Manila Standard - 2019 June 5 - Wednesday

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Congress ends on sin tax OK House, Senate agree on 70-30 sharing of revenue proceeds

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 111 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

GMA bids farewell, cites gains; minority bares choice

By Maricel V. Cruz

GENUINE MILESTONES ALL. Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo congratulates fellow legislators Tuesday as she sums up, in her farewell speech, the achievements of the House during her term as the 17th Congress adjourned sine die, citing the support and commitment of members of the House to pass President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda. Perfecto Camero

iTunes silenced, 3 new apps coming Apple on Monday announced the demise of its groundbreaking iTunes platform in favor of three more tailored apps, as it refines its offerings to be a stage for digital music, films, podcasts and more.

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PH eagles fly to S’pore via PAL

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Jurong Bird Park in Singapore will take care of the two Philippine Eagles from Davao that were sent there via Philippine Airlines in line with the two countries’ breeding agreement.

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SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a farewell speech before fellow legislators, cited the accomplishments of the House of Representatives during her term as the 17th Congress adjourned sine die Tuesday night.

In her speech, Arroyo also thanked her colleagues for their support to pass the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But as Arroyo made her parting line, the incoming House was breathing fire with the 54-member Party-list Coalition maintaining its position to assert equal representation as that of district congressmen.

Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, chairman emeritus of the coalition in the 17th Congress, said the group will support the Speaker “who can assure them of equal treatment and recognition.”

“If the party-lists, by law, are 20 percent of the composition of the House, we’re looking for 20 percent of the [committee] chairmanship[s],” Garin said.

“What is properly due to the coalition, that is what we are asking for.

Equal treatment among parties including the party-list coalition,” she added.

Outgoing Minority Leader Danilo Suarez on Tuesday appealed to members of the incoming 18th Congress to vote for a Speaker who will not only support but ably push the legislative agenda of President Duterte.

Suarez, a senior member of Congress, supports incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, whom he said is the most qualified Next page candidate for the speakership.

Smartmatic’s former exec reveals pre-election day relay of results

By Rey E. Requejo A FORMER official of Smartmatic, the technology partner of the Commission on Elections, admitted Tuesday that precincts in Libon, Albay were transmitting results to the poll body’s transmission server even before Election Day. In testimony before the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System, former Smartmatic operations officer Jeffrey Ian Dy said the transmission occurred between May 3 and 9.

Dy could not say if the early transmission affected the election results, but acknowledged that this was wrong and prohibited under Comelec rules.

The anomaly uncovered during the three-hour hearing compounded the Comelec’s problems, which included more than 1,000 vote counting machines malfunctioning on Election Day and a seven-hour delay in the transmission of results from the transparency server to media organizations and poll watchdogs.

The hearing also revealed that 1,051 VCMs had malfunctioned during the May 13 polls, and that some 2,246 SD cards had been corrupted.

The committee, chaired by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and CIBAC Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, said the findings highlighted the urgent need to replace Smartmatic, which has been the Comelec’s technology partner through four automated elections since 2010.

The panel castigated the Comelec for failing to prevent the glitches and the transmission delays despite a P10 billion budget for the conduct of the polls.

The Comelec had earlier blamed the failure of the SD cards on the supplier who had won the bid for their supply, S1Silicon Valley.

Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the P29 million bid submitted by the winning bidder was substantially lower than the P80 million budget the poll body had set aside for the Next page SD cards.

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HE 17th Congress adjourned sine die Tuesday on a high note as it approved a bill raising the tobacco excise tax and acceded to a clamor among House members for a 70-30 sharing of the proceeds in favor of tobacco-producing cities and municipalities.

The Senate, which initially passed the measure on third and final reading Monday night, reconsidered its approval Tuesday and withdrew the amendment introduced by the Department of Finance for a 50-50 revenue sharing of the cities and municipalities on one hand and the provinces on the other.

The Department of Finance said the measure will help fill in the P40-billion funding gap for the implementation of the Universal Health Care law.

“With the approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the bill seeking higher tobacco excise taxes,

we have come one step closer to giving the government more elbow room to plug the funding gap for the UHC program that aims to provide all Filipinos with affordable and quality health care,” said Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the ways and means committee.

“We look forward to seeing President Duterte sign this important bill into law,” Angara said, noting that the Chief Executive himself wanted the bill passed into law before the adjournment of the current Congress when he certified it as urgent last week.

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SENATE SHOW OFF. Senator Aquilino Pmentel III tells newsmen Tuesday 2019 mid-term elections topnotcher Senator Cynthia Villar, in a leadership challenge with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, should concentrate on her own Nacionalista Party and not meddle in PDP-Laban.

Senate leaders at odds: Pimentel chides Villar to mind own party

By Macon Ramos Araneta SENATOR Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday said Senator Cynthia Villar should mind her own party after she castigated members of his PDP-Laban for embroiling her in a leadership challenge against Senate President Vicente Sotto III. “She shouldn’t poke her nose into our party’s business,” Pimentel said in Filipino, in a text message sent to reporters.

“She should concentrate on her own party.”

Speaking to reporters later, Pimentel played down the outburst from Villar, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party.

“That’s just how Senator Villar is when she’s agitated,” he said in Filipino. “All

I can say is that she’s also the leader of her own party so mind your own party, fix your own party.”

Villar, however, said she was not meddling in the PDP-Laban’s affairs.

“That’s their problem, I am not interfering,” she said in an interview at the Senate.

In an interview on Monday, Villar admitted she declined to sign a manifesto of support for Sotto as she had not yet consulted with her two other party mates who were abroad, Senators-elect Imee Marcos and Pia Cayetano.

When asked to sign the manifesto, Villar told Pimentel and Senator Manny Pacquiao that before they asked her to sign Next page

Teachers told: Patience has its reward

By Nat Mariano THE Palace on Tuesday appealed to public school teachers to be more patient as the government has been looking for the resources to finance the proposed increase in their salaries.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo asked the teachers for more patience as the government tries its best to finance their salary increase, which requires “a huge amount” of money.

“I just received from [Education] Secretary [Leonor] Briones, coming from the Department of Budget, that if you increase P10,000 for every teacher in this country, it will cost us P150 billion,” Panelo said.

“That is why we appeal to our teachers that since this is a huge amount, they should be more patient. We will really look for money for you.”

Panelo said the salary increase for the teachers is doable, but the government has to look for huge chunks of money to

finance the hike.

“We are doing something about it,” Panelo said.

“The President has committed himself and he has not renege on any commitment he has made during the presidential elections.”

Asked if there was hope for the increase, Panelo said: “Maybe, maybe.”

“But they might do it as an installment.

I don.t know how it will happen. But what, I think, is certain is that the President really wants to increase the salaries of the teachers,” he added.

Malacañang already assured teachers that the Chief Executive is currently working to increase their salaries following the appeal from groups on the start of the school year.

The Palace official even mulled that the Duterte administration is open to having a dialogue with the teachers. “We will arrange for that. I’ll talk with the President about that,” he added.

ONE OF ASIA’S BEST. Enterprise Asia executives present an award to BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito (center) in recognition of the financial education program for public schools in the Philippines, the foundation’s partnership project with DepEd and BSP. (Story on A2)

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH backs US presence in S. China Sea

By Nat Mariano THE Philippine government will support the United States’ presence and actions in the disputed South China Sea as long as Washington will provide peace and stability in the region, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Tuesday.

He made the statement even as the Supreme Court set oral arguments on the petition of fishermen from Palawan and Zambales to compel the government to protect the disputed shoals in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese fishermen have reportedly been harvesting marine resources.

The 15-member bench resolved to hear on June 25 the writ of Kalikasan case filed through the Integrated Bar of the Philippines seeking the issuance of a writ of continuing mandamus to protect, preserve and rehabilitate the environment in the Scarborough or Panatag Shoal and the Ayungin Shoal and Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef.

Panelo said the Philippines desires “peace and stability” in the area, and as long as Washington helps to preserve peace for the greater good amid China’s continuing military buildup in the area the Palace will support it.

“Well, the Philippines would want stability in that part of the world. The Philippines’ position is that every country has the right to use the waters in the South China Sea as well as the air space, and we want peace and quiet in that area,” Panelo said.

So, anything that will provide such kind of atmosphere, we are for it. If the presence of the US will make it so, then that’s good for all of us, all of the claimants.”

Panelo made his remarks after US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Washington would not ignore Beijing’s aggression in the contested resourcefilled waters.

In a recent security forum in Singapore, the US official called out China for Beijing’s use of coercion to advance its interests in the controversial South China Sea. “Behavior that erodes other nations’ sovereignty and sows distrust of China’s intentions must end... We’re not going to ignore Chinese behavior. In the past, people have kind of tip-toed around that,” Shanahan said. With Rey E. Requejo

Smartmatic’s...

From A1 Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte, citing the many technical problems encountered during the last elections, urged the Comelec to drop Smartmatic as its technology partner, saying the votes were “not being counted truthfully.”

Poll watchdog groups and several Catholic bishops also supported the President’s call to ban Smartmatic from future elections.

The call for such a ban was also supported by the lawyer of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has a pending election protest in the 2016 race for vice president.

The lawyer and spokesperson Vic Rodriguez pointed to the Comelec’s own acknowledgment of Smartmatic’s incompetence during the congressional hearing Tuesday.

“There is nothing left for Comelec to do but perpetually ban Smartmatic from participating in any part whatsoever in our electoral processes and end sabotaging the genuine will of the Filipino people,” Rodriguez said.

He added that it was time Filipino IT experts and companies ensure that elections are free from fraud and foreign intervention.

Senate...

From A1 the motion of support Sotto, they should first fix their problems within the party.

The PDP-Laban was hounded by several controversies during the campaign period, and before that, there were moves to oust Pimentel as president of the ruling party.

Just recently, Senator-elect Francis Tolentino, also of PDP-Laban, floated speculation that Villar would challenge Sotto for the Senate presidency in the 18th Congress.

“Why do we have to sign this? Why are you getting me involved in your quarrel? Why are you like that?” said Villar when the senators approached for her signature.

“Go fix your party mate. Don’t involve me in your quarrel,” she told them in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the 18th Congress in the Senate will have two committees devoted to education.

Gatchalian said he and Senator Joel Villanueva agreed there will be a committee for basic education and there will be another committee for higher education. Gatchalian said he would head the former, while Villanueva would lead the latter.

At present, there is only one committee for education: The Senate committee on education, arts and culture which is chaired by outgoing Senator Francis Escudero.

Escudero, who said he had signed the resolution in support of Sotto, said it was too early for posturing over the Senate leadership.

Probe on ‘Bikoy’ estafa case ends

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE Justice department on Tuesday ended its preliminary investigation of the new estafa complaint filed against Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narco-List” videos filed by an Albay-based businessman.

Investigating Assistant State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan submitted the case for resolution without Advincula’s answer after the latter failed to appear or at least send a lawyer or representative in two hearings despite the summonses sent to his home address.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday reiterated his agency will look into

claims made by Advincula accusing the opposition to be behind the viral videos “Ang Totoong Narcolist”.

This came after he returned to the Philippine National Police for protective custody and submitted himself for investigation.

Advincula is being accused of estafa over a beauty pageant that he organized last year.

In the hearings held on May 28 and yesterday, only complainant Arven Valmores of Ardeur World Marketing and his lawyers showed up.

Valmores submitted to the investigating prosecutor the affidavit of witness Danrick Capuz, director of the beauty pageant who confirmed that Advincula organized the event but disappeared along with the funds collected for the event without paying them.

In his complaint filed on May 10, Valmores said Advincula did not attend the pageant held on Aug. 11, 2018, after using the corporate name and logo of Valmores’ business―without his consent―for promotion.

He said the respondent “became unreach-

BDO’s CSR program named one of Asia’s best FOR the third straight year, BDO Foundation was recognized by the prestigious Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards for its outstanding achievement in corporate social responsibility. The financial education program for public schools’ the foundation’s partnership project with the Department of Education and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas was named one of the best in Asia by the award-giving body.

According to AREA, BDO Foundation’s corporate citizenship initiative is among the notable winning projects in 2019. Out of more than 200 entries from 16 countries submitted this year, the foundation’s financial education program is among 64 awardees honored by AREA. The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank is one of only three Philippine organizations recognized. Other awardees are firms based in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, among other countries.

The award under the social empowerment category and certificate of achievement were presented to BDO Foundation president

Mario Deriquito at the AREA 2019 awarding ceremonies held in Taipei, Taiwan.

“We share this honor with our partners DepEd and BSP, who made the program possible through their support and expertise,” Deriquito underscored. “It is through our close collaboration and shared advocacy to promote financial inclusion that we were able to develop effective financial literacy materials. As a new school year begins, we look forward to the deployment of the program to more than 800,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel, and 24 million students in over 47,000 public schools across the country.”

In previous years, BDO Foundation was cited by AREA for its rural health units rehabilitation program and its initiative to support persons with disabilities affected by Typhoon Yolanda. This year, AREA recognized the foundation for developing a financial education program that helps the target audience learn lessons on such topics as savings, budgeting, financial planning, investments, managing debt, the responsible use of credit, entrepreneurship and avoiding scams.

The AREA 2019 awarding ceremonies

Congress...

From A1

The original sin tax law of 2012 put the revenue sharing at 90-10, with the bulk of collections going to cities and municipalities, and 10 percent going to provincial governments to allocate for livelihood projects and to support tobacco farmers.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said lawmakers from tobacco-producing provinces in Northern Luzon were against the 50-50 distribution of tobacco tax share between municipalities and provinces.

The lawmakers went back to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Undersecretary Karl Chua to make the needed adjustments, saying the law might be held hostage if the amendments are not carried out.

During the plenary session, it was decided that some P17 billion will be given to farmers producing Virginia-type cigarettes and P4 billion would go to farmers producing barley. The amount would come from 15 percent of the sin tax collected from tobacco and alcohol products.

The measure imposes an increase of P45 to P60 per pack in ex-

were attended by more than 300 guests that included business executives, government officials, diplomatic representatives, social and community leaders and CSR practitioners. The event was held in conjunction with the International CSR Summit 2019, which served as a venue for delegates from 16 countries to share insights on how to pursue corporate citizenship programs that aggressively promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Organized by Enterprise Asia, AREA honors companies and corporate foundations in Asia that promote responsible entrepreneurship. It recognizes their leadership, sincerity and commitment in incorporating responsible and ethical values, legal compliance, respect for people and individuals, involvement in communities and protection of the environment into the way they run their businesses.

Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization that aims to champion entrepreneurship development across Asia and cultivate a culture of honesty, fairness and responsible entrepreneurship.

cise tax beginning next year to 2023 and then a 5 percent yearly hike effective Jan. 1, 2024.

The scheduled increase would be as follows: P45 per pack increase effective Jan. 1, 2020 until Dec. 31, 2021, P50 in January 2021, P55 per pack in January 2022 and P60 per pack effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Also, an excise tax of P10 per pack of 20 units will be imposed on heated tobacco products, while vapor products will have a P10 excise tax for every 10 milliliters starting Jan. 1, 2020. These rates will increase by 5 percent annually beginning January 2021.

On Tuesday night, the House adopted the Senate version of the bill.

The House, presided by Deputy Speaker Mylene Garcia-Albano, in plenary session adopted the Senate version of the measure after senators accepted the proposal of congressmen from tobacco-producing provinces for a distribution of tobacco tax share between municipalities and provinces.

The adoption came as 17th Congress adjourned sine die, with 214 lawmakers in attendance.

The World Health Organization said that raising taxes on cigarettes would save 460,000 lives.

PH eagles...

From A1

GMA...

From A1

Geothermica (male) and Sambisig (female), aged 15 and 17, respectively, are being loaned to Wildlife Reserves Singapore “to hopefully encourage breeding in Singapore, specifically at the Jurong Bird Park, one of the zoological facilities managed by WRS.” Jurong Bird Park will be the home of the two Philippine eagles for the next 10 years, but they will remain the property of the Philippines as the government has issued Philippine passports under their names.

This is the first international Philippine Eagle Loan Agreement between the governments of the Philippines (through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and Singapore to increase the eagles’ population.

Philippine Airlines led the simple sendoff ceremony for the two eagles.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said “through the PAL Foundation, we are flying the loaned eagles to Singapore because we firmly believe in the eagle preservation advocacy of the Philippine Eagle Foundation.”

Bautista also revealed that PAL is the sponsor of another eagle named Sinag.

In a statement, PAL officials said “The Philippine Eagle Foundation hopes that, through the eagle loan program, the WRS can help secure a gene pool of the Philippine eagles for species conservation and as an insurance against natural calamities that can wipe out the only captive Philippine eagle population at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City.

The PEF manages the PEC where both Geothermica and Sambisig were hatched and reared.”

Airline officials said the primary objective is to secure the population of the species elsewhere to protect the eagles from threats of outbreak of diseases or calamities.

One example of potential outbreaks was the avian influenza that hit parts of the country in Su1u, which killed at least 37,000 birds in Central Luzon, according to a website.

The preserved gene pool can also be critical in preservation efforts in case of health epidemics like the avian flu, the PAL statement added.

There are 32 eagles under the care of PEC. This is the first time the Philippines is lending Philippine eagles to another country. The Philippines and Singapore mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

“Congressman Romualdez has a long track record of good leadership,” Suarez said at a news conference, even as the minority leader maintained that Romualdez has the edge over the other candidates for speaker.

Earlier, Suarez said a manifesto of support for Romualdez as speaker has reached the “magic number” of 153 signatories for him to win the Speakership race.

He said Tuesday he believed Romualdez would be able to maintain his number of supporters.

Arroyo said through their “tireless work and dedication, the 17th Congress has achieved genuine milestones that will benefit both the present and next generation of Filipinos.”

After she became speaker on July 23, 2018, Arroyo said the House was able to pass 250 bills into law.

“Congratulations. These 250 new laws were among the 880 measures we approved, which in turn were among the almost 2,500 measures we processed. All these translate to our having processed 45 measures a day—a testament to the tough work ethic of the members of the House,” Arroyo said.

“The 880 measures we approved include all the bills highlighted by President Rodrigo Duterte in his 2018 State of the Nation Address. For early on, I defined our principal objective in no uncertain terms as to push for the legislative agenda of President Duterte. Our House focused on the passage of priority bills, especially those he highlighted in his 2018 SONA. “In the President’s 2018 address, he asked for 48 hours to sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law after our approved version would have been transmitted to him. Our chamber ratified it the day after the SONA and sent it to him, who immediately signed it into law.”

On security of work tenure, Arroyo said the President added his voice to those of the workers to pass legislation ending the Endo or the short term employment practice in the country.

“Last May 28, we passed the bill harmonized with the Senate version. It is now ready for signing into law,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo also pointed out that President Duterte urged Congress to convene the bicameral conference committee and pass at the soonest possible time the bill establishing the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund. He subsequently vetoed the enrolled bill, but the House passed a new version on third

and final reading last May 27.

Similarly, the President said that they in the Cabinet have approved for immediate endorsement to Congress the passage of a law creating the Department of Disaster Management. “We passed the bill on third and final reading on Oct. 1, 2018,” Arroyo said.

A law removing quotas on rice imports was also pushed through the legislative mill.

Arroyo also said it was during her watch as House speaker where the legislature fulfilled the President’s commitment to a comprehensive tax reform program.

“He urged Congress to pass Package 2, which our chamber passed on third and final reading as the Trabaho bill on Sept. 10, 2018,” Arroyo said.

Several tax measures which are needed to spur economic growth were also passed under the Arroyo-led House leadership.

“The President asked Congress to take seriously and pass the mining, alcohol, and tobacco tax increase, reform in property valuation, reform in capital income and financial taxes, and an amnesty program. Our chamber passed the mining tax on third and final reading on Oct. 8 last year and the alcohol tax on Dec. 3. Tonight, together with the Senate, we ratified the tobacco tax, and it is being ready for the President’s signature. Our chamber passed the reform in property valuation on Dec. 12, and the reform in capital income and financial taxes on Dec. 3. As for the amnesty program, the Senate worked with us to come out with an enrolled bill that the President signed into law on Valentine’s Day as well,” Arroyo said.

The Arroyo led House leadership also fulfilled President Duterte’s Universal Health Care Bill.

“We complied, and he signed it into law on Feb. 20, 2019. This notable bill ensures that all Filipinos will get the health care they need, when they need it. This means that every Filipino will be enjoying their right to have health assistance by becoming part of the National Health Insurance Program. Forms of assistance include preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care for medical, dental, mental, and emergency health services,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo also said the House also played a significant role to look into the nitty gritty of proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution to effect federalism of President Duterte.

“The President introduced a new fundamental law of the land. But since his Cabinet members opposed the draft prepared by the Consultative Committee, our chamber passed what we hope is a more fiscally acceptable version on Dec. 11, 2018,” Arroyo said.

able, thereby leaving all the members of the production staff unpaid.”

The complainant said he had to shell out P304,422 to cover the expenses of the pageant as the production staff and pageant winners sought redress.

Advincula surfaced on May 6 to claim that he was the Bikoy in the videos that accused several members of the presidential family of links to the illegal drug trade in the country.

However, on May 23, he surrendered to the PNP and recanted his claims, saying he was paid by the camp of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to make the false accusations as part of the alleged plot to oust President Duterte. With PNA

Rody’s ‘cured gay’ remark sparks uproar PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has sparked outrage after claiming that he “cured” himself of being gay with the help of beautiful women.

President Duterte is notorious for his foul-mouthed speeches that include insults, threats to perceived enemies and references to rape that he casts as jokes.

The latest unfiltered comments came during an appearance before the Filipino community in Tokyo last week.

During his speech Duterte appeared to say that one of his high-profile critics, Senator Antonio Trillanes, was gay.

“Trillanes and I are similar. But I cured myself,” the President said.

The President explained that he “became a man again” after meeting his now ex-wife.

“So beautiful women cured me,” he added.

Duterte has a wavering record when it comes to gay rights. During his campaign for president in 2016 he voiced support for same sex marriage, but later backtracked.

He has also used homosexuality as an insult, including against Philip Goldberg, then US ambassador to Manila.

Bahaghari, a gay and transgender advocacy group, said Duterte’s comments were dangerous and retrograde.

“It is symptomatic of an even graver illness: One of ignorance, prejudice and hate,” the group said in an statement.

“These statements, like his perverted and offensive comments on women, cannot be taken lightly or dismissed merely as jokes,” the group added.

The World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association consider homosexuality as a sexual orientation and not a disorder.

The Philippines has a reputation for openness toward homosexuality, but watchdogs warn legal protections are lacking.

At the same time, the Catholic Church is a powerful force in the nation where the majority of its 106-million people are counted as believers.

Abortion and divorce are both illegal, due in part to fierce resistance to change from the Church. AFP

iTunes...

From A1 iTunes transformed the way people buy and listen to music after its launch in 2001, but is now being phased out, Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said, while helping kick off the technology giant’s annual gathering of developers in Silicon Valley.

“The future of iTunes is not one app, it’s three,” Federighi said.

“Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV.” Since the launch of iTunes, lifestyles have shifted to streaming music, video and more from the Internet cloud as online data centers and high-bandwidth connections gave rise to on-demand entertainment expectations.

The iTunes software let users manage and listen to music collections as well as buy digital versions of songs.

“There is no reason for iTunes to exist, period.” said Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi.

“If I want music, I have the app. If I want TV, I have the app. That is how people are thinking today.”

The transformation of iTunes into three separate apps comes with Apple preparing the international launch of an eponymous TV+ later this year.

The new content will be available on an upgraded Apple TV app, which will be on smart television sets and thirdparty platforms including Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV. The California company showed off its podcast app on Monday as well, and said that service would be tailored to work independently on its smartwatch.

Some features from iTunes will be melded into the other Apple apps.

It remains to be seen what will become of the iTunes version tailored for Windows-powered computers, or how people will be able to move music libraries they have amassed.

Software innovations and improvements revealed at the opening day of the Worldwide Developers Conference touched the company’s entire line-up from wrist-wear to iPhones and Car Play along with smart assistant Siri. AFP

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace upbeat on timely passage of mandatory ROTC

By Nat Mariano EVEN after Senate leaders declared that there may not be enough time left to pass the bill requiring Grade 11 and 12 students to undergo the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, Malacañang on Tuesday expressed confidence that the proposed measure will be passed in next Congress.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the lack of time is not a problem to pass the said bill, which was just certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“If it lacks time, there’s a new Senate coming up, so I don’t think it will be a problem. I think members of the Senate would also like this bill,” Panelo told Palace reporters.

The Palace official made the remark after Senate leaders cited time constraints, saying the chamber needs time to “thoroughly debate the said bills.”

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said enacting the said measure would be “next to impossible,” adding that the Office of the President should have issued the certifications earlier.

“These measures will take a lot of hours of debate. We have a different system in the Senate. The committee approves it quickly…. but debates happen here on plenary. We wish they were able to come out with the priority certification much earlier to let us be able to plan and study and debate the measure,” Zubiri said.

“We gave priority to the sin tax, tobacco measure for PhilHealth for additional funds for the health services of the government, so I hope that our friends in the executive department will not take it against us that we only have one day left tomorrow,” he said.

Cardema gains nod as Duterte Youth nominee

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections announced on Tuesday it has approved the move of National Youth Commission chairman Ronald Cardema to substitute as nominee of the winning party-list group Duterte Youth.

“The substitution of Ronald Cardema as Duterte Youth nominee has been approved, with one Commissioner dissenting and one abstention,” said James Jimenez, COMELEC spokesperson.

Cardema is 33 years old, and based on the provision of the Party-list System Act, a nominee of the youth sector must not be more than 30 years old.

In a resolution, the COMELEC stated that the withdrawal documents submitted by the Duterte Youth’s first five nominees were “in compliance” with existing party-list laws.

Those who signed the approval were Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioners Al Parreño, Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, and Antonio Kho Jr., while Commissioner Rowena Guanzon dissented.

Commissioner Luie Tito Guia, who earlier disapproved the group’s accreditation as a party-list, abstained from the voting, saying “I abstained to be consistent with my earlier vote to deny the accreditation.”

Cardema will now be able to assume the post at the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress.

Election watchdog Kontra Daya opposed this, saying the substitution would be the ultimate mockery of the party-list system.

Cardema filed his motion only on May 16, or three days after the May 13 midterm polls ended, and according to Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao, there can be no substitution after the elections close.

“The rules are clear as may be gleaned from Sec. 8 of the Party-list System Act of 1995 and Sec. 18 of COMELEC Resolution No. 3307-A,” he said.

The group cited Sec. 18. Substitution of nominees. A party-list nominee may be substituted only when he dies, or his nomination is withdrawn by the party, or he becomes incapacitated to continue as such, or he withdraws his acceptance to the nomination. In any of these cases, the name of the substitute nominee shall be placed last in the list of nominees.

POLL MATTERS. Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino (left), Chairman Sheriff Abas (middle) and Director James Jimenez were present during the Senate public hearing on congressional oversight committee on the automated election system on output of the technical working group on the submissions to the JCOC-AES, -final report of the local source code reviewers, and initial discussion in the recent 2019 national and local election. Lino Santos

Palace to quiz HUDCC on Marawi fund diversion

By Rio N. Araja

P

RESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo said he may consider asking the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council to explain the P5 million it allegedly diverted to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

Panelo, however, admitted that he has yet to read the Commission on Audit report, but will consider writing the HUDCC asking the agency to explain the reason for this fund diversion.

“First, I want to see the COA findings and then maybe I will write HUDCC regarding it,” Panelo told reporters in an interview after a Palace briefing.

In an audit report, the COA found that HUDCC signed a memorandum of agreement with the NCMF, transferring the amount to the agency to fund a 2018 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

COA has pointed out the amount was taken from the P500-million fund from

the Office of the President which it allocated to HUDCC for Marawi City rehabilitation projects.

It noted that the purpose of the fund transfer was “not among the authorized expenses enumerated in the original MOA between OP and HUDCC.” Panelo, who is also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, said that if the COA audit report is true, then HUDCC could face raps for technical malversation.

“That would be technical malversation kung totoo. Hindi pa natin alam (if it’s true. But we don’t know that yet),” Panelo said.

“We’ll ask the HUDCC to explain

kung totoo yun o hindi (if it’s true or not). But I think they will already explain kasi [because] COA has raised it,” he added.

As this developed, the National Housing Authority is already 36 percent on target of building temporary or transitory shelters for the victims of Marawi siege in May 2017.

Roderick Ibañez, Project Management Office head from Region 10 head, said a total of 1,763 temporary shelters were put up out of the 6,932 target since November 2017.

“After seven months, we are on target.

By December this year, about 3,000 more transitory houses would be built and we would be able to complete our target second quarter next year,” he said.

A temporary shelter has a size of 24-square meter lying in a 32-square meter lot with one bedroom worth P200,000.

Ibañez said 2,000 permanent shelters would be built in 2019 to be funded

by San Miguel Corp. With PNA

Du30 gives go-signal to auction off Imelda’s jewelry PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has officially given his consent to proceed with the public auction of the P700 million worth of jewelry collection seized from former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.

In a text message to Palace reporters, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the Office of the President has officially informed Presidential Commission on Good Governance that it is not objecting to the sale of Marcos jewelry.

“OP has officially informed PCGG that it interposes no objections to the proposed activities relative to the disposal of the Marcos jewelry collections, subject to compliance w/ existing laws, rules and regulations,” he said.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo also echoed Medialdea’s comment, adding that the agency, tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth accumulated

during the Marcos regime, should now undertake the process of auctioning the Marcos jewelries.

According to Panelo, Filipinos, especially those in need of government support, must benefit from the proceeds of the auction. “[It should] benefit the people by way of whatever projects,” he said.

Assuming that it is true that proceeds of the sale of the multi-million-peso jewelry collection, which was considered illgotten properties of the Marcoses, must only go to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the Palace official said Congress can always amend the law that limits the perceived beneficiaries of the proceeds.

According to the list provided by the PCGG, the jewelry collection, which included diamond-studded tiaras, bracelets, and necklaces, was seized from the Mar-

cos family when they fled to Honolulu, Hawaii more than three decades ago.

The said Hawaii Collection, which is under the safekeeping in the vaults of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, amounts to P704.8 million.

Panelo previously declared that regardless of Duterte’s political ties with the Marcos family, especially with Senator-elect Imee Marcos, the public auction will push through.

“As we have repeatedly assured the nation, the President is no respecter of friendship, political alliance and filial relationship. The President decides on any national matter on the basis of the constitutional command to him to serve and protect the people,” he said..

Duterte will “continue to govern the country with public welfare and national interest foremost in his mind,” he added.

Nat Mariano

Bill on Islamic Bank transmitted to Palace

By Maricel V. Cruz

POLL PROTEST. Members of Tindig Pilipinas led by former DSWD Secretary Dinkee Soliman stage a protest rally in front of the Senate gate in line with the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee hearing on the Automated Election System and other irregularities in the last election. Lino Santos

THE House of Representatives led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature the proposed law creating a sound legal and regulatory framework for Islamic banks in the country.

Reelected Anak Mindanao Partylist Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan said the measure will attract more investments in the country’s banking sector and complement the newly created Bangsamoro Organic Law. The House submitted the measure to the Palace as the 17th Congress ended Tuesday.

Sangcopan, a member for the House majority bloc of the House committee on Mindanao Affairs, said she hopes the measure will be signed by the President.

The bill refers to an Islamic bank as a business whose objectives and operations do not involve interest (riba), which is prohibited by the Shari’ah and which conducts its business transactions in accordance to Shari’ah principles.

Senate okays measure vs. bank system hacking THE Senate has approved on third reading a measure that declared hacking of bank systems as a form of economic sabotage, punishable by life imprisonment and up to P5- million fine.

House Bill 6710 which amends RA 8484, otherwise known as the “Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998,” was approved with 20 affirmative votes, no abstention and no negative votes.

The rapid development of information technology and the economic impact of financial fraud and crimes committed through the use of electronic devices and gadgets necessitate the need to provide more teeth to RA 8484, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday said.

On top of stiffer penalties, the scope of RA 8484 has been expanded, to include automated teller machine fraud through skimming, hacking of the banking system, counterfeiting of credit or debit card.

The mere possession of any type of skimming devices or even attempts to access an application or online banking account, regardless of whether or not it will result in monetary loss to the account holder, will now be punishable with imprisonment.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

MMDA, transport groups tresh out new policies THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Tuesday met various transport groups and discussed the government’s new policies concerning provincial buses and UV Express vehicles.

The meeting came amid public clamor and oppositions regarding the government’s plan banning provincial buses along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and limiting UV Express Service Units to point-to-point operations.

“We conducted the consultation so we will be able to hear the side of our stakeholders who will be affected by the policies,” said MMDA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Pircelyn Pialago.

Pialago said the stakeholders made some recommendations in connection with the new policies.

The government, as the stakeholders suggested, must have a travel time period for the policy; consider the additional cost of the transport operators and the passengers; there must be an available transportation for senior citizens and persons with disability; designate mid bus stops instead of P2P (point to point).

Give priority to higher capacity vehicles (Instead of prioritizing TNVS); regulate and organize bus terminals; provide seminars to commuters; include proper driving in K-12 curriculum; limit coding for public utility vehicles, and fleet management will only be sustainable if jeepneys are allowed 23 km route, and drivers have boundary of P1,500.

Joel E. Zurbano

DOE alerts distributors on CSB bidding ENERGY Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi upheld the recent Supreme Court decision mandating the Competitive Selection Process in the public bidding of power supply agreements.

“All affected power industry players must catch up and push under the CSP, those stalled supply agreements for the next 23 years,” he said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court issued a decision which maintained that “all Power Supply Agreement applications submitted by Distribution Utilities to the Energy Regulatory Commission on or after 30 June 2015 shall comply with the Competitive Selection Process” was welcomed by the DOE. Cusi said that the government will ensure the compliance of all affected parties in the energy sector to the SC ruling, with the DOE taking the lead in prodding industry stakeholders to expedite the CSP bidding of stalled power supply PSA applications of Meralco and other distribution utilities.

The Energy chief has previously emphasized that the high court’s ruling is a nod to the DOE’s “longstanding conviction on the fundamental role of the CSP as a mechanism to ensure transparency and fair competition in the procurement of our power supply. It was designed to protect the consuming public from power rate spikes, pass-on charges, and avert predatory practices.”

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Who’s afraid of same-sex unions?

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE IT’S Pride Month, and a good time to discuss the poll about same-sex unions that appeared on the House of Representatives website last month.

When I looked last week, ‘yes’ had 464,690 votes or 64 percent of 723,608 total votes. ‘No’ votes were 256,532 (35 percent) while ‘undecided’ was at 2,386 votes.

As I wrote in my previous column, ‘Fighting an invisible war,’ LGBT rights are a contentious issue in this country. “Congress recently posted a poll on their website asking the public’s opinion on same-sex unions as civil partnerships… The week the poll came out, people on both sides of the fence rallied supporters to vote.

I got messages asking me to choose ‘no’—one was from a Roman Catholic nun.”

Regarding the poll itself as a form of feedback, it can be considered a tentative step in the right direction, because it seeks to gauge public opinion on the matter and complete the communication cycle.

Before the Internet, feedback was always difficult to obtain, unless one conducted costly and time-consuming surveys.

But the poll, however interesting it might be as a platform for people’s voices, should not be the basis for deciding on legislation.

First, being online, it is not accessible to everyone who has a stake in the decision. Second, there is always the possibility that ‘bots’ and hackers will influence the numbers.

Lawmakers will still have to use their judgment, based on hard evidence, data, and sound and logical reasoning (hopefully). Take Taiwan as an example. The island nation

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage last month. Last December, they conducted a controversial referendum on the matter, and 67 percent voted against.

Yet the Taiwanese solons still passed the law and consequently made history as the first country in Asia to allow same-sex marriage, claiming a victory for LGBT rights.

As Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted: “Today we have a chance to make history and show the world that progressive values can take root in an East Asian society.”

Conservatives often cite religious reasons for their opposition to samesex marriage. As with sex-related issues such as contraception and abortion, they anchor their arguments on scripture or other religious texts and pronouncements. Lawmakers who take religion for their touchstone are flouting the Constitutional proviso on the separation of Church and State.

Here’s a sample of a decision that shows why religion is not a humanitarian basis for lawmaking.

Last April, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced the penalty of death by stoning for those convicted of sex between men, based on the Shari’a, Islamic law grounded on the Qur’an. In the face of global outcry, the sultan has since said the death penalty will not be imposed, although the law has not been repealed.

Reason and logic should be the sole basis for decision-making, tempered by compassion and justice. It should be obvious to all that it is unfair that the hundreds of thousands of samesex couples throughout history have endured the same challenges that straight couples do, but without legal protection.

Same-sex marriage will allow gay couples the right to inherit, adopt children, and act and decide for their spouse in cases of emergency, among other actions. It will allow those living outside

T

Three-year-old promise

HE Palace statement this week that the President is working on his three-year-old promise to raise salaries for public school teachers fell a little short of being reassuring.

In making the statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo would not say how soon teachers can expect the increase, offering only that the Finance and Budget secretaries were looking for the wherewithal to fund the pay hikes.

“Let’s see how it goes,” the President’s spokesman said, hardly inspiring any confidence.

Panelo said the three-year delay in raising teachers' salaries does not mean the President is giving up on his promise.

"The President is not reneging on his commitment... You must remember that the mother of the President was a teacher and, so his heart is with the teachers," he said.

The Palace statements come in the wake of a call by ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro for the President to make good on his campaign promise to institute a “substantial” salary increase for public school teachers and other govern-

ment employees.

Tinio said Duterte “has promised multiple times” that the salaries of public school teachers would be increased after hiking the salaries of uniformed personnel.

“It is high time that the Duterte administration fulfills [its] promise to increase the salaries of teachers to compensate for the continuing price increases of basic goods and services. Teachers are merely asking for a salary increase that would provide their families decent lives,” he said.

Castro echoed Tinio's appeal, saying the President should "wake Congress up” and make the salary increase a top legislative priority, instead of making another promise.

ACT added that teaching is no longer a viable profession in terms of providing for a family, as Teacher 1’s 2019 salary of P20,754 and Teacher 2’s P22,938 fall short of the Family Living Wage of P23,660—the

barest minimum according to independent think tank Ibon Foundation.

In fact, in June last year, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia acknowledged that a family of five would need an aggregate income of P42,000 to live above the poverty line.

This, he added, was based on the assumption that a household has two family members earning P21,000 each per month.

Against this grim economic backdrop, one can hardly fault the teachers for clamoring for what the President promised them three years ago.

With all due respect to the Palace, “let’s see” just won’t cut it, nor will general statements about where the President’s heart truly lies.

The President may have bit off more than he could chew when he announced at the start of his term that he would rid the country of crime and corruption in three months. That deadline has long come and gone. Now he needs to show the teachers he can, after all, keep a promise—even if it takes him half his term to do it.

Turn to A5

Sonny Dominguez

CARLOS “Sonny” Dominguez, 71, is the head of President Duterte’s economic team. His idea of economic growth is 6 percent or higher per year, with record investment in infrastructure, to the tune of P8 trillion in five years, and tax reform to raise government revenues.

The economy, though, is suddenly in correction mode, reflecting serious bottlenecks. Current growth is below the original 7 percent target per year and hit 5.7 percent in first quarter 2019, after 28 consecutive quarters of 6 percent or higher rate.

Build, Build, Build is under Duterte’s 10-point reform agenda designed to make every Filipino middle class in five years, if not earlier.

Government infra spending will exceed a record high 5.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The 5.2 percent is equivalent to atleast P1 trillion infra spending per year. In 2019, national government disbursements are to reach P3.774 trillion, 19.6 percent of GDP, and rising to P5.29 trillion (20.6 percent of GDP) in 2022, the end of Duterte’s presidency.

To finance the gargantuan spending, Dominguez convinced Congress to pass the controversial TRAIN Law. “TRAIN Law has been a great success,” proclaims the DOF chief.

“We broadened the tax base and returned about P111 billion—the equivalent of a 14th month pay—to the pockets of 99 percent of our wage workers. That reflected in a spike in consumer demand that helped boost the domestic economy.”

In its first year, TRAIN exceeded its target by 8 percent. More tax revenues mean less reliance on borrowings for the government.

Awash with TRAIN money, President Duterte made college education free for all; bought war materiel to defend the West Philippine Sea; promised (still to be fulfilled) to double the salaries of soldiers, policemen, and teachers; signed the Universal Health Care law; and increased cash doleouts to the poor to the tune of P80 billion a year.

Covering 4.4-million households, the conditional cash transfer program locally known as Pantawid Pamily-

The world has taken notice of the remarkable improvements in the Philippines’ economic fundamentals. po ang Pilipino Program or 4Ps is a potent anti-poverty tool, says the World Bank. Households receive cash grants if children stay in school and get regular health checkups, have their growth monitored, and receive vaccines.

Pregnant women must get pre-natal care, with their births attended to by professional health workers. Parents or guardians are required to participate in monthly community-based Family Development Sessions to learn about positive child discipline, disaster preparedness, and women’s rights.

With up to 75 percent of the population targeted, the 4Ps is the world’s fourth largest cash transfer program to the poor.

To address inflation, Duterte opened rice importation, long a government monopoly, to private companies. Rice tariffication is expected to temper the cost of imported rice (food is half of the consumer basket) and bring down inflation. The measure’s impact has Turn to A5

In search for Jamaica’s supreme ganja KINGSTON, JAMAICA—A supreme ganja, smoked by Rastas and even Bob Marley himself in the 1970s?

This pipe dream of every self-respecting ganja aficionado is becoming reality again thanks to the horticultural talents of a scientist in Jamaica.

Amid mangos, lychees and other jackfruit, Dr. Machel Emanuel has planted a field of cannabis plants measuring dozens of square meters— cannabis cultivated in the open, in greenhouses or in his lab in the botanical garden of the Biology Department at the University of the West Indies in Kingston.

His specialty: Landrace cannabis, which grew naturally in Jamaica be-

fore it disappeared as a result of human intervention.

"In the 50s, 60s, 70s, Jamaica was known for its landrace cultivar which definitely gave Jamaica that international reputation," the rasta doctor explained, dreadlocks hanging down his back.

The plant is adapted to its environment and with "unique growing characteristics based on its flower, on the smell, on the flavor, even on the euphoria" it delivers to those who consume it, he said.

Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailers—founding members of the celebrated reggae group The Wailers—used landrace cannabis, he assures, amid the soothing, tropical am-

bience of his little garden of Eden—or Jah, the Rastafarian word for God. The reggae legends' ganja, he says, would not have been as strong as modern, artificially created cannabis, which has higher levels of THC—the plant's main psychoactive ingredient.

But in the 1980s, during the US war on drugs, landrace cannabis was easily spotted because of its height and destroyed, and cultivation of the plant was abandoned. Over time, easierto-hide hybrids replaced the landrace cultivars.

Enter the doctor Enter Dr Emanuel. The 35-year-old Turn to A5

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Opinion D-Day comms operator sends final message LONDON—Marie Scott vividly recalls the horrifying sounds of D-Day as she relayed orders down the line to the troops storming the Normandy beaches.

She was only 17 and one of nine women transmitting critical messages back and forth between communications headquarters in England and the fighting in France, as the Allied invasion to liberate Western Europe began.

Seventy-five years on from June 6, 1944, the wartime switchboard operator who heard men charging at the Nazi enemy is now a 92-year-old living a quiet life in a southwest London flat.

"The most vivid memory I have of that day is on the first occasion they lifted their lever to send their response, I could hear battles and gunfire," she told AFP. "And I knew those men were fighting for their lives. You're hit with the reality of war. I grew up on that day."

Shattered and horrified Scott reminisced on how her life took a dramatic turn.

Raised in south London, she started work as a manual telephone switchboard operator at 16, passing rigorous training.

In March 1944, aged 17, she volunteered for the Women's Royal Naval Service.

After two weeks' retraining, she was posted to Fort Southwick in Portsmouth on the southern English coast.

Dug into the hillside, its labyrinth of tunnels was the communications nerve center for Operation Overlord: The Allied invasion of Normandy.

A month before the assault, Scott

Sonny...

From A4

been dramatic. The inflation rate, which rose to an 11-year high of 11 percent in third quarter 2018, has fallen to below 3 percent this year.

“Rice tariffication law was a politically difficult reform,” confides Dominguez, a former Agriculture secretary under President Corazon Aquino.

For 30 years, various administrations tried to do it, without success.

“The liberalization of rice trading will make quality rice more affordable and accessible to Filipino families, lower the country’s inflation rate, and revolutionize our agriculture sector as well as help our farmers become more competitive and productive,” Dominguez explains.

The world has taken notice of the remarkable improvements in the Philippines’ economic fundamentals. Foreign direct investments hit $10 billion in 2017 and another $9 billion in 2018.

In early May, Standard & Poor’s Global upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating, from BBB (a rating it has enjoyed for the past five years), to BBB Plus, with a stable outlook, the best ever for Manila and means, Dominguez points out, “the Phil-

Who’s...

From A4

of marriage to have that grand ceremony and celebration they’ve been dreaming of. It lets them be free to love, raise a family, and work for their future under the protection of the State.

How is this bad?

For those against, here’s one way to look at same-sex unions: You don’t like gay marriages? Then don’t get gay married. No one’s forcing you to.

How far has the struggle for marriage equality in the Philippines come?

Congress’ online poll was to gauge public sentiment about a proposal in that body for same-sex unions as civil partnerships. To clarify, civil unions are not considered marriage equality.

The poll did not specify the proposal

In search...

From A4

from Dominique has grown cannabis since 2001, moving to Jamaica in 2007 to pursue his studies. His doctorate is in biology, with a specialty in horticulture and the adaptation of plants to climate.

A lover of ganja himself—which he doesn't smoke but rather consumes by means of vaporization or aroma-

began special training on the VHF radio she used on June 6.

On D-Day, three operators each from the army, navy and air force sat in a row, working the switchboard linking communications HQ and the front line across the sea.

"There was excitement at the fort, but also apprehension. Will they succeed? What will be the cost in lives?" she recalled.

"There was a sense of anticipation; once we heard the battles, a sense of dread." Scott relayed spoken coded messages.

"The gunfire continued all the time we were passing messages and your hearts went out to the men," she said.

"They were laying their lives on the line. It was quite frightening. We were all very young—as were they.

"I was shattered and horrified, but we had to get the messages through.

The whole thing was fluid, changing all the time. It was a very momentous day. I'm just so honored that I was part of it."

Immensely lucky After the war, Scott married and had two daughters, one of whom lives in France and took French citizenship in 2001. She has three grandchildren.

"I now have a direct link to France rather than a direct line," she said.

Scott became a secretary, then a local government officer.

Her lifelong passion remains opera. She saw Maria Callas's 1952 debut at the Royal Opera House in London and met Placido Domingo.

"I have seen the great voices of the 20th century," she said.

Her ordered, suburban garden flat is filled with opera CDs and tapes, while family photos and framed opera posters adorn the walls.

Though in her nineties, she lives an independent life: Up at 6:00 a.m, a walk in the park or to the shops, home for lunch, an afternoon nap and no television before the evening.

The switchboard veteran is unfazed by modern communications. Scott has a mobile phone for emergencies and is getting to grips with an iPad. "However obscure my life has been, it's been fulfilled. Mundane but immensely lucky. I've had a happy, good life," she said, mindful of the lives cut short or blighted by World War II. A medal of honor Scott has now been awarded the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit.

"I couldn't believe it," she said after receiving the medal in the post, adding that she felt "totally undeserving, being a non-combatant."

Scott traveled to northern France on Monday and will be invested on Wednesday in a ceremony at Normandy's Pegasus Bridge.

Her family will be with her for one of the greatest moments of her life.

"I feel I'm receiving it for all the people in Fort Southwick that day, working to facilitate Operation Overlord," she said.

Scott has one last message to relay—this time to a younger generation she hopes will never face the sacrifices hers had to make in the name of liberty.

"Tolerance of other people whose lives are different; kindness and compassion for those who are not so fortunate," she said.

"Wars are brought about because people forget their humanity. So a little more of that would not go amiss."

AFP

ippine government has further improved on its ability to pay back its long-term debt.”

Other benefits of a higher investment grade credit rating: It signals to international investors that the Philippines is now a more attractive investment destination; investors will require lower rates of interest and returns for Philippine bonds and stocks, making financing cheaper for us; the private sector can also more easily and affordably tap international sources of funding when they borrow from overseas sources.

The upgrade green-lights investors to move more money into the Philippines.

Sonny says more foreign direct investments means more jobs, increased productivity and higher incomes for our people. Foreign direct investments will help sustain the country’s rapid growth and make it more inclusive.

The bullish S&P report validates the soundness of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” to address the infrastructure gap. Poor and inadequate infrastructure turns off investors and hampers real growth.

TRAIN Law has a part two, called TRABAHO bill (actually TRAIN 2) which will raise taxes on cigarets and liquor and remove or decelerate gen-

erous tax incentives being given to locators in the country’s more than 200 export zones. TRABAHO Bill is not expected to have smooth sailing as TRAIN 1.

The credit upgrade puts the Philippines above countries like Italy and Portugal, and just a notch below countries like Spain and Malaysia. Italy and Portugal rank below Manila with their debt burdens.

Still, the Philippines lags behind two-thirds of the world’s countries in terms of ease of doing business. Red tape remains rampant. So is crippling corruption.

There is too much red tape, despite laws to curb red tape (the Anti-Red Tape Law has been bogged down by red tape). Mayors have made mincemeat of the Ease of Doing Business Law with their own ease of doing business regulations—which means if you want to get your business permit, be willing to part away with your money.

As for Build, Build, Build, Sonny has yet to give his imprimatur to big ticket projects of the private sector like San Miguel’s $15-billion Bulacan Airport and urgent power plants. Meanwhile, Duterte has promised investors a 24/7 hotline to the palace.

it referred to.

However, there have been several measures proposed in Congress. In 2011, Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos sought the recognition of same-sex marriages overseas, through House Bill No. 4269. In 2017, Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte) pushed for House Bill No. 6595, the Civil Partnership Act. There are two other bills on the matter, one authored by Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, and the other by Rep. Pia Cayetano. Both measures were consolidated but the new bill is still pending in Congress.

Various activist groups have had same-sex marriage on their agenda for years, but in 2015, someone finally went the legal route. LGBT lawyer Jesus Falcis filed a petition to the

Supreme Court asking that it declare Family Code Articles 1 and 2, that define marriage as between a male and female, as unconstitutional.

He also asked for the nullification of Articles 46(4) and 55(6) of the Family Code, which include homosexuality or lesbianism as legal grounds for annulment and legal separation.

This Pride Month, expect the LGBTI community and their straight allies to continue fighting for this basic and inalienable right to be made available to all who need it, so that our society may become truly just, fair, and humanitarian.

therapy—Emanuel decided to recover the lost landrace varieties and reproduce them in his lab, where Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, considered a Messiah by Rastas, gazes out from photos on the walls.

The quest wasn't easy: Grains of landrace had spread to the four corners of the Caribbean over the years.

His search led him to Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Dominique, in pursuit of Rastas living in the countryside

and still cultivating what is left of these plants.

The good doctor recalls finding a Rasta man living on a mountain who "hadn't been really been in contact with the civilization in the last 40 years. It was a six hours hike to get to him." Emanuel returned with the precious seed.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

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Two different worlds mansion and came out smiling like a Cheshire cat who swallowed the canary.

The day after, we were called to Polk St. upon Greenhills, and told that MBV would be the speaker. Exeunt Joker into the waiting arms of THEY live in two different worlds, the “new” opposition, becoming patron of the “Spice Boys” who needled even if they form one Congress.

Physically they are apart; the nu- Erap endlessly.

In the week past election day of merous House sits in the Batasan Hills in Quezon City which was built 2016, we witnessed how the presiby Ferdinand Marcos to create a sem- dent-elect’s most trusted Bong Go blance of “checks and balances” via huddled two prominent Davaoeños, a unicameral legislature that was rub- Karlo Nograles of the poblacion, and ber stamp to his infamous Amend- Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez of the outskirt Norte in the board room of Marment Number Six. The Senate upon the other hand co Polo Hotel.

Bong Go had news from the moundecided during the time of Fidel V. Ramos to lease half of the humongous tain retreat of the president-elect: BeGSIS building built also by Marcos bot would be “the” speaker, and later, on land reclaimed from Manila Bay. agreement was reached for Karlo to chair AppropriaThe senators had tions. to give way to Thus spoke the the National MuOne fine day, a sitting audience of one. seum complex of But the Senate three neo-clas- Senate President is just is otra cosa. Here sical buildings confronted with a there are 24 repubthat were once lics, each a “nathe Congress, the signed resolution of 13 tional” figure by Department of members or more, and way of nationwide Finance, and the power slides swiftly. electoral mandate; Department of presump each a presumpTourism. tive “president” in Now, of course, decid his or her dreams. the senators of the realm have decidHere the President can persuade, prem ed to move out of their rented premises with its low ceilings, and into a but not dictate. Influence at best, if he posh new building, “iconic” they call is so minded.

In 2016, president-elect Duterte its foreign-designed architecture, at toney BGC, far from the madding had a sentimental favorite in Alan Pecrowd that invades Pasay City and the ter Cayetano, his running-mate who MoA nearby. Three years from now, did not make it as vice president. But or likely when we have a new presi- Koko Pimentel, the president of his dent after Duterte, our 24 republics adopted party for purposes of flagwill converge upon their new “green” bearing, the PDP, moved swiftly and surroundings between the airport and gathered a motley of instant supporters from independents Ping Lacson the business district in Taguig.

As for the 300 or so members of and Gringo Honasan to the Liberal the HoR, they will remain in far-away Party bloc headed by the outgoing Batasan Hills, surrounded by the hoi Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Instant numbers within the 24 repolloi whose collective voices are supposed to be represented by party- publics beat Alan to the punch. The president-elect did not interfere. listed “parties.”

In contrast, when Erap became Even in the choice of their leader, they are in two different worlds. In president in 1998, his defeated vice the case of choosing the Speaker of presidential candidate, the late Ed Anthe HoR, the congressmen, whatever gara, president of the LDP, preferred their term in office, will seek a higher Frank Drilon to become the leader of voice, not a gaggle of voices within the Senate. Still, Erap chose the man their party or aggrupation, not a mul- whom he defeated as vice president in titude of 300, but an audience of one. 1992—Marcelo B. Fernan of Cebu.

The representatives of the people, af- Angara, Drilon and Fernan were frater all the posturing, the press releases ternity brothers in the UP Sigma Rho; and the column feeds, will in the end Erap was a college drop-out, but his seek the counsel, nay, diktat of that will prevailed: Fernan became Senate President until he succumbed to cancommittee of one.

From Shakespeare we borrow, cer a little more than a year later.

But Rodrigo Duterte is not one to “t’is all sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Look at how the three mus- unduly meddle in legislative affairs. keteers among the wannabe speak- Ask the senators themselves. Witness ers trooped to Tokyo and after all the how some new senators accordingly “friendly” picture-taking, ended up squabble for choice committees. And asking the President to decide who how the senior members guard their among them shall be the favored one. prerogative, labelled “equity of the inSomeone’s mouthpiece who will cumbent,” jealously. Notice how the soon lead the coconut capital as gov- PDP in the Senate is unable to speak ernor even trotted out, as in reverse with a single voice, with Manny Pacstriptease, the number of signatures quiao bearing a resolution of support his candidate had in the bag. One hun- for SP Tito and some others supposdred twenty six, later 142 signatures. edly endorsing an unwilling Cynthia Forgetting perhaps how one former Vilar, who got riled because she was Speaker described the worth of the sig- misrepresented.

In the end, it is the numbers that natures of his members: “They will sign count. The Senate has witnessed several even on a sheet of toilet paper.”

During the campaign of then “coups” in its history, mostly done in Vice President Estrada, with then stealth. As a consultant to some senaMakati Mayor Jojo Binay our NCR tors in different Congresses, I myself campaign manager, there was a pre- took part in plotting early decapitations arranged commitment elicited by the and sudden enthronements.

One fine day, a sitting Senate presilatter that then Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo would be the next Speaker of dent is just confronted with a signed resolution of 13 members or more, the House.

Those of us in the inner core of the and power slides swiftly. Some are Erap team were all in agreement; after done with graceful resignation; some, all, Joker Arroyo had the gravitas, the in similar fashion as happened to experience, the intellectual superiori- Speaker Bebot Alvarez last year, with ty. But lo and behold, when Erap won the drama as well of a spirited mace, by overwhelming numbers, Manny the symbol of authority.

Two different houses. Two differVillar, still a member of Lakas at the time, sought him out at his Greenhills ent strokes. Two different worlds.

ready knocking on his door, drawn by the savory aroma of ganja, he says.

But the scientist is cautious, notably over intellectual property rights.

"What kind of credits would there be for the university and for the farmers that have preserved those seeds?" he asks.

In line with his Rastafarian beliefs, Emanuel wants more equitable "fair A seductive pitch trade" conditions for producers in deCompanies and individuals are al- veloping countries.

"The consumer is willing to patronize products based on morals, ethics and a protocol in growing, organic or vegan," he says, highlighting the "natural connotations" of his product.

"There could be an economic advantage to growing these plants here," he says. "They are more resistant and grow more easily."

Summing up his pitch, Emanuel jokes: "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy weed." AFP

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NAIA facing technical problems, says CIAP

PDEA seizes P6.8m worth of shabu

By Rio N. Araja

By Joel E. Zurbano THE government’s Air Traffic Management Center experienced technical problems affecting operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday, civil aviation officials said.

The computer glitch also caused the delays of 81 flights.

The glitch, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, resulted in reduced arrival and departing rate of aircraft for about 30 minutes.

Manila International Airport Authority’s operations personnel said at least 81 flights —30 arriving and 51 departing flights—from the four NAIA terminals were delayed due to the system malfunction.

CAAP chief information officer and spokesman Eric Apolonio said the incident entailed contingency standard procedures “which will space out flight sequences while maintaining safe control of air traffic flow throughout.”

“We have already coordinated with the airlines as well as relevant authorities who are now addressing the issue. An investigation is likewise ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. Updates will be provided once available,” he said.

The country’s aviation regulator also appealed the public for patience and understanding as they work “towards normalizing our operations as soon as possible.”

“We assure the riding public our continued commitment to their safety and convenience and above all the safety of our flights,” the CAAP said.

Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management transition manager Antonio Gonzales said the Air Traffic Management Center operations went back to normal after it was resolved in about 30 minutes.

“Air traffic spacing has eased up gradually until reverting to the usual spacing of 20 arrivals per hour or 40 movements per hour,” the CAAP said in a statement.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air (Formerly: CEBU AIR, INC.) with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity - Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs - Air, Land and Water Transport Air Transport (A320NEO #1 with CAB Registration No. RP-C3239 and Serial No. MSN8988) a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City.

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

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY.23, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BRANCH 217 – QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH MARK JOSEPH NIEVA HUETE MARK JOSEPH NIEVA HUETE also known as MARK JOSEPH NIEVA, Petioner.

-versusMERCYDITA DUMASIG NIEVA, RODERIC ESCUDERO HUETE, CITY CIVIL REGISTRY DEPARTMENT OF QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINE STATISTIC AUTHORITY, and all other interested parties, Respondent. x---------------------------------------x

SP CASE NO. R-QZN19-06787-SP

ORDER This is a verified petition for correction of entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Mark Joseph Nieva Huete.

The petition alleges that petitioner Mark Joseph Nieva Huete also known as Mark Joseph Nieva was born on April 8.

1991 in Quezon City to his parents Mercydita Dumasig Nieva and Roderic Escudero Huete; that the biological parents of Mark Joseph are not married to each other that when Mark Joseph secured a copy of his Certificate of Live Birth from the Philippine Statistical Office, he found out that the last name appearing in Entry No. 1 is “Huete” and not “Nieva”; that he also observed the erroneous entry in Entry No. 18; that his parents were married on May 14, 1990 in Saranggani; that Mark Joseph used the surname of his mother and was known as Mark Joseph Dumasig Nieva since his childhood; that the instant petition was filed in order to correct the erroneous entries in his certificate of live birth; and , that petitioner prays that Entry No. 1 be corrected from “Mark Joseph Nieva Huete” to “Mark Joseph Nieva” and the date and place of marriage of his parents in Entry No. 18 from “May 14, 1990, “Sorsogon” to “N/A”.

Wherefore, the petition is hereby set for hearing on July 26, 2019 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at Room 228, Second Floor, Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City at which place and on which date and time, all interested persons must appear and file their opposition/s to the petition Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines.

Further, let a copy of the petition, and of this Order be served upon the Office of the Solicitor General, Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority who may file their opposition thereto within fifteen (15) days from notice of this petition.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, May 15, 2019.

SANTIAGO M. ARENAS Judge (MS- MAY 29, JUNE 5 & 12, 2019)

END OF RAMADAN. A Muslim woman shops for new dresses at a bazaar at the Globo de Oro in Manila’s Quiapo district on Monday. Muslims buy new dresses to wear during the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr or the end of Ramadan capped by an exchange of gifts and sumptuous meals. Norman Cruz

BOC officials return waste materials to HK

By Joel E. Zurbano

C

USTOMS officials in Mindanao have returned the smuggled waste shipment to Hong Kong on board MV SITC Negoya and is expected to arrive in China’s special administrative region Monday next week.

The return of the mixed waste was coordinated with the Environmental Protection Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The expenses in the reexportation was also shouldered by the Hong Kong government.

The shipment consigned to Crowd Win Industrial Limited Corp. arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal SubPort in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Jan. 2.

On Feb. 18, an alert order was issued

by Cagayan de Oro collector Floro Calixihan against the shipment for alleged violation of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration) of the Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Upon examination, authorities found 22 sling bags of mixed plastic waste inside the 1x40 container contrary to its declaration of

assorted electronic accessories.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was also invited to inspect the container to determine the possible presence of illegal drugs but turned out to be negative.

The repatriation of the botched waste export from Hong Kong followed the long overdue departure last Friday of 69 container vans of Canadian garbage after languishing in the Philippines for six years.

Last Monday Port Collector John Simon of the Mindanao Container Terminal officiated the reexport to Hong Kong of 25,610 kilograms of mixed plastic waste packed in 22 sling bags that were wrongly declared as “assorted electronic accessories.”

“Today, we are shipping back one container van of mixed garbage consisting mostly of plastic scraps and shredded electronic parts to their source. The ex-

port of this hazardous waste from Hong Kong in the guise of ‘assorted electronic accessories’ is illegal under the laws of Hong Kong and the Philippines and the Basel Convention,” said Simon.

Environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition lauded the Customs bureau for the immediate reexportation of the controversial shipment.

“By quickly returning the illegal waste shipment and skipping bureaucratic delay, our nation is sending a clear and unambiguous warning to waste traffickers to stop sending other countries’ wastes into our ports,” said Aileen Lucero, Ecowaste National Coordinator.

“We heaved a sigh of relief as the entry of some 70 containers of similar trash was aborted with the seizure of this test cargo,” she said.

“The strong presence of local civil society groups in this important event indicates a growing concern among Mindanaoans against the use of the region’s ports as entry points for waste imports from overseas. We encourage them, the local authorities and the general public to keep a close watch over illegal waste traffic in the region,” Lucero added.

BI cancels work visas of 528

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration canceled the working visas of 528 foreign nationals which were all discovered to be fraudulent.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that after conducting a post-audit of visa applications of six target companies, it was discovered that their foreign employees submitted fake Alien Employment Permits.

The AEP is a permit issued by the Department of Labor and Employment and is a prerequisite in applying for a work visa with the BI. “I have directed the intelligence division to conduct a case build-up against said companies after receiving information that they have petitioned foreign nationals by submitting fake documents,” said Morente.

According to him, BI’s Intel submitted their report and recommendation to cancel the visas after confirming that the grantees of the visas submitted fake AEPs. Morente refused to name the companies, saying investigations were still under way involving their sister companies and other affiliates.

He said the companies were from Manila, Parañaque, and Caloocan, and were involved in consultancy, residential sales, tutorial, and information technology.

“I am appalled to learn of big companies that blatantly disregard our laws and submit fake documents,” said Morente.

“These companies knowingly hire illegal foreign workers that take away jobs from Filipinos and law-abiding foreigners.

Our Intel has been working nonstop to catch foreigners who make a mockery of our laws and procedures,” he stated.

He revealed that the Intelligence Division conducted two separate postaudit reports. The first report yielded the visa cancellation of 469 aliens in four companies while the second report led to the visa cancellation of 59 aliens from two other companies.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Ambagan ng Pulis Para sa Lapis, a police station project where Caloocan City Police Station, Acting Chief of Police Col. Noel Flores (middle) leads the distribution of school supplies to 100 students from Gomburza Elementary School in the city. Andrew Rabulan

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has seized less than a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million worth in Manila.

Anti-narcotics operatives also arrested suspected big-time pushers identified as Talicop Saipoding Pumbaya, Mahdi Sodeit Salic, Maromaya Johary Mamocarao and Sultan Saipoden Alnao in a buy-bust operation.

Last June 3 at around 5:30 p.m., PDEA agents conducted an entrapment operation at a hotel in Barangay 669, District 5.

The suspects received the buy-bust money in exchange for more or less one kilo of shabu inside an unsealed transparent plastic bag and Guanyinwang tea packaging with an estimated street value of P6.8 million.

Authorities immediately swooped down on the suspects.

The suspects would be charged for violations of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 26 (Attempt or Conspiracy) in Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

GMA, solons initiate review of land transfer in Pasig City

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has initiated a review of the implementation of Executive Order 48, s.2001 particularly in Pineda, Pasig City.

The EO issued during her presidency declares non-core properties of the Philippine National Railways as sites for socialized housing, for disposition to actual bona fide occupants in view of the urgency and need by thousands of informal settlers to acquire land ownership and shelter security.

At the hearing conducted by the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, chaired by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Arroyo and her fellow legislators sought to explore and settle any issues that hinder the residents of Pineda from acquiring land tenure.

Arroyo hoped to clarify in particular that only an issue regarding arrears needed to be settled before the occupants could move forward with the ownership process.

“Outside of the issue of the arrears, there is no conflict with any alignment?

So in other words, as long as they comply with the original rules, it’s available for them?” Arroyo asked.

For his part, PNR general manager Junn Magno confirmed that titles could be transferred to the residents as soon residents’ arrears were settled.

“Actually, we have subdivided the titles. We are ready to transfer the land to them, provided they pay the arrears. That’s the real issue. They were delayed only in the opayments. There was no issue from our end on that one,” he said.

The PNR added that only a small portion of the residents had created a homeowners association and applied for the properties under EO 48, s. 2001.

Moreover, though some areas have entered into memoranda of understanding as well as conditional contracts with the PNR under a prepayment period of 15 years, some residents have lapsed in their payments.

As such, Magno sought the assistance of the House to respond to requests of residents to have their arrears waived.

“Only a House bill will allow us to remove surcharges. We ask for relief from the committee to sponsor the bill,” Magno said.

Germany needs 350 Pinoy nurses under ‘Triple Win Project’ THE German government is in need of 350 Filipino nurses to be employed under the Triple Win Project, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said Tuesday.

In a statement, the POEA reported that International Placement Service of the German Federal Employment Agency (ZAV/ BA) would be hiring a total 350 applicants for nursing positions in different health care facilities in the said country.

Successful candidates will be receiving a starting monthly salary of €2,000 (gross) (equivalent to over P116,000) that will be increased to €2,400 (close to P140,000) after recognition as a qualified nurse.

The POEA noted that the employer would also pay the visa and airfare from the Philippines to Germany and would assist the employee find a suitable accommo-

dation, although the selected nurse would bear the expenses in full or in part of the board and lodging.

Qualified applicants must be a Filipino citizen, male or female, and permanent resident of the Philippines with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, active Philippine Nursing License and at least two years related professional experience (bedside) in hospitals, rehabilitation centers and/or care institutions.

Also applicants must have German language proficiency or willing to undergo German language training in the Philippines to attain Level B1 (to be paid by the employer) and must be able to attend the language class in April and May 2019; or with Bl or B2 Language Proficiency Level in accordance with the Common European

Framework of Reference for Languages.

The POEA said those interested must register online at www.eservices.poea.gov. ph and personally submit the required documents at the POEA main office in Mandaluyong City.

Requirements include cover letter and curriculum vitae with colored passport size picture; High School Diploma (notarized copy); Nursing Diploma (notarized copy); Board Certificate and copy of license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); Certificates of employment in related field (previous and current) (notarized copy); Attendance and/or level certificate for German language, if available; Copy of valid Passport; and Certificate of POEA online Pre-employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) (peos.poea.gov.ph). PNA

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Petron sees rise of PSL competition

P

ETRON is tipped to have a hard time defending its crown when the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino unfurls on June 15 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic sets Roland Garros record; Halep wins PARIS—Novak Djokovic on Monday became the first man to reach the French Open quarter-finals for 10 successive seasons while defending women’s champion Simona Halep swept into the last eight in just 45 minutes.

Top seed and world number one Djokovic continued his bid to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously for the second time by thrashing Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

The 32-year-old will now face fifth seed Alexander Zverev in what will be his 13th appearance overall in the quarter-finals in Paris.

“It was tricky with the rain, but that’s Paris,” said the 2016 champion after playing in drizzly conditions.

“I’m really confident with my serve. I hope it continues like that.”

Only Australian great Rod Laver has held all four majors at the same time twice before, after his calendar Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969.

German fifth seed Zverev reached his second successive Roland Garros quarter-final with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win over Italy’s Fabio Fognini.

Last year he achieved his best run at the Slams, making the quarter-finals where he was defeated by eventual runner-up Dominic Thiem.

‘Tough against Novak’ “It’s going to a great match and a tough battle against Novak, the world number one, it’s going to be interesting,” said Zverev who is 2-2 against Djokovic in his career.

However, he won their only meeting on clay in the Italian Open final in 2017 in straight sets and beat him in the ATP Finals later that year.

Japanese seventh seed Nishikori came back from 1-4 and 3-5 down in the final set to beat Benoit Paire of France and set-up a quarter-final clash on Tuesday against defending champion Rafael Nadal. AFP

Thompson questionable, Looney out OAKLAND—Golden State guard Klay Thompson is questionable for Wednesday’s third game of the NBA Finals with a left hamstring strain while reserve forward Kevon Looney is out indefinitely, the Warriors announced Monday.

The setbacks are the latest bad news for the injury-hit defending NBA champions, who are level with Toronto at 1-1 in the best-of-seven final entering games three and four this week in California.

An MRI exam Monday showed Thompson has a mild left hamstring strain. He left Golden State’s 109-104 victory Sunday at Toronto with 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter with hamstring tightness.

“Klay said he’ll be fine, but Klay could be half dead and he would say he would be fine,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after game two. “We’ll see.

He pulled his hamstring. He thinks it is minor, so I don’t know what that means going forward.”

Looney was sidelined from game two with what the team called a chest contusion but Kerr said after the game the problem was “something with his shoulder.”

An MRI showed Looney with a fracture of the cartilage connecting the right ribs to the sternum.

The Warriors, trying to win their third straight NBA Finals and fourth in five years, have already been without top playoff scorer Kevin Durant for nearly a month with a right calf injury, leaving Kerr wondering just who will be healthy enough to play against the Raptors.

“We’ll see about all the injuries,” Kerr said. “You need your bench, no matter what, but in particular when you’ve got a lot of injuries.” AFP

Head coach Shaq Delos Santos admitted that the battle will be tough following the emergence of Cignal, F2 Logistics, Foton and new team Marinerang Pilipina in this prestigious women’s club tourney that has ESPN5 as official broadcaster.

Cignal, for one, secured the services of FilipinoAmerican playmaker Alohi Robins-Hardy, while the Cargo Movers remain intact, but displayed eagerness to challenge the Blaze Spikers anew.

Foton, for its part, secured the services of University of Santo Tomas ace Eya Laure as well as collegiate standouts Laizah Bendong of University of the East and Arianne Layug, Justine Dorog and Marianne Buitre of University of the Philippines to form a lethal squad that will welcome the return of explosive spiker EJ Laure.

Rookie team Marinerang Pilipina is also a threat as young guns Judith Abil, Caitlin Viray, Cesca Racraquin and Dimdim Pacres conspire with veteran Ivy Remulla are all ready to make an immediate impact.

Delos Santos, who welcomes the return of Sisi Rondina, Buding Duremdes and Chin Basas, knows that the

Some of the players taking part in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference are shown during their appearance at the PSA Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Malate, Manila.

road back to the title will never be easy.

“I think it’s possible for us to be dethroned this conference. All teams are strong and it’s really hard to tell if we can keep our place on top,” said Delos Santos during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR).

“We can’t take this conference lightly. We have to work hard because other teams are also out to dethrone us.”

Also in attendance in the weekly forum were PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico and Diana Garcia of ESPN5 PSL ambassadress Rachel Anne Daquis agreed with

Delos Santos, saying that this conference is very tough as teams like Generika-Ayala, Sta. Lucia, United VC and PLDT all did their respective home works in the off-season.

The Lifesavers will parade former UE star Mary Anne Mendez while the Lady Realtors will have a new libero in Filipino-American Alex Bollier to join the solid crew of Amanda Villanueva, Pamela Lastimosa, MJ Philips and Rebecca Rivera.

United VC is also solid force as Kalei Mau will be back while PLDT will have former Far Eastern University aces Jerili Malabanan, Czarina Carandang and Angel Cayuna to reinforce the core of Gretchel Soltones, Jasmine Nabor and Aiko Urdas.

Pirata, Cebu lead National Bangkarera winners Manotoc, Castro set pace in SEAG elims

TEAM Pirata and Cebu led the winners in the 4th Pioneer National Bangkarera recently at the St. Francis, Ocean Park and Baywalk in Naga City, Cebu.

Pirata reclaimed the title in the 16-horsepower category while Cebuanos clinched the Angat sa Dagat crown, which they used to own in 2017.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City captured the 7-horse power category even as Team Nino of Capiz won the Paddle Boat Division.

“We are very happy on how these guys patronized the competition. The story of these guys is fantastic. Some travel for three days just to join the competition,

it’s not easy for them to get here and the wonderful thing about it is when we ask them why did you come, is it because of the price money? And their answer is sir we like the competition, we love to show our skills against the other boaters,” said John Spakowski II, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Adhesives Inc. The biggest boat-racing event in the country, held in cooperation with Angat sa Dagat Organization, aims to promote camaraderie among the fisherfolk, boatracing aficionados and the community.

With over P1 million in cash and product prizes, boatmen from around the

Philippines are giddy in anticipation of the year’s biggest boating spectacle.

Pioneer Epoxy began the bangkarera four years ago in Puerto Princesa, with over a hundred participants from 27 teams and 60 boats. The following year in 2017 in Dumaguete City, the roster of participants grew to 40 teams and 96 boats.

Last year’s PENB in Iloilo City recorded the largest number of participants with 58 teams and 155 boats.

This season, 150 boats and 36 teams joined—still a high number—which is a proof of its staying power and necessity in the boating community.

Team Cebu winners display their trophy and prizes during the awarding ceremonies of the 4th Pioneer National Bangkarera at the St. Francis, Ocean Park and Baywalk in Naga City, Cebu. They are joined by John Spakowski II (left), Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Adhesives Inc.

US-based Luis Castro and Gab Manotoc matched three-under 69s as they grabbed a two-stroke lead over Dan Cruz at the start of the twostage SEA Games men’s team qualifier at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac yesterday.

Castro, playing out of North Carolina, shot four birdies to negate a two-bogey mishap while Manotoc, an Academy of Art University student in California, anchored his similar 34-35 card on a 20-foot eagle putt off a solid 5-iron second shot from the rough at the par-5 No. 5 with the duo hoping to ride on their big starts to build some momentum for the three coveted spots in the national team seeing action in the Southeast Asian the country is hosting from Nov. 30-Dec. 10.

But it’s still a long way to go for the 43 aspirants with three more rounds to be played in Stage I where the top 12 players plus ties and players within 10 strokes of the leading scorer will advance to Stage 2.

After Stage 2, set June 10-13 also at Luisita, the top three players with the total combined scores from the two elims will make the SEA Games men’s squad.

The tight, hazard-laden Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed layout will also host the SEAG golf competitions for both men’s and women’s.

Cruz, meanwhile, mixed three birdies against two bogeys to stay in early contention with a 71 while Kristoffer Arevalo blew an impressive 33 start with three bogeys at the back as he settled for a 72 in a tie Carl Corpus, who also wavered with a last-hole bogey for a 35-37.

Manila Bay Clean-Up Run listup on MANILA Broadcasting Company will mount the seventh Manila Bay Clean-Up Run on July 7 (Sunday).

The event is open to all interested participants and will feature races in the 3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K divisions for both men and women.

Medals and cash prizes will be given to the top three winners in each race division.

Interested runners may now enlist at the designated registration desk at the lobby of Manila Broadcasting Company, Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City, anytime Mondays to Sundays from, 9 a.m. to 6 pm. Registration shall also be accepted at Olympic Village branches at

LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG THE country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games got a big boost as the Chef de Mission and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez made his first official meeting with officials and representatives of Team Philippines.

The aura at the PICC hall was all positive as Ramirez accepted and enjoined everybody take on the challenge of bringing Team Philippines to the summit.

“When we are bound by passion and common purpose—then impossible is not a problem,” he told the representatives of

Robinsons Forum, Festival Mall, and Farmers Plaza on Tuesdays to Sundays from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Deadline is on June 30, 2019.

The fun run is one of many activities that have helped generate funds to institute systematic longterm solutions to environmental sanitation problems that have beset the country’s coastal resources and tributaries. As a solid manifestation of corporate social responsibility MBC volunteers have joined their counterparts from other establishments based along Roxas Boulevard for Land Bank’s Manila Bay Clean-Up Program since 2009.

For detailed enquiries, call Runners Link at mobile number 0926.205.2787

Participants of last year’s Manila Bay Clean-Up Run answer the starting gun.

Common denominator the 56 national sports associations that will do battle for glory in the biennial meet.

After a tumultuous stretch that saw the POC top hierarchy in discord, everybody now agrees that this is the time to get united.

Ramirez took over from the post previously held by Monsour del Rosario of taekwondo. There was no trace of bad feelings from Del Rosario, who even came out with a formal statement assuring his support to Ramirez.

“I will continue supporting the national team in whatever capacity to ensure its success I urge everyone to support he next chef de mission,” wrote Del Rosario. “Effective leadership of t Team Philippines is equally critical for a suc-

cessful participation in the SEA Games.

Finally, I call on the sports community to set aside our difference and unite toward the goal of reclaiming our former lofty status in international sports.”

It was a gentlemanly act worthy of praise.

Now, even Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas is offering the peace pipe. He vowed to unite the board in an expanded board meeting on June 13, offering to heal the wounds and work together.

“I want to unite everybody for the sake of Philippine sports, There was misunderstanding and I hope we can work together dahil malapit na ang SEA Games.”

If this is not just a rhetoric, Steve Hon-

tiveros, a known ally of Peping Cojuangco, said it could work as everybody can sit down together and find a compromise.

He called it the “common denominator.”

“Everybody has its own thinking at may kanya kanya tayong thinking. Past is past, kung may problema, pag-usapan. You can’t please everybody, just find a common denominator that everybody will agree. This is teamwork,” said the Philippine Handball Federation president.

“At the end of the day, nag-ayos kami lahat, the important goal is for the good of our country.”

Common denominator?

Hontiveros, who has been in sports administration for the last four decades, vows it works.

Sports

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

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

Villaro bags Singapore wakeskating meet silver RALPH Gelo Villaro showed a glimpse of his wakeskating prowess for the coming 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) after bagging the silver medal in the International WakeSki and Wakeboard Federation Series in Singapore recently.

The 18-year-old Villaro, who will be representing the Philippines in the coming SEA Games, placed runner-up to Israel’s Dan Milstein, while beating Md. Fadzli Zulkifli—an impressive feat altogether considering it was his first-ever international competition.

Villaro plunged into action in the Singapore stop of the series as a means to improve his craft for the biennial SEAG meet, which the Philippines is hosting on Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 later this year.

He ended up turning a lot of heads with his silver that glittered like gold.

“All throughout the challenge, I was there to contend and I simply put forth a valiant effort,” said Villaro. “My first international competition helped me a lot as it gave me the experience I need to help me get ready for this coming SEA Games.”

“Thank you to Homies Approved, which is my support and to Deca Wake Park. To all who supported me on my first global competition, this is to you all,” he continued.

Villaro’s last local competition was in February at the 2019 Philippine Cable Nationals, where he qualified for this coming SEA Games.

“Before I joined this international competition, I just joined the nationals. I joined just to get into the group . From that point, I took in a ton (of learning) through practice,” Villaro said. “And after that, I made it to the Team Philippines.”

Living just five minutes away from the Deca Wakepark in Clark proved to be a key to his wakeskating dream as it allowed him to train everyday. He started with the sport at 14 years old in 2015. He won his first gold medal a year later in Camarines Sur. It also helped that he is now a store manager of the wake park—a perfect situation for this Pampanga native, who initially saw the sport as a mere leisure activity.

“I saw them [professionals], they are generally excellent at it. Right then and there they’ve turned into my inspiration,” Villaro said. “Now, I’m really practicing to have a proper diet and get a more improved, proper training. I train everyday.

I work for the wakeboard park also as a store manager and those are the two things I do everyday.”

Ralph Gelo Villaro is shown during his wakeskate routine. At right, Villaro holds the Philippine flag.

Team PH told: Aim for no. 1

By Peter Atencio

T

EAM Philippines must aim for no. 1. and seek around 120 gold medals.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas admonished the many representatives of various national sports associations during an assembly yesterday at the the Philippine International Convention Center.

Vargas made his wishes known as he and newly appointed Team Philippines Chef de Mission, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez met with officials of 57 NSAs. “I would like to hear the national anthem of the Philippines played 120 times,” said Vargas, whose words drew a big round of applause in the first Team Philippines’ delegation meeting.

Vargas’ upbeat statement came a week after the POC Ramirez Vargas president sacked several memas we continue to move forward, this is bers of the POC board during a heated achievable. It is doable,” added Vargas. general assembly, with Ramirez replacing Ramirez listened to many NSAs talk Monsour del Rosario as chef de mission. about their needs and what they are “We will work this out. With your help,

doing to prepare their athletes during an assessment workshop that was also conducted.

The NSA representatives gave updates on what their teams have accomplished in their effort to prepare for the SEAG and what still needs to be done.

PSC Commissioners Celia Kiram, Charles Maxey, Ramon Fernandez and Arnold Agustin facilitated the workshop sessions with their own clusters.

“We must aim for no. 1. This is something that we should think about. And how your athletes will do it is up to you,” said Ramirez.

With six months left, officials of various NSAs met with Ramirez and the board members of the PSC to discuss their logistical needs and expenses needed to prepare the many athletes competing.

Funds needed to train the athletes will be separate from the P6.5 billion that the government has set aside for the preparation of the country’s hosting of the Games.

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee Chairman and newly elected Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano also graced the gathering.

Tayao debuts at podium in National Drift Championship TAKING a break from his college studies in the United States, 19-year-old Seaoil drifter Gabe Tayao recently wrapped up his National Drift Championship debut at Megatent Libis.

Tayao placed third in the Amateur Class Division.

Tayao has been a long-time driver for Seaoil since his karting days eight years ago. This time around, the former Asian karting champion and the first Filipino Formula 4 champion signed up for National Drift Championship’s Round 4, drifting his 2015 Toyota GT 86.

The young drifter barely had a few hours the night before race day to test the new set up. Breaking the CV joint of the axle during practice, it was a mad scramble to replace it the next morning with parts courtesy of The Donut Shop, which specializes Gabe Tayao, shown holding his trophy (inset), displays his form during the National Drift in providing Toyota GT 86 parts.

Championship.

With DMF Drift overseeing the Seasoned drifters and race judges Gio of a field of 10 amateur drifters who were car’s performance on race day, Tayao fortunately was able to do at least two Rodriguez, Joma Montaner and Malaysia’s judged for style, angle and line. The clospractice runs to test the car before the Shaharil Ibrahim awarded Tayao with a to- est contender was Luis Sayson of Ikustomz tal score of 96. It placed the teenager on top Motorsports with a total score of 79. qualifying session.

During the tandem runs, Tayao initially miscalculated during his first tandem run but was able to redeem himself immediately after. However, because the mount of his wide-angle kit broke, Tayao was not able to advance. Despite his premature retirement from the race, topping the qualifying session was the defining factor that helped secure Tayao a third place finish.

Tayao’s 2015 Toyota GT 86 famously gained its own following as well. It all started when Car Porn Racing took on the initial works to transform Tayao’s car from a GT-spec touring car to a drift car four years ago.

DMF Drift—the Philippines’ pioneer of drifting, collaborated with Car Porn Racing by taking the task of placing a 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi, thus making Tayao’s drift car the first ever JZ-swapped 86 in the country. Exclusively fueled by Seaoil’s E85, the car is now turbocharged to 515 horsepower.

Atoy Customs on the other hand, sponsored the car’s body kit.

PH Golf Tour kicks off 4-leg Visayan swing in Cebu THE local top guns and a slew of foreign aces aim for a strong start coming off a long break, all primed up to get into the mix in pursuit of the crown in the ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational which gets going today (Wednesday, June 5) in Danao City.

Jhonnel Ababa braces for a fiercer challenge from the rest of the 79-player starting field, which he bested via an eight-under overall card in the rain-shortened inaugurals of the event last year. Though the organizers pushed the tees back to make it more challenging, Ababa still believes he can do it again even via full route.

“I like my chances (to score a repeat).

I think 12-under will win it,” said Ababa, who, however, stressed the need for his putting to click to reign again in the event serving as the third leg of the Philippine Golf Tour’s milestone 10th season and the

kickoff leg of a four-stage Visayan swing.

Emphasis will also be on precision at the tight, tricky layout, which also requires course management with the reachable par-5s and dogleg holes posing as baits for those who would take the risk.

“If others will opt for safe shots of lay-ups, I would rather attack them with my driver for possible shots at an eagle,” added Ababa.

That makes the first round quite interesting with the likes of Americans Lexus Keoninh, Charles Lee, Pete Vilairatana and Sean Talmadge, Aussies Fidel Concepcion and Calum Junifer, Koreans Hwang Myung Chal, Kim Young Hyun, Park Jun Sung, and Japanese Ryui Hashimoto, Makoto Iwasaki, Yudai Suzuki, Kei Matsuoka, Kanata Nakagawa, Ryo Nishimura and Raiki Okamoto expected to likewise bank on their long games to fuel their respective title bids in the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI.

Others looking for a big start are Emilio Parodi of Argentina, PGT Q-School topnotcher Marcos Pastor of Spain, Thai Pachara Sakulyong and Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia along with the event’s six invitees, including PGT Asia leg winner David Gleeson of Australia, Mateo Gomez and Sebastian Lopez of Colombia, Englishman George Twyman, Jack Sullivan, also from Australia, and former national champion Lloyd Go. But the rest of the locals are ready to slug it out and foil the foreign aces’ drive, including Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuña, former Phl Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas and PGT Asia leg winners James Ryan Lam, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates and Rene Menor and PGT leg champions Zanieboy Gialon, Charles Hong, Mars Pucay and Manila-based Dutch Guido Van der Valk along with Rey Pagunsan, winner of the National pro-am with Aidric Chan at Splendido last month.

Lexus Keoninh

NorthPort fights SMB, guns for 1st-place tie

By Jeric Lopez NORTHPORT shoots for a firstplace tie as it welcomes San Miguel Beer back in the resumption of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. After falling down in its last outing, the Batang Pier (3-1) will have a daunting task as it clashes with the five-time Philippine Cup champions at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alaska (2-2) will likewise take on a debuting team in Magnolia at 4:30 p.m. in the initial offering.

The Beermen and the Hotshots are both coming off vacations after battling it out in a grueling seven-game finals in the All-Filipino conference.

Following a 3-0 start, NorthPort was stopped on its tracks by Barangay Ginebra, 73-70, last Saturday as it tasted its first defeat.

Still, the Batang Pier can regain a piece of the lead should it bounce back against the mighty Beermen.

It can tie Blackwater (4-1) at the top of the heap should it get back to its winning ways.

Fresh from its fifth straight conquest of the Philippine Cup, San Miguel Beer now marches forward with returning import Charles Rhodes as it looks to take a baby step in its Grandslam aspirations.

Rhodes, who led San Miguel Beer to the Commissioner’s Cup title two seasons ago, will once again team up with five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Christian Standhardinger to form a formidable frontcourt.

Through four games, the Aces had alternated wins with losses.

They look to compile a winning streak against Magnolia after they routed NLEX, 100-87, last week.

Meanwhile, Phoenix forward Calvin Abueva is summoned by the league for his hits on TNT import Terrence Jones last Sunday and altercation with Maika Rivera, girlfriend of Blackwater ace rookie Bobby Ray Parks Jr., last Friday.

The commissioner’s office is expected to schedule a meeting with Abueva anytime within the week to discuss his actions in the Fuel Masters’ last two games.

Abueva was thrown out in Phoenix’s 88-114 loss to TNT KaTropa last Sunday after hitting Jones with a heavy clothesline that resulted into a disqualifying flagrant foul penalty 2.

IN BRIEF LRT 1 completes restoration works LIGHT Rail Manila Corp. said Tuesday it completed the structural restoration of the 30-year old Light Rail Transit Line 1.

“LRT-1 has been here for 35 years. The project ensures that it will be here for the next 30,” LRMC president and chief executive Juan Alfonso said.

“Today, LRT-1’s parapets are new, stronger and securely fastened to the viaducts,” he said.

Alfonso said the project completion strengthened the company’s confidence in ensuring passenger safety.

The structural restoration project which was started in 2018 included repairs on the concrete surfaces of the parapets, sandblasting to remove corrosion and repainting. “We also installed new collision dampers at certain pile caps to protect bridges from ship collision,” Alfonso said.

The viaduct now has a continuous row of noise barriers running along its 20-kilometer length. The noise barriers will significantly mitigate excessive noise generated by train operations. Darwin G. Amojelar

Mini-grids to boost island electrification THE Renewable Energy Association of the Philippines said mini-grid power systems can accelerate household electrification in the country.

Erel Narida, REAP president, said the mini-grid system would play an important role in ensuring and accelerating the total electrification of the country. “Being an archipelagic country, centralized power generation can be challenging if not costly,” said Narida.

Narida said mini-grid systems such as that of Sabang Renewable Energy Corp. would be a suitable solution for electrification for around 2.78 million households with no power as of December 2017, according to data from the Energy Department.

He said most of these unelectrified households are located in the Visayas and Mindanao, mostly small islands, either under-served using expensive diesel genset with limited operating or totally un-served.

SREC’s hybrid mini-grid project is located in Sitio Sabang in Barangay Cabayugan, where the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park is located.

SREC is a consortium of Vivant Energy Corp., Gigawatt Power Inc. and WEnergy Global. SREC will operate a hybrid power plant―combining solar panels and diesel engines―and an electricity distribution system to provide stable and reliable renewable energy. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business GSIS to proceed with sale of 78 hectares in Port Area S

By Julito G. Rada

TATE-RUN pension fund Government Service Insurance System plans to raise as much as P37 billion from the sale of more than 78 hectares of non-performing assets in Port Area, Manila amid the increase in zonal value of these properties, the fund’s top executive said Tuesday.

The sale could raise more than P37 billion based on the latest zonal value of the properties in Manila. GSIS manages the pension fund of government employees.

“We offered it to sell before, but we pulled out because the zonal valuation was not updated,” GSIS president and general manager Jesus Clint Aranas said in a news briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Pasay City.

Aranas said the pension fund would want “to sell the assets as soon as possible.” He said he was going to talk to the board regarding the sale.

Aranas said the Port Area assets span-

ning 781,857 square meters include commercial and industrial lots covering 672,645 square meters and residential areas measuring 109,212 square meters.

The zonal valuation of the Port Area properties in 2018 reached P25.56 billion for the commercial/industrial properties and P412.82 million for residential, based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s website.

The May 2019 zonal valuation of the BIR, however, showed that the commercial/industrial areas were valued at P33.63 billion, the residential areas at P3.82 billion.

“We are selling these properties as is,

where is,” Aranas said.

The valuation reforms in the real property tax system constitute Package 3 of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier said these reforms would further invigorate the real estate market, bring in more investments and generate additional revenues for local government units.

Aranas said the new income of GSIS quadrupled in the first quarter to P38.7 billion from P9.05 billion a year ago. The increase was driven by the rise in stock market values, higher interest income and larger premium contributions.

Contributing to this increase was GSIS’s public equities portfolio which accounted for about 20 percent of total assets, as the Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 6 percent to 7,920.93 in the first quarter.

Total assets also rose by 6 percent or P74 billion to hit P1.2 trillion as of end-March 2019.

SMC asks PSALM to follow due process CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. on Tuesday called on state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Corp. to be transparent in the use of the proceeds from the privatization of government energy assets.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang also accused PSALM of bullying for repeatedly demanding the payment of alleged debts for the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas plant while the case was pending in court.

Ang said that while the case was pending at the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court, PSALM was using its power indiscriminately to mask its own shortcomings. “This is bullying. They cannot just dictate what works best for them. We have to follow due process,” Ang said.

He said PSALM could not unilaterally decide on the issue which should be left for the courts to decide on.

“We continuously honor our obligations.

In return, we only ask that they respect the sanctity of our agreement,” Ang said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

AIRASIA SHAREHOLDER. F&S Holdings Inc. led by AirAsia Philippines co-owner Rep. Mikee Romero (second from left) and wife Sheila Bermudez-Romero (fourth from left) announces its position as the new major shareholder of Air Asia Inc., owner of Philippines Air Asia in a news conference at Makati Shangri-La Hotel. “We are planning for more big things and more big upgrades. By July 1, we will be having a direct flight from Manila to Osaka, Japan,” says Romero. With the Romero couple are (from left) AAI director Agnes Maranan, AAI deputy group chief executive Bo Lingam, AAI chief executive Capt. Daxter Comendador and legal counsel Jomar Castillo.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

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AC Healthcare obtains PCC approval to hike Generika stake

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Competition Commission approved the planned acquisition of AC Healthcare Holdings Inc., the healthcare unit of Ayala Corp., of additional stake in drugstore chain Generika.

Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange AC Health received PCC’s approval for the purchase of an additional 2.5-percent interest in Generika which would boost its total stake to 52.5 percent.

“With this, AC Health will proceed with the closing of the increase in the stake from 50 percent to 52.5 percent as regards Actimed Inc., Novelis Solutions Inc. and Pharm Gen Ventures Corp. The increase in the stake in Erikagen Inc. is still subject to certain conditions precedent,” Ayala Corp. said.

Generika is one of the pioneers in the retail distribution of quality generic medicines in the country with more than 800 stores nationwide. It is the third largest player in retail pharmacy by the number of stores.

The transaction will enable Generika group to raise additional capital to fund operations and store expansion. AC Health initially acquired a 50-percent stake in Generika in 2015.

Aside from Generika, AC Health’s portfolio includes FamilyDOC, a new chain of communitybased primary care clinics, online pharmacy MedGrover which also offers medicine delivery and corporate medicine benefits management and Aide, a home health application which provides health services in the comfort of patients’ homes.

AC Health also obtained PCC approval last month for its planned acquisition of a 75-percent stake in Negros Grace Pharmacy Inc. PCC said in a decision that upon the review of the findings and recommendation of the Mergers and Acquisition Office, the transaction would not likely result in the substantial lessening of competition.

Negros Grace and its subsidiaries operate 70 drugstores.

House ratify Solar Para Sa Bayan franchise Manufacturing sector contracted 14% Senate, in April amid lower food production By Alena Mae S. Flores

\\

THE manufacturing sector declined 14 percent in April from a year ago, on double-digit decline in food production, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

Results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed that the volume of production index fell 14 percent in April while the value of production index went down 10.8 percent.

This marked the sector’s fourth consecutive month of decline in 2019.

The National Economic and Development Authority said a strong wholeof-government approach was necessary to boost manufacturing growth amid the sector’s sluggish performance.

“Notwithstanding, manufacturing output is expected to recover supported by improved domestic demand in the coming months. Easing inflation-

ary pressures, accelerated government spending on infrastructure and a more upbeat consumer outlook also provide additional support given expectations of additional income and availability of more jobs,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said Tuesday.

“A strong whole-of-government― nay, whole-of-society―approach is needed to accelerate the growth of manufacturing and boost its contribution to industry growth,” he said.

He said the need of the food processing sector should be addressed as the sector accounted for the largest share among all manufacturing sub-sectors.

This pointed to the critical importance of agriculture which, besides being the source of food, is also the feeder sector to the food manufacturing sub-sector.

Julito G. Rada

THE Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report on House Bill No. 8179 which grants Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. a franchise to operate microgrids in the remote and unviable, or unserved, or underserved areas in selected provinces around the country.

Solar Para Sa Bayan is a company established by young entrepreneur Leandro Leviste, the son of Senator Loren Legarda.

“We wish to extend an olive branch to those who once opposed this bill, for us to help achieve the Department of Energy’s goal of bringing 24/7 power to every Filipino. It is time for us to join forces and work together for the common good,” Leviste said in a statement.

Leviste said the bill included several amendments such as limited scope and limited technology.

The limited scope refers to “remote and unviable, unserved, or underserved areas,” and only in selected provinces while limited technology requires the use of renewable energy technology.

The bill also subjects SBSP to regulation by the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy, pursuant to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

It also includes the obligation of SBSP to provide accessible and reliable service and local employment, with financial penalties for failing to meet these obligations.

Leviste said it was the first time in history for any franchise to have an explicit provision ensuring the grantee “shall not be entitled to any government subsidy.”

Senate public services committee chair Grace Poe said, in her final speech in support of the bill, that “this

is a social justice legislation to electrify the countryside, to allow the operations of solar technology and microgrids in remote, unviable, unserved, and underserved areas.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, however, manifested his objection after the final bill was approved.

“My objection is on the substantive insertion in the bicameral report that will negatively affect the power industry…the definition of the underserved area, which will now include areas where electricity services have been interrupted at least 12 times in the 12 months preceding the date of the determination,” Gatchalian said.

“To legislate a low and unfounded bar for an area to be considered underserved would be a disservice not only to the community but would be unfair to the franchised distribution utility,” Gatchalian said.

Expert presents tobacco harm reduction study to cardiologists SMOKING remains a worldwide public health problem because it is very difficult for smokers to quit and smoking cessation medications have limited effectiveness, according to a harm reduction expert.

Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos said for smokers unable or unwilling to quit with approved smoking cessation medications, tobacco harm reduction could be a third-line option.

Farsalinos presented a study during the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Congress 2019 which was held recently at tSMX Convention Center and Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

Organized by the Philippine Heart Association, the annual congress gathered local and international cardiologists as well as internists, primary care

physicians and other healthcare professionals in the region with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention and management.

“The cigarette is the most effective and most harmful nicotine delivery system ever developed. Tobacco harm reduction is a public health strategy aimed at lowering smoking-related health risks to individuals who cannot or do not want to quit by themselves or with currentlyapproved methods through the use of less harmful nicotine delivery systems,” said Farsalinos, a research fellow at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, University of Patras and National School of Public Health in Greece.

Farsalinos has been conducting research on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) as principal investigator

since 2011.

His research findings were among the references used by the European Union in drafting the EU regulatory framework on e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are the most common type of electronic nicotine delivery systems which refer to devices that do not burn or use tobacco leaves but instead vaporize a solution the user then inhales.

A cardiologist himself, Farsalinos presented congress delegates with official position statements of the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society as well as independent reviews

by Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians, supporting e-cigarettes as a significantly less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes and viable smoking cessation aid.

ADVANCED MEDICAL DEVICES. Officials inaugurate the High Integrated Diagnostics and Wellness Center, the first diagnostic and healthcare clinic in Rosario, Cavite that is equipped with the most advanced medical imaging machines such as MRI, CT-scan, ultrasound and x-ray systems. It also has complete laboratory equipment providing Caviteños the most affordable healthcare and wellness services.

Shown at the MRI room are (from left) HIDC medical director Dr. Rico Abella; Michael Del Rosario, executive assistant of Rosario Mayor Jose Ricafrente Jr.’s Office; Dr. Mariflor Gamat, general physician; and Nethel Abad, also from the mayor’s office.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; First Gen advances

S

TOCKS fell Tuesday to end a five-day advance on bargain-hunting push by investors, as global trade tensions continued to weigh on markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 139 points, or 1.7 percent, to close at 7,945.37 as all six sub-sectors declined.

Despite Tuesday’s loss, the bellwether was still up 6.4 percent since the start of the year.

The broader all-share index went down 55 points, or 1.1 percent, to settle at 4,883.22 on a value turnover of P10.6 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 113 to 84, while 40 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Phinma Energy Corp. which climbed 3.8 percent to P2.47 and First Gen Corp. which rose

2.2 percent to P23.50.

Meanwhile, most Asian stocks also traded lower Tuesday. Fears of an economic slowdown have mounted in recent days as US President Donald Trump threatened Mexico with tariffs, adding to anxieties over the US-China trade war, which shows no signs of a resolution.

The market’s “assumption that the slowing global economy would recover later this year, bolstered by the [strong] US economy, has been shaken by the spread of trade frictions to other countries such as Mexico”, Okasan Online Securities said in a commentary.

Trump followed up his threats against Mexico last week with an announcement that Washington would withdraw preferential trade treatment to India, starting Wednesday, in a bid to press New Delhi to increase market access to US goods.

The US ISM manufacturing index released on Monday—and compiled prior

to the recent tariff threats—highlights “the importance of doing business with Mexico”, Oanda senior market analyst Edward Moya said.

“Respondents noted they are shifting business from China to Mexico, and that ongoing tariffs are providing multiple strains in doing business,” Moya said.

Weak manufacturing reports from Britain and the United States prompted investors to seek safe-haven assets such as the yen, putting pressure on Tokyo’s main index.

Less than 30 minutes after the opening bell, the Nikkei dipped into negative territory, but later rose to end flat.

Hong Kong slipped 0.6 percent while Shanghai fell one percent. Taipei lost 0.7 percent and Seoul was flat. But Singapore edged up 0.3 percent while Sydney made modest gains of 0.2 percent.

European markets dipped at the start of trading on Tuesday, with London down 0.6 percent while Frankfurt and

Paris retreated 0.7 percent.

US tech giants sank Monday on reports that Washington planned to intensify its antitrust scrutiny of the sector.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission had agreed to coordinate antitrust enforcement over tech companies, with Justice taking the lead on Google and the FTC handling Facebook and some aspects of Amazon.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index finished 1.6 percent lower, with Facebook plunging 7.5 percent and Google parent Alphabet sliding 6.1 percent.

But trade tensions remained the dominant issue on investors’ minds, extending a decline in oil prices.

Since Trump fired the first shot, China and the US have deployed tit-for-tat tariffs on two-way trade worth hundreds of billions of dollars. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 58 34,110 80 2,366,410 2.24 15,000 137.5 1,422,550 26.8 117,600 18.76 1,600 11.62 206,100 4.45 42,000 765 120 0.495 410,000 70.6 2,394,850 1 12,000 13.74 34,300 57.9 115,150 184.9 100 57.5 3,290 26.75 22,500 170.1 441,980 1,755 30 60 14,320 1.13 3,000

1,983,457.50 192,123,111 33,600 196,252,124 3,148,520 30,018 2,413,560 186,790 92,330 200,600 170,716,234.50 11,890 457,110 6,671,728.50 18,490 188,543 601,790 75,941,185 52,650 860,003 3,390

206,981 -8,224,057 21,440,985 886,385 -725,654 -105,276,335 1,497,269.50 -95,410.50 -2,640 -30,323,642 381,562 -

35.8 14.4 0.71 1.38 0.285 2.46 14.5 110.1 25.1 16.2 43.9 2.03 5.35 5.7 10.12 15.94 10.3 7.54 22.95 77 42.5 2.42 13.6 10.5 1.66 277 4.2 9.6 23 12.54 20.1 387 5.4 1.23 4.65 6.07 9.11 2.35 12.06 41.8 4.9 5 1.54 1.16 13.74 107 6.5 0.127 1.39 168 1.27 1.27

INDUSTRIAL 35.8 597,400 14.46 713,700 0.75 3,462,000 1.38 51,000 0.295 8,180,000 2.47 7,687,000 14.5 556,200 117.9 9,890 25.5 158,300 16.4 6,000 44.75 500 2.03 341,000 5.45 40,000 5.7 26,700 10.12 1,144,600 15.94 150,700 10.3 1,091,300 7.64 245,900 23.5 3,404,300 77 37,980 42.55 148,200 2.55 14,022,000 13.64 204,000 10.56 281,200 1.7 116,000 277 685,690 4.2 1,000 9.6 10,500 23.5 8,888,500 12.56 529,400 20.15 903,200 390.8 268,030 5.4 4,300 1.24 2,989,000 4.65 623,000 6.08 945,200 9.39 308,600 2.47 43,366,000 12.28 18,800 41.95 183,900 4.9 2,000 5 262,100 1.54 302,000 1.21 205,000 14.18 1,379,300 108.9 64,200 6.52 158,400 0.127 100,000 1.44 4,142,000 168 909,920 1.29 2,773,000 1.29 9,312,000

21,637,780 10,319,918 2,559,180 71,120 2,402,450 19,141,260 8,114,594 1,099,809 4,027,100 98,242 22,215 692,420 216,000 153,298 11,675,026 2,410,412 11,342,154 1,873,065 80,040,220 2,936,455 6,309,990 34,934,040 2,782,458 2,963,984 195,150 191,130,568 4,200 101,930 205,791,140 6,659,070 18,234,475 104,495,184 23,220 3,706,180 2,944,670 5,766,355 2,897,054 106,635,510 227,580 7,759,805 9,800 1,311,495 465,580 243,070 19,482,098 6,934,838 1,033,441 12,700 5,890,750 153,477,783 3,563,770 12,248,400

1,861,805 -484,582 -27,080 177,000 1,101,830 -427,344 8,780 -2,017,652 -571,548 -431,046 56,470 43,575,685 -990,957.50 548,275 -2,770,560 1,313,196 1,737,794.00 -76,663,304 15,892,650 -1,373,644 -12,509,230 54,220,576 -2,234,480 1,801,360 -668,750 -2,024,930 -1,215,000 3,984,854 -1,804,475 -284,040 -39,079,646 56,060 -6,450

0.6 56.7 15.98 0.82 6.85 14.56 1.3 1.29 931 3.74 7.03 10.62 14 873.5 6.21 63.9 0.51 4.65 15.2 0.53 4.6 2.76 0.04 1.08 186.8 970 1.02 1.39 269 0.238 0.3

0.58 54.1 15.5 0.77 6.57 13.8 1.26 1.26 916 3.59 6.82 10.2 13.8 855 6.2 62 0.48 4.62 15.08 0.52 4.47 2.76 0.039 1.08 183 947 0.91 1.37 267 0.234 0.29

HOLDING FIRMS 0.58 15,340,000 54.5 1,025,230 15.9 3,761,400 0.79 1,761,000 6.7 11,600 13.86 309,300 1.28 4,379,000 1.28 531,000 919 288,530 3.65 7,916,000 6.83 922,400 10.24 2,961,300 14 223,900 858 73,870 6.2 45,200 62.5 1,189,410 0.5 49,000 4.65 5,351,000 15.08 1,060,800 0.52 4,000 4.48 25,267,000 2.76 1,000 0.039 1,200,000 1.08 19,000 185 383,140 957 176,810 0.94 7,261,000 1.37 69,000 269 690 0.234 280,000 0.3 2,650,000

8,939,060 56,065,254 59,257,116 1,399,410 77,753 4,341,194 5,608,460 681,570 265,408,665 29,039,090 6,375,122 30,624,566 3,130,084 63,422,240 280,690 74,299,029 24,430 24,756,820 16,015,976 2,090 113,922,100 2,760 47,200 20,520 70,863,891 169,405,145 7,101,960 94,850 185,090 65,560 787,100

284,650 -8,693,352 11,696,190 -79,120 70,903 141,750 -21,615,710 272,160 -15,359 -6,802,618 -21,011,410 -29,616,949.50 -3,540,070 -6,777,632 28,061,990.00 -15,115,867 59,640,000 -61,200 -32,088 -125,900

16.4 0.8 2.11 0.79 51.95 2.35 4.85 6.2 0.64 0.82 0.97 0.227 10.06 26 0.475 1.77 1.46 6.17 0.315 0.465 1.92 0.41 27.1 2.13 3 40.2 1.95 6.41 0.74

16 0.79 2 0.77 50.2 2.32 4.69 6.14 0.6 0.82 0.94 0.226 9.86 25.4 0.475 1.71 1.43 5.98 0.31 0.465 1.83 0.41 26.3 2.05 2.95 39 1.9 6.32 0.74

PROPERTY 16.28 1,197,100 0.79 863,000 2.1 729,000 0.79 195,000 50.5 13,833,060 2.34 404,000 4.82 1,411,000 6.14 59,500 0.61 66,422,000 0.82 131,000 0.95 166,000 0.226 430,000 9.94 218,400 25.9 465,000 0.475 2,530,000 1.75 35,210,000 1.43 1,020,000 6.11 28,659,800 0.31 6,520,000 0.465 120,000 1.89 7,120,000 0.41 80,000 26.55 3,304,500 2.07 298,000 3 321,000 39 5,390,000 1.9 289,000 6.37 35,300 0.74 8,000

19,273,280 682,050 1,514,820 152,290 701,347,888.50 945,820 6,712,460 365,576 41,059,510 107,420 158,860 97,240 2,164,916 11,954,860 1,201,750 61,457,040 1,469,590 174,134,868 2,036,050 55,800 13,428,590 32,800 88,414,690 624,490 954,000 211,865,945 551,120 224,145 5,920

155,428.00 -54,701,346.50 -39,650 607,360 -358,756 392,810 12,300 -19,114 5,115,745 -1,159,000 5,518,660 96,669,203 157,500 -891,140 8,688,155 -25,440 48,000 -78,206,520 -9,550 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

59.7 82 2.24 138 26.75 18.78 11.7 4.42 779 0.49 72.7 0.99 13.2 58.25 184.9 57.1 26.7 175 1,755 59.9 1.13

59.7 83.3 2.24 139.8 26.8 18.78 11.78 4.45 779 0.495 72.95 1 13.74 58.55 184.9 57.5 26.75 175 1,755 60.7 1.13

58 80 2.24 135.5 26.7 18.74 11.62 4.42 765 0.47 70.6 0.99 13.2 57.3 184.9 57.1 26.6 170 1,755 59.9 1.13

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

36.3 14.5 0.71 1.4 0.3 2.54 14.84 110.1 25.5 16.2 44.8 2.03 5.35 5.7 10.3 16 10.32 7.69 23 77.55 42.5 2.43 13.74 10.58 1.7 287 4.2 9.78 23.3 12.62 20.55 389.2 5.4 1.23 4.84 6.12 9.11 2.38 12.3 42.55 4.9 5.01 1.54 1.19 13.98 108.8 6.63 0.127 1.42 171 1.3 1.32

37.25 14.5 0.76 1.4 0.305 2.55 14.84 117.9 25.6 16.92 44.8 2.04 5.45 5.78 10.3 16.12 10.52 7.69 23.8 78.1 43 2.55 13.74 10.62 1.7 287 4.2 9.92 24.25 12.62 20.6 390.8 5.4 1.25 4.84 6.16 9.39 2.5 12.3 42.65 4.9 5.1 1.55 1.21 14.2 108.9 6.63 0.127 1.45 171.3 1.3 1.35

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 GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV MJC INVESTMENTS PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.6 56.7 15.98 0.78 6.57 14.22 1.26 1.27 931 3.73 7.03 10.62 13.8 870 6.21 63.65 0.48 4.65 15.2 0.53 4.6 2.76 0.04 1.08 186.5 965 0.92 1.39 268 0.238 0.3

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME

16 0.79 2.05 0.78 51.7 2.34 4.77 6.2 0.6 0.82 0.95 0.227 10.06 26 0.475 1.76 1.46 6.06 0.315 0.465 1.83 0.41 27.05 2.05 2.99 40.2 1.91 6.41 0.74

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

VISTA LAND

7.17

7.17

7.09

7.15

3,003,500

21,434,782

-2,010,995

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL RACING 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

11.42 18.38 1.31 0.435 0.045 21.45 2.9 11.96 0.059 92.1 7.01 6.65 5.88 2.2 10.5 2,268 5.39 414 2.3 1.75 134.9 10.16 5.7 0.126 6.17 4.26 0.82 21.2 0.58 3.69 2.75 1.6 2.7 3.24 9.83 4.8 8.11 124 3.46 1,263 0.8 0.81 45 73.4 9.38 3.3 0.67 0.365 5.3 0.7 16.96

11.6 18.4 1.38 0.435 0.045 21.45 2.94 12 0.06 92.1 7.39 6.65 6 2.2 10.66 2,298 5.4 415 2.3 1.76 135.8 10.5 5.7 0.126 6.2 4.37 0.88 21.35 0.58 3.69 2.75 1.6 2.83 3.24 9.83 4.99 8.11 124 3.46 1,278 0.81 0.85 46 73.5 9.42 3.33 0.74 0.365 5.3 0.71 17.14

11.2 18.34 1.31 0.425 0.044 20.6 2.71 11.74 0.058 91.25 7 6.6 5.88 2.18 10.3 2,202 5.39 405 2.23 1.75 134 10.16 5.7 0.121 6.06 4.24 0.8 20.6 0.56 3.68 2.69 1.54 2.68 3.11 9.4 4.71 8.11 123 3.28 1,240 0.77 0.8 44.6 72 9.32 3.2 0.67 0.355 5.2 0.68 16.9

SERVICES 11.56 18.36 1.33 0.435 0.044 21 2.78 11.92 0.06 91.3 7 6.6 5.88 2.18 10.5 2,294 5.39 415 2.24 1.76 134.9 10.5 5.7 0.121 6.07 4.28 0.86 21.2 0.57 3.68 2.69 1.58 2.74 3.14 9.4 4.85 8.11 124 3.31 1,244 0.77 0.82 44.9 72 9.42 3.2 0.71 0.36 5.25 0.69 17

53,700 201,300 38,000 1,460,000 1,700,000 5,300 2,045,000 2,846,800 14,300,000 166,130 13,300 401,300 99,200 6,000 63,900 98,100 112,200 1,780 1,300,000 3,000 2,597,920 1,400 20,000 720,000 2,837,300 1,154,000 856,000 291,200 377,000 22,000 3,145,000 11,000 14,751,000 55,000 70,100 97,000 1,000 264,910 3,486,000 840,035 6,745,000 24,911,000 837,500 200,450 44,100 8,205,000 18,040,000 6,160,000 1,123,000 2,563,000 2,874,500

612,206 3,699,562 50,270 634,450 76,300 111,600 5,682,520 33,940,398 840,880 15,233,434 93,369 2,652,956 583,947 13,100 669,966 224,141,600 605,225 737,890 2,933,250 5,260 350,432,312 14,360 114,000 87,920 17,345,174 4,947,540 720,000 6,111,730 213,190 81,160 8,486,530 17,210 40,664,070 173,170 667,639 473,170 8,110 32,846,610 11,631,140 1,053,204,110 5,302,500 20,571,690 37,675,255 14,530,444.50 412,384 26,677,570 12,794,030 2,215,000 5,873,386 1,773,910 49,026,880

3,392 48,300 12,679,028 -2,364,930.50 27,330 -66,345 -431,643 159,828,330 24,860.00 5,522,707 1,230,320 -712,340 -18,480 1,556,860 10,760 116,980 9,500 271,830 -1,903,050 -437,809,760 384,400 -1,158,650 369,145 -2,739,438.50 -4,669,050 1,266,030 -3,157,076 7,976,168

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

0.0019 1.22 12.38 1.18 1.12 2.86 0.285 7.82 1.54 0.243 0.111 0.11 0.0075 1.02 2.29 0.97 0.56 0.88 0.012 0.011 3.6 3.3 9.02 22.25

0.0019 1.25 12.38 1.18 1.12 2.91 0.285 7.82 1.54 0.247 0.111 0.115 0.0075 1.06 2.29 1 0.56 0.89 0.012 0.011 3.71 3.31 9.02 22.25

0.0018 1.1 12.38 1.18 1.12 2.8 0.285 7.71 1.45 0.227 0.109 0.11 0.0075 1.02 2.23 0.97 0.55 0.88 0.012 0.01 3.53 3.22 8.18 21.5

MINING & OIL 0.0019 13,000,000 1.16 3,063,000 12.38 500 1.18 5,000 1.12 10,000 2.8 640,000 0.285 300,000 7.71 20,400 1.48 13,056,000 0.243 330,000 0.109 1,730,000 0.115 690,000 0.0075 1,000,000 1.06 159,000 2.27 932,000 1 24,000 0.55 16,000 0.88 35,000 0.012 1,500,000 0.01 3,800,000 3.71 300,000 3.22 1,069,000 8.29 4,589,800 21.5 870,700

23,900 3,634,990 6,190 5,900 11,200 1,802,410 85,500 157,760 19,513,460 76,520 189,430 77,710 7,500 168,480 2,106,860 23,310 8,900 30,890 18,000 39,800 1,086,850 3,481,660 38,705,457 19,034,710

-527,430 -531,900.00 -1,460,900 -49,120 -381,940 -164,970 554,608 -9,667,860

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

17.94 484.8 499 98 98 104.3 456 5.3 914 959 1 102.5 995 1,025 106.9 970 75.45 78 72.1 72.7 74.7 73.3 73

18 484.8 499 98 98.4 104.8 456 5.35 917 959 1 102.5 995 1,025 106.9 970 75.45 78 73 72.7 74.75 73.3 73

17.94 484.8 499 98 97.5 104.3 456 5.25 914 959 1 102.5 995 1,025 106.9 963 75.45 77.5 72.1 72 74.7 73 73

PREFERRED 17.96 13,400 484.8 20 499 10 98 5,000 98 5,480 104.8 450 456 260 5.25 13,800 917 60 959 10 1 20,000 102.5 300 995 20 1,025 175 106.9 100 963 1,650 75.45 1,330 77.5 900 73 40,100 72.5 6,040 74.75 17,260 73 20,100 73 24,380

241,108 9,696 4,990 490,000 537,019 47,085 118,560 72,610 54,880 9,590 20,000 30,750 19,900 179,375 10,690 1,592,915 100,348.50 70,071 2,915,233 435,408 1,290,085 1,470,300 1,779,740

-219,576 -4,990 -15,645 -46,360 -30,750 28,890 15,500 -

LR WARRANT

2.04

2.08

2.03

WARRANTS 2.03 168,000

343,370

-

1,368,880 3,085,170

-265,010

1,465,503

63,222

20,000

-

NAME

MS ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.79 1.01

4.81 1.03

4.7 1.01

FIRST METRO ETF

121

121

117

USD TECH B2

1

1

1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES 8,619,601

123,931,078 86,679,951

PROPERTY

194,898,687

SERVICES

131,260,848

MINING & OIL

51,011,775

GRAND TOTAL

599,749,240

4.7 1.01

SME

289,000 3,044,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117 12,300 1

DDS

20,000

VALUE 1,713.35 DOWN -23.36 722,246,909.45 FINANCIAL 11,590.11 DOWN -148.86 INDUSTRIAL 1,445,040,964.13 7,591.1 -DOWN -73.7 HOLDING FIRMS 1,090,389,520.77 PROPERTY 4,348.7 DOWN -119.35 1,662.92 DOWN -24.38 1,802,200,886.72 SERVICES 7,280.01 DOWN -166.61 MINING & OIL 5,314,726,358.04 7,945.37 DOWN -139.51 PSEI 173,200,536.905 All Shares Index 4,883.22 DOWN -55.79 Gainers: 84; Losers: 113; Unchanged: 40; Total: 237 10,553,732,682.51

Security Bank gets BSP nod to raise P20b

By Julito G. Rada SECURITY Bank Corp., the sixthlargest lender in terms of assets, said Tuesday it received the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to issue up to P20 billion worth of long-term negotiable certificates of time deposits in several tranches.

The bank’s board of directors approved the planned LTNCD issuance in a meeting conducted on March 26, 2019.

“Pursuant to the approval of the board of directors disclosed on March 26, 2019 and the authority granted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as embodied in Monetary Board Resolution No. 828 dated May 30, 2019, Security Bank Corp. was authorized to issue up to P20 billion long-term negotiable certificates of time deposits in multiple tranches,” the bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday.

Like regular time deposits offered by banks, LTNCDs offer higher interest rates. These instruments cannot be pre-terminated but can be sold on the secondary market, making them “negotiable.”

Security Bank raised P5.8 billion in May last year, marking the second tranche of its P20-billion bond program and following the P8.6 billion LTNCDs raised in November 2017.

Security Bank reported a net income of P2.38 billion in the first quarter, up by 1.5 percent from a year ago, fueled by sustained strength in loans and deposits.

The January-to-March net profit was also 15 percent higher than the level posted in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Total revenues grew 20 percent yearon-year to P7.6 billion. A core revenue component, net interest income from customer loans and deposits sustained its healthy trajectory, growing by 29 percent to P4.7 billion.

This was driven by the continued expansion of retail loans and low-cost deposits. Retail loans grew 49 percent while low-cost deposits increased 11 percent. Retail loans accounted for 23 percent of total loans, up from 17 percent a year ago.

Total loans increased 12 percent yearon-year to P412 billion while total deposits grew 10 percent to P461 billion.

Ayala’s power unit completes solar projects in Vietnam

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC ENERGY Inc., the energy platform of the Ayala group, announced Tuesday the completion of solar energy projects in Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak provinces in Vietnam with a combined capacity of 80 megawatts in partnership with AMI Renewables.

The 50-MW Khanh Hoa solar plant was inaugurated on May 30, while the switch-on ceremony for the 30-MW Dak Lak facility was held on April 25.

“These projects are a testament to our long-term commitment to the economic and social development of the provinces of Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak,” said AC Energy senior vice president Miguel de Jesus.

The solar plants which were completed in time for the Vietnam government’s feed-in tariff deadline of June were built at a cost of $83 million, with AC Energy participating with at least 50-percent economic share.

Both facilities are expected to qualify for the Vietnam government’s feed-intariff.

The commissioning of the Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak solar plants comes only weeks after AC Energy inaugurated the 330-MW solar farm in Ninh Thuan consisting of three solar plants, its maiden greenfield project in the region.

The Ninh Thuan solar project is a joint venture of AC Energy and the BIM Group and is one of the largest solar farms in Southeast Asia.

“This reaffirms AC Energy’s commitment to shore up our presence in the region, particularly in Vietnam’s growing power sector. We believe that this is a critical part of the country’s progress,” said AC Energy chief operating officer for international Patrice Clausse.

AC Energy and AMI Renewables formed a platform company named AMI/AC Renewables Joint Stock Company in 2017 to build renewable energy plants in Vietnam.

The partners are in advanced discussions for the development of the Quang Binh wind project which has a potential of 200 to 300 MW.

Business/World

B3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

India’s mountain of rubbish to rise higher than Taj Mahal

TRUMP THE ORANGE BABY. Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as

an orange baby in Parliament Square in London on June 4, 2019, on the second day of Trump’s three-day State Visit to the UK. Trump turns from pomp and ceremony to politics and business on Tuesday as he meets Prime Minister Theresa May on the second day of a state visit expected to be accompanied by mass protests. AFP

NEW DELHI―India’s tallest rubbish mountain in New Delhi is on course to rise higher than the Taj Mahal in the next year, becoming a fetid symbol for what the UN considers the world’s most polluted capital.

Hawks and other birds of prey hover around the towering Ghazipur landfill on the eastern fringe of New Delhi, stray cows, dogs and rats wander at will over the huge expanse of smoking filth.

Taking up the area of more than 40 football pitches, Ghazipur rises by nearly 10 meters a year with no end in sight to its foul-smelling growth.

According to East Delhi’s superintendent engineer Arun Kumar, it is already more than 65 metres (213 feet) high.

At its current rate of growth, it will be taller than the iconic Taj in Agra, some 73 meters high, in 2020.

India’s Supreme Court warned last year that red warning lights will soon have to be put on the dump to alert passing jets.

It was not meant to be that way.

Ghazipur was opened in 1984 and reached its capacity in 2002 when it should have been closed. But the city’s

Silence on Tiananmen’s anniversary

B

EIJING―China marked 30 years since the deadly Tiananmen crackdown on Tuesday with a wall of silence and extra security, as it traded barbs with the United States over its human rights record.

Police checked the identification cards of every tourist and commuter leaving the subway near Tiananmen Square, the site of the pro-democracy protests that were brutally extinguished by tanks and soldiers on June 4, 1989.

Foreign journalists were not allowed onto the square at all or warned by police not to take pictures. Officials also told one reporter that “illegal media behavior” could impact visa renewals.

The United States marked the occasion by hailing the “heroic” movement of 1989.

But in China the Communist Party made sure the anniversary remained in the distant past, detaining several activists in the run-up to June 4 while popular livestreaming sites conspicuously shut down for “technical” maintenance.

Searches by AFP for the term “Tiananmen” on the Twitter-like Weibo platform on Tuesday displayed the official logo of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China.

Over the years, the party has censored any discussion of the protests and crackdown, which left hundreds, possibly more than 1,000 people, dead―ensuring that people either never learn about what happened or fear detention if they dare discuss it openly.

The party and its high-tech police

apparatus have tightened control over civil society since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012, rounding up activists, rights lawyers and even Marxist students who sympathized with labor movements.

Countless surveillance cameras are perched on lampposts in and around Tiananmen Square.

“It’s not that we don’t care. We know what happened,” said a driver for the DiDi ride-hailing service who was born in 1989.

“But how can I tell you, the DiDi app is recording our conversation in the car,” he said. “But today’s China has changed.

If you have money you have everything.

Without money you dare not open your mouth.”

It was largely business as usual at Tiananmen on Tuesday: Hundreds of people, including children waving small

Chinese flags while sitting on their parents’ shoulders, lined up before dawn to watch the daily flag-raising at the square.

But the line moved slowly due to extra security―with IDs matched on facial recognition screens―and dozens were unable to watch the event.

When asked whether it crossed her mind that she was visiting the square on the 30th anniversary, a nursing school graduate in her 20s from eastern Shandong province said, “What do you mean? No, it didn’t cross my mind.”

Her mother chimed in: “We don’t think of that past.”

But there were rare public acknowledgements of June 4 this year.

China’s defense minister, General Wei Fenghe, on Sunday defended the crackdown as the “correct” policy to end “political turbulence” at the time. AFP

Rural Afghans bear the cost of endless war JALALABAD, Afghanistan―As 10 children from the same family were walking to school last year, they came across an unexploded mortar bomb―a common sight in Afghanistan, where war still rages between the Taliban and US-backed national forces.

Not realizing what it was or the dangers it posed, the curious kids picked up the device and took it to show to an aunt.

And then it exploded.

Three children and the older relative were killed, and the remaining seven lost at least one limb each.

The explosion in Jalalabad, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, was yet another horrific moment illustrating the burden borne by civilians across Afghanistan, which has been at war in one form or another for four decades.

“I feel very sad when I see other girls walk towards school and I cannot walk like them,” 10-year-old Rabia Gul, who lost her right leg in the blast, told AFP during a recent visit to her family’s home.

“I was happy when I had legs, but after losing one of my legs I am not happy in my life anymore.”

According to the United Nations, 3,804 civilians―including more than 900 children―were killed in Afghanistan in 2018, with another 7,189 wounded.

It was the deadliest year on record for civilians in Afghanistan, where decades of conflict have left the battered nation strewn with land mines, unexploded mortars, rockets and homemade bombs.

Rabia was sitting on a bench outside her simple house as six other amputee siblings and relatives, ranging in age from six to 15, placed stockings over their stumps and wriggled into their prosthetics.

“We hope that the Taliban comes and makes peace with the Afghan government, and security will be better in Afghanistan so that no one gets killed or wounded in this country,” said Shafiqullah, 15, who lost both his legs.

For the most part, the children are now tutored at home, where walls have been pockmarked by stray bullets from fighting.

But sometimes they must walk to school for exams—a painful journey owing to blisters that develop where artificial limbs rub against skin. AFP

END OF RAMADAN. Muslim worshippers perform Eid al-Fitr prayers outside the Mohammad al-Amin mosque in downtown Beirut on June 4, 2019. Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. AFP

detritus has kept on arriving each day in hundreds of trucks.

“About 2,000 tonnes of garbage is dumped at Ghazipur each day,” a Delhi municipal official said on condition of anonymity.

In 2018, a section of the hill collapsed in heavy rains killing two people. Dumping was banned after the deaths, but the measure lasted only a few days because authorities could not find an alternative.

Fires, sparked by methane gas coming from the dump, regularly break out and take days to extinguish.

Shambhavi Shukla, senior researcher at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said methane belching from the garbage can become even more deadly when mixed with atmosphere.

Leachate, a black toxic liquid, oozes from the dump into a local canal.

“It all needs to be stopped as the continuous dumping has severely polluted the air and ground water,” said Chitra Mukherjee, head of Chintan, an environment advocacy group.

Residents say the dump often makes breathing virtually impossible. AFP

‘Hopes dashed as China defends the crackdown’ WASHINGTON―The United States said Monday it had lost hope for human rights progress in China 30 years after the crackdown on Tiananmen Square as Beijing, in rare official comments on the bloodshed, insisted it had “immunized” itself against turmoil.

As China tried to impose a media blackout ahead of Tuesday’s anniversary of the 1989 assault on pro-democracy protesters, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saluted the “heroic protest movement,” which he said still stirred “the conscience of freedom-loving people around the world.”

“Over the decades that followed, the United States hoped that China’s integration into the international system would lead to a more open, tolerant society.

Those hopes have been dashed,” Pompeo said.

“Today, Chinese citizens have been subjected to a new wave of abuses, especially in Xinjiang, where the Communist Party leadership is methodically attempting to strangle Uighur culture and stamp out the Islamic faith,” he said.

An estimated one million Uighurs have been placed in detention in Xinjiang, a massive incarceration that China describes as vocational training to reduce radicalism.

On June 4, 1989, Beijing’s communist rulers sent tanks and troops into Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of Chinese power, to crush a student-led movement that had been growing for seven weeks and featured a Goddess of Democracy statue that resembled the Statue of Liberty.

Hundreds of unarmed civilians, and possibly more than 1,000, were killed.

“We urge the Chinese government to make a full, public accounting of those killed or missing to give comfort to the many victims of this dark chapter of history,” Pompeo said, calling on China to “release all those held for seeking to exercise” fundamental rights and freedoms. AFP

Citius, Altius, Fortius FASTER. Higher. Stronger. Those three words sum up the Olympic motto. However, not all the games are about speed, or height or strength. Some of them are about other things: grace, lyricism, level of difficulty. In fact, the defining criterion for the games is not any of those specific characteristics, it is about the competition. The games are not about being fast; they are about being faster. They are not about being strong; they are about being stronger.

The same thing is true about business strategy. To win in the game of business, you cannot evaluate your business absent your context. You must evaluate yourself within the context of a competitive business environment. You must be better (Melius).

Lenses In the strategy classroom, while we always explain that business strategy can be studied using three lenses (competitive advantage, resource base and institutions), we always begin with the lens of competitive advantage.

The lens of competitive advantage is critical because business economic sustainability begins with the customer decision to purchase―and that decision is almost always made within the context of competition. This means that we must always ground strategy in the value we create for the customer.

In a different sense, strategic decisions are also made using the organization leadership’s existing perspective of the evolving business situation, of what works and what will continue to work,

and of what it will take to continue to be successful in the future.

This seems to be a particularly good time to think about strategy and what it takes to be successful. In the AIM strategy classroom, executives generally agree that strategy implementation is more challenging than strategy formulation and that “liveware”, the human side of the strategy engine, is both more valuable as well as more difficult to manage than either the tangible, hardware components or the systems and process software components.

There is also general agreement that changes in the business environment are increasing in terms of both magnitude of effect and frequency.

What this means is that many businesses are constantly in the process of recreating their strategy engine. This discussion leads to the second lens for strategy, the resource-based lens or the lens of capability. Much like competing in athletics, competing in business requires continuous improvement. What this means is that companies must continuously be building their resources and capabilities in order to create sustainable competitive advantage.

In the international front, US President Trump added Huawei to its entity list effectively banning Huawei from all US trade. Locally, Ayala Corp., one of the largest Philippine conglomerates, while acknowledging increasing strains in USChina relations, announced its increasing partnerships with Chinese firms. Clearly, the sharply changing business environment reflects both increasing business activities across country borders as well as

the heightened complexities of the global political economy.

Insights Two Mckinsey articles address this need for more dynamic organizations.

In a May 2019 article, Harris Atmar et al, opine on the increasing pressure to respond more quickly to rapidly changing circumstances, how plans have become much more dynamic, and how many businesses must deal with organization designs that are in a continuous state of flux. This pace of change, Atmar et al point out, can create a disconnect between business strategy and its operating model―aggravating problems and fomenting organizational confusion. They espouse a sharp focus on customer value creation and a clear alignment between organization capability and customer value.

In an earlier article (January 2018), Smet and Gagnon wrote about “competing at the speed of digital,” arguing that organizing for urgency requires unleashing strategy with structure and people.

They argue that companies who get the speed challenge right have a single thing in common―they create organizations that can respond to challenges as they arise. Essentially, these companies respond dynamically to a dynamic environment. The authors identify four key focus areas for creating this dynamic organization: urgency, agility, capability and identity.

In the area of urgency, the authors point to a clear preference for speed (Increase your organization ability to make decisions in ambiguity. When in

doubt, floor it.) and a shift to emergent strategy (Pursuing value creation rather than a fixed target or outcome and honing the organization’s course correcting capability).

In both agility and capability, the authors recommend increasing flexibility and democratizing organizational decision-making and talent development― essentially acknowledging the need for increased points of view. This shift is balanced by the recommendations concerning identity, creating stability through a sharply increased focus in terms of “how we run this place,” and strongly aligning individuals through shared purpose, values and social connections.

Quo Vadis Clearly, the basics of strategy remain the same―a sharp focus on providing customer value within a competitive and changing environment; and a focus on aligning capability and organization operating model to strategy. What has changed is the manner within which strategy is both developed and implemented. The increasing speed of change means organizations need to be far more agile, and strategy needs to be far more dynamic.

Melius! Citius!

Note to the Reader: I deeply apologize for the almost year long absence. There were transitions in both my personal and professional life but I aim for a more regular output moving forward.

Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com.

LGUs

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

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

Valenzuela tops regional peace council audit

By Ben Moses Ebreo

By Jun David THROUGH its comprehensive community-driven initiatives, Valenzuela again ranked first in the 2018 Local Peace and Order Council Performance Audit.

The Valenzuela Peace and Order Council serves as the government’s platform for collaboration between law enforcement and the community, fighting criminality, illegal drugs, insurgency and violence.

As a partner for peace, the city continues to be an instrument in peace-building and security, a national concern that is being promoted for the advancement of communities, the local government said in a statement.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government-National Capital Region through the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division conducted the performance audit.The department assessed the performance of VPOC’s functionality, platforms, and best practices.

One of the lauded projects of the City is the Comprehensive Safety and Security Plan, where the project also won the Galing Pook Awards, a pioneering program that recognizes innovation and excellence in local governance, as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Local Governance Programs in 2018.

The project empowers volunteer organizations to help ensure public order and safety. From these efforts, Valenzuela City was also named as the second safest city in Southeast Asia with a safety index of 74.79 by Numbeo.com also in 2018.

The Marker of Distinction was awarded by RPOC-NCR Chairperson Herbert Bautista, DILGNCR Reg. Dir. Ma. Lourdes Agustin, NCRPO Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PDEA Reg. Dir. Joel Plaza, International Professor Francisco Lara Jr., and Mr. Hero Hernandez of the Metrobank Foundation.

Valenzuela City was represented by DILG City Director Mary Jane Nacario, City Administrator Atty. Allan Roullo Yap, and Public Information Office Head Zyan Caiña.

Pasigian, Vizcaya’s first Bugkalot mayor, dies

GIANT LIZARDS. A Jurassic display inside the SM Cherry Antipolo mall calls the attention of mallgoers, especially children, in time for the celebration of the International Dinosaurs Day. The giant display of prehistoric creatures is a reminder or how they existed on the planet millions of years ago, and for the education of the children, mall officials said. Manny Palmero

NCRPO hospital breaks ground T

HE National Capital Region Police Office held on Tuesday the ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction of its P500-million four-story medical center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.

Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, who led the groundbreaking ceremony together with NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the hospital will serve the policemen in Metro Manila and will have a breast center, neuro-psychiatric, medical, dental and administrative center for police officers and police applicants.

Eleazar said the construction of the 7,000-square meter hospital compound will start in July and is expected to be finished by 2021 and will be funded by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and some partners from the private sector.

“There has been a commitment of P500 million for the construction and P110 million for the equipment. With this big medical facility, we will also be

able to process neuro-psychiatric tests,” Eleazar told Philippine News Agency on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony.

Aside from police applicants, cops who are already in the service will benefit from the facility.

“They don’t have to go to Camp Crame anymore to process neuropsychiatric exams because that will be available here. We continue to strengthen our ranks not only through ensuring peace and order in the community but also through beefing up our logistical resources,” Albayalde said in his welcome remarks.

“While we wait for the construction of this building to finish, I expect you to do your best in the performance of your duty. As I have said time and again, if

we all work together, we can better serve the Filipino people and our country,” the PNP chief said.

For her part, Pagcor Chairman Andrea D. Domingo said the P500-million construction cost of the hospital will be shouldered by Resorts World Manila through its cultural foundation, while the agency will provide P50 to P100 million for the equipment of the facility.

“For that, we are very happy to be working in Pagcor 24/7 because the casino never stop working also because we know that the money we earn goes not only to the general public but also helps those who risk their lives to protect us and to provide us a peaceful life,” Domingo said.

The NCRPO Medical Center compound which will also have a recruitment and administration building, a retreat house, and chapel.

The two-story retreat house will be known as the “Bahay Pari” complex, which will be used for activities aimed at enriching the spiritual being of the police. PNA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— He started his leadership during the proposed Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project in Alfonso Castaneda town in the 1990s, and paused with pride after winning the recent polls for his second term anew.

Mayor Jerry Pelayo Pasigian’s demise on Monday was greeted with heavy hearts from his constituents, friends, supporters, political allies and brothers from a fraternal organization, among others.

Pasigian fell comatose last week due to hypertension and was confined at the Salubris Medical Center in Solano town.

Pasigian, 46, was the first Bugkalot tribe member who rose from a community leader to become mayor of Alfonso Castaneda.

“I grieve with my family the passage of Mayor and Brother Jerry Pasigian to the other shore. He was a great leader and brother. He will never be forgotten,” said Vice Governor Lambert Galima Jr. on his Facebook account.

Galima said the last time he and Pasigian talked was the night of May 13, election day.

“When I asked for the results of the election in Alfonso Castañeda, his voice was sad when he said he won the election. I don’t know why he was sad when he should be happy.

This could be a premonition that, while he won, he could not serve his term anymore. Goodbye brother Jerry. You will be sorely missed,” Galima added.

Pasigian was an active tribal leader during the government’s proposed CMIPP in their town, asserting and advocating their tribal rights and welfare.

His sustained campaign for the delivery of various social claims and benefits for the Bugkalots, being the protectors of the CMIPP’s watershed, resulted in the implementation of various development projects in Alfonso Castaneda, the farthest town in Nueva Vizcaya.

Before his demise, Pasigian continued the local government’s legal fight to claim the unpaid benefits of CMIPP operators to the municipality.

Pasigian even vowed not to cut his beard in protest to the non-payment of the Real Property Tax by the CMIPP operator to their municipality.

Alfonso Castaneda is touted as the richest town in Nueva Vizcaya because of the yearly RPT payments from the CMIPP operator, amounting to millions.

Pasigian was a member of the Kabalikat Civisom Association Novo Chapter and a past master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines–Villaverde Lodge.

Balanga school gets donations from SM Foundation

PNP’S HEART. Police Brigadier General Gilberto DC Cruz, PRO13 Director, gives financial assistance and food packs to the wife and son of the late Rodito Lapugan Boklas or ‘Datu Boklas,’ the tribal leader of Mamanwa in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, who was slain by CPP-NPA terrorists last May 20 in the mountains of Sitio Tagbuaya, Barangay Bangonay, Jabonga. Roy Tomandao

DENR acts on Bataan problem with flies

By Butch Gunio ABUCAY, Bataan―The Department of Enviroment and Natural Resources in Bataan has called a meeting among poultry and piggery operators here, acting on the complaints of residents against the proliferation of flies in their areas.

“We are very satisfied that officers of poultry and piggery associations in the province responded to the meeting we called aiming to solve the flies problem,” Provincial Environment Officer Raul Mamac said in the recent meeting at Amanda’s Resort.

“Poultries must find ways to minimize or eradicate the flies,” he said. “They answered directly and offered suggestions to the problem. Flies thrive during poul-

try harvesting season.”

Bataan Poultry Growers Association president Modesto Salandanan said they have been trying “all the solutions available.”

“We will continuously monitor the operation of poutry farms to see whether flies are being minimized or eradicated.

We will hold periodic meetings with them,” Mamac said.

The meeting was also attended by the municipal and city environment and natural resources officers in the province, and representatives of provincial health office and provincial veterinary office.

Residents feared that the proliferation of flies might cause unprecedented health problems in the community. The fly problem also affects local tourism, they said.

BALANGA CITYIn time for the opening of school year 2019-2020, SM Prime through SM Foundation has turned over a fully furnished two-story, four-classroom school building to the Balanga Elementary School here.

This is SM Foundation’s 93rd school building donation since 2002, when it became a partner of the Department of Education’s Adopt-A-School Program.

According to Juris Soliman, SM Foundation School Building Program Coordinator, the new school building follows the specifications of DepEd like the other school buildings donated by SM’s humanitarian arm.

It is also emergency ready with a staircase on both sides of the building, fire alarm bell, and emergency lights at the landings of both staircases.

The classrooms are provided with 200 armchairs, 20being specially designed for left-handed students. Each classroom has a set of teacher’s table and chair, wall fans,

blackboards, toilet and wall clock.

The wall clocks donation is also in support of DepEd’s Project WATCH (We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty).

SM’s concern for persons with disability is not only evident in the school buildings that are provided with a ramp for easy access by PWDs and PWD-friendly toilets.

The disabled persons’ pride and self-esteem are boosted as SM commissions the PWDs of the Foundation of These-Abled, Inc. to make the armchairs, the preschool furniture, and the teacher’s table and chair sets.

In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SM and contractor KHMAYA added two new facilities to the school building: a book corner with shelves and chairs, and a tenfaucet hand-washing facility accessible to all users.

Gracing the turn over ceremonies were School Principal Ameila T. Inieto; OIC,

Schools Division Superintendent Carolina S, Violeta; Regional Operations Manager, North SM Supermalls Cesar P. Bondoc; VP-North, SM Supermalls Junias M. Eusebio; SM Supermalls VP Bien Mateo; SMFI Executive Director for Education Linda Atayde; and Balanga Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia.

A day before the turnover, SM Retail hosted a book reading session with students from Balanga Elementary, turned over books donated through SM’s Donate a Book Project, turned over computers donated by SM Pampanga.

With 93 school buildings already donated, the SM School Building Program is benefitting 15,000 students throughout the country.

This translates into 300 classrooms equipped with 14,850 armchairs, of which 180 are for left-handed children, along with 594 blackboards, 296 teacher’s desk sets, 1,182 wall fans, 305 washrooms including PWD-friendly toilets.

Students and faculty of Balanga Elementary School give a thumbsup for the donation of books through SM Foundation, whose officials also graced the ribboncutting ceremony for the new twostory building (inset). Gracing the ceremonies were School Principal Ameila T. Inieto; OIC, Schools Division Superintendent Carolina S, Violeta; Regional Operations Manager, North SM Supermalls Cesar P. Bondoc; VP-North, SM Supermalls Junias M. Eusebio; SM Supermalls VP Bien Mateo; SMFI Executive Director for Education Linda Atayde; and Balanga Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia.

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

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Juxtaposition T

WO kinds of woman: one radiates power and acts like she owns everything (and probably does), another a breath of fresh air with a sophisticated femininity that’s comfortable and easy.

In some cases, these two women are one and the same.

Rustan’s brings to the fore these two female persona through its exclusively distributed labels: Oleg Cassini and Luna―one born in the States, another a gem of Philippine fashion.

Luna’s summer 2019 collection (clockwise, from top left) Kiara kimono and Mikayla nightgown; Molly buttondown pajama set; Lian caftan; Carille caftan

Comfortably chic

Jojie Lloren’s Luna label serves modern women with a summer 2019 collection composed of peignoir sets, pajamas, and caftans captured in floral prints and stripes in wearable fabrics, making them comfortable pieces for lounging at home or even outside.

Oleg Cassini’s (clockwise, from top left) Melania button-down blouse, Genevieve cotton cardigan, Juliana culottes, and Berlinda shoulder bag; Anastasia sleeveless top, Philomena pants, and Bertilia wristlet; Eugenie sheath dress

Head held high

Oleg Cassini caters to the confident woman who walks with her head held high with effortlessly elegant pieces in classic cuts of silk, wool, crepe, chiffon, and knits in subtle textures that are able to adapt to her life as she takes on the world one day at a time.

Oleg Cassini and Luna are exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Gateway, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, and Rustan’s Cebu.

SUMMER in the Philippines is less a season, more a state of mind. For a truly endless summer, footwear brand Keds has teamed up with lifestyle label Sunnylife to bring fun, sunny Australian style to its beloved sneakers.

Known for those giant pool floats that have been starring in many Instagram posts, Sunnylife brings prints perfect for the carefree summer weather.

For added height and interest, there’s Triple Sunnylife Islabomba. This platform sneaker is made summer-ready with vibrant geometric prints reminiscent of the patterns usually seen in a tropical seaside café.

The whimsical watermelon take on the beloved Kickstart sneaker is the embodiment of everything summer should be: casual, fun, playful, and bright. This pair adds a mouth-watering twist to all those summer favorites, from denim to dresses.

It also features Keds’ all-new cushiony Dream Foam footbeds for all-day comfort.

Tropical birds grace Kickstart, as well.

It’s always sunny in the Philippines

Keds x Sunnylife collection consists of (clockwise, from left) Kickstart Watermelon, Triple Islabomba, Double Decker Embroidery, Kickstart Birds, and Champion Solids

This fun-loving print transforms even the most basic outfits into traffic-stopping looks. Simply pair these tweet-worthy canvas sneakers with jeans and T-shirt.

Meanwhile, the Double Decker Sunnylife Embroidery is an espadrille-inspired creation that mixes earthy elements like jute-wrapped bottoms and canvas uppers with elegantly embroidered tropical birds to make a slip-on sneaker unlike any other. Pair this beach-y pair with cutoffs or sundresses for a laid-back look worthy of a tropical getaway.

Champion’s sun-ready versions come in the form of cool, solid colors: coral, lavender, mint. Cotton canvas uppers keep things breezy and light, while the all-new cushiony Dream Foam footbeds ensure everyday comfort and the dreamiest steps. These Champions come with two sets of laces for added styling options.

The Bliss II Sandal is Keds’ modern take on the quintessential pool slide. Complete with light-as-air foam outsoles and contoured footbeds with added arch support, these easy sandals are perfect all summer long, from the beach to the streets.

Go to keds.com.ph for more information.

Life

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

G

IORDANO Limited’s label for women, giordano ladies announces the debut of its first luxury capsule collection that reinterprets occasional wear with an opulent yet minimal sensibility, while capturing modern-day Filipinas’ splendor and elegance.

In designing the Luxury Capsule collection, giordano ladies reimagined the glistening constellations of starry skies―just like the magnificence and elegance of modern-day Filipinas― using Swarovski crystals.

The collection features various iconic pieces, including a one-shoulder jumpsuit, a chiffon top, and a maxi full skirt, all embellished with

Elegance

captured in crystals Swarovski crystal elements.

The one-shoulder jumpsuit is the signature piece of ‘giordano ladies’ Luxury Capsule collection. The unmistakably stylish piece is embellished with crystals as a sparkling visual highlight on the shoulder. Its wide-leg cut and high waistline emphasize a clean, streamlined silhouette that effortlessly makes every occasion special.

Classic at first sight, the bonded satin chiffon top has a sheer, airy touch elegantly harmonized by luminous crystals on sleeve hems.

Equally designed with sophistication and romanticism in mind, the maxi full skirt is sprinkled with Swarovski crystals of varied sizes onto the hemline to capture a delicate and glamorous meteor shower, flowing with the wearer’s movements.

The limited Luxury Capsule collection is exclusively available at giordano ladies in The Shoppes, Solaire Resort and Casino.

Classic chiffon top made more elegant with luminous crystals on sleeve hems.

Simply protective sunscreen

The Banana Boat Simply Protect line shields skin from sun’s harmful rays sans oxybenzone and parabens.

One-shoulder jumpsuit with wide leg cut and high waistline.

Maxi full skirt sprinkled with Swarovski crystals on the hemline.

Uniqlo celebrates 7 years with Anniversary Sale JAPANESE fashion retailer Uniqlo marks its seventh year in the Philippines with an Anniversary Sale ongoing until June 6.

Uniqlo treats its loyal patrons to a range of exciting deals in stores nationwide, as well as exclusive offers, limited edition Uniqlo novelty items, and other promotions.

The brand first came to the country in June 2012 in its first branch at the SM

Mall of Asia. In October 2018, it opened its largest store in the country and in Southeast Asia―the Uniqlo Manila in Glorietta 5.

“We are thrilled to mark yet another milestone here in the Philippines, as we feel privileged to be celebrating our seventh year in the country,” said Uniqlo Philippines chief operating officer Masayoshi Nakamura.

He continued, “We would like to

thank everyone who has supported and loved Uniqlo by offering them with the best deals.”

As part of the week-long celebration, customers who are able to show their Globe Rewards App coupon and Uniqlo App will take home a Uniqlo cooler bag with a minimum purchase of P2,500.

Go to www.uniqlo.com.ph for more information.

SUNSCREEN brand Banana Boat launches a new line of products that protect the skin from sun’s harmful UV rays and are good for the environment.

Banana Boat Simply Protect provides SPF50+ broad spectrum of UVA/UVB protection.

Espousing the “less is more” concept, the range is made with 25 percent fewer ingredients. Moreover, it is light on the skin as it is formulated with no additional fragrances and oils, and stays on even under seven conditions―sun, heat, wind, pool water, ocean water, sweat, and sand.

Banana Boat Simply Protect also replaced oxybenzone and parabens―ingredients that are said to cause cellular damage in coral reef―with natural ingredients that are safe and effective in filtering out the sun’s harmful rays but are environment-friendly.

“Banana Boat Simply Protect is a product that gives maximum sunscreen protection with very minimal ingredients,

making it safe for everyone in the family.

It is also micro-plastic free and does not contain oxybenzone and parabens, making it safe for the environment as well,” said Banana Boat brand manager Maricel Quevedo.

In the Philippines, Banana Boat Simply Protect comes in three variants: Simply Protect Sports, designed for those who enjoy active outdoor lifestyle; Simply Protect Kids for kids 4 years old and above; and Simply Protect Baby for babies 6 months to 3 years old. Both variants for kids are sting-free and tear-free, making them mild and gentle enough even for the most delicate and sensitive skin.

Simply Protect Sports and Simply Protect Kids are available in both aerosol Spray and lotion formats, while Simply Protect Baby is available in the same lightweight lotion form.

Banana Boat Simply Protect is highly recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation when it comes to protection against harmful rays of the sun.

SPOTTED

Unique Salonga in Gucci

BAND frontman-turned-solo-artist Unique Salonga was a vibrant sight at the recent Myx Music Awards 2019 when he arrived wearing Gucci from head to toe.

The former IV of Spades vocalist wore a Gucci Cruise 2019 black-multicolor jacquard wool cardigan, Inkcrop bordeaux striped cotton raglan T-shirt with embroidery details, white soft leather pants with string detail, and Rhyton Gucci logo sneakers.

Gucci is located at Greenbelt 4 and Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.

Uniqlo celebrates its 7th anniversary in the Philippines with exciting deals and other promotions ongoing until June 6.

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

'Dobol B Sa News TV' anchors (from left) Mike Enriquez, Arnold Clavio, Ali Sotto, and Joel Reyes Zobel.

A daily dose of ‘Dobol B sa News TV’

MARIJA is a two-timer

Croatian model-actress Marija Debelic

By Robbie Pangilinan

P

ROFESSIONAL dancer and model Marija Debelic has been two-timing since she came to the Philippines five years ago. She says she can’t live without these two—her mobile phones, that is.

“I use both my iPhone and Samsung, and I have two laptops as well. All of them are very useful. I definitely can’t live without them because my phones let me communicate for work and also with my family in Croatia and Europe and my friends who are

all over the world,” shares Marija who has been traveling around the world.

Marija is not brand-conscious, though. What she looks for in a gadget is speed, memory and camera features.

“Of course I go for the top of the line

gadgets because they are super efficient.

I also like big phones so I always go for the + sizes,” adds the cum laude in Economics and Business Management graduate from Croatia.

Marija also keeps her options open for new players in the world of tech. “ I heard Huawei is so cool and the reviews are brilliant. I want to try it soon,” says Marija, who also starred in the TV drama Be My Lady and in the films Art of Ligaw and Beauty and the Bestie, released her first single with Brazilian actress-model Daiana Menezes and has done over 20 TV commercials. She is doing three movies this year.

Student-thespians perform Filipino classic in Instituto Cervantes’ Int’l Book Day SPEARHEADED by the Instituto Cervantes de Manila during the recent Dia Del Libro (International Book Day, budding thespians from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) staged excerpts from National Artist of the Philippines for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera’s Kasal Sa Dugo, at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City.

A Filipino translation of the 1932 three-act Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) by the acclaimed late Spanish playwright, theater director, and poet Frederico Garcia Lorca, the play narrates a tragic love story that reflects on the cycle of time, the weights of choices, the consequences of deception, and the reality of fate and nature following the trajectories of the characters.

The performance was a sneak-peek of what the young student-artists had to offer as they bring to life yet another Filipino adaptation, El Mar De Sangre (The Sea of Blood) by Carlos Palanca Memorial awardee Layeta Bucoy.

The performances are set on Wednesdays to Saturdays, July 3 to 6, and July 10 to 13 at the Theater of the College’s School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus in Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz) Street, Malate, Manila.

Student performers at the recently concluded Dia Del Libro

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, June 5, 2019

ACROSS 1 Applaud 5 Rocky ledge 9 Eastman invention 14 Widespread 15 “Star Wars” guru 16 Boxing locale 17 Actor — Sharif 18 Friends 19 Dingbat 20 Tusked charger 22 Spanish coins 24 Buenos —, Argentina 26 Popular vehicle 27 Thrashing 30 Sawhorses 35 Large antelope 36 Close by 37 Munro’s pen name 38 — rummy 39 Dig up 42 Metal in bronze 43 Assert 45 Small land mass 46 Taking advantage of 48 Wariest 50 Juice source 51 Corporate ending 52 Multitudes 54 Met edge to edge 58 Airborne

weapon 62 Viennese dessert 63 Assert positively 65 Sacred image 66 Bygone 67 Fashion length 68 Seep 69 Natural elevation of earth 70 Pull ahead of 71 Candied tubers DOWN 1 Rooster’s cry 2 Kind of bean 3 Not very close 4 Refer to 5 RoboCop, for one 6 Cosmetic buy 7 State further 8 Huff and puff 9 Sunflower state 10 Familiarizes 11 Mar a car 12 Pavlova of ballet 13 Scarpetta and Starr 21 Devotee of Rama 23 Turn outward 25 Furtiveness 27 Copier setting 28 Vibrant 29 Portable boat

31 Seldom seen 32 Forum speech 33 Scraping by with 34 Burn slightly 36 Gangbuster Eliot — 40 Family member 41 Affects adversely 44 In the log 47 Impudently 49 Have in mind 50 Isis’ beloved 53 Signs of the future

54 Electron’s home 55 Single-edged knife 56 Language of Pakistan 57 Humid 59 Brain wave 60 Sand, silt and clay 61 Part of BPOE 64 Travel word

IT’S a bigger and better Dobol B sa News TV as it now airs every day from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with new programs and an exciting line-up anchored by the country’s most trusted radio broadcasters.

Jumpstarting weekday mornings is veteran anchorman Melo del Prado with the freshest news of the day on Melo Del Prado sa Super Radyo at 6:00 a.m..

GMA News Pillar Mike Enriquez and Joel Reyes Zobel deliver the biggest news stories and latest news updates on Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide at 7:00 a.m..

Enriquiez later on provides the public with more information about the issues at hand through interviews with key personalities on Saksi sa Dobol B at 8:00 a.m. while Zobel returns at 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. with Anong Say N’yo?.

At 9:30 a.m., fellow GMA News Pillar Arnold Clavio together with Ali Sotto tickle the viewers and listeners’ minds through their juicy blind items in Sino?. Later on at 10:00 a.m., the tandem further dissects the issues that made it to the news that day on Dobol A Sa Dobol B. For the final slot at 11:00 a.m., Kay Susan Tayo! Sa Radyo, anchored by Susan Enriquez, returns to the small screen.

On Saturdays, Melo del Prado hosts Super Radyo Nationwide at 6 a.m. followed by Super Balita sa Umaga with Sam Nielsen and Rowena Salvacion at 7:00 a.m. In the next hour, Rowena also hosts Isyu Atbp. while I M Ready sa Dobol

B, hosted by Kapuso resident meteorologist Nathaniel ‘Mang Tani’ Cruz, comes next at 9:00 a.m..

Meanwhile, one of the newest additions to DZBB is the well-loved health program hosted by Connie Sison – Pinoy M.D. sa Dobol B—which airs at10:00 a.m. It is followed by DZBB Super Serbisyo: Buhay, Trabaho at Negosyo at 11:00 a.m. with Norilyn Temblor, Tootie, and Lala Roque.

On Sundays, Orly Trinidad opens the morning line-up with Buena Manong Balita at 6:00 a.m., followed

by Super Balita sa Umaga, hosted by Sam Nielsen and Nimfa Ravelo, at 7:00 a.m..Nimfa also hosts Dobol B: Bantay Balita (Bantay sa Senado) at 8:00 a.m..

At 9:00 a.m., GMA News TV viewers can catch Benjie Liwanag’s Liwanag sa Balita followed by Divine Reyes’ Dobol B: Bantay Balita (Bantay sa Kamara). From 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, Orly returns with MMDA sa GMA, which is in cooperation with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Catch the successful collaboration of GMA Network’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz and the country’s leading local news channel GMA News TV via Dobol B Sa News TV airing from Monday to Sunday at 6:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

GMA News TV will now be seen on free TV via Channel 27; while viewers abroad can also catch Dobol B Sa News TV on GMANews TV International.

Pop Queen Sarah G launches her own makeup line and is also named the newest celebrity endorser of Shopee

Shopee debuts TVC with Sarah G LEADING e-commerce platform, Shoppee, launches its first-ever television commercial with Sarah Geronimo on Saturday, June 1.

On May 30, Shopee announced that Sarah G is their new ambassador just in time for the Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale.

Sarah first performed the “Shopee Spaghetti” commercial in front of thousands during the launch event of her cosmetics brand, POP Studio, on Shopee. The television commercial which put a creative twist on the classic novelty song “The Spaghetti Song” by the Sexbomb Girls, garnered a good reception from Filipino viewers across the country.

Shopee’s previous television commercials have been recognized by several organizations for its innovation and influence. This includes the Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day television commercial, which was crowned the number 1 YouTube ad in the Philippines at the Youtube Ads Leaderboards by Google last March 25. In addition, the Shopee-pi-pi song was also named the People’s Choice for the Last Song Syndrome (LSS) Award by the same organization.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing, Shopee Philippines, said, “Coming from the viral Shopee-pi-pi television commercial, the Shopee Spaghetti commercial is another song with a catchy tune and a fun dance that will surely entertain our Filipino audience. We look forward to sharing more creative content with our consumers in the upcoming months.”

The Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale from June 3 to July 7 offers consumers five weeks of unbeatable deals including free shipping with 0 minimum spend on selected brands or categories daily. There will be one million Lowest Price Deals, daily 100 percent cashback vouchers, and P1.00 Deals up for grabs.

For more information on the Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale, please visit https://shopee.ph/m/6-6.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019

STANDARD’S CHOICE

Who will be crowned Binibining Pilipinas winners?

By Eton Concepcion

Images by Sonny Espiritu and BPCI

T

HE biggest beauty pageant in the country is in the homestretch of finding a new set of queens to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Grand International, and Miss Globe pageants.

Coming off last year’s batch of two titleconquests, Filipino-Australians Catriona Gray and Karen Gallman in Miss Universe and Miss Intercontinental, respectively, and a close first runner-up finish by Athisa Manalo at the 2018 Miss International pageant, this year’s batch, one of the best ever gathered, promises another strong showing of the Philippines in 2019 international competitions.

We are definite that the Bb. Pilipinas bigwigs have seen the real contenders and only their final performances at coronation night could spell win or defeat.

Judging from their appearances in prepageant activities, including the talent and national costume competition, media interviews, parade of beauties and fashion show, a short list of standouts, the crème of the crop, will bring the Bb. Pilipinas 2019 to an exciting conclusion.

Here are the Standard’s Top 10 hot favorites for the six titles at stake: 1. Hannah Arnold The 23-year-old, 5-foot-11 FilAustralian from Masbate, is a graduate of Forensic Studies from the University of Canberra. With her killer body, good communication skills, and amazing catwalk, she is sure a Miss Universe material. The friendliest among the candidates, with a strong fan base, Hannah has a unique advantage.

2. Patricia Magtanong She is a 5-foot-9 UP Law graduate and recent board-passer. The 24-yearold beauty is a captivating Asian doll, an Ariella Arida-Shamcey Supsup dead ringer. Her advocacy to provide free legal assistance to prison inmates will be an edge at any pageant stage.

3. Samantha Bernardo The 26-year-old, 5-foot-8, model from

Samantha Bernardo

Palawan and last year’s 2nd runner-up, is one of the most consistent candidates of this batch. She has a strong stage presence, outstanding in talent (Top 3) with strong advocacy on controlling high Malaria incidence in Palawan could work to her advantage in the international pageant.

4. Leren Mae Bautista The 26-year-old, 5-foot-9, graduate of

Recoletos. The stunning Fil-Palestinian beauty has a classic, universal face, who resembles Miss South Africa 2018 Tamarine Green. Her advocacy that focuses on elderly care will be a hit in Miss International.

6. Vickie Marie Rushton She is 27 years old and stands 5-foot-

Leren Mae Bautista

Vickie Rushton

Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba is known for her top finish at the 2015 Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International.

The “perfect Pinay beauty,” is tall and has a strong stage presence. A Lara Quigaman-in-the-making, this perfect bet for Miss International speaks up against any form of bullying.

5. Gazini Christiana Ganados She stands 5-foot-7. This 23-year-old model from Talisay, Cebu is a Tourism graduate from the University of San Jose-

6. This Fil-British actress-model is a graduate of University of Saint La SalleBacolod and was last year’s first runnerup. Her Barbie doll face won this year’s Miss Ever Bilena. An animal lover with a passion to help people with disabilities (PWDs), having a brother with the Down’s Syndrome, she is perfect for Miss Intercontinental or Miss International.

7. Ilene Astrid De Vera The 23-year-old Mass Communication graduate of UP-Cebu won 2017 Miss

Gazini Ganados

Ilene Astrid De Vera

Hannah Arnold

Asia-Pacific International 4th runner-up.

She has a very consistent performance in all pre-pageant events. She is tall and has an endearing personality, and seems to enjoy the whole experience.

8. Emma Mary Tiglao She stands out with an amazing body and great catwalk skills. Emma is 24 years old and stands 5-foot-9. This Tourism

Emma Tiglao

Marquez’s niece.

10. Maria Andrea Abesamis She is 27 and stands 5-foot-7. She is a model and a Fine Arts major in Painting from the University of Santo Tomas. Aya is the daughter of 1984 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Desiree Verdadero. She exudes class and elegance and advocates creative arts

Maria Abesamis

Graduate from Pampanga who looks better in motion is very consistent in candid and studio shots.

9. Julia Saubier This 24-year-old Fil-French is a Martial Artist and Magna cum Laude graduate of Social Research and Public Policy from New York University Abu Dhabi and completing her Masters in China Studies at Peking University.

She’s good at public speaking and is known in the pageant world as Melanie

Julia Saubier

as a transformative tool for vulnerable members of society.

Bubbling up in our list are Jessica Marasigan, 25, Maria Isabela Galeria, 20, Samantha Lo, 24, Joanna Tolledo, 25, and April May Short, 21.

The Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Coronation Night will be held at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, 7:00 p.m..

The pageant will be telecast on ABSCBN.

April Short

‘Godzilla’ stomps its way to a box-office lead WARNER Bros.’ Godzilla: King of the Monsters stomped to the top of the box-office in its opening weekend in North American theaters, taking in an estimated $49 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

But analysts called the creature feature’s debut disappointing. Its total for the threeday weekend came in far behind the studio’s previous Godzilla installment (which opened in 2014 with $93 million), and the new film cost $200 million to make.

The plot has eco-terrorists stealing a sonar device developed by scientist Emma (Vera Farmiga) to control the title monster; her ex-husband (Kyle Chandler) is recruited to track it down even as Godzilla clashes with monstrous rivals like winged Mothra and three-headed Ghidorah.

The film has drawn tepid reviews: The Guardian called the soundtrack “thunderingly tedious.”

Slipping to second spot was Disney’s liveaction Aladdin, at $42.3 million. Directed

by Guy Ritchie, the feel-good film stars Will Smith as the fast-talking genie and Canadian

‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ is a raging beast of disappointment according to industry watchers after the film debuted with a mediocre $49 million.

actor Mena Massoud as the wily title character as he seeks the attention of the lovely Jasmine (Naomi Scott).

In third came Paramount biopic Rocketman, with Taron Egerton playing the part (and singing the words) of Elton John. The film, which has drawn inevitable comparisons to last year’s hugely popular Bohemian Rhapsody about Queen and Freddie Mercury, took in an even $25 million.

Egerton has garnered strong reviews, including the highest of praise from the 72-year-old John himself, who told Hollywood Reporter that in watching the movie “I didn’t think it was Taron. I thought it was me.”

Fourth spot went to psychological thriller Ma from Universal and Blumhouse Productions, at $18.3 million -- a solid opening weekend for a film that cost a mere $5 million to make.

In fifth was Lionsgate’s action film John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, at $11.1 million. Keanu Reaves again stars as retired hitman Wick, this time being chased by an army of killers after a large contract is put on his head. AFP