.17 billion collected in 2018 was the highest amount ever generated so far for an entire year since the law requiring state firms to hand over 50 percent of their annual net earnings to the national government was enacted in 1994.

Moody’s trims 2019 PH growth forecast to 6%

By Julito G. Rada GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investor Service on Wednesday reduced its 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6 percent from a previous estimate of 6.2 percent, taking into account the lackluster economic growth in the first quarter and the delayed approval of the national budget.

Moody’s senior credit officer Christian de Guzman said in an economic forum held by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines in partnership with the Aboitiz Group in Makati City that the slower expansion in the first quarter compelled the ratings agency to lower its fullyear GDP forecast for the country.

“On the basis of a few things... I guess you know first of all you had the budget impasse and you saw the GDP [of 5.6 percent in the first quarter],” de Guzman said.

De Guzman also cited the external headwinds in the downward revision of the growth forecast, including the lingering trade tension between the US and China.

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

“To enable us to hit a GDP growth rate above 6 percent this year, national government needs to ramp up its spending.

In 2019, national government disbursements are targeted to reach P3.774 trillion, equivalent to 19.6 percent of GDP. This is 10.7-percent higher than the actual disbursement in 2018,” Dominguez said after the Economic Development Cluster meeting held at the Department of Finance headquarters in Manila on Friday.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

B1

Pilmico buys 25% more of Gold Coin, takes full ownership

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Toyota seeks lower taxes on hybrid autos TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. has sought the same treatment the government gives to electric vehicle when it reduced the excise tax for hybrid electric vehicles to zero from the current 30 percent.

Toyota president Satoru Suzuki said the current tax regime favored full electric vehicles, which are exempt from paying excise tax under TRAIN 1.

“We need support from the government if we are to continue bringing in environmentally-sustainable products/ models into the Philippines. We want the same treatment they give to full electric vehicles,” he said Wednesday at the sidelines of the Toyota HEV Conference held in Bonifacio Global City.

The company noted that private hybrid cars were still taxed 30 percent compared with public utility hybrid vehicles that enjoyed a 50-percent cut in excise tax to 15 percent.

Suzuki conceded that sales of hybrid cars in the Philippines, especially Toyota HEV, had been slow in the past years, with just 300 units sold since their introduction in 2000. Toyota sold only 7 HEV units in 2018. Othel V. Campos

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

AGRINURTURE’S ANNIVERSARY. AgriNurture Inc. marks its 10th listing anniversary as a publicly listed company with a special bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange. Leading the ceremony are (from left) ANI director Ciara Lim, ANI corporate secretary Lisette Arboleda, ANI chairman Antonio Tiu, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon and PSE director Roberto Cecilio Lim.

MPIC likely to bag P22-b waste-to-energy project

By Alena Mae S. Flores

M

ETRO Pacific Investments Corp. is optimistic of bagging a P22-billion waste-to-energy project in Payatas, Quezon City after the local government unit did not receive a competing proposal, a top executive said Wednesday.

MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the consortium was just waiting for the approval of incoming Mayor Joy Belmonte to proceed with the project.

“We are just waiting for Mayor Belmonte… I think it is already okay with the

city council,” Pangilinan said.

MPIC said no competing proposals were submitted to challenge MPIC’s application for a solid waste management facility in Quezon City. He said the consortium was expecting to receive a notice of award for the project within the first half.

The local government of Quezon City did not receive other offers challenging the consortium’s proposal on Feb. 4― the deadline for the submission of bids.

“Our plan is to develop a waste treatment facility that will convert up to 3,000 metric tons of municipal waste into electricity each day in a power plant with 36 megawatts of installed capacity,” MPIC president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said.

Pangilinan said the waste-to-energy project could be replicated in other cities and municipalities and talks were ongoing with other local government officials.

“Yes, we don’t want to announce until this is bedded down. It will be a template

for other cities, municipalities,” he said.

The Quezon City government’s publicprivate partnership selection committee endorsed to outgoing Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista the proposal of the consortium of Metro Pacific, Covanta Energy Llc. and Macquarie Capital Ltd. The next step is a request for the Quezon City Council to grant authority to the mayor in signing the contract with the consortium.

The projected output of the pioneering project is twice the current electricity requirements of the local government. The concession period covers 35 years.

Once the consortium is awarded the project, the development and construction will take three to four years.

The infrastructure conglomerate earlier said it was looking at creating a portfolio of waste-to-energy facilities with a generating capacity of 300 MW in the coming years.

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures took full ownership of Gold Coin Management Holdings Ltd., one of Asia’s largest privately-owned agribusiness corporations, with the acquisition of an additional 25-percent stake in the Singaporean company for $120 million.

AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange unit Pilmico International Pte. Ltd. purchased the remaining 25-percent stake in Gold Coin to expand the group’s animal feed business within the Asia Pacific region.

AEV acquired the first 75-percent stake in Gold Coin for $334 million in July 2018. Established in 1953, the Singapore-based Gold Coin is a major producer of animal feeds and operates 20 production facilities, employing over 3,000 people across 11 countries.

It offers a wide range of products for both the livestock and the aqua industries, including young animals and hatchery feed, premixes, concentrates and compound feed.

It currently has operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam AEV said the acquisition would add three million metric tons of volume to the group’s capacity, thereby quadrupling its overall feeds production capacity.

The Gold Coin acquisition is Pilmico International’s largest investment in the Asia-Pacific region to date.

Pilmico first ventured outside the Philippines in 2014 when it acquired 70 percent of Vinh Hoan Feeds, one of Vietnam’s major aquafeed manufacturers.

It bought an additional 15-percent stake in VHF in 2017, boosting its stake to 85 percent. It also bought 70 percent in Europe Nutrition Joint Stock Company (Eurofeed), an animal feeds manufacturer.

AEV earmarked P81 billion in capital expenditures for 2019, up from P49 billion it spent in 2018. The conglomerate said at least 63 percent of P81 billion, or P51 billion, would be set aside for the expansion of powerrelated businesses.

PH climbs 4 places to rank 46th most competitive economy in the world

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines climbed four places to rank 46th out of 63 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 2019.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the improvement in the country’s ranking was a precursor to more positive results from other competitiveness surveys.

“For the past year, the entire government—executive, legislative, judiciary —has been working as one to promote national and regional competitiveness.

With the latest results of the IMD competitiveness rankings, we underscore the initial outcomes from this whole of government approach and increased privatepublic sector collaboration,” Lopez said.

The International Institute for Man-

agement Development, a Swiss business school, said the Philippines improved from its 2018 ranking of 50th, on the back of fast economic growth and expanding labor force.

It said the gross domestic product of the Philippines grew 6.2 percent in 2018 to reach $330.8 billion. The country’s GDP (PPP) per capita amounted to $8,936.

The Philippines recorded significant improvements on all four indicators measured in the report. Its ranking on economic performance rose 12 notches from 50th to 38th; government efficiency, up 3 notches from 44th to 41st; business efficiency, up 6 notches from 38th to 32nd; and infrastructure, up 1 notch from 60th to 59th.

The report also noted upgrades in gov-

ernment budget surplus/deficit; effective personal income tax rate; gross fixed capital formation - real growth; tourism receipts and protectionism.

It showed, however, that the country suffered declines in the current account balance; consumer price inflation; collected total tax revenues; compensation levels; and exchange rate stability.

The country received lower rankings on indicators such as basic infrastructure (61st), health and environment (56th), education (58th), scientific infrastructure (59th), business legislation (54th) and international trade (54th).

Economists regard competitiveness as vital for the long-term health of an economy as it empowers businesses to achieve sustainable growth, generates

jobs and enhances the welfare of citizens.

The IMD report, established in 1989, incorporates 235 indicators such as unemployment, GDP and government spending on health and education and data from an executive opinion survey covering topics such as social cohesion, globalization and corruption. The ranking was based on four categories—economic performance, infrastructure, government efficiency and business efficiency.

IMD said the Philippines faces five major challenges in 2019, including the need to speed up and sustain investments in physical infrastructure; inadequate investment in human capital; poor digital competitiveness and future-readiness; need to sustain investor and consumer confidence and persistent political risks.

BSP cuts other banks’ reserve requirements THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, expanded the coverage of the reduction in reserve requirements by including a uniform reserve requirement of 4 percent on the long-term negotiable certificates of time deposit issued by all banks and nonbank financial institutions with quasibanking functions.

“At its meeting on May 23, the Monetary Board complemented the reduction in reserve requirements for universal and commercial banks with a phased 200-basis-point reduction in the reserve requirements for thrift banks and non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions as well as a 100-basis-point reduction for demand deposits and now accounts of rural and cooperative banks to be effective on May 31, 2019,” the board said in a statement Wednesday.

“Moreover, long-term negotiable certificates of time deposit issued by all banks and NBQBs will have reduced and uniform reserve requirement ratio of 4

percent,” it said.

LTNCD is a bank product issued by local banks and offered to investors looking for a relatively safe investment asset.

Compared to a regular savings account or short-term time deposit, LTNCDs offer much higher interest rates. As an investment instrument, LTNCDs are very similar to time deposits and bonds.

The reductions on reserve requirements will take effect for universal/commercial banks, TBs and NBQBs beginning May 31, 2019, June 28, 2019 and July 26, 2019, respectively.

The lower ratios will apply to all reservable liabilities except bonds and mortgage/chattel mortgage certificates as the BSP continues to assess the impact of a reduction in the reserve requirements on said instruments.

The BSP is currently reviewing its existing framework on reserve requirements to align the regulations on deposit substitutes with the provisions of the amended BSP Charter. Julito G. Rada

TROO’S 4TH ANNIVERSARY. EastWest Bank and Ageas celebrate the fourth anniversary of their joint venture in the Philippines. Their partnership operates under the brand name Troo which offers life insurance to customers of EastWest Bank and Filinvest Group. Shown are (from left) Troo chief strategy and business development officer Dominik Smeets, Troo president and chief executive Hans Loozekoot, EastWest vice-chairman and chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr. and EastWest president and deputy chief executive Jesus Roberto Reyes.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market gains; URC, JG Summit rise

S

TOCKS rose Wednesday led by select issues, as investors started to review their holdings after the monetary easing of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 36.46 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,797.75 on a value turnover of P6.1 billion. Gainers and losers were even at 92 each, while 52 issues were unchanged.

The Bangko Sentral on May 16 reduced the reserve requirement ratio of universal and commercial banks by 2 percentage points, or equivalent to about P190 billion in additional peso liquidity in the financial system.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, climbed 2.6 percent to P159, while parent JG Summit Holdings Inc. gained 2.7 percent to P61.60.

Globe Telecom Inc., the secondlargest telecommunications system, advanced 3 percent to P2,176, while Security Bank Corp., the sixth-biggest lender in terms of assets, rose 2.3 percent to P175.

The rest of Asian stocks sank Wednesday, tracking losses on Wall Street as investors grew anxious about a possible economic slowdown and the absence of any progress in resolving the US-China trade war.

Economists say the trade dispute between the world’s top two economic superpowers will have grim implications for consumers, who will have to bear the costs of punitive tit-for-tat tariffs.

Although an index of US consumer confidence on Tuesday registered an unexpectedly strong jump for May, it was not enough to allay investor fears, as US stocks sank, sending major indices to their lowest levels

in two months.

May is now expected to be Wall Street’s first down month for the year.

“Unless we see a trade deal, negative sentiment in the market will likely continue,” Kyoko Amemiya, senior market advisor at SBI Securities, told AFP. A report in Chinese state media that suggested Beijing would restrict exports of rare earths, using the minerals as leverage in the trade dispute, also fanned anxiety.

Rare earths are a key component in devices ranging from smartphones and cameras to televisions, and any move to restrict their supply would have a devastating impact on manufacturers, with China producing more than 95 percent of the metals.

Tokyo sank 1.2 percent, while Hong Kong fell 0.6 percent. Seoul also plunged 1.3 percent while Sydney slipped 0.7 percent and Singapore edged

down 0.4 percent. But Shanghai inched up 0.2 percent.

Investors are concerned about a spat between the European Commission and Italy, where the far-right party of joint deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini topped European Parliament elections on Sunday.

An emboldened Salvini had said Tuesday he expected Brussels to hit Rome with a 3-billion-euro ($3.4-billion) fine over Italy’s rising public debt, which was 132 percent of the country’s GDP in 2018—way above the 60 percent EU ceiling.

With Salvini determined to push back against the EU’s requirements on austerity, analysts said the future outlook for the bloc was precarious.

“Populism is here to stay and will make future integration and budgetary decisions difficult to be agreed upon,” said OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.95 22,830 77.3 6,146,370 2.23 7,000 133.5 2,192,550 1.16 29,000 26.65 32,600 18.8 1,600 11.46 889,600 4.5 9,000 0.53 50,000 0.445 40,000 72 1,853,340 1.01 244,000 13.3 2,000 22.05 300 58.9 890,220 184.5 640 57.5 1,090 175 750,050 1,750 95 60 7,410

1,343,461 479,462,665 15,620 292,897,238 34,180 868,125 30,080 10,226,990 40,000 26,500 17,850 133,541,208.50 241,950 26,600 6,615 52,874,232 118,340 62,675 131,712,346 166,395 444,578.50

1,249,936.50 -112,377,452 -101,214,331 15,920 -6,736,148 -11,238,878 -3,960 17,126,590.50 -61,601,480 -313,197

35.5 14.24 0.71 1.38 0.28 2.58 14.32 25 15.98 44 2 5.5 10.2 15.86 9.81 7.48 1.69 21.3 76.5 43 2.26 13.4 10.5 1.65 270.6 4.21 3.37 9.12 21.9 12.56 20.35 371.6 0.189 1.23 4.72 6.07 9.08 2.18 11.86 41.75 4.78 4.98 1.55 1.95 1.17 13 104.8 6.48 0.128 1.22 156.1 2.47 1.19 1.33

INDUSTRIAL 35.7 2,228,000 14.38 600,700 0.71 1,009,000 1.42 344,000 0.28 16,840,000 2.58 13,405,000 14.32 282,600 25.95 311,800 16 1,600 44 48,600 2.03 425,000 5.6 6,700 10.4 2,964,500 15.86 1,124,500 9.81 1,320,200 7.49 175,400 1.69 10,000 21.8 557,400 78.35 161,570 43.65 88,200 2.37 7,001,000 13.54 841,600 10.5 595,700 1.69 261,000 273 699,980 4.22 575,000 3.5 7,000 9.41 20,800 21.9 439,500 13.08 1,652,800 20.45 2,256,500 378.8 234,810 0.195 580,000 1.24 793,000 4.75 105,000 6.07 503,200 9.08 300 2.21 20,635,000 12.12 37,200 41.85 71,500 4.81 27,000 5 90,000 1.55 289,000 1.95 18,000 1.17 123,000 13.18 190,700 105 491,090 6.58 61,400 0.128 200,000 1.23 8,499,000 159 1,093,080 2.5 802,000 1.2 11,912,000 1.33 27,986,000

79,627,860 8,668,506 722,000 482,720 4,913,550 35,258,530 4,050,846 8,026,415 25,588 2,185,040 861,880 38,534 30,717,210 17,983,954 13,050,639 1,313,258 16,900 12,128,505 12,581,054.50 3,842,810 16,358,070 11,360,260 6,338,908 434,920 190,810,578 2,453,900 23,880 190,640 9,665,705 21,523,526 47,352,125 88,576,546 111,420 987,050 500,070 3,074,388 2,788 45,974,650 450,530 2,998,140 129,990 448,400 449,170 35,550 144,080 2,519,168 51,587,488 400,696 25,640 10,917,300 173,874,334 2,004,940 14,673,090 38,630,560

16,539,875 -306,660 99,600 -11,440 12,533,110 -308,146 -126,000 -20,300.00 -1,680 -21,494,680.00 -859,120 -3,105,232 250,126 1,337,320 -7,692,072.50 2,469,100 -269,540.00 -1,977,148 2,128,134 -135,211,710 -2,738,595 -4,781,644 -20,765,595 30,692,320 -110,000 -178,860 306,080 541,000 -50,000 273,102 -29,530,169 268,450 -13,820,260 1,979,940 -9,329,430 268,080

0.6 53.35 14.9 0.75 6.5 12.44 1.22 1.23 892 3.37 6.75 10.3 13.94 4.5 0.249 865 6.14 60.5 5.99 5 0.47 4.6 14.68 0.51 4.31 0.038 1.06 178.4 2.38 925 0.88 1.33 264.4 0.233 0.285

HOLDING FIRMS 0.61 9,568,000 54.8 1,664,720 15.1 4,631,700 0.75 714,000 6.7 14,700 12.58 76,600 1.24 1,072,000 1.25 6,000 899 273,820 3.39 3,271,000 6.81 907,200 10.4 2,316,400 14.2 13,700 4.5 3,000 0.26 70,000 872 46,680 6.14 32,500 61.6 1,771,700 5.99 9,000 5 10,000 0.51 30,000 4.65 1,376,000 14.72 11,685,600 0.51 10,000 4.33 15,908,000 0.039 22,300,000 1.06 82,000 182 186,040 2.38 1,000 935.5 698,570 0.95 4,918,000 1.35 6,000 270 350 0.236 390,000 0.29 8,280,000

5,850,470 91,104,394 69,646,754 543,110 98,250 962,002 1,322,860 7,420 246,296,250 11,251,910 6,211,008 24,163,062 195,308 13,500 17,540 40,740,200 199,802 108,995,391 54,041 50,000 14,500 6,352,290 172,383,402 5,100 69,603,730 870,700 87,590 33,709,600 2,380 648,710,755 4,530,230 8,000 93,092 91,400 2,422,250

-228,690 -5,480,301.50 15,578,452 90,450 18,186,975 424,600 -327,496 -8,920,982 -17,076 -12,581,165 -12,280 24,800,610 -1,082,810 -16,110,514 -23,276,330 15,299,497 493,599,635 -1,400 -37,130 -8,200

3,322,148 497,180 281,320 4,341,530 407,538,115 633,020 3,751,870 85,741 18,703,320 66,470 148,970 264,500 41,989,736 14,640,530 768,650 19,287,340 3,650,210 99,882,874 4,632,500 6,930,630 270,600 8,863,640

18,562 -54,600 -42,000 -331,800 -66,117,270 -131,590 100,600 -476,490 -11,300 -11,838,768 5,604,015 -608,900 -11,808,150 218,980.00 -301,287 -106,310 -8,200.00

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FIRST ABACUS MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

57.55 80 2.24 132.6 1.18 26.6 18.8 11.5 4.43 0.53 0.45 72.95 0.98 13.3 22.05 58.95 185 57.5 173.8 1,760 60

59 80.5 2.24 134 1.18 26.7 18.8 11.56 4.5 0.53 0.45 73.2 1.02 13.3 22.05 61 185 57.5 177 1,760 60

57.05 77.25 2.21 132.6 1.16 26.5 18.8 11.46 4.42 0.53 0.445 71.8 0.98 13.3 22.05 58.85 184.5 57.5 172 1,750 59.8

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

35.95 14.7 0.71 1.43 0.29 2.63 14.66 25.9 15.98 45.5 2.03 5.5 10.2 16 9.9 7.5 1.69 21.75 76.5 44.2 2.26 13.6 10.68 1.69 270.8 4.25 3.37 9.16 21.95 12.56 20.7 372 0.189 1.23 4.78 6.18 9.4 2.21 12.1 42.2 4.99 4.98 1.55 1.99 1.18 13 107 6.48 0.132 1.25 157 2.47 1.24 1.43

35.95 14.7 0.73 1.43 0.3 2.69 14.66 26.2 16 45.5 2.03 5.8 10.44 16.2 10 7.5 1.69 21.9 78.45 44.2 2.38 13.6 10.74 1.69 274.8 4.61 3.5 9.48 22.5 13.18 21.45 378.8 0.195 1.26 4.82 6.18 9.4 2.26 12.12 42.2 4.99 5 1.56 2 1.18 13.28 107 6.6 0.132 1.35 161.4 2.5 1.26 1.44

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

0.63 54.2 14.98 0.78 6.5 12.5 1.24 1.23 892 3.5 6.75 10.46 14.4 4.5 0.249 865 6.15 60.8 6.18 5 0.47 4.64 14.98 0.51 4.33 0.04 1.07 178.4 2.38 925.5 0.92 1.33 265 0.233 0.29

0.63 55.4 15.16 0.79 6.7 12.96 1.24 1.25 900.5 3.52 6.92 10.54 14.48 4.5 0.26 880 6.16 62 6.18 5 0.51 4.65 15 0.51 4.43 0.04 1.07 183 2.38 940 0.96 1.35 270 0.236 0.3

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

15.88 0.79 2.09 0.76 48.6 2.27 4.95 6.39 0.59 0.86 0.226 0.375 9.3 25.25 0.485 1.61 1.39 5.57 0.315 1.78 0.395 2.02

15.98 0.79 2.11 0.82 48.7 2.27 5.04 6.4 0.61 0.88 0.226 0.395 9.75 25.4 0.485 1.62 1.42 5.65 0.325 1.88 0.415 2.23

15.7 0.77 2.09 0.76 48.4 2.25 4.93 6.39 0.58 0.85 0.225 0.375 9.2 25 0.475 1.58 1.38 5.52 0.31 1.76 0.395 2.02

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

49 24.75 2.05 2.99 39.3 1.91 6.4 0.73 7.08

49 25.2 2.09 2.99 39.95 1.95 6.44 0.73 7.14

49 24.1 2.05 2.99 39.15 1.91 6.38 0.73 7.06

49 25 2.06 2.99 39.2 1.94 6.39 0.73 7.13

1,500 1,801,900 279,000 31,000 8,876,200 1,554,000 39,400 4,000 3,783,900

73,500 44,872,570 577,710 92,690 349,531,720 2,985,760 252,121 2,920 26,953,071

11,254,510 -94,050 -131,067,790 12,014,050

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

11.4 18.16 1.42 0.41 0.045 21 2.94 11.5 0.06 87 6.5 6.4 11.04 2,140 5.37 401.6 2.34 1.75 135.5 10.32 0.124 6.02 2.91 4.77 0.85 20.25 0.55 3.65 2.67 15.98 2.33 3.15 9.97 2.92 4.53 118.8 3.3 1,281 0.74 0.82 46.1 71.5 9.63 3.13 0.67 0.365 5.3 0.68 17.12

11.5 18.5 1.45 0.42 0.046 21 3.14 11.68 0.061 88.05 6.85 6.4 11.08 2,186 5.39 414.8 2.36 1.75 137.7 10.78 0.125 6.3 2.91 4.77 0.88 20.65 0.56 3.65 2.75 15.98 2.34 3.24 9.97 2.92 4.73 125.9 3.45 1,300 0.75 0.82 46.45 71.5 9.63 3.17 0.69 0.365 5.3 0.7 17.12

11.32 18.14 1.35 0.41 0.045 21 2.93 11.4 0.06 86.2 6.5 6.4 10.38 2,134 5.35 401.6 2.2 1.75 133.8 10.2 0.123 5.98 2.91 4.49 0.82 20.25 0.54 3.5 2.67 15.9 2.22 3.11 9.9 2.92 4.53 118.8 3.25 1,273 0.73 0.78 45 70.6 9.5 3.08 0.66 0.355 5.28 0.67 16.7

SERVICES 11.5 18.2 1.42 0.42 0.046 21 3.05 11.68 0.061 87.2 6.75 6.4 10.48 2,176 5.37 410 2.2 1.75 134 10.2 0.125 6.06 2.91 4.49 0.85 20.4 0.55 3.6 2.71 15.9 2.28 3.2 9.9 2.92 4.73 125.8 3.25 1,273 0.73 0.79 45.6 70.85 9.6 3.15 0.68 0.36 5.3 0.7 17

10,500 28,500 236,000 440,000 2,400,000 1,208,200 3,535,000 3,974,400 2,350,000 806,730 3,592,200 200 161,400 61,135 65,900 1,210 3,511,000 26,000 1,478,260 38,300 830,000 5,944,800 13,000 4,191,000 603,000 636,000 109,000 55,000 768,000 700 3,101,000 141,000 2,600 1,000 83,000 862,070 3,109,000 88,160 2,386,000 18,925,000 436,900 458,580 45,800 3,266,000 2,741,000 14,440,000 74,400 3,189,000 662,300

119,644 519,866 338,100 184,700 109,000 25,372,200 10,794,400 46,140,562 141,480 70,256,549.50 24,252,275 1,280 1,699,122 132,533,130 353,731 493,344 7,936,270 45,500 199,837,337 392,530 102,840 36,574,196 37,830 19,049,180 508,750 12,966,085 60,030 196,350 2,086,580 11,144 7,078,920 442,060 25,827 2,920 384,290 103,663,857 10,397,710 112,862,105 1,755,260 15,079,750 19,913,970 32,501,086.50 438,210 10,200,790 1,850,250 5,168,400 393,600 2,188,850 11,245,478

4,540 -111,300 187,110 -4,810,338 -44,804,405.50 274,749 -1,280 28,469,870 508,340 -16,916,091 941,174.00 8,730 -2,134,690 9,219,685 -87,120 217,530 -995.000 -22,850 1,258 -1,335,900 -10,167,165 -555,410 -796,330 -6,842,470 1,072,276 1,308,430 83,840 31,950 2,120 680 1,530,984

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

0.002 1.13 2.66 11.8 1.19 2.74 0.285 7.79 1.46 0.242 0.104 0.105 1.04 2.14 0.99 0.57 0.88 0.011 0.01 3.96 2.87 8.18 22 0.007

0.002 1.13 2.66 11.9 1.19 2.82 0.285 7.79 1.5 0.242 0.111 0.105 1.04 2.16 1.02 0.6 0.89 0.011 0.011 3.96 2.89 8.18 22.35 0.007

0.002 1.09 2.66 11.8 1.19 2.73 0.285 7.68 1.46 0.23 0.104 0.105 1.04 2.13 0.97 0.57 0.86 0.011 0.01 3.74 2.86 7.99 21.85 0.007

MINING & OIL 0.002 19,000,000 1.11 856,000 2.66 33,000 11.9 1,200 1.19 2,000 2.8 880,000 0.285 70,000 7.68 1,000 1.47 2,230,000 0.24 1,490,000 0.105 330,000 0.105 100,000 1.04 8,000 2.14 1,300,000 1.01 68,000 0.6 30,000 0.89 237,000 0.011 20,100,000 0.011 101,900,000 3.74 229,000 2.86 187,000 8 778,600 21.95 1,532,700 0.007 6,000,000

35,900 948,810 87,780 14,180 2,380 2,449,250 19,950 7,710 3,313,840 354,860 34,970 10,500 8,320 2,785,910 68,570 17,130 207,640 221,100 1,025,900 866,580 536,480 6,264,087 33,661,085 40,700

-332,730.00 1,555,350 11,500 -1,733,910 -37,340 -713,268.00 -6,876,435 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F

17.9 475 486.8 98 104.3 95 0.99 102.5 997 970 75.3 76.95 71.6 73 74

18 475 486.8 98 104.3 95 0.99 102.5 997 970 75.45 76.95 72 73 74

17.9 475 485 98 104.3 95 0.99 102.5 997 970 75.3 76.95 71.5 73 73.85

PREFERRED 18 18,400 475 6,000 485 1,000 98 19,310 104.3 90 95 400 0.99 20,000 102.5 10 997 50 970 10 75.45 600 76.95 790 71.75 64,650 73 12,700 73.85 5,000

331,070 2,850,000 485,028 1,892,380 9,387 38,000 19,800 1,025 49,850 9,700 45,255 60,790.50 4,634,040 927,100 369,320

-313,170.00 4,860 -9,387 -

LR WARRANT

2.27

2.27

2.05

WARRANTS 2.06 1,292,000

2,722,700

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.67 1.05

4.89 1.05

4.67 1.01

4.82 1.02

1,716,540 2,605,670

91,400

FIRST METRO ETF

116

116.7

115.2

360,411

-

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.2 10 1

10.2 10 1

10.2 10 1

65,790 84,400 10,000

-

MS

PROPERTY 15.88 0.78 2.1 0.8 48.5 2.26 5 6.4 0.6 0.88 0.226 0.395 9.5 25.15 0.475 1.6 1.41 5.62 0.325 1.86 0.415 2.23

208,800 638,000 134,000 5,427,000 8,398,400 280,000 752,000 13,400 31,257,000 77,000 660,000 700,000 4,436,600 581,400 1,610,000 12,060,000 2,605,000 17,769,500 14,480,000 3,785,000 670,000 4,117,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,705,988

INDUSTRIAL

131,344,567

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY

92,540,104 127,103,603

SERVICES

124,526,348

MINING & OIL

157,958,556

GRAND TOTAL

650,060,253

SME

358,000 2,518,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.7 3,100 10.2 10 1

DDS

6,450 8,440 10,000

23,500

-

VALUE 1,693.03 (down) -3.52 1,175,092,441.63 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,283.98 (up) 143.73 1,038,625,706.04 HOLDING FIRMS 7,464.95(up) 77.96 1,644,694,545.76 PROPERTY 4,237.81 (up) 1.53 SERVICES 1,652.72 (down) -3.45 1,067,931,985.73 MINING & OIL 7,140.65 (down) -106.94 1,128,296,557.69 PSEI 7,797.75 (up) 36.46 53,007,513.7428 All Shares Index 4,804.79 (up) 14.74 6,112,340,116.01 Gainers: 92; Losers: 92; Unchanged: 52; Total: 236

Rockwell Land expects P6.7b in sales from 3 new projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROCKWELL Land Inc, the real estate unit of the Lopez family, expects to generate as much as P16.7 billion in revenues from three new project launches.

Rockwell Land president and chief executive Nestor said Padilla during the annual stockholders’ meeting the company would launch a high-end residential development in Bacolod City.

The 10.9-hectare development, which is expected to generate P8 billion in revenues, will feature eight mid-rise residential buildings plus retail and activity area.

The company will initially launch the first two towers that will generate P2 billion in sales.

Also set for launch this year is Rockwell Land’s first premium horizontal project in Canlubang, Laguna.

Called Rockwell South at Carmelray, the project will offer residential lots ranging from 650 to 1,200 square meters each. The development will come complete with Rockwell’s signature open landscape and amenities.

“After creating a master-planned community in our 19.1 hectare Rockwell Center in Makati, we look forward to bring the same success to Rockwell South, set to be another flagship development in a much larger scale,” Padilla said.

The new development is in joint venture with Carmelray Property Holdings Inc. and San Ramon Holdings Inc. The offering of 252 lots is expected to bring revenues of P3.9 billion.

Rockwell Land is launching by the November this year Benitez Suites in Quezon City, which is expected to generate P2.8 billion in sales.

Meanwhile, Rockwell Land will unveil a second tower of East Bay Residences in Sucat, Parañaque. The project will generate P2 billion in sales.

“After several launches scheduled in the second half of the year, we are optimistic about more geographic growth in the years after that will allow us to create new Rockwell communities in new markets, including in Central Luzon,” Padilla said.

For the hotel projects, Rockwell Land is looking at Siargao and Palawan for the planned expansion of the Aruga brand.

SEC okays P1-b public offering of Malolos hospital THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the P1-billion initial public offering of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Malolos Doctors Inc. The SEC in a May 28 meeting cleared the registration statement of ACE Malolos and subsequently issued a permit to sell securities upon submission of the final prospectus.

The registration statement covers 600 founder shares and 239,400 common shares, comprising 203,400 issued and outstanding common shares, and 36,000 newly-issued shares with par value of P1,000 apiece.

ACE Malolos plans to offer the primary shares in tranches at price ranging from P200,000 to P400,000 for every block of 10 shares. The shares may be traded over the counter.

The company aims to raise P997,067,704 in net proceeds. It plans to allocate P500 million on project construction, P300 million on medical equipment, P32.07 million for loan payments and P165.032 million for working capital.

ACE Malolos is currently building a tertiary health care facility, which will be the biggest private hospital in Malolos City in Bulacan.

The construction of the 172-bed hospital is nearly 15 percent complete as of end March 2019.

The offering comes with benefits and privileges, such as discounts on medical and dental services, which the principal investor, his spouse, dependents and natural parents may avail of in all medical facilities under or affiliated with the ACE Group of Hospitals across the country.

Meanwhile, physicians and medical specialists holding founder or common shares in ACE Malolos will have the privilege to co-admit or co-manage patients on special cases in other ACE Medical Centers.

Subscribing to the shares is a prerequisite for physicians and medical specialists to practice at ACE Malolos. Such stockholders, however, must undergo a screening process and possess the minimum requirements provided in the company’s articles of incorporation, bylaws and internal rules. Jenniffer B. Austria

Manila

Standard

B3

World

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TODAY

Merkel team talks climate as voters turn up the heat

GENERAL AUDIENCE. Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he arrives for the weekly general audience on May 29 at St. Peter’s Square . AFP

IN BRIEF Myanmar’s military goes shopping for arms YANGON―Myanmar’s military has lavished tens of millions of dollars on the latest lethal hardware, leaning on allies as part of a strategy to become a first-class fighting force.

The spending spree comes despite enduring EU and US arms embargoes and calls earlier this month from a UN fact-finding mission for the international community to sever financial ties to Myanmar’s military.

Senior generals already face sanctions for a scorched earth campaign that drove more than 740,000 Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh.

And allegations of fresh abuses are mounting as it now tackles ethnic Rakhine rebels, who are Buddhist, in the same area, according to an Amnesty International report Wednesday.

But the army has continued spending, offered discounts by governments with a stake in its strategic location and an eye on a major arms market.

Here are a few which it has turned to for arms, equipment or training.

Despite easing economic sanctions, the US still does not sell weapons to Myanmar.

China has no such qualms.

Beijing has provided diplomatic cover for Myanmar at the UN. It has also been its main source of weapons, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which estimates that from 2013–17 China accounted for 68 per cent of Myanmar arms imports.

That includes armored vehicles, surfaceto-air missile technology, radar, and unarmed drones, said Siemon Wezeman, SIPRI senior researcher for the Asia-Pacific.

He added Myanmar also placed orders for Sino-Pakistani manufactured JF-17 Thunder fighter jets valued at $25 million each—seen in action in late 2018 at a Myanmar Air Force display. AFP

Huawei to court: Dump federal ban SHENZHEN—Chinese telecoms giant Huawei stepped up its legal battle on Wednesday to overturn US legislation barring American federal agencies from buying its products amid an escalating high-tech dispute.

Huawei filed suit against the US bill in March, calling it “unconstitutional” and saying the US Congress had failed to provide evidence to support its restrictions on Huawei products.

The company filed a motion for summary judgment on Wednesday (Tuesday in the United States), seeking a quick determination by US courts on whether the case has merit to proceed.

“The US government has provided no evidence to show that Huawei is a security threat. There is no gun, no smoke. Only speculation,” Huawei’s chief legal officer Song Liuping told reporters.

Speaking at Huawei headquarters in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, Song added that US politicians “want to put us out of business”.

The firm also faces a broader US executive order preventing the use of its equipment in the United States as well as the more damaging inclusion this month on an “entity list” that cuts it off from critical American-made components for its products, though a 90-day reprieve was issued.

Huawei, the world’s biggest supplier of telecommunications networking equipment and number-two smartphone manufacturer, has emerged as a central bone of contention in the worsening China-US trade rivalry.

Washington fears Huawei systems could be manipulated by Beijing to spy on other countries and disrupt critical communications, and is urging nations to shun the company in 5G networks. AFP

BERLIN―German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “climate cabinet” meets Wednesday to discuss combating global warming as her government struggles to convince voters it is willing and able to address the crisis.

Strong gains by the Greens at the expense of Germany’s two ruling parties in Sunday’s European Parliament elections were seen as an indictment of Berlin’s policy on climate change.

Merkel, in a CNN interview Tuesday, acknowledged that “we have to give better answers” to the planetary challenge.

Her conservative CDU/ CSU bloc and their leftist junior partners the SPD suffered heavy losses Sunday while the Greens scored over 20 percent, becoming Germany’s second strongest party for the first time.

Young voters in particular―energized by the Fridays for Future school strikes, anti-coal protests and blockades, and by a passionate campaign from leading YouTube stars―abandoned the mainstream parties in droves.

Germany was long seen as a clean energy pioneer, and Merkel dubbed the “climate chancellor”, for pushing renewables while committing to phase out nuclear power

by 2022 and now coal by 2038.

However, green activists now feel that progress has stalled and demand a far earlier end to coal and the combustion engine, as well as dramatic shifts in transport, agriculture and building insulation.

Germany is now set to miss its target of cutting CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels. It is currently on course for only a 32-percent reduction.

Since the election, criticism has been raining down from all sides —even from Friedrich Merz, a conservative former investment fund manager with designs on Merkel’s job.

“After this European election, the CDU must ask itself why, after 14 years of having a ‘climate chancellor’, we are missing our climate targets, burdening households and companies with the highest electricity prices in Europe and at the same time losing strategic and cultural control over the issue,” he told news site Der Spiegel.

The coalition’s poll debacle and perceived loss of touch with young voters have again heightened tensions between the two parties who were forced into their unhappy marriage by poor poll results in 2017. AFP

Threat to deprive US of rare earths

B

EIJING―Chinese state media on Wednesday dangled the threat of cutting exports of rare earths to the United States as a counter-strike in the trade war, potentially depriving Washington of a key resource used to make everything from smart phones to military hardware.

The warning is the latest salvo in a dispute that has intensified since President Donald Trump ramped up tariffs against China and moved to blacklist telecoms giant Huawei earlier this month, while trade talks have apparently stalled.

Huawei stepped up its legal battle on Wednesday, announcing it had filed a motion in US court for summary judgment in its bid to overturn US legislation that bars federal agencies from using its equipment over security concerns.

Beijing had already dropped a big hint that rare earths could be in the firing line by showing images last week of President Xi Jinping visiting a rare earths factory in Ganzhou, central China.

An unnamed official from the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s state planner, issued a cryptic warning late Tuesday.

“You asked whether rare earths will become China’s countermeasure against unwarranted suppression from the US. What I can tell you is that if anyone wants to use products made from our rare-earth exports to curb and suppress China’s development, I’m sure the people of Ganzhou and across China will not be happy with that,” the official said in answers

Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ soars at box office in North America LOS ANGELES—Disney’s “Aladdin” soared at the North American box office over the holiday weekend, raking in nearly $117 million and leading all other offerings, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Tuesday.

The film, released on the American four-day Memorial Day weekend, earned $116.8 million from Friday through Monday and $91.5 million from Friday to Sunday, well beyond earlier estimates of around $80 million.

The live-action movie, directed by Guy Ritchie, stars Will Smith as the genie and the Egyptian-born Canadian actor Mena Massoud as the wily charmer who pretends to be a prince to catch the attention of the lovely Jasmine (Naomi Scott).

The new version is an adaptation of Disney’s 1992 “Aladdin,” which featured the unforgettable voice of Robin Williams as the fast-talking genie (and the less well-known actor Scott Weinger as Aladdin).

Last week’s box-office leader, Lionsgate’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum,” slipped to second, taking in $24.6 million for three days ($31 million for four).

Keanu Reaves again stars as retired hitman John Wick, this time being chased by an army of killers after a contract is put on his head.

Also starring are Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane and Anjelica Huston.

In third was Disney blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame,” taking in an estimated $17.2 million for three days ($22.1 million for four).

“Avengers,” with an all-star cast including Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson and Josh Brolin, has broken domestic records but, with a worldwide take of $2.68 billion, is still shy of the $2.79 billion earned by all-time leader “Avatar” in 2009.

Fourth place went to “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” from Warner Bros, at $13.4 million ($17.2 million). Its animated title character (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) teams up with a young boy (Justice Smith, in a live-action role) to seek the boy’s missing father. AFP

to questions published by state media.

The official said rare-earth resources should “serve domestic needs first” but China is also willing to meet the “legitimate needs of countries around the world”.

Shares in rare earth companies surged in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets during Wednesday trading.

State media were more blunt.

“Waging a trade war against China, the United States risks losing the supply of materials that are vital to sustaining its technological strength,” the official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary.

The state-owned Global Times tabloid warned in an editorial posted online that the “US will rue forcing China’s hand on rare earths”.

“It is believed that if the US increasingly suppresses the development of China, sooner or later, China will use rare earths as a weapon,” the nationalist tabloid said.

China produces more than 95 percent of the world’s rare earths, and the United States relies on China for upwards of 80 percent of its imports.

Rare earths are 17 elements critical to manufacturing everything from smartphones and televisions to cameras and lightbulbs.

Beijing could hurt US companies in what is shaping up as a battle for who will dominate the future of high-tech.

Huawei took the US to court over a defence bill passed by Congress last year that bans government agencies from using its equipment. But it also faces a recent Trump administration order that cuts it off from critical American-made components for its products. AFP

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY. 30, 2019)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that HYBRAIN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, with office address at No. 72 Stork Street, Montevista, Bacolod City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Services Export Provider under Export Activities - Services Exports (Remote Staffing Software Development Outsourcing Services) on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at No. 22, 6th Lacson Street, Brgy. 17, Bacolod City.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

Padrigal St., Karuhatan, ValenzuelaCity Tel. No. 294-6711 to 16, Telefax 291-4259 Email address: valgen_hosp@yahoo.com INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF VARIOUS MEDICAL SUPPLIES CY 2019 (2ND SEMESTER) PUBLIC BIDDING NO. VMC - 2019 - 018 1.

The Valenzuela Medical Center (VMC), through the General Appropriations Act/Income CY 2019, intends to apply the sum of Philippine Currency: TWENTY ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY ONE PESOS ONLY, (PhP 21,725,231.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments for the Procurement of Various Medical Supplies CY 2019 (2nd Semester) under PB No. VMC - 2019 - 018. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The VMC now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the abovecaptioned package. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, entitled “Instructions to. Bidders”.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act” and is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to Republic Act No. 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

Only Bids from Bidders who passed the eligibility check will be opened. The process for the eligibility check is described in Section II of the Bidding Documents entitled, “ITB”. The Bidder with the Lowest Calculated Bid (LCB) shall advance to the post-qualification stage in order to finally determine the responsiveness of the bid submission to the technical and financial requirements of the project. The contract shall then be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during the post-qualification procedure.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the VMC and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00am -11:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm starting May 29,2019.

6.

The VMC will hold a Pre-bid Conference for this bidding activity on June 5, 2019, 9:00am at the Valenzuela Medical Center, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. Only those who have purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the Pre-Bid Conference.

Those who have not purchased the bidding documents may act as observers and submit written queries, subject to the guidelines as stated in the IRR of RA 9184.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount as follows:

500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

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

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

Republic of the Phillippines Department of Health National Capital Regional Office VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER

ABC to be Bid

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that GENNEXT LAND DEVELOPMENT INC. with office address at Arbotowne Bldg., 394 Shaw Boulevard, Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Carmenchu Place) with a capacity of 113 economic and low-cost units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Brgy.

Labuin, Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00

The method of payment will be in cash, manager’s check, bank guarantee or surety bond. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective bidder or his authorized representative. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity; Provided, that Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

8.

Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before June 24, 2019, 9:00am, at the VMC BAC Secretariats’ Office.

9.

Bid Opening and Eligibility Check will be on June 24, 2019 at 9:00am. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late submission of bids will not be entertained. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the prescribed form, amount and validity period.

10. The Valenzuela Medical Center reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariats’ Office Valenzuela Medical Center, Annex Building, 2nd Floor, Padrigal St., Valenzuela City Telefax No. 294-6711

(MS-MAY. 30, 2019)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Quezon City, Metro Manila BRANCH LXXVIII (78) IN RE: PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF GUARDIANSHIP BONDS CASE NO. R-QZN-18-14740-SP APRIL ABIGAIL I. TING, Petitioner. x-------------------------------------------------x

AMENDED ORDER A verified Petition for Issuance of Guardianship Bonds was filed by April Abigail I. Ting, through counsel, praying that after due notice and hearing this Court orders Prudential Guarantee to issue in petitioner’s name: Guardianship Bonds covering One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 1,800,000.00) value of insurance for EACH of the children, namely: ALEXA DANIELLE IBAY TING and JENNY IÑIGO de III IBAY TING for the release of the insurance proceeds intended for them.

Petitioner is of legal age, widow and a resident of 6 Capetown Street, Vista Real Classica 1, Batasan Hills, Quezon City. She was married to Jenny Frando Ting, Jr. on June 12, 2000 at Makati City. Her husband Jenny Frando Ting, Jr. died on May 26, 2018 at the National Kidney Transplant Institute, Quezon City. That from their marriage, two (2) children were born, namely: Alexa Danielle Ibay Ting on May 11, 2003 and Jenny Iñigo de III Ibay Ting on June 12, 2004.

That the deceased Jenny Frando Ting, Jr. had a Group Term Life Insurance Policy No. GTL 17-700000083236 with Pioneer Insurance for Five Million, Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 5,400,000.00), with his wife and children as beneficiaries.

That the insurance proceeds for the children under their father’s Group Term Life Insurance Policy at One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 1,800,000.00) for EACH child, requires Guardianship Bonds for its release to them. That the petitioner has already negotiated with Prudential Guarantee for it to provide the Guardianship Bonds. That for Prudential Guarantee to provide the Guardianship Bonds, a Court Order is required.

That the petitioner is in dire need of funds to settle the outstanding loans incurred for the medical and hospitalization bills of the longdrawn illness of her deceased husband, not to mention providing for her family’s needs now being the sole breadwinner, earning hardly enough from her employment to meet daily expenses.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the initial hearing of case to June 26, 2019 at exactly 8:30 o’clock in the morning, whereby any and all persons concern are mandated to appear before this Court and register their opposition and to show cause why this Petition should not be given due course by the Court.

Let this Order be published, at petitioner’s expense, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of national circulation to be chosen by raffle under the supervision of the Executive Judge, Regional Trial Court, this city, pursuant to P.D. 1079.

SO ORDERED.

(SGD) JOSEPH T. NOCOM, MD, FPOA Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee

Quezon City, Metro Manila, April 26, 2019.

(Sgd.) FERNANDO T. SAGUN, JR. Presiding Judge (MS-MAY. 30, 2019)

(MStandard-May 23, & 30, 2019)

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

B4

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

LGUs

NV provincial employees gain group benefits

By Ben Moses Ebreo

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FOR THE FLAG.

SM City Taytay employees headed by assistant mall manager Paolo Gunao (inset, in barong, second row) support the ‘Salute to a Clean Flag’ movement on National Flag Day with a flag-raising ceremony joined by its agencies, tenants, and local Bureau of Fire and Protection officers. Norman Cruz

Isko creates transition team Aguilar college offers 500 slots for LP scholars THE Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar Memorial College of Las Piñas-Institute of Technology is offering 500 scholarship slots for its new course on information systems this school year 2019-2020.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the Bachelor of Science in Information System course was opened for this incoming school year after the Commission on Higher Education approved the city government’s application for permit for the DFCAMCLP-IT to offer the four-year course.

“We wish to provide every Las Piñero, especially the youth, the opportunity to obtain a diploma from a four-year college education for free to help them reach their goal,” Aguilar said.

The mayor, also DFCAMCLP-IT president, said they already have 400 enlisted and screened applicants as of May 24, while she encouraged other interested Las Piñeros to avail of the scholarship program.

The general admission test will be conducted on May 30 and 31 at the DFCAMCLP-IT campus at Dandelion Street, Doña Manuela Subd., Pamplona III, Las Piñas City, according to Ms. Eugenia Guerra, school officer-in-charge. Classes will start on July 22.

The new course is an addition to the existing four-year courses being offered at the city college, such as Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Financial Management, Human Resource, and Marketing.

DFCAMCLP accepts a total of 1,000 scholars every school year enrolled in various courses. In the past years, it has produced certified public accountants who were among the Top 10 board passers.

Las Piñas continue to provide free and quality education from preschool to college, including technical and vocational training courses, with corresponding assistance for livelihood opportunities.

M

ANILA City Mayor-elect Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has created a transition team a month before he takes office to ensure a smooth transfer of leadership.

In a one-page letter to outgoing Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada dated May 24, Domagoso advised the incumbent’s camp to coordinate with his team to ensure a “smooth local governance transition” upon assumption of newly elected officials on June 30.

The letter was formally transmitted to Estrada’s office on Monday, May 27.

The mayor-elect’s transition team is composed of City Councilor Bernardito C. Ang (incoming secretary to the mayor), Felixberto D. Espiritu (incoming city administrator), lawyer Emeterio “Jun” S. Moreno Jr. (incoming city legal

officer), and former Transportation Undersecretary Cesar B. Chavez (incoming chief of staff).

Ang is serving his third term as councilor for Manila’s third district, while Espiritu formerly served as councilor for the city’s fifth district.

Moreno was formerly a professor of Mayor-elect Domagoso and had previously served as Assistant Secretary under former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, while Chavez previously served as Transportation Undersecretary for Railways.

“Please advise the members of your

local governance transition team to now accomplish the task and responsibilities to be performed by them and coordinate with my own transition team for the proper turnover of all records, documents and information as mandated in (DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-39) and Executive Order (No. 07, series of 2019),” Domagoso told Estrada’s camp.

Domagoso, together with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and newly elected Manila City Hall officials, are set to take their oath of office on June 30.

The mayor-elect ran a platformbased campaign centered on improving the city’s social services and creating a 10-year infrastructure plan to boost the city’s traffic, tourism and healthcare sectors, among others.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya– Members of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Employees Association recently received various assistance as part of their 25th Founding Anniversary and 13th General Assembly celebration.

Leticia Puguon, PNVPEA president said the celebration was conducted from April 25 to 26 with the theme “NVPEA @ 25: Soaring High for Employees Welfare and Development” at the provincial capitol grounds.

She said the two-day celebration was highlighted by a parade, sports competition, raffle draw, and general assembly.

More than 500 members of the NVPEA was also given free tshirts, one cavan of rice, and gift packs to more than 200 casual employees as part of their membership benefits.

“These benef its were funded by our organization and we are happy because ever yone was given their share of the benef its,” Puguon said.

The NVPEA also participated in the recent Ammungan Festival celebration by sponsoring and managing the Raffle Draw.

“The raffle draw prizes was funded by the NVPEA with the agreement that 50 percent of the proceeds will be paid back for the prizes, while the remaining 50 percent will be shared equally with the Ammungan festival executive committee,” Puguon added.

Currently, Puguon said NVPEA also gives retirement benefits to its members with P100,000 each for 60-to-65 year old retirees and P70,000 for early retirees with 15 years of service.

NVPEA also provided benefits for retiring department heads of the provincial government since 2014, including a yearly birthday gift for each member amounting to P5,000.

The election of the NVPEA’s new set of officers will be conducted on August this year.

Navoteño kids get free talent workshops

By Jun David

BAGS OF HAPPINESS. About 1,000 elemantary students from 100 schools in Laguna province are all smiles after receiving school bags with school supplies, paints, and hygiene kits over the weekend at Banca Banca Elementary School in Nagcarlan, Laguna. Anna Karenina Lim-Puerto, LARC Community Relations and External Affairs manager, led LARC employees and volunteers in handing out the bags in public elementary schools in Los Baños, Bay, Calauan, Victoria and Nagcarlan. Roy Tomandao

Laguna water firm backs Brigada effort in 5 towns LAGUNA―Laguna Water District Aquatech Resources Corp. and Laguna Water District, headed by LARC Community Relations and External Affairs Manager Anna Karenina LimPuerto, together with employee volunteers recently supported the nationwide “Brigada Eskwela” with the theme “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na

Paaralan” from May 20 to 25.

As part of its “Alalay sa Barangay Program,” LARC’s yearly Brigada Eskwela activities include donation of paints for the beautification of schools and distribution of schools supplies and hygiene kits to students.

This year, a total of 1,980 schoolchildren benefitted from the paints, school

supplies and hygiene kits distributed to public elementary schools in Los Baños, Bay, Calauan, parts of Victoria, and Nagcarlan, Laguna on May 22 to 24.

The activity was highlighted by a handwashing demo to educate students that regular handwashing reduce infections that may hinder them from being healthy and active in school. Roy Tomandao

NAVOTEÑOS aged seven to 18 have enjoyed developing their talents for free courtesy of the annual Summer Youth Program of the City Government of Navotas.

A total of 335 young Navoteños graduated from the city government’s talent workshops which included theater acting (45 students); guitar playing, 58; dancing, 106; drawing, 99; and arnis, 27.

“The Navoteño youth are our city’s treasures. We believe that given the opportunities to excel, they will succeed in their chosen fields,” said Mayor John Rey Tiangco.

“The summer programs and other workshops and trainings we conduct for them are intended not just to harness their talents and skills, but also to prepare them to succeed in life,” he added.

The city’s SYP started in 2000 during the term of then mayor and now Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.

The city government currently has 19 art scholars in five artistic disciplines namely music, dance, visual arts, theater arts and creative writing or journalism.

Agri body holds seaweed FIESTA

By Butch Gunio

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol―The Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium held a twoday Farmers and Industry Encounter through Science and Technology Agenda featuring seaweed.

The event aims to showcase research and technologies developed by the consortium members in the fields of agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources.

Dr. Edwin Villar Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Executive Director for Research and Development, led on Wednesday the opening program of the event.

It included forums on seaweed production, technology and business

matching, Region 7 products exhibit, and seaweed pickle making contest to be held at the multi-purpose hall of Reyna’s Haven and Gardens here Seaweed Industry Association of the Philppines Director Ronald Simbajon, the keynote speaker, said: “Seaweed has ready market local and international. We have to expand seaweed farming.”

“There must be collaboration between the seaweed researches of the government agencies and the industry,” he added.

Simbajon said Philippines used to be top producer of seaweed worldwide but was edged by Indonesia in 2008.

In his message, Villar said seaweed production has great potential in improving the lives of farmers in the region.

HUMBLE OATHTAKING. Incoming Senator Lito Lapid, with wife Marissa and children Maan, Mark and Maynard, takes his oath before Pantoc, Meycauayan, Bulacan Barangay Captain Olivert Duya on Monday.

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

C1

Scarlet Snow Belo

leads young campers FISHING FOR NUTRITION TIPS. Celebrity kid Scarlet Snow Belo leads Nankid’s glamping event for children and parents where they learn how to turn every challenge into a growth opportunity.

I

T’S a jungle out there which is why it’s important for parents to equip their children with the right tools to help them shape their future and be healthy while doing so.

Even celebrity children need to get ready for the challenges of the future, such as one of today’s most famous kids, Scarlet Snow Belo who led happy campers at Nankid Reshape Glamp held at The Courtyard in Enderun, Taguig.

“We know she (Belo) will learn a lot, especially the importance of staying physically healthy and facing every possibility positively. We also see this as an opportunity for us, as her parents, to develop an optimal growth mindset that would help us to reshape our daughter’s future,” shared Hayden Kho, Belo’s dad, during the glamping event.

The activities kicked off with a camper’s assembly, where the families met the camp masters, who explained the rules and the activities.

Nestlé Nankid carefully curated each activity to showcase how every challenge can be turned into a growth opportunity.

To get the ball rolling, the kids were brought to a pond for an activity called Fishing for Nutrition, wherein they gamely went fishing for nutrition tips. Here, they discovered how good nutrition plays a key role in ensuring that an individual grows up to be healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Still hyped up from the first activity, Belo and friends were then introduced to the play mountain, a mountain hiking-inspired board game. In this game, children threw a giant dice to get to the summit and finish the positivity trail. They could land on a space that made it faster for them to Scarlet shares a light moment with other kids during the storytelling activity. reach the summit, but they could also land on a space that would force them to go back several notches.

Each space had a message for parents and children to make them ref lect on the moves they took.

Through the game, families realized that challenges can actually be growth opportunities.

This was followed by a short and interactive storytelling session to cap off the whole glamping experience.

Led by a camp master, kids had to run, hop, jump, and interact with others to tell stories. This fun-filled activity showed the parents how kids easily mirror their actions and the people

around them.

After a full day of non-stop discoveries, the adorable four-year-old and her pals gathered with their parents to share their aspirations and spoke of the possibilities that have yet to come.

“It is very gratifying to see children like Scarlet Snow along with their parents on their journey to embracing an optimal growth mindset.

Complemented by optimal nutrition, parents can reshape their children’s future and help them to achieve their dreams,” concluded Jean Espino, vice president for marketing of Nestlé Premium Milks.

How an adoptive parent balances family, career

“As a single working parent, I know how tough it can get. However, with patience and communication, we can help our children adjust, and feel more reassured and safe,” shares Tagatac.

She continues, “It is also important that apart from working for their future, we should also find time to spend with our little ones to strengthen our bond. I am likewise lucky that I work in a company that shares my perspective and am grateful that they have supported me in every step of this journey.”

Tagatac has been working with Refinitiv, a global provider of market and financial data and news, for 17 years now. Through the company’s Adoption Leave Policy, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, she was able to successfully adopt and support her son.

Under the said policy, Tagatac is entitled to a 70-day adoption leave meant for child care and forx processing of legal documents. Likewise, both she and her child receive medical benefits from the company.

“We at Refinitiv understand the value and fulfillment parenthood gives. That is why we strive hard to provide more flexible and dynamic opportunities to our employees and support them in their parental journey—equally addressing work-life balance and encouraging their wellbeing,” says Lei Buendia, Refinitiv director for contributed operations and Manila co-site lead.

Young campers learn while having fun playing a giant mountain hiking-inspired board game called Positivity Trail.

WHAT does it really mean to become a parent? There’s no cookie-cutter formula on becoming one. Today, parenthood is no longer solely defined by one’s ability to conceive and bear a child biologically. It goes beyond blood ties.

Adoption, which is similar to any parental journey, can be one of life’s most challenging experiences. It is a path that brings about a lot of adjustments, responsibilities, emotions, and even sacrifices for both the adoptive parent and adoptee.

Esmie Tagatac, an adoption advocate, understands these hurdles being an adoptive parent herself. She knows that even when an adopted child is brought into a positive home, they may still face issues on identity, selfesteem, mental health, disconnection, association, and prejudice.

“I think one of the hardest things about adoptive parenthood is explaining to our children that they are adopted.

There is no easy way to do it no matter how prepared and open we think we are.

That is why it is important for us adoptive parents to foster effective communication at home, be understanding and patient, and give support to our children to help them overcome any uncertainties,” she shares.

Tagatac aims to help and inspire prospective parents through her adop- Esmie Tagatac and son Isaiah are an image of unconditional love that goes beyong blood ties. tion story.

“There are a lot of children that needs like us who are blessed, we have a re- chance at life,” opines Tagatac. likewise understands that balancing Living with her adopted three-year- work and parenting duties is not a walk a loving home and a family that will sponsibility to portion out our blessings care for them. I deem that for people to these children and give them a better old son Isaiah for over a year now, she in the park.

Life

C2

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

R

Fitness event for pets and pet parents

UN, doggie! Run!

The recent Pet Express Doggie Run once again gathered a bunch of furry friends and their beloved pet parents for a day of fun and fitness.

Now in its ninth year, the annual event is considered Manila’s biggest dog run. Aside from a day of furry fun among pets who have found their forever home, it is held for the benefit

of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of humane treatment of all animals.

Jovie Villaganas, Jojie Daga-as, and Cindy Lorenzo, won first place in 5K, 3K, and 1K runs, respectively. They brought home goodies from Nature’s Protection, Holistic Recipe, Cesar, Nutram, Sleeky, Brit, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Pedigree, and Eukanuba.

Other prizes included health and grooming aids from Nexgard Spectra, Bayopet, Dextrolyte, Canidae, Saint

Pet parents and their pets enjoy a day of fun and fitness at the recent Doggie Run. Clockwise: Raissa Teano with Bolt, Sherbet Casaclang with Pomeranians Bart and Tanya, Andrew Neri with White Swiss Shepherd Hermoso, and Philip Vasquez with American Pitbull Terrier Magic.

Roche, Pupkits, Fur Magic, Kleen Kenel, Approved, Playpets, Pampered Pooch, and Kong.

Pet Express Doggie Run 2019 is a project of Pet Express with the support of PAWS, Pedigree, Nature’s Protection, Science Diet, Holistic Recipe, Nutram, Cesar, Saint Roche, Ezydog, Fur Magic, and Sleeky.

Pet Express Doggie Run 2019 5K winner Jovie Villaganas with his aspin Jenny.

Pet Express stores are at SM Cubao, SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM Hypermarket Store in Makati, SM City Masinag, SM City North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM City Fairview, Greenhills, Festival Mall, and Madison Galleries. It also has branches outside the metro at SM City Dasmariñas and SM Molino in Luzon and SM City Cagayan de Oro Downtown in VisMin.

Fintech firm launches free ‘padala’ promo IN A bid to honor hardworking Filipinos, financial services company TrueMoney Philippines is offering free money remittance service throughout its 20,000 outlets nationwide for a limited time.

“The value of Filipinos’ hard-earned money increases when you understand the blood, sweat, and tears that were put into earning it,” says TrueMoney Philippines chief executive officer Jacqueline Van Den Ende.

In 2012, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization reported that roughly 1.4 million workers moved to Metro Manila from the provinces, making it the top destination for domestic migrants.

Evelyn Dahay, a general services aide at a Makati firm, has been sending money to her family in Roxas for over 20 years. She is one of the millions of Filipinos who flock to the capital for better employment over the years.

Dahay, who is frequently on call, greatly appreciates the ease of finding an accessible remittance center.

“It’s hard to do errands when I’m working especially when it gets really busy,” shares Dahay. “It’s important for me to find a remittance center that is not only near me but also accessible to my family in the province—a remittance center that is available in small towns in Roxas.”

Committed to providing accessible and low-cost financial services to suit the lifestyle of Filipinos, TrueMoney’s framework allows the nearest sari-sari stores or bakeries to become a TrueMoney partner, thus making them ubiquitous even in small, hard-to reach provinces nationwide.

Meanwhile, Irish Walo, a 26-year-old mother of one, jumped at the opportu-

Sari-sari stores and small bakeries are allowed to be TrueMoney partners.

nity to live and work in Manila so she can contribute to her family’s expenses while her husband tends their land in Cagayan de Oro. “I send money to my family in Cagayan De Oro every month,” shares Walo. “That means every month, I pay for remittance fees, and sometimes I think it’s a waste since I can save them up instead or send more to my family.”

TrueMoney has one of the lowest remittance fees in the country. With the

free padala promo, customers like Dahay and Walo may send money between P1 to P1,000 for free.

“In this country, when jeepney prices increase even by a peso, that can mean a lot for a person’s daily budget,” says Van den Ende. “This is something we can’t turn a blind eye on, that’s why we’re offering something our competitors can’t—free padala para sa lahat.”

Go to www.truemoney.com.ph for more information.

Storage facility opens branch along SLEx Self storage facility Loc&Stor 24/7 opens its fourth branch along South Luzon Expressway.

HOUSES filled with excess and unused possessions accumulated through the years fortunately have the option to keep them while maintaining ample living space.

Self storage facilities such as Loc&Stor give home and business owners a safe, secure, and professionally operated place to store goods that are not currently needed but cannot be disposed of.

Loc&Stor 24/7 has three strategically located facilities around the metro: one in Pasig City and two in Makati City (J.P. Rizal and Urban Avenue). It recently opened its fourth facility along South Luzon Expressway.

The SLEx branch gives residents and business owners in Alabang, Parañaque, Magallanes, Las Piñas, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and other nearby areas easy and fast access to a storage facility—whether on a short- or longterm basis. Minimum rental period starts at one month.

Loc&Stor 24/7 SLEx provides the same world-class standard that storers have learned to trust and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Like other branches, it has seven sizes of storage units to accommodate customers’ varying needs. The smallest can accommodate up to eight balikbayan boxes, while the jumbo-size unit can fit contents of a 20ft container or up to 180 balikbayan boxes. Customers can easily upsize or downsize their unit.

Only the renter and their authorized representatives can access their stored possessions, using unique PIN codes that arm and disarm their unit’s alarm.

All access to each unit is electronically

logged—the system will notify customers through e-mail if their unit has been opened.

To accommodate the requirements of Loc&Stor 24/7’s corporate or business owner storers, the facility has an elevated loading dock that can fit up to two 40ft shipping containers. Further, no weight limits are imposed on all units.

The storage facility offers seven storage unit sizes.

Finally, the SLEx branch is located in a guarded, gated, and flood-free compound manned round-the-clock by personnel from a leading professional agency. The facility is also equipped with high-definition CCTV cameras with night vision, smoke detectors and fire alarms, and sprinkler systems.

Ample parking space inside the compound is available for the storers’ safety even at odd hours.

Go to www.locnstor247.com, or connect through its social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for inquiries and more information.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

I

N NOVEMBER last year, an original Filipino digital movie broke the internet after its trailer earned more than six million views in 24 hours.

That movie was Glorious, an original offering from streaming service iWant and whose story about a risqué May-December love affair featuring Angel Aquino and Tony Labrusca piqued netizens’ curiosity.

Since then, iWant has been changing the landscape of Filipino entertainment and digital content as it enlisted different creators and filmmakers to produce more original series and movies of different genres released month after month.

Last March, iWant also launched the series Bagman, whose engaging showcase of politics, drama, and action topped off with Arjo Atayde’s effective portrayal of a barber-turned-henchman for a governor has generated praises from users.

As the first streaming service developed by Filipinos for Filipinos, iWant has launched free original titles, including the intergalactic romancedrama series Jhon en Martian, teenfantasy series Spirits Reawaken, and the live variety show iWant ASAP headlined by the country’s hottest artists and stars.

This month, iWant released new original offerings like romancedrama series Past Present Perfect, starring Shaina Magdayao and Loisa Andalio, and Dreamscape Digital’s exclusive original series Sino Ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa.

This year, users can also expect new additions to iWant’s diverse line-up of original content, including Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3 featuring Eugene Domingo’s return to her iconic role as a fictionalized version of herself, Mga Batang Poz, which tells the story of four Filipino teenagers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as the sexy comedy Don’t Call Me Tita, Kargo, She’s Into Her, and Taiwan You Love.

Aside from its original titles, iWant also boasts the biggest library of blockbuster Filipino movies such as Barcelona: A Love Untold, My Ex and Whys, One More Chance, Kita Kita, No

'Glorious,' ''Bagman,' and 'Spirits Reawaken' are just some of the biggest titles in iWant's growing library of films, TV series, and groundbreaking shows.

iWant houses biggest library

of free local movies, shows and live events Other Woman, and Sukob, among others – which can accessed for free.

On top of that, iWant users can also livestream their favorite sports events and revisit the highlights of the games of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Premier Volleyball League (PVL), Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), Alab Pilipinas, Pinoy Pride, boxing events, and national tournaments in its one-stop iWant Sports section.

The streaming service also allows Filipinos to catch up on currently airing ABS-CBN TV series, as well as rewatch their favorite shows such as the ‘90s

teen drama series Tabing Ilog and the phenomenal hit Be Careful With My Heart.

More subscribers can also get their iWant craving in the comfort of their own homes as they can already connect the streaming service to their TVs via Chromecast and Apple Airplay. Filipinos can also get access to more shows and movies without breaking the bank by availing Smart Communications’ and Globe Telecom’s respective promos.

With iWant, which is available on iOS and Android or via web browser on iwant. ph, users can get their entertainment and information fix by watching truly Filipino content that they want for free, whenever and wherever they are.

Investigative series snags nomination from Monte-Carlo TV fest

LEADING broadcast company GMA Network earns for the country a nomination at the 59th Golden Nymph Awards of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco through GMA News’ Justiis: Condominium Behind Bars—once again be-

coming the only Philippine news organization to be nominated this year.

Nominated in the TV News Items category, Justiis: Condominium Behind Bars is part of GMA News’ special nine-part investigative series on the malaise confronting the

'Justiis: Condominium Behind Bars' is part of GMA News’ special nine-part investigative series on the malaise confronting the Philippines' judicial system.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, May 30, 2019

ACROSS 1 What the hen did 5 Riyadh resident 10 — Spumante 14 Mr. Stravinsky 15 Spares, maybe 16 Clonk 17 Winslet or Moss 18 Coastal fliers 19 From memory 20 Blackboard cleaners 22 Questionable 24 Form 1040 info 25 Cash substitute 26 Trying experiences 30 Nail polishes 34 Motel staffer 35 Not mature 37 Popular side dish 38 “Wheel” buy (2 wds.)

39 Hypotheticals 40 Blow away 41 Upgrade 43 Not in a whisper 45 Sicily’s erupter 46 Besets 48 Heartfelt 50 Pierre’s word 51 Fruit stone 52 Added a lane 56 Went bad 60 Thor’s father

61 Fit for a king 63 Spring or ebb 64 Electrical unit 65 Ritzy group 66 Sci-fi princess 67 House wings 68 Banqueted 69 Jeannie portrayer

36 Alien spacecraft, briefly 42 Bewails 43 Changed 44 Spotted, as a horse 45 License 47 Charged particle 49 Popular cruise DOWN stop 1 Be fond of 52 Intertwined 2 Seaweed de53 Role model, rivative maybe 3 Small amount 54 Pickling herb 4 Ready to go out 55 Submarine 5 Without a smile 6 Puts on the radio 7 Ode inspirer 8 Hero’s act 9 Handing out 10 Courtyards 11 “Go away!”

12 Ballerina’s short dress 13 “Et tu” time 21 That, to Jaime 23 Tropical snake 26 Nebraska city 27 Rajahs’ spouses 28 Tunes in 29 Gets dirty 30 Happen next 31 Fill with joy 32 Grassy expanses 33 Skin coolant

outlet 56 Cloy 57 Perjured 58 McClurg or Brickell 59 College VIP 62 Martini ingredient

Philippines’ judicial system. ”Justiis’’ is a portmanteau of “justice” and “tiis,” a Filipino term that means to endure suffering and pain.

Reported by GMA News’ Emil Sumangil, the series witnessed the sorry state of the highly-congested Sta. Rosa City District Jail where female inmates had to endure the heat and the cramped space. To expand their sleeping quarters, the inmates resorted to “condominium”type bed accommodations, boring large holes on the ceiling to create a top-level, makeshift floor.

Twenty-eight programs from 17 countries were officially selected to compete for Golden Nymph Awards across six news and fiction categories.

Now on its 59th year, the MonteCarlo Television Festival celebrates the very best of television and delivers marketing and public relations opportunities to producers and distributors looking to access a large group of international print and on-camera journalists to promote and support their sales to worldwide broadcasters. The Golden Nymph Awards Ceremony will be held on June 18 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

DIGITAL MEDIA

Group calls on Viber allows users to make crystal-clear calls with up to five people

Convos that need to happen on Viber group calls WE’VE all been there before: you have some big news to share with family or friends but hesitate at the thought of calling every single person and repeating yourself.

Or you’re in a sticky situation and want to get everyone’s advice in one go. Or something huge just happened and you just need a good ol’ juicy group talk.

Luckily, Viber is here to solve all those problems. The app’s all-new Group Calls feature lets you make crystal-clear calls with up to five people. You can start a Group Call directly from a group chat—just tap on the new call button at the top. You can also turn a regular call into a Group Call by tapping the Add to Call button and selecting your preferred contacts. With this convenient option now on Viber, you can save time and energy with a single call.

Here are four scenarios this new feature is perfect for.

You got that job! It’s hiring season, and if you’re a fresh grad, you’ve probably been courting potential employers and weighing your options. Your family and friends have all been kept posted, and they’re waiting with bated breath for the big news. When the moment does come, gather them all in one call!

Discussing that much-hyped Game of Thrones finale. It’s been 8 long years, and we’re finally onto the episode to end

all episodes. Post-GoT finale discussions tend to get pretty hardcore and require the shared knowledge of a group of fans to recall the all lore, theories, and Easter eggs. What better way to let out all the feels after that epic finale than with Viber Group Calls?

Telling your friends you can’t go out because *cough* you’re sick. You’ve had a full week and you just want to stay home and order in. Your friends are bugging you about going out, but you’re not feeling up to it. Tell them in one swift call and let them hear how bad that cough is.

You need to make a conference call with the Avengers. Okay, maybe not the Avengers. But everyone has a reliable group of people to call on when they need help. Maybe you’re dealing with a cooking problem and need to contact your army of titas. Or you have a computer glitch and want a quick, easy solution from your techy friends. Maybe your crush just sent some mixed signals, and you need your squad to size up the situation. Either way, Group Calls are the easiest way to get everyone’s thoughts.

With Viber, everyday life is a lot more convenient. Whenever you need to talk to multiple people at once, just make a quick Group Call.

TV personality Bianca Gonzalez-Intal (rightmost) with executives from Tang

SNAPSHOT

#UhawAreYou campaign launched IN COOPERATION with the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and celebrity mom Bianca GonzalezIntal, Tang aims to increase awareness on the hydration gap in the Philippines and how it can be solved.

A serious yet often-overlooked matter that parents need to pay more attention to, a study on hydration by FNRI states that 83 percent of Filipino kids are not drinking enough to keep them hydrated and healthy, causing alarming effects.

But no task is too big for Tang as it makes the drinking experience more enjoyable for kids. By simply giving kids one to two glasses of Tang, you can help them drink the required seven glasses a day and stay hydrated.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

Regal’s ‘FINDING YOU’ holds successful premiere IT WAS a star-studded premiere night for Regal Entertainment’s latest bigscreen offering, Finding You. The advance screening held on Tuesday night was attended by lead cast Jerome Ponce and Jane Oineza.

The two stars were joined on the red carpet by director Easy Ferrer, and support cast including Menggie Cobarrubias, Kate Alejandrino, Claire Ruiz, and Jon Lucas. TV personalitiesDonny Pangilinan, Elmo Magalona, Heaven Peralejo, Albie Casino, RK Bagatsing, and Fifth Solomon, to name a few, were there as well to support the romantic flick.

The movie, which premiered yesterday, revolves around the story of a social media journalist Nel (Ponce) who has a rare condition called “hyperthymesia,” which makes him remember every detail of every moment he has encountered.

As much it’s a blessing, this condition serves as a curse for the central character

when it comes to matters of the heart. Coming from a series of failed relationships, he never forgets all the painful experience he had.

Good thing, his bride-to-be best friend Kit (Oineza) is always there by his side through thick and thin.

Despite having an exceptional memory, Nel is suddenly bombarded by vague memories that seem to curiously bring back an obscure pain - triggered by accidentally activating a mobile application called “Throwback.” His old status posts starting with “Dear You” prompt him to get to the bottom of it and be clarified with that one memory.

Will Nel realize that the one he needs to look for is just right beside him… before it’s too late?

Finding You is a play on memories - or the lack of it - and how they affect the life even of the most stern Finding You also stars Barbie Imperial.

The stars of ‘Finding You’ led by Jane Oineza and Jerome Ponce. (Inset) A scene from the romantic movie featuring the lead cast.

Great days for ANTHONY DIAZ F

ILIPINOAMERICAN actor and NICKIE WANG filmmaker Anthony Diaz V discovered his love for film since childhood and enthusiastically began his journey into filmmaking through creating dozens of shorts since the age of 15.

Fil-Am actor and filmmaker Anthony Diaz in a scene from the film, 'Way of the Cross.'

IN ACTION. The crew preparing for one of the biggest scenes in the movie, which the filmmaker aims to be distributed internationally.

YUGEL LOSORATA A CHILL-OUT stop featuring acoustic guitar-playing singers with throwback repertoire of easy-listening tunes is appropriately called a folk bar. That is exactly what you get upon dining in at My Bro’s Mustache, which you can find at the ground floor of Hive Hotel in Scout Tuason corner Madrinian Streets, South Triangle, Quezon City.

Folk music, for one, pertains to a genre embracing the now-classics recorded basically with acoustic guitar accompaniment. These masterpieces from the last decades of the 20th century were generally penned perhaps “under the pale moonlight” and typically without the aid of highly advanced equipment nor help from various apps.

Thus, the struggles of folk artists may be weighted as more in touch with basic humanity. Whereas some musicians require state-of-the-art gadgets and

Anthony Diaz on the set with Alvin Anson and Roxanne Barcello

This has given him a broad range of hands-on experience through screenwriting, directing, producing, acting and editing his own short films early on.

His passion for filmmaking led him to enroll at the University of Las Vegas Film School, USA (UNLV) where many famous movie directors and producers have taught.

He graduated with high honors with a Bachelor Degree in Film in the year 2010 at the age of 20, making him the youngest graduate in the history of the program.

Anthony wrote, directed, and acted in a short film called Delusion, which was showcased at the UNLV Film Festival.

The next film he wrote, directed and acted in, Forgotten Heroes, is about the war in Afghanistan and how it affects a U.S. military family.

It received rave reviews and has played at various movie festivals. It was also under consideration to be showcased at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., and was highly endorsed by the Gold Star Wives of America - a well-respected organization for spouses of those killed in the US military on active duty.

In 2012, at the age of 22, Anthony started a film production company, called Kaizen Studios, LLC in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. In 2013, he established Kaizen Studios Co., Ltd. in the Shibuya District in the heart of Tokyo, Japan.

In 2016, Anthony completed an Independent Hollywood movie, called Break in which he wrote, directed, edited, produced and played the lead role.

It is an aspiring American story which uses Japan as a backdrop.

Anthony is now in pre-production for his next film to be produced in Tokyo. Recently, he was in town to for the special screening of his latest project, Way of the Cross, which cast local actors including Roxanne Barcelo, Alvin Anson, Rafael Rosell, Miguel Vasquez, Daiana Menezes, Giovanni Respall, and Yussef Esteves, to name a few.

Set against a small religious town in the Philippines, Way of the Cross follows Rogelio “Rogue” Marquez (Anthony Diaz V), a Las Vegas-based Filipino American FBI agent, whose estranged father living in the Philippines, is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Rogue travels to the Philippines to visit his dying father and half-sister in Manila. A string of murders occurs during holy week celebrations in the nearby town of San Antonio that send waves of terror among the local town people and stuns the NBI and its top agent.

Rogue’s curiosity and FBI instincts lure him into a dark cat and mouse world of religious abstracts as he attempts to uncover the motivation behind these murders in hopes to solve the mystery.

Come all folks! party lights. Folk singers only crave for properly tuned guitars along with some sense of real tranquility.

If you’re the type who’d rather see cover artists and select hitmakers inclined to the delicate touch of folk music, then this place is certainly designed for you.

Yet it should sound unfair to categorize its crowd as purely coming from Generation X or Baby Boomers.

There are millennials who are old souls themselves. And of course, a handful of Gen Zs is understandably attached to the folk genre for a reason or two.

“Malaking bagay na makasama sa roster of artists highly regarded in the music scene,” said acclaimed tunesmith Toto Sorioso who is one of My Bro’s regular performers for the more than ten years now. He sings on Tuesday nights.

The artist lineup he is referring to includes the likes of Lolita Carbon, Mon Espia, Noel Cabangon, and even Pinoy rocker Wally Gonzalez.

Popular to people whose musical taste propelled international artists like Jim Croce, Tracy Chapman, and Simon & Garfunkel to stratospheric glory, folk music eventually blossomed in this country thanks to the voices and songwriting brilliance of Freddie Aguilar, Florante, and a few more in such elite club.

Hanging out in My Bro’s Mustache, with its feel-good mood-setting interior design and a regular patron of careerists and music aficionados, is an experience combining good music and food, capped off by below-zero beer the bar is fairly associated with. It’s a place to unwind and go home charged, not to nurse bad vibes.

“We seek to continue the bar’s philosophy of providing a quirky but soulful haven for those who want to travel back to a familiar past with live entertainment,” implies an insider from My Bro’s. The owner apparently is an audiophile with a music room of his own

Folk bar My Bro’s Mustache located on the ground floor of Hive Hotel & Convention Place in Quezon City.

and who champions such kind of music and the artists digging it.

Hive Hotel & Convention Place, its creation often directed back to My Bro’s Mustache’s famed site, has also blended with folk music’s wink to nature. Its mission partly “revolves around environment

protection and with guest rooms depicting living spaces that are compact, comfortable, and complete.” “ Comfort zone ko ang folk songs,” added Toto.

It’s essentially the same take for those who love listening to folk.