Manila Standard - 2019 June 12 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 118 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RITUAL BURNING. Officials of Imus City in Cavite lead the ceremonial burning of old and worn-out Philippine flags at the Dambana ng Pambansang Watawat (Shrine of the National Flag) in the city’s Heritage Park on Tuesday, on the eve of Independence Day. Under the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, all worn-out flags are to be burned ‘to avoid being used for other purposes and render respect for the flag.’ Lino Santos

SEC: P50b flowed into Kapa NBI agents raid group’s offices, find invest scam widespread

By Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja

OLICE and agents from the National Bureau of Investigation raided 14 offices of Kapa Community Ministry International Inc., a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the group shut down for its alleged involvement in an illegal investment scheme.

P HEALTH ISSUES. President Rodrigo Duterte discusses matters with officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. led by its

acting president, Dr. Roy Ferrer, during a meeting Monday at the presidential palace. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, one of the authors of the newly enacted Universal Health Care Act that strengthens PhilHealth’s capacity to provide quality and affordable health care to all Filipinos, has described the latest controversy surrounding the state-run health insurance firm as both ‘highly illegal and immoral.’

Presidential Photo

Davao-based doctor eyed as new PhilHealth chief

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has offered the top post of the scandal-hit Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to a Davao-based private doctor who is also chief executive of a franchise holder of various fastfood brands, the Palace said Tuesday.

Dr. Jaime T. Cruz, CEO of the JTC Group of Companies, has not yet accepted Duterte’s offer, said Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.

“The President was still waiting for the response of Dr. Jaime Cruz to his offer to join PhilHealth,” Panelo said, adding that Cruz’s name was mentioned by the President while discussing the PhilHealth

issues during the Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Senator-elect Christopher Go confirmed that the President was considering Cruz as replacement of PhilHealth acting president Roy Ferrer.

The President earlier asked Ferrer and other PhilHealth board members to hand Next page

The Securities and Exchange Commission, meanwhile, is set to file criminal complaints

Pilot-test of nat’l ID set from Sept. to Dec. 2019

By Vito Barcelo THE government will pilot-test the national identification system from September to December this year, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said a “substantial” number of Filipinos will be registered for the initial run of the system, and that it targets to cover 107 million Filipinos by the end of Duterte’s term in 2022.

“There will be a pilot-testing that will run from September to December 2019 to register a substantial number of Filipinos nationwide,” Panelo said in a statement.

“By the end of the President’s term in 2022, one hundred seven million Filipinos are targeted Next page to have been registered.”

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‘Romualdez shoo-in as speaker’ THE 55-member party-list bloc said Tuesday it will vote for either Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque or Martin Romualdez of Leyte for the position of House Speaker.

In a statement, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said choosing between Velasco and Romualdez would be tough “because both of them are close to our hearts.”

But Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said there was no doubt that Romualdez

would be elected Speaker of the 18th Congress.

He said a number of congressmen belonging to the ruling Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino had committed to support Romualdez’s speakership bid.

“I will repeat again my projection that Congressman Martin has the edge versus the other candidates. Martin will be a good Speaker,” Suarez told reporters on Tuesday.

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Rules for foreign workers redone

By Vito Barcelo

PUBLIC HOLIDAY. While the general population will have a day off Wednesday in celebration of Independence Day, SM City Manila, where Manila Standard’s IntegriTree was launched last weekend, has decked its hall with the colors of the Philippine flag

THE government will craft new rules for foreign nationals seeking jobs in the Philippines, due to the rising number of foreigners working in the country, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte discussed the issue during the Cabinet meeting on Monday and instructed the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs,

PH growth pillar for beauty sales

Bumper harvest: Sweet side of El Niño

THE Philippines is poised to be a growth pillar in the Asia Pacific region in terms of global beauty sales, according to Singapore-based global distribution company Luxasia.

FOLLOWING a bountiful production of the mango, the national fruit, as a result of the extended dry season, the government is now selling them for a fraction of their regular prices.

About two million kilograms of the fruit will go to waste if those are not sold.

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KAPA-Community Ministry International Inc. • Kapa stands for ‘Kabus Padatoon,’ Cebuano for “enrich the poor” • Founded in 2016 by Pastor Joel Apolinario • Based in Bislig, Surigao del Sur • Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a religious organization • Calls itself ‘The Church Within the Church’ with the

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Sangley to host domestic flights TO EASE airport congestion, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday has ordered the transfer of domestic flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Sangley Air Base in Cavite.

“The President directed the operations in Sangley Point to start immediately,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said the suggestion to transfer domestic flights to Sangley Air Base was presented by Transportation Arthur Tugade during Monday night’s Cabinet meeting.

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FACT FILE

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News

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Vatican releases gender document V

ATICAN CITY—The Vatican on Monday launched into the debate on gender ideology, publishing an educational document called “Male and Female He Created Them.”

Subtitled “Towards a path of dialogue on the question of gender theory in education,” it is intended to help Catholic school teachers counter ideas which “deny the natural difference between a man and a woman.”

“It is becoming increasingly clear that we are now facing with what might accurately be called an educational crisis, especially in the field of affectivity

Fact file...

From A1

slogan ‘To God Be The Glory’ • According to its website, has started several businesses such as limestone and silica mining, rice production, woodworks, poultry, seafood, mango plantation, textiles, and fuel trading.

• To become a KAPA member, a person may “voluntarily support the ministry by donating a certain amount of money with a minimum of P5,000 and a maximum of P1 million out of their “willingness and generosity.”

KAPA members’ benefits include: • “Received Blessings”-A member is entitled to receive blessings “with a minimum of 30 percent based on his/her donated amount every month or monthly.”

• “Patulong (Aid) Account”-A member is allowed to avail of this based on compounding computation (percentage based on the 30 percent noted above) • “Hospitalization Blessings”-A member is allowed to advance a minimum of 2 months of his/her blessings in case of hospitalization • Transferrable-In case of death of a KAPA member, his/her account is transferrable to any of his/her legitimate family members • Harvested high variety of rice-A member is allowed to buy rice from the group at a minimum price of P30 per kilo.

Pilot-test...

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Panelo said the implementation of the national ID system was tackled during Duterte’s Cabinet meeting on Monday.

In August 2018, Duterte signed The Philippine System Identification Act (PhilSys Act) that paves the way for a national ID system.

The national ID law seeks to harmonize, integrate and interconnect the countless and redundant government IDs by establishing a single national identification system, Panelo said.

The national ID law is a single and streamlined national identification system that aims to reduce corruption, enhance governance and serve as a tool to keep the public safe.

The Philippine Statistics Authority says every Filipinos’ privacy will be safe from unauthorized access and use.

The PhilSys registry data will include the demographic data of the person such as the full name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, blood type, address, classification whether a Filipino or alien, and optional information on the person’s e-mail address, mobile number and marital status.

‘Romualdez...

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Nograles said among the aspirants for the speakership, only Velasco and Romualdez were truly serious in the bid and had the strongest connection with party-list lawmakers.

“I observed that our party-list congressmen are one in the belief that under a Velasco or a Romualdez speakership, we will be treated fairly and the concerns of our constituents will be heard and respected,” Nograles said.

“Some of the wannabes who have tried to reach out to us obviously have a different view about party-list groups.

They look down on us.”

Nograles said he would not divulge those “other candidates” but stressed that, in the end, the party-list coalition led by 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero would vote as one bloc.

Suarez, meanwhile, expected lawmakers from the ruling PDP-Laban to break party lines in the speakership race unless President Rodrigo Duterte or his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, endorsed a speakership candidate.

Suarez believes that Romualdez, who belongs to the Lakas party, will have an edge over the other bets should the Dutertes keep a hands-off approach to the speakership race.

PDP-Laban members and officials are expected to gather at the house of Senator Manny Pacquiao to decide on who will be the party’s bet for next speaker.

The ruling party has three aspirants for speaker: Velasco, Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.

Taguig representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, also a staunch Duterte supporter, is also jockeying for the top post at the House of Representatives.

Maricel V. Cruz

and sexuality,” says the paper drawn up by the Roman Church’s education ministry.

The document notes “challenges” rising from gender theory which “denies the difference and reciprocity in nature of a man and a woman and envisages a society without sexual differences, thereby eliminating the anthropological basis of the family.”

SEC...

From A1

against Kapa officials for the alleged scam that reportedly defrauded participants of as much as P50 billion.

In Cebu, NBI agents and police confiscated blank and filled-up application forms, books, membership certificates and bids of donations from the Kapa office in Barangay Poblacion in Compostela.

The raid came after Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Marivic Umali issued a search warrant against the firm for alleged violation of the Securities Regulation Code.

The authorities also swooped down on Kapa branch offices in Tacloban City; Taytay, Rizal; Tagum City; Opol, Mislamis Oriental; and even the house of its founder Joel Apolinario in General Santos City.

The NBI deployed 14 teams to simultaneously serve search warrants in 14 locations, as granted by the Manila court.

NBI Deputy Director Antonio Pagatpat said the securities regulations require any group or company to secure a license from the SEC before engaging in any kind of investment activity. Kapa is not a religious group as it claims, he added.

“From day one up to the time that it was ripe for operations, not a single religious activity was conducted by the organization. In fact, they accepted donations from anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation,” Pagatpat said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Pagatpat said the group gives a 5-percent commission to members who help them in the “recruitment process.”

In Cebu, NBI officials said most of the seized items were damaged from the fire that struck the office Saturday, June 8. The recovered evidence will be turned over to the court.

The raiding team also secured a big vault believed to contain millions of pesos in cash.

The Sunstar Cebu reported that a group of 10 armed men failed to steal the vault when they set the office ablaze Saturday.

However, they carted away a small vault believed to contain P5 million to P7 million.

Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold

Davao-based...

From A1 over their courtesy resignations amid the investigation into how the state-run insurance company paid more than P800 million for bogus dialysis treatments for members who were already dead.

Duterte met with the PhilHealth board of directors at the Palace on Monday and expressed dismay with the state of affairs in the state health insurance company.

Panelo said no one would be spared from criminal liability for the ghost dialysis scandal.

Panelo said the National Bureau of Investigation already arrested the owner of WellMed Dialysis Center in Quezon City, which has been accused of defrauding PhilHealth.

“There will be criminal prosecutions of all those involved. No one will be spared,” Panelo said.

He said PhilHealth operations, meanwhile, would continue unhampered.

Duterte has vowed to go after hospitals and dialysis centers that made fraudulent PhilHealth claims.

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Franciso Duque III said he ordered a revamp of PhilHealth’s accreditation committee.

At a press conference, Duque blamed the committee for failing to act on a recommendation to revoke the accreditation of Wellmed Dialysis Center.

Sangley...

From A1 In a Palace briefing, Panelo said the President wants the Sangley Airbase in Cavite to accommodate domestic flights by November.

He said this is a month earlier than Tugade’s target to transfer the domestic flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Sangley Airbase by December.

Panelo said Tugade had already initiated the testing of ferries that can operate from Mall of Asia in Pasay City to Sangley within 18 to 24 minutes.

He said President Duterte wanted airport security to be handled by a single entity, either from the military or civilian force to ensure passengers’ safety.

Tugade will be drafting an executive order for the President’s consideration, Panelo said.

Duterte ordered the transfer of domestic flights to Sangley Air Base after making a surprise inspection at the NAIA Terminal 2 early Monday morning where he was dismayed over flight cancellations and delays.

He asked Tugade’s agency to solve the problem in the long term and promised passengers for the government to come up with a remedy “within a month.”

The Church is trying to promote “dialogue on the question of gender in education,” Milan’s Gonzague Institute professor Roberto Zappala said in a statement.

Gender theory “seeks to impose a single school of thought,” which determines the education of children, said Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, of the Congregation for Catholic doctrine.

The theory “leads to educational programs and legislative orientations that promote a personal identity and emotional intimacy separated from the biological difference between male and

female,” Versaldi said.

The document, which supports the role of mother and father in a traditional family, outlines “the Christian vision of anthropology [which] sees sexuality as a fundamental component of one’s personhood.

“It is from [their] sex that the human person receives the characteristics which, on the biological, psychological and spiritual levels, make that person a man or a woman.”

The document is to be distributed internationally across the Catholic educational system. AFP

Sinas doubts the armed men knew about the contents of the vaults.

“Our suspicion is that there could be an inside job,” he said.

Although they were not able to arrest any Kapa officials, the NBI, in coordination with SEC, will file a case against founder Joel Apolinario and Kapa Cebu area manager Christopher Abad for violating Sections 8 and 26 of Republic Act 8799.

“We have already a case build-up. We are going to file the necessary charges against the pastor, against his men, against his directors and against the defenders or those who are abetting and propagating this scheme,” said SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino in a press conference Monday.

The group reportedly accepted investments, which it dubbed as “donations” of no less than P10,000 from each of its members, according to the commission.

The SEC considered the scheme to be among the biggest investment scams in the country, getting no less than P50 billion from its members.

“With five-million members, with a minimum investment of P10,000 per member, you’re looking at P50 billion,” Auino said.

President Duterte said the activities of these investment schemes, including the Kapa Community Ministry International, were clearly a form of estafa.

“The operation of Kapa was a clear pyramiding scheme, which collected money from its members to give to the pioneering operators of the group. When it is too good to be true, it is fraud,” Duterte said.

Duterte said it was impossible for a group to give 30 percent monthly interest to investments because banks here and abroad could only give a maximum of 3 percent interest per year.

He said that the interest received by its members were just drawnfrom the money of the newly recruited members who were also drawn into investing in the pyramiding scam.

The Philippine National Police urged victims of the Kapa and other investment scams to file complaints.

PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said that even after the authorities raided

some Kapa offices, only a few complainants have come forward to testify on the group’s alleged illegal operations.

According to Banac, additional complaints will strengthen the case against Kapa officials and against those in other investment scams that mostly operate in Southern Mindanao.

Kapa or Kabus Padatoon (enriching the poor), is a registered religious group that was earlier flagged by the SEC for allegedly soliciting investments in the form of donations and at a monthly interest rate of 30 percent.

Another group raided was the Alabel Maasim Credit Cooperative in Poblacion, Alabel town in Sarangani. Alamcco was also cited by SEC for accepting investments from the public and offering a monthly payout of 35 percent.

Lawyer Riolen Gillesania, Apolinario’s counsel, told reporters that the raid mainly targeted documents and other materials that were supposedly used by Kapa to solicit investments from the public.

Apolinario and his family were not at the house during the search operation.

He said the NBI agents seized from Apolinario’s home some Kapa membership forms, a list of the group’s members with their cellphone numbers, and three bullets found at the guard house.

The lawyer said the raid was a state attack on a religious group.

He said Kapa is just a victim of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, he said, because he lost some members of his congregation to Kapa.

In a TV interview Friday night, Quiboloy asked President Duterte about Kapa.

Gillesania added that Kapa’s legal team will study the circumstances of the raids for the possible filing of counter-charges against the NBI and other law enforcement agencies.

In Alabel town, NBI agents disarmed the five security guards of Alamcco during the search operation.

The group’s founder, Pastor Jerson Cagang, was not around during the raid, which triggered confusion among employees and Alamcco members gathered outside its compound. With PNA

He said he would also look at other operating units in the full-blown revamp.

The National Bureau of Investigation filed charges of estafa against Dr. Bryan Sy, an owner of Wellmed. He was arrested Monday while being interviewed by NBI agents.

Sy was brought to the Department of Justice for inquest proceedings.

The NBI filed the complaint on behalf of PhilHealth after two former employees of the Quezon City-based dialysis center accused Sy of filing benefit claims with PhilHealth on behalf of dead patients and taking advantage of a loophole in PhilHealth’s death reporting system.

The NBI complaint also named other WellMed executives as respondents: Dr. John Ray Gonzales, medical director; Claro Sy, chairman; Alvin Sy, corporate treasurer; Therese Francesca Tan, purchasing officer; Dick Ong, administration officer; and physicians Dr. Porshia Natividad and Joemie Soriano.

The complaint also listed whistleblowers Edwin Roberto and Liezel Aileen de Leon, who exposed the clinic’s practices.

The NBI accused the WellMed executives of receiving payments from PhilHealth for dialysis treatments even though some of the patients have long been dead.

Roberto, previously the assistant manager of Wellmed, claimed in his sworn statement that it was Sy himself who ordered him on March 30, 2016 to try to charge PhilHealth

with claims of two dead patients amounting to P2,600. He instructed De Leon to prepare the form.

Sangley Airbase or the Danilo Atienza Air Base in Sangley Point, Cavite used to be a US naval station base until it was turned over to the Philippine Navy and Air Force in 1971.

Before it adjourned, the House of Representatives had approved a bicameral conference committee report creating the Davao International Airport Authority.

The bill empowers the Davao International Airport Authority or Authority which shall be attached to the Department of Transportation, to undertake the economical, efficient and effective control, management and supervision of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, the existing airports in the Davao Region, and such other airports within the area.

Garcia-Albano, who represents Davao City’s second district, said the creation of the Davao International Airport Authority will spur economic development of Davao City and the Davao Region.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority on Tuesday said it would require airlines to explain flight delays to passengers, after 54 flights were delayed and seven flights were diverted on Sunday due to a red lightning alert. Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta with PNA

In his affidavit, Roberto claimed that before he resigned in March 2018, PhilHealth paid WellMed a total of P600,600 consisting of 200 sessions for dead patients.

There was also an unpaid claim of P208,000 for 80 sessions, which he said was eventually paid.

In all, Roberto said PhilHealth settled a total of 27 claims amounting to P808,600.

The NBI also submitted the sworn statement of John Cueto, a PhilHealth special investigator, who said WellMed continues to file PhilHealth reimbursement forms for their patients.

Sy, Roberto and De Leon were arrested while attending NBI’s probe on Monday afternoon without a warrant. The NBI said their case was treated as “a hot pursuit.”

The NBI filed the complaint after Sy’s wife, Therese Francesca Tan-Sy, who was also named respondent in the complaint, filed a petition for issuance of a writ of habeas corpus before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 questioning her husband’s arrest and asking for his immediate release.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that both the writ of habeas corpus petition and inquest proceedings will determine whether there is a basis to hold Sy without a warrant. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Rules...

From A1 Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Professional Regulation Commission, Bureau of Immigration, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to jointly craft a set of guidelines on the employment of foreign nationals in the Philippines.

“Through this JMC, foreign nationals shall first secure an alien employment permit, a working visa, and a tax identification number before they can be permitted to work in the country,” Panelo said.

The top foreign nationals working in the country are Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, mostly working in administrative support, offshore gaming operations and business process outsourcing.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente linked the increase in the number of foreign workers in the country to the rising industries in the Philippines and online gaming.

He said such issues and challenges only appear now because this has never been a problem in the past.

Gov‘t to roll out pre-SONA fora THE Office of the Cabinet Secretary and the Presidential Communications Operations Office will bring back a series of fora to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements in his third year in office before his State of the Nation Address on July 22.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles updated the Cabinet with the pre-SONA activities of the Cabinet clusters.

Nograles presented these pre-SONA activities during Monday night’s Cabinet meeting that was presided by President Duterte, Panelo said.

He said there will be three pre-SONA forums to be spearheaded by the PCOO. The first forum, “Patuloy na Pagunlad” will be led by the Economic Development and Infrastructure Cluster in Manila on July 1.

The second, “Patuloy na Malasakit at Pagkakaisa,” will be led by the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster along with the Participatory Governance Cluster in Cebu City on July 10.

Finally, the “Patuloy na Katatagan” will be presented by the Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction Cluster and the Security, Justice and Peace Cluster in Davao City on July 17.

The SONA, which is delivered by the President of the Philippines every year, is a constitutional obligation required by the 1987 Constitution.

It is a venue that allows the President to report on the state of the country, unveil the government’s agenda for the coming year and to propose to Congress certain legislative measures. PNA

PH...

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Luxasia chief executive officer Wolfgang Baier said the country’s luxury beauty market grew by 40 percent between 2013 and 2018.

“The increase of the middle class and the channel shift in consumer preferences from mass to premium are driving growth,” said Baier in a roundtable briefing with select journalists Tuesday capping his two-day official visit in the country.

“The Philippines is a super exciting market for us. It is ripe for both luxury brands and new, edgy brands,” he added.

The Philippines is currently the strongest market for fragrances of Luxasia, known as the “Beauty Omni Leader” in Asia Pacific with over 140 brands in 15 countries in the region.

The Asia Pacific region, which accounts for 51 percent of global beauty sales, has been growing at 6 percent annually since 2014 and is projected to outpace the rest of the world.

“The Philippines is also a young market, with digital natives accounting for a significant portion of our e-commerce sales,” said Luxasia country head Tina Sabarre.

The Luxasia Group has been in operation for 30 years and has been instrumental in shaping the luxury retail segment with brands like Bvlgari, Calvin Klein, and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as skin care brands such as PeterThomasRoth and Shiseido.

In the Philippines, Luxasia, with 80 distribution points and 30 boutiques, has cornered 60 percent of the fragrances segment, and about 10 percent of the color cosmetic and skin care segments.

To support its exponential growth in the country in the past three years, Luxasia has already brought brands onto official stores of online marketplaces such as Lazada, Shopee, and BeautyMNL. Baier said the company is seriously considering opening brick-and-mortar stores in Cebu, Davao and Pampanga as well as increasing the 45 brands under its Philippine portfolio.

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The Department of Agriculture launched the Metro Mango campaign on Monday to sell fresh mangoes for P20 to P50 a kilo depending on the quality of the fruit.

Normally, mangoes cost around P58 a kilo but only if those are bought in bulk.

According to a statement posted by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Facebook, the mangoes are available at the Agriculture department’s Central Office on Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City, and the Bureau of Plant and Industry in Malate, Manila, at discounted prices.

The fruits are also being sold at the Muntinlupa City Hall, at the Parañaque City Hall and three Waltermart grocery store branches in North EDSA in Quezon City, Makati City and Pasay City from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Vegetables, coconuts, commercial rice priced at P36 per kilo and other agricultural food products are also available at the Muntinlupa and Parañaque locations.

Piñol said they aim to sell at least 1 million kilos of fresh mangoes in Metro Manila this month.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

No ouster plot against Du30 gov’t, says Trillanes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THERE is no ouster plot to overthrow the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and unseat him, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Tuesday even as he claimed that several transactions were made in foreign banks involving billions of proceeds from the illegal drug trade.

In a news conference, Trillanes presented pieces of evidence to debunk the claims of Peter Joemel Advincula, who referred to himself as “Bikoy, Advincula was the hooded man in the “Ang Totoong Narco List” video series, who tagged President’s family members and allies as behind the country’s illegal drug trade.

Trillanes presented Advicula’s alleged text messages to clergies, whom Bikoy supposedly approached for sanctuary last year. He also furnished the media screenshots of text messages supposedly between Advincula and a priest some time in August 2018.

In one of the text messages, Advincula supposedly said: “Padre kunan mo na aku ng video para may marecord ka ng testimonya ko! Yung sa maghintay kaya ko yun padre! Pero yung sisihin palagi aku yun ang d ko kaya padre! Planu ko ng tapusin ang buhay! Ang sakit sakit na ng ulo ko!”

Another text message also showed Advincula asking for money for house rental and transportation cost.

Trillanes said the text messages indicated that there was no ouster plot and that it was Advincula, who volunteered his information to the priests “Wala kang makikitang ouster plot dyan. Wala kang makikitang sinusubuan sya ng script nang kung sino man,” he added.

From the series of texts Bikoy allegedly sent to a priest, Trillanes pointed out that the said messages contradict the former’s earlier statement that he was promised money in exchange for being featured in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

He also played a video of Bikoy showing him making allegations against certain people. He pointed out the video also showed that Advincula’s statements were not scripted.

“Did you see there was script? Did you see somebody dictating on him?

It’s him. Those allegations came from him with feelings,” said Trillanes.

He said that the point of that video is that everything came from him—all the allegations.

Trillanes said the video belied the statement of Bikoy that there was a script to malign the Duterte administration.

“So, I’m showing it now that there were all lies, no ouster plot and everything Bikoy released in the video all came from him,” said Trillanes.

NAPOLCOM told to stop payment for supplements THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the National Police Commission freeze the payment of P9.09-million dietary supplement allowance for its officials and employees, including contractual personnel, for lack of legal basis.

In an audit report, NAPOLCOM spent P8.23 million for regular officials and employees and P856,000 for the vitamin allowance of contract of service and job order personnel.

Despite an audit observation memorandum in October 2017 for a recommendation to suspend the grant, the state auditors said NAPOLCOM still gave allowances through cash or reimbursement.

The order said only an office order from the NAPOLCOM vice chairman and executive officer justified the dietary supplement allowance.

NAPOLCOM told CoA that the allowance was allowed under the preventive health-care program of the Civil Service Commission and its own Administrative Order No. 402.

But state auditors said AO 402 only pertained to a medical checkup program “consisting of procedures that are strictly diagnostic” and had no details on prescription drug nor dietary supplement benefits.

NAPOLCOM, in an exit conference, said the vitamin allowance was done in good faith and meritorious.

Rio N. Araja

ABUS ON THE SPOT. National Bureau of Investigation officials present to the media on Tuesday, June 11, six suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf who were arrested at various places in the country. The suspects have pending cases from kidnapping to bombing. Norman Cruz

Hog industry may lose P250b if ASF enters PH T

By Rio N. Araja

HE hog industry stands to lose P250 billion should the African swine fever enter the country, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.

At the National Academy of Science and Technology forum in Quezon City, Dr. Maria Glofezita Lagayan, BAI’s focal person for communication of the ASF Task Force, said the ASF virus can survive for 1,000 days even in frozen meat, and that it has the capacity to destroy livestock production.

“There is no known vaccine to prevent the virus,” she said.

“Biosecurity is the prevention,” she added.

She, however, said the ASF does not pose any health risks to humans.

“Roughly P250 billion would be lost if the ASF virus should enter the country,” she told the forum.

According to Lagayan, Taiwan is “very near” China “but Taiwan can effectively prevent the entry of ASF.” “The head of Taiwan’s task force is

its president,” she said.

In July, a series of public consultation would be held to formulate a contingency plan on ASF prevention.

Countries affected by the ASF disease felt a huge cut in their livestock industry.

The Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring the threat of ASF entering the Philippines through the entry of meat products, especially from Hong Kong.

The Philippine Veterinary Drug Association earlier said the disease may enter the country through siomai, dumplings and other processed food being sold by Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen.

The ASF has spread in some countries neighboring China, such as Mongolia, Russia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Keep judiciary’s independence, Bersamin urges SC officials, staff

By Rey E. Requejo

NOT ENOUGH. Members of the Jeepney Operators and Driver Association in

Valenzuela City hold a protest action to condemn the traffic situation in the area as well as the fuel roll back, which they claimed was not enough, even as they call on Mayor Rex Gatchalian to help solve their problems. Manny Palmero

Exercise caution when near WPS, alien ships urged THE Department of National Defense on Monday appealed to nations, whose warships pass through the West Philippine Sea and waters near the country, to exercise restraint as any imprudent behavior could lead to an international incident or conflict.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made the appeal following the two incidents between US, China and Russian warships in the South China Sea and Philippine Sea last October and earlier in June, respectively.

In the two incidents, warships of these nations got too close and nearly collided with each other.

Lorenzana said miscalculations between the captains of these warships might spark conflict in the region.

“So [to the nations those vessels are passing through these waters], tell their captains not to get too close to each other as there could be a miscalculation,” the DND chief said.

Meanwhile, a ranking official of the Chinese Embassy in Manila said that China-Philippines cooperation has been “greatly reinforced” in the past three years, as the two nations celebrate 18th Friendship Day. “Since President Duterte took office in 2016, under the strategic guidance of our two leaders, China-Philippines

relations have witnessed turnaround, consolidation, and elevation, and entered a new golden age,” said Embassy Chargé D’affaires a. i. Tan Qingsheng at the reception for the 121st Independence Day of the Philippines and the 18th China-Philippines Friendship Day. “Our strategic coordination on bilateral and international affairs has been greatly reinforced,” he said.

Tan highlighted the milestones Beijing and Manila achieved over the past three years, such as the signing of cooperation documents.

President Rodrigo Duterte and President Xi Jinping have already met seven times, with more than 20 agreements inked during the latter’s visit in the Philippines last year. “[This] elevated our bilateral relationship to comprehensive strategic cooperation,” Tan said.

Over the past three years, the series of dialogue and consultation mechanisms have also been revitalized, such as in foreign affairs, defense, energy, economy, and trade consultations, the envoy said.

“Our cooperation in various fields has generated tangible benefits for our peoples. In 2018, bilateral trade volume reached USD55.7 billion, with an 8.5-percent year-on-year increase,” he said. PNA

SUPREME Court Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin on Tuesday exhorted court officials and employees nationwide to keep the independence of the judiciary and maintain its role of dispensing fair and swift justice to everyone.

In a speech during the celebration of the 118th founding anniversary of the country’s judiciary, Bersamin said the judiciary has passed all the challenges against its integrity and unity “and these challenges honed the judiciary in effectively fulfilling its role of dispensing justice and upholding the rule of law.”

The country’s judiciary was created through Act No. 136 issued on June 11, 1901 by the United States Philippine Commission.

Act 136 provided for the “Organization of Courts in the Philippine Islands” headed by the SC with trial courts in the provinces and municipalities.

Later, various courts were created by amendatory laws to expand and enhance the judiciary’s jurisdictions on issues and cases that may be brought before the courts for adjudication.

Bersamin, who is set to retire in October 18 this year when he reaches his mandatory retirement age of 70, thanked all justices, judges and court personnel in supporting his fourpoint agenda he laid down out when he assumed the highest post in the judiciary late last year.

The top magistrate’s reform agenda include the revision of the rules of court to expedite proceedings, improvement of the physical structure of the courts to make them more accessible to the people, enhancement of the selection process in the appointments to the judiciary, and eradication of corruption and other irregularities in the courts and in the legal profession.

New bill on minor offenses ‘game-changer’ SENATOR Richard J. Gordon said Senate Bill No. 2195 or the Community Service Act will be a game changer once passed into law.

Aside from decongesting the country’s jails, Gordon said his proposed measure intends to promote restorative justice by allowing courts to impose community service instead of jail term for minor offenses which are punishable by arresto menor and arresto mayor.

“This will be a game changer. Instead of serving time in jail, offenders who committed minor offenses will pay their debt to society by doing community service which will be beneficial to the whole community,” said Gordon, This way they can do penance for the offenses they committed without worsening the congestion of our jails across the country,” he said.

The bill also provides that community service shall consist of any actual physical activity which inculcates civic consciousness, and is intended towards the improvement of a public work or promotion of a public service. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Iloilo solon seeks more perks for PWDs A LAWMAKER on Tuesday urged the incoming 18th Congress to push for the enactment of the bill granting additional privileges for persons with disabilities.

Outgoing Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas remains optimistic that his bill will be passed by the next Congress.

Treñas’ bill was approved at the House of Representatives before it adjourned sine die last week.

He said the bill’s enactment “can make life easier and better for our PWDs.” Treñas’ bill proposes to amend provisions of Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, to include additional privileges for PWDs such as the mandatory employment in government offices, government corporations and even in the private sector.

Under the proposed law, all government agencies, offices or government corporations are mandated to fill up at least 2 percent of all positions for qualified PWDs. Private corporations with more than 1,000 employees are likewise required to allot at least 2 percent of all positions for PWDS and 1 percent for those with less than 1,000 employees. Maricel V. Cruz

MIAA to probe NAIA staff on theft THE Manila International Airport Authority is investigating the allegation of an air traveler that a screening officer stole money from his foreign friend at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The complainant Jackie Freeman Yuen did not identify the screening officer but he narrated the incident in his social media account and warned the public on the matter.

“Airport security trying to scam money from my friend who knows limited English. The friend went through security alone and the security guy asked to check his bag. He started to take out all kinds of stuff from his bag and then put two hands inside for a few minutes [to open his wallet and steal some money]. He then pulled out the wallet and opened it up and asked my friend to give him HKD2000. My friend refused but he took HKD1000 anyway,” said Yuen in his Facebook account posted Monday. Joel E. Zurbano

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Listen, learn, discern THE extemporaneous utterances of President Rodrigo Duterte are often the starting point of many controversies. His emphatic, expletive-laden statements often divide and polarize public opinion.

Despite the generally-accepted narrative that the President is a straight talker, it seems that his words are always interpreted, nay twisted and misinterpreted, in order to conform to whatever agenda is being pushed by different parties, Santa Banana!

Technology is a boon and we should learn to use it well.

The recent pronouncement about his desire for the Commission on Elec Elections to junk Smartmatic as technology provider for future elctions, however, left nothing for alternative interpretation. The “whiff of fraud” made Smartmatic anathema to him.

In this situation, I am less concerned about what comes out of Duterte’s mouth. In truth, my gulay, I am more concerned about what went into hisears!

Given the President’s statement, it seems that the sources of the fraud that he was referring to were not specific.

They were mere whispers that obviously made him assume that because there was alleged fraud, it was automatically the fraud of the technology rather than of its handlers.

I, for one, would not be so presumptuous as to believe I have the President’s ear. But, my gulay, in the off chance that he or one of his close advisers reads this column, I will offer this piece of advice: While the people seem to applaud your candor, please be careful about the basis of what you say.

For one, Mr. President, what is the legal basis of junking Smartmatic

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

when it went through the legal processes required by law? You may dislike public bidding, but that is the law.

As a lawyer yourself, you of all people should appreciate that.

Look at that technical malversation of P5 million diverted from the Marawi rehabilitation fund to finance the Hajj pilgrimage of some survivors of the siege, for instance. The law must be observed. No matter how much the President’s heart bleeds for the Moros, the Constitution prohibits the use of government funds for any religion.

There is the doctrine of separation of Church and State. Mr. President, if you fund a religious organization, you must do it for all. Then again, you would be violating the separation doctrine.

Aside from this, don’t forget the Commission on Audit. Like the Comelec, it’s a constitutional body and inde independent from the executive. You can’t just order it to do your bidding.

I’ve written before that there seems to me some organized move to revert (read: Downgrade) our electoral system to hybrid or manual. I have also said that it’s counter-intuitive to move backward.

Those from my generation know too well how dangerous—and easy—it is to cheat in manual elections.

Santa Banana, I still recall the days before automation—40 to 50 days before all returns could be counted.

Ballot boxes were carried away by goons. Poll watchers, usually teachers and nuns, were beaten, kidnapped and killed!

Electoral fraud can be committed in so many ways and the easiest way to go about it is to attack the points which are most flawed: The people, who could be intimidated or bribed.

Contrast that to our automated election system, wherein the vote counting machine is detached from any form of persuasion. It is programmed to count and that’s all it does. To ensure that the machine counts correctly, there are safeguards and redundancies that make it easy to check for discrepancies.

To answer the grumbling of coffee shop critics everywhere, the recent announcement of random manual audit results from the Philippine Statistics Authority and legal network for Truthful Elections have confirmed that this is the most accurate Philippine election ever.

A

Comelec’s credibility on the line

LREADY under fire for glitches that cast doubts on the credibility of the mid-term elections, the Commission on Elections needs to tread cautiously before deciding on the fate of the Duterte Youth chairman who wants to be a party-list lawmaker.

The controversy revolves around Ronald Cardema, whose only claim to fame was to face down an outspoken critic of the Duterte administration in 2018. For this act of “bravery,” the leader of the Duterte Youth was made the chairman of the National Youth Commission.

In his short stint there, the NYC managed to gain the attention of the Commission on Audit, which asked the agency to refund the national government more than P800,000 that were paid out as monetized leave credits and travel expenses.

With an eye on higher office, Cardema resigned as NYC chairman to represent the Duterte Youth party-list group in the mid-term elections, filling in as a “substi-

tute” for his wife.

Over the protests from several groups, the COMELEC on June 4 approved Cardema's last-minute bid to become the party-list group's nominee in the 2019 elections, with five commissioners voting in favor of the petition, one dissenting and one abstaining.

COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, the lone dissenter, said the poll body will still need to rule on Cardema’s qualification, which is a separate matter.

Oddly enough, it is on this very question that groups had argued against Cardema, 33, saying he violated the PartyList System Act as he was over age limit of 30 to become a party-list nominee for the youth sector.

Against such a clear restric-

tion in the law, were the other COMELEC commissioners who voted for the last-minute substitution simply currying favor with Malacañang by letting Cardema’s clear lack of qualification slide?

In the meantime, more groups have come forward to protest what is patently and obviously a mockery of the partylist system.

Former chairpersons and commissioners who served in the NYC over the last eight years banded together to urged the COMELEC junk the substitution bid, citing his failure to meet the requirements needed to represent the youth sector in Congress.

Cardema and other nominees of the party "undisputedly fall outside the prescribed age set by law" based on information in their certificates of nomination and acceptance, they said.

The COMELEC commissioners need to do two things: Follow the law and rule that Cardema is unqualified. Anything less would undermine their credibility and undermine the integrity of the electoral system which they have pledged to protect.

Turn to A5

Cubao to Makati in 5 minutes?

NO, YOU’RE not imagining things.

That’s what President Rodrigo Duterte said he would do—cut travel time from Quezon City to Makati to just five minutes!

If we find that hard to believe, let’s just give the President his moment of hubris to fantasize. That’s great news for commuters and motorists who suffer from the daily rigor of at least two or three hours travel time on EDSA to make it to work in the Makati Business District.

Perhaps the President was talking about travel time on Good Friday or on a Sunday when the whole nation is at home watching a Manny Pacquiao fight on live TV from Las Vegas. What millions of Filipinos expect from the President is a total upgrade of both the Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit. Providing an efficient public transport system is the only way to ease traffic. In New York, London, Brussels, Budapest and Warsaw, cities I have been posted to during my years as a diplomat, fewer people use their cars in going to work because their governments have set up a public rail transport system that complements and coordinates the other public transport network like buses and water ferry services. It’s the only way to discourage people from buying cars because of the unreliability of our trains.

Adding to the mad rush to buy cars is the number coding scheme that bans motorists from using their vehicles one day of the week. An employee cannot afford to be absent one day

of the week, nor will employers allow it as it would affect productivity.

Will longer hours working four days a week do the trick? We don’t know since the proposal has not been tried out yet. But for sure, if implemented, that would affect family life as it would result in less time with family. Workers would be leaving for work early and arriving home late.

It’s odd that none of the senatorial candidates in the recent May 13 midterm elections took it upon themselves to suggest how they will reduce traffic. Some of them still did

Perhaps the President was talking about Good Friday or a Sunday when there is a Manny Pacquiao fight. their song-and-dance routine to win elections and the vote of people who don’t seem to know their priorities, Hopefully three more bridges with Chinese loans and grants will be constructed across the Pasig River to ease road traffic along Guadalupe the chokepoint between Pasig and Makati.

Meanwhile, today is Philippine Independence Day. But four Filipinos were arrested selling Chinese flags at the Luneta, one of the focal points in today’s Freedom Day celebrations.

Here’s an imaginary situation concocted by a naughty Pinoy who witnessed the arrest of the Chinese flag peddlers.

POLICEMAN accosting the men: Why are you selling Chinese flags on Turn to A5

Sustaining growth BANGKO Setral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno had a rather bullish speech at the Rotary Club of Manila meeting last June 6.

Economic growth as measured by the rate of increase in the Gross Domestic Product or the output of goods and services in a given period has slackened, with the GDP rate falling from a high of 7.6 percent in 2010 to 6.9 percent in 2016,6.7 percent in 2017, and 6.2 percent in 2018. And to

5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2019.

The sharp decline in growth rate to 5.7 percent in January-March 2019 has been blamed on the delayed approval of the P3.7-trillion national budget.

To me, the reasons for the drop are more fundamental than simple legislative red tape.

One reason I suspect is that a huge chunk of government money is being stolen by government bureaucrats who deny its use by the population and the economy.

The government today contributes close to 20 percent of economic production. But that 20 percent is only

The government is the richest and largest corporation in the Philippines. part of the story. It represents money being actually spent or invested by government, not only for payroll, not only for maintenance and operating expenses, but also for buying machinery and equipment and in building infrastructure.

When government fails to buy Turn to A5

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Opinion Children of Chinese elite walk red line to ‘perfection’

By Peter Stebbings with Kelly Wang DANIELLE Liu stares straight ahead, a book balanced precariously on her head, and carefully walks along a red line on the floor.

The 10-year-old's mother hopes the exercise will help make Danielle "a little lady" and allow her to shine among the offspring of China's ultra-competitive elite.

Danielle is with seven other young children spending their Saturday holed up on the top floor of a five-star hotel in central Shanghai for a class in etiquette and manners.

The four boys look dapper in bow ties, suits and shiny black shoes. The four girls are all billowing dresses and angelic smiles.

"You have a stability problem," Guillaume de Bernadac, the selfstyled French doyen of all things etiquette in Shanghai, tells one boy of his attempt to walk and keep the book on his head.

If the children, who in this class are aged between nearly seven and 11, enjoy that exercise, they are less keen on having to sit straight and keep their elbows off the table at lunch.

"I'm scared," Zachary repeats as he attempts to eat his pea-and-mint soup while keeping two pieces of white paper tucked under his armpits.

The paper is to ensure they eat with their elbows in, but soon enough, the carpeted floor is littered with A4.

The children also have a red ribbon tied behind their shoulders to stop them slouching.

Sustaining...

From A4

equipment or build infrastructure, the economy and the people suffer. A classic example is the incompetent NAIA management.

In August last year, a Chinese jet crash-landed at the airport. NAIA had no tow truck or forklift to remove the paralyzed jet away from the runway.

So flights were canceled for three days. My estimate of the cost of the closure: P5 billion.

Last Sunday, lightning or fear of lightning gripped NAIA. So the airport was closed for a few hours and scores of flights were diverted, delayed or prevented from taking off and landing. Why? NAIA has no equipment to deflect lightning. Can you believe that? President Duterte was so furious he rushed to the airport himself in the middle of the night. He found the terminals a total mess. He was kind, though.

Nobody was fired—yet. He apologized to the NAIA customers—the airline passengers.

It is not for lack of money that NAIA could not buy a forklift for planes or a lightning deflector. The government is the richest and largest corporation in the Philippines. The budget for a forklift or a lightning should be petty cash.

So here now is BSP Governor Ben Diokno: “While the Q1 2019 growth of the Philippine economy of 5.6 percent was short of our target of 6 percent to 7 percent, it remains one of the highest in the region and perhaps the world.

This performance was achieved notwithstanding the delay in the approval of the 2019 national budget which held back the implementation of key programs and projects.

“The Philippine economy should have grown by at least one percentage

Cubao...

From A4

Independence Day? SUSPECT: Just selling flags to make some money, I’m not selling Philippine territory like the West Philippine Sea. POLICEMAN (to a man who bought a Chinese flag): And why did you buy a Chinese flag?

BUYER: I have to go to the toilet and as you know often there is no tissue paper in those public toilets.

Don’t take this imaginary scene seriously it’s just something overheard by a few Filipinos who make jokes

Those that do are gently upbraided by de Bernadac or his staff in English or Chinese.

Fierce competition Danielle's mother Cheng Liyan, who also uses the English name Shirley, wants her only child to be "perfect."

"To be lady-like, to be athletic, also academic, I hope she can develop herself in an all-round way," said Cheng, a teacher, in near-faultless English.

Danielle already takes part in extra-curricular swimming, piano and dancing, which is her favourite.

"I always talk to her and ask if she likes it," said Cheng, but admitted there is "fierce competition" to stand out in Shanghai, China's most international city and which has a population of about 25 million.

Cheng and the other parents pay the 31-year-old de Bernadac 2,688 yuan ($390) for four hours of practical instruction for one child.

Against a soundtrack of classical music, the children learn social skills, dining manners and deportment—hence the books on heads to teach them to walk nicely.

Other exercises include how to introduce themselves and greet people, including "air kisses," and even what topics are appropriate to discuss at the dinner table.

De Bernadac, who first came to China as a student, says that demand has surged since he started his company Academie de Bernadac in 2014.

Shanghai authorities recently approached him about designing programmes for schools across the city and he also does classes

point higher, at 6.6 percent to 7.2 percent in the first quarter, had the 2019 fiscal program been approved on time.

“The government has crafted a ‘catch-up’ plan to make up for the lower-than-planned state spending in the first quarter. And the consensus is that we will hit our target of 6 percent-7 percent growth this year.

“On the supply side, economic activity was boosted mainly by the services sectors’ robust performance.

“Meanwhile, the strong expansion in both investments and consumer spending also supported growth on the demand side. With the sustained 81 consecutive quarters (spanning more than two decades from 1999 to 2019) of uninterrupted growth, we remain optimistic that the Philippine economy can sustain its growth momentum over the medium term.

“The World Bank is sticking to 6.4 percent growth this year for our country, not far from the NEDA’s target for 2019: a GDP growth target range of 6 percent—7 percent for 2019, 6.5 percent—7.5 percent in 2020, and 7 percent—8 percent from 2021 to 2022.

“In addition, the strength of the Philippine economy was further validated with the upgrade in our sovereign credit rating by Standard & Poor’s to BBB+ with a stable outlook.

“This is the highest-letter grade for the foreign currency and an improvement from the BBB grade for the local currency rating. At the same time, Fitch—another rating agency— recently affirmed the Philippines’ investment BBB rating, also with a stable outlook.

“Recent demand indicators continue to point to overall firm domestic growth prospects in the near term.

Results of the Q1 2019 survey-based consumer and business sentiment

on just about everything. Someone said the toilet part was too crass, but someone countered: Can anything be more crass or obnoxious when another country encroaches on Philippine territorial waters, take away jobs from Filipinos and use the Philippines to manufacture shabu? Or another country dumping their garbage—include toxic hospital waste like used adult diapers—here?

Protesters and demonstrators are arrested for burning another country’s flag in public. Each individual is entitled to show his own way of displaying anger for a wrong he felt was done to him.

for adults and private firms.

Fast-tracked to adulthood De Bernadac is adamant that he is not simply trying to make the kids more Western.

"Our point is really to say if you go abroad, or even within China if you move to an international environment where you may be facing other cultures, we give you the keys to adapt," he said.

De Bernadac has no formal training, but according to him, his great grandfather and his great-great uncle were sent to Morocco in the 1920s as tutors to the nobility.

Among the subjects they taught was "how to be polite, how to behave" and the then-future king, Hassan II, was among their students, he said.

De Bernadac, who sports a cravat and well-rehearsed smile, said that the interest in his classes in Shanghai and other main cities in China shows the country wants to be "part of the global village."

"The elite are ready to make some effort, some steps, towards the international community," he added.

Cheng, sitting elegantly next to daughter Danielle when class is done, brushes off concerns that at their age, these children should be playing outside and having fun.

Apart from the dining part, the children mainly seem to enjoy being fast-tracked to adulthood.

"Kids should be kids, that's true, but at least they should have some discipline," said Cheng.

She explained: "For example in a public situation, they can't yell, they can't scream. It's so inappropriate." AFP

showed an improved outlook. The consumer outlook index registered an all-time largest quarter-on-quarter increase since the start of the nationwide survey in Q1 2007.

“At the same time, the confidence index for business showed marked improvement after declining for four consecutive quarters.

“With the end of the 2019 budget impasse, the continued implementation of the government’s infrastructure program—which we fondly call “Build, Build, Build”—is envisioned to generate an “impressive multiplier effect” on the economy by increasing its productive capacity, creating jobs, raising incomes, and enhancing the investment climate in the country.

“Price pressures have gone down significantly, falling toward the midpoint (at 3 percent in April 2019) of the target band. This brought the yearto-date (January – April) average to 3.6 percent year-on-year for 2019.

This is firmly within the government’s 2-4 percent target range.”

My take: During the open forum, Diokno revealed one big news—he is going to reduce the reserve requirement for bank deposits, from double digits, to single digit, probably in three years.

Reserves (about 18 percent of total deposits) is idle money parked by banks with the central bank. They amount to at least a trillion pesos. Imagine if that money were released to the system.

It could be used to buy badly needed equipment—like the forklift and lightning arrestors at NAIA. Or speed up traffic from Makati to Cubao from two hours at present to— five minutes, promised by Duterte by December. He did not specify the year. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Listen,...

From A4

Another thing that bothers me about the President’s statement is how the Palace both corroborated and contradicted his words when it said that the 2019 polls were credible despite the President’s statement.

My gulay, it has to be one or the other! This kind of statement just sows confusion and division.

How can they say that the Smartmatic system is flawed and prone to fraud when it is the system that got Mr. Duterte elected?

No wonder the Yellows pounced on this statement.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bong Go’s political odyssey It was a takeoff from candidate Duterte’s tough guy with a heart message when he began his political odyssey to the presidency, which we taglined into “Tapang at Malasakit.” But Bong himself thought of the Malasakit centers, a one-stop go to for indigents to PEOPLE still wonder how Bong Go, avail of financial and other medical aspreviously derided as a mere “alalay”of sistance needs in public hospitals, with President Rodrigo Duterte, managed to the able initiative of Presidential Assisget 20.6- million votes in the last elec- tant for the Visayas, Michael Dino. The 34 Malasakit centers broke ground in tions to become senator of the realm.

In a contest where veteran and wide- the first quarter of 2018 at the Vicente ly known political names such as Villar, Sotto Memorial Hospital in Cebu City, Poe, Marcos, Cayetano, Angara, Roxas, funded by private donations.

Not having been in the country durAquino, Binay, Estrada cum Ejercito were all in the running, plus movie ing the most part of the last campaign, it stars like Lapid and Revilla, the senato- was only last weekend when I witnessed rial contest of 2019 was what analysts for myself how Bong Go worked the crowd. I was indescribe as “masikip,” especially vited by Secretary for neophytes.

Michael Dino to a When it was anthanksgiving and From political early birthday parnounced that Go ty in Cebu for the would gun for the neophyte to a leader, he senator-elect from race, his numbers transformed within just Davao. were woefully, Cebu gave though expectedly a year into a magna cum low, despite his be- laude in national political BG what could be called a landing by the side of praxis. slide victory next the President all only to the Davao the time, with selfplacies galore of major provinces, plac world leaders like ing a close second Trump and Xi, Putin and Mahathir. to topnotcher Cynthia Villar, garnering For one, his Chinese monosyllabic 1.2-million votes from province and surname was not an advantage in a po- city. Of course, as described in a prelitical culture where the typical senato- vious column, Dino and his political rial candidate sported familiar Filipino allies managed to make a self-effacing names, which are hybrid Hispanic mostly. vice-mayor named Ed Labella win over As far as this writer can remember, veteran Tomas Osmena of Cebu City, we only had two monosyllabic sur- in what pundits thought was lopsidedly names among the roster of post-war a sure win for the incumbent. All the senators prior to Bong Go. One was president’s endorsed candidates for senpre-martial law Senator Roseller Lim ator won , except for Toy Mangudadatu of Zamboanga City and the other, Fred and JV Ejercito, but that was because fellow Cebuano Serge Osmena and Ang Lim of Manila and Bulacan.

Fred Lim was already a nationally Probinsyano’s Lito Lapid managed to known political quantity before he ran, get inside the winning circle.

Together with some friends, I went and won as senator in 2004. His toughguy image as a police official, NBI to the Hapsay Cebu headquarters in Ladirector and mayor of the capital city hug to wait for Bong Go to finish his earned him national recognition long visit to Mambaling and another baranbefore he ventured into the upper house gay’s recent fire victims. This was the campaign headquarters of the Bong Go of Congress.

Bong Go’s first run for an elective for senator movement and the PDP-Lapost was the Senate, mismo. Until ban Barug local candidates. It was loMayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte captured cated in a big vacant lot with an old one the national vote in 2016, Bong was storey building, which we used also in known only to fellow Dabawenos as 2016 for the Bisaya na Pud movement their mayor’s most trusted aide, and to that delivered a solid Bisaya vote for the national politicians in Manila also then Mayor Duterte’s presidential bid.

“Suerte nga lugar,” Bong Go told the as Duterte’s go-to contact person.

With uncanny facial similarity to Art crowd of barangay leaders recalling that Yap, GMA’s agriculture secretary, later Duterte went there in 2016 as well. And congressman and now Bohol governor- like his idol, Bong took a long time to elect, President P-Noy would jokingly get to the improvised stage as he shook hands and posed for pictures with his call him “Art Yap.” It was in late February 2018 when admirers. Later, he even partook of a he and I cut the ribbon for a hyperbaric simple meal of pork adoboand pancit facility donated by MECO to the South- atop a bed of rice, boodle fight style.

When he spoke, he was as humble ern Philippine Medical Center in Davao that Bong confided that he was being and modest as the presidential aide we asked by the president to go for a Senate all knew.

“Huwag ninyo ako tratuhing senaseat. My first reaction was, who would and could replace him as the President’s dor; pare-pareho lang tayo dito,” said he, and waxed about the value of utang most trusted aide?

In late September 2018, after an audi- kabubut-on, gratitude which he segued ence with the president where BG was into his slogan of serbisyo.

He was speaking to his leaders, orgapresent, we briefly discussed the forthcoming filing of his COC, and his aware- nized as a parallel, non-partisan moveness and vote conversion ratings where ment for a new Cebu City order, to complement the partisan Barug political he ranked 17-18 in the poll survey.

I assured him it was early days, and vehicle of former Mayor Mike Rama, if PRRD would, as expected, campaign who won as vice mayor to Labella this for him in the next few months, those time around. As a veteran of many camnumbers would surely go up. To his paigns since the death of Ninoy Aquino chief campaign aide Gelo Villar who in the ’80s, I was impressed at the rapconferred with me while waiting in the port of this political neophyte with the Malacañang anteroom, I predicted a crowd, and how they in turn were so Number 6-7 ranking for BG, all things touched by his presence.

My long-time political associate, an being equal.

But by March, no less than the poll old hand in local politics who was city survey analysts were saying that the tra- administrator for nine years in Rizal jectory for Bong was upwards to a pos- whispered when he saw BG’s encounsible Number One, and a likely scenario ter with the common folks: “Kasisir, Bong oozes with sincerity; taong-tao at of Number Three. Amazing!

Of course it cannot be denied that walang pretensions.”

Indeed, the amazing Bong Go— this was because President Duterte in every stump praised the “serbisyo ang from political neophyte to a leader, bisyo”of his trusted aide, and vouch- transformed within just a year into a safed for his character and integrity. magna cum laude in national political His TV advertorials were excellently praxis. Quick transformation for a pocrafted as well, with compassion or litical odyssey, but who knows where it would further lead? malasakit the over-riding message.

Of course, I understand. Mr. Duterte’s statement must be out of frustration. From all the candidates who felt “cheated” and would not shut up until the results conform with their expectations. Need elections that would give us a lower chance of human error and intervention. Technology is a boon and we should learn to use it well.

To our beloved President, please listen, learn and discern. *** I am glad that the Commission on Audit has reported that Philippine jails have become overpopulated, There are 111,046 prisoners in facilities built only to accommodate 25,268.

The CoA says this violates the rules

on habitat, water and sanitation.

For so long, I have been decrying the congested jails. I don’t know if the President has even seen the deplorable conditions with his own eyes.

I wonder too why he has not done anything about it. Imagine, the food budget is only P50 per person per day!

Who can live decently with this budget?

For a while I thought I was a voice in the wilderness, but now the CoA has spoken.

If the President is not listening, at least Justice Secretary Menadro Guevarra should. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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TODAY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pentecostes of Gonzaga nabbed in buy-bust op

IN BRIEF BI agents nab wanted Kuwaiti

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has arrested a drug group leader —described by officials as a “high value target”—in a buy-bust operation in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan by PDEA and the Philippine National Police.

Director General Aaron Aquino identified the suspect as Jonjie Pentecostes, 44, of Barangay Paradise, a first class municipality of Gonzaga.

Pentecostes, nabbed at a cockpit arena on Monday, is the son of the newly elected Gonzaga mayor, Marilyn Pentecostes.

He was arrested by PDEA four years ago but was acquitted due to technicalities.

Last June 9 at 6:30 a.m., joint elements of PDEA and the local police conducted a buy-bust at the Vargas cockpit arena, Barangay Pengue Ruyu, Tuguegarao City that resulted in the arrest of Pentecostes.

Pentecostes is a target-listed drug personality.

He yielded one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected 0.7 gram of shabu worth P4,900.

Officials said he would be charged with violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. According to PDEA, Jonjie is the leader of the notorious “JJ” drug group and considered as high-value target included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list.

Officials said the PDEA, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, had been monitoring the suspect’s lifestyle and activities following the reports that he was behind the illegal drug trading in the province.

Seized from the suspect was 1-piece heat sealed transparent plastic sachet suspected to be shabu weighing 0.7 grams with an estimated market value of P4,900.00 and two pieces genuine P1,000.00 bill used as buy-bust money.

FIRST VICTORY. Workers of Heritage Park Alapan in Imus, Cavite work on the double to finish the new Monument ‘Battle of Alapan’—

fought on May 28, 1898 and was Emilio Aguinaldo’s first military victory after his return to the Philippines from Hong Kong—in time for the 121st Independence Day celebration Wednesday. Lino Santos

PNP data: 6,302 nabbed for gun ban poll violation P OLICE officials said Tuesday some 6,302 individuals had been arrested over gun ban violations since the election period started in January.

Philippine National Police spokesman Col. Bernard Banac told a news conference of the total, 45 were policemen, 103 security guards, 25 were from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 92 were local officials while 19 others were from other local enforcement agencies.

At the same time, Banac said 5,259 firearms were seized by police authorities while 49,889 other weapons were confiscated.

The period is from Jan. 13 to June 10.

Banac said the implementation of gun ban would end today.

He reminded the public to renew their permits to carry firearms if these

ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN.

Manila

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TODAY

Republic of the Philippines HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon City, Metro Manila

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC DUTERTE YOUTH PARTY-LIST is hereby serving this public notice for its REVISED AND UPDATED LIST OF NOMINEES for the 2019 National and Local Elections, as approved and accepted by the Honorable COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (“COMELEC”) En Banc on 4 June 2019, to wit: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

had expired.

Recently, seven persons were arrested for gun ban violations while 973 were apprehended for violating the election liquor ban.

In Zamboanga del Norte, a candidate for vice mayor of Salug town failed to cast his vote after the police arrested him and his follower for violating the gun ban at dawn.

The aspirant, retired police Maj. Sergio Romaguera Bihag, and supporter Jetro Dumayo reportedly were in possession of a caliber .38 revolver and a Thompson submachine gun and several rounds of bullets.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Po-

RONALD GIAN CARLO L. CARDEMA GIAN CARLO GALANG CATHERINE R. SANTOS KERWIN M. PAGARAN SHARAH SHANE T. MAKABALI

This publication is being made in compliance with the directive of the Honorable Commission as contained in MINUTE RESOLUTION NO. 19-0568 dated 14 May 2019 of the Honorable COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC) En Banc.

Quezon City, 11 June 2019.

DUTERTE YOUTH PARTY-LIST By:

RONALD GIAN CARLO L. CARDEMA Chairperson

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

(MS-JUNE 12, 2019)

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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

REVISED

CONCEPTUAL

The Commission, in its meeting held on 07 May 2019, approved the adoption of the Revised Conceptual Framework as part of SEC’s rules and regulations on financial reporting.

The Revised Conceptual Framework includes: a new chapter on measurement; guidance on reporting financial performance; improved definitions and guidance-in particular the definition of a liability; and clarifications in important areas, such as the roles of stewardship, prudence and measurement uncertainty in financial reporting.

The amendments to references to the Conceptual Framework in the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020, with earlier application permitted. These amendments should be applied retrospectively unless retrospective application would be impracticable or involve undue cost or effort.

The foregoing pronouncement has been adopted by the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards Council and approved by the Board of Accountancy and Professional Regulation Commission and published in the Official Gazette.

Issued this 28th day of May 2019 at Pasay City, Philippines.

For the Commission:

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.

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairman (MS-JUNE 12, 2019)

SP CASE NO. R-QZN19-06787-SP

ORDER

SEC Memorandum Circular No. 12 Series of 2019 SUBJECT : ADOPTION OF FRAMEWORK

Multinational beverage company Coca-Cola launches an environmental campaign aimed at producing more recyclable bottles by 2030.

Even the company’s partners will address how bottles and cans can be redesigned and repurposed through its ‘World Without Waste’ campaign. The launch Tuesday at Blue Leaf Macapagal Parañaque is attended by (from left): Anna Oposa, co-founder of Save Philippine Seas; Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Coca-Cola Philippines Public Affairs and Communications director; Gareth McGeown, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. president and CEO; Sung Yong Kim, US Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippine; Senator Cynthia Villar; Winn Everhart, Coca-Cola Philippines president and general manager; Marjorie Jalosjos, DILG assistant secretary; Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. director for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs. Lino Santos

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

IMMIGRATION agents arrested an overstaying Kuwaiti, wanted by the royal family of Kuwait and Kuwait’s intelligence agencies for committing various crimes in his home country.

Arrested was Ahmad Issac Alameri, who was hiding in Guimaras island but was found after his neighbors complained of an arrogant foreigner in their community.

BI Intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan said Alameri, who overstayed in the country since July 2017, was also an undocumented alien holding an expired Kuwaiti passport.

Alameri admitted he could not return to his country because he was wanted by the royal family and Kuwait’s intelligence agencies.

“He claimed that he has no means to renew his passport and extend his stay,” Manahan said.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente immediately ordered deportation proceedings against the alien.

“He (Alameri) is a public charge and an undesirable alien who does not deserve the privilege to stay in our country,” the BI chief said. “He should be expelled and returned to where he came from.”

Morente again advised the public not to hesitate in reporting to the BI the presence of suspected illegal aliens in their locality. Vito Barcelo

Gov’t panel preps MILF camps

BUTIG, Lanao del Sur—Members of the Government Implementing Panel have begun their camp visits and “conversations” in the six camps of the Moro Islamic lice Regional Office 9 director, said the Liberation Front in preparation for the imtwo violated Republic Act 10591 or the plementation of the Normalization Track Comprehensive Firearms and Ammuniof the Comprehensive Agreement on the tion Regulation Act as well as the OmBangsamoro this year. nibus Election Code, which provides for The panel visited Camp Bushra, one of the the ban on guns and other deadly weapsix camps of the MILF identified in the peace agreement, that is poised to be transformed into ons during the election period. a peaceful and resilient community.

Meanwhile, Banac said at least 973 Other camps include Camp Bilal, Camp people were arrested for violating the ban Rajamuda, Camp Abubakar, Camp Bad’r, on liquor by drinking in public places. and Camp Omar.

The National Capital Region Police OfThe event is part of the information and fice made the most number of arrests with education campaign of the Government 403, followed by the Central Visayas Police Panel to further enhance the communities with 109. Violations were also recorded in within and near MILF camps understandother regions: Caraga (75), Davao (67), ing of the Bangsamoro peace process, parCentral Luzon (62), Eastern Visayas (53), ticularly the Normalization Track, which includes the decommissioning of MILF Cordillera (42) and Soccsksargen (27). forces and weapons.

The police also arrested 24 perGloria Jumamil-Mercado, the chairman sons in Malolos City and 26 others in of the Government Implementing Panel Butuan City. and undersecretary of the of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Process, ensured that “inclusive approach” will be employed in the planning and implementation of programs under the Normalization track.

Du30 to distribute 13,000 land titles

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will visit General Santos in South Cotabato on Thursday to distribute 13,000 land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said certificates of land ownership award covering 24,000 hectares of privately-acquired lands would be distributed by the President to 13, 000 beneficiaries, mostly farmers.

Panelo said the President and Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones

By Joel E. Zurbano would head to General Santos on June 13 to distribute certificates of land ownership THE Cebu Pacific Air has announced it will launch on award that cover 24,000 hectares of priJuly 1 a direct flight service operation between Manila vately acquired lands. and Shenzhen as part of its plan to expand its reach in “DAR Secretary Castriciones dismainland China.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK cussed the Implementing Rules and ReguShenzhen is the 5th destination of Cebu Pacific in mainlations of Executive Order 75 with the land China, and is the airline’s 27th international destination.

President during the Cabinet meeting last The CEB management earlier stated it was looking to Monday night,” he said. expand in North Asia, including opening significant new EO 75, signed by Duterte last Feb. 15, routes and possible new destinations in China. directed all departments, bureaus, offices Flights between Manila and Shenzhen will run four and instrumentalities of the government to times weekly—Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturidentify lands, owned by the government day—beginning July 1, 2019. At only two hours and 40 devoted to or suitable for agriculture, for minutes’ flying time, the evening departure of the flights distribution to qualified beneficiaries. will enable travelers to make full use of business hours, Earlier, the President said that he both in Manila and in Shenzhen. would hasten the allocation of lands in Shenzhen, located in Guangdong Province, is part of the the remaining three years of his term but booming Pearl River Delta megalopolis. Shenzhen has a would prioritize first the distribution of continuous development of rail and road links to other cities properties owned by the state. within the region, including a branch road that connects to Panelo said that President Duterte still the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. had three more years and the President As China’s first special economic zone, Shenzhen is vowed to give everything to the people, an important city for sourcing of goods for those engaged especially lands owned by the government in trade. Boasting of shopping complexes, it is also a retail which were not being utilized. mecca for bargain hunters.

CEB to launch direct Mla-Shenzhen flight

Anti-graft court OKs Fajardo plea deal

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan has imposed a P30,000 fine against the former executive director of the National Parks and Development Committee in Manila after the court approved his plea bargaining deal owing to his P49-million alleged anomalous security contract case.

In a decision dated May 10, the court’s Seventh Division found Carlito San Antonio Fajardo guilty of six counts of “prohibited transactions.”

The court said the guilty verdict imposed on Fajardo as provided under Section 7(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials came with a fine of P5,000 “for each count,” or a total fine amounting to P30,000.

This developed as the anti-graft court ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Fajardo and the release of his bond upon payment of the fine.

The Ombudsman filed graft charges against Fajardo following his approval of the security contract and the release of payment to Variance Protective and Security Agency for its security services without public bidding.

The contract, valued at P49 million, was supposedly valid for at six years—from.2004 to 2010. The prosecution said, however, the contract was extended on a monthly basis despite the absence of a public bidding.

The Sandiganbayan downgraded Fajardo’s guilty plea to a lesser offense, saying: “The prosecution manifested to the court that they are not opposing the accused’s change of plea. The court deems the prosecution’s manifestation as sufficient to allow the withdrawal of accused’s former plea and to permit him to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser offense.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Santa Anita track to stay open despite more deaths LOS ANGELES—The owners of Santa Anita racetrack rejected calls to suspend horse racing at the course on Monday as the equine death toll at the facility rose to 29 after two more fatalities.

A statement from the Stronach Group said the track would remain open for the final seven days of the season, dismissing a call from the California Horse Racing Board to shutter the course after the latest deaths.

On Saturday, gelding Formal Dude was euthanised after suffering a serious injury while on Sunday three-yearold Truffalino collapsed after suffering an apparent heart attack as a heatwave baked the course.

The Stronach statement said the track would remain open as the racing industry continued to implement new safety measures which they claimed had been effective since their introduction earlier this year.

“We are collectively working on behalf of everyone in the sport—grooms, hot walkers, jockeys, exercise riders, starters, trainers, owners, track managers and every horse wearing a bridle and a saddle—to reform and improve racing every day,” the Stronach statement said.

“After extensive consultation among all partners, Santa Anita Park will stay open through the end of its meet to see these reforms through.”

The statement, which was released with the support of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and California Thoroughbred Trainers associations, said safety reforms had led to a 50% drop in racing injuries and an 84% dip in training injuries since their introduction.

“To be clear, there are no acceptable losses, and every day we work toward ending all serious injuries,” the statement said.

“But the reality is that our improvements and changes have been effective.”

Animal rights groups have led calls for Santa Anita’s closure, with some arguing that the unusually high death toll demanded an outright ban of horse racing.

“Santa Anita averages 50 dead horses a year. It is business as usual,” said Heather Wilson, an advocate for Horseracing Wrongs, a New Yorkbased nonprofit that is working to eradicate horse racing in the US. “The general public must understand that horse racing kills horses at every single track. This is not isolated to Santa Anita.”

The Los Angeles Times last month added its voice for Santa Anita to be closed for the remainder of the racing season. AFP

Parker retiring from basketball LOS ANGELES—Former San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker confirmed his retirement from basketball on Monday after 18 seasons in the NBA. The 37-year-old French international, who won four NBA titles with the Spurs between 2003 and 2014 announced his decision in a post on Twitter.

“It’s with a lot of emotion that I retire from basketball, it was an incredible journey!” Parker wrote.

“Even in my wildest dreams, I never thought I would live all those unbelievable moments with the NBA and the French National Team. Thank you for everything!”

Parker is one of the most successful foreign players ever to play in the NBA, and was a key figure in the Spurs teams which consistently challenged for championships during his time with the franchise.

Injuries hampered his final years with the Spurs and he spent last season playing with the Charlotte Hornets, appearing in 56 games but not starting in any.

In an interview with The Undefeated on Monday, six-time All-Star Parker said he was walking away from the sport after realising that he could no longer compete at the very highest level.

“A lot of different stuff ultimately led me to this decision,” Parker said.

“But, at the end of the day, I was like, if I can’t be Tony Parker anymore and I can’t play for a championship, I don’t want to play basketball anymore.”

Parker had previously spoken of his desire to play 20 seasons in the NBA, but said his view changed after playing in Charlotte, who finished outside the playoff standings.

“I wanted to play 20 seasons and I still think I can play,” he told the website owned by ESPN. “I had a good season with the Hornets, and I was healthy. But at the same time, now I don’t see any reason to play 20 seasons. AFP

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

5 marked players at 119 US Open th

P

EBBLE BEACH—Five players to watch when the 119th US Open golf championship tees off on Thursday at the par-71 Pebble Beach Golf Links: Brooks Koepka Koepka, ranked number one in the world, is chasing history at Pebble Beach, trying to become just the second player to win three straight editions of the US Open.

He has little track record at Pebble Beach, playing the US PGA Tour’s National Pro-am only once, in 2016.

But the big-hitting American thrives on golf’s grandest stages—a fact he proved again with a PGA Championship crown at Bethpage Black in May. Tiger Woods Woods, who has risen to fifth in the world and added a 15th major title to his resume with his victory at the Masters, returns to the scene of his 2000 US Open victory that epitomized his one-time dominance of the US PGA Tour.

Woods marched to a 12-under par total and a record-setting

15-stroke victory to earn the first of three US Open titles.

But he hasn’t finished in the top 20 in the championship since 2010. After his Masters triumph, Woods was unimpressive in missing the cut in the PGA at Bethpage but gained momentum for the year’s third major with a strong weekend showing at the Memorial, his final tuneup for the Open.

Rory McIlroy Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, ranked third in the world, arrives at Pebble Beach off a convincing victory in the US PGA Tour’s Canadian Open, where his final-round 61 on Sunday gave him a seven-shot win.

McIlroy, the 2011 US Open champion, has had a runner-up finish in Mexico City and a tie for fourth at Riviera also this year. But if he wants to add to his four major titles he’ll need to avoid the kind of slow starts that proved too much to overcome at the Masters and the PGA Championship.

Dustin Johnson Johnson grabbed an elite WGC title in Mexico this season and charged to second-place finishes at the Masters and the PGA Championship—where he completed

the career runner-up grand slam.

Now the second-ranked player in the world would like nothing better than to added a second major title to the US Open he claimed at Oakmont in 2016.

He’s a proven winner at Pebble Beach, where he won the tour’s National Pro-am in 2009 and 2010. But he may also feel he has some unfinished business on the Monterey Peninsula: Johnson held the 54-hole lead in the 2010 US Open at Pebble but closed with an 82 to finished tied for eighth behind winner Graeme McDowell.

Patrick Cantlay The world number eight is a California native who grew up putting on Poa annua greens like those at Pebble. He captured his second US PGA Tour title at the Memorial, erasing a four-shot deficit to beat majorwinner Adam Scott by two-strokes in the star-studded tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus.

Cantlay’s bogey-free closing effort ws the best final round by a winner in the history of the Memorial, and put the former US collegiate star in the winner’s circle after seven top-10 finishes this season—including a tie for third at the PGA Championship. AFP

Carvajal, Napala top PPS netfest

Brooks Koepka of the United States reacts after playing his shot from the ninth tee during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Canada. Koepka (clockwise, starting from right, uppermost inset), Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are the five players to watch out for in the coming US Open. AFP

Ms. Croatia to perform at MPBL opener CROATIAN professional dancer, rap artist and model Marija Debelic is set to perform at the Lakandula Cup on June 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We want the opening to be special, so we invited world-class performer and our good friend Marija to grace this event,” says Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.

The league founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao is launching its third conference, which boasts of 30 teams.

Ms. Pure Energy Marija will promote her first single and first Tagalog song “Ang Dame,” written by Archie Malate and arranged by Deadkey. It’s also her first time to perform in a basketball game.

“The song is like Adam Levine of Maroon 5’s ‘Girls Like You,’ but of course, very Filipino. I’m really proud of this work,” said the cum laude in Economics and Business Management graduate from Croatia.

Marija performs in music festivals and well-known clubs in the Philippines such as Futureland Music Fest in SM Mall of Asia, Cove, Okada, and other venues.

Marija Debelic

JULIANA Carvajal powered her way to two singles titles while unranked Derek Napala nailed a victory in singles and two in doubles as they shared the MVP honors in the PPS Dir. Alberto Aton national juniors tennis tournament at the Kidapawan City Tennis Club in Cotabato over the weekend.

Carvajal dominated her rivals in 14-U play she capped with a 6-2, 6-2 romp over Ayezza Dino, then the rising star from Digos toppled elder sister and top seed Coleen, 6-4, 6-4, in the 16-U finals to emerge the lone “double” winner in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

The Gen. Santos City-based Napala stunned top seed Reyman Saldivar, 4-0, 4-5(3), 10-6 in the semis then foiled doubles partner Gene Espinosa, 7-5, 6-3, to snare the crown in the boys’ 14-U division of the tournament sponsored by Director Alfredo Aton of Department of Agriculture.

Napala then flashed superb condition in doubles play, teaming up with Espinosa to edge Saldivar and Kadil Jamal Raul, 8-6, in the 14-U class then linked up with Steve Aton to rout Saldivar and BJ Flores, 8-0, for the 18-U crown in the event and held under the auspices of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Other singles winners were Kabacan’s Jairo Ramirez (10-unisex), Klayton Dino (boys’ 12-U) and Saldivar (boys’ 16-U; local bet Brent Magno (boys’ 18-U); and Alamada’s Ysabel Wong (girls’ 12-U) and Zykla Cervantes (girls’ 18-U) while the Carvajals (girls’ 18-U), Avril Anito and Ayessa Dino (girls’ 14-U) and Kim Belotindos and CJ Ramirez (10-unisex) also shone in doubles competition.

Ramirez routed Kim Belotindos, 4-1, 4-2; Dino wore down BJ Flores, 2-6, 7-6(3), 10-8; Saldivar trounced Steve Aton, 6-3, 6-1; Magno ripped Aton, 6-2, 6-3; Wong crushed Sachena Francisco, 4-2, 4-0; and Cervantes blasted Coleen Carvajal, 6-4, 6-0.

Quiban seeks repeat as PH Golf Tour Bacolod unfolds

MURCIA, Negros Occidental—Justin Quiban sets out for his title-retention drive brimming with confidence, ready to slug it out with the best of the best, including a slew of foreign aces, in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge firing off today (Wednesday, June 12) at the Bacolod Golf Club here.

Quiban banked on three solid rounds to rule this event last year with the young rising shotmaker upbeat of duplicating his fine start and sustaining it to the finish in what promises to be a slam-bang chase for the crown in this P2.5 million event serving as

the second of the four-stage Visayan swing of the circuit put up by ICTSI. “I feel good about my chances to defend my title here,” said Quiban, who vowed to play aggressive at the tight par-70 layout unlike last week at Club Filipino de Cebu where emphasis was on iron game. He gets an early test as he drew veteran Tony Lascuña and Thai Pachara Sakulyong in the 11 a.m. flight on No. 10.

“I’ll use my driver more here to attack the reachable par-4s. I played a conservative game last week (in Cebu) but now it will be the opposite,” added the former amateur hotshot,

who has also nailed a victory in the inaugural PGT Asia at Luisita in 2017.

Like Quiban, Guido Van der Valk is also coming into the event oozing with confidence following a wire-to-wire triumph last week with the Manila-based Dutchman likewise hinting at unleashing an attacking kind of game this week.

“There’s a big difference playing here and in Cebu. There’s a lot of opportunities to make birdies here with your driver. So we’ll see,” said Van der Valk, who will also start at 11 a.m. on No. 1 with Joenard Rates and Nelson Huerva.

Quiban

How to produce better athletes LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG COULD Daniel Quizon be the next, youngest Filipino chess Grand Master?

With chess legend Eugene Torre slowly fading away and Wesley So, who would have been the next chess Filipino superstar before his shift of allegiance to an American national sports association, Philippine chess needs a new face, a new hope.

This 15-year-old International Master in Quizon is silently making his way up.

He has been sweeping his counterparts and reaping honors in international competitions. Obviously, he has advanced so much that he doesn’t belong to his age category anymore.

To further hone his skills, his coach Roel Abelgas from Dasmarinas City, began choosing tougher competitions abroad. In Vietnam last March, Quizon ended up in Top 20 at the HD Bank Chess Open, where he almost attained the 2nd of the three GM norms required to earn the full GM status.

Back on the local shores, Quizon tested his mettle against two of the best chess Grandmasters chess fans had known for many years—Joey Antonio and Torre.

A few weeks ago, Quizon defeated Antonio in a dual blitz match, 6.5 to .5,

before upending reigning junior titlist Jeth Romy Morado.

In the ongoing Asian Continental Championships in China, Quizon took the scalp of Torre after 62 moves of a Ruy Lopez opening to stay in contention in the tourney that offer slots to the World Cup in Russia this year.

The Dasmarinas team, where Quizon belongs has become perennially dominant in local age-group competitions in Palaro, Batang Pinoy in recent years.

What seems to be the secret of Quizon and his Dasma teammates?

It’s the chess center.

Abelgas says that the air-conditioned center put up and maintained by the city government is open to students and chess players, who can use the facilities, in-

cluding the computers, library, tables and chess sets for free.

Chess coaches are also around for those who want to take chess seriously.

To excel in a sport, there’s really no secret. The formula has been the same.

First, we need to have a better venue.

The reason the Philippines has so much talent in basketball is because basketball courts are everywhere. Even city streets are closed to traffic during barangay tournaments.

Why don’t we have track racers in the national cycling team? Because we don’t even have a cycling velodrome anymore.

No need for a scientific study here.

Just put up good venues for the sport and we’ll produce better athletes.

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

Curry, Thompson power Warriors past Raptors TORONTO, Canada—Clutch threepointers by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson enabled the defending champion Golden State Warriors to edge Toronto 106-105 on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) and sustain their hopes of winning a third consecutive NBA Finals.

But any joy from the victory was dimmed by a right Achilles injury to Kevin Durant only 12 minutes into his first game after being sidelined for a month by a right calf injury.

Curry scored 31 points while Thompson added 26 as the Warriors pulled within 3-2 in the best-of-seven championship series, forcing a sixth game Thursday at Oakland, California, with game seven if needed in Toronto on Sunday.

“Do or die,” Curry said. “It wasn’t pretty in the second half but we just made the shots.”

Durant’s long-awaited return ended with the All-Star forward being helped off the court.

“You could kind of just feel the life just go right out of us,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “But to Steph’s credit, he rallied the troops.

“He talked to everybody, went around the huddle and just told everybody to stay locked in and do this for Kevin.

And I think we did a good job of coming together.”

Durant, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, departed the arena on crutches but became an inspiration to his teammates.

“We do it for Kevin,” Thompson said.

“He wants us to compete at the highest level and we’ll think of him every time we step on the hardwood.”

Durant posted on Instagram: “I’m hurting deep in my soul right now. I can’t lie, but seeing my brothers get this win was like taking a shot of tequila. I got new life.”

He also breathed life into Golden State’s title quest, Curry said.

“We understand the moment and I think we can rally, considering how the second half went,” Curry said.

Durant, Golden State’s top playoff scorer with 34.2 points a game, will have an MRI on Tuesday.

“On the one hand I’m so proud of them, just the amazing heart and grit they showed, and on the other I’m just devastated for Kevin,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“So it’s a bizarre feeling we all have right now, an incredible win and a horrible loss at the same time.” AFP

Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors tries to dribble past Toronto Raptors defender Serge Ibaka (9) during Game Five of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2019 (June 11 Manila time) at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

Ramirez asks coaches to inspire PH athletes to be champions

By Peter Atencio

I

NSPIRE the athletes to be champions.

Team Philippines chef de mission and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez asked this of national coaches and trainers who are preparing athletes who are going to see action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“The greatest job of a coach is to inspire the champion in an athlete,” Ramirez said in his speech when he sat down with over 150 national coaches yesterday at PhilSports Complex, Pasig.

The meeting was held to discuss standing concerns and updates for the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games yesterday at PhilSports Complex, Pasig.

The talks came two weeks after internal issues rocked the Philippine Olympic Committee, with president Ricky Vargas assuring Filipino athletes that the regional meet remains

on track.

Ramirez opened discussions with the national coaches from 58 sports to conduct assessment and evaluation of the level of preparations of Team Philippines the SEA Games.

Last week, Vargas admonished Team Philippines to aim for no. 1. and seek 120 gold medals.

“If we are united, we can produce a miracle in the Southeast Asian Games,” said Ramirez.

The PSC chief listened to what the coaches are doing to prepare their athletes during the talks.

Commissioners Arnold Agustin, Ramon Fernandez, Celia Kiram and Charles Maxey were also around with Chief of Staff Marc Velasco.

The 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games. The games are a regional multi-sport event held every two years. It will be held in the Philippines from November 30 to December 10, 2019 in four designated hubs which will serve as hosts.

The hubs include Manila, Clark, Subic, and a fourth cluster consisting of venues not grouped within the first three hubs.

The Philippines will host the games for the fourth time and its first since 2005. The country also hosted the 1981 and 1991 editions of the games.

This edition of the games will include e-sports and obstacle course. It will have the highest number of sports in the history of the games, at 57.

TNT KaTropa, NorthPort gun for share of lead

By Jeric Lopez NORTHPORT and TNT KaTropa battle for a share of the top spot when they face separate rivals in the continuation of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The Batang Pier (4-1) and the Tropang Texters (4-1) can tie pacesetting Blackwater (5-1) at the top should they beat their respective opponents.

NorthPort is bound to do battle with Magnolia (0-1) at 4:30 p.m. even as TNT duels Barangay Ginebra (2-2) at 7 p.m. in the nightcap at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Showing that it is for real, the Batang Pier made a bold statement in its last assignment.

NorthPort exploded to come up with a resounding 121-88 rout of five-time Philippine Cup champion

San Miguel Beer last week despite missing star Stanley Pringle.

Batang Pier coach Pido Jarencio credits his team’s early success to its built maturity and character.

“The team’s character is already there,” said Jarencio.

NorthPort needs that against the win-hungry Hotshots, who had a forgettable debut after losing to Alaska in a bad way, 80103.

Like NorthPort, TNT also kept its consistency by taking down the Beermen in the same fashion, 11097, last Saturday.

Terrence Jones continues to deliver the goods for the Tropang Texters and he now faces the ultimate test in reigning Best Import Justin Brownlee.

Brownlee’s Gin Kings was hammered by Rain or Shine, 81-104, the last time out last Friday.

TNT KaTropa import Terrence Jones (1) takes it strong to the hoop against NorthPort Batang Pier defender Moala Tautuaa in file photo of their past game. PBA Media

Durant sidelined by Achilles injury

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) clutches at his right leg after sustaining an injury during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors in Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 (June 11 Manila time) in Toronto, Canada. AFP

TORONTO, Canada—Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant left Monday’s fifth game of the NBA Finals against Toronto with the dreaded Achilles injury.

Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers announced the extent of the injury in a post-game press conference.

“It’s an Achilles injury,” he said. “We don’t know the extent of it. We’ll have an MRI tomorrow.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Durant, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, had been medically cleared to play after missing nine games with the injury.

Durant sparked Golden State immediately, scoring 11 points in 12 minutes on 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range and having the Warriors look like the team that won the past two NBA crowns.

But for Golden State, the joy was all-too short-lived.

With 2:14 elapsed in the second quarter, Du-

rant planted his right foot making a move with the ball and pulled up, taking a seated position on the court and he grabbed for the calf that had kept him out so long.

Durant was helped up by a trainer and escorted off to the locker room with the aid of teammate Andre Iguodala, his attempt to help the Warriors appearing to be over.

Durant was seen on crutches walking out of the arena late in the third quarter.

The Raptors have taken Golden State to the brink of being dethroned, leading the best-ofseven series 3-1.

Durant was the Warriors leading scorer with 34.2 points a game and also contributed 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists a game for Golden State before being hurt against Houston in the second round.

The Warriors trail the Raptors 2-3 in their best-of-seven championship series after their Game 5 victory. With AFP

2019 Le Tour de Filipinas takes off in Tagaytay THE HOT midyear weather will not be the only challenge facing the 75 riders joining the five stages of the Le Tour de Filipinas 2019 cycling competition.

Monsoon rains will also provide many obstacles when 15 teams take part in this category 2.2 event when it gets going June 14 to 18.

“It will not just be the sun. But the rains also. We are looking forward to a bigger race, five stages.

Mas mahaba ang karera,” said Le Tour de Filipinas chairman Donna Lina.

Lina talked about the Le Tour during yesterday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

The races, which will carry the theme: “10 years of Cycling,” celebrates a decade of racing, and it will now have more stages after the International Cycling Union agreed to have it held for five days.

El Joshua Carino, Le Tour’s third Filipino titleholder, will seek his second straight crown, and will carry the colors of Philippine NavyStandard Insurance.

Three Philippine squads are also entered, with 7-Eleven-CliqqAir21 Roadbike Philippines in the mix with Go For Gold and Bike X Philippines.

The three local squads will seek Olympic qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The race will also enable the riders to find out how ready they are for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Stage 1 will be on June 14 with a short and demanding 129.5-kilometer out-and-back course in Tagaytay City.

It will be followed by a 194.9-kilometer Stage 2 on June 15 from Pagbilao, Quezon to Daet, Camarines Norte.

Stage 3 on June 16 will be 183.7 kilometers from Daet to Legazpi City.

The day after, Stage 4 will cover 176 kilometers from Legazpi City via Sorsogon and Gubat and back to the Albay capital.

Stage Five 5 will also be an outand-back route in Legazpi City.

But this time it will be via Donsol in Sorsogon for a total of 145.8 kilometers—a crucial final leg where the cyclists will have to endure pedaling over rolling hills while facing strong winds. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF SMC to run 1st 20 km of MRT 7 line in 2021

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. plans to open the first 20 kilometers of the P62.7-billion Mass Railway Transit Line 7 by 2021.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company had an agreement with the government to open the first phase of the MRT 7 project SM Fairview to North Avenue Station in Quezon City.

“Construction of MRT 7 is in full swing except for some problems in rightof-way and depot. But we have agreed with Department of Transportation Secretary Tugade to open the first 20 kilometers by 2021,” Ang said.

The second phase from SM Fairview to San Jose Del Monte Bulacan will be operational the following year.

The project was originally scheduled to open in 2020 but was delayed due to ROW problems.

MRT 7,which will run between North Avenue in Quezon City and San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, has three components: a rail transit system with 14 stations, a six-lane highway between North Luzon Expressway and a planned Intermodal Transportation Terminal that can accommodate 200 buses at a time.

Jenniffer B. Austria

DoF: Inflation rate to slow down further

THE Department of Finance still expects a slower inflation rate in the months ahead with the stabilization in food supply and declining oil prices.

In an economic bulletin released Tuesday, the DoF said slower inflation would continue to boost consumption spending.

“On the other hand, the passage of the General Appropriations Act will enable government to resume public construction growth and bring back GDP growth above 6 percent in the quarters ahead,” it said.

The inflation rate in May rose to 3.2 percent from 3 percent a month ago, due to faster increases in the prices of food and beverages. The figure brought the average in the first five months to 3.5 percent, well within the target range of 2 to 4 percent for the year.

The month-on-month inflation dropped slightly to 0.17 percent in May from 0.25 percent in April but year-on-year inflation rose by 0.18 percentage point to 3.19 percent YOY in May due to low base from a year earlier. Julito G. Rada

Business Interest rates will stay for now—MB member T

By Julito G. Rada

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to maintain the benchmark policy rates of 4.5 percent in the next two meetings amid the benign inflation environment, a member of the policy-making Monetary Board said Tuesday.

“(I believe) that there will be no change in policy rates until the next two meetings,” MB member Felipe Medalla said during the Conference on Gearing Up for External Competitiveness held at the central bank.

Medalla said indicators on inflation being constantly monitored by monetary authorities “remained stable.”

The board in May 9 cut the policy rates by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent, the first in more than six years, as inflation

continued its downward trajectory.

The board in the following week cut the reserve requirement ratios of universal and commercial banks by 2 percentage points to 16 percent. It was complemented by a 200-basis points reduction in RRR on May 23 for thrift bank and non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions, as well as 100 bps cut for demand deposits of rural and cooperative banks effective May 31.

Inflation peaked to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and October 2018, on higher prices of rice and other food commodities. But it eased to 6 percent in November and 5.1 percent in December as the immediate measures implemented by the government to curb rising prices took effect, bringing the full-year average to 5.2 percent.

Inflation further eased to 4.4 percent in January, 3.8 percent in February, 3.3 percent in March and 3 percent in April.

Inflation in May rose to 3.2 percent from 3 percent a month ago, on higher prices of food and non alcoholic beverages stoked by El Niño

METROBANK AWARDS.

The Asian Banker Transaction Awards recognizes Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. as the Best Transaction Bank, Best Trade Finance Bank and Best FX Bank in the Philippines. Metrobank officials led by (from left) Metrobank senior vice president Jikee Reyes, president Fabian Dee and first vice president Chippi Orlino display the awards. The Asian Banker also conferred highest honors on Metrobank chairman Arthur Ty with the CEO Leadership Achievement Award for the Philippines, wherein Metrobank was accorded the Best Managed Bank in the Philippines under his leadership.

GCash boosting tourism promotion

WITH the Department of Tourism promoting the Philippines as a premier shopping destination, the country’s leading mobile wallet, GCash, is boosting cashless payments in popular tourist spots and malls nationwide.

GCash, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), is a strong government partner and is committed to the development of cashless shopping tourism, which will benefit the growing number of tourists that prefer doing cashless transactions to bringing wads of cash when traveling.

There are around 60,000 merchants across the Philippines that are onboard the GCash QR system. These include popular malls in Metro Manila, souvenir shop Island Souvenir in Cebu, and microentrepreneurs such as trinket vendors in Boracay.

“As the #1 mobile wallet in the Philippines, we want to be able to cater to that growing demand, while supporting the government in its efforts to promote the Philippines as a destination,” Mynt president Anthony Thomas said.

\\

PLDT may exceed core profit target on robust wireless, data businesses

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. on Tuesday said it may exceed its core profit target this year, boosted by its wireless and data businesses.

“I think 2019 would be better. I think we’ll be better than P26 billion [core profit target],” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan told reporters Tuesday at the sidelines of the stockholders’ meeting.

PLDT’s core net income, excluding Voyager operations, rose 2 percent to P24 billion in 2018.

“The numbers are looking good, fueled mainly by growth of wireless side.

Wireless [segment] surprisingly upside,” he added.

After stabilizing revenues in 2017, the Wireless Consumer Group posted a 7-percent increase to P62.5 billion in 2018, a clear break from several years

phenomenon.

The May figure brought inflation in the first five months to 3.5 percent, well within the target range of 2 to 4 percent for the year.

In the same forum, International Monetary Fund resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said the US Federal Reserve was unlikely to raise interest rates in the near term, which could be mirrored by other countries.

“The outlook now is, there are a lot of uncertainties because there are many downside risks globally... This is a very uncertain world right now,” Yang said.

Yang said the policy decisions of countries in the world should be aimed at preventing further economic slowdown, flexibility of the exchange rate, structural reforms to boost medium-term growth and policy should always be data dependent.

Yang said the lingering trade war between US and China would negatively impact on most countries in the world, adding “when big countries fight, small countries suffer and suffer more.”

of revenue declines.

The Enterprise and Home Groups each raised revenues by 10 percent to P38.4 billion and P36.4 billion, respectively. Broadband and data revenues grew 37 percent to P90.2 billion.

The company’s consolidated service revenues grew 2 percent to P145.8 billion in 2018.

PLDT’s reported a net income of P18.9 billion in 2018, up 41 percent from the previous year as the costs of the company’s network swap was much less than in 2017.

“To establish network superiority, we undertook a record-setting capital expenditures program in 2018 with a total investment of P58.5 billion,” Pangilinan said.

To keep building on its growth momentum, Pangilinan said capex in 2019 would hit a new high of P78.4 billion.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

B1

Investments surged 40% to P290.6b in five months

By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments approved P290.6 billion worth of investment commitments in the first five months of the year, up 40 percent from P207.5 billion year-on-year.

Foreign investment pledges jumped to P67 billion in the five-month period from just P6.9 billion a year ago, while domestic commitments rose to P223.5 billion from P200.5 billion.

Singapore remained the biggest foreign investor to date with P35.4 billion. The Netherlands was second with P9.1 billion, while Thailand placed third with P8.5 billion. Japan with P5.5 billion and the United States’ P2.4 billion completed the five biggest foreign investors during the period.

“With the Philippine economy up 4 notches to 46th in the latest World Competitive Yearbook rankings, the vote of confidence of the administration affirmed in the May mid-term elections with the resounding victory of most of its candidates and allies is seen to sustain investor confidence for the Philippines,” said Trade Secretary and BoI chairman Ramon Lopez.

The recent trade mission to Japan also boosted the investment climate after the Philippine government attracted nearly P300 billion in trade deals, business expansion and letter of intents from Japanese companies.

The deals are expected to create over 80,000 additional jobs in the Philippines.

Power projects comprised the bulk of the investment pledges with P185.4 billion, up 74 percent from P106.5 billion in the same month last year.

Investment commitments in May surged 130 percent with P44.6 billion from P19.4 billion a year ago.

Pledges in the information and communication sector jumped to P33.2 billion from P340 million in 2018 while those in tourism surged 733 percent to P8.4 billion from P1 billion.

“Power projects are essential as it fuels the Build, Build, Build program of the government and the demands of a growing population. There are big power projects that will complement the infrastructure projects in the coming months even as we exercise due diligence for projects that are deserving of incentives,” said Trade Undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo.

Coca-Cola PH unveils P1-b plastics recycling facility COCA-COLA Philippines expects to break ground on a P1-billion plastics recycling facility by the third quarter 2019 and start operating it by 2020.

Company president Winn Everhert said the project, which Coca-Cola is spearheading along with undisclosed partners, would be located at least on a 100-kilometer radius outside Metro Manila. It will have a capacity to recycle 16 metric tons of plastics a day.

“We still need to finalize the localization as well as the scale of participation of our partners, he said Tuesday during the unveiling of the blueprint for the sustainability project.

Coca-Cola’s major partners include a well-known local company and an international firm with expertise in green recycling processes.

The partnership will ensure the vi-

ability of the facility as a self-funding project in the long run, and if possible, make it profitable so the company can advocate similar projects in the Philippines.

“At Coca-Cola, we see our packaging as a valuable resource and not waste. It is therefore unacceptable to us that our packaging ends up in places where they shouldn’t be,” Everhart said.

“With our primary packaging in the Philippines being 100 percent recyclable, we see the potential of capturing its value by creating new and better approaches toward reprocessing and recycling recyclable plastic,” he said.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., the bottling unit of Coca-Cola in the Philippines, noted that the recycling facility, apart from creating job opportunities, would also signifi-

cantly reduce used plastic exportation.

The project will create new PET bottles and give rise to industries that can transform the plastic to useful items, like fabric, shoes, benches and school seats.

“Our aspiration for this facility is to prioritize and close the loop on our packaging specifically here in the country by turning old bottles into new ones, so they do not end up as waste. This facility is testament to our resolve in making our World Without Waste vision a reality across the country. With this, we aim to create opportunities that will fuel a more robust approach to leaving a positive impact not just on our value chain, but also on communities where we operate in,” said CCBP president and CEO Gareth McGeown. Othel V. Campos

April trade deficit down to $3.5b after decline in imports—PSA THE country’s balance of tradein-goods deficit in April declined to $3.50 billion from a $3.70-billion gap a year ago, as imports fell 1.9 percent, the first time in four months, while exports increased 0.4 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

The country’s total external trade in goods in April amounted to $14.51 billion, reflecting a decrease of 1 percent from $14.66 billion in the same month of the previous year.

Of the total external trade, $5.51 billion or 37.9 percent were exported goods and $9.01 billion or 62.1 percent were imported goods.

The numbers put the trade gap in the first four months to $13.363 billion, still

higher than $11.802 billion posted in the same period in 2019.

“Going forward, prospects for a still substantial trade gap remain although given the outlook for both exports and imports, we do expect the deficits to be less pronounced than in 2018,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said in a comment.

“Exports will likely struggle given the expectations for weak demand for electronics while imports will likely no longer exhibit back-to-back double-digit growth prints we’ve been accustomed to as capital good importation normalizes,” he said.

Total export sales in April stood at $5.51 billion, indicating a slight increase of 0.4 percent from the $5.48 bil-

lion on year to the higher export sales of the seven of the top 10 major export commodities.

These were fresh bananas (76.7 percent); gold (36.1 percent); machinery and transport equipment (28.5 percent); coconut oil (18.1 percent); ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (14.5 percent); other manufactured goods (4.0 percent) and electronic products (3.0 percent).

By commodity group, electronic products remain the country’s top export with total earnings of $3.12 billion.

The amount, which accounted for 56.7 percent of the total exports’ revenue in April, rose 3 percent from $3.03 billion a year ago. Julito G. Rada

FUTURE-READY PORT. International Container Terminal Services Inc. has initiated a major expansion scheme at the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, its subsidiary at Croatia’s Port of Rijeka. AGCT will start dredging works to accommodate deeper draft and longer vessels, expected to be fully completed by mid-2020. AGCT, in close cooperation with the Rijeka Port Authority, has drawn up plans for a two-phase dredging scheme with the first phase fully-approved, entailing the dredging of 130 meters of quay over its Berths 1 and 2. This will facilitate the berthing of vessels with a length overall of up to 400 meters. The work will be completed by mid-2020, and will provide 438 meters of berth with a depth alongside of 15 meters.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks fall; ICTSI, Jollibee gain

T

HE stock market fell slightly Tuesday on profittaking to end a three-day rally that pushed the benchmark index past 8,000 points Monday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index stayed above the psychological level despite slipping 14.41 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 8,030.98 on a value turnover of P7.8 billion. Gainers beat losers, 107 to 95, with 40 issues unchanged.

Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of offices spaces, declined 2.1 percent to P6 while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group lost 1.6 percent to P955.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator, climbed 2.9 percent to P144, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, rose 1.8 percent to P285.

The rest of Asian markets extended the previous day’s gains in Asia on Tuesday, with investors turning their attention back to the China-US trade row and a planned meeting between the countries’ leaders later this month.

Shanghai led the gains, rallying 2.6 percent after a 0.9 percent rise Monday, while Hong Kong rose 0.8 percent, building on Monday’s more than two percent jump.

Tokyo ended 0.3 percent higher, Sydney climbed 1.6 percent and Singapore put on 0.7 percent while Seoul added 0.6 percent. Wellington was up more than one percent, with Taipei strengthening 0.4 percent.

Donald Trump’s decision to drop threatened tariffs on Mexico after a last-minute immigration deal last week sparked relief across trading floors and led to hope that the row with Beijing

could also end with some sort of agreement.

The gains, which follow another healthy Wall Street performance, are much needed since the US president shocked markets last month by hiking levies on $200 billion of Chinese imports, blaming backsliding over their long-running trade talks.

Support is also coming from expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates as soon as next month in response to a string of soft US economic data and concerns about the impact of the China stand-off.

“What continues to grease the wheels of US equity markets and the one constant that keeps the S&P (500) ticking is Federal Reserve free and cheap money, it’s long been an established pattern,” said Stephen Innes at Vanguard Markets.

But OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya warned that while lower US central bank rates were a major boost, traders were ultimately keen to see the world’s top two economies resolve their trade war.

“The recent global stock market rally has stemmed from expectations that the Fed will come to the rescue with a couple of rate cuts this year,” he said in a note. “But that will not likely deliver fresh record highs with the US indexes unless we see a scaling back of tariffs between the US and China.”

Focus is now on the expected faceto-face between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 in Osaka at the end of June.

The US president told CNBC on Monday that a meeting had been planned but warned that if Xi did not turn up he would ramp up levies on all Chinese

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

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

59 82 2.3 139.5 1.2 26.9 18.74 11.5 4.5 1.38 0.52 71.55 0.99 13.8 21.5 56.5 184.9 110 57.75 28.1 172.4 1,820 59.9

59.25 82.35 2.3 140.2 1.22 26.9 18.74 11.62 4.62 1.38 0.53 72.45 1 13.8 21.5 56.5 184.9 112 57.75 28.8 173 1,820 60.05

55.35 80.7 2.3 139.5 1.2 26.75 18.74 11.48 4.37 1.38 0.5 71.5 0.97 13.7 21.3 55.1 183 110 57.05 28 170.7 1,820 59

59 80.7 2.3 139.9 1.2 26.85 18.74 11.48 4.59 1.38 0.52 71.5 0.98 13.7 21.3 55.3 184.8 112 57.15 28 170.9 1,820 59.35

21,280 1,164,940 4,000 3,402,870 57,000 77,000 1,500 244,000 54,000 4,000 67,000 3,650,690 222,000 6,500 200 287,330 1,600 70 1,190 167,300 867,190 10 15,280

1,256,539 94,888,560 9,200 476,226,909 68,540 2,066,020 28,110 2,810,052 243,850 5,520 34,690 262,008,063 217,540 89,200 4,280 15,945,344.50 294,789 7,780 68,405.50 4,713,940 148,873,852 18,200 912,342.50

879,991 4,732,309 202,819,984 -286,980 -448,990 -29,596,060 -124,177 -73,246 -1,183 -1,280,910 572,785 -555,059.50

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

35.75 14.6 0.73 1.38 0.275 2.39 14.68 24.1 14.92 44.75 65.5 1.97 5.7 10.3 15.9 10.62 7.6 24.1 78 46.55 2.51 14.06 10.28 1.68 281 3.41 9.4 23.5 12.52 19.28 385.2 0.186 1.24 4.52 6.11 9.05 2.63 12.22 41.15 4.86 5 1.48 1.91 1.18 14.26 106 6.63 0.126 1.34 173 2.5 1.34 1.35

36 14.6 0.79 1.4 0.29 2.53 14.9 24.6 14.92 44.75 65.6 2.02 5.7 10.38 16.04 10.9 7.6 24.5 78 49 2.53 14.12 10.3 1.68 286.4 3.5 9.69 23.7 12.86 19.28 389.8 0.187 1.31 4.53 6.2 9.05 2.78 12.22 41.75 4.94 5 1.48 1.91 1.19 14.36 106.5 6.65 0.126 1.35 175.5 2.6 1.35 1.38

35.3 14.36 0.73 1.38 0.265 2.39 14.6 24.05 14.9 44.75 65.5 1.95 5.6 10.26 15.9 10.6 7.55 24 76.9 46.55 2.39 13.96 10.12 1.65 281 3.4 9.35 23.45 12.5 18.9 384.4 0.186 1.22 4.5 6.1 9.04 2.63 12 41 4.86 4.9 1.46 1.9 1.16 14.02 105.5 6.25 0.126 1.29 171.1 2.5 1.3 1.32

35.35 14.5 0.78 1.38 0.28 2.52 14.82 24.5 14.9 44.75 65.5 2.02 5.69 10.32 16 10.78 7.6 24.45 77.1 48.5 2.5 14.12 10.14 1.66 285 3.5 9.69 23.5 12.78 19 387.6 0.187 1.28 4.52 6.18 9.04 2.77 12.22 41.3 4.94 5 1.46 1.91 1.16 14.02 106.5 6.63 0.126 1.32 175 2.55 1.31 1.33

1,366,300 564,300 4,760,000 732,000 13,750,000 13,837,000 612,500 257,700 700 200 490 15,000 4,100 4,209,000 360,100 595,500 539,200 5,005,700 58,690 629,500 9,936,000 515,200 211,300 108,000 536,820 25,000 25,900 4,256,000 1,755,500 1,401,700 328,710 140,000 16,391,000 58,000 1,521,800 6,000 37,781,000 35,700 148,200 19,000 155,000 226,000 190,000 291,000 9,015,200 295,510 330,200 300,000 1,484,000 1,732,290 305,000 2,907,000 5,822,000

48,529,655 8,178,680 3,668,160 1,022,160 3,823,650 34,369,200 9,079,910 6,271,005 10,440 8,950 32,113 29,990 23,218 43,280,608 5,757,700 6,415,302 4,091,731 121,320,050 4,546,742.50 30,268,045 24,509,420 7,240,738 2,146,598 179,840 152,982,540 85,200 246,380 100,080,790 22,372,364(5, 26,644,804 127,434,580 26,060 20,828,430 262,130 9,348,812 54,241 102,913,100 435,174 6,098,520 93,570 759,750 331,020 361,400 341,620 128,220,396 31,260,620 2,120,592 37,800 1,938,850 301,488,740 776,140 3,846,330 7,843,080

14,176,350 -253,936 -62,600 13,450 4,412,460 -1,059,172 -27,354,626 226,400 -814,790 14,701,090 -4,296,200.50 6,836,090 152,850.00 2,952,440 -1,055,822 44,624,014 4,705 80,809,375 535,873.9995) -21,788,236 -24,826,780 -5,356,290 -646,576 -366,970 -3,034,825 74,060 -735,000 -88,792,228 -372,678 74,059,407 -25,500 526,080 -

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

0.67 55.7 15.96 0.76 6.7 13.98 1.22 927 3.44 6.77 10.44 13.9 4.15 892 63.4 6.2 5 0.51 4.65 15.58 0.58 4.56 0.038 1.05 182 970 0.95 1.38 434 267 0.23 0.31

0.7 56.5 16.08 0.77 6.7 13.98 1.25 928.5 3.55 6.9 10.56 14 4.15 899 64.7 6.23 5 0.51 4.69 15.64 0.64 4.69 0.039 1.07 183 980.5 0.95 1.38 434 270 0.234 0.315

0.66 54.8 15.7 0.75 6.7 13.1 1.22 917.5 3.42 6.68 10.24 13.88 4.15 883 62.9 6.2 5 0.5 4.62 15.5 0.58 4.56 0.038 1.05 181 955 0.92 1.34 434 265 0.229 0.305

0.68 55.45 15.8 0.75 6.7 13.2 1.23 917.5 3.49 6.86 10.24 14 4.15 885 64 6.23 5 0.5 4.67 15.54 0.61 4.64 0.039 1.07 182.2 955 0.92 1.38 434 270 0.232 0.305

22,823,000 728,710 4,182,200 121,000 40,000 212,400 741,000 165,650 8,384,000 2,410,700 3,019,000 372,900 3,000 42,590 2,251,090 1,000 4,000 20,000 1,352,000 2,774,100 3,094,000 26,605,000 4,100,000 30,000 601,310 270,260 295,000 18,000 150 10,280 1,380,000 3,220,000

15,494,490 40,456,601.50 66,520,654 91,390 268,000 2,854,964 914,540 152,443,960 29,090,060 16,502,612 31,433,158 5,201,058 12,450 37,967,565 144,393,565.50 6,227 20,000 10,100 6,289,710 43,110,166 1,924,950 123,435,450 157,000 31,780 109,369,795 261,673,905 273,100 24,200 65,100 2,754,484 317,550 995,150

491,320 1,137,279.50 -2,380,244 246,560 16 -258,045 -244,470 3,827,608 -13,068,814 -405,900 13,242,485 -28,526,070 -1,348,470 -22,792,220 -62,000 36,145,100 7,600 -3,349,673 21,981,510 -2,760 1,799,070 -28,000

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

15.8 0.79 10.9 2.06 0.77 50.65 2.28 4.79 6.3 0.59 0.88 0.99 0.231 0.37 9.99 26.2 0.47 1.81 1.43 6.08 0.33 0.465 1.91 0.405 2.1 26.95 2.13

15.8 0.8 10.9 2.06 0.79 51.35 2.31 4.89 6.35 0.6 0.9 0.99 0.231 0.37 10.08 26.95 0.475 1.82 1.46 6.16 0.33 0.47 1.97 0.415 2.13 27.2 2.16

15.52 0.78 10.9 2.06 0.77 50.45 2.27 4.75 6.3 0.58 0.85 0.97 0.231 0.37 9.99 26.2 0.47 1.78 1.43 6 0.32 0.46 1.9 0.405 2 26.7 2.13

15.78 0.8 10.9 2.06 0.78 51 2.28 4.79 6.35 0.59 0.9 0.97 0.231 0.37 10.06 26.5 0.47 1.78 1.43 6 0.325 0.47 1.94 0.415 2 27 2.14

437,900 236,000 1,000 59,000 598,000 9,236,680 439,000 816,000 600 16,600,000 340,000 223,000 10,000 220,000 103,000 1,445,800 1,400,000 17,816,000 3,107,000 25,248,100 9,160,000 300,000 3,514,000 90,000 3,042,000 3,923,900 191,000

6,826,564 186,640 10,900 121,540 466,340 470,656,615.50 1,001,890 3,909,830 ( 3,790 9,784,770 297,400 219,820 2,310 81,400 1,032,679 38,381,100 658,150 32,009,650 4,477,180 153,551,506 2,975,600 138,250 6,827,070 37,250 6,201,080 105,961,495 410,630

15,660 3,900 72,967,606 -79,760 762,319.9999) -630 801,830 -8,100 22,945 18,603,120 -559,450 -15,025,780 567,980 19,589,365 -3,250 101,990 39,212,745 -34,540

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

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

2.99 39.55 1.95 6.34 0.75 7.11

2.99 40.3 1.98 6.44 0.75 7.15

2.99 39.25 1.91 6.3 0.74 7.04

2.99 39.25 1.96 6.4 0.75 7.15

62,000 5,982,000 1,194,000 78,300 90,000 3,178,700

185,380 238,235,125 9 2,311,720 495,574 67,420 22,618,932

26,910 ,586,669.9997 25,380 -9,646,403

SERVICES 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 ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

11.28 18.52 1.36 0.43 0.044 20.55 2.9 11.86 0.057 88.3 7.25 6.6 5.9 2.16 10.7 2,230 5.29 407 2.26 1.79 140 10.12 0.121 6.35 2.91 14.02 4.3 0.84 19.92 0.54 3.63 2.6 1.51 1.53 14.5 2.52 3.19 9.5 3.05 4.82 125.8 3.56 1,232 0.78 0.84 45.5 75.8 9.19 3.51 0.71 0.38 5.18 0.71 17.1

11.32 18.52 1.38 0.43 0.045 21.3 2.96 11.98 0.058 89.1 7.29 6.85 6.27 2.16 10.8 2,244 5.38 415 2.32 1.87 146.3 10.14 0.121 6.66 3.16 15 4.38 0.89 19.92 0.55 3.63 2.61 1.53 1.65 14.5 2.6 3.2 9.5 3.05 5.1 130 3.64 1,262 0.81 0.85 46.25 76 9.3 3.56 0.72 0.385 5.3 0.73 17.12

11.28 18.46 1.36 0.43 0.044 20.55 2.8 11.86 0.056 87.95 7.19 6.6 5.68 2.16 10.38 2,200 5.29 403 2.22 1.76 139.9 10.1 0.121 6.33 2.9 14.02 4.2 0.84 19.68 0.54 3.6 2.57 1.5 1.52 14.5 2.52 3.18 9.35 2.93 4.82 125 3.56 1,229 0.78 0.81 45 74.4 9.19 3.4 0.7 0.37 5.17 0.69 17

11.32 18.46 1.38 0.43 0.045 21.3 2.89 11.88 0.056 89.1 7.19 6.82 5.8 2.16 10.5 2,200 5.37 403 2.22 1.87 144 10.14 0.121 6.63 2.99 15 4.32 0.89 19.76 0.55 3.6 2.58 1.5 1.65 14.5 2.54 3.18 9.5 2.94 5.1 130 3.58 1,230 0.8 0.82 45 75.5 9.19 3.44 0.72 0.375 5.18 0.73 17.02

16,400 59,100 70,000 510,000 2,400,000 2,700 855,000 1,313,200 41,100,000 129,670 4,000 1,987,900 436,300 5,000 57,700 47,025 67,200 790 3,310,000 193,000 3,225,260 9,200 490,000 17,263,300 103,000 500 1,026,000 98,000 495,600 353,000 45,000 2,394,000 79,000 26,000 100 2,796,000 67,000 14,600 24,000 72,000 3,240 3,236,000 158,995 3,785,000 27,129,000 848,200 182,300 26,900 13,261,000 891,000 5,030,000 2,441,400 2,379,000 2,993,300

185,474 1,091,926 95,700 219,300 105,700 57,255 2,435,550 15,613,250 2,324,770 11,494,236.50 28,948 13,481,590 2,529,344 10,800 606,222 104,686,840 359,658 321,840 7,487,970 343,200 460,254,532 93,004 59,290 112,973,767 316,540 7,300 4,399,910 82,750 9,798,330 193,660 162,570 6,174,430 119,110 41,040 1,450 7,182,290 213,330 137,786 71,000 357,720 408,796 11,658,290 196,635,050 3,029,050 22,330,610 38,551,105 13,781,163 247,543 45,902,170 633,270 1,890,900 12,704,850 1,699,030 50,991,096

11,318 -42,600 -2,820 -7,675,936 56,000 4,736,428 1,148,907 -1,159,000 -5,190 -18,290,750 102,600.00 100,890,445 5,345,625 1,500 395,660 -1,814,646 259,230 179,840 3,200 950 -41,600 399,948 -657,750 -41,949,275 735,230 -741,700 -6,152,500 -5,616,098.50 10,878,830 98,690 -6,441,900 899,894

MINING & OIL ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK 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 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0019 1.16 2.8 12.38 1.11 2.84 0.295 7.64 1.47 0.235 0.111 0.129 0.0075 1.02 2.28 1 0.54 0.89 0.011 0.011 0.011 4 3.27 7.75 21.85 0.0066

0.0019 1.17 2.8 12.38 1.11 2.85 0.295 7.7 1.5 0.235 0.111 0.129 0.0075 1.03 2.28 1.01 0.57 0.89 0.012 0.011 0.011 4.02 3.27 7.8 21.85 0.0066

0.0018 1.14 2.8 12.34 1.11 2.82 0.285 7.63 1.45 0.228 0.111 0.117 0.0075 1.02 2.24 1 0.54 0.88 0.011 0.011 0.01 3.9 3.23 7.39 21.55 0.0065

0.0019 1.17 2.8 12.34 1.11 2.82 0.285 7.65 1.5 0.233 0.111 0.117 0.0075 1.03 2.24 1.01 0.55 0.88 0.011 0.011 0.011 4.02 3.23 7.4 21.8 0.0065

91,000,000 1,130,000 10,000 200 13,000 449,000 430,000 1,100 3,298,000 320,000 140,000 60,000 5,000,000 30,000 1,006,000 9,000 111,000 36,000 1,200,000 1,700,000 5,200,000 406,000 613,000 4,944,700 582,500 2,000,000

172,800 1,309,620 28,000 2,472 14,430 1,271,580 122,850 8,413 4,848,440 73,310 15,540 7,380 37,500 30,730 2,264,310 9,010 60,250 31,790 13,700 18,700 55,200 1,622,160 1,983,720 37,368,044 12,682,145 13,100

-536,270 -14,430 -311,400 2,087,460 -3,510 -288,620 2,160 -16,500 -52,000 -61,400 -1,055,087 10,905 -

PREFERRED ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2I

18.4 495 99 98 106.5 490 5.24 918 96.9 1.01 75.45 77.55 72.2 73.7

18.4 495 99 98.5 106.5 490 5.24 920 96.95 1.01 75.45 77.55 73.35 73.7

17.96 495 99 98 106.5 490 5.24 917 96.9 1.01 75.4 77.55 72.1 73.7

17.96 495 99 98.5 106.5 490 5.24 920 96.95 1.01 75.45 77.55 72.1 73.7

23,800 50 2,000 1,410 140 70 100 70 1,350 51,000 18,660 1,410 37,280 350

428,416 24,750 198,000 138,185 14,910 34,300 524 64,230 130,823 51,510 1,407,896 109,345.50 2,699,495 25,795

-422,936 -

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

2.07

2.07

1.96

2.05

118,000

233,700

-

SME ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.08 1.02

5.17 1.09

5.02 1.02

5.05 1.09

286,500 11,664,000

1,453,910 12,444,770

124,750

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 120.3

120.5

120

120

11,400

1,371,892

84,350

DDS USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.2 10.2 0.99

10.2 10.2 0.99

10.2 10.2 0.99

32,040 10,000 800

326,808 102,000 792

-

MS 10.2 10.2 0.99

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

11,529,251

INDUSTRIAL

150,098,074

HOLDING FIRMS

101,546,615

PROPERTY

111,393,820

SERVICES

143,819,442

MINING & OIL

120,421,002

GRAND TOTAL

650,770,427

VALUE 1,731.95 (down) 4.53 1,157,245,248.28 FINANCIAL 11,778.29 (up) 109.29 INDUSTRIAL 2,706,813,143.39 7,641.23 (down) 55.42 HOLDING FIRMS 1,470,207,146.57 PROPERTY 4,372.53 (down) 11.86 1,687.42 (up) 12.09 SERVICES 1,197,801,119.35 7,249.69 (down) 60.49 MINING & OIL 1,167,408,205.90 8,030.98 (down) 14.41 PSEI 64,107,840.851 All Shares Index 4,907.68 (down) 4.63 Gainers: 107; Losers: 95; Unchanged: 40; Total: 242 7,778,855,887.04

D&L expects better results in 2nd quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria FOOD and plastic input producer D&L Industries Inc. said it expects better second-quarter financial results than in the first three months of the year as the lower inflation rate could boost consumer spending.

Net income rose just one percent in the first quarter of 2019 to P748 million year-on-year.

D&L president and chief executive Alvin Lao said in an interview after the stockholders’ meeting Tuesday prices of commodities remained low while fuel prices were also on a decline. The positive trends should put more money in the pockets of consumers.

Lao noted noted consumer spending was being boosted by the influx of foreigners while borrowing costs were expected to go down as the government’s move to reduce the banks’ reserve requirements was injecting more liquidity into the market.

“While there is more liquidity, the cash requirements of corporations remain the same so banks will have to be more competitive by lowering their rates to be able to lend more,” said Lao. Lao, however, noted that the second quarter had less working days this year because Holy Week fell on April.

The recent elections also had a lesser impact on consumer spending this year because of the delayed approval of the 2019budget. “We didn’t see any impact because there was no budget (approval),” Lao said.

D&L declared cash dividends amounting to P2.04 billion, up 10 percent from last year’s P1.86 billion. The dividend is equivalent to 64 percent of last year’s recurring income.

The dividends consist of a regular cash dividend of P0.223 per share plus a special cash dividend of P0.063 per share to shareholders of record as of June 26. Ex-date is effective June 21 and payment is set on July 22, 2019.

In total, shareholders will receive dividends of P0.286 per share, or a yield of 2.8 percent based on June 7’s closing price of P10.20.

D&L reported recurring net income of P3.2 billion in 2018, up 10 percent on year, on the back of higher sales volume and gross profit margin expansion. The company’s return on equity and return on invested capital were at 19 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

Ayala Healthcare expands, invests in US-based firm AYALA Healthcare Holdings Inc., a unit of the Ayala Corp., expanded its digital portfolio with the recent investment in US-based healthcare technology firm Fibronostics.

AC Health, though technology arm Vigos, signed a partnership agreement with SPRIM Ventures, the bioscience R&D firm spun off by Fibronostics.

AC Health, however, did not disclose additional details on the transaction, including how much stake it acquired in Fibronostics and the value of the transaction.

“This investment fits well into our Vigos health technology portfolio, which we are proud to say is the first digital health portfolio in the Philippines. We are always on the lookout for technology solutions that empower our doctors and improve quality for our patients,” said AC Health president and chief executive Paolo Borromeo.

Founded in 2015, Fibronostics focuses on non-invasive algorithm-based solutions for diagnostic testing. It aims to improve screening, follow-up and diagnosis through non-invasive products. Key focus areas include prevalent chronic conditions such as liver disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea.

AC Health said it would launch two Fibronostics products, LiverFAST and HealthFACTR in its FamilyDOC clinics as part of the partnership.

LiverFAST is a proprietary algorithm that analyzes 10 biomarkers from a blood sample to help screen and monitor common liver diseases. The test is intended to be a simple and less expensive option to other diagnostics, such as liver biopsy or liver imaging.

HealthFACTR, meanwhile, is as a 10-minute metabolic health check-up solution that provides immediate risk assessment and personalized recommendations, based on the latest medical guidelines. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business/World

B3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Nearly 100 killed, 19 missing in Mali village after an attack

DRILL. Indian Cadets of Assam Rifles perform a drill on board

the ICG (Indian Coast Guard) ship ‘Shaunak’ during an affiliation program between ICGS ‘Shaurya’ and 3rd (Naga Hills) battalion of the Assam Rifles in Chennnai on June 11, 2019. AFP

BAMAKO, Mali―Nearly 100 people were killed in a gruesome overnight attack on a village in central Mali, in the latest violence to strike the fragile region, authorities said Monday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the massacre, targeting a village inhabited by the Dogon community, bore the hallmarks of tit-for-tat ethnic attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives.

It came less than three months after nearly 160 members of the Fulani ethnic group were slaughtered by a group identified as Dogon.

“This country cannot be led by a cycle of revenge, and vendetta,” Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita told ORTM public television from Switzerland, where he said he was cutting short an official visit.

He called on Malians to come together to “allow our nation to survive, because this is a question of survival.”

Local officials in Koundou district, where the Sobane-Kou village was attacked, told AFP 95 people were killed, their bodies burned and others were still

HK businesses pledge to shut down

H

ONG KONG― Scores of Hong Kong businesses have vowed to shut down for a day as anger builds over the government’s push to allow extraditions to China, with opponents on Tuesday announcing plans for fresh protests and strikes.

The financial hub was rocked by a huge rally over the weekend―the largest since the city’s 1997 return to China―as vast crowds called on the city’s leaders to scrap the Beijing-backed plan.

Many are fearful the proposed law

Study: Amazon beats Google as world’s top brand LONDON―US retail giant Amazon has moved past hi-tech titans Apple and Google to become the world’s most valuable brand, a key survey showed Tuesday.

The brand value of Amazon surged by 52 percent to $315 billion, global market research agency Kantar said in its 2019 100 Top BrandZ report.

Amazon jumped from third to first place to eclipse Google―which slid from first to third place with Apple holding on to the second spot.

The Seattle-based retail behemoth, founded by Jeff Bezos in his garage in 1994, topped the table thanks to key acquisitions, superior customer services and a disruptive business model, Kantar said in a statement.

“Amazon’s smart acquisitions, that have led to new revenue streams, excellent customer service provision and its ability to stay ahead of its competitors by offering a diverse ecosystem of products and services, have allowed Amazon to continuously accelerate its brand value growth,” said Kantar.

The agency, which is owned by British advertising group WPP, added that Amazon showed “little sign” of any slowdown in its growth.

The top ten companies were once again dominated by US firms, with Apple on $309.5 billion, Google on $309 billion and Microsoft on $251 billion.

Payments specialist Visa had the fifth biggest value at almost $178 billion, while social networking group Facebook was the sixth largest at nearly $159 billion.

For the first time, Alibaba beat Tencent to become the most valuable Chinese brand.

E-commerce leader Alibaba was the seventh biggest at $131.2 billion, up two places on the previous year.

Internet giant Tencent fell three spots to stand at number eight with a value of $130.9 billion.

In a sign of Asia’s growing importance, 23 of the top 100 brands were Asian―including 15 from China.

The leading brands have embraced “disruptive” business models to beat traditional rivals in the technology, finance and retail sectors.

“Amazon’s phenomenal brand value growth of almost $108 billion in the last year demonstrates how brands are now less anchored to individual categories and regions,” said Doreen Wang, Kantar’s global head of BrandZ. AFP

will tangle people up in the mainland’s opaque courts and hammer Hong Kong’s reputation as an international business hub.

Organizers said more than a million hit the streets on Sunday but the record crowds have failed to sway chief executive Carrie Lam who has rejected the calls to withdraw or delay the bill and warned opponents against committing “radical acts”.

On Wednesday the proposal will have its second and third readings in the city’s parliament, which is dominated by Beijing loyalists, making its passing all but assured.

Protest groups have vowed to stage a fresh rally outside parliament that morning―although it was not yet clear whether police would allow a demonstration to take place. Organizers have billed the gathering as a “picnic” in a

park next to the building.

A separate online petition calling on protesters to gather Tuesday evening and camp overnight outside parliament may prove more controversial―in the early hours of Monday, police fought running battles with small groups of hard-line protesters who had made similar plans to spend the night.

Ahead of Wednesday’s debate, business owners took to social media using a hashtag that translates as “#612strike”― the date of the proposed action―to announce solidarity closures.

A large chunk are mom-and-pop style stores and small businesses that are a key part of the city’s economy, but which often eschew the city’s raucous street politics.

By Tuesday morning, more than 100 businesses had declared plans to strike, ranging from coffee shops and restau-

rants to camera stores, toy shops, nail salons, yoga studios and even an adult entertainment store.

“Hong Kong was built by our various generations with hard work,” wrote Meet Yoga studio on its Instagram account. “A Hong Kong without freedom―how about we just wipe it off the map entirely and call it China?”

Lawyer Michael Vidler said he would allow his 12 employees to “act in accordance with their conscience” and go on strike.

More than 1,600 airline employees signed a petition calling on their union to strike while a bus driver union said it would encourage members to drive deliberately slowly on Wednesday to support protests.

Some teacher, nursing and social worker groups have said they planned to strike. AFP

PROTECTION NEEDED. Marine

biology doctoral student Guilhem Banc-Prandi inspects corals growing on tables in the Red Sea as a part of a research for the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences near the southern Israeli city Eilat on May 20, 2019. The proximity of the Gulf of Eilat’s reefs to the shore increases the threats they face, with ‘toxins and pollution’ from human activity and industry entering the bay on a daily basis, according to French marine biologist Guilhem Banc-Prandi. AFP

missing.

The government, giving a provisional toll, said 95 people had been killed, 19 were missing, numerous farm animals had been slaughtered and homes had been torched.

“Armed men, suspected to be terrorists, launched a murderous attack on this peaceful village,” it said in a statement.

A Malian security source at the site of the massacre said “a Dogon village has been virtually wiped out.”

A survivor who gave his name as Amadou Togo said “about 50 heavily armed men arrived on motorbikes and pickups.”

“They first surrounded the village and then attacked―anyone who tried to escape was killed.

“Some people had their throats cut or were disemboweled, grain stores and cattle were torched. No-one was spared―women, children, elderly people.”

Togo added: “We have counted 95 dead and 38 wounded, with about 20 listed as missing.” AFP

N. Zealand stops China extradition over torture fears WELLINGTON―A New Zealand court stopped a murder suspect being extradited to China Tuesday, saying it could not send a suspect to a country where torture was “widespread” and “systemic”.

The Court of Appeal quashed a ministerial decision to extradite Kyung Kim to China, saying to do so when there was a risk he would be tortured breached New Zealand’s international obligations.

The 99-page judgment, which included a damning assessment of Beijing’s justice system, comes amid the huge protests by Hong Kong residents against a proposed law allowing extraditions to mainland China.

Kim’s lawyer Tony Ellis said the decision was a precedent-setting human rights victory.

“It is a judgment that has profound human rights importance which will resonate throughout the Common Law world, it is not just important in New Zealand,” he said in a statement.

Kim, a Korean national who has lived in New Zealand for 30 years, is accused of murdering 20-year-old Chinese woman Pei Yun Chen while he was visiting Shanghai in 2009.

Kim was arrested in New Zealand in 2011 and Beijing asked for his extradition after giving assurances that he would not face the death penalty if convicted.

After a lengthy legal process that included two ministerial reviews, New Zealand in 2015 decided to extradite him—the first time it had agreed to a suspect being sent to face trial in a Chinese court.

But Tuesday’s 99-page court ruling halted that process and ordered a third ministerial review, while raising questions about the Chinese legal system. AFP

Well-Being THE early season for electives begins this week at the Asian Institute of Management. For me and the students who are enrolled in my subject, this means spending the next month discussing happiness, what is it, how to achieve it.

Personal happiness Research on positive psychology has yielded many interesting and useful findings concerning happiness. For managers, one of the more interesting of these findings is that happier people are more likely to perform better at work. This in turn results in increased job satisfaction and increased happiness. This creates a reinforcing loop between job satisfaction and job performance.

However, it is not this simple. Evidence also shows that there is significant spillover between life satisfaction and job satisfaction. This means that unhappiness in one’s personal life can taint one’s happiness on the job. The implication is that managers need to find a way to ensure employees are happy, not just on the job, but also off the job.

While this seems a daunting task, thankfully, evidence also shows that managing goal setting behavior and goal constructs is a powerful tool for creating general happiness. In simple terms, individuals who choose goals that are important to them, as opposed to those that are imposed on them, are more likely to achieve these goals. This sets the stage for a virtuous cycle of satisfaction and performance.

Now, to develop a prescription for happiness, we need to define happiness. At the individual level, happiness is best explained as the presence of positive affect, moments of joy, laughter, and enjoyment; and the absence of negative affect, moments of sadness, worry, or anger. Hence, one part of happiness is emotional. Happiness is associated with pleasure.

However, research also shows that happiness is more than just pleasure. Individuals derive satisfaction not only from enjoyment. In fact, as individuals mature and get older, satisfaction becomes more about feelings of accomplishment or relevance. This means that happiness is also related to meaning.

Finally, one of the more persistent conclusions from many studies is that individuals who are more engaged in something are far more likely to be happy that those who are idle.

Hence, the simplest prescription for happiness is to be able to shape life in a manner that enables engagement with activities that bring both pleasure and meaning.

For many of our students, the focus will be on setting the stage for creating happiness not just for themselves but also for employees they will work with.

However, for those that intend to pursue a career in government or in the non-profit sector, the job can be even more daunting, it is about setting the stage for national well-being.

Societal happiness In March of 2019, the United Nations released the 2019 World Happiness Re-

port (WHR). The very first WHR was released in 2012 and used data from the Gallup World Polls from 2005 to 2011.

This year’s report looks at how world happiness metrics have evolved in the last fourteen years.

The Philippine happiness index has increased steadily from 4.985 in 2013 to to 5.631 in 2019, with global ranking increasing from 92nd to 69th (of 156 countries) Finland, which ranked first in the world, has a happiness index of 7.769 while South Sudan, which placed last, has a happiness index of 2.853.

By contrast, population-weighted global happiness has tracked downwards from 2006 to 2018 although non-population– weighted happiness has increased. This indicates that, while many countries have experienced increased happiness, decline in happiness in countries with larger populations have offset these gains.

The world happiness report looks at three measures of happiness: (a) life evaluation, reflecting respondent measurements of their current lives between a worst possible scenario (1) and a best possible scenario (10); (b) presence of positive affect, and (c) absence of negative affect.

The 2018 report sought to explain country happiness using six factors: GDP per capita; healthy life expectancy; available social support; degree of freedom to make decisions about one’s life; generosity in society; and absence of corruption.

The 2019 report reviews the relationship between happiness and voting and once again concludes that national hap-

piness is a better predictor of government vote share (at least in Europe) than GDP growth rate.

The 2019 report delves deeper into generosity, what the authors call prosocial behavior, and conclude that there are likely causal mechanisms that support s virtuous cycle between prosocial behavior and national happiness. In other words, generosity increases satisfaction and happier people are more likely to be generous, creating an upward spiral.

The 2019 report also reviews the conundrum of improving economic indicators in the US and declining happiness.

The report concludes that increased use of social media is highly correlated with declining happiness and points to potential causal mechanisms. The report also points to the increased use of big data tending to be used most successfully by large, organized entities, potentially leading to a sense of loss of control over one’s own information. Furthermore, the report points out that increased use of gadgets results in decreased social contact, potentially damaging an important factor for happiness, social support.

For those of us studying happiness, or simply wanting to be happy, there are a few easy lessons from the 2019 report.

Reach out and engage in prosocial work.

Spend less time with gadgets and more time with people. Happiness is still about connections and engagement.

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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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

NegOcc to gain P16.6b in IRA shares for 2020 BACOLOD CITY—The province of Negros Occidental and its 31 component cities and municipalities will get a total of P16.639 billion in Internal Revenue Allotment shares for the fiscal year 2020.

This is based on the 12.75 percent increase that will take effect next year, the provincial government said in a statement.

Based on the comparative figures provided by the provincial government on Wednesday, Negros Occidental will receive almost P3.726 billion in 2020, with an increase of P421.447 million, from this year’s P3.304 billion.

All the 12 component cities will obtain a total of P9.556 billion in IRA shares next year while all the 19 municipalities will have a total of P3.357 billion.

Including the provincial government’s almost P3.726 billion, Negros Occidental will receive a total of P16.639 billion in IRA shares from the national government next year. It means an increase of P1.882 billion from the current year’s P14.757 billion.

Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado said a higher IRA share for the province means more programs and projects that will benefit the Negrenses.

Each of the 12 component cities will get the following: Kabankalan, from P1.112 billion in 2019 to P1.254 billion in 2020; Cadiz, P922.043 billion to P1.039 billion; Bago, P844 million to P951.653 million; San Carlos, P824.371 million to P929.509 million; Sipalay, P662.699 million to P747.219 million; Sagay, P744.114 million to P839.017 million; PNA

Las Piñas adds CityMed to Green Card list LAS Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar has announced that the city government-issued “Green Card” is now accredited at the Las Piñas City Medical Center (CityMed).

Green Card holders may use it in case of confinement at the said hospital, Aguilar said in a statement.

Green Card is the hospitalization support program of the city government of Las Piñas. It subsidizes up to 30,000 of the total hospital bill of the confined patient. Every member of the family if hospitalized is entitled to the subsidy.

CityMed is located along Marcos Alvarez Ave. in Barangay Talon Singko, Las Piñas City.

Other hospitals where the Green Card is accredited are Las Piñas Doctors Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, and San Juan De Dios Hospital.

These hospitals have coordinators to help facilitate the confinement of the card holder. There is a special ward dedicated to patients who have Green Card in LPDH and CityMed. “The additional hospital accreditation of the Green Card will provide more options and convenience to Las Piñeros when seeking medical help,” Mayor Aguilar said.

Presently, there are 200,000 Green card users. The Green Card project is being managed by the Mayor’s Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office. It may be availed by all bonafide Las Piñas residents.

FARMER’S PRIDE. Magsasaka Party-list Rep.-elect Argel Joseph Cabatbat (center) takes his official oath of office before Faigal Barangay Chairman Nestorio Valdez of Guimba, Nueva Ecija during an open-air ceremony on June 5. Witnessing the formal oath-taking are the men, women, and children of a local farming community in Guimba, where Valdez is also a farmer.

Rep. Cabatbat is a son of George and Evelyn Cabatbat of Guimba.

48 dengue deaths in WV

I

LOILO CITY—The Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Western Visayas is calling on the public to religiously observe the “4S” and the “ABKD” to address the increasing cases of dengue in the region, which as of June this year has already reached 8,613 with 48 deaths.

Ma. Lourdes Monegro, regional entomologist, said in a press conference Monday the region saw a 198 percent increase in cases compared to the 2,886 cases and 23 deaths for the same period last year.

The highest recorded deaths came from the 1 to 10 age group with 31, followed by those aged 11 to 20 with six; ages 31 to 40 with four; three each for ages 21 to 30 and ages 41 to 50, and one

death for the 51 and above age group.

Iloilo province recorded the highest number of cases with 2,516 and 12 deaths, followed by Negros Occidental with 2,277 cases and 17 deaths.

Aklan has 1,019 with five deaths; Antique, 285 cases with two deaths; Capiz, 1,245 with seven deaths; Guimaras has 187 cases with no death; Iloilo City, 557 with four deaths; Bacolod City, 433

with one death and others with 94 cases and zero death.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. on Monday also met with municipal mayors and health workers to set a “high sense of urgency” to stem the rising dengue cases in the province.

Based on Provincial Health Office (PHO) data, Concepcion town has the most number of deaths with three; followed by Pototan, Banate, and Bingawan with two each; and Santa Barbara, Pavia, and New Lucena with one each.

The component city of Passi has 225 dengue cases recorded; Concepcion, 173; Ajuy, 126; Santa Barbara, 116; and Pototan, 19.

“We discussed the things to do because the situation in the province is alarming,” Defensor said in an interview shortly after the meeting at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Board Room.

He reiterated that the provincial government continues to ask for the help of the community especially in searching and destroying breeding places of mosquitoes.

“We talked about a number of things we should do and I have decided to have it done immediately. We ask the participation of everybody because our strategy to combat dengue will not be effective if we only rely on our doctors and village officials,” he said. PNA

Valenzuela City, Nestlé launch plastics program

By Jun David

Mayor Rex Gatchalian (right) chats with Nestlé Philippines Inc. CEO Kais Marzouki during the launch of the ‘May Balik sa Plastik’ program at the People’s Park Ampitheater in Valenzuela City. Jun David

DPWH to build P800-m road in Zamboanga City ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Department of Public Works and Highways is preparing for the implementation of an P800-million road project linking this city and the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

Engineer Olivia Baguio of the DPWH central office said Tuesday the project will be funded by the national govern-

ment and Asian Development Bank.

Baguio, who was in the city to brief local officials, said the road project will be 33.125 kilometers long and includes two bridges, slope protection, and box culverts. It will begin in Barangay Curuan here towards Zamboanga del Norte via the town of Sibuco.

“The project will help improve the

lives of the people there (in Curuan and Sibuco),” Baguio said.

She said the procurement process will be made in the third quarter of this year while the road construction on the first quarter of 2020. The project would be completed in two years.

She said 283 houses in Barangay Curua will be affected by the project. PNA

WITH a booming industrial economy, Valenzuela City, in collaboration with Nestlé Philippines Inc., Green Antz Builders Inc., and DepEd Valenzuela, launches a city-wide waste management program all with the help from one of the biggest sources of pollution: plastics.

Every year, 400 million tons of plastic is being produced by the industrial sector worldwide, where only 14 percent is recycled, while the remaining 86 percent are disposed into landfills.

The Philippines has an astonishing 163 million sachets of daily plastic waste, where local-level efforts must be doubled and projects must be enforced in commitment to save the environment.

“May Balik sa Plastik!”, the first city-specific residual waste collection program by Nestle Philippines Inc., spearheads one of the many programs by the City Government focusing on solid waste management.

This program aims to decrease the amount of waste laminates in the Valenzuela landfill and transfer stations by sorting and collecting waste laminates for co-processing, recycling, or upcycling.

The awareness-driven project’s Ceremonial Launch and Commitment Setting was held at the Valenzuela People’s Park Amphitheater on Monday.

Best of Calabarzon on tap at Greenfield

An aerial view of Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, which will showcase the culture of Calabarzon ahead of Independence Day and Father’s Day this weekend.

TO UNLEASH the festive spirit of Independence Day, Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna will stage traditional dances from across the Calabarzon region from today until June 16.

The biggest film festival of Calabarzon, called “Pelikultura,” will also take place at the lifestyle complex, and will feature independent films that tell stories of the vibrant culture of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

Mallgoers may then liberate themselves from hunger with the unique flavors of the Southern Tagalog at food bazaars that offer popular Calabarzon delights, such as buko pie, longganisa, coffee, and much more.

Shopaholics may then feel free to splurge on great bargains and great food at Greenfield City’s Independence Day Weekend Sale from June 12 to 16, with discounts of up to 80 percent at select shops at Paseo Outlets, Laguna Central, and Arcadia.

“This Independence Day, we’re giving everyone the freedom to have fun at our mall-wide sale.

We’re rolling in two more celebrations alongside it: Father’s Day and CALABARZON’s cultural heritage.” said lawyers Duane Santos, executive vice president and general manager of Greenfield Development Corporation.

As one occasion ends, another begins, as Father’s Day falls on the last day of the Independence Day Weekend Sale. Awaiting the men at Greenfield City are an outdoor barbecue with activities for the whole family, and an expo showcasing high-end cars and motorcycles.

The following brands and their biggest outlet stores in the country will be participating in the sale: adidas, Converse Philippines, Oakley Vault, Giordano, and Nine West. The country’s only outlet stores of Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, west elm, Speedo, American Eagle Outfitters, and National Book Store will also be joining.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

By Felina Alcabaza

T

HE declaration of independence is one of the most important milestones in Philippine history.

The country was colonized by many nations for hundreds of years. Imagine achieving your freedom after all the hardships you’ve been through. It is priceless.

Philippine Independence Day has been celebrated every June 12 since 1962. The original celebration used to be on July 4, but then President Diosdado Macapagal changed the date to June 12, in commemoration of Emilio Aguinaldo’s declaration of independence from the Spaniards.

In turn, July 4 was declared as Philippine Republic Day or American-Filipino Friendship Day, when a treaty was made declaring the freedom of the

Companies that withstand the tests of time, for over 100 years AS WE celebrate the 121st anniversary of Philippine Independence, let’s take a look at some of the corporations and businesses which also marked more than a hundred years of existence. These enterprises reflect the Filipino resilience for they withstood the tests of time and survived countless challenges along the way.

Ayala Corporation Established in 1834, Ayala Corporation is the largest corporation in the country in terms of assets. Its business investments include retail, education, real estate, banking, telecommunications, water infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, automotive, healthcare, and management and business process outsourcing. What started out as a distillery for Ginebra San Miguel made Makati the financial district of the Philippines after World War II. It also participated in the building of the Ayala Bridge, formerly known as Puente de Ayala, over the Pasig River.

Bank of the Philippine Islands The first ever bank in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, Bank of the Philippine Islands was founded in 1851. BPI, formerly known as El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel II, was credited and printed the first Philippine Peso Fuerte, the first paper currency in the Philippines. Currently, the bank has a network of over 900 branches, making it the fourth largest bank in terms of assets, the second largest bank in terms of market capitalization, and one of the most profitable banks in the Philippines.

Benguet Corporation Founded in 1903, Benguet Corporation is a diverse business enterprise. Mining is its core operation, but is also involved in other activities such as forestry, chemical testing and research, ecotourism, trucking and warehousing, heavy equipment leasing, trading and real estate.

Compañía General de Tabacos de Filipinas It was founded by Antonio López y López in 1881. Although the company today specializes in tobacco trading, it also ran a shipping line and established factories to cultivate, trade, manufacture, and commercialize tobacco from the Philippines. It has also expanded in sugar and alcohol distribution, copra, abacá and maguey, as well as owning significant interests in electricity generation, transport and insurance.

Crayola Established in 1885, it is now known as one of the largest suppliers of art materials.

Although Crayola is famous for its crayons, it also offers other products including chalk, crayons, colored pencils, markers, paints, and modeling clay. The ingredients of Crayola products are marketed as non-toxic and safe for children to use.

Destileria Limtuaco Founded in 1852, Destileria Limtuaco is known to be the oldest distillery in the Philippines. It produces whiskey, brandy, Continued on C4

Philippines from the United States.

The celebration of the Philippine Independence is from May 28 to June 12, where all govern-

ment establishments, residences, and other public squares are encouraged to display the country’s flag.

The country begins its celebra-

tion by displaying the national flag in various historical places nationwide. In Rizal Park or any other national historical landmark, the President, Vice President and other members of the government together with the

Armed Forces and the general public, sing the national anthem Lupang Hinirang, while raising the national flag at 7 in the morning. It is followed by the wreath laying c e r emony and the presidential speech.

This practice has been observed since 2011.

As we enjoy the holiday, may we not forget its significance in our country’s history. Before our heroes achieved our independence, they offered their talents and wits, and put their lives at risk. May we learn from them as citizens of the Philippines.

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Life

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

FASHION AND BEAUTY

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Father’s Day 2019 gift guide N

O MATTER how much he says he doesn’t want anything, he would still appreciate a little something-something that says how much he means to you. Here are a few gift suggestions for papa, daddy, dad, pops, and tatay—or the men who mean the most.

U Basic Tech Haul

A versatile two-in-one carryon with an innovative detachable design that allows dads to carry the bag as a backpack or as a briefcase/messenger bag. This ideal work bag comes with smart features including anti-theft technology and hidden zippers. Available at Urbanize stores

Gentleman Cologne by Givenchy

Vibrant and lightly musky, it takes root in bold citrus and borrows the lively scent of rosemary, delicate notes of iris and raw vetiver for a decidedly distinct fragrance—perfect for the man who redefines the classics. Available at Rustan’s

Savile Row short-sleeved shirt

Available in a spectrum of blues, these shortsleeved shirts are made out of pure cotton for optimum comfort and run in a failsafe classic fit— ideal for dads who go from business to pleasure without a hitch. Available at Rustan’s

Nespresso Latissima One

Elevate dad’s coffee experience at home with this machine designed to make top-notch cappuccinos and latte macchiatos. It takes milk from the dishwasher-safe jug and froths it directly into the coffee cup. Available at Nespresso outlets

Levi’s reversible core belt

Black on one side and brown on the other, this accessory offers twice the wearability. It’s made with durable metal buckle fastener, strap keeper, and genuine leather band. Available at Levi’s outlets

Fitbit Inspire HR

Dads who are new to fitness trackers but want to start a healthy, active lifestyle will get the motivation he needs from this stylish and swim-proof fitness tracker with 24/7 heart rate tracking, 15+ goal-based exercise modes, Sleep Stages, and up to five days of battery life for day-to-night wear.

Available at Digital Walker stores

Montblanc Summit 2

The latest edition of Montblanc’s signature smartwatch features a more compact unisex 42mm case size while offering innovative new features powered by Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset

by Qualcomm. Available at Rustan’s, Greenbelt 5, City of Dreams, Resorts World Manila

Diesel S-Clever low-cut sneakers

Conair Turbo Extreme Steam

For the man who loves his crisp button-down shirts, this efficient and simple to use steamer only needs 40 seconds of heat-up, but brings temperatures of up to 50 percent hotter and 50 percent more steam than others.

Available at Rustan’s

Dads who love minimalist sneakers would appreciate these low-cut calf leather sneakers, available in white and brilliant blue, white and lemon, and white and black/white colorways. Available at Rustan’s

Catriona Gray pretty in purple

Makeup-fashion collab between New York brands Maybelline and alice+olivia consists of mascara, creamy matte lipstick, and eyeshadow palette.

Makeup meets fashion MAYBELLINE New York finally brings to Asia its first fashion-makeup collaboration with alice+olivia, also an NYC-based brand.

The limited edition collection available in PH includes three alice+olivia Creamy Matte Lipsticks, namely The New Nude (clay-colored), Kissed (rosetoned), and Stace Face Red (red); City

Mini Palette in Uptown Downtown Glow (champagne shimmer to intense peach); and Hypercurl Mascara.

The Maybelline x alice+olivia collection is exclusively available in the Watsons online store (www. watsons.com.ph) and at selected Maybelline counters at The SM Store and Watsons.

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and fashion designer Mak Tumang made our country proud again.

Gray ended her Miss Universe Philippines reign on June 10 in a head-turning shimmering purple gown which Tumang earlier said was inspired by the waling-waling flower.

Waling-waling is considered the “Queen of Philippine flowers” by the indigenous Bagobo people. The representation, Tumang said in an Instagram post, “fits perfectly to what our Miss Universe Catriona Gray is. She is absolutely a queen of beauty and substance.”

Of course, the gown was aligned w i t h G r a y ’s objective to pay homage to and showcase Philippine cult u re —for which she will be known even after her reign.

“The Queen of the Filipinos’ hearts bids farewell to her reign here. Yet, she will incessantly reach and touch the bright sun, making her justly symbolic of the Filipino’s unceasing hope and tenacity,” said Tumang, who has created Gray’s pageant gowns since she competed for Miss World in 2016.

Gray’s sparkling gown was complemented with stunning makeup by Jelly Eugenio that shone under the stage lights. Her crystallized eyelids flickered, while the light bounced off her luminous cheeks. The purple-tinged blush-on and lip color matched her dress.

Aside from the orchid-hued, walingwaling-inspired dress she wore on her final walk, Gray first appeared on stage in a flowing, low-cut number in marigold and white, also done by Tumang.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray wears an orchid-hued walingwaling flower-inspired dress for her final walk at the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 coronation night.

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Dad’s Day concert at the Shang

The world-renowned Moscow Ballet La Classique performing the iconic ‘Swan Lake.’

A

New Frontier Theater ‘transforms’ with must-see ‘SWAN LAKE’

SURPRISING but perfect match.

This is what the public will experience when Swan Lake, one of the most iconic ballet performances in the world—admired for its timeless tale, immaculate choreography, and haunting music—comes to New Frontier Theater, one of the most revered venues in the country.

Dubbed as the grandest ballet production in 2019, Moscow Ballet La Classique’s Swan Lake, which will run from June 14 to 22, will mark the first time that a ballet performance this extravagant will be staged at the New Frontier Theater.

Swan Lake, composed by Russian genius Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1876, depicts the story of Odette, a princess

who was turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer, and her quest for true love to turn back the curse and defeat evil.

Just as the production is marked by numerous transformations and quick costume changes, audiences can also expect a reinvention from the New Frontier Theater. Considered as the premier performing arts venue in the country, the New Frontier Theater has

More students, teachers honor ABS-CBN MEDIA giant ABS-CBN continues to get the stamp of approval from students and teachers as it ended May with 39 more recognitions from the 21st Gawad PASADO Awards, 18th Kabantugan Awards, and 7th Kagitingan Awards.

Leading the Kapamilya winners in PASADO was the afternoon show Kadenang Ginto, which was named PinakaPASADOng Teleserye. Its lead stars Beauty Gonzalez and Albert Martinez were awarded PinakaPASADong Aktres sa Teleserye and PinakaPASADOng Aktor sa Teleserye, respectively.

Veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez, of the hit program Los Bastardos, earned the PASADO Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Pampelikulang Samahan ng Dalubguro (PASADO), an organization of master teachers that review films as documents and materials for teaching different disciplines, also honored Star Cinema’s Kasal as PinakaPASADOng Pelikula, together with five other films, with its lead stars Paulo Avelino and Bea Alonzo awarded as PinakaPASADOng Aktor and PinakaPASADOng Aktres, respectively.

Mycko David also received the PinakaPASADOng Sinematograpiya for Kasal, while Marya Ignacio accepted the PinakaPASADOng Editing award for the Philippines’ highest-grossing film The Hows of Us. Other Kapamilya that passed PASADO’s criteria were McCoy De Leon and Maymay Entrata, who were named as PinakaPASADOng Dangal ng Kabataan awardees.

The network also earned 22 trophies at the 18th Kabantugan Awards of the Mind-

anao State University—General Santos City, which honors the outside-campus role models of the youth such as wholesome personalities/celebrities in local and national television.

Among the awards received by the Kapamilya contingent were Most Favorite Female TV News Anchor for Karen Davila, Most Favorite TV News Program for TV Patrol, Most Favorite Movie Actress for Kathryn Bernardo, Most Favorite TV Actor and Most Favorite Movie Actor for Jericho Rosales and Most Favorite TV Actress for Angel Locsin, and Most Favorite Entertainment Show for It’s Showtime.

Meanwhile, It’s Showtime and Magandang Buhay were the big winners at the Bataan State Peninsula University 7th Kagitingan Awards for Television, the first student-based media award-giving body in Central Luzon which recognizes local television programs that promote and impart values of valor in its diverse delineation. The noontime show was named Pinakamagiting na Entertainment Program 2019, while the show of Karla Estrada, Jolina Magdangal-Escueta, and Melai Cantiveros-Francisco was hailed as Pinakamagiting na Talk Show 2019.

Kapamilya artists and personalities like Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda from It’s Showtime were hailed as Pinakamagiting na Personalidad ng Entertainment Program, while The Bottomlineanchor Boy Abunda won as Pinakamagiting na Personalidad ng Talk Show, and Zaijan Jaranilla was named as Pinakamagiting na Personalidad ng Drama Anthology for his performance in MMK.

The main cast of ‘Kadenang Ginto’ at the Gawad PASADO

seen various transformations over the years.

It started out as the top choice for movie premieres in the 1960s, and has evolved into a 2,385-seater ultra-modern venue and entertainment landmark.

It has staged numerous concert performances from local stars such as Regine Velasquez, Gary Valenciano, Sarah Geronimo, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, and Lani Misalucha, and international acts such as Fifth Harmony, A1, Slayer, and Charlie Puth, and the fan meets of Korean idols Dara, Nam Joo Hyuk, and So Ji Sub, among many others.

It will be an additional treat to witness how the New Frontier Theater will again transform for the staging of Swan Lake.

Choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the Moscow Bal-

let La Classique production of Swan Lake will be accompanied by the Russian Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Yaroslav Tkalenko. The haunting story comes to life through the captivating performances of acclaimed Bolshoi Ballet stars Nina Kaptsova and Alexander Volchkov.

Tickets priced from P3,000 to P10,000 are now available at Ticketnet outlets. The public may also order tickets online via www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.

Mastercard credit cardholders can avail of a 10 percent discount using the promo code MC10SWAN. This offer is available for transactions online or all Ticketnet outlets and will last until June 22 (DTI-FTEB Permit No. 8935 Series of 2019).

SPEND a memorable evening at Shangri-La Plaza as up and coming Male Ensemble Nine (MEN) headlines Handog: Father’s Day Tribute Concert 2019 on June 16, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Atrium.

Prepare to be enchanted as MEN is joined by an all-male orchestra for a repertoire that ranges from all-time favorites and classic OSTs, to OPM hits meant to captivate the hearts of dads and their loved ones celebrating the special day at the Shang.

MEN’s members are passionate world-class singers who have been part of award-winning choral groups in the country. The group was formed last year with a goal to promote choral music by interpreting local compositions, folk songs, kundiman, and more. Since then, MEN has performed with music icons Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Philippine Madrigal Singers. #FeelTheShangVibe with on Father’s Day with a music-filled Sunday from a new talent to watch out for.

For inquiries, call 370-2597 or 98 or visit www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficial.

Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

Male Ensemble Nine

Pastor brings banned movie to PH

The stars of the controversial film, ‘Unplanned.’

By Robbie Pangilinan UNPLANNED, the movie that Canada banned in all its theaters, is coming to the Philippines thanks to a Christian pastor.

Prophetic Pastor Ruth Hillary, a volunteer for the cause of abortion, says that God gave her a direct mandate from heaven to bring the movie to the Philippines. She prays that the Filipinos are ready to accept this kind of movie.

“Pastor Ruth has been gracious enough to help us spread the word about Unplanned wherever she goes. She has felt commissioned by God to do so due to the

importance of the message of this film,” says movie writers, directors, and executive producers Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon in a statement.

As an ambassador of the movie, Hillary was given authority to gather the leaders and influencers of the Philippines to lay the groundwork and prepare the way for this movie to enter Philippine theaters.

“We are doing the preliminary groundwork as much as God has allowed us to do while we are here in the Phil-

KARA DAVID

new host of ’Brigada’ MULTI-AWARDED broadcast journalist Kara David assumes new hosting duties of GMA News TV’s investigative news magazine program Brigada.

She’s no stranger to the program.

Kara had been Jessica Soho’s researcher in Brigada Siete during the ‘90s.

As a broadcast journalist, Kara’s potential as an on-cam reporter was discovered when she was unexpectedly sent to cover the breaking news story of the MV Kimelody Cristy sinking in 1995.

One of Kara’s most memorable Brigada Siete stories was her documentary on Sitio Avocado, formerly a war-torn and NPAinfested area in Negros Oriental. She wit-

nessed how their first batch of graduates gave the community hope to rise from the ashes.

For her first episode as the new host of Brigada,, which aired yesterday (June 11), Kara tackled the final ruling of the Supreme Court that Filipino and Panitikan (Philippine Literature) may now be excluded from the core subjects in college. Another story was on the Philippines’ alarming teacher shortage.

Kara David assumes hosting duties of GMA News TV’s investigative news magazine program ‘Brigada.’

ippines. We are talking with people who can help us,” says Hillary.

The $6-million controversial movie has already earned more than $18 million since its release at the end of March. Unplanned was shown once in Edmonton then in Ottawa, then was totally banned in all of Canada and even some theaters in the United States.

The film is the true story of pro-life activist Abby Johnson. The former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas witnessed an ultrasound-guided abortion of a 13-week-old fetus, which completely changed her mind and heart. It shows vivid images of abortion, which made it controversial in Canada where abortion is legal throughout all stages of pregnancy.

C4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

Companies...

From C1

London dry gin, rum, vodka, cocktails, liqueur, and herbal wines. The company started only with a herbal wine by Chinese merchant Lim Tua Co. The first brewed product of the company was Vino de Chino, a bittersweet brew derived from a variety of Chinese herbs beside Pasig River.

General Electric Company General Electric Company is an American multinational conglomerate incorporated in New York City and headquartered in Boston. It was founded in 1892 and has expanded its operation in aviation, healthcare, power, renewable energy, digital industry, additive manufacturing, venture capital and finance, lighting, and oil and gas.

HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) HSBC was founded by a Scotsman in the then-British colony of Hong Kong in 1875. HSBC is organized within four business groups: Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets (investment banking), Retail Banking and Wealth Management, and Global Private Banking.

Nestlé Established in 1895, Nestlé is a company that produces food products. Nestlé’s products include baby food, medical food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, frozen food, pet foods, and snacks. However, Nestlé also invests in some companies and it is one of the largest shareholders of the L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics’ company.

Nikon Corporation Nikon is a Japan-based multinational corporation specializing in optics and imaging products. Founded in 1917 as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha, it was renamed as Nikon after its cameras. Nikon offers cameras, camera lenses, binoculars, microscopes, ophthalmic lenses, measurement instruments, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication. Nikon is a member of Mitsubishi Group of Companies.

San Miguel Corporation Since 1890, San Miguel Corporation has been producing liquor and beverages. Originally founded as a single brewery in the Philippines, it has also expanded in fuel and oil, power generation, infrastructure, and poultry.

Standard Chartered Bank Standard Chartered Bank was founded 147 years ago in London. Although it is based in the United Kingdom, 90 percent of its profit comes from Asia, Africa and Middle East. Its branch in the Philippines is located in Ayala, Makati.

Tanduay Distillers Inc. Tanduay Distillers Inc. was founded in 1854 and owned by the LT Company. It is the first Philippine brand to have a major sponsorship deal with an NBA team, the Golden State Warriors. Felina Alcabaza

Top PH companies that are likely to reach

100 YEARS OR MORE

By MJ Blancaflor

D

ESPITE market volatility and changing political landscape over the past years, these Filipino companies are continuously boosting their operations and profits. These businesses, embodying the Pinoy values of courage and resilience, have been thriving for some time amid economic and social challenges, and are likely to do so in succeeding years.

As the country marks the 121st anniversary of Emilio Aguinaldo’s declaration of Philippine independence in 1898, it is timely to list down the top corporations that contributed to our country’s economy through their wealth, long history, or both.

PLDT Inc. (1928) Led by Manny V. Pangilinan, PLDT Inc. is the largest telecommunications and digital services company in the Philippines.

The company operates the country’s most extensive fiber optic backbone and fixed line and cellular network. Its wireless services are marketed under the Smart, TNT, and Sun Cellular brands. Its fixed line services, on the other hand, are marketed under PLDT Home and PLDT Enterprise.

It recorded a net income of P35.2 billion in 2015.

Petron Corporation (1933) It is the largest oil refining and marketing company in the country. Petron supplies more than a third of our oil needs and has more than 2,400 retail services nationwide which make gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and auto-LPG available to motorists. Petron recorded a net income of US$99 million in 2009.

Globe Telecom Inc. (1935) As a major telecommunications services

company, Globe provides mobile, fixed line, and broadband networks in the Philippines. It earned a net income of P15.1 billion in 2017. The company’s principal shareholders are Ayala Corporation and Singapore Telecommunications.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. (1957) Summit has business interests in food, air transportation, real estate, banking, and petrochemicals through its subsidiaries such as Universal Robina Corporation, Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Land, Robinsons Bank, and JG Summit Petrochemicals. The Gokongwei-led Summit Holdings earned profit amounting to $634 million, according to Forbes in 2017.

SM Group (1958) The Sy-led SM Group is involved in shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate, banking, and tourism. As the country’s top player in retail business with hundreds of stores here and abroad, it has repeatedly ranked as the leading Philippine company in Forbes Global 2000.

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (1962) The company, led by the Ty family, recorded a US$286-million net income in 2011. Its subsidiaries include Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, Philippine

Savings Bank, and SMBC Metro Investment Corporation.

BDO Unibank Inc. (1968) BDO Unibank belongs to the SM Group of Companies. It offers leasing and financing, investment banking, private banking, and insurance services. BDO has over 1,300 domestic branches, one branch in Hong Kong, and more than 4,000 automated teller machines.

Jollibee Foods Corporation (1978) With the success of Jollibee, its primary fast food brand, the corporation acquired some of its competitors: Chowking, Greenwich Pizza, Red Ribbon, and Mang Inasal. It is the largest fast food chain in the Philippines which has thousands of stores nationwide. Jollibee is also engaged in international expansion in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Brunei.

In 2011, it earned a net income of P3.25 billion.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures (1989) Aboitiz Equity Ventures is the publicly listed holding and investment company of the Aboitiz Group. Through its subsidiaries Aboitiz Power, Pilmico, Union Bank, Aboitiz Infrastructure, and Aboitiz Land, it has operations in power, food, banking, infrastructure, and real estate. It counted US$487 million net income in 2016.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (1987) International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is a global port management company with headquarteres and established at Manila, Philippines.

Incorporated on December 24, 1987, ICTSI been cited by the Asian Development Bank as one of the top five major maritime terminal operators in the world and is one of “Asia’s 200 Best Under, according to Forbes on September 27, 2007.